Vortex Bar & Grill

02/06/10

Why all the accolades?

by KarenSieczka at Citysearch

All I have heard is Vortex, Vortex for best hamburgers in Atlanta. When I hear that I always take it with a grain of salt considering who is heaping on the accolades. I was pretty disappointed when we ate there yesterday. It was quiet after the lunch rush yet it took at least 10 minutes for waitress to come introduce herself and take our drink order.

We ordered two burgers exactly the same except for I wanted mine medium well, the hubs got his cooked medium. When gent from the kitchen delivered our order, he specifically asked who got the medium and who got the medium well burger. Okay, great I thought (attention to detail) until I got half-way through the burger and thought hey this isn't cooked very evenly since I discovered some major pink in the center of the burger. We then realized our burgers were mixed up but by then the hubs had already scarfed up half of his burger. He thought his burger was nicely seasoned but on the dry side. Even my mistakenly-medium burger wasn't juicy at all. The requisite fries were nothing to write home about.

I have had much better, juicier burgers at Five Guys and at a little hole in the wall in Cleveland, GA called Yonah Burger.

Yes, the Vortex decor is interesting, albeit a tad junky, but that isn't enough to bring me back. Atlanta has so many places to eat that we are going to try some others. Why bother with just mediocre?

• Pros: Okay hamburger meat
• Cons: Long wait, easy order mixed up

05/03/09

Food is great...but hate the atmosphere...

by mcfelis at Citysearch

There was quite a wait, so we grabbed a seat at the bar and ate there. The food was excellent, but my alergies can't handle the piles of cigarette smoke. I will go back, but it will probably be on an "Annual Basis" rather than monthly.

• Pros: Great Burger and even better Wings
• Cons: Smoking Allowed and Encouraged

03/15/09

NOW HAS AN ALTERNATIVE COMEDY CLUB?!

by JixyHix at Citysearch

The Laughing Skull Lounge, gives us something that Atlanta has needed for a very long time. An actual comedy club in town that caters to all audiences. 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.

It was once used for Guitar Hero parties, and the Dames A'flame burlesque, but is now a self-described "progressive comedy lounge" with a cash bar inside the lounge preventing you from leaving.

What is absolutely awesome about the place, is it's intimate nature. other than the few places that have one off comedy nights in the metro area it's impossible to find a better place with closer quarters to nationally touring professional comedians Thursday through Sunday. I've seen Maria Bamford, Rick Overton, Emo Philips, and Donnell Rawlings in a matter of a month and a half. And all for amazingly good prices.

What's even better is that it is directly connected to The Vortex Midtown. The best burgers in Atlanta, the coolest wait staff, an awesome bar, and the best venue for comedy.

I was even more so excited to hear that all shows are 18+ so any of the surrounding college students can come and get a taste of comedy performances from the best in the business, without having to pay high prices to get into one man shows at The Tabernacle.

I suggest the place to anyone and everyone who is a comedy fan. I even heard they are starting an open mic on wednesday for those intown who want to take part in pursuing a funny career.

• Pros: Intimate comedy venue at the best burger place in Atlanta
• Cons: No food allowed inside, the club.