Brick Store Pub – Decatur

Location: 125 E. Court Square (on the Old Courthouse Square)

Phone: 404-687-0990

Hours: Mon: 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Tues-Sat: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sun: 12 p.m.-Mid

Taps: 15

Bottles: 65

Atmosphere: This is a cozy (some say small) hangout with brick walls and dark wood tables just steps from Ponce de Leon traffic. There are no TVs or neon signs. Want a Bud or a Miller Lite? Go elsewhere. Parking also may be tricky at peak hours.

Clientele: The diversity that is Decatur wanders here – an eclectic mix of families, couples, students and hippies of all ages.

Food: It’s a pub, but the grub is grand. The menu is simple (burgers, sandwiches, entrees and salads) yet distinctive. Also offered are one-of-a–kind appetizers and desserts, too.

Summits Wayside Tavern

(Three locations – same ownership)

Clientele: Tavern types who’ve come to sample the best draft and bottled beer selection in Atlanta. Also: trivia players, TV watchers, families, couples and groups.

Food: A menu beyond what you’d expect from a tavern. The usual suspects are here (wings, burgers, Tex-Mex and over a dozen sandwiches). But what’s this? Beer-steamed Canadian mussels? Orange Ginger Spring Rolls? This kitchen is really cooking. All food is made to order so be patient.

Web site: www.summits-online.com

Summits Wayside Tavern (Sandy Springs)

Location: 5830 Roswell Rd.

Phone: 404-257-0735

Hours: Sun-Thurs: 11 a.m.–2 a.m.; Fri: 11 a.m.-4 a.m.; Sat: 11 a.m.-3 a.m.

Taps: 118

Bottles: 225

Atmosphere: The dim interior and neon signs scream “beer bar,” not that there’s anything wrong with that. Smallest of the 3 SWT locations, it’s just north of I-285 (Exit #25).

Summits Wayside Tavern (Snellville)

Location: 3334 Stone Mountain Hwy. (Hwy 78)

Phone: 770-736-1333

Hours: Mon-Sat: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sun: 11 a.m.-Mid.

Taps: 155

Bottles: 200

Atmosphere: This is a sports bar on steroids. The massive memorabilia collection includes two walls of autographed baseball bats and all those tap handles dominate another wall.

Summits Wayside Tavern (Cumming)

Location: 525 Lake Center Pkwy.

Phone: 770-886-4374

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sat: 11 a.m.-Mid; Sun: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

(Until 2003, Forsythe County banned the sale of alcohol in bars and restaurants on Sunday. That law was changed and beer is now available at Summits in Cumming on Sundays as well.)

Taps: 224

Bottles: 200

Atmosphere: Big and airy. The newest SWT, it’s also the most family oriented. Cumming, Georgia … a mecca for beer lovers? Believe it.

Taco Mac

Since each of the locations (18 in metro Atlanta; also Athens, GA and Chattanooga, TN) are individually licensed, locations vary in size and appearance. The following description attempts to generalize the chain, but individual franchises may differ. The Mall of Georgia Taco Mac is both the newest and the largest in the chain for the area.

Taps: From 23-90, depending on location

Bottles: From 200-250, depending on location

Atmosphere: Sports bar with lots of TVs and game room(s) for kids.

Clientele: Families, couples, young professionals, students and sports fans.

Food: A shrine for wing worshippers, Taco Mac also does Tex-Mex, burgers, grilled chicken, wraps and a variety of sandwiches. Also offered are salads and a kid’s menu.

Web site: www.taco-mac.com

Taco Mac (Mall of Georgia)

Location: 3250 Woodward Crossing Blvd., Buford, GA 30519

Phone: 678-730-8226

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Sat. 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-midnight

Taco Mac (Alpharetta)

Location: 4305 Old Milton Parkway, Suite 101

Phone: 770-754-9290

Hours: Mon-Fri: 1 a.m.-4 a.m.; Sat: 11:30 a.m.-3 a.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-4 a.m.

Taco Mac (By the River-Dunwoody)

Location: 8879 Roswell Road

Phone: 770-552-8784

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat: 11:30 a.m.-3 a.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-Mid

Taco Mac (Crabapple-Roswell)

Location: 685 Crossville Rd.

Phone: 678-795-0080

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat: 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-Mid

Taco Mac (Decatur)

Location: 240 W. Ponce De Leon Ave.

Phone: 404-378-4140

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat-Sun: 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m.

Taco Mac (Douglasville)

Location: 7397 Douglas Blvd.

Phone: 770-942-0499

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat: 11:30 a.m.-3 a.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-Mid

Taco Mac (Duluth)

Location: 3545 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.

Phone: 770-814-7388

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat: 11:30 a.m.-3 a.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-Mid

Taco Mac (East/West Connector-Austell)

Location: 1025-1 E/W Connector SW

Phone: 770-801-8773

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat: 11:30 a.m.-3 a.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-Mid

Taco Mac (Ellard Village-Roswell)

Location: 8440 Holcomb Bridge Rd.

Phone: 770-518-5565

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat: 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-Mid

Taco Mac (Johnson Ferry -Marietta)

Location: 1318 Johnson Ferry Road

Phone: 770-977-4467

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat: 11:30 a.m.-3 a.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-Mid

Taco Mac (Kennesaw)

Location: 2615 George Busby Pkwy. , Suite 28

Phone: 770-426-1515

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat: 11:30 a.m.-3 a.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-Mid

Taco Mac (Lawrenceville)

Location: 2003 Riverside Parkway

Phone: 770-682-7189

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat: 11:30 a.m.-3 a.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-Mid

Taco Mac (Marietta)

Location: 2650 Dallas Highway, Suite 110

Phone: 770-795-1144

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat: 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-Mid

Taco Mac (Mountain Industrial – Tucker)

Location: 2845 Mountain Industrial Blvd.

Phone: 770-621-3601

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-4 a.m.; Sat-Sun: 11 a.m.-3 a.m.

Taco Mac (Stockbridge)

Location: 3682 Highway 138

Phone: 678-289-0000

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat: 11:30 a.m.-3 a.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-Mid

Taco Mac (Virginia Highlands)

Location: 1006 North Highland Ave.

Phone: 404-873-6529

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat: 11 a.m.-3 a.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-Mid

Taco Mac (Windward –Alpharetta)

Location: 875 N. Main Street, Suite 354

Phone: 770-346-9119

Hours: 11-2 a.m. (every day)

Taco Mac (Windy Hill – Marietta)

Location: 2359 Windy Hill Road

Phone: 770-953-6382

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat: 11:30 a.m.-3 a.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-Mid

Taco Mac (Woodstock)

Location: 9020 Hwy 92 Suite 100

Phone: 770-517-0030

Hours: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sat: 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sun: 11:30 a.m.-Mid

Melton's App & Tap

(Two Decatur locations – same ownership)

Atmosphere: On opposite ends of Decatur’s core, these are casual, plain-looking strip mall restaurants with a better than average beer selection. TVs? Yes. Bar? Yes. Darts? Yes. But don’t think sports bar. Oakhurst location does weekend brunch.

Clientele: Families, couples and business professionals primarily from the adjoining neighborhoods.

Food: Pub grub? Yes, but don’t jump to conclusions. There’s something for everyone and most of the menu is made from scratch. Burgers, nachos and substantial sandwiches head the list. The appetizers include tortilla pizza and warm cheese puffs. Even carnivores like the steamed veggies served cold with dip.

Melton’s App & Tap (Medlock)

Location: 2500 N. Decatur Road (at Scott Blvd.)

Phone: 404-634-9112

Hours: Mon-Wed: 11:30 a.m.-Mid; Thur-Sat: 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sun: 12 p.m.-Mid

Taps: 16

Bottles: 62

Melton’s App & Tap (Oakhurst)

Location: 350 Mead Road

Phone: 404-370-9797

Hours: Mon-Thur: 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri: 11:30 a.m.-Mid; Sat: 11 a.m.-Mid; Sun: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Taps: 13

Bottles: 60

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