The laid-back attitude at El Ranchero creates a great atmosphere for fine, affordable dining. You'll feel as though you've stepped into an old desert cantina, whether nestled in a booth in the back room, or front and center at a table near the door. Enjoy the dim, cool environment with a margarita from the bar while you wait for your order. With most entrees being easy to the pocket, you can afford to treat the crowd once in a while. Great frijoles and fajitas headline a menu of authentic Mexican winners.

This is home-style in a hurry, Southern style. The big bright dining room can accommodate groups of any size, and the friendly wait staff serves your favorite customary dishes with the trademark Southern hospitality that made Dixie famous. For lunch, or dinner, you'll find all the classics you'd expect of a traditional Southern kitchen. The fried chicken, without question, is among the best to be found anywhere. Most entrees are priced under USD10, which along with the friendly atmosphere, makes this a great choice for family outings. No liquor. See website for full menu and other locations.

A nice step up from your run-of-the-mill Chinese eatery, the Buddha maintains a very clean and welcoming dining room that can accommodate large groups. For that special occasion, request one of the several banquet rooms for greater privacy. The authentic Chinese dishes are well prepared and presented, ranging from Kung Pao chicken to Peking duck. This is a good place to get back to old favorites that you've tried at carryout joints; you may be surprised at the difference a little extra care can make.

At Houlihan's, the focus is on fun, at least until the food arrives. The restaurant is perhaps a shade more formal than national chain competitors such as Bennigan's and T.G.I.Fridays, but keeps the mood high nonetheless. The centrally located bar provides a hub around which activity at the warm wooden booths and tables revolves. Great for happy hours, work parties, and large groups. Houlihan's serves up the best of the new American sit-down fast food. Pasta dishes, fajitas, barbecue and salads are all competently prepared and satisfying.

If you're in the mood for a quick sushi lunch, stop by Maki Fresh on Peachtree Road. This convenient location is so efficient, there is even a self-pay selection at the front of the store for people crunched on time. The vibrant decor is done in a crisp green, with large abstract flowers painted on the walls and contrasting red booths. On the opposite wall is a full sushi bar, with busy chefs carefully creating signature dishes. The owner's favorite is the Ahi Tuna Banh Mi, a lightly seared tuna sandwich with cucumber, carrots, sprouts, and coconut lime dressing. Maki Fresh also features daily specials, such as two for one hot sake on Saturdays.

Cocktail Cove, named for the area on Lake Lanier where boats anchor to party in the summertime, is a fun bar in Sandy Springs. If it were not for the sound of cars driving by on Roswell Road, you would think you were on the deck of a beach bar. Palm trees wave overhead on the back deck, and inside is a dance floor. Most nights are busy, with waitresses buzzing by in tiny red shorts and shirts proclaiming them to be "Partyguards." Visit the bar for Jello shots, Fish bowls, or USD8 buckets of beer. If you'd like a meal, try the popular Seafood Sampler Platter with fish fingers, calamari, shrimp, and clam strips. Cocktail Cove is available for private parties.

Located just off Highway 23, on the Cedar Grove Road, the Southern Comfort welcomes all weary travelers and seekers of a cool drink and Southern hospitality to partake in their splendid offerings. A typical honky-tonk, the bar-cum-restaurant presents country music artists from all over the U.S on a regular basis. Besides the music, Southern Comfort serves up scrumptious delights like the Philly Cheese Steak, a ten-ounce Rib-eye dinner, and hamburgers.

Farm Burger stands out for its use of 100 percent Southeastern grassfed beef that's dry-aged for two weeks and ground daily. Farm Burger's wide variety of toppings and sides, such as house-cured bacon, hand cut fries and slow-cooked greens are sourced from local farms (whenever possible). It's no wonder that a line often streams out the door. Build your own burger or try one of Blackboard Burgers such as the Veggie Quinoa or Vietnamese style Burger Banh Mi. With a kids menu, ice cream floats and beer on draft, everyone is sure to be a happy camper.

Sweet Melissa's casual café is a haven for omelet lovers. Create an omelet from a wide array of ingredients, ranging from tomatoes, spinach and mushrooms to turkey, ham and even shrimp. There are plenty more breakfast items on the menu, and Sweet Melissa's prides itself on serving brunch seven days a week. Sides are southern staples, ranging from a Sweet Melissa's biscuit to cheese grits. The lunch menu includes a wide range of sandwiches, burgers, quesadillas and pitas, as well as daily specials. There are a number of options for vegetarian diners. A sizable kids' menu includes the whimsical Peek-A-Boo Eggs.

Oakhurst Village's newest restaurant is Saba, located right on the neighborhood's central green space. Enjoy handmade pastas inside Saba's spacious interior or dine on the deck, which overlooks the charming Oakhurst Village. The menu is inspired by Italian cuisine, but options range far beyond the typical spaghetti and meatballs. Saba offers five varieties of ravioli alone, including the pumpkin variety. Fans of classic spaghetti will be appeased, but more adventurous diners can try Thai tofu spaghetti or the Indian-inspired vegan vindaloo spaghetti. There is also a spacious bar area for more casual dining and drinking.