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As it has every year since 1996, Bacchanalia once again has topped the Zagat guide to Atlanta restaurants, earning the famed guide's highest ranking in the city for its food.

W.A. BRIDGES JR. / AJC (ENLARGE)
Bacchanalia owners Anne Quatrone and her husband work in the restaurant's kitchen.
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In the 2008-09 Zagat Survey of Atlanta Restaurants, which came out Wednesday, Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison's flagship restaurant earned a near-perfect 29 (out of 30) rating. Their higher-end spot, Quinones, followed closely behind with a 28 rating, along with Rathbun's and Restaurant Eugene.

Bone's, the much-loved Buckhead steakhouse, staged a minor coup to nab "most popular" away from Bacchanalia, which had to settle for second place this year.

The survey, which began rating Atlanta restaurants in 1990, is based on input from 3,287 frequent Atlanta diners, whose quoted comments get strung together by an editor into the quick capsule reviews the Zagat guides offer along with the restaurant's contact information.

The one bit of interesting news to emerge from the survey has less to do with the restaurants Atlantans prefer, but rather with how they book their tables. A full 40 percent make reservations online. Another 49 percent call the restaurants, while 11 percent take their chances by walking in without a reservation.

Only San Francisco, with 43 percent of diners booking online, bests Atlanta. Others cities such as Detroit (7 percent), Philadelphia (10 percent) and Chicago (17 percent) don't even come close.

Atlanta, apparently, is wired to dine.