Best of Chamblee from Local Expert, Jimmy Furst

A resident of Chamblee for four years and a member of Chamblee’s Recreation Advisory Council, Jimmy Furst was first attracted to the city by its affordable housing and convenient location. “You get more bang for your buck,” he says. “And being so close to the city was a definite plus.”

BEST ON A BUDGET

My favorite is Las Tortas Locas, a really great taco place with a salsa bar. Every time I go I get something different, but I especially like the Nortena steak sandwich.

FAVORITE ETHNIC RESTAURANT

We go to Lee’s Bakery quite often. They have great Vietnamese food and the best banh mi I’ve ever had.

FAVORITE RESTAURANT

My favorite in downtown Chamblee is Vintage Pizzeria. It’s probably the granddaddy of all Chamblee restaurants. I really enjoy the barbecue chicken pizza. On Buford Highway, I like Food Terminal, which is based on Asian food stalls, with a mostly Malaysian menu that looks like a magazine. It’s overwhelming when you first get there, but it’s amazing, especially the Thai Chili Pan Mee.

BEST PATIO

At Bluetop Restaurant & Bar, 80 percent of the restaurant is a patio. The kitchen is in an old cargo container and the rest is a patio, with a grassy area where kids can play and space for outdoor games. The food is fantastic, and they have a great drink menu.

BEST COCKTAILS/BAR

Hopstix is the first brewery in Chamblee. They have a full bar with local beers, plus a rotating list of brews they make in-house such as “Seven Seas” and “Rice and Shine.”

BEST PLACE TO FIND A GREAT GIFT

Hello Gorgeous! is a one-stop shop for cards, jewelry, and lots of unique gifts.

BEST PARK

Dresden Park is our version of Central Park. It’s beautiful, with a stream running through it, playgrounds, and running paths. It’s quite amazing, and it’s huge!

FAVORITE OUTDOOR ACTIVITY

Running on the Rail Trail, a great path that starts at Keswick Park and runs to Chamblee Tucker Road. I’m a runner, so it’s really nice. It connects to other trails, so I can get a good, long run on it.