Vortex Bar & Grill

Me think not. How appropriate summary for that establishment. Not sure how they got the good reviews, if that were their buddies or now, but our experience was anything but good. The restaurant felt seedy with pictures of nude women in the bar and wait staff that was very ""up -nosed"" and overall provided bad service. They do have a very large nice bar, but again, the service was slow and not very good, so if you are ok with slow and not so good service, you will get decent burgers and fries - that is all I can say about the food - then you're ok. It felt like a college bar where the beers should be $1.50, but they were not, so in summary, we did not have a good experience at all, which is strange since The Vortex has a good reputation. more

This place has the best tasting burgers, but I hate the fact that it is really greasy. The service isn't all that great, they are slow with orders, and not all that friendly. Outside of that I mean its a good place to hang out, there are always people there, and the vibe is good. more

I just called to place a to go order because I have a broken hand and live a block away. The guy that answered they phone snapped at me and said he wouldn't take a to go order because he was too busy -- and the hung up the phone on me. I will never EVER patronize this establishment. If you want a good burger, go to Houston's!!! more

I have always loved burgers. I liked the succulent taste of burgers in this restaurant. They offer different variations which I love. My visit to this restaurant really made my day. more

Do not buy the hype and gimmick - Vortex is TERRIBLE! The food is sub-standard bar food at best. Their burgers are one step above McDonalds and their fries are equivalent to microwavable fries (McDonalds fries are actually better). In short, the burger and fries were not fresh and had no flavor. To make matters worse, the service is HORRIBLE! The hostess (or one of) is rude, condescending, and in my experience, racist! When I complained to the manager, he told me I was being ridiculous. I would never go back to Vortex again! When visiting Atlanta, I highly recommend you avoid this trashy and smoke filled place. There are a lot of other restaurants in the area worthy of your business. Also, if you are going with a GROUP, this is definetly NOT the place for you - they will not seat you unless everyone in your party is present. They refuse to allow you to change your party size once you've given it to them, so you're definitely out of luck if someone decides not to show up. They will not seat you! As ridiculous as it might appear, this is apparently their policy! Dining at Vortex is THE WORST dining experience I have ever had! I'm giving it a one star, but only because I can't give it a ZERO STAR. Pros: Nothing! Cons: Food, Service/Employees, Atmosphere, Bad for groups more

Featured on the Food Network as Top 100 Places to Dine in America, the Vortex has a naughty atmosphere with some mouth watering greasy cheeseburgers. What more could every man ask for? With multiple locations across Atlanta, The Vortex's menu is unlike any other in the city. Countless choices of burgers, sandwiches, and more. They even have a burger that is smashed between 2 grilled cheeses and has 8 pieces of bacon pushed in between two giant patties. If you are coming to Atlanta with a group of guys, this is the place to go for dinner. Tattoed waitresses that are not there to mushy up to you take your order and keep it real. This place is ALWAYS 18 and up and is definitely not the place to take the kiddies! more

All I have heard is Vortex, Vortex for best hamburgers in Atlanta. When I hear that I always take it with a grain of salt considering who is heaping on the accolades. I was pretty disappointed when we ate there yesterday. It was quiet after the lunch rush yet it took at least 10 minutes for waitress to come introduce herself and take our drink order. \r \r We ordered two burgers exactly the same except for I wanted mine medium well, the hubs got his cooked medium. When gent from the kitchen delivered our order, he specifically asked who got the medium and who got the medium well burger. Okay, great I thought (attention to detail) until I got half-way through the burger and thought hey this isn't cooked very evenly since I discovered some major pink in the center of the burger. We then realized our burgers were mixed up but by then the hubs had already scarfed up half of his burger. He thought his burger was nicely seasoned but on the dry side. Even my mistakenly-medium burger wasn't juicy at all. The requisite fries were nothing to write home about.\r \r I have had much better, juicier burgers at Five Guys and at a little hole in the wall in Cleveland, GA called Yonah Burger.\r \r Yes, the Vortex decor is interesting, albeit a tad junky, but that isn't enough to bring me back. Atlanta has so many places to eat that we are going to try some others. Why bother with just mediocre? Pros: Okay hamburger meat Cons: Long wait, easy order mixed up more

There was quite a wait, so we grabbed a seat at the bar and ate there. The food was excellent, but my alergies can't handle the piles of cigarette smoke. I will go back, but it will probably be on an ""Annual Basis"" rather than monthly. Pros: Great Burger and even better Wings Cons: Smoking Allowed and Encouraged more

The Laughing Skull Lounge, gives us something that Atlanta has needed for a very long time. An actual comedy club in town that caters to all audiences. Uptown is fun especially for it's niche audience, but here is a place that brings in comics of every color and stripe - even though they do seem to specialize in alternative comedy. It was once used for Guitar Hero parties, and the Dames A'flame burlesque, but is now a self-described ""progressive comedy lounge"" with a cash bar inside the lounge preventing you from leaving. What is absolutely awesome about the place, is it's intimate nature. other than the few places that have one off comedy nights in the metro area it's impossible to find a better place with closer quarters to nationally touring professional comedians Thursday through Sunday. I've seen Maria Bamford, Rick Overton, Emo Philips, and Donnell Rawlings in a matter of a month and a half. And all for amazingly good prices. What's even better is that it is directly connected to The Vortex Midtown. The best burgers in Atlanta, the coolest wait staff, an awesome bar, and the best venue for comedy. I was even more so excited to hear that all shows are 18+ so any of the surrounding college students can come and get a taste of comedy performances from the best in the business, without having to pay high prices to get into one man shows at The Tabernacle. I suggest the place to anyone and everyone who is a comedy fan. I even heard they are starting an open mic on wednesday for those intown who want to take part in pursuing a funny career. Pros: Intimate comedy venue at the best burger place in Atlanta Cons: No food allowed inside, the club. more

\r Great burger joint and NOT the high priced spread. Sort of think Elvis, Lennon, or Che might stop in any time. Service can be a little crude, but this is not Tavern on the Green in Central Park!\r I like the decor, but I am retro old guy with grey hair. Pros: Fun hang out with very good burgers and fries Cons: The hired help can be a little crude and parking can be a litttle problem more

First, I love the Vortex's brash approach to eat-it-or-leave-it cuisine - it's refreshing, entertaining and, for some reason, likable. \r \r Me and some of my lovely lady friends from work decided to go for lunch today (we were all a little hung over from Mama Mia the night before - darling can't you hear me? SOS!) We asked for a seat on the patio - it was an absolutely lovely day and I would assume lots of people would want to sit outside. We were seated but had to wait about 10 minutes before anyone greeted the table. We were there early - 11:15ish - so perhaps they weren't fully staffed for lunch yet, but it still seemed painfully long and this is one of my biggest dining pet peeves.\r \r Once we did order (Kelly P. was feeling spunky, too, so she proceeded to order the most disgusting thing I've ever seen - a burger with bacon, peanut butter and bananas - ICK!), our appetizer came out BEFORE our drinks (which followed about 10 minutes after). It seemed odd to me that drinks were not delivered first but, hey, that's just me. We all proceeded to eat chips and salsa without even a glass of water to wash it down.\r \r Another friend ordered the bison burger, medium-well. ""Have you even had bison before?"" the waitress snapped rather shortly. I know she was only asking because bison shouldn't be cooked past medium for optimum flavor, but I think she could have been a little nicer about it.\r \r The waitress then proceeded to apologize for being behind, which I appreciated - at least she acknowledged it which gets her points. \r \r So, it started it a little rough but, in the end, it all came down to the burger which was yummy, as always - one of the best in the city. I even ate everyone's tomatoes (wimps!), so if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. \r \r Vortex - an Atlanta classic that I will continue to patronize despite a few characteristically endearing flaws.\r \r Now, I think I'll go pick a fight with someone in Accounting. Pros: Food, people-watching Cons: smokey more

I live 1 block away and continue to visit the vortex during ""hours of operation"" as posted on their website and they refuse to serve food. I will never go there again. more

Everyone is right about the LOUSY service. The staff are all rude idiots. I've run into some elsewhere over the years at a popular local hangout and they are the biggest losers! They think that they are the so cool 'cause they work at the Vortex (that's their claim to fame). RIGHT! You have to be a complete idiot to work there...obviously they can't work anywhere else. Hope the Vortex offers a pension fund for them. The food? It's okay but I can get food that is comparable elsewhere and not have to deal with those moronic losers! I think that all the positive reviews of this place must have been written by the staff! Pros: food has potential to be good Cons: you've got to be an idiot to keep a job there more

The waiters and management treat you like an animal. The serve you when they feel like it. Don't ask for condiments, they may tell you off. The food and drink was average. I know this place is not known for its great service. But the way they treat you is almost dehumanizing and no paying customer should leave an establishment feeling like this. The waiter and management will threaten to call the cops on you if you didn't leave an 18% required gratuity after being treated like horribly. I will never eat here again. Pros: Burgers were average. Cons: They degrade their customers. more

What a great buger joint! Great for lunch. We love the smart mouthed menu. The staff are much nicer than the menu implies, and as with all good midtown restaraunts - the staff is great viewing entertainment. Our only regret on this top notch burger place? That you can't share it with the under 18 crowd - who would SO appreciate the sarcastic decor and menu! Pros: One of a Kind with Burgers to Match! Cons: No Family Dining - No Minors Allowed (just to keep the smokers happy) more

Can pick from several different beers and ways to make my burger.\r Very cool atmosphere and the service is at top of things. Pros: Burgers and Beer more

\r We have been to others, and it is a little trip from Sandy Springs, but we love the burgers and the staff. If I wanted neat and tidy I would go to the local hospital for some water! more

I beginning to think all the great reviews of this place is written by the management, staff, and friends of theirs. I just don't get it. The place looks like a kid place from the outside, and a messy toddler room in the inside. So why all the kid bashing . The food is average. The staff is Incredibly rude. As a business owner myself I personally think that know matter how much the food cost, you should receive good service. There is no excuse for bad service!!! Especially in a city where there is fierce competition. I could care less if kids are there or not, and don't understand how that is selling point. Everyone under the age of 25 basically acts the same anyways. The burgers are average, the beer selection is average, the staff is unacceptable!! Pros: Better Than McDonalds Cons: Just about everything else more

This really is, in my opinion the best place to get a burger in all of Atlanta. The staff are funky and really nice and the food is amazing. I really like that you can get any of their burgers with beef, turkey, chicken, bison, veggie, and whatever other kind of meat options they have. It's really nice when I go out to eat with my vegitarian friend for her to have so many options. The best part is it's 18 and up all day so you dont have to worry about yelling kids running around while you eat. Pros: Great food, No children Cons: Smoking allowed more

Yes, yes, yes, the Vortex is known for its burgers but honestly good burgers aren't that hard to find.\r \r But if you've already tried the burger and fries at the Vortex, try something beer-battered next time, like the onion rings or the fish & chips, or order the fish & chips and substitute onion rings for the fries.\r \r When you bite into the onion rings or fish & chips at the Vortex, your mouth fills with beer-scented steam.\r \r Now I've had beer-battered things before that didn't taste anything of beer but at the Vortex, you can tell there's beer in the batter. Pros: burgers, onion rings, fish & chips Cons: loud, not well lit more