Larry claims that James Joyce in Avondale serves the best Guinness on tap in Atlanta, so we pop in every so often just to make sure he doesn't develop some kind of crazy beer deficit or something. Although you couldn't exactly call it green yet, James Joyce is starting to make some changes in its restaurant operations. They recently coaxed chef Bobby Hall out of Five Seasons in Alpharetta, which is more than I can do with Larry at times, and he is starting to tweak the menu in the hopes of bringing in new diners. As for us, we would appreciate a few more vegetarian offerings, even though we plan to keep on ordering that roasted garlic/olive app as long as it's available.

Kelly, our server last week, is enthusiastic about the changes she sees on the horizon for this established Decatur tavern. When asked about the environmental practices the pub has embraced she told us there was a new awareness around the restaurant's use of their air conditioning. A/C has been turned off in the energy inefficient patio dining area and replaced with fans, which provided ample cooling for us on the evening we last ate there. Kelly said that the employees are very conscious about keeping the doors between the main dining area and the patio closed, in order to avoid wasting energy and to keep the A/C units from being overworked.


Although the restaurant still uses Styrofoam for take-out (please, stop), servers are quick to offer small sheets of aluminum foil as an alternative wrapping for leftovers whenever diners object to the Styrofoam (please, do). And even though the tavern doesn't recycle, the owners made some excellent choices in hiring environmentally conscious employees who actually take much of the used glass home with them to recycle curbside at their residences.

Now that's dedication to the cause.