'Creative Loafing' is to Atlanta what the Scene is to Nashville. And just as in Nashville, Creative Loafing sponsors a contest every year to determine what is best in the city. It is called ”Best of Atlanta.“

Creative Loafing has generously allowed us to present many of the winners in its contest. So if you are headed down to Atlanta for the Super Bowl, here are a number of winners in the newspaper’s restaurant category, in addition to some others that might give you a heads-up on what’s hot in the city. We haven’t listed only where you can get the best breakfast. We made certain to include the city’s most outstanding tequila bar.

Bear in mind that Creative Loafing has listed both the establishments that were selected by their readers as well as those that were selected by staffers at the newspapers. You can either trust the public, or you can trust the reporters.

The choice is up to you.

Best Overall Restaurants

Readers’ Choice

Front Page News

1104 Crescent Ave., Midtown, 404-897-3500

Midtown drinkery where you relax, lean against the dark wood, and watch the game.

Critics’ Choice

Bacchanalia

3125 Piedmont Rd., 404-365-0410

Wine country cottage with California-inspired dishes.

Best new Restaurants

Readers’ Choice

Caliterra

Wyndham Atlanta Hotel 160 Spring St., 678-686-3370

California-Italian cooking.

Critics’ Choice

Watershed

406 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. Decatur, 404-378-4900

Contemporary American dining.

Barbecue

Readers’ Choice

Fat Matt’s Rib Shack

1811 Piedmont Ave.

404-607-1622

Critics’ Choice

Daddy D’z

264 Memorial Dr.

404-222-0206

Deli

Readers’ Choice

St. Charles Deli

2470 Briarcliff Rd.

404-636-5201

Critics’ Choice

Happy Herman’s

2299 Cheshire Bridge Rd. 404-321-3012 and other locations

Diners

Readers’ Choice

The Majestic

1031 Ponce de Leon Ave. Poncey-Highland 404-875-0276

Critics’ Choice

Crescent Moon

254 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.Decatur, 404-377-5623

Cajun

Readers’ Choice

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

2830 Windy Hill Rd., Marietta

770-984-8899

5635 Jimmy Carter Blvd.

Norcross, 770-849-0600

Critics’ Choice

Gumbo A Go-Go

1405 Oxford Rd., 404-687-0031

and other locations

CariBean

Readers’ Choice

Bridgetown Grill

1156 Euclid Ave. Little Five Points, 404-653-0110

and other locations

Critics’ Choice

Tierra

1425-B Piedmont Ave. 404-874-5951

Chinese

Readers’ Choice

Chin Chin

3887 Peachtree Rd., 404-816-2229

and other locations

Critics’ Choice

Canton House

4825 Buford Hwy., 770-936-9030

Continental

Readers’ & Critics’ Choices

Babette’s Cafe

471 N. Highland Ave., Inman Park, 404-523-9121

Cuban

Readers’ & Critics’ Choices

Mambo

1402 N. Highland Ave., Morningside, 404-876-2626

French

Readers’ & critic’s Choices

Brasserie Le Coze

Lenox Square, 3393 Peachtree Rd., 404-266-1440

Fusion

Readers’ Choice

Fusebox

3085 Piedmont Rd., 404-233-3383

Critics’ Choice

Hi Life Kitchen & Cocktails

3380 Holcomb Bridge Rd. Norcross, 770-409-0101

Greek

Readers’ Choice

Athens Pizza House

1341 Clairmont Rd.

404-636-1100

and other locations

Critics’ Choice

Greek Island Taverna

3009 Buford Hwy.

404-327-9193

Indian

Readers’ Choice

Haveli Indian Cuisine

2650 CoB Pkwy., Smyrna

770-955-4525

225 Spring St.

404-522-4545

Critics’ Choice

Woodland Vegetarian

Restaurant

1080 Oaktree Rd., Decatur

404-321-6005

Italian

Readers’ Choice

Maggiano’s Little Italy

3368 Peachtree Rd., Buckhead

404-816-9650

Critics’ Choice

Sotto Sotto

313 N. Highland Ave., Inman Park, 404-523-6678

Jamaican

Readers’ Choice

Bridgetown Grill

1156 Euclid Ave., Little Five Points, 404-653-0110

and other locations

Critics’ Choice

Patti Hut Cafe

595 Piedmont Ave., 404-892-5133

Japanese

Readers’ & Critics’ Choices

Soto

3330 Piedmont Ave., Buckhead

404-233-2005

Korean

Readers’ Choice

Mirror of Korea

1047 Ponce de Leon Ave.

Poncey-Highland

404-874-6243

Critics’ Choice

Hae Woon Dae

5805 Buford Hwy.

770-451-7957

Mexican

Readers’ Choice

Maui Tacos

1100 Hammond Dr., Sandy Springs, 404-320-0220

Critics’ Choice

Taqueria Los Compadres

3360 Buford Hwy.

770-320-0220

Middle eastern

Readers’ Choice

Nicola’s

1602 Lavista Rd.

404-325-2524

Critics’ Choice

Istanbul Cafe

1850 Lawrenceville Hwy.

404-320-0054

Moroccan

Readers’ & Critics’ Choices

Imperial Fez

2285 Peachtree St., Buckhead

404-351-0870

another readers’ Choice

Casbah

465 N. Highland Ave. Inman Park

404-524-5777

Pub food

Readers’ Choice

Rock Bottom Restaurant

3442 Peachtree Rd.

404-264-0253

Critics’ Choice

The Highlander

931 Monroe Drive, Virginia-Highland, 404-872-0060

Seafood

Readers’ & Critics’ Choices

Atlanta Fish Market

265 Pharr Rd., Buckhead

404-262-3165

Soul food

Readers’ Choice

Sylvia’s

241 Central Ave., Downtown

404-529-9692

Beautiful Restaurant

957 Auburn Ave., 404-223-0080

Son’s Place

100 Hurt St., Inman Park

404-581-0530

Critics’ Choice

Colonnade Restaurant

1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd.

404-874-5642

Southern

Readers’ Choice

Colonnade Restaurant

1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd.

404-874-5642

Critics’ Choice

Horseradish Grill

4320 Powers Ferry Rd.

404-255-7277

Southwestern

Readers’ & Critics’ Choices

Nava

3060 Peachtree Rd.

404-240-1984

Steaks

Readers’ & Critics’ Choices

Bone’s

3130 Piedmont Rd.

404-237-2663

Sushi

Readers’ Choice

Ru San’s

1529 Piedmont Ave.

404-875-7042

and other locations

Critics’ Choice

Soto

3330 Piedmont Ave.

404-233-2005

Thai

Readers’ Choice

Pad Thai

1021 Virginia Ave., Virginia-Highland, 404-892-2070

Critics’ Choice

Tamarind

80 14th St., Midtown

404-873-4888

Vegetarian

Readers’ Choice

Madras Cafe

3092 Briarcliff Rd.

404-320-7120

Critics’ Choice

In the Shade

2329-B Cheshire Bridge Rd.

404-634-7411

Vietnamese

Readers’ Choice

Cha Gio

132 10th St., Midtown

404-885-9387

Pho Hoa

Asian Square Shopping Center

5150 Buford Hwy.

770-455-8729

Critics’ Choice

Bien Thuy

5095 Buford Hwy.

770-454-9046

Breakfast

Readers’ Choice

The Flying Biscuit

1655 McLendon Ave. Candler Park, 404-687-8888

Critics’ Choice

Java Jive

790 Ponce de Leon Ave.

404-876-6161

Hamburgers

Readers’ & Critics’ Choices

The Vortex

438 Moreland Ave. NE Little Five Points

404-688-1828

878 Peachtree St., Midtown

404-875-1667

Hot dogs

Readers’ Choice

The Varsity

61 North Ave.

404-881-1706

and other locations

Critics’ Choice

Euclid Avenue Yacht Club

1136 Euclid Ave., Little Five Points, 404-688-2582

Pizza

Readers’ Choice

Mellow Mushroom

931 Monroe Dr., 404-874-2291

and other locations

Critics’ Choice

Grant Central Pizza & Pasta

451 Cherokee Ave., Grant Park

404-523-8900

1279 Glenwood Ave. East Atlanta, 404-627-0007

Sandwiches

Readers’ Choice

Blimpie

Critics’ Choice

The New Yorker Deli

322 Pharr Rd., Buckhead

404-240-0260

and other locations

Soup

Readers’ Choice

Atlanta Bread Co.

231 Peachtree St., 404-688-6393

and other locations

Critics’ Choice

Jaqbo Pastry & Bread Co.

1093 Hemphill Ave., Home Park

404-873-1272

Wings

Readers’ Choice

Three Dollar Cafe

3002 Peachtree Rd., 404-266-8667

and other locations

Critics’ Choice

Bridgetown Grill

689 Peachtree St., Midtown

404-873-5361

and other locations

Margaritas

Readers’ Choice

Rio Bravo

3172 Roswell Rd., Buckhead

404-262-7431

and other locations

Critics’ Choice

El Myr

1091 Euclid Ave., Little Five Points, 404-588-0250

Tequila Bars

Readers’ Choice

Gecko Lounge

1053 N. Highland Ave.

Virginia-Highland

404-873-4449

Critics’ Choice

Zocalo Mexican Taqueria

187 10th St., Midtown

404-249-7576

Beer Selection

Readers’ Choice

Taco Mac

1006 N. Highland Ave.

Virginia-Highland

404-873-6529

and other locations

Critics’ Choice

The Brick Store Pub

125 E. Court Square, Decatur

404-687-0990

Brew pubs

Readers’ Choice

Rock Bottom Brewery

3242 Peachtree St., 404-264-0253

Critics’ Choice

John Harvard’s Brew Pub

3039 Peachtree Rd., Buckhead

404-816-2739

Best jazz club

Readers’ Choice

Sambuca Jazz Café

3102 Piedmont Road, Buckhead

404-237-5299

Critics’ Choice

Churchill Grounds

660 Peachtree St., Midtown

404-876-3030

Best blues club

Readers’ & Critics’ Choices

Blind Willie’s

828 N. Highland Ave.

404-873-2583

Best club to hear local bands

Readers’ Choice

Smith’s Olde Bar

1580 Piedmont Ave.

Ansley Park, 404-875-1522

Critics’ Choice

The Earl

488 Flat Shoals Ave. East Atlanta

404-522-3950

Best rock club

Readers’ Choices

Cotton Club

1021 Peachtree St., Midtown

404-815-7588

Echo Lounge

551 Flat Shoals Ave., East Atlanta

404-681-3600

Best acoustic music club

Readers’ & Critics’ Choices

Eddie’s Attic

515-B N. McDonough St.

Decatur

404-377-4976

Best latin club

Readers’ Choice

Havana Club

247 Buckhead Ave., Buckhead

404-869-8484