R. Thomas Deluxe Grill: Eating for your heart

R. Thomas Deluxe Grill has a warm, inviting atmosphere akin to the one Hotlanta emits during these long summer months. It is a sanctuary that occupies a block on the ever-busy Peachtree Street and is situated in the southern part of Buckhead. This restaurant grabs the eye of every passerby with a wide range of colorful statues, pinwheels, and plants, all of which come to a strange standstill of extravagance that stands out against the myriad of commercial and professional office-type buildings.

A year ago, my grandfather died. I was heartbroken and lost without any idea of how to deal with grief — alone, 18 and unguided, I didn’t know what to do. After classes that night, I stumbled into this haven and had to let myself be force-fed to not lose hope. The server that night, Todd, was a ray of sunlight who was just bursting with positive charisma all over; he gave me a better understanding of the situation and let me grieve without barriers. He also gave me a free sandwich that I didn’t expect, it was a sort of pull-me-upper, something I very much-needed. These small things make the entirety of life better.

I felt undefeated, and it wasn’t the food that soothed me, nor was it the squawking birds outside or even the weird hipster-friendly art around me. My heart melted for the original reason I walked in with — heartbreak. If I hadn’t visited R. Thomas, I probably wouldn’t have been able to get over the initial stage of grief — denial. I let my guard down, and sobbed on the way back home, dripping snot and everything. It wasn’t comforting or pretty, but a whole ambush of necessary feelings.

Daranie Mor, a third-year advertising student said “Their food isn’t that wowing, it’s basically home-made food. So, if you’re craving something simple and homey — this is the place!”

I visited R. Thomas most recently in July to introduce my boyfriend to a couple of friends. We sat in the corner of the dining area under a spot where the roof interacted with the sprinklers outside. This strange phenomenon mimicked the sound of rain, which had an unwary presence that psychologically cooled us and fooled us straight. We turned our heads around to the street to check for visual evidence from the pretend raindrops to soothe us.

The lack of rain didn’t disappoint us, but rather gave us a sigh of relief to continue the fruitful conversation about our previous traveling experiences. The food we ordered were classics — chicken wings, stuffed bell peppers and raw veggie meals that please a limited palette.

As a lacto vegetarian, there are only a number of places that cater to such restricted diets — R. Thomas perhaps being the oldest establishment. Open since the early ’90s, an article by Eater Atlanta said Richard Thomas, the founder, met a nutritionist named Donna Gates, who helped improve the “poisoned” food his restaurant used to serve, six months upon opening.

“If anyone would want to find a place to crash after a night out, or wants to grab some early breakfast in the a.m., R. Thomas Deluxe Grill is the place to go,” said Praveen Rajendran, a regular. He added, “I always recommend it to all my friends. I stumbled onto this restaurant by pure luck on an evening when I was leaving the Midtown clubs, this was the only place open around.”

Dan, the manager of this eatery said, “The people who come vary by the hours. During [lunch] time we see a lot of professionals who work in nearby offices and organizations come in. During the nights we see strippers, the bar-goers and other such groups come by. But all in all, we’ve got open doors to everybody who’s interested to come by.”