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(photo Courtesy of Steven Eubanks)

Got a very cool email yesterday.  Unfortunately, my throbbing head prevented me from putting together a coherent sentence, much less a full post.  Anyway, here’s the deal.  Playboy.com has a habit of putting together top lists, and Atlanta has a habit of showing up on them (Clermont Lounge anyone?).

This time around, they put together a Top 10 Diners List, and guess who made it? (The title didn’t give it away did it?).  That’s right … the Majestic Diner, a 24-hour drunken food haven on Ponce.  No word on whether or not P’boy took into account the new digs … which took the place from comfortably trashy to surprisingly clean.

Anywho, here is what America’s favorite … cough… Men’s Lifestyle Magazine had to say:

This Atlanta institution has been serving “food that pleases” under its Art Deco-style marquee’s blazing neon glow since 1929. The Majestic serves everything from cholesterol-threatening omelets and fist-thick burgers to blue plate specials and gyros. Red stools complement a red counter, while squeaky vinyl seats are well worn, providing cushy support for a multitude of derrières. The Majestic is located along a stretch of “Hot ‘Lanta” that’s resisted urban renewal, so the freaks do come out at night: college students, clubbers and other locals.

Be back with some more posts tomorrow, including the next installment of Inside The Chef’s Kitchen.

Majestic Diner Restaurant Address & Information

1031 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta, Georgia 30306 // 404.875.0273

This is one of those post-meal scribbles that makes me scratch my head.  Mind you, this has nothing to do with the topic at hand.  Instead, I’m wondering how it is possible that all these restaurants keep opening when heavyweights like The Dining Room and corporate backed endeavors like the ESPN Zone are shutting their doors faster than you can say “cheeseburger, cheeseburger.”

Who knows what this means for Fuze Burger, which opened its doors this past week.  All that aside, for me it’s about the food.  Early in, I’m not sure that the food at Fuze is good enough to draw customers from outside the Midtown adjunct of Poncey-Highlands.  Right now, they need to pick things up a bit just to draw people from the ‘hood.  Before we get our hands dirty, I must apologize for the poor pictures, I’m not very savory, and I was never spoon-fed.

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Okay, I swear to god people – I have no idea why all these burger joints are popping up on the scene.  And guess what? We have another one to add to the mix.  From what I have heard (though not from what I see), the opening of Fuze Burgers in Midtown Atlanta is imminent.

Located at 265 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Fuze is going in at the location previously occupied by Thai Palate.  Owner Eddie Hugh was the purveyor of Thai Palate, so it’s no surprise to see him still involved.  However, the transition from a mediocre (at best) Thai restaurant into a successful burger bar seems like a roll of the dice.  Still, we’ll wait and see what happens.

Besides Hugh, Jazmin Ho serves as the bar manager and Jack Kim is the GM.  The restaurant already has a facebook page, though not much is there.  One part restaurant, one part sports bar, the interior is being completely revamped to handle a full bar and 10 HD TVs.  The space is scheduled to hold 65 patrons in the general dining area with an additional 12 at the bar. 

It seems as if they were shooting for an opening sometime this week; however, I can’t tell if that’s likely.  Training was supposed to start last week yet they still have the windows papered up.  Will let ya’ll know when they finally open.

Fuze Burger Restaurant Address & Information

265 Ponce De Leon Ave, Atlanta, GA 30308 // 404.685.9988

-”Leslie is out of town, want to go get buck crazy?”

-”For realz, let’s do it!”

Okay, so maybe that isn’t exactly how things transpired; and no, we did not hit the bottle hardcore on a Wednesday night.  Instead, Chris and I took advantage of his temporary freedom and journeyed over to The Book House Pub on Ponce.  I think we would have been better off walking the extra steps to The Local.  This place looks like it could get lost between the Everyman appeal of the Brick Store and the Local, and the superior food over at The Porter.

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