Daniel B.
Yelp
Hamp & Harry's rates somewhere between four and five stars for me. This is a New American restaurant and bar with great food, drink, service, and ambiance. They have live music too. This is currently one of my top three restaurants at Marietta Square: (1) Spring, (2) Mac's Chophouse, and (3) Hamp & Harry's.
As a regular visitor since 2001, I noticed the Square's dining scene improved after the opening of Spring in 2016. Many new businesses followed including Marietta Square Market in March 2019, Mac's in June 2020, and Hamp & Harry's in December 2021. Hamp & Harry's replaced spaces most recently occupied by Bramble Bar & Kitchen and Low T Nation. Before Bramble, it was Jack's New Yorker Deli. Jack's closed in 2020. The Jack's/Bramble space is where Hamp & Harry's started. Then, in late summer/early fall 2023, they expanded into the former Low T space next door.
"Hamp & Harry's" is a reference to the middle names of the owners, Scott "Hampton" McCray and Scott "Harrison" Kerns. These are the same guys behind local chain McCray's Tavern and other metro Atlanta restaurants like The Mill Kitchen & Bar in downtown Roswell.
Free parking is available on and around Marietta Square and surrounding streets. There are also several free and paid parking lots and decks within a few blocks of the restaurant. The most convenient parking is the paid surface lot behind the restaurant. We got lucky and got a free street spot right in front of the restaurant.
The owners have done a nice job with the space. The centerpiece is a large illuminated bar. It's tall, wide, well-stocked, and almost reaches the ceiling. The interior design is a mix of traditional and modern. For example, traditional and rustic in the exposed brick walls of the old building. Modern in the hanging florals, which has been a trendy Instagram/TikTok thing for restaurants in the last few years. Inside, there are multiple rooms. Outside, they have a cute sidewalk patio as well as a cocktail window where you can order cocktails.
Reservations are recommended. Book on OpenTable. Unfortunately, Hamp & Harry's did not award points when I booked.
During our Friday night visit, it was packed and loud. Loud because of all the people (room acoustics) and the music. This is one of those places where everyone has to talk loudly at each other. The atmosphere can be described as an elevated, classier bar and grill. This can be a fun date spot, but if you're looking for a place with a quieter, more intimate ambiance, this is not it.
I came with a party of five and we had a good time. We were seated at one of the long high-tops by the bar. Below is a list of most of what we ordered. It should give you an idea of what this place has to offer and the cost.
Raw & Chilled
* Moonstone Oysters from Point Judith Pond, Rhode Island (12 for $40, market price) - "atomic" horseradish, mignonette, H&H cocktail sauce
Small Plates
* Mediterranean Fried Okra ($17) - tzatziki, sumac labneh, oregano, dill, pickled onion
Entrees
* 8 oz Meats by Linz Filet x2 ($56 each) - garlic chive mashed potatoes, kohlrabi, chimichurri butter
* Double-H Smash Burger x2 ($24 each) - Meats by Linz prime beef, shredded lettuce, Emmentaler, comeback sauce
* Chargrilled Ahi Tuna ($38) - butternut nuoc cham, kimchi, charred allium, lemongrass, coconut
Libations
* The Rookie ($16) - H&H Maker's Mark Private Selection, bourbon barrel syrup, Regans' Orange Bitters, Peychaud's Aromatic Cocktail Bitters
* The Starry Night x2 ($15 each) - H&H blue gin, lemon, egg white, peach
Desserts
* Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse ($14) - cashew brittle, peanut and white chocolate ganache, caramel, salted honey ice cream
* Cinnamon and White Chocolate Bread Pudding ($14) - cranberry and ginger coulis, pistachio bark, salted honey vanilla ice cream
* Espresso ($3)
Overall, I thought the food and drink were delicious. One thing I knew I had to get here were the oysters. The night we went, they were Moonstones. Small, fresh, cleanly shucked, and the perfect balance of briny and mild. Recommended. In hindsight, another raw item I wish we'd gotten were the Ahi Tuna Tostadas ($19). Next time. The Fried Okra was a well-executed fusion of Southern and Mediterranean cuisines.
Hamp & Harry's gets their beef from Meats by Linz, outside of Chicago. The meat is top notch. I loved my filet, which I ordered medium rare. It was incredibly flavorful and tender, and an all-around terrific, high-quality steak. Other Atlanta restaurants I've been to that source from Meats by Linz include Marcel, Little Alley Steakhouse, and Foundation Social Eatery.
I really enjoyed The Starry Night cocktail. The egg white made the drink frothy and creamy, and deceptively strong.
The standout dessert was the Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse. Wow. It was wonderfully rich, sweet, and smooth. I recommend that as well.
Service was good. It appeared they had all hands on deck for a busy night. Ian B was our server and he took very good care of us.