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870 Highland Avenue (Drewry Street)
Atlanta, GA 30306 33.778488 -84.352891

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Neighborhoods: Virginia Highland, Northeast, Northeast

Last updated 6.24.09

Category:

Bars & Clubs, Restaurants

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Diesel

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – The blue painted brick walls, steel-topped bar and grease-rag napkins fit appropriately in what was once a Virginia Highlands filling station, and the menu helps brand it as a better-than-average gastropub. Classic bar options are gussied up with pleasant surprises -- the burger comes topped with a tart n' crunchy fried green tomato and zesty horseradish sauce, french fries are perfectly skinny and roadside sliders get an intelligent upgrade with Italian sausage and mozzarella cheese.  Despite the high quality easy-eats, steer clear of the ambitious main…

Editor's Tips

Where to Sit:
Opt for the covered patio for the genuine "road-side" experience.
Parking:
No parking lot available on premises. Typically there are some pay-parking lots nearby but try to find a spot down a neighborhood street and enjoy the stroll.
Know Before You Go:
Stick with the classics and share a few of them. The portions are generous and often bread-heavy
The Extras:
Diesel boasts a later than usual closing time of 3 a.m. (the kitchen is open 'til 1a.m. for late night bites)
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Cool atmosphere”
  2. “The hole in the wall bar atmosphere was OK and pretty much what we expected and the staff seemed friendly enough, but when it came to the food it turned south pretty quick.”
  3. “our server was fun, the food came quick, all and”
  4. “Great location, and good for people watching.”
  5. “Just as before, the initial atmosphere seemed more fitting for a bar in little 5 (I was there around 11), but the staff was friendly.”
drinks
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “Always loved the Highlands, and I'm excited to find a new place to hang out and eat some good bar food.”
  2. “The drinks were pretty good.”
  3. “cheap place to grab a cheap beer, get drunk, and order a burger!”
  4. “Great beer prices, especially on the buckets.”
  5. “The general look and feel of the place is "dumpy, dirty college bar.”
  6. “was greeted with a sign that said "Seat Yourself", So I sat at the bar, and cleared a nasty spot.”
  7. “The beer was reasonable and the service was OK.”
  8. “The patio there was nice, but belly up at the bar is the way to go.”
  9. “-if your looking for great food not just bar food and good beer and great personalitys you need to check this place out.”
  10. “an industrial looking place with food and drinks and a great patio.”
  11. “At least the beer was cold.”
  12. “Just as before, the initial atmosphere seemed more fitting for a bar in little 5 (I was there around 11), but the staff was friendly.”
  13. “The hole in the wall bar atmosphere was OK and pretty much what we expected and the staff seemed friendly enough, but when it came to the food it turned south pretty quick.”
  14. “Its okay for them to take your $$ but if the jack*ss behind the bar doesn't like what your buying he can just skip it.”
  15. “inquired, only to be told my an obnoxious barkeep that "_ doesn't get played in this bar, and _doesn't get played in this bar.”
food quality
73.08000087738037% positive
  1. “The fried green tomato burger was merely acceptable, but where was the fried green tomato?”
  2. “Nor did I taste the soggy limp cold fries.”
  3. “-if your looking for great food not just bar food and good beer and great personalitys you need to check this place out.”
  4. “Even the fries were inedible.”
  5. “All I remembered was the calamai had a tasty sauce, but it was like rubber, no crunch.”
  6. “cheap place to grab a cheap beer, get drunk, and order a burger!”
  7. “Never had a bad meal, from appetizers on through the entrees.”
  8. “and some a delicious sauce.”
  9. “The hole in the wall bar atmosphere was OK and pretty much what we expected and the staff seemed friendly enough, but when it came to the food it turned south pretty quick.”
  10. “Always loved the Highlands, and I'm excited to find a new place to hang out and eat some good bar food.”
  11. “While the service was good, the food was not so good.”
  12. “an industrial looking place with food and drinks and a great patio.”
  13. “our server was fun, the food came quick, all and”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “-if your looking for great food not just bar food and good beer and great personalitys you need to check this place out.”
  2. “We were Dish regulars and she wanted to see what has become of our favorite restaurant.”
  3. “We've watched Diesel evolve into the great place that it is now.”
service
78.33000183105469% positive
  1. “The beer was reasonable and the service was OK.”
  2. “Great location, and good for people watching.”
  3. “Just as before, the initial atmosphere seemed more fitting for a bar in little 5 (I was there around 11), but the staff was friendly.”
  4. “While the service was good, the food was not so good.”
  5. “The waitress was nice however, her ChickenPotPie recommendation left us wondering what she eats at home.”
  6. “our server was fun, the food came quick, all and”
  7. “The hole in the wall bar atmosphere was OK and pretty much what we expected and the staff seemed friendly enough, but when it came to the food it turned south pretty quick.”
  8. “The hamburger was acceptable; however, the service was very slow and obviously untrained.”
  9. “Our server was nice.”
  10. “that's what I'd call some poor customer service.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “cheap place to grab a cheap beer, get drunk, and order a burger!”
  2. “Great beer prices, especially on the buckets.”
wait time
77.77999877929688% positive
  1. “The hole in the wall bar atmosphere was OK and pretty much what we expected and the staff seemed friendly enough, but when it came to the food it turned south pretty quick.”
  2. “our server was fun, the food came quick, all and”
  3. “The hamburger was acceptable; however, the service was very slow and obviously untrained.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/21/09

No Axe to Grind here

by Longshoe

We go to Diesel 2-3 times per week after moving to the Highlands last November. We've watched Diesel evolve into the great place that it is now.

The menu has become outstanding, even though I liked it at the beginning. Never had a bad meal, from appetizers on through the entrees. I think we've tried just about everything on the menu at this point. Favorites are the se7en sandwich, Chicken PotPie, and Meatloaf.

Great beer prices, especially on the buckets. This is the only place I've seen with 16 oz cans of Yuengling.

Everyone is easygoing and fun to hang out with, from the bartenders to the staff.

Never had a bad time in there. It's a shame some people can't get over that the last restaurant in that space closed down and want to rip the new one. I just don't get all the hate, everyone that we've taken there has enjoyed it and gone back on their own.

  • Pros: Prices, great food, excellent service
  • Cons: Parking can be an issue sometimes
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/27/09

Diesel Rulz

by tigergirl9000

I came into your bar for Bloody Bingo last Monday. It was so much fun! I thought the bartender was going to be mean,....she never smiles, but as the night went on she was SUPER nice! My boyfriend and i will be back next Monday! I love the prime number game! Your bingo guy is SO funny and the prizes RULE! i won twice! Cant wait to see what totally bloody movie is playing tonight! WOO HOO BLOODY BINGO IS AWESOME!

  • Pros: Fun and NOT stuffy
  • Cons: Didnt want to leave
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/16/09

Give it a second chance...

by DWatson1

I have been frequenting the VA-Hi's for upwards of 6 years now, and was intrigued when this bar originally opened. I had never been to dish, so had no expectations going into it. The first couple times I went, the menu did leave quite a lot to be desired, but dropped in a couple weeks back to find a new culinary and beer menu. I tried their grilled cheese that came with a ton of cheeses, some bacon, a poached egg? and some a delicious sauce. I thought it was pricey at $9, but after getting it, I was quite pleased. I couldn't even begin to eat the fries, I was so full.

Just as before, the initial atmosphere seemed more fitting for a bar in little 5 (I was there around 11), but the staff was friendly. The bartender was funny, and kept me entertained the whole time. I was by myself, which is sometimes ackward for me at a bar, but he made sure to include me in a conversation with some of his apparent regulars.

As for the cons, when I went a few months back for lunch, i saw a family come in, and left pretty quickly because of the "smokers". I have never understood bringing your kids to a bar and complaining about it, but whatever. The parking is limited to about 7 or 8 spaces in front, but there is a super secret back parking lot that NO ONE ever parks in. shhhhhh...

Anyways, I'd say this place has much improved, and just wanted to put up a positive review explaining it. I'll be going back on a more regular basis.

  • Pros: new updated menu, late night atmosphere
  • Cons: not family friendly, limited parking
1 Star Rating: Poor

04/17/09

Ick

by cagefighter

I have registered on as many websites as possible to add this review. The restaurant is dirty. The patio is a dusty, rusty, weathered splintery affair. Not in a cute Key West kind of way. Just in a falling apart, nobody cared to clean up kind of way. The waitress was nice however, her ChickenPotPie recommendation left us wondering what she eats at home. It was a gray, gelatinous blob of literally unidentifiable bits with two burned refrigerator biscuits plopped on top. Yummy. And not in a "that was great, can't wait to have more" kind of way but in a "gross me" out kind of way. I should say too that my husband did not even finish his burger. How in heaven's name can a bar mess up a hamburger? At least the beer was cold. Wait.....

  • Pros: Pros - I hear the beer is cold
  • Cons: Cons - Everything else
4 Star Rating: Recommended

02/20/09

Get the Burger!

by threems

I am new to the highlands area....and I have found my fav burger!

So far I have had the burger prepared basic with just cheese -

and again last night with chili, cheese & bacon....."To Die For!"

It came perfectly cooked.....ooey, gooey, cheesy..yum! We enjoy

our visits that have now become weekly thanks to my SO;s need

for a good Trivia game! I also had a taste of the meatloaf.....as

good as moms! our server was fun, the food came quick, all and

all no complaints. We cant wait for spring so we can try out the patio!

  • Pros: The Atmosphere....way cool!
  • Cons: parking

The Details on Diesel

Place Categories:

  • cold beer
  • obviously untrained customer service
  • nice patio
  • favorite restaurant
  • mediocre place
  • nice server
  • friendly staff
  • merely acceptable fried green tomato burger
  • cold fries
  • great bar food
  • bad meal
  • fave early haunts
  • beautiful sunday afternoon
  • good service
  • obnoxious barkeep
  • awesome hoo bloody bingo
  • nasty spot
  • great location
  • great beer prices
  • order short ribs
  • nearly inedible tuna melt
  • pretty good drinks
  • dirty college bar
  • great resturaunt
  • delicious sauce