I had been reading about Smiley’s for a while, but we hadn’t been in Decatur, for lunch or dinner on a Tuesday – Saturday. So, on this random Friday, we took an afternoon to “gallivant”, which started with a trip to Smiley’s.

Virtually across the street from Kimball House, parking is the typical challenge for Decatur – they have a small lot for 4-6 cars; there is some street parking as you head east on Howard Avenue; or you have the numerous pay lots that abound around the corner from the restaurant. This “cashless” shack has a walk up window (and a phone-in window on the side), with patio (only) seating.

Their signature smash cheeseburger is served as a single, double or triple and has griddled patties, American cheese, house-made pickles, and a Big Mac-inspired sauce on an Engleman’s potato bun. These patties are thin –

so I’d suggest at least a double. The “smashed” edges on these are perfectly crispy and the cheese (which was scooped, melted, onto each burger with an ice cream scoop) is the perfect complement. This is a fine burger and the cost (roughly $40 for two burgers, fries and soft drink) is not nearly as high as it used to be <g>. If you’re on the east side of Atlanta, it’s well worth the journey.