I recently visited Atlanta for the winter wholesale gift/retail market.  As I usually do when traveling, I wanted to check out some new places to eat. 

My favorite meal of the day is would have to be breakfast.  First, because it’s the only meal that both savory and sweet play major roles  Sticky sweet pancakes and pastry are equally at home and expected as are savory omelets, eggs and meats.  Second, it’s comforting.  There’s something about breakfast that makes it a perfect “comfort food”.  Third, it’s inexpensive in relation to other meals.  Finally, it’s great anytime of the day!   (Which although I have a disdain for chain restaurants, do admit to a guilty pleasure of enjoying Sonic Drive-In.  What’s not to love about a place you can get a breakfast burrito, crispy tater tots and hot coffee anytime of the day???)

My first breakfast stop was The Social House,  a fairly new restaurant opened in 2008 by the Lorenzo Wyche group of restaurants.  It’s located on Howell Mill Road (see end of post for address/contact information), not far from I-75 in the Berkley Park area of Atlanta.  It’s easily accessible from downtown via Howell Mill Rd. without having to even get on the often stand-still interstate.  They bill themselves as a breakfast restaurant but they also serve an array of sandwiches and soup for lunch guests.  In my opinion it’s nothing terribly exciting from the exterior, it’s clean and painted darkly, sitting back from the road a  bit it would be easy to miss if it wasn’t for the sign.  Additionally a used car lot next door also acts as a bit of a distraction.  Once inside however it’s a different story.  I immediately felt “at home” with the comfortable casual vintage Americana-style decor.  The walls are painted a calming robins-egg blue and they sport vintage tole-painted trays very effectively mounted as wall art.  A vintage bicycle is suspended in the vaulted ceiling over the center tables of the main room. 

Upon being seated I was immediately greeted by my welcoming and attentive waiter who wasted no time in bringing me the most important thing of the day…my initial cup of joe!  (And thankfully kept it filled throughout my stay).  I was very pleased with the menu because what I love about breakfast is the myriad of ways in which it can be elevated from standard eggs/bacon to any number of creative dishes.  Quite honestly I could have been quite happy eating there every morning of my visit as there were so many interesting and delicious-sounding items to choose from.  I was definitely wishing I had other people to join me so that we could sample more items.  Unable to make a decision I asked the waiter of his favorites and the primary guest favorites which led me to order the Georgia Chicken and Blueberry Waffles.  My savory and sweet flavors all in one!  The chicken was a boneless breast that was breaded and fried.  It came out steaming hot and nice and juicy.  The waffle didn’t have as many blueberries as I had maybe expected but I can’t say that I was disappointed either.  Definitely a great start to a busy day! Unfortunately I didn’t have the forethought to take my camera inside to take pictures so you’ll just have to use the powers of your imagination.

Stay tuned for other breakfast places later this week!

Do any of you have favorite restaurants in Atlanta?  I get up there a few times a year and am always looking for different places to try.  If you have a favorite please share it with the rest of us!

The Social House

Phone: 404 350 1938
Fax: 404 350 1939
1663 Howell Mill Road,
Berkley Park,
Atlanta Georgia 30318

Weekdays 7am – 3pm
Weekends 8am – 4pm