Parker’s on Ponce – Decatur
While Atlanta has no shortage of steakhouses, Parker's on Ponce really is a hidden gem among them. Located across the street from the Decatur Square (in the former Mick's building if you've lived in the area long enough to remember that), Parkers is an excellent place for date night with my husband.
Although the restaurant has a small patio out front with about five or six tables, prefect for people watching, we opted to sit inside the dining room, which felt more intimate. The restaurant has two main rooms, both dimly lit and modern.
Our server brought us a basket of fresh rolls with olive oil for dipping as she took our order. While Parker's specializes in steak, the menu is much more diverse than a typical steakhouse, with chicken, seafood and even a few vegetarian dishes. I went the veggie route and had the Grilled balsamic marinated portabella mushroom over fennel-laced risotto with a sweet-pea nage. (Nage is a broth, I had to ask.) The mushroom was meaty and flavorful, nicely presented atop the creamy risotto and lime-green nage.
My husband, a big meat eater, felt it almost sacrilegious to not order steak at a steakhouse, so he had the New York Strip with the Merlot Mushrooms (thought it was a toss up between those and the Black Truffle Mac & Cheese which we'll definitely try next time). He proclaimed the steak was as good as any of the Buckhead steakhouses.
We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Parker's. The service was friendly, the atmosphere was romantic, yet casual and the prices were much lower than you'd typically expect from a steakhouse. Plus, you really can't beat the location.
Go for: All dates, including special occasions.
What to Know: Half price bottles of wine on Monday nights.
Price: $14-$32
Contact: 116 East Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur | www.parkersonponce.com | 404-924-2230
