360 views and tourist appeal keep the overpriced Sun Dial spinning - Review - Atlanta - The Infatuation
"Remember when The Sun Dial was the epitome of fine dining in Atlanta? We do. These days, this Downtown spot feels like an overpriced tourist trap with generally underwhelming American food. But somehow, this restaurant retains just enough of its one-time glamour—and offers just enough—to impress your out-of-town friends. Open since the '70s, the Westin remains one of the tallest buildings in the city, and the formerly revolving 72nd-floor restaurant still provides first-rate panoramic views. And servers here still treat you like the celebrities and dignitaries that once frequented this place (former president Jimmy Carter, Maynard Jackson, Dizzy Gillespie, and Coretta Scott King, to name just a few). photo credit: Amy Sinclair photo credit: Amy Sinclair photo credit: Amy Sinclair Pause Unmute But The Sun Dial is no longer a prom and anniversary hotspot. Instead, it's mainly convention attendees who slide into the curved leather booths, and hotel guests who throw on their best ‘fits (there's a business casual dress code) to pose for pictures over chargrilled ribeye. Most of the food here lands between just OK (the mac and cheese) to decent (seared halibut with lobster sauce). If you're heading here, come prepared to pay $60 for a way-too-saucy vegan pad thai, which is the lowest-priced entree on the menu, as you gaze out over the city. And note that every one in your party must get an entree. But, hey, at least you get free bread. photo credit: Amy Sinclair And if you're just coming here for the view, skip that main dining room and head up to the adults-only bar on the 73rd floor, where walk-ins are always welcome and drinks and small bites are under $30. We give a thumbs up to the thick chunks of the tuna poke, which had edamame mixed in for a little nuttiness and a nice crunch. The slightly chewy steak sliders are helped out by melty manchego cheese and lots of pesto, but the grilled octopus is pretty tasteless, even with romesco sauce and a crispy potato that might dent your love for complex carbs. And unlike the downstairs (which stopped moving in 2017), this level is revolving again, so it’s a fun way to see the city without blowing your budget. Food Rundown Speciality Frozen Cocktails The $22 frozen cocktails (standard offerings like mudslides and margaritas) come with a souvenir glass, which makes them the best deal on the menu. They are extra sweet, extra boozy, and filled to the brim, so if you feel the room spinning, know that may just be you. photo credit: Amy Sinclair Southern Fried Calamari Other than the questionable oniony sauce, we have no complaints with the fried calamari and okra platter. It's a standard breaded and fried variety that's always great for sharing—and the salty bites come in handy if you need to balance your extra sweet frozen drink. Watercress Salad This is one of the better things on the menu since there is a range of flavors. Maple-roasted pears add sweetness, prosciutto brings in a nice saltiness, and smokey blue cheese acts like the cherry on top. Caramelized Onion Farro Risotto Spin past this side dish. More farro than risotto, this might as well have been onion-flavored oatmeal. Mac And Cheese Skip this. For $15, you get a tiny ramekin filled with bland, cheese-deprived mac. Pan Seared Sea Bass As the most popular order, this has been on the menu for awhile. And it’s a nicely grilled flaky fish (with haricot verts, mushrooms, and a lobster sauce) that’s tasty, but it clocks in at $77. PlayMute video credit: Nina Reeder Tuna Poke Order this. Big chunks of raw tuna are seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil, and likely a wee bit of ponzu. They're mixed with edamame and sesame seeds for a little nuttiness and crunch and sit on top of vinegar-sweetened sticky rice. PlayMute video credit: Starr Rivers" - Nina Reeder
