If you are in the Midtown Atlanta area or just passing through, this is one of my favorite food spots in the area thus far. Starting in 1945 with only one small dining room space, they are now expanded to SIX dining rooms as well as a full-service bar. There is no doubt as to why they are still here; the food is fantastic, and the service is great. Since this is a really popular place for the locals and the tourists, it was pretty busy. The hostess quoted us a 30 minute wait time, which I was fine to wait. Not even 10 minutes later, she got us sat at a table. You can only imagine the excitement my stomach felt knowing I was THAT much closer to getting something to eat. I had been on the road all day & was eager to stuff my face. Mary Mac's staff works hard to get their tables flipped in a good time frame in order to accommodate everyone.
For my sweet tea drinkers, if you leave without trying a glass (or 3), you have sold yourself short. It is really hard not to fill up on sweet tea and bread before your food gets to you. Bread & tea is an addiction and a staple of the south. It's what we eat & what we love. Be sure to ask for a cup of "Pot Likker" to go along with your meal. (For those that don't know what that is, in short, it's the leftover liquid from collard greens that is similar to a broth. Full of flavor. I used mine to dip my bread in.)
I decided to go with the fried green tomatoes to start. Sadly I did not get a picture before I DEVOURED them. For my entree, I went with the fried chicken plate with mac n' cheese (SUPER cheesy for my mac lovers out there) and collards (just as good as my family makes them, so it made me feel at home and not hundreds of miles away). Being a southern girl, I'm picky about my fried chicken! Not everyone knows how to create that perfect balance of having crunchy battered skin while maintaining the tender juiciness of the chicken itself. Mary Mac's has mastered this craft after 40+ years and did not disappoint me! Your portion size is well worth it & having leftovers is almost guaranteed. Also, do NOT miss out on the COBBLER. They always have peach, and at different times of the year, they serve whatever fruit is seasonal for cobbler. Once again, I was so excited to try it, and I'm sorry to say I did not get a picture before I inhaled it. I will surely go back the next time I am in the area! For more information Mary Macs tea room, visit www.marymacs.com
