Do you enjoy sampling a variety of ethnic foods from locally owned and operated restaurants focused on spotlighting international dishes from around the world? If so, you are sure to discover one or more new cultural cuisines you can enjoy for years to come. Experience the best Marietta has to offer in ethnic cuisine, from Middle Eastern and Indian fare to Indonesian and Australian specialties, when you sample from the recommended international restaurants below.

 

Jerusalem Bakery & Grill

Family-owned and -operated, Jerusalem Bakery & Grill offers an amazing variety of Middle Eastern cuisine, including specialty foods such as shwarma, falafel, hummus, tahini salad, and halal beef burgers. Along with their wide range of appetizers, salads, and entrees, they are especially known for their bread, pastries, and sweets. Choose from their meat pie, filled with ground beef, tomatoes, onions, and special spices, or their thyme/za’atar pie packed with thyme, sumac, sesame seeds, and premium olive oil. Don’t leave before you taste their world-famous baklava or harisah, which is an ancient sweet dish from the eastern shores of the Mediterranean.

 

Tassa Caribbean Restaurant

Since 2006, Tassa Caribbean Cuisine has been serving the greater Marietta area with its authentic island fare. Established by Radhika (Ria) Edoo, it quickly became one of Atlanta’s go-to restaurants, visited often by some of Hollywood’s most famous faces. Select from entrees such as stewed oxtails, curry goat, fresh tilapia, or spicy jerk chicken. Many local families rave about both the amazing flavor and affordable price of their daily lunch buffet. Tassa is one of the only Marietta locales where you can find fresh, authentic, made-to-order roti flatbread. They are open every day for lunch and dinner, except on Sundays.

 

Taj Mahal Grill

The Taj Mahal Grill is a vegan-friendly restaurant that serves the same exceptional food native to its motherland, India. With locally available spices, herbs, vegetables, and fruits, this fine cuisine is influenced by both the religious and cultural traditions of Indian society. They offer a variety of Indian foods such as vegetarian appetizers, an assortment of naan breads, and a wide range of curries created with goat, lamb, or chicken. 

Their top three specialties include:

  • ‘Taj Mahal’ Chana Masala, a North Indian specialty with subtle flavors of chickpeas and ginger
  • ‘Taj Mahal’ Special Biryani, a combination of fish, chicken, vegetable, and lamb cooked with curried rice
  • Mixed Grill Taj Mahal, an assortment of tandoori specialties with lamb, chicken, and fish

 

WIN Indonesian Grill & Gastrobar

The mission of WIN Indonesian Grill & Gastrobar is to promote the Indonesian culture and its creative industries to Marietta and the surrounding areas. With a team of highly regarded culinary experts, WIN takes its inspiration from the American grill, re-working it to create contemporary Indonesian dishes. The menu covers a diverse selection of Indonesian cuisine including street food, grilled specialties, a la carte dishes, and of course, a full bar and wine menu.

Their signature dish, rijsttafel, consists of small plates based on Indonesian dishes that were developed during the Dutch colonial era. Choose from several combination platters that include a distinct assortment of rice, curried meats, chicken, fish, vegetables, pickles, relishes, sauces, and condiments.

 

Australian Bakery Cafe

The exterior of the Australian Bakery in Marietta, GA.

Image via Flickr by Tennessee Wanderer

 

Owners Mark Allen and Neville Steel, both from the Australian outback country town of Boort, came together in December 2001 to open the first Australian bakery in North America. Due to its authentic taste, the Australian Bakery Cafe ships their freshly made products on a daily basis to many Australian and New Zealand expatriates throughout the Southeast.

In their Marietta, Georgia, shop, they specialize in hand-crafted Aussie bread with no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, corn syrup, or added sugar. Known for their specialty sweets, their desserts include such fare as Pavlova, a meringue topped with cream, strawberries, and kiwi, and Cherry Ripe Slice, a cherry-based dessert, featuring Australia’s oldest chocolate bar. Their world-famous Aussie meat pies include over 27 varieties and are crafted in the traditional ‘Down Under’ way with only the finest ingredients.

 

Kiosco Restaurant

Experience a taste of Colombia with Latin American cuisine from Kiosco. A completely gluten-free restaurant by choice, Kiosco shares its Latin roots with the Marietta, Georgia, area through genuine authentic Colombian fare. The Columbian meat pie, also known as the beef empanada, is a true local favorite, along with their signature sangria.

Beef specialties at Kiosco include the ever-popular carne asada, grilled steak with sweet plantains and avocado, and bistec de carne, a 12-ounce beef brisket with potatoes, sauteed onions, and tomatoes. You won’t leave hungry when you order the media pollo al horno, a half-roasted chicken with raspberry sauce, or the camarones al ajillo, shrimp sauteed in red pepper flakes and garlic. Kiosco Restaurant is only open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays for lunch and dinner service.

 

Piastra

Piastra, located on West Park Square in Marietta, emphasizes delicious Italian cuisine that’s freshly prepared from scratch every day. Using only the finest ingredients and zero GMO foods, they take advantage of the fresh produce readily available at nearby Georgia farms and markets. Chef-Owner Greg is originally from Boston and was classically trained by a French chef after attending the New England Culinary Institute. His passion for food began when as a young child, his grandmother first taught him how to make chocolate chip cookies.

Combine any number of appetizers, salads, and entrees for an authentic Italian meal you won’t soon forget. A few of their more popular dishes include:

  • Parmesana Classico, pounded thin and lightly breaded chicken with house-made focaccia crumbs, served with spaghetti pomodoro
  • Lasagna Quattro Formaggi, house-made pasta layered with fresh ricotta, mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan with pomodoro sauce
  • Braciole Di Maiale, a local Tomahawk pork chop with rosemary mashed potatoes, wilted greens, and a balsamic glaze

 

Savor the Rich Ethnic Cuisine of Marietta

Now that you have an idea of the genuine international flavor available to you in the Marietta area, do any of the above options pique your interest? If you have a favorite ethnic restaurant you would love to add to this list, then please contact us to let us know! We are more than happy to add it to this ever-growing international food guide.

 

Marietta, Georgia, is packed with restaurants that boast an enormous variety of rich ethnic cuisines. Take some time out of your busy schedule to enjoy a night out with friends or a Saturday afternoon lunch with your family at one of these exceptional eateries and bakeries.