The Vortex Bar and Grill - Moreland Ave - Little Five Points - Atlanta Georgia

You can find this location of The Vortex Bar & Grill at 438 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 near the intersection of Moreland and McLendon and to one side of the parking lot to Junkman's Daughter and Little 5 Points Liquors. Wax N Fax is right to the left as the building narrows to the historical location of "The Point" but the restaurant is nearly impossible to miss due to the giant Skull entry. Parking is to any of the surrounding lots and yes, you'll probably have to pay an attendant, especially on the weekends and evenings.

As many of you who have read my blog and reviews previously, I waxed quite poetic about the Midtown location of the Vortex - it's a bar and dive in the classic sense, only adults please. I'm not sure which location I like better as both the L5P and Midtown locations have different things to offer. Let's just say that I like them equally as well - they both are worth visiting and offer different-but-similar experiences. One thing to really like though, is the food.

On this occasion we decided to drop in as we were in the neighborhood - it was getting late and we both wanted something more pub-ish so of course the bright white skully beckoned! On this weekday night the bar was about 1/3 full - it was getting late and you know how it is - it starts getting difficult to find someplace that's still serving food. Fortunately The Vortex is a perfect solution for the hangry problem. As you walk into the skull's mouth you'll find an incredibly eclectic roadside kitschy interior with all manner of vintage artifact and advertising relic hanging in quantity from the walls and ceiling, making you (or at least me) feel right at home.

We were quickly seated and I choose a pretty awesome Terrapin Wake 'n Bake Oatmeal Stout. If you haven't seen the food menu it's full of unusual but very filling combinations that are all designed to stuff you and keep you drinking. I wanted a burger but had to be dissuaded from ordering the Coronary Bypass, which is a fantastic concoction that uses bacon grilled cheese sandwiches as the buns, and with a fried egg to make things interesting. Instead we decided to split an order of their fantastic buffalo wings and continue on with a Hell's Fury - Pepper Jack Cheese, Atomic Death Sauce, habenero relish and a roasted jalapeno. In a word, delish!

Service was unusually good and atypical - you usually get a lot more attitude than what I saw this evening - it's all part of the appeal - it was both disappointing and refreshing. Good times and delicious food and drink were had by all.

-- John 

 

Savage Pizza - Little Five Points on Moreland Ave - Atlanta Georga

You can find this location of Savage Pizza at 484 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 in what's known as Little Five Points. This is to the right of The Junkman's Daughter when facing that venerable local store in a short strip mall, with the restaurant on the end closest to Junkman's.

This is, I believe my second visit to this location of Savage at this location, as I remember if more fondly at the older location on North Highland - I used to travel by it when going to work as it was between where I lived in L5P and Indigo Coastal Grill (the last restaurant where I worked, across from the first Alon's location on North Highland). Savage was one of those fantastic pizza options in an area that had several (both Fellini's and Johnny's were closer to my old home). I just always preferred Savage due to the fantastic dough and fresh ingredients. I'm happy to report that Savage is just as good as I remembered it from the old location in it's new home, closer to L5P's "heart."

If you've never been to a Savage Pizza location, you'll note that the concept includes many covers from classic Marvel and DC comic book covers. I remember fondly the Silver Surfer mural at the original location and much of that flavor has been retained at this new location (my apologies for referring to this as "New" as it's been at this location for some time - old habits). This is a smaller restaurant with very limited parking, and yes, there is an annoying attendant that will try to get you to pay - just make sure you tell him your there for Savage and he should allow you to park without handing over your greenbacks.

Besides great pizza you can chug down several local craft brews and get great service, something L5P isn't necessarily known for. On this occasion we ordered a couple of pies and they were very good. The weather was clear if a bit cold and the experience quite fine with good friends - you can't do much better than that.

-- John

(also posted to Yelp)