Restaurant 356 offers a special dining experience with a side of fun

By: Tamara Khader

If you’re looking for a meal that comes with the side of fun—Restaurant 356 at Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta (PECA) is the spot.

Here you will get a taste of everything Porsche, since it’s located in their North American Headquarters building. Booking a restaurant reservation is the only way to visit PECA, where you can stroll through their Porsche museum, classic Porsche car gallery and even test-drive a Porsche yourself.

Let’s talk about Restaurant 356 first.

It’s a European American fine-dine experience like no other in Georgia—it’s delicious, elegant and overlooks their thrilling Porsche test track. The interiors of the restaurant are inspired by the design of Porsche’s first car, the legendary 356.

Executive chef Robbie Pacheco is responsible for a seasonal menu built on ingredients from local farmers, foragers, and artisans. He put together a sampler of the summer menu for me and Views from Restaurant 356 (left) and me after the test-drive experience each dish sent my taste buds to heaven. They were also a work of art. Here are some dishes I sampled:

Left to right: Sample plates of the Tiger Prawn, A5 Wagyu Ribeye, Charred Octopus

The A5 Wagyu Ribeye (middle) was my favorite. A cow is treated like royalty in Japan to produce the highest quality cut of meat: the A5 Wagyu. It’s so special, that a couple pounds can easily cost around $3,000. A couple ounces on the menu costs around $70. Loved how it was paired with cauliflower and potato purée, which sizzles in the plate and in the mouth.

The Charred Octopus (left) hits the spot for Octopus lovers as does the Tiger Prawn (right), a shrimp dish with peach and citrus. The combination of flavors were evident of Chef Robbie’s expertise and talent.

The Chamomile Panna Cotta (left) was light and citrusy, perfect after seafood and meat. I would go back just for that and the A5 Wagyu if I had to choose two! It had pistachio, honey ginger compressed peaches, black berries, and honey caramel. Will you just look at the floral petals as well?

Porsche test-drive track

The balcony where people can watch others test-drive cars

The highlight of PECA is the 1.6-mile test-drive track where you can experience the thrill of driving a Porsche, test out its speed, and learn driving techniques through six challenging modules that are part of the track. The 90-minute, one-on-one ride with a Porsche Drive Coach does not come cheap—$350 for the 718 Cayman or 718 Boxster and $950 for the 911 Turbo and 911 GT3.

I got a complimentary test-drive experience and it was hands down the best experience I’ve ever had in Atlanta—and I’ve been everywhere around town! Even if you don’t book the driving experience, however, you can still enjoy watching other drivers on the track at Restaurant 356 or on their balcony while enjoying an expresso from their Carrera Café.

Overall

Everything on the menu seems to be a hit from what I sampled. This is a culinary experience I’ll never forget and I feel as though I’m eating something prepared by a Top Chef contestant.

This is the perfect place for a special occasion: anniversary, business meeting, graduation dinner or fun celebration. It’s a culinary and automotive experience you won’t forget—and you’ll certainly walk out with a love for fancy cars (especially Porsche) even if you never previously cared at all.