Category Archives: Atlanta

Restaurants in Atlanta

No. 246

Posted in Atlanta by

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

Posted in Atlanta by

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

Posted in Atlanta by

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

Posted in Atlanta by

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

Posted in Atlanta by

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

Posted in Atlanta by

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.

Community Q BBQ

Posted in Atlanta by

Community Q BBQ, Decatur

After reading the May 2013 Issue of Atlanta Magazine (better late than never!) and lusting after every page filled with BBQ delight I decided to do something about it and actually go out and try one of their top recommendations. I selected Community Q because it had already been recommended and it was close (convenience always helps). I went Saturday after the lunch rush and I got the meat combo plate. I picked the pulled pork & brisket as my mains and collards & fries for my sides.  My plate of food came quick and hot. The brisket wasn’t cut too thin and was extremely tender. The pulled pork was clean of fat and had great flavor. I tried both sauces the original and North Carolina, I don’t have a lot of experience with North Carolina BBQ sauces but I think I am starting to like them more since it gives the meat a little more zip since they are vinegar based. Both sides were solid and complimentary but after the big portion of meat I couldn’t finish either, I will note that the fries had an awesome seasoning on them though! Overall I was greatly pleased with this choice and can easily predict that I will be coming back in the future.

Lunch, best part of the work day

Posted in Atlanta by

Deciding on where to go to lunch while at work is often a chore. What’s close? What’s cheap? What’s quick? And while all of those questions are valid I’d much rather ask myself what’s good? I like the following three restaurants because of a few reasons. They all have delicious food, all are in different parts of the city, and all are casual.

Muss & Turner, Smyrna

It was here that I learned about the magic of ‘The Egg’. They are a neighborhood joint with a fabulous menu. They have an egg smoker/ grill and cook some of their meat on it, one in particular is The Bucky Goldstein which a beef brisket sandwich and it is to die for. The brisket is über tender and covered in a Carolina glaze topped with fried onions. It might not help you work efficiently in the afternoon but it will satisfy every taste bud! The next go to sandwich for me is Swifty’s Dream, which has a lot more kick to it because it is slow smoked pork shoulder topped with spicy horseradish slaw. And with every sandwich you get to pick your type of pickle: new, dill, or old; not many restaurants let you pick your preferred pickle but this place aims to please and that they do.

Bantam & Biddy, Midtown

Chicken can sometimes scare me. I can easily blame this on the movie Food Inc. where it showed the horrors of Tyson chicken farms. So when I eat at a restaurant where they focus on the quality of their poultry I get pretty excited. Bantam & Biddy is just this sort of place. I go for the roasted chicken or fried chicken (happens to be GF too!) and to compliment these all-stars they have great cheddar mac & cheese, duck fat fries, and loaded mashed potatoes. I have often wanted to try other things on the menu because it all looks equally delicious but when I crave chicken this is where I come and as we all know sometimes you just can’t override a craving.

6 Feet Under, the Westside

There are several locations for 6 Feet Under but the view on the upstairs outdoor patio is just too amazing at this particular location I don’t think I could go to another. You see all of Midtown and Downtown and since you can’t see the miles and miles of traffic you can actually appreciate the view. Is is a seafood place so if you don’t like things that come from the ocean I would stop reading. The first time I came here my table ordered mouse toes, which sounds totally disgusting but they were delicious. It’s sweet peppers stuffed with shrimp wrapped in bacon, amazing right?! Then I had the oyster po’ boy, my first ever, and I’m not sure I knew what I was getting myself into because the thing was HUGE! It was good but overwhelming after having feasted on mouse toes. The second time and now my favorite thing to order is the blackened shrimp tacos with avocado. Overall this place just has a fun atmosphere and good food. Coming here for lunch or after work should be a no brainer.

Pizza…That’s Amore

Posted in Atlanta by

Who doesn’t love pizza? As children we ate it at soccer parties and birthday parties. In college it cured all hangovers. Greasy cheese pizza or a slice loaded with pepperoni is always nice when you want to travel down memory lane but here in Atlanta there are greener pastures compared to the late night or weekday delivery specials.  Before going out and trying a bunch of pizza you really have to ask yourself one sacred question that all pizza lovers ask themselves. Chicago or New York? It’s the yin and the yang of the pizza world and I have never met someone who likes both… it just doesn’t  happen. I myself prefer New York style, why would I want to have to use a fork & knife to eat a slice of pizza? Although there are many pizza places to eat I have found two restaurants that are above the rest.

Antico Pizza, The Westside

Now this is a given, if you were to ask anyone in Atlanta who knows anything about food and ask them were to go to get pizza they would say Antico’s. So I don’t want to be redundant but seriously if want good pizza go here. I would however whisper a couple pieces of advice before sending anyone here. One, the wait can be long, like out the door long. Which means parking can be a problem, however, this is not new issue to the people of Atlanta. And two, seating can be tricky. If you come with a large group prepare to stalk the tables. It is seat yourself but I don’t mind since I want all the attention on the pizza and not how to best accommodate needy people. A cool thing about Antico’s is that they have an open kitchen– so you actually get to watch your pizza as it goes through the arduous process of becoming something delicious!! The pizzas are large enough to share and I typically go with the Margherita, I find the better quality the less you have to put on it to really enjoy it.  The crust is out of this world, it is airy and chewy but still slightly charred. Once the last bite had been enjoyed it was time to get up and pass our seats to the people patiently awaiting our table. And although I was full and very satisfied I was still somehow jealous that they still had a whole pizza to savor.

Sapori di Napoli, Decatur

I stumbled upon this recommendation from a friend in passing and I was very pleased I decided to check it out. They serve more than just pizza but I wanted to see if their Margherita was even close to Antico’s. I went when it wasn’t too busy and they have a parking lot just for their restaurant so I was already happy with the way my night was turning out here before I even had  a menu in hand! When the pizza came it looked amazing; picture perfect melted mozzarella paired with a superb chewy crust that was charred to my liking (crusts are very important to me). I got a cannoli to top off the night but can’t say I was blown away. If you come here stick with the pizza.

As I continue my journey through pizza in Atlanta I may have to update this post but boy will it be hard since these two places both have mighty good pies.

BBQ

Posted in Atlanta by

Wanting to find the best ribs is not a new goal for me. It think I have been diving in face first to any rib place no matter where I am since I was about 10. For those of you keeping count that means I have been indulging for 13 years now. From California to New York I have been personally responsible for empty plates with nothing but bones left.

When I first moved here I wanted to check out my  new neighborhood and I thought no better place to start than the BBQ joint, DBA. From start to finish I was loving life. I have been back many times and tried the baby back ribs, the wings, the brisket, the pulled pork, the cornbread, the mac & cheese, and nothing disappoints. They have indoor & outdoor seating, you do have to wait a bit on Friday & Saturday nights but it’s worth the wait or you could just be smart and come on a random Tuesday.

After talking about DBA, I was pointed into the direction of Fox Bros. BBQ, I have since been there three times and every time I just wish I was at DBA. The wait takes forever not matter what time of the day and the service just isn’t as good, it’s like they don’t care since they already have the title of “#1 BBQ in Atlanta”, just a major turn off. I will say that their sauce is good but it has to be since the brisket, ribs, & wings have all come out dry and not at all tender.

The establishment that I am most excited about and frequent for a late lunch is Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. This is where I go when I just want ribs and damn good sides (my favorites include the collards, potato salad, and mac & cheese). This place sticks to what they know. The menu is to the point and by the time you get to the counter you better know what you are eating. The place is small but the food always comes out quick and it is obviously hot & delicious! What more could you ask for?