This neighborhood spot welcomes adults, parents, and children to enjoy southern dishes for dinner and its weekend brunch with house-made sodas, teas, and other boozy and non-boozy beverages.
$1 oysters on Mondays! Roasted ones are soooo good
Love this place. Great food, cocktails and excellent service.
Sometimes, mimosas and bloody marys simply won’t do at brunch. That’s why the “morning cocktail” was invented, and we think you should give these three a try the next time you have a hankering for coffee, scotch and eggs Benedict.
Scottish Breakfast is an iced coffee brunch cocktail containing scotch and cold-brewed nitro, available during brunch at Ration and Dram.
Brunch at Ration and Dram should contain three things: a chicken biscuit, a seat at the bar and an iced coffee cocktail containing scotch and cold-brewed nitro. Bank Note’s smoky blended scotch and nitro coffee form a solid base. Oat milk, vanilla and honey syrup are swirled together to create a creamy cold sipper to perk you up and settle the stomach after a night of overindulging. The drink is neither too sweet nor too bitter, but instead is a perfect balance of both, with a hint of smoky coffee remaining to the very last drop.
Ration and Dram, 130 Arizona Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 678-974-8380, rationanddram.com.
Brunch cocktail hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays, 12:30 p.m.-4 p.m. Sundays.
Ration & Dram is all chic minimalism: tawny leather stools, mottled concrete floors, butcher block tabletops and sunny alternative standards like the Shins on the Pandora. But, if you’re looking, you’ll see signs of youth. A stashed booster seat. Bathroom door signage welcoming man, woman and/or child. Mason jars equipped with purple plastic sippie tops.
Quietly slurping away on these one Saturday morning were the very young sons of Dave and Mellonie Rollo, who live in Edgewood and, as Dave put it, “are not Chuck E. Cheese people.”
“We come here all the time,” he said, just before his very tall, very dark beer arrived. “The food is great.”
As an afterthought, he pointed to the tin box at his 5-year-old’s elbow. “And they do have crayons.”
Ration & Dram also has a kids menu, but one gets the sense that the Rationers only created it so they could give dishes cheeky names like the Skull & Crossbones. (It’s eggs, bacon and cheddar on toast.)
Like their parents, kids can imbibe “by the glass” or “by the bottle.” The choices include freshly blended fruit-and-veggie juice and Blenheim ginger ale.
Most refreshingly, for those who can’t stand the sight of another chicken finger, the kid fare — like the fluffy buttermilk biscuit with light, herb-scented sausage sawmill gravy — is also on the grown-up menu, with only a few variations.
The kids yogurt parfait, for instance, features spiced apples, while the grown-ups get strawberries, sorghum and candied pecans. The steak and egg skillet comes without chimichurri for those who can’t yet pronounce chimichurri. And only younguns are offered French toast, though the tidy little triangles are minimally sweetened and so deliciously custardy that the adults are bound to steal some bites.
Ration and Dram, 130 Arizona Ave., Atlanta. 678-974-8380, rationanddram.com.
Brunch: 11 a. m.–4 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays.
A lot of food crazes have hit Atlanta over the past 10 years. And yet, most of them were about eating things that weren’t quite native Southeastern delicacies. Now, as you rise and shine each morning, more and more local restaurants are making biscuits of all sorts, and they all want you to believe that theirs are “just like Mama used to make.” However, even Mama can’t compete with some of ATL’s best biscuit-making establishments. Feast your eyes on the greatest biscuits our fair city has to offer in 2016.
Recently, after realizing R&D’s “drop biscuit” (a biscuit baked in a muffin pan instead of on a cookie sheet) was too doughy, partner Caitlin Crawford decided it was time to remix the restaurant’s biscuit. She recreated her grandmother’s version, using White Lily flour, buttermilk, and butter, mixing and folding it into layers gently by hand (because the more your biscuit dough mixes, the more dense, and less good, your biscuits will be, home-biscuiteers). The result is what you see above — a fluffy, yet fortified, bread-layered treat for the Southern-fried soul. Eat several.
So ever since I hit the whopping age of 23 (2 years ago) I have noticed that the lovely people of Atlanta, GA love them some brunch on a patio with a great drink by their side (a.k.a. a great excuse to start drinking early). So I realized, it is my duty as a proud brunch citizen [and beverage expert] to provide these patrons with a fantastic list of brunch cocktails that this city has to offer. Get ready!
#8 Rise N Shine
-Ration and Dram
-Troy and Sons White Whiskey, averna, nitro coffee, and vanilla syrup.
Daylight Saving Time is here, which means the weather’s getting warmer and the days are getting longer. Why not spend that extra time downing an ice cold beer or sipping rosé al fresco? We’ve compiled a generally north-to-south map of the city’s best patios, whether you’re looking for a sunny deck for day drinking or an intimate spot for a comfortable nightcap.
This casual Kirkwood spot offers a shady patio and a menu with everything from shareables like oysters and poutine to main plates such as chicken and dumplings and pot pie, comfort food best served with an ice cold beer (it has those, too).
SEC Championship brunch. Beer tour. Gingerbread house party. This weekend, there’s lots of fun, food events happening around town for your and your children. Add one or all five of the following events to your calendar and be prepared to eat, drink and have a grand ole time. Cheers to the weekend!
Are you ready for football?: As two teams compete at the Georgia Dome for the SEC Championship game on December 5, Chef Duane Nutter of One Flew South and Chef Todd Richards of White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails will create a special menu for football fans and foodies. From 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at White Oak, guests can cheer (or yell) for their favorite team on the big screen while eating Southern fare paired with bloody Marys and mimosas.
Beer, for lunch: Start with a brewery tour of Three Taverns Brewery then head to Ration & Dram for lunch—pulled pork, smoked chicken, sides, beer and more. The tour will kick off at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. Tickets are $50; call 678-974-8380 to reserve a seat.
It’s another lonely away-game weekend in Tuscaloosa, leaving many students hankering for a getaway. Tuscaloosa is situated in the middle of the South, making it easy to jump in the car for a road trip to any number of destinations. Birmingham, Memphis, New Orleans, Nashville and Atlanta are all in within five hours of T-Town. So if you’re not following the Crimson Tide to Starkville this weekend, plan a weekend trip to Atlanta, located just 2.5 hours away, and go beyond the malls, aquarium and the World of Coke to experience some of these local hot spots.
Sublime Donuts: College students get 15 percent off with their ID’s at this local donut sensation. Located in the heart of Atlanta, this restaurant offers a large collection of unique donut eats. Flavors range from s’mores to sweet potato cake and even maple bacon cheddar (only offered on Saturdays). They also offer specialty donut ice cream sandwiches, including flavors such as the Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Burger. Donut-lovers will rejoice at the chance to experience any of Sublime Donuts’ unusual flavors.
Ponce City Market: Located in the historic Sears, Roebuck & Co, building in Atlanta and developed by the owners of Chelsea Market in Manhattan, this lively market is perfect for checking out food and shopping. Locals love drinking and dining in the Central Food Hall, and PCM also includes Atlanta favorites such as Dancing Goats Coffee Bar and King of Pops. Visitors can also check out boutiques as well as popular shopping spots like Anthropologie and J. Crew.
The Beltline: The Atlanta Beltline is the perfect place to satisfy a need for outdoor adventure, and to explore the city at the same time. Twenty-two miles of pedestrian-friendly trails situated on an old railroad is the perfect way to see views of the city. Development of the Beltline is expected to continue until 2030, eventually connecting up to 45 Atlanta neighborhoods. But there is still much to enjoy as of now: shops and restaurants line the path, and bikes are also available for rental. Also along the way is Krog Street Market, which locals love for eats and beverages. For information about the Beltline, visit beltline.org.
Terminal West: Located on the West Side, this popular venue showcases music and acts almost every night of the week. The lineup for this weekend is as follows: Friday- Desert Dwellers; Saturday- The Electric Sons; Sunday- The English Beat. Restaurant Stationside is also located at Terminal West, serving refreshments during and after shows. For ticket information visit http://www.terminalwestatl.com/.
Little Trouble: Also located on the West Side is Little Trouble, a “Blade Runner” themed bar that greets visitors with neon lights and a lively atmosphere. Not only is it a bar, but it’s also a great place to grab snacks and appetizers. The menu offers a wide variety of cocktails, wine and beer, as well as Asian-inspired appetizers such as dumplings, buns, slaw and ramen. Be sure to try the $5 drink specials during happy hour, which is Monday-Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Ration and Dram: Check out this local joint for its popular $1 oyster nights on Mondays, or stop by any time for a culinary experience. They serve local food, and they offer an extensive menu for vegans and vegetarians. Try their popular oysters or one the other customer favorites from the menu, including the southern classic, chicken and dumplings, French dip or pan-seared Georgia trout.
While they make some of the city’s most solid small plates, entrees, drinks, etc., Ration & Dram’s brunch is truly the jam, especially the bone marrow breakfast, which comes with soft, buttery biscuits, eggs, a touch of broccoli rabe, and a hefty hunk of decadent bone marrow. It might be the most sophisticated hangover cure ever. Don’t worry, though, signature breakfast cocktails like the Rise ‘N’ Shine with white whiskey, Italian liqueur averna, vanilla syrup, and nitro coffee mean you can get started on your next one right away.
Where: Ration and Dram, Atlanta
What: Named for the oft-quoted character from Parks & Rec, the “Ron Swanson” is perhaps the most formidable brunch we’ve ever seen: a six-ounce steak grilled to order, four pieces of bacon, and three eggs on a bed of pepper and onion potato hash. All that served is beside a pour of Lagavulin 16. And you too can eat this all at the same time, because you are a free American.
Wash it down with: You mean something other than that single-malt? Ration and Dram offers a build-your-own “Brunch Punch,” too, customizable with a huge range of fruits and spirits.
Cold brew coffee—bottled, nitro on tap or built to order—is America’s hottest way to chill out. Unlike iced coffee, which is simply hot brewed coffee or espresso poured over ice, cold brew is made by steeping coffee grinds in room temperature to cold water for half a day or longer. Though a staple at third wave coffee shops for a couple of years now, the drink hit critical mass when Starbucks launched its own brew this past spring. Lauded for a flavorful, smooth and less acidic profile, it was only a matter of time before bartenders decided to get creative with the brew in place of standard coffee. Below, 22 awesome cold brew coffee-spiked libations, from a White Russian-inspired intoxicant to the perfect brunch potion.
RATION + DRAM
Location: 130 Arizona Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA
Bartender: Kysha Cyrus
Cocktail: Rise ‘N’ Shine ($8) with cold brew coffee, Troy & Sons Moonshine, Amaro Averna and vanilla syrup.
“We love a good, or bad, pun at Ration & Dram, and adding coffee into the mix seemed like a natural fit—the coffee being the ‘Rise’ and the moonshine being the ‘Shine’!” explains drink creator Kysha Cyrus. This cocktail drinks bold “with a subtle sweetness and robust flavor from the nitro coffee.”
Ration + Dram
130 Arizona Ave NE, Atlanta, GA
American Restaurant · Edgewood · 24 tips and reviews
Creative Loafing AtlantaCreative Loafing Atlanta: Their brunch menu includes breakfast dumplings, a vegetarian grit bowl, and an egg salad sandwich. Read more.
EaterEater: This casual Kirkwood spot offers a shady patio and a menu with everything from shareables like oysters and poutine to main plates such as chicken and dumplings and pot pie. Read more.
Robb L.Robb Lejuwaan: Love this place. Great food, cocktails and excellent service.
For the Bookworm: Instead of “bottomless mimosas” or the typical brunch beverages, Ration & Dram is doing “Brunch Punch Cards.” The owners found a ton of these vintage library cards, and in the best example of repurposing we’ve ever come across, ever, they’ve printed a build-your-own brunch punch menu on them. The punch starts with Sparkling Brut, Rose, or Stiegl Grapefruit Radler, then in step two you can add Strawberry Puree, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Ford’s Gin, Deep Eddy Vodka, Pimm’s, Cappeletti, and/or Campari. You make your selection on the card with a hole puncher (to further the punch theme). Bring your bookworm friends, your book club, your favorite librarian…and me to their patio this summer.
Barre to Bar Tip: Ration & Dram is in the Kirkwood area, not far from Decatur.