Vortex Bar & Grill

(404) 875-1667

878 Peachtree St
Atlanta, GA 30309 33.7788 -84.3844

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhoods: Midtown, Northeast, Northeast

www.thevortexbarandgrill.com

Hours:

Monday To Wednesday From 11:00 AM To 02:00 AM Thursday To Saturday From 11:00 AM To 03:00 AM Sunday From 11:00 AM To 12:00 AM

Price:

$

Last updated 10.15.11

Category:

Restaurants, Sports Bars, Bars & Pubs

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Notable Beer List

Restaurant Special Features:

Notable Beer List, Late Night Dining, Outdoor Dining, Lunch Spot, Cheap Eats, Bar Scene

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Hamburgers, Traditional American

Smoking Permitted:

Yes

What People Are Saying About Vortex Bar & Grill

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Sibling to the L5P location, the Midtown eatery attracts college crowds and boisterous groups with its retro ads, quirky knickknacks and laidback vibe. Burgers are the big draw: Choose anything from the Yokohama Mama to the Coronary bypass, but standards like a classic patty melt or a bacon cheeseburger are the best bet. If red meat is not your thing, try the turkey reuben or a veggie burger.

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
Hard liquor and a selection of draft and bottle beers are available.
ambiance
87.5% positive
  1. like the decor, but I am retro old guy with grey hair.
  2. Uptown is fun especially for it's niche audience, but here is a place that brings in comics of every color and stripe - even though they do seem to specialize in alternative comedy.
  3. It was my favorite then, and I still like their burgers today at the enlarged Peachtree location.
  4. but hate the atmosphere.
  5. finally visited the peachtree street location today after hearing that my quest to find the perfect burger would end here.
  6. This place is known for their wonderful burgers and cool atmosphere with the motorsycle hanging from the ceiling.
  7. The help were all uncaring kids under 25, the atmosphere was as unique as a TGIF and the food was terrible.
  8. have never had a bad meal out of the 40 or so I have had at the Midtown location.
  9. Good food, fun atmosphere
  10. The decor is fun and interesting and the bar-food menu is top notch --especially the burgers.
  11. Very cool atmosphere and the service is at top of things.
  12. like this location better because it has more of an urban feel.
  13. fun atmosphere, good bar food
  14. The servers are just plain cool (don't act like an idiot and the service is incredible, select people above), the atmosphere is intense, and the food is kickin' (try the tater-tots).
  15. Yes, the Vortex decor is interesting, albeit a tad junky, but that isn't enough to bring me back.
  16. It's a fun bar scene, the atsmoshere is a blast and the food is great for the price.
drinks
90.90999603271484% positive
  1. The decor is fun and interesting and the bar-food menu is top notch --especially the burgers.
  2. The best burgers in Atlanta, the coolest wait staff, an awesome bar, and the best venue for comedy.
  3. This is a great place to get a decent meal, a good drink and to hang with your friends.
  4. **. Not only is it one of the cheaper places to eat - it is by far the best burger/bar in the midtown area.
  5. make a special trip to midtown at least one a month to go to grab the best chicken sand in the world, tater tots, and a beer.
  6. The staff is friendly and inviting, and the waitresses are extremely attractive and serve strong, stiff drinks.
  7. My favorite place in Atlanta to sip a beer and eat a burger.
  8. The burgers are average, the beer selection is average, the staff is unacceptable!
  9. fun atmosphere, good bar food
  10. The best burgers, bar food, and beer selection if you like a different kind of place.
  11. It's a fun bar scene, the atsmoshere is a blast and the food is great for the price.
food quality
87.72000312805176% positive
  1. The best burgers in Atlanta, the coolest wait staff, an awesome bar, and the best venue for comedy.
  2. My favorite place in Atlanta to sip a beer and eat a burger.
  3. Great burgers
  4. fun atmosphere, good bar food
  5. Even my mistakenly-medium burger wasn't juicy at all.
  6. Good food, fun atmosphere
  7. It was my favorite then, and I still like their burgers today at the enlarged Peachtree location.
  8. While I still think it's a great burger, it has, in my humble estimation, fallen to third (no slouch in that, is there?)
  9. **. Not only is it one of the cheaper places to eat - it is by far the best burger/bar in the midtown area.
  10. Vortex Bar & Grill has fabulous burgers and fabulous sides
  11. The best burgers, bar food, and beer selection if you like a different kind of place.
  12. The waiters keep getting more rude everytime and the food is below average at best.
  13. They have yummy burgers and the fondue w/ tots is the best.
  14. The help were all uncaring kids under 25, the atmosphere was as unique as a TGIF and the food was terrible.
  15. If you want the best burger, this is where you need to go.
  16. love the food and the service is usually good so I would recommend the Vortex to my friends that are visiting Atlanta and to attendees of Dragon*Con.
  17. The decor is fun and interesting and the bar-food menu is top notch --especially the burgers.
  18. love it cause right there on the menu it tells you where you can stick it if you don't like the food.
  19. First, I love the Vortex's brash approach to eat-it-or-leave-it cuisine - it's refreshing, entertaining and, for some reason, likable.
  20. Where to get a burger that's juicy burger and tastes like somebody gives a rat's azz?
  21. The staff are funky and really nice and the food is amazing.
  22. This place is known for their wonderful burgers and cool atmosphere with the motorsycle hanging from the ceiling.
  23. Great Burgers and sandwiches and their fried zucchini appetizer i.
  24. have never had a bad meal out of the 40 or so I have had at the Midtown location.
  25. The servers are just plain cool (don't act like an idiot and the service is incredible, select people above), the atmosphere is intense, and the food is kickin' (try the tater-tots).
  26. Multiple options for burgers and the other sandwiches are equally good.
  27. This is a great place to get a decent meal, a good drink and to hang with your friends.
  28. It's a fun bar scene, the atsmoshere is a blast and the food is great for the price.
  29. Best sides and best burgers!
  30. love the chicken sandwhi.
  31. The burgers are great, I prefer the Rajin Cajun myself.
  32. If you don't like red meat you can substitue chicken of vegie for all of the different burger options.
  33. There are plenty of tasty options for those people that don't eat red meat and even more for those that do.
  34. If you really want a good burger, please go to any of the following joints: Fuddruckers, Sonic for the Super Sonic Buger, Hardees for the 1/2 lb angus, and Wendy's for the Classic Triple.
  35. The burgers, both beef & veggie, are always great.
  36. finally visited the peachtree street location today after hearing that my quest to find the perfect burger would end here.
  37. In short, the burger and fries were not fresh and had no flavor.
  38. had a great experience; good food, and our server did a great job of popping up at the exact right times.
  39. Vortex has great burgers acording to my friends, and from someone who doesn't eat red meat vortex has the best turkey burgers I have ever eaten.
  40. The Midtown Vortex can't compete with the local character of its Little Five Points relation, but it can compete with its equally good food and service.
  41. good food
  42. Though the fries are good, try the fried zucchini or the tater tots, they're better.
  43. The food was excellent, but my alergies can't handle the piles of cigarette smoke.
  44. make a special trip to midtown at least one a month to go to grab the best chicken sand in the world, tater tots, and a beer.
  45. Great burger joint with a huge menu of food.
  46. Fun atmoshere and the best burgers
  47. I'm fully aware that it takes a while to cook good food, but c'mon.
  48. The Vortex is a great burger place in Little Five Points.
  49. The attitude is badass and the food, especially the burgers, is excellent.
  50. love their food, great services.
  51. best burgers in Atlanta!
  52. As a business owner myself I personally think that know matter how much the food cost, you should receive good service.
  53. We have been to others, and it is a little trip from Sandy Springs, but we love the burgers and the staff.
  54. My new spot for pretty good food and 20yr port!
  55. The burgers are average, the beer selection is average, the staff is unacceptable!
  56. This really is, in my opinion the best place to get a burger in all of Atlanta.
  57. Yes, yes, yes, the Vortex is known for its burgers but honestly good burgers aren't that hard to find.
menu variety
70.0% positive
  1. We love the smart mouthed menu.
  2. There are plenty of tasty options for those people that don't eat red meat and even more for those that do.
  3. The burgers are average, the beer selection is average, the staff is unacceptable!
  4. The best burgers, bar food, and beer selection if you like a different kind of place.
  5. If you don't like red meat you can substitue chicken of vegie for all of the different burger options.
  6. Great burger joint with a huge menu of food.
  7. Multiple options for burgers and the other sandwiches are equally good.
  8. The decor is fun and interesting and the bar-food menu is top notch --especially the burgers.
  9. love it cause right there on the menu it tells you where you can stick it if you don't like the food.
  10. The staff are much nicer than the menu implies, and as with all good midtown restaraunts - the staff is great viewing entertainment.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. This is just an all-around great place to go to hang out with a group of friends (wouldn't advise families with little kids though).
  2. It a great place to stop before catching a show at the Tabernacle or whatever your next Mid/Downtown destination will be.
  3. This WAS a great place but unfortunately has steadily gone downhill.
  4. Anyway, I honestly think the Vortex is a good place to eat.
  5. It's a great place to start off with if headed to a concert, etc.
  6. This is a great place to get a decent meal, a good drink and to hang with your friends.
  7. The best burgers, bar food, and beer selection if you like a different kind of place.
  8. The Vortex is a great burger place in Little Five Points.
  9. This really is, in my opinion the best place to get a burger in all of Atlanta.
service
59.26000118255615% positive
  1. To make matters worse, the service is HORRIBLE!
  2. The staff are all rude idiots.
  3. The staff are much nicer than the menu implies, and as with all good midtown restaraunts - the staff is great viewing entertainment.
  4. The servers are just plain cool (don't act like an idiot and the service is incredible, select people above), the atmosphere is intense, and the food is kickin' (try the tater-tots).
  5. The Midtown Vortex can't compete with the local character of its Little Five Points relation, but it can compete with its equally good food and service.
  6. The staff is friendly and inviting, and the waitresses are extremely attractive and serve strong, stiff drinks.
  7. We have been to others, and it is a little trip from Sandy Springs, but we love the burgers and the staff.
  8. The waiters keep getting more rude everytime and the food is below average at best.
  9. The burgers are average, the beer selection is average, the staff is unacceptable!
  10. Don't expect happy service with a smile, it ain't gonna happen.
  11. There is no excuse for bad service!
  12. The staff is Incredibly rude.
  13. Absolutely rude rude rude!
  14. had a great experience; good food, and our server did a great job of popping up at the exact right times.
  15. Very cool atmosphere and the service is at top of things.
  16. As a business owner myself I personally think that know matter how much the food cost, you should receive good service.
  17. Okay, so maybe some people don't like the Vortex and some people get bad service.
  18. The best burgers in Atlanta, the coolest wait staff, an awesome bar, and the best venue for comedy.
  19. know this place is not known for its great service.
  20. From the perspective of someone who has worked in restaurants for several years as a server and bartender, this place is great.
  21. had a blast, my co workers and I went for my birthday and I had a great time my waiter sucked but the bartenders made up for it.
  22. I've been in there at least a dozen times, and the service has always been exceptionally slow- even by Atlanta's standards.
  23. love the food and the service is usually good so I would recommend the Vortex to my friends that are visiting Atlanta and to attendees of Dragon*Con.
  24. My only negative comment is that the service was a little slow.
  25. There are plenty of tasty options for those people that don't eat red meat and even more for those that do.
  26. The staff are funky and really nice and the food is amazing.
  27. have always received great service--prompt and surprisingly friendly.
value
100.0% positive
  1. Great burger joint with a huge menu of food.
  2. And all for amazingly good prices.
  3. It's a fun bar scene, the atsmoshere is a blast and the food is great for the price.
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. I've been in there at least a dozen times, and the service has always been exceptionally slow- even by Atlanta's standards.
  2. My only negative comment is that the service was a little slow.
1 Star Rating: Poor

12/31/11

Vortex Midtown - What a let Down pure seedy and disappointin

by jilljensens

Me think not. How appropriate summary for that establishment. Not sure how they got the good reviews, if that were their buddies or now, but our experience was anything but good. The restaurant felt seedy with pictures of nude women in the bar and wait staff that was very "up -nosed" and overall provided bad service. They do have a very large nice bar, but again, the service was slow and not very good, so if you are ok with slow and not so good service, you will get decent burgers and fries - that is all I can say about the food - then you're ok. It felt like a college bar where the beers should be $1.50, but they were not, so in summary, we did not have a good experience at all, which is strange since The Vortex has a good reputation.

3 Star Rating: Average

11/08/10

Good Burgers

by RoslynWhitesel

This place has the best tasting burgers, but I hate the fact that it is really greasy. The service isn't all that great, they are slow with orders, and not all that friendly. Outside of that I mean its a good place to hang out, there are always people there, and the vibe is good.

1 Star Rating: Poor

09/18/10

RUDE! NEVER GO HERE!

by bradleywestmoreland

I just called to place a to go order because I have a broken hand and live a block away. The guy that answered they phone snapped at me and said he wouldn't take a to go order because he was too busy -- and the hung up the phone on me. I will never EVER patronize this establishment. If you want a good burger, go to Houston's!!!

4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/14/10

My visit to this restaurant really made my day.

by kriordan

I have always loved burgers. I liked the succulent taste of burgers in this restaurant. They offer different variations which I love. My visit to this restaurant really made my day.

1 Star Rating: Poor

05/01/10

SUB STANDARD FOOD, EVEN WORSE EMPLOYEES

by XF

Do not buy the hype and gimmick - Vortex is TERRIBLE! The food is sub-standard bar food at best. Their burgers are one step above McDonalds and their fries are equivalent to microwavable fries (McDonalds fries are actually better). In short, the burger and fries were not fresh and had no flavor. To make matters worse, the service is HORRIBLE! The hostess (or one of) is rude, condescending, and in my experience, racist! When I complained to the manager, he told me I was being ridiculous. I would never go back to Vortex again! When visiting Atlanta, I highly recommend you avoid this trashy and smoke filled place. There are a lot of other restaurants in the area worthy of your business. Also, if you are going with a GROUP, this is definetly NOT the place for you - they will not seat you unless everyone in your party is present. They refuse to allow you to change your party size once you've given it to them, so you're definitely out of luck if someone decides not to show up. They will not seat you! As ridiculous as it might appear, this is apparently their policy! Dining at Vortex is THE WORST dining experience I have ever had! I'm giving it a one star, but only because I can't give it a ZERO STAR.

  • Pros: Nothing!
  • Cons: Food, Service/Employees, Atmosphere, Bad for groups

The Details on Vortex Bar & Grill

Place Categories:

  • best burgers
  • great burger place
  • good bar food
  • great service
  • interesting vortex decor
  • rude staff
  • very cool fun atmosphere
  • not juicy mistakenlymedium burger
  • cool venue
  • huge smart mouthed menu
  • rude
  • not like food
  • never bad meal
  • equally good multiple options
  • good fries
  • love vortex
  • rude idiots
  • sucked waiter
  • good drink
  • best fondue w tots
  • like kinda
  • always great beef
  • always great veggie
  • good midtown
  • best beer
Advertisement

Featured In

Recent Reviews In Atlanta

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

The Warren City Club

818 N Highland Avenue, Atlanta, GA

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

Nakato Japanese Restaurant

1776 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

The Original El Taco

1186 N Highland Ave, Atlanta, GA

1 Star Rating: Poor

Grand China Restaurant

2975 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA

Advertisement