We can hardly believe that this is the 11th annual Downtown Atlanta Restaurant Week, and this year it’s even bigger and better with the promotion being extended from July 21-29, 2012. Last week we took a leisurly stroll through Downtown Atlanta, with other Atlanta Foodies, to sample savory items prepared by a select few of DARW’s participating restaurants.

Our first stop was Ray’s In the City. With a Three Course Menu at $25 per Person we sampled the colorfully plated Tomato-Mozzarella Salad that litterly gave a burst of flavor with Sweet Vidalia Onions, Balsamic Dressing and Micro Arugula. There were also an array of  fresh sushi rolls, wich you can watch the chef make daily; our favorite was definately the cucumber roll–delish! Although not an alcohol expert, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try the Bloody Mary and Bombay Sapphire coctail with lemongrass, both to my suprise were refreshing with a bit of a kick!

For the many times that I’ve passed Max Lagers on Peachtree St., I’ve never had an excuse to go inside, but after making this our second stop on the ‘sneak peak tour’ I wondered ‘what the heck was I thinking not adding this to my dining list. Once inside, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to instagram the American Flag that panned the wall in the main dinning area, and any establishment that has outside dining is a plus on my list.

For a menu of $25 per Person Max Lager has a variety of choices for even the most persnickity of taste. We all sampled the Butcher’s Steak which is a wood grilled sirloin, roasted garlic butter, pomme frites and chedder horseradish fondue–there goes my daily caloric intake! Like my lack of knowledge of swanky mixed cocktails, I’m equally as uneducated about lagers, but was super impressed with the fact that Max Lager’s brew their own beers in house and are already brewing for Octoberfest!

BFF’s Ashley Hesseltine and Kate Thacker enjoying a cocktail

Every influential blogger has a smart phone–lol

Maura Neil of 365 Atlanta chatting with CBS Better Mornings Atlanta Producer Amanda Harley

Nick Love of Atlanta Bite Life having a great time

Good food…good friends…what more could you ask for?

To conclude our restaurant tour, we were litterally in for a sweet treat! Sway is a little tucked away eatery inside The Hyatt Regency Downtown Atlanta Hotel that packs local fare with a big burst of flavor. If you haven’t had a reason to stay at the Hyatt, you might just miss Sway. Immediately upon arriving I couldn’t help but to notice the dessert bar with all my favorites, collassel size chocolate chip cookies, fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate, pies, fruit flavored mousse! OMG it was heaven.  If you want to know our recommendation from the $35 per Person menu, honestly we cant choose. We sampled each of the entrees on the menu and each were equally delicious and moist. What set us over the top after our main course was the organic yogurt with fresh Georgia Strawberries served in a wine glass. We give Sway the Tastemaker gold seal of approval!

Restaurant Week in Atlanta is hands down the best opportunity to sample what our city has to offer and become a foodie of sort. We’d love to know what your favorite dining experience was during the week! Unitl next time—Bon Apetit!