Sometimes the best restaurant finds happen when you aren't really looking for one.
On our way to Atlanta for our flight to Hawaii, we spent the night at the Drury Inn & Suites near the airport. Right next door, and I mean right next door, is Malone’s Steak & Seafood.
We could literally walk across the parking lot from our hotel to the restaurant, so we decided to give it a try.
And I'm glad we did.
Malone’s has been in operation since 1975, and when you walk through the door, you immediately get that old-time steakhouse feel. There’s something comfortable about a restaurant that has been around for decades. It doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard to be trendy. It feels established, welcoming and familiar.
And welcoming is exactly how we were treated.
Our server, Nicole, was excellent—attentive without hovering and genuinely friendly. She made us feel welcome from the moment we sat down.
We did arrive after the lunch menu had ended, and there was a little wrinkle in our plans. We both wanted burgers, and the burgers aren't on the dinner menu. But rather than simply telling us we were out of luck, the staff graciously prepared the burgers we requested.
Now that's the kind of service I appreciate.
Harold, of course, indulged his current food obsession: jalapeños. 😂
The moment he realized they had a Roasted Jalapeño Burger, his decision was made. There was really no further discussion necessary.
His burger was cooked to a perfect medium-well, topped with shredded lettuce, two slices of tomato and red onion. A dill pickle spear rested right on the spine of the burger, a little old-school touch that seemed perfectly at home at Malone’s.
I went with the American Burger, topped with American cheese and the same classic toppings as Harold: shredded lettuce, tomato and red onion. Mine was cooked well done, just the way I ordered it.
Both burgers were nicely seasoned, which I appreciated. Sometimes a burger doesn't need a mountain of toppings or fancy ingredients. It just needs to be well seasoned, cooked properly and served hot. Malone’s got all three right.
And then there were the fries.
Oh, these were good.
They were freshly cooked and served hot, with that perfect combination I look for in a restaurant fry—crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. No sad, lukewarm fries making their way to our table. These were done right.
Would I recommend Malone’s?
Absolutely.
If you're flying out of Atlanta or have just arrived from a trip and want a good meal without having to venture far from the airport, Malone’s is a terrific option. Being right next to the Drury Inn & Suites made it especially convenient for us. We simply walked across the parking lot and were at the restaurant.
But here's the thing:
I wouldn't limit Malone’s to an airport stopover.
I can easily picture myself coming back on a Saturday night, settling into that old-fashioned steakhouse atmosphere, ordering a nice, thick, perfectly cooked steak and a glass of wine, and taking my time over dinner.
And that's probably the best compliment I can give a restaurant:
I can see myself coming back when I don't have a flight to catch.
Malone’s Steak & Seafood gets a Fleur de Lolly thumbs-up from us. 💜
Here are pictures of the menu!
