So July is hot and we didn’t want to walk too much in this heat, so we decided to visit the Midtown Mile, home to many amazing food locales, great shopping and generally cool stuff, but also home to … our office! Dawn and team all have their own Midtown Mile experience to share, please enjoy.
Baraonda
By Dawn Landau
This is our “home away from home” for affordable, great food when we don’t want to cook. It’s located at 3rd and Peachtree a block away from the Fox Theater (more on that in a minute). Full disclosure, we had our wedding rehearsal dinner here and have been regulars for years so I’m probably a bit biased. Terry and I get incredible service from Rich and Andrew (Drew), the bartenders who we’ve known for years.
So, about the food….we generally each get a Rucola (arugula) salad and then share the Margherita pizza. Terry occasionally ventures off the norm. I’ll let him elaborate below 
I could eat this salad every day of the week! 
They add sautéed shallots, a tiny bit of diced prosciutto and big shavings of parm. It’s tossed with a very light lemon dressing. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!!
They have a brick pizza oven that produces the best light, crispy crust in town. That’s why I like the simplest of pies. Once we even took tomatoes from our garden and they topped it with them.
Rich is the wine manager so he usually grabs a current favorite for us. He has wine dinners the last Thursday of every month. Get on his mailing list at rstradtman@yahoo.com. Last but not least, check the Fox show schedule before heading over. You are almost always safe after 8 PM but if you dine earlier, DO NOT show up for dinner the same night as a show anytime before 8, 8:30 is even better. That gives the staff a minute to get things back together after the pre-theater crowd.
Terry adds:
Although we normally get the same thing for dinner here, Arugula Salad and Margherita Pizza, I love their Petite Filet and the Lasagna. Plus they have great seafood. Rich has won several cocktail competitions and has shared some of his favorites with us, yum. Great place and amazing staff!
Check out the Baraonda website to see what’s going on and check out their menu.
The Vortex
By Briana Holmes
The first time I stepped foot into The Vortex, I can’t lie – I was kinda shocked. This 21 and up restaurant (yes, you read that correctly) doesn’t hold back on the décor or the best burgers I’ve ever had in my entire life. I am 100% okay admitting that I’m probably addicted to my fave: the rebel outlaw. The hilarious house rules make the burger spot even more amazing. Great drink prices, wonderful customer service, and a comedy club in the back just add to to all of the great things The Vortex offers. Seriously I tell everyone about this place, and I’m a picky eater. PS: they have funnel cake fries that melt in your mouth.
So what have we learned? Put down the kale, pick up a burger, invite me, and head to The Vortex for lunch, dinner, or drinks!
Check out the Vortex website for location and parking info as well as menus.
Le Macaron
By Briana Holmes
♫ French music playing in the background ♫ … Once upon a time I walked into the cutest little bakery on Peachtree Street. I was welcomed by warm faces, perfectly chilled air, and scents that make you close your eyes and smile. And that’s when I saw my favorite french pastry in multiple flavors. I wanted one of everything, but my friends pulled me away after picking out ten (I like to eat… a lot).
Nevertheless, if you’re a french macaron type of person this is the place for you. With delectable flavors, charming customer service, and pretty good prices (they were way cheaper than I expected my macarons to be), Le Macaron – French Pastries is a wonderful little getaway while walking the Midtown Mile. They also have some amazing gelato and the cutest décor inside too. Make sure you take moment and have a quick trip to Paris at Le Macaron!
And to learn more, check out the Le Macaron (Atlanta) website.
Café Intermezzo
By Paige Stills
The original Café Intermezzo opened its’ doors in 1971, in Dunwoody. But, it is relatively new to Midtown, having opened in 2013. Located at the corner of Peachtree Street and 11th Street, it has the similar appeal of a European street café or coffee house. I really can envision myself sipping espressos here on a two-hour lunch break…not really, as my lunch break is on the endangered list. But, I can still imagine that this would be the place where that could happen!
With over 70 pastries and a beverage book of over 800 selections, what’s not to love? They offer a variety of breakfast, lunch and dinners, as well. Try their breakfast crepe with Monterrey jack, gouda and cheddar cheeses…and an espresso, of course.
Learn more about their menu and history on their website.
Ri Ra Irish Pub
By Paige Stills
Located at the corner of Crescent Avenue and 12th Street, you cannot miss Ri-Ra. Boasting an elaborate mahogany wood bar and crystal chandeliers, you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time and into a grand, old Irish pub. I usually sit outside on the patio, and never realized how large the dining area is inside. It can accommodate a private party of 120 people!
Ri-Ra is the perfect tavern to socialize with friends, have lunch or dinner. My favorite appetizer is the Salmon and Soaked Soda Bread with whiskey chive butter and fresh dill. But, my favorite entree is the Shepherd’s Pie with braised lamb, leeks, onions, peas, carrots, fresh herbs, mashed potato crust. Don’t forget to ask Alisa to make you a Bloody Mary—delicious.
Hooray for RI-Ra! Learn more about them at their website.