Cath and I have blogged about Sweet Auburn Curb Market before (just last week and last year) because it’s THAT good. And I feel like it’s one of Atlanta’s best kept secrets. It’s not nearly as shiny and big as Seattle’s Pike Place Market, nor is it nearly as touristy. And I don’t get why not! It’s walking/MARTA distance to touristy stuff in the heart of downtown Atlanta and chock-a-block full of history: you can walk to Dr. Martin Lurther King, Jr,’s old office and home from here.
And let’s talk about the food! You can buy a month’s worth of collards here (I’m gonna miss those bitter greens when I get to Scotland- mmm!) and your whole pigs (see photo above/ poor piggies, why must you taste so yummy). You can also find some of the tastiest food stands/restaurants right in the market: Bell Street Burritos, Cafe Campesino Coffee Bar, tons of soul food, Sweet Auburn Bakery (more on that in the next post), and Grindhouse Killer Burgers.
A peanut butter and chocolate milkshake from Grindhouse (OMG, heavennn!!!):
Grindhouse burger (these are my absolute favorite burgers in Atlanta. Sorry Farm Burger and Yeah! Burger, ya’ll are good, but Grindhouse makes me think “vegetarian” is a dirty word):
They also have turkey burgers (delicious) and veggie burgers (surprisingly haven’t tried those yet – sorry, cows and gobbles!):
One of many vegetable stalls hiding behind some mysterious mosquito netting:
And that’s the weird thing about this place. Even with so much delicious food and fun things to do (like carrying around armloads of collards and trying to decide if turkey necks look edible), Sweet Auburn Curb Market has got a lot of empty space. See unemployed dishwasher below:
An empty Ciao Boca (why? you look so delicious):
Here are some more empty corners, soon to be filled to the brim with eager Atlantans and Tourists after reading this postie, right? Fingers/toes crossed!
I’m sorry to inundate you guys with so many foodie posts, but apart from hanging out with Kitcath and friends and family, I just want to eat my way through Atlanta in the next month. They’ll have to roll me off the plane once we get to Scotland – thank goodness I’ll have to walk everywhere.
Next post? Sweet Potato Cheesecake. It’s as good as it sounds and probably something you can’t find outside of the ATL. Come on down, ya’ll!
I still can’t believe I haven’t been to Grindhouse burger yet – especially if you say it’s better than Farmburger – I love Farmburger. I must have that shake!
I used to live up the street from this place and can you believe I have still NEVER been! It kinda doesn’t look like much from the outside. But now that I know it conceals such treasures, I’ll have to stop in for a veggie burger and a shake and possibly a stomach ache!
You totally do, Katie! It is sooo gooooood! But I can totally understand the lack of appeal at the front of the building. I forget how I heard about it first and what drew me inside – so much yummy food ahead!
Ooh, BF and I may need to take up the burger challenege – we’ve done the whole Yeah!, Farm, Flip, Vortex thing and the best burger so far according to BF has been 246. I feel a call to burgers coming up this weekend, better get my stretchy pants on .
I always do the same thing – wear my stretchy pants. Makes me so happy that certain clothes still have elastic – hehehe 😉
Don’t forget that Bell Street. Burritos was named by USA Today as one of in the ten best Burritos inthe US.
I love love love the market–especially Bell Street Burritos. Since I’ve been working downtown this summer, I’ve been part of the crowds of people, mostly Grady employees, that swarm the market at lunch time.
I wish there were markets like this where I lived. I love shopping for food. WHOLE pigs? sign me up! I’ll set up a roast!
Turkey necks are necessarily edible BUT if you get the smoked kind they make great additions to turkey gumbo. My Dad and husband love to throw those in with the post-Thanksgiving turkey carcas.
I can’t belive I haven’t been to Sweet Auburn yet. I see a field trip in my future.
Do you think Grindhouse is better than Bocado? That is the best burger I’ve had in a while!
i love grindhouse! but i heard the newest location on piedmont isn’t very good. i’ve only been to the one inside the market hmm we seem to like the same food places! 😉 except i still havent’ been to that japanese place you guys love 🙁
Oooo I hope we can make it to Miso on the same day! We’ll shoot you an email the next time we go, Lin!