Editor's Favorites: Jonathan Baker

112 Krog St NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 (map)

Kevin Rathbun won Iron Chef America this year--a badass title for a badass dude. His namesake restaurant, Rathbuns, is lodged sneaky-style in a stunning old warehouse in the back of Inman Park. The dining room doesn't make you feel like you have to wear a jacket and tie, but feels coolly-elegant at the same time. The menu is approachable and affordable for fine dining--my favorites include the eggplant steak fries and crab tart for apps, while the scallops hollandaise over country ham grits will send you to the moon.

1615 Memorial Dr, Atlanta, GA 30317 (map)

Ann's Snack Bar, a crumbled old shack off Memorial Drive is like the Varsity if the employees were older and strung out. Miss Ann has been running the joint by herself for 36 years, and you better play by her rules. Only 8 people allowed in the snack bar at once, no swearing and no cell phones. You misbehave, and the surly Miss Anne will boot you out. Her burgers are well worth the manners--a monstrosity of messiness named "The Best Hamburger in the US" by the Wall Street Journal. Sit back, be polite, and enjoy the show.

421 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30312 (map)

I hate eggs with a passion. And I know, as an American, by God, everyone is supposed to like eggs. As you can imagine, breakfast is one of the tougher meals for me to order. I'm usually just a coffee-only man in the morning, but when I want to splurge on AM goodness I like the hippy-dippy Ria's Bluebird for their pancakes and soysage. (Yes, the fake stuff might actually better than the real thing.) The pancakes are somehow skinny-yet-fluffy, the syrup comes out warm and a short stack clocks in under $5. Get me the sports page and I'm in weekend bliss.

10 Northside Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 (map)

Thanks to a tip from my foodie-friend Jennifer Zyman, I discovered Jamal's Buffalo Wings, just a block or two away from my loft in Castleberry Hill. Now, for some reason whenever I get pumped about watching a sporting event (Georgia football, Braves game, the Masters) on ye ol' plasma, I crave wings. And quite frankly, this is the way wings should be served--out of a free-standing building (think taco truck), in Styrofoam containers (to-go, cash only) and located by the Dome (wings = football). Other impressive stats: these jokers are of the smaller variety, rank as high on flavor as they do on the set-your-mouth-on-fire-o-meter, and are crispy to the point where the skin isn't soggy. Way to rock it, Jamal's.

45 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30308 (map)

Because Downtown is the new Midtown, baby. The fourth W Hotel in Atlanta, the Downtown location has the coolest design, the best restaurant in BLT Steak, the best new bar in Drinkshop and the only rooftop pool bar in town with Wetbar. The downside? Probably the worst valet (price and service) in the city. Total bush-league. Park in the $5 lot across the street to save some coin.

816 N Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306 (map)

My out-of-town guests tend to be night-crawling or indie rock types, so to show them a good time, I haul em' down to the 10 High on a Monday night for Metal Some Monday. This basement bar in Virginia Highland does live-band karaoke, blasting hair-metal hits from the 80's to an almost always sold out crowd. The band is stupid-accurate and has a giant book of songs. Those courageous enough to get on stage have a tendency to slay it, but a few bad seeds always give 'er a go--making for good comic relief.

647 Myrtle St., Atlanta, GA 30308 (map)

My favorite thing about ITP living is that the younger generation Atlantans, for the most part, don't give a sh*t. With restaurants, bars, music, entertainment, it's more about who you are, what your product really is, rather than your name or whether there are velvet ropes outside your place. Case in point: Top Flr. Isn't a NY transplant, isn't outrageously expensive, doesn't have a top name chef. But foodies and late night scenesters both love this place. Atlanta is good about embracing is real (Rathbuns, East Atlanta) and forgetting what isn't (Craft, Atlantic Station).