Dine on prime rib on a dime at this Atlanta restaurant

Dish of the Week: Prime Rib Sandwich at The Mercury 

Few cuts of meat are as decadent as the prime rib. Just as the name suggests, it comes from what many believe to be the finest cut of a cow, the prime intersection of fatty, tender, beefy muscle along a cow's middle ribs. An entire category of restaurants is devoted to practically worshipping prime rib, sometimes at wildly expensive prices. At the Mercury in Ponce City Market, where the thickest cut of prime rib can run almost $50, there's a (sort of) budget option to get your prime rib fix .

At lunch, the restaurant slices its prime rib into thin ribbons and tucks them into a crusty French roll that crackles to the touch. The meat is meltingly tender. Dipped into a rich au jus, drizzled with just a little horseradish cream, it becomes a decadent vehicle of meat and carbs and rich, fatty pleasure. At $19, it’s an indulgent price for a sandwich, but near bargain territory for this kind of lovely meat.

Dropping in at lunch for such a massive meal isn't the sort of thing that's going to encourage you to make it to an afternoon gym session. So, if you're going to do it, go all the way. Order up one of the classic cocktails (bonus budget tip: cocktails are half-price on Mondays) and take the rest of the day off.

The Mercury, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave., Atlanta. 404-500-5253, themercuryatl.com

Read about some of our other favorite dishes from Atlanta restaurants