Australian, Colombian + a Food Network Winner abound on the Marietta Food Tours.
Food tours are are popping up all over Atlanta these days. I just took one of Downtown Atlanta. Shortly after that, I was invited to attend the Marietta Food Tours which takes place around the Marietta Square. Although I grew up in Marietta, I’d only been to a couple of the spots, and still found it to be an invaluable experience full of culture.
Personally, I don’t know how tour guides do it. How do you sound enthusiastic sharing the same information over and over again and visiting the same spots? And our tour guides, Brian and Cecily, work regular full time jobs, running Marietta Food Tours only on weekends!
Waiting for Australian Fish n Chips
Marietta maybe the burbs but that doesn’t mean they don’t have culture. Case in point is the Australian Bakery Café. With lots of supplies that would make any Aussie expat feel at home (Can you say Vegemite sandwich?), the hopping restaurant serves a plethora of meat pies, but that’s not what we sampled. We had a special off menu item -Australian Fish n Chips. Hot and crispy, the slightly salty shell gives way to the moist and flaky interior. Though I did return to sample some meat pies after the tour, the Fish n Chips is totally the way to go.
The stop / dish that was my least favorite was Paul’s Pot Pies. The restaurant has pies of all varieties like Sloppy Joe, Seafood Chowder and Chicken Curry but we sampled the classic, Chicken Pot Pie. I found it pretty bland, as if something was missing. Sad as Paul is such a likable guy.
Since I was certain something was just off that day (this pot pie has been featured on television after all), I made a beeline back there after the tour and purchased their Italian Sausage pie. Oh that flaky crust and spicy sausage! It more than redeemed them. I could eat this comfort food once a week. In fact, just last week when my in-laws were in town, I picked one up for dinner for us all to devour. And devour, we did! Pies average $24 for full (10-inch) sizes which feed about six or $8 for 6-inch pies which feed about two.
Paul from Paul’s Pot Pies and his TV-featured Chicken Pot Pie
What: Food Tour with 7 Tastes
Where: Marietta Square
When: Saturdays only @ 11 am
Cost: $45 (Buy 3 get one free)
We also made a stop at Kiosco, my favorite restaurant on the Marietta Square. I love their Empanadas, sangria and house salad with garbanzo beans, cilantro and carrots. Our tour concluded at Food Network Cupcake Wars winner, Miss Mamie’s. Tangerine Rosemary cupcakes. Need I say more?
Besides extensive knowledge about the restaurants we visited, they also knew plenty about the history of the buildings, movies like Dumb and Dumberer filmed in the square and other restaurants in the area like The Butcher, The Baker.
Tour Guides, Cecily and Brian
Among our group were several couples with one or the other celebrating a birthday, but this would be an incredible afternoon if you’ve got out of town guests and are looking for something unique to entertain them (ICYMI, buy three tickets get one free!). Plus, there’s still plenty of wandering around, window shopping or if you are me, Bubble Tea drinking, after the tour ends.
Tips: Make sure to book early and arrive early as parking can be difficult to find. Your guide book includes coupons and at least a couple make it worth holding on to. Case in point, the $5 off at Paul’s Pot Pie.
Disclosure: Our tickets were complimentary but the opinions expressed are my own.
