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Dining in Dunwoody and the Perimeter Mall area
Die-hard “foodies” (amateur gourmets who love food for consumption, study, preparation, and news) Steve and Patricia Scott are exploring Atlanta–one restaurant at a time. They live in Peachtree Corners, and at least twice a week their Acura makes its familiar trek up I-285 north. Some nights they stop at
Perimeter Mall, and on other evenings they make it on around the connector into
Sandy Springs and Dunwoody. But wherever their little car takes them, eating out in “Hotlanta,” they say, always plays the yummiest part of their always-memorable date nights.
Dunwoody Dining Delights
For lunch, Patricia’s favorite Dunwoody spot is
Villa Christina. “I love the wonderful atmosphere,” says Patricia, “the bright colors, contemporary art pieces, garden views, fresh chef-manned lunch buffets and grilled romaine salads.” If she’s in an
Asian mood, it’s Joli Kobi all the way, a
Japanese bakery and café. “The do absolutely beautiful desserts and an almond curry chicken salad that’s to die for.”
On some nights the Scotts’ trek takes them to the
Cheesecake Factory, just outside Perimeter Mall’s front promenade next to Dillards. They usually share the Thai Lettuce Wraps so they can save room for the Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake. (They claim that the stroll around Perimeter Mall afterwards burns off all calories collected at the Factory.) Some Sunday afternoons one can find Steve and
Patricia at Maggiano’s, where they’re enjoying bruschetta, a generous salad, and some classic Robert Mondavi private selection vinetta. “We try to stay around the $30 - $35 mark,” says
Patricia, “so we tend to share entrees and desserts whenever possible.”
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Just across from Perimeter Mall is Perimeter Center Place, a shopping area similar to The Avenues and The Forum. Perimeter Center Place features a number of dining
establishments including Outback Steakhouse, Taco Mac, Carraba's Italian, Mimi's Cafe and Fleming's.
If Patricia is with her girlfriends, they tend to stay in “downtown Dunwoody,” where for years they created special occasions in order to enjoy afternoon tea at the
Dunwoody Farmhouse, a famous landmark in the heart of town. If they just want conversation and a warm cappuccino, the Mount Vernon
Panera Bread is their Number One pick.
Other popular dining establishments in the area include Goldfish, Hudson Grille, Seasons 52, and Wildfire Steak and Chop House. Across the street from Perimeter Mall couples like the
Scotts can be seen on any given evening strolling through specialty shops and eating at classic Atlanta venues such as
Café Intermezzo, Elon’s, and Eclipse de Luna, restaurant and tapas bar.
Fun Facts about Dunwoody
Dunwoody has long intrigued North Atlantans, and its businesses and restaurants have generally held their own–even in down economic times. It doesn’t hurt that Dunwoody is the third wealthiest city in Georgia, with a median family income of $101,000. Incidentally, one just might run across one of Dunwoody’s most famous residents at a Perimeter Mall restaurant – American Idol host Ryan Seacrest.
Lying at the northern tip of DeKalb County, Dunwoody was truly “put on the map” when the Perimeter Mall district exploded. The mall and almost half of the Perimeter Community Improvement District comprise a self-taxing district of office buildings, shopping, restaurants and hotels. The tallest building in Dunwoody is the 34-story Ravinia, whose private restaurant/club and “magical gardens” have hosted many a wedding reception and formal banquet.
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Live in the Dunwoody area?
