Monthly Archives: November 2013

Kevin Rathbun Steak

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Kevin Rathbun Steak, Inman Park

It’s always a good day when I go to a Rathbun restaurant but it’s always a better day when I choose to go to Rathbun Steak. From the quality of food to service I could not ask for a better dining experience. I had no occasion to splurge on except wanting to applaud good food and in honor of this night I started out with a dirty Martini. In addition I ordered the 10 oz Ribeye, the Mac & Cheese Tart with truffle crumbs, the Apple Crisp with ginger ice cream, and finally a Manhattan. When you compare their menu to other steakhouses in Atlanta it’s not all that different but it’s their quality that stands far above the rest. My steak was pan seared and then perfectly juicy on the inside. The mac & cheese while comforting like home is not comparable to anything you would find at an average kitchen table. The apple crisp was a true ode to fall and the ginger ice cream was out of this world, just a fantastic pairing . And of course both the martini and Manhattan were exceptional. I cannot say enough good things to persuade people that Rathbun Steak is wonderful whether you have an affair to celebrate or just feel you deserve a terrific meal.

The Family Dog

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The Family Dog, Morningside

A solid gem of a restaurant that not only serves good food but has many beers to please the palate. On Thursdays they have local drafts for $3, along with many others to choose from! Good for a snack or full meal I have had nothing that would hinder my love for this place. My Favorites are the Nachos which are topped with beef shortrib, Vidalia onions, jalapeños, and American cheese. Smoked Duck Quesadilla with pickled vegetables, goat cheese, and cilantro. The Wings which are smoked and then fried are topped with an orange-curry glaze and on the side comes an avocado ranch sauce, the best ranch I’ve had with wings! The Pimento Cheese & Spicy Saltines are rather addicting. And any of the burgers are tasty too, especially The Other Burger which is topped with a bacon-blue cheese fondue. This place has a lively kitchen that is never afraid to have fun with typical pub grub. On most weekend nights it has live music; I’ve heard bluegrass, rock, and jazz so don’t count anything out. Whether you’re eating, drinking, or listening The Family Dog always has me wanting more after I leave.

George’s

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George’s, Virginia-Highlands

This bar & restaurant is a staple in the Highlands having been there for over 50 years. It’s gotten multiple praises from best burger in Atlanta to best lunch spot. This legend- wait for it -ary establishment has fed people like Mickey Mantle, Johnny Cash, Jimmy Carter, & most recently me. I ordered the 8 oz Burger with cheddar cheese and a side of fries.  It came with onion, lettuce, & tomato on the side but when no one is looking I tend to leave them off. So I was able enjoy this burger with just mustard, ketchup, & cheese–the way it should be and it was wonderful. This is a no frills kind of place and I loved it.

“Makin’ your way in the world sometimes takes everything you got, sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name”

Yes, if you’re picturing Norm posted on a bar stool in Cheers you’re painting a picture similar to George’s. While I first went for the burger I will surely be back for the warmth this bar so easily radiates.

Alon’s Bakery & Market

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Alon’s Bakery & Market, Morningside

I heard about this bakery and market long before I came across it. In fact I was looking for the dry cleaners next to it and not a haven for desserts or prepared foods. I have a love/hate relationship with Alon’s, while I love all things it offers—fresh bread, pastries, cheese, wine, & prepared foods I don’t necessarily need everything I buy. I could say this is my target, I walk in to buy one thing and walk out with a bag full of deliciousness. There could be worse things but just because it’s Thursday and the week is almost over doesn’t mean I need to buy a piece of the Chocolate Truffle Cake or an individual Tiramisu cup  or an individual Chocolate Raspberry Mousse or a piece of the Opera Cake (chances are if it’s chocolate I have tried it) plus a bottle of some red wine I have inevitably never heard of. The cheese selection is standard for a specialty store, my notable picks have been the Point Reyes Blue, a couple Pecorinos, and an earthy Taleggio which I obviously needed a French Baguette to go with it but don’t worry Alon’s sell those too! And lastly the prepared food section, which is half of the store… It can be daunting but I’ve managed over the visits to have two preferences either the Calamari Salad or Risotto Cakes. This list could really go on though. The woman who mentioned this store to me in Nordstrom’s when I first moved here put it perfectly, “I  am now fifteen pounds heavier since living near Alon’s.” While I haven’t gained the ‘Alon’s Fifteen’ it certainly can be a dangerous place in which you’re either in an indulgence purgatory or a decadent nirvana.

Bell Street Burritos

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Bell Street Burritos, Midtown/ South Buckhead

My parents moved from California in 2010 and I haven’t eaten a burrito since. Not to say I’ve had bad Mexican food it’s just that when you grow up in Northern California you become a burrito snob. In my option there are three distinct reasons why. One, they don’t over do it with rice, a little goes a long way! Second, they place all ingredients properly so you don’t only get a bite of pinto beans. And third, they wrap them in tin foil so one can properly eat it. Needless to say I got excited when I heard that Bell Street was named one of 10 great burritos in America. The Pork & Green Chili Burrito is what gets all the accolades so that is what I ordered! All three criteria were met, and I was most pleased about the generosity of the pork.  It was tender and the green chili’s had the right amount of spice. I can’t say anything about the chips other than that they are available but the green salsa was excellent if you don’t mind making your burrito even more messy! While my heart is still with Aguililla Market in Redwood City this place does a pretty darn good job.

Buttermilk Kitchen

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Buttermilk Kitchen, Buckhead

I love breakfast I actually think it is the most important meal of the day and often like having what I call “Australia day” which is where I have breakfast, preferably pancakes, for dinner. Buttermilk Kitchen was what I needed last Sunday– a full and satisfying breakfast. It also helped that a table for three meant a 40 minute wait. Nevertheless their hot Coffee kept me and my friends happy until we were able to be seated. We started with the Georgia Apple Muffins with oatmeal streusel topping and they were good, not overly sweet and rather hardy. Their menu looked great but I went with a daily special since it is fall and felt like being more festival than usual. I ordered the Sourdough Waffles with sweet potato butter cream and toasted pecans and a side of Bacon. Before I talk about the waffles I must admit I typically do not like them but the sourdough part had me tempted to stray away from my usual pancakes. With the sweet potato cream and real maple syrup they were amazing. A true fall delight. The bacon was also unreal. I’m not sure why bacon always tastes better out but it does, it wasn’t flaky or rubbery. The restaurant is refurbished in an old house and it makes you kind of feel you’re in someone’s home, which only makes the breakfast better. The chef prides herself on being farm to table, using sustainable ingredients, and not letting anything go to waste. If you don’t want to feel guilty about eating out but still want to enjoy your meal look no further than Buttermilk Kitchen.

KR SteakBar

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KR SteakBar, Buckhead

Rathbun restaurants have not failed me in the past and I didn’t think this one would either. This is smaller compared to his other restaurants and had a laid-back lounge feel with a very swanky bar. My friend and I went early on a Sunday night and throughly enjoyed ourselves. We started with the Artichokes roasted with lemons, which were bright and very delightful. Next we split a house-made Pasta with Lamb and Kale Sausage. My friend is gluten-free and they had no problem using gluten-free pasta, which they also make in-house and it was incredible! In a blind taste I’m not sure I would be able to tell the difference. It was cooked al dente and so satisfying. Then I sunk my teeth into the Ribeye and in classic Rathbun fashion it was wonderful; perfectly seared on the outside and packed with flavor. Now we weren’t going to get dessert, however,  decided to split the Pumpkin Panna Cotta. I’m normally not into everything pumpkin but this flavor was subtle enough that it was still pleasing for the taste buds. This spot has awesome food and a chill vibe I would have no trouble coming back here again.

One Eared Stag

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One Eared Stag, Inman Park

If you’ve been to a brunch spot in Atlanta or really any city for that matter you know the agony of waiting for a table but when I came to One Eared Stag on a Saturday I was shocked that it wasn’t crowded. I’m not sure if people just don’t know they serve brunch or what but it was a welcomed change of pace. The menu was smaller but don’t let that fool you, I had to carefully read each line.

I ended up going with the Chef’s Breakfast where the chef gets to choose what to put on your plate, typically its four smaller versions of things on that days menu, however, I heard that’s not always the case. There were two standouts for me; first were the Vanilla Pancakes with powdered duck liver butter (yes– you read that correctly), cane syrup, & bacon. And second, Fried Rabbit on a Black Pepper Biscuit.

What I liked most about the pancakes is that the butter and syrup were already on the them so I wasn’t able to ruin them by throwing the appropriate proportions of said butter and syrup out of whack.  Clearly there were a lot of flavors going on and I was pretty confident if that is how to chef wanted to prepare them that is how I should eat them.

Rabbit being more savory than chicken complemented the peppered biscuit and with it being so large I attacked it with a fork and knife, although eating it with your hands probably would have been more satisfying. Since fried chicken is served a lot in Atlanta it was a favorable exchange and perhaps even an upgrade!

The decor is funky mixing clean white walls with an overabundance of mounted deer heads but it works since their dishes have a parallel theme. If only all restaurants aligned their menu and setting accordingly.

Shucks Oyster & Wine Bar

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Shucks Oyster & Wine Bar, Brookhaven

This restaurant is combining oysters and grilled cheese, while I’m not sure how many people order both I think it’s a good idea to have something for everyone and when limiting to two “dishes” the restaurant can really spend time making all food worth while. It was a Friday and I was the first to arrive from my group so I wasted no time ordering a glass of Martin Codax from Albarino Spain, an agreeable dry crisp white wine. I admit that Atlanta doesn’t get that cold but on Friday night I was cold and when I saw chowder I didn’t hesitate. I ordered a cup of the Oyster Chowder, which was thick and creamy and actually had a worthy number of oysters in it. I then moved on to the Steamed Mussels which were in a traditional white wine broth, also very delightful. While I’m aware that this is an oyster bar and I didn’t order any on the half shell I noticed that they have a happy hour deal during the week that I will have to come back and try!

 

 

 

Holman & Finch Public House

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Holman & Finch Public House, Buckhead

If you go, go with a group. I went with three others who were all down to share and it was perfect! I think in total we ordered eleven dishes. The restaurant is small and doesn’t take reservations so we had to wait a while but they did a good job of making sure we had drinks, thank heavens! The cocktail list was fun and nothing run of the mill but since I was still on a high from my Manhattan the other night I didn’t stray away.

Once we sat down and asked if there were any more burgers (they had 1 left!) we got down to business. First up was the Soft Pretzel and Deviled Eggs Three Ways next we tossed & turned about which wine; we ended up going with a bottle of Château d’Oupia Les Hérétiques which was a pleasant wine to drink with food since it didn’t detract from what we were eating, over all pretty enjoyable but not remarkable. The out-of-towner got The Burger since the rest of us had all previously enjoyed one. I would say our table was lucky too since we asked around 9:15 and burger time is promptly at 10.

Then for the next forty minutes our table became an awesome turn table for food. The Hot Dog which could seem out-of-place was dang good, they put these pickled jalapeños on it that made it more exciting than your average ol’ dog. The Potato Dumplings were a fantastic delicate combination of potato and squash! The Steak Tartare was mixed with a farm egg and creole mustard, which did not disappoint. It was topped with shoestring potatoes and they through us all for a loop, they didn’t taste like anything but the airy crunchy texture kept you wanting more. Red Beans & Rice on its own did not sound like much but with the addition of pickled pigs foot I would say this dish was the most surprising. The Fish & Chips and Wild Catfish were the last to come out. Never having catfish before I was curious but half of the table was not feeling it. My friend who has had it before was actually surprised at how good it was normally mushy this was nice and firm. The grits and gravy didn’t hurt the dish either.

Last but not least the table gave into examining a couple of desserts, the Bacon Carmel Popcorn and the Sticky Toffee Pudding. This popcorn didn’t just have a spirit of bacon but rather a hearty dosage. If you like sweet and salty all in the same mouthful this would be your jam. The toffee pudding was warm and sweet a good counter to the popcorn.

While all the food was “American” if you’re looking for traditional fixings I would advise against going here. But if you’re up for whatever spin the kitchen wants to put on food you’ve found the right place.