Vortex Bar & Grill

Recommends

Michael E.

Joined 2 months ago

I love the Vortex. First, I love the Vortex's brash approach to eat-it-or-leave-it cuisine - it's refreshing, entertaining and, for some reason, likable.

Me and some of my lovely lady friends from work decided to go for lunch today (we were all a little hung over from Mama Mia the night before - darling can't you hear me? SOS!) We asked for a seat on the patio - it was an absolutely lovely day and I would assume lots of people would want to sit outside. We were seated but had to wait about 10 minutes before anyone greeted the table. We were there early - 11:15ish - so perhaps they weren't fully staffed for lunch yet, but it still seemed painfully long and this is one of my biggest dining pet peeves.

Once we did order (Kelly P. was feeling spunky, too, so she proceeded to order the most disgusting thing I've ever seen - a burger with bacon, peanut butter and bananas - ICK!), our appetizer came out BEFORE our drinks (which followed about 10 minutes after). It seemed odd to me that drinks were not delivered first but, hey, that's just me. We all proceeded to eat chips and salsa without even a glass of water to wash it down.

Another friend ordered the bison burger, medium-well. "Have you even had bison before?" the waitress snapped rather shortly. I know she was only asking because bison shouldn't be cooked past medium for optimum flavor, but I think she could have been a little nicer about it.

The waitress then proceeded to apologize for being behind, which I appreciated - at least she acknowledged it which gets her points.

So, it started it a little rough but, in the end, it all came down to the burger which was yummy, as always - one of the best in the city. I even ate everyone's tomatoes (wimps!), so if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.

Vortex - an Atlanta classic that I will continue to patronize despite a few characteristically endearing flaws.

Now, I think I'll go pick a fight with someone in Accounting.

Doesn't Recommend

jillian09

Joined 5 years ago

avoid late night service. I live 1 block away and continue to visit the vortex during "hours of operation" as posted on their website and they refuse to serve food. I will never go there again.

Doesn't Recommend

mashka00

Joined 6 years ago

only idiots work there. Everyone is right about the LOUSY service. The staff are all rude idiots. I've run into some elsewhere over the years at a popular local hangout and they are the biggest losers! They think that they are the so cool 'cause they work at the Vortex (that's their claim to fame). RIGHT! You have to be a complete idiot to work there...obviously they can't work anywhere else. Hope the Vortex offers a pension fund for them. The food? It's okay but I can get food that is comparable elsewhere and not have to deal with those moronic losers! I think that all the positive reviews of this place must have been written by the staff!

Doesn't Recommend

sheedaha

Joined 5 years ago

Waiters treat you like animals.. The waiters and management treat you like an animal. The serve you when they feel like it. Don't ask for condiments, they may tell you off. The food and drink was average. I know this place is not known for its great service. But the way they treat you is almost dehumanizing and no paying customer should leave an establishment feeling like this. The waiter and management will threaten to call the cops on you if you didn't leave an 18% required gratuity after being treated like horribly. I will never eat here again.

Recommends

ladieswholunch

Joined 6 years ago

Best Buger Around. What a great buger joint! Great for lunch. We love the smart mouthed menu. The staff are much nicer than the menu implies, and as with all good midtown restaraunts - the staff is great viewing entertainment. Our only regret on this top notch burger place? That you can't share it with the under 18 crowd - who would SO appreciate the sarcastic decor and menu!

Recommends

ian1979

Joined 8 years ago

Best Burgers and beer selection in town!!. Can pick from several different beers and ways to make my burger.

Very cool atmosphere and the service is at top of things.

Recommends

vladtheimpaler

Joined 6 years ago

Great hangout. We have been to others, and it is a little trip from Sandy Springs, but we love the burgers and the staff. If I wanted neat and tidy I would go to the local hospital for some water!

Doesn't Recommend

battlecity

Joined 6 years ago

Just Uneventful. I beginning to think all the great reviews of this place is written by the management, staff, and friends of theirs. I just don't get it. The place looks like a kid place from the outside, and a messy toddler room in the inside. So why all the kid bashing . The food is average. The staff is Incredibly rude. As a business owner myself I personally think that know matter how much the food cost, you should receive good service. There is no excuse for bad service!!! Especially in a city where there is fierce competition. I could care less if kids are there or not, and don't understand how that is selling point. Everyone under the age of 25 basically acts the same anyways. The burgers are average, the beer selection is average, the staff is unacceptable!!

Recommends

sayslauren

Joined 6 years ago

Love it!. This really is, in my opinion the best place to get a burger in all of Atlanta. The staff are funky and really nice and the food is amazing. I really like that you can get any of their burgers with beef, turkey, chicken, bison, veggie, and whatever other kind of meat options they have. It's really nice when I go out to eat with my vegitarian friend for her to have so many options. The best part is it's 18 and up all day so you dont have to worry about yelling kids running around while you eat.

Recommends

stazza

Joined 6 years ago

If you must eat something deep-fried in Atlanta.... Yes, yes, yes, the Vortex is known for its burgers but honestly good burgers aren't that hard to find.

But if you've already tried the burger and fries at the Vortex, try something beer-battered next time, like the onion rings or the fish & chips, or order the fish & chips and substitute onion rings for the fries.

When you bite into the onion rings or fish & chips at the Vortex, your mouth fills with beer-scented steam.

Now I've had beer-battered things before that didn't taste anything of beer but at the Vortex, you can tell there's beer in the batter.