by Jeanne Brei
Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint is a must-see in Atlanta featuring a deep history of music, food, drink and socializing in the South. Located in the former Macy’s building (built in 1927), in the heart of downtown Atlanta at the iconic Peachtree address, Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint brings great live entertainment and exceptional Southern cuisine including delicious mini cornbread bites in a basket, the Southern starter (fried green tomatoes, crispy Vidalia onions and fried okra, topped with herbed goat cheese and red pepper aioli), collard green spring rolls, extraordinary smothered pork chops, crispy crawfish tails (masa crisped with corn nibblers and sun-kissed citron tomato jam), freshwater rock shrimp with fresh lump crab meat with coleslaw, sweet apple corn relish and jalapeño tartar sauce and “ohhhh sooo DELISH peach cobbler” which are all crowd-pleasing favorites. And speaking of crowd favorites, the Yelp reviewers rave about the $16 endless mimosas at brunch as well the moonshine-based cocktails that come in multiple flavors of moonshine.
Historically, juke joints originated in the rural outskirts of many southern towns to give African American communities a place to kick back and unwind. Owner Terry Harps says, “Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint is where the juke joints, honky tonks and cantinas of the past meet the present day,” explaining that the design of Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint is the modern day incarnation of the clubs that gave birth to the “raucous and raunchy” music known as “boogie-woogie.” The tadpole and lily-pad inspired design pays homage to the often low-lying wetlands where historic juke joints once stood. The décor includes a nostalgic wall of period photos, historic artifacts, and walnut wood accents and cabinetry. Local artist Stacy Brown designed the 18-foot custom mural which hangs in the main dining room. The music-centric restaurant also features a wood dance floor, stage for live music, and state-of-the-art video screen for guests’ entertainment (with only a $5 live entertainment charge). Juke Joint’s spacious private dining room offers guests a VIP view of the stage and live musical performances, and is the perfect location for any type of special event.
Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint, 180 Peachtree St. (cross street Ellis), Atlanta, GA 30303. For more info, visit sweetgeorgiasjukejoint.com or call (404) 230-5853.
This story originally appeared in the May/June issue of Exhibit City News, p. 82. For original layout, visit https://issuu.com/exhibitcitynews/docs/ecnflipbook_mayjune_2019_web
