Fontaine's Oyster House

"Don’t let the down-home aesthetics deter you from scarfing down a meal at Fontaine’s—this dive bar fills a void for Atlantans who want to eat legit seafood in an uber-casual environment. All the usual dive bar trappings are present (low lighting, dark wood paneling, and creaky booths that’ve seen better days). But the owners of this VaHi spot went a step further and stuffed the menu with a variety of underwater things too. Since it’s an oyster house, start with a dozen (props if you wanna shoot for 48). Then move on to dishes like creamy lobster mac and cheese, perfectly crispy fried grouper, and blackened salmon. When a dribble of seafood gumbo trickles down your chin, it’s a surprise to find a heavy duty cloth napkin rolled and ready for use. " - nina reeder, juli horsford

"Fontaine’s has been a seafood fixture in the neighborhood for more than two decades, so the bright red neon sign with an arrow pointing you toward the door is, for lack of better terms, pointless. This is a dive bar that happens to serve respectable seafood, so it fills a void for Atlantans who want to eat lobster mac and oysters in an uber-casual environment. There are no elaborate shellfish displays sitting on a bed of ice here. Just low lighting, dark wood paneling, and creaky booths that’ve seen better days. Their menu is a mix of a few typical bar food offerings (burgers and hot dogs) and a tidal wave of credible seafood like crab cakes and blackened salmon. " - demarco williams, juli horsford, nina reeder

"Get a dozen house Gulf Coast oysters for $15 on Tuesdays at this Virginia-Highland seafood bar and pub. These bivalves are served with lemon, cocktail sauce, and horseradish." - Beth McKibben

"Fontaine’s has been a seafood fixture for VaHi locals for more than two decades, so the bright red neon sign with an arrow pointing you toward the door is, for lack of better terms, pointless. And while they’re mainly known as an oyster house and seafood spot, a little NOLA je ne sais quoi spices up the menu with dishes like jambalaya and a seafood gumbo, which is our go-to order. If hot broths aren’t your bag, po’boys with six protein options (like shrimp and crawfish) are a win for sandwich lovers everywhere. The mood of this divey place doesn’t emulate the Big Easy with a soundtrack of early 2000s pop and R&B hits. But on a sunny day, snagging a seat on the shaded patio with a bowl of shrimp étouffée is still bound to pass a good time. " - nina reeder, juli horsford, demarco williams

"While Virginia-Highland’s landscape has changed over the years, Fontaine’s relaxed aura and moderate price point remains intact. Fontaine’s is best known for its oyster deals (especially if you’re a lover of Gulf Coast bivalves), but you’d be remiss to sleep on their fried fish or shrimp. Sandwiches, baskets, and tacos all make fantastic vessels for fried fish." - Beth McKibben, Sarra Sedghi