New York's legendary purveyor of juicy prime steaks and succulent outsized lobsters--established in 1926 and still run by its founding family--also has a branch in Atlanta, and it's a beauty. Glossy oak floors, soft lighting, a lofty pressed-tin ceiling, potted palms, and tables spaced for power-lunch privacy create the classic Palm setting--a setting that would not be complete without the restaurant's signature "Wall of Fame," plastered with celebrity caricatures from Frank Sinatra to famous locals Jane Fonda and Ted Turner.

The expense account crowd is mostly from affluent Buckhead: folks looking for the kind of food served at Chops or Bone's (two premier steakhouses), but in a brasher, more boisterous setting. Food preparation is simple here (nothing drizzled or infused). The emphasis is on the freshest fish and seafood, and the highest-quality cuts of meat, all served up in satisfying hungry-man portions. The strip steak is huge and divine, done exactly to order. But the most popular entree is the lobster, a hefty critter weighing from 3 to 7 pounds. Other excellent choices are fluffy jumbo lump crab cakes and linguine with garlicky white clam sauce.