A Maid Marian Migration ~ Mary Mac's Tea Room

For someone who lives an hour and a half from Atlanta, I have yet to fully explore the city.  A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of having lunch with some girlfriends at Mary Mac's Tea Room.  Located on Ponce De Leon Ave in Midtown, Mary Mac's is one of Atlanta's better-known dining establishments.  The Tea Room has been serving "authentic Southern meals" for over 60 years.  Decorated with "Gone with the Wind" movie posters to photos of celebrities that have dined at Mary Mac's over the years, there is hardly a square inch of wall space that is not covered. This gives the restaurant its charm.  Based on the photos I saw, the most intriguing celebrity to have dined there has to be the Dalai Lama.

After being seated, you peruse the menu and mark your selections on a slip of paper with one of the pencils that resides in a glass at the center of your table.  The very hospitable wait staff recite the selections you have marked to ensure the accuracy of your order.  As a special treat, first timers to Mary Mac's receive a cup of Pot Likker with cracklin' bread, a house specialty. 

It was difficult to make up my mind because everything (and I do mean everything) sounded delicious.  It didn't help that there are over 30 fresh vegetables to choose from daily.  Over 30 vegetables...unbelievable!  I finally decided on the fried chicken (your choice of three legs or one breast), butter peas, whipped potatoes and a bottomless glass of freshly brewed iced tea.  I was very pleased with my selections.  The fried chicken lived up to the restaurant's claim of being "the crispiest, juiciest fried chicken you'll ever taste."  And the vegetables were as fresh as could be.  It reminded me of one of my grandmother's Sunday dinners.  If you are ever in Atlanta and are looking for some great down home cooking, stop into Mary Mac's Tea Room.  You will be glad you did.