Everyone is talking about the first annual Atlanta Brunch Festival. If you weren’t there then you really missed out but no worries we’ve come to your rescue.

The Atlanta Brunch Festival was amazing but with over 40 vendors  present it can be hard to sort through all the food. While all of it was good, there were three places that stood out and kept us talking well after we had left the state of Georgia.

3. Chicken and Waffles, Nana G’s Chicken and Waffles

Brunch Festival

Photo by Janecia Britt

Okay, you could argue that chicken and waffles is overplayed but this one was just so good. This maplewood smoked bacon-infused Belgian waffle with a buttery chicken piece topped with warm maple syrup & sprinkled with powdered sugar was just heavenly.

It was a stray away from the overly crispy and dry chicken and bland waffles that we’re used to. This chicken was moist and juicy, full of flavor and the perfect companion to it’s sweet waffle.

2. Giant Tater Tot, Smoke Ring Atlanta

 

Brunch Festival

Photo by Robert Wehrli

Okay, we totally scoped the menu before the festival and be lined for this tot when we got there. Just the thought of a giant tater tot stuffed with bacon, jalapeños, and cheddar made our mouths water.

We were not disappointed. It was crispy and the inside tasted like some sort of decadent mac and cheese. The sauce below was sriracha kind of spicy and provided a heat and depth that no one could have saw coming.

1. Mini Chick’n Shack, Shake Shack

Brunch Festival

Photo by Casey Feindt

Everyone is obsessed with chicken sandwiches and Shake Shack did not disappoint. It was so good it could rival Chik-fil-A. If you haven’t heard, the Chick’n Shack is a crispy 100% all-natural and antibiotic-free chicken breast with lettuce, pickles and buttermilk herb mayo. The chicken was moist and tender and the pickles had that crisp homemade freshness and bite.

The festival provided us with a mini version and let me tell you, I instantly googled on my phone the closest Shake Shack to me. I couldn’t stop talking about it after we left the festival because it was that good.

The festival gave us lots of eats and tons of #brunchgoals. But more importantly it taught us that we don’t always need fancy, and expensive meals for things to taste good. Classic, savory and uncomplicated sometimes trumps all.