Monthly Archives: August 2013

No. 246

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No. 246, Decatur

I have driven past this restaurant many a times but didn’t really give it much thought. However, on Friday while brainstorming good Italian restaurants in Atlanta with two friends this one came up. I was meeting someone for dinner on Saturday and she was up for anything. Since I don’t have much patience for waiting to try new restaurants once I hear about them I decided to make a reservation and check it out. We started out with Toasts (mini bruschetta), you can order an assortment but we each got one to try, our topping of choice was roasted summer squash. We then moved on to the Heirloom Summer Salad with green beans, a pairing I have not tried before but the different textures together were awesome. Luckily Susan was up for splitting a pasta and a pizza so we got to try both! We picked the special,  a Ricotta Ravioli but the ricotta was made with goat cheese and it had a fantastic tang to it, on top were wild mushrooms along with a browned butter red wine sauce. Sounds intense but all the flavors melded super well together. Next up was the pizza, just the Margherita but the crust was thin and perfectly cooked. Finally came time for dessert, neither of us could decide so we asked for our servers favorite. I’m not sure what it was called exactly but there was an outer shell made out of chocolate with a caramel filling, it wasn’t cake or cream like, (this was just one of those desserts you remember how it tastes but can’t remember all the details)  and it was topped with extra dark chocolate gelato coated with cocoa powder. It knocked my socks off. A fabulous ending to fabulous meal. The service was good and our table was always well attended to but I will warn future attendees that it can be loud so if you don’t like that perhaps don’t go on a busy Friday or Saturday night. I am rather ashamed that I mistakenly drove by this restaurant unassuming for so long, I guess the rule can hold true even for restaurants… never judge a book by its cover, or in this case a restaurant by its door.

Lee’s Bakery

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Lee’s Bakery, Buford Highway

I can’t say I’m too familiar with Banh Mi but I have heard talk about how awesome they are and I was interested in tasting one for myself. With not much going on and Google at my finger tips I was ready to find my way to Lee’s Bakery. I first walked in and didn’t know whether to sit down or stand in line. Everyone there had clearly been there before and knew what was up. I guess you can sit down and order but I came for the banh mi and I didn’t want to get distracted. I went to the counter ordered one grilled pork banh mi and within minutes I had what I had come for. The bread was light and sweet and the pork went great with spicy pickled toppings. It also only cost $3.20. How much better can you get?! Whether you’re a seasoned banh mi fan or new to Vietnamese food in general I would go to Lee’s to check this gem of a place out. And if you don’t take my word for it you can always check out the The New York Times review.

Barcelona

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Barcelona, Old Fourth Ward

I went here for the second time last friday night and I think I should come here more often. We had a later reservation but still managed to arrive late and while we were waiting for a table we headed to the bar and enjoyed some of their house Sangria. Taylor and I enjoyed the red while Kiffy choose the white. It was lighter and had a lot of fruit! The restaurant was super crowded but we didn’t even have time to get a second round before we were escorted to our table outside, which I preferred since the restaurant was pretty loud. I’m positive when we showed up for our reservation late I apologized for being tardy and told them we understood if there was a wait but when we sat down the general manager found our table and apologized for the additional time it took for our table and offered us three small plates on the house. What great service! The wine menu is extensive and all from Spain. Taylor the resident wine expert at the table choose a great one, Los 800 Priorat. Along with the three tapas that were already on their way we decided to order just a few more. My favorite of the night was the meat and cheese plate which included the Drunken Goat, 6-mo. Manchego, and Jamon Serrano. the other two that I would probably get again were the Mushrooms + Herbed Goat Cheese and the Chorizo + Sweet-Sour Figs. Our server was great not rushing the dishes and was rather attentive for it being such a busy night. I wouldn’t suggest coming here with a big crowd but I would recommend coming here. The atmosphere is fun and the menu awesome.

 

Eleanor’s

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Eleanor’s, Smyrna

Have you ever had the pleasure to go to a secret restaurant where not everyone knows where to enter or eaten in the dark? No? Maybe you should change that. I had the luxury of going to Eleanor’s on Saturday and I got to experience both. I went with two friends who know I get as excited about a new restaurant as a little kid on Christmas morning. When they mentioned you enter  through a fake freezer door I got excited. And when I couldn’t find a website only illusive reviews I grew impatient as Saturday afternoon rolled on. My friend, Justin, had clear instructions on how to find the door and when walking with conviction no one tends to stop you. Right when you open the door there is a long dark hallway with built-in wine racks and decorated with reclaimed wood. Once your eyes adjust to the restaurant that is pretty much only lit with tea light candles you are in the clear. The tables are first come first serve but as luck would have it there was a perfect table for 3, clearly meant to be! Service was great and ready to steer us in the right direction. To drink we enjoyed a Whispering Angel Rose, at first I was skeptical, but  it is summer and hot so went well with all plates. We started off with a cheese plate, they had six options, we picked three. A Sweet Asher Blue paired with fig cake, next up was Cypress Grove Midnight Moon paired with pepper honey (the tables favorite), & lastly a Roccetta which was paired with a plum condiment. For the mains I picked the Braised Pork Cheek with peach orzo, bacon, & honey. This dish melted in your mouth, I don’t think I have enjoyed anything so tender. Kiffy had the Tybee Island Shrimp, that was spicy and in an excellent broth, which included fantastic hints of mint. Justin ordered the Hanger Steak with grilled corn and while I thought this was going to be the so-so dish I was very much wrong. There was not a sub-par item on the table!  We were on a roll ordering wise so we decided to take the gambled and test out their desserts. One Peach Blueberry Cobbler Cake with basil, one Turtle Trifle, & one Strawberry Whoopie Pie. My goodness I think we hit the trifecta, all different and all wondrous. This restaurant has the air of mystery to it and when eating in close to darkness you rely more on your taste buds and not your sight; although I am no scientist I feel it made the dishes better because you tasted what was actually there and not what you think you should. The subtle hints of pepper, honey, basil, or mint really came alive and highlighted the dominant flavors in the best way! This bar extension to Muss & Turners was definitely worth it. I only hope my next visit is just as enchanting.

Sublime Donuts

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Sublime Donuts, the Westside

Saturday morning and donuts seem like a ubiquitous tradition but since I am no longer living with parents or have kids of my own I cannot remember the last time I have enjoyed a donut on such a morning. But luckily having no engagements this past Saturday I decided to venture to the Westside and try what has been said to be one of America’s best donut shops. I am not going to lie and say I got there at the crack of dawn to secure a delightful treat because the owners of Sublime are smart and realize that donuts can be enjoyed whenever even on Saturday “morning” at 1 in the afternoon; donuts are always coming out and always fresh. I tried the Honey Glazed Cinnamon Swirl and the Deep Dark Chocolate Fudge. I didn’t go with anything crazy and wanted to start off slow with what I am sure will be a regular spot of mine. Neither donuts were your run of the mill belly bombers that makes your stomach hurt for hours after it has touched your lips. The cinnamon wasn’t too overbearing  for the honey glaze and didn’t take away from the delicate cake. The chocolate fudge didn’t interfere with the fluffiness of the donut base, which can happen when donuts are not cared for and mass-produced. The proportions of defining ingredients for both donuts is right on the money. The shop is clean and quick with a decent selection of drinks and toys to occupy its younger fans. In my book this place gets two thumbs up and whether I’m having a bad Tuesday or a lazy Saturday I will know where to go.

Paper Plane

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Paper Plane, Decatur

A few weeks ago a women on the plane started to chat with me about different places in the city we both enjoyed eating at. We each had our clear favorites and talked about restaurants we both knew but then she started to talk about a place that had opened up recently in Decatur, which I had never heard of. She talked a good ten minutes about the cocktails before even thinking to mention the name, Paper Plane. It’s on Church St. but it’s only entrances are either through an alley way or in through a back door in Victory Sandwich Bar. There is both indoor and outdoor seating but the place is still pretty small. They specialize in craft cocktails and small plates. My friend and I went there later on Friday night and were able to snag two seats at the bar. They had about a list about ten cocktails and of course if you didn’t see anything that caught your eye all the bartenders were happy to make something that did. I started off with a Screen Door, made with St. George Terroir Gin & Aperol along with hints of lemon, peach, fennel, & honey. It was light but the pairing of bitters and herbs matched up well to the fruit. Second I had a Chloe in the Afternoon, made with Half Moon Gin, imbue petal & thorn, lime, & amaro cio ciaro. When sitting at the bar you get to talk to the bartender and see them make your drink right in front of you and I always find it amazing that they know how to use the 101 ingredients sitting idle around them. For dinner I had the Pork Chop with cornbread & turnip greens which were dressed with a burgundy vinaigrette. The pork was perfectly cooked and was already trimmed of the fat. The cornbread was not an overwhelming piece but rather a nice small addition to the plate and the turnip greens brought a fresh natural acidity to the meal. The meal had all flavors & tastes accounted for; savory, sweet, & acidic. Although this restaurant is new I can only assume that it will only get more popular with time. There motto is “vintage service, modern fare” and I can assure anyone who goes will see this on display.