Louisville Basketball Reaches Final Four: Where to Eat and Drink in Atlanta

Last night the Louisville Cardinals gave Duke the pounding everyone in the nation was hoping for (save Duke grads and North Carolinians who've picked up Duke swag at area Walmarts), beating the Blue Devils 85-63 to advance to the Final Four in Atlanta. The Cards will play Wichita State Saturday night, with the winner moving on to play for the national championship Monday.

Why is a dining and nightlife website covering basketball? Page views. Also, plenty of you probably are making the six-hour drive down I-65 and I-24 to Atlanta and are looking for restaurant and nightlife recommendations beyond that stripper in Buckhead who crushes beer cans between her boobies (or so I've heard).

Like most of the other Eaters, Eater Atlanta has these handy-dandy maps, highlighting the best of the best and what's hot right now:

·38 Top Restaurants
·Heatmap: Where to Eat Now
·Heatmap: Where to Drink Now

In particular, Eater Atlanta singles out

·One Eared Stag
·Empire State South
·No. 246
·The Spence

Looking for a Louisville connection? Restaurant Eugene's Linton Hopkins, co-winner of James Beard 2012's Best Chef Southeast honors, was the guest chef at Proof on Main's Hog & Barrel Dinner in December. This editor called that meal one of his best of 2012.

(Please note an entire article about the University of Louisville's men's basketball team and restaurants was written without mentioning Porcini. Well, until that sentence. Feel free to compliment Eater Louisville on its restraint in the comments.)

·Emotional Louisville overcomes injury to Kevin Ware to reach Final Four [ESPN]
·Here's the Horrific Injury Sustained by Louisville Player Kevin Ware [Extremely Graphic] [Gawker]

[Photo: Courtesy Louisville Cardinals]