Vortex Bar & Grill

Oh I can not wait to go back to Vortex again, whether it’s the one here in Little Five Points or one of the others. The burger was delicious and the wings were pretty good. I have to say the Skull Crusher. there’s a reason they limit you to two people. It was the first thing that has ever really affected me alcoholically, but man was it delicious. I can’t wait to go back!

The food was spectacular, we got the mac n cheese changas and the burgers were phenomenal. Had a real issue with the host though, she crossed our names off the list without actually seating us, so we sat there and watched a few ppl who came after us, get seated before us. Was very frustrating, she didnt seem to think it was a big deal that she messed up. Our server was phenomenal though, wish i knew her name, she needs a raise! Great customer service, totally improved our experience there.

Fellow foodies, don’t expect any miracles here! This place has a pretty interesting menu, that’s for sure. I was excited to get a burger with cream cheese, bacon and pineapple salsa! Just know going in that the ingredients are mediocre, so don’t expect your life the to be changed. It’s high rating comes mostly from the experience of being at this crazy place. Not that it’s much of an experience exactly, it’s just decorated like every Friday’s you’ve ever been to and happens to have an enormous skull at the entrance.

If you go here on the weekend there will be a wait but it’s worth the wait. Burger was good tater tots were cooked just right wanted to try the sweet plantains but was too stuffed to try

Best. Food. Ever.
That’s it — been coming here for years and will continue — the burgers are quirky and delicious even if they are weird! Love the tots and the drinks are great!

Nothing short of a perfect meal. The fries smothered in gravy and cheese were a gut punch but damn tasty. The burgers are huge, made with ground sirloin and have a myriad of toppings to choose from. Fantastic beer selection as well!

This burger joint should definitely be on your list of places to try when you’re in the area. Their menu offers a wide variety of burgers to fit your pallet. Not all may fit your wallet (there is an $ 80 burger) or even in your mouth for that matter!
In my visit I tried the Zombie Apocalypse Burger with Tots. Having worked in a restaurant before, I was a little disappointed when I received my order. I could tell it had been sitting under a heat lamp for a bit. The tots were a little stale and warm but not hot. Additionally, the 2 eggs and cheese that come on the burger were of the same nature. Had I received a fresh order off the grill then I’m sure it would have been twice as good!
I of course still ate my whole plate but I will add, if you do not like smoke then DO NOT sit upstairs on the patio. This is a smoking area and can REALLY detract from the experience. Plus, the inside has a better vibe in my opinion.
To sum up…
21+
Don’t go when it’s crowded
Sit inside
And you should be good to go!

I’ve heard such great things about this place, but it didn’t match the hype. I had to wait 20 mins for a bartender to take my order because the guy was too busy smoking behind the bar. When it was time to pay for my drink, he kept walking past. I had to wait way too long to give him my money. The food was meh. I ordered the Lone Tex Mex Melt, which is basically a bbq burger with onion rings and bacon. I usually order this type of burger at all burger joints. The patty was huge and cooked to order, but unseasoned. Overall, in my opinion, this place doesn’t meet the hype.

You can find this location of The Vortex Bar & Grill at 438 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30 307 near the intersection of Moreland and McLendon and to one side of the parking lot to Junkman’s Daughter and Little 5 Points Liquors. Wax N Fax is right to the left as the building narrows to the historical location of «The Point» but the restaurant is nearly impossible to miss due to the giant Skull entry. Parking is to any of the surrounding lots and yes, you’ll probably have to pay an attendant, especially on the weekends and evenings.
As many of you who have read my blog and reviews previously, I waxed quite poetic about the Midtown location of the Vortex — it’s a bar and dive in the classic sense, only adults please. I’m not sure which location I like better as both the L5P and Midtown locations have different things to offer. Let’s just say that I like them equally as well — they both are worth visiting and offer different-​but-​similar experiences. One thing to really like though, is the food.
On this occasion we decided to drop in as we were in the neighborhood — it was getting late and we both wanted something more pub-​ish so of course the bright white skully beckoned! On this weekday night the bar was about ¹⁄₃ full — it was getting late and you know how it is — it starts getting difficult to find someplace that’s still serving food. Fortunately The Vortex is a perfect solution for the hangry problem. As you walk into the skull’s mouth you’ll find an incredibly eclectic roadside kitschy interior with all manner of vintage artifact and advertising relic hanging in quantity from the walls and ceiling, making you (or at least me) feel right at home.
We were quickly seated and I choose a pretty awesome Terrapin Wake ‘n Bake Oatmeal Stout. If you haven’t seen the food menu it’s full of unusual but very filling combinations that are all designed to stuff you and keep you drinking. I wanted a burger but had to be dissuaded from ordering the Coronary Bypass, which is a fantastic concoction that uses bacon grilled cheese sandwiches as the buns, and with a fried egg to make things interesting. Instead we decided to split an order of their fantastic buffalo wings and continue on with a Hell’s Fury — Pepper Jack Cheese, Atomic Death Sauce, habenero relish and a roasted jalapeño. In a word, delish!
Service was unusually good and atypical — you usually get a lot more attitude than what I saw this evening — it’s all part of the appeal — it was both disappointing and refreshing. Good times and delicious food and drink were had by all.
(also posted to my food blog)

Adult Burger Bar!!! Everyone must be 21+ and must show ID. We got there around lunch time, was able to park in the free lot by the restaurant. Outside was a little creepy, inside was filled with stuff. But the Food, must pause here! Knocked my socks off!
Single Coronary Bypass Burger was nothing short of amazing!!! We enjoyed everything on our plates. Meat was very fresh/​well seasoned/​all that jazz. For sides we elected for Tater Tots and Sweet Plantains Delicious! Already planning my next trip here!

Yep. It met the hype. Be prepared to wait for quite awhile, but it’s totally worth it at the end. The wait didn’t feel so bad because we got a chance to go explore to some other bars nearby that are in walking distance.
The area has plenty of seating insde and upstairs on their balcony. The first thing that I ordered was the Mai Thai of course. For the burger I got the Sriracha Lover, this of course caught my attention since I love anything with sriracha. It didn’t come on a burger bun though, so it was more of a sriracha lover sandwich. Totally fell in love wih this burger, and I am willing to come back, wait, and try the other burgers they have on their menu.

Like Burgers? Then look no more! Situated in one of the most eclectic neighborhoods in Atlanta, sits Vortex… just look for the big skull with crazy eyes on the corner and you have found your place! To start it is a 21 and Up restaurant, so take your crazy kiddos somewhere else! Secondly, they serve burgers… and do a pretty good job at it. Lastly, its a must for the out of towner and/​or local.
I have been here multiple times and usually switch it up, but the one thing that remains consistent is that I always pair my sandwiches with the tots. I suggest you do the same. Burger wise I have had multiple burgers from the Sriracha lovers to the house double with house sauce. They have all been delectable and filling! Additionally, if you are up for it they have a $ 70 burger called the Quadruple Bypass. I have never personally been man enough to take it on, but it seems like one of the most legit burgers in Atlanta.
Overall, Vortex is a staple for Atlanta. Passing through or simply passing by, stop here, grab a burger and take in what this place has to offer… which is all the spirit of Atlanta mixed with the weirdness of the neighborhood it sits in.

My favorite burger place in Atlanta! I ordered the Fat Elvis and I can’t remember what my boyfriend ordered but both were amazing. Love the atmosphere and the food is to die for.

Gotta say… I don’t think I’ve ever been to a place like this before. At least not aesthetically. The front entrance with the skull is scary yet cool looking. The rest of the place is also hard to understand or categorize. Not that you need to but it doesn’t fall into anything I’ve ever seen before.
They do ID you on the way in and ask for your party to all be together. It was 6 of all together and we fit into one of the corners pretty comfortably. I ordered an IPA, which their beer selection was solid. Our server treated us respectfully but you can tell she was genuine. Definitely not faking her niceness or that she likes what she does. I ordered the «Cmon I wanna lay ya» (they spelled it differently). It was a tasty burger. Big enough to cut in half but not too big to eat. It had this cream cheese sauce in it with maybe pineapple? I liked it.
My wife ordered the coronary burger. and devoured it. I can’t really remember what details she had to say but she ate it all so that’s a good sign, right?
I’d recommend this place for the novelty and the selections. It’s probably not a fancy-​going-​out-​to-​dinner-​with-​my-​mom place though.

I’m not a local and won’t try to be but I wanted a local experience while in town, so my friends brought me here. Three of us arrived at 8pm on a Friday night and had to wait about 40 minutes to be seated. But any place that offers fried plantains as a side is worth the wait in my book!
I had the Holy Guacamole burger which was really great, as anything with guac usually is. It was a big burger and I couldn’t quite finish it (I definitely finished the plantains, though).
Even though it was cold out we were able to sit in the upper enclosed patio which was perfect.
While this is a plus for some, smoking indoors is a minus for me. Is it the 90’s? Also it was $ 10 to park.
Anyway, would recommend!

Do you want:
1) Ridiculously large servings of food that might be designed to kill you (through heart disease)?
2) Fun trivia?
3) Good alcohol selection?
4) A place to smoke inside?
5) Fun waitstaff who know who you are?
I drove by this bar many times, thinking it was some sort of gimmicky/​touristy L5P location. I was wrong. Whatever «gimmicks» it may appear to be hitting, it just *invented* those!
The servings are huge and really don’t try to be healthy. I enjoy the food here, but if I’m not starving I just get a side of fries. The kitchen seems to be pretty flexible — I’ve seen people ask for burger toppings not on the menu — as long as you aren’t trying some sort of low-​card/​paleo/​etc nonsense.
Trivia on Tuesday nights is a lot of fun. My trivia team will beat yours. I guess it might be less fun for you that way, huh?
Of course, this place is very much a bar. They have a good beer and booze selection, though they aren’t a frou-​frou cocktail place. They can definitely mix the standards for you and likely carry the fancy gin or whiskey you want. Do you want to smoke inside? Yep, you can do that here. Don’t bring the kids. The decorations verge on soft-​core porn…
The service is great. They are friendly and attentive and it really seems like they are having a good time. They also make sure to warn everyone on nights when there are lots of car break-​ins. Pro-​tip: sometimes there are lots of car break-​ins in the nearby lot! Park near the lights…
This is my go-​to trivia location and I’d bring friends/​family here to show them a certain side of Atlanta… unless those friends/​family were bothered by smoke.

The Vortex has the reputation of being an Atlanta staple, and I can certainly see why — there’s no other place in town quite like it. Going to the Vortex is a holistic experience:
— The patrons are mostly grungy, tatted-​up and/​or pierced… which makes people-​watching here unique and refreshing (as long as no one blows eCig smoke into your eyes)
— The decorations are wild — zombies hanging from the ceiling all year round, «Whippet Madness» posters on the wall, pictures of PBR everywhere
— The menu is totally comprised of heavy, greasy, delicious bar food and burgers — which is great, especially if you’re planning to have a looooong night. I love getting a half-​order of the Dixie Wrecked Tater Tots as a meal (they’re out of this world good)
Four stars only because the lines are usually long, which means a wait especially on the weekends and the servers can be a bit frazzled because there are so many crowded tables to tend.

Fun place! I wanted to go because it’s so different. However, make sure your entire party is with when you arrive. We made the mistake of meeting up with people who were running late, and they only seat you if the whole party is present. But we got bloody Mary’s and fried pickles at the bar while we waited!
Crazy atmosphere, stuff all over the walls and ceiling, entertaining to look at. Lunch was great, had the turkey chili, so good on a cold day! Would definitely recommend trying this place out, very unique :)

#142
Please, oh please Unilocal!let me give Vortex six stars.
What can I say about the Vortex? Amazing décor, killer venue, excellent locations, super awesome staff, impressive beer collection, a menu to die for, and Rob Zombie blasting when you walk in to the crowded little restaurant.
The walls are lined with license plates, a huge motorcycle hangs from the ceiling, tiny little tables, loud music, and a really cool wait staff. I laughed with a hint of confusion as we were led to the «non-​smoking» section because the «smoking» section was literally 1.5 feet away from the «non-​smoking» section. WTF… but whatever.
I looked over the menu while I waited on my martini. What a cool selection. I could not even figure it out there were so many burger options that had meat substitutes. Veggie, black bean, turkey, etc.
Chris greeted us at the little table and made some suggestions and gave us a bit of time to try and figure out the HUGE menu. She was really great offering various ideas and answering all of our questions.
We started off with Cheese Balls O’ Glory which were these little cheese curds with a jalapeño sauce that was divine. The martini came along with a bunch of fancy beers for the rest of our party and we had to make a dinner decision.
I got the Hell’s Furry turkey burger and added a fried egg. My friend got the Lone Star Tex Mex that was topped with cheddar cheese, barbecue sauce, and a crispy onion ring and then served on some big pieces of Texas toast. The sister got the Holy Guacamole topped with jack cheese and a huge mess of guacamole, she added a fried egg to her burger also. And the brother got the Zombie Apocalyspse, which was a big hamburger served on Texas toast, with pulled pork, jack cheese, two eggs over-​easy, barbecue sauce.
They offer free sides of fries, chips, tater tots, cole slaw, and some other things too. I had the cole slaw which helped to cool that crazy Hell burger down a bit. I seriously thought my whole face was going to catch on fire that thing was so super spicy. I loved it though. Even Chris, our server, said she barely saw anyone finish the Hell’s Furry burger – but I am not just anyone, I did it, and I would do it again – it was sublime.
From the atmosphere, to the service to the food, the Vortex is one of the greatest places in ATL.
Stephani Smiles for the Vortex ;)

This place is awesome.
I’d heard about how great the burgers are here, and I was glad to have a chance to find out for myself. The menu is hella funny. I love the snarky tone of the rules. Parking can be kind of annoying at times. But I’ve gone for lunch before and had no problem getting a spot near the front. The tables can feel a bit cramped. But you’ll be so focused on your food/​drinks that it won’t even matter.
I’ve had both the Swiss & Mushroom and Turkey burgers, and they were yummy. There are a ton of other things on the menu I have yet to try, and I need to change that ASAP.
Get the Skull Crusher drink… but beware. It’s very potent!

On y mange sans doute les meilleurs hamburgers d’Atlanta!

Super cooler Laden im Szeneviertel Atlantas. Sehr urig eingerichtet. Wie ein Trödelmarkt. Die Burger waren sehr, sehr lecker und auch reichlich. Man darf sogar drin rauchen. Empfehlenswert für alle, die traditionell amerikanisch essen wollen und es ein wenig ausgeflippt mögen. Und Little 5 Points ist auch eine sehr coole Ecke. Habe mich sofort in das Ambiente des Ladens verliebt.
Das Publikum ist absolut gemischt.