Non-Vegetarian Vegetables
Upon flying into Atlanta, a vegetable lover can lay delicious siege from the airport into town. Make no mistake, though: most of the city’s best vegetables, cooked with fatback or hambone, are not for vegetarians. Some items listed on menus’ vegetable roster are not even vegetables: mac ‘n’ cheese, for instance; or congealed salad (aka Jell-O).
Restaurants
This list takes hungry eaters to places that make the most of the latter part of the meat-and-three meal formula, starting just minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson field, at Big Daddy’s Dish for broccoli casserole, marshmallow-topped yams, and peppery rutabagas; and the Barbecue Kitchen, where the sign outside boasts “FRESH VEGETABLES.” A full veggie repertoire at the soul-food beacon, Busy Bee Cafe, includes must-eat fried green tomatoes; and at Mary Mac’s Tea Room, Dixie classicists start the meal with a bowl of pot likker (greens to the max). Up in Tucker, just northeast of the city, at Matthews Cafeteria, vegetables are rich and wanton (creamed corn especially) but, frankly, it would be a sin to eat here and not side them with a few pieces of exquisite fried chicken.
Big Daddy’s Dish
Fried chicken, spare ribs, catfish, etc. accompanied by expertly-cooked vegetables and Georgia peach cobbler make Big Daddy's an Atlanta best bet for soul food.
Barbecue Kitchen
Barbecue Kitchen serves excellent BBQ, but its glory is Southern-style vegetables. It's a humble gem just minutes from the Atlanta airport.
Busy Bee Cafe
Busy Bee Café is one of Atlanta's best soul food restaurants. Try fried chicken sided by southern vegetables; save room for red velvet cake dessert.
Mary Mac’s Tea Room
Mary Mac’s is an old-fashioned urban lunch room in Atlanta where specialties include such Dixie standards as pot likker, sweet potato souffle & fried chicken.
Matthews Cafeteria
Matthews Cafeteria is a Main Street restaurant popular among locals who come for fried chicken, meat loaf, or catfish sided by well-cooked Southern vegetables.
