We're back with our series Inside Atlanta—each week, we sit down with influential locals to talk about what Atlanta means to them. Today we’re chatting with Zach Meloy, the chef and owner of Better Half, an intimate restaurant in Atlanta’s burgeoning Westside serving up Latin-meets-Southern-American plates, like sweet corn soup with goat cheese pupusa, charred poblano and saffron honey or grilled beef culotte with shrimp louie, fried green tomatoes and shrimp bisque.


With an ever-evolving menu (Meloy has actually never served the exact same dish twice, except for a silk handkerchief pasta, the same dish he served to his wife Cristina on their first date), expect a meal to remember at a price point your wallet will actually appreciate. After gaining enough funds to start Better Half through an enormously successful crowd funding campaign, Meloy considers it “the restaurant that Atlanta built.” Today we get a tour of The Big Peach lead by Meloy himself.

I live in… Loring Heights, a small neighborhood about five blocks from the restaurant, with my wife, daughter and our two dogs. I grew up in the Atlanta suburbs, and even when I was young, I was always aware of “the city.” After moving back from living abroad for years, I was eager to move into town. We wanted to make sure that we could live and work in the same area. We like to live small, and keeping close means a better quality of life for us as small business owners. We love Atlanta—as big as it is, it will always have a small town feel to us.

I wish people knew… about Little Five Points. If you’re looking for original shopping, it can’t be beat. This has been a favorite of mine since I was old enough to drive into the city. Record shops, vintage clothing boutiques, good coffee and tattoo studios surrounded on either end by great, affordable food. What’s not to love? Little Five Points is a definitive locale and no trip to ATL would be complete without a stop here.

You can find me… outside somewhere with my family—we love to spend time at the Chattahoochee [River] or Stone Mountain, or at my ceramics studio at the Goat Farm Arts Center.

It’s dinner time, I’m headed to… La Carreta Colombian restaurant in Marietta, a great family spot where everyone gets together to linger over amazing food. They offer a little bit of everything, but I never stray too far from the Colombian offerings. Be sure to try the Ajiaco, a hearty chicken soup served with capers and sour cream. For date night, I'm crazy about BoccaLupo in Inman Park.  Insanely good food. Also so affordable that I always feel a little guilty when I leave.  The chef, Bruce Logue, has earned acclaim not only as an amazing cook, but also a gracious host.

Clock strikes 5 o’clock, I’m drinking… rum, rum, rum. All I need is relatively young, aged rum, a glass and some ice. I’m an easy guy to please. Flor de Caña four year aged is my favorite. Greens on Ponce is my go-to for a great rum selection.

If I had to stay in a hotel, I’d check into… the downtown W. [It has] amazing rooms with great views of the city that you won’t get anywhere else.

Atlanta’s best kept secret is… The Bookhouse [Pub] on Ponce. [The restaurant] might be my all time favorite spot to eat in Atlanta. This Twin Peaks themed hideaway has the best wings I’ve ever eaten and a great beer selection to boot. If you get tired of the quirky old movies they’ve got playing, you could always connect with your secret introvert and grab on old book off the shelf. I hesitate to even tell you about this one because I like that it feels a bit secret.

When I’m playing tourist, I go to… the Georgia Aquarium. [Or I’ll] hike down to the old Roswell Mill or stroll through Piedmont Park to catch the views of Midtown. When we’ve got guests in from out of town, we never miss these spots.

I get my sweat on… biking to and from work.

I love spending my money at...the Buford Highway Farmers Market. Where else in town can you buy great, fresh international goods and hover over one of the best tamales in town? I usually take a break halfway through my shopping trip for a bite to eat. The Korean dumpling counter in the back corner is also not to be missed.           

Story by Taylor Cromwell. The Atlanta expert for About Travel, Kate Parham Kordsmeier, can be reached on twitter @KPKords or via email at kpkords@gmail.com. Don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Pinterest.