Zuma Sushi and Sake Bar, Atlanta

[nhconner]

Tonight I went to Zuma Sushi and Sake Bar in the SE part of downtown Atlanta.

For starters this part of town used to be a really bad part of town, and is experiencing a renaissance of interest with apartments, restaurants and retail.

This was flat out sushi done right. Fresh and correct. I had sashimi over rice that was fantastic. The mackerel was to die for. A really friendly staff and a great sake list.

Ill leave it brief and say go there, its fantastic. Nuf said.

Nate

[therese]

Tonight I went to Zuma Sushi and Sake Bar in the SE part of downtown Atlanta. 

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Zuma is actually located in the NE quadrant, at the southernmost end of the Poncey-Highland neighborhood (or I guess you could call it Midtown). Easy access from the bike/walk park that flanks the Freedom Parkway if you wanted to get there without a car. It's also across the street from the original Jake's ice cream shop.

Glad to hear it's doing well. I went soon after it had opened and it was good, but hadn't quite hit its stride.

[nhconner]

Thanks Therese, I dont know Atlanta that well and last time I was in that area in the early 90s crashing on a floor after a Grateful Dead show, I did see anything like that in that neighborhood. Now it looks hip and a great area to find value. I had a scoop of Kenya AA ice cream after dinner at Jakes. It had flecks of coffee beans in it, and was damn good.

Zuma is not Soto by any means, but I had a dozen or so fish selections and they were all fresh. Usually with than many one or two is off. I found it to be a solid sushi bar and worth another visit. I have to admit I am a mackerel fan and I got a complementary course that was mighty fine, so I left very happy. Apparently the sushi chef Sato loves mackerel too so we bonded.

The price was also a value for what I got, $24. Great Sake too.

Nate

Edited May 18, 2005 by nhconner (log)

[John Talbott]

Tonight I went to Zuma Sushi and Sake Bar in the SE part of downtown Atlanta. 

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Zuma is actually located in the NE quadrant, at the southernmost end of the Poncey-Highland neighborhood (or I guess you could call it Midtown).

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Since prior threads and PM's seemed to portray Downtown as a culinary wasteland I'm wondering if this renaissance involves restaurants other than Zuma. Thanks.

[therese]

Since prior threads and PM's seemed to portray Downtown as a culinary wasteland I'm wondering if this renaissance involves restaurants other than Zuma.  Thanks.

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Zuma's not "downtown", it's "intown".

When Atlantans talk about downtown they're talking about a relatively small area of highrise office buildings and hotels and sports venues located in the very center of town. Atlantans (some of them) go downtown for work and school and to attend sporting events and large concerts. And that's pretty much it. When they go out to dinner they either stick to their own neighborhoods (often a great distance from downtown if they live outside the perimeter, in the suburbs) or travel to one known for its restaurants.

Neighborhoods known for their restaurants are generally "intown". They encircle downtown like a donut encircles its hole. The donut's thicker on the north half, thickest on the northeast quarter. Neighborhoods with lots of restaurants include Virginia-Highland, Midtown, Little Five Points, East Atlanta, etc. Even Decatur (officially a separate town) is functionally an intown neighborhood.

So the typical visitor staying in a downtown Atlanta highrise hotel is walking distance to very few restaurants, particularly nice restaurants that serve dinner. The two I can personally recommend are City Grill and Luxe.

Intown neighborhoods do not have much in the way of lodging, unfortunately (Midtown being the exception that that rule). Maybe I should open a B&B. It would tie in nicely with my culinary tourism venture...

[micropundit]

Zuma's not "downtown", it's "intown".

When Atlantans talk about downtown they're talking about a relatively small area of highrise office buildings and hotels and sports venues located in the very center of town. Atlantans (some of them) go downtown for work and school and to attend sporting events and large concerts. And that's pretty much it. When they go out to dinner they either stick to their own neighborhoods (often a great distance from downtown if they live outside the perimeter, in the suburbs) or travel to one known for its restaurants.

Neighborhoods known for their restaurants are generally "intown". They encircle downtown like a donut encircles its hole. The donut's thicker on the north half, thickest on the northeast quarter. Neighborhoods with lots of restaurants include Virginia-Highland, Midtown, Little Five Points, East Atlanta, etc. Even Decatur (officially a separate town) is functionally an intown neighborhood.

So the typical visitor staying in a downtown Atlanta highrise hotel is walking distance to very few restaurants, particularly nice restaurants that serve dinner. The two I can personally recommend are City Grill and Luxe.

Intown neighborhoods do not have much in the way of lodging, unfortunately (Midtown being the exception that that rule). Maybe I should open a B&B. It would tie in nicely with my culinary tourism venture...

First of all ,let me comment on your analogy of the donut,''in the words of the immortal Homer J. Simpson"DO-nuts MMMMM"

Seriously,there are a number of nationally rated,.ie Mobil/AAA restaurants inthe downtown area.ATLANTAGRILL,in the Ritz Carlton is one;NIKOLA'sROOF,in the Hilton is another.Second,there is an eat street-Andrew YoungInternational Blvd-boasts an impressive number of restaurants of different ethnic origins:AZIO;MAMA NINFA'S;HSU'S are just a few of the offerings along a short but tantalizing stretch of pavement.And if you like al fresco dining,there is McCORMICK&SCHMICKS;RAY'S IN THE CITY;and PACIFIC RIM.Brewpubs wet your whistle? There is MAX LAGER'S.And more is on the way.The Glenn building hotel renovation,slated to open Spring 2006,will feature an underground bar and a signiture restaurant designed by Atlanta's uber architect,Bill Johnson.

Just thought you might like to know.