Tastes and Trends

What's Hot?

Krispy Kreme. For football season, the doughnut chain is offering $10.78 Tailgate Packs — one dozen of the original glazed masterpieces and one dozen football-shaped doughnuts in sporty colors. Place orders at least 48 hours in advance if you want four dozen or specific colors. 295 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta, (404) 876-7307; 3387 Buford Drive, Buford, (770) 831-1174; 1550 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, (770) 831-1174; 4129 Highway 78, Lilburn, (770) 985-2810; 299 S. Cobb Parkway, Marietta, (770) 425-0374; 6689 Highway 85, Riverdale, (770) 997-6210; 791 Atlanta St., Roswell, (770) 998-0779; www.krispykreme.com.

Hudson Grille. Metrotainment Cafes, the restaurant group led by Jewish community members Jeff Landau and Michael Miller, has built a mini-empire in metro Atlanta on a foundation of straightforward, well-prepared American cuisine, a comfortable atmosphere and great desserts. The latest concept from the company that gave us Einstein's, Garrison's and Joe's, among others, is the Hudson Grille, an upscale sports bar/restaurant along the lines of the Fox Sports Grill. The first location is in Alpharetta, but the showcase restaurant just opened at Brookhaven Station in the former home of Jocks 'n' Jills. Miller wants to take Hudson Grille national as a franchise, so he spared no expense. A stone fountain and an outdoor bar are the focal points for people who want to hang out on the patio to drink, dine, watch a few ball games on one of 60 ßat-panel televisions or listen to live entertainment. Even with a good crowd making noise, you can hear yourself think and carry on a conversation on the patio or inside around the main bar or at a table. You have a choice of dozens of beers on tap to start your visit to the Hudson Grille, and you can count on an excellent, abundant dessert at the end. The food in between wasn't particularly memorable during a pre-opening party, but we trust Metrotainment to get the food right to complement a beautiful place to watch a game. 4046 Peachtree Road; (404) 233-0313; www.hudsongrille.com.

Via. More ambitious in concept and menu than Hudson Grille, this restaurant is part of the new face of Buckhead Village. It fits with the concept of the nearby Streets of Buckhead: a high-class, fashion-forward oasis. When you walk into Via, it's easy to be confused about whether you've entered a restaurant or a nightclub. The blue decor is eye-catching, dominated by chandeliers that look like giant bug zappers, and the banquette running the length of the second-ßoor terrace is cool and comfortable. But the techno music coming from the elevated DJ booth isn't conducive to fine dining. Neither, unfortunately, is the food. It all looked nice but generally was overly complicated yet underseasoned. An exception was the wild mushroom pizza, which was excellent except for the overabundance of sage. What Via has going for it are a friendly, well-trained staff and a great bar. The emphasis is on the clear liquors — at least 40 types of vodka and enough brands of tequila to challenge your ability to count in Spanish — but the Via folks also know whiskey. For example, they wisely keep the Jameson's Irish whiskey amid the bourbons rather than the scotches, where Bushmills would be more at home. Given some seasoning of its own, Via's food should be a good enough excuse to spend time at the bar. 262 Pharr Road; (404) 214-5404; www.viarestaurant.net.