Charleston, SC

Posted in Southeast Weekends by

I was finally able to make my way over to Charleston this summer and in doing so I was able to eat my way through the town! I was also fortunate enough to make this trip with my mom who is not only my inspiration in the kitchen but also the one who is responsible for making me aware of the joy that a good meal can bring. Below are four restaurants that I would easily recommend if you happen to find yourself in Charleston, South Carolina.

Circa 1886

Two words. Chef’s tasting. From seasonal foods to the presentation the whole night was outstanding. We even had a little excitement as we got to met the chef himself! One course that really stuck out was as the server put it upscale egg ‘n’ a hole. The egg was cooked in an oscillating hot bath so it’s similar to a  poached egg but it was so much more than that since the consistency wasn’t as aqueous. To be honest I don’t think I’ve ever had an egg like it. The cuisine is most definitely southern but don’t expect your typical fried chicken as the menu has the essence of fine dining.

My mom and me after the Chef's Tasting at Circa 1886!

My mom and me after the Chef’s Tasting at Circa 1886!

Husk

Brunch is a must at this place but don’t caught with a 2 hour wait, make reservations! The skillet corn bread is killer and so is the honey pork butter. I asked for more it was that good. I had the french toast with berries and cane syrup. My mom got the Funnel Cake with fried chicken, house cured ham, pickled red onion, a poached farm egg, and hollandaise. The plate was overwhelming with flavor but if you worked at getting everything on your fork for one bite it was fantastic. I have also never seen an eggs Benedict with funnel cake and suspect I won’t again. The restaurant is in a gorgeous house set in historical Charleston. The menu is updated twice a day based on what is available at that moment. The one rule of the kitchen is that if it doesn’t come from the South it doesn’t come in. While southern favorites are on the menu I would say all dishes have a modern twist that many other restaurants just don’t seem to be able to create.

82 Queen

This was my first true lowcountry cuisine dining experience and in classic fashion I started out with she crab soup. My mom and I also split the fried green tomato bites because I’m often eager to try them wherever I happen to be. It was a lovely warm summer night so we were able to enjoy the evening on their patio. I ordered the barbecue shrimp and grits and my mom the Carolina crab cakes. When you’re near the ocean it would be sin not to order seafood! This restaurant has been a main stay in Charleston since 1982 and was the first to really define all the influences of the area with African, Anglo, Caribbean, and French flavors popping in and around all dishes. When you’re here you get a sense that this is more than a restaurant that is following a popular trend. The care that is put into all dishes was definitely noticed and appreciated.

Butcher & Bee

Just before leaving we stopped at this sandwich shop but one shouldn’t really think of this as any old shop serving turkey and ham. They are known for their burger with pimento cheese but also serve an eggplant banh mi. I dare you to name anther place that serves both. On the day that my mom and I went there were probably 5 or 6 sandwich options. My mom got the lamb pita and I the BBQ pork with fried pickles. There is a reason why publications from GQ to Bon Appetit are taking about this place and it’s because whatever they create and produce turns out fabulously. They’re open for lunch, dinner, and late night. They also happen to be the only place in Charleston that is BYOB. While it may not be downtown you would be very sorry to have missed this place if you’re in or around Charleston.

 

I would also like to recommend the Andrew Pinckney Inn if you’re in need of a hotel. They were located in the heart of the historic district and had wonderful accommodations.

Julianna’s Coffee & Crepes

Posted in Atlanta by

Julianna’s Coffee & Crepes, Inman Park

I have a fond memories of crepes so I was super excited to hear that a crepe place was finally in Atlanta. It’s in a pretty residential part of Inman park so thank goodness for the sign out front! The restaurant is pretty small and not too many options maybe a handful of savory along with another handful sweet crepes on the menu. I started with the Mushroom Melt which was hand a nice blend of cheeses and then finished off with the Lemon Love. Both were fine but neither had me wanting to come back for more. I did appreciate though since they weren’t busy they held off on making my second until I was ready. Cold crepes? Oh no! I will say the one things that kind of irked me was the plastic silverware. I understand if you’re on the go or something but I chose to take my time and enjoy this meal so I don’t want to have to wrestle with cutting. This would have been a lovely spot to become a regular at but there really just wasn’t anything there on my first visit that I’d want to try again.

 

Pig n Chick

Posted in Atlanta by

Pig n Chick, North Druid Hills

And the shack strikes again! I’ve driven by Pig n Chick many times, however, I didn’t assume much and now I feel I must apologize. You can get a meal or anything  a la cart. Since I didn’t want two sides I went with a 1/2 pound of Pulled Pork, a 1/2 pound of Sliced Brisket, and a small side of Potato Salad (don’t worry I was planning on enjoying the leftovers)! The meat was great, the pork tender and beef smokey plus their house BBQ sauce had some good spice to it unlike many others around town. I wouldn’t say the potato salad was all too memorable but when I’m craving BBQ I typically don’t just go for the sides. I hear they have a couple of locations and while I assume the food would just be as good I can’t confirm. I would absolutely come back here again for the meat but perhaps I’d choose from the collards or mac and cheese instead of the potato salad again!

 

 

The Vortex

Posted in Atlanta by

The Vortex, Little 5 Points

I just love a restaurant with character. I would seriously like to see the cast this place gets on a Friday night. While this place would probably not last in the average suburb it fits right in at Little 5. But it has also been around for twenty years– so is it the neighborhood that has shaped the restaurant or the restaurant that shaped the neighborhood? Perhaps we’ll never know. Now I don’t want to say this burger doesn’t have any frills. The menu has over ten solid choices so there are some frills but these burgers have a level of grit that aren’t typical in other hyped up burgers around town. They are char-broiled but that’s not really unique; it could just be their essence that makes me refer to them having the no frills attitude with still having a little, a true talent. I ordered the Four Horsemen which came with horseradish sauce, grilled onions, sautéed mushrooms, and jack cheese. Just thinking about this combination makes me giddy all over again. They also did a great job at putting the cheese over the mushrooms and onions so nothing fell out. I had a side of fries but I would recommend and order the tatter tots next time or maybe the onion rings as the fries weren’t all that good. Inside seating gives you the cave like feel but the patio gives you ample opportunity to people watch, it’s really a toss-up. Oh and please read the house rules on the front of their menu. I wish more restaurants had the balls to write how patrons should act. Entitlement is truly a horrible epidemic.

 

The Porter Beer Bar

Posted in Atlanta by

The Porter Beer Bar, Little 5 Points

Ahh The Porter yet another establishment where you can easily order your food before your beer because the beer menu is just that daunting. At first glance you would think the seating was limited to the bar but the restaurant does go back so don’t be fooled new comers on a busy night it won’t take three hours to get a seat just a casual hour, I’m not kidding this place is loved and most are willing to wait.  If you like The Wrecking Bar Brewpub or The Brick Store Pub chances are you have already been to The Porter and like it as well. Whether you fancy a  pale ale or a stout this place has you covered. While I like trying something I haven’t had before I typically stick to the pale ale/IPA category as I haven’t fully mastered how to appreciate a porter. To my knowledge, although limited, I can’t say that a region or country is left out; even if you just graze at the menu you can see that it goes on for pages, I hear the number of beers is up to 800 now! On my last visit I drank a Pale Ale from Stone Brewing Co. in San Diego and ordered the Mussels along with the Belgium Fries. While the beer was new the mussels and fries were not in fact I had been craving the duo for weeks and finally caved. I’ve been here multiple times and the food never disappoints but the menu also doesn’t change. Remember this is a beer bar with food. They know what they do well and stick to it. This beer bar was my first in Atlanta and I have appreciated it in all its glory even if it means taking twenty minutes to park and a long(er) wait.

Savage Pizza

Posted in Atlanta by

Savage Pizza, Little 5 Points

I feel bad for pizza sometimes it’s often an after thought or something that people choose to order then they don’t have any time. And while I did get delivery from Savage Pizza I did plan this and got very excited for the specialty pie I picked. I ordered The Bolognese, which came with marinara sauce, italian sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, red onions, mushrooms, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese. While I missed out on the charm of the restaurant and headache of parking in Little 5 Points on a Friday I didn’t miss any of the flavor! My one complaint would be that the sausage be hot italian nevertheless I enjoyed it the way they intended. I’ve tried a couple of places within delivery distance and think this will now be my joint of choice!

Delia’s Chicken Sausage Stand

Posted in Atlanta by

Delia’s Chicken Sausage Stand, East Atlanta

Delia’s is an East Atlanta local favorite. It’s open 24 hours on the weekend, which is a brilliant idea so whether you need to eat at 4 in the morning or 4 in the afternoon Delia has you covered. I first heard of Delia’s for their Frozen Sweet Tea. After having enough people tell me that I will like it even though I don’t like normal sweet tea I decided to venture pass I-20 one Saturday to find out for myself. I also got The Shredder which comes with coleslaw, fire pepper mustard, and “the comeback” sauce and a side of Wedgies (thick cut fries) with a side of cheese sauce. The chicken sausage is handmade in small batches and all organic. The rolls are all hoagie buns from Holeman & Finch, we’re talking high-class ingredients here folks! They have  a window for late night and a few covered picnic benches to sit outside. Most slingers come fully loaded so be prepared to eat when your food is ready but trust me you won’t be disappointed in being a part of the clean plate club here as the food is delicious. Although it sounds like fast food it doesn’t have all the grease to really way you down. And now I can finally say that after two years of living in the South I am now a lover of sweat tea when frozen.

 

Wright’s Gourmet Sandwich Shoppe

Posted in Atlanta by

Wright’s Gourmet Sandwich Shoppe, Dunwoody

It’s been a while since I had a solid sandwich for lunch and this place doesn’t mess around. They serve sandwiches, chips, a few side salad options, a couple of different desserts but that’s it. They’re open for lunch and cater. I like places that know what they do well and stick to it. I ordered The Club, a side of Potato Salad, and a piece of Chocolate Cake. The bacon was perfect for a sandwich and the bread incredibility fresh. My friend Taylor and I shared the potato salad and chocolate cake and I’m happy we did since it was a lot of food. The cake was what I hoped for: moist and had super rich icing. Wright’s can get very crowded but I would absolutely say it’s worth the wait; after trying one of their sandwiches another club just won’t do. The hard question is when I go back do I try something new or stick to what I know will be flippin’ good?

 

 

Home Grown

Posted in Atlanta by

Home Grown, Reynoldstown

Holy hangover I have found a cure and it involved some fried chicken. I’ve heard of the Comfy Chicken Biscuit but since I’m not a huge gravy person I was a little skeptical. However, after now having engorged in the biscuit, fried chicken, and sausage gravy in all its glory I am whistling a different tune! This gem of a place is crowded on the weekends, in a run down building and has horrible parking but that’s part of the charm just like so many other Atlanta establishments. All menu items fall under the southern home cooking category so I don’t think you can go wrong. My friend got the Fried Bologna Sandwich served on Texas Toast and was actually quite delicious. I’m pretty sure the last time I had Bologna I was 5. The Fried Green Tomatoes were awesome– I think the best I’ve had in a while. The slices were thick and the batter didn’t fall off. If you’re sensing a “fried” theme you’d be spot on and while I’m sure you could order a salad why would you want to at a place like this?

 

YEAH! Burger

Posted in Atlanta by

YEAH! Burger, Virginia-Highlands

I have been here countless times so it is about time I blogged about it. This place is my go to when I need lunch or dinner in my neighborhood and I don’t want to think about it. They have an assortment of burger patty options and countless toppings to choose from. There is a huge focus on sustainability, local ingredients, and feeling good about your food. In the front of the store they list all the things they get locally and where they’re from. They also have a compost & recycle…. you really can’t feel bad about eating here. Even if you’re gluten-free they have many options for you. I prefer either their Triple B or Fig & Goat Cheese. The triple b is a bison burger with bacon jam, blue cheese and caramelized onions. The fig & goat cheese is a double stack of beef patties with arugula, fig jam, caramelized onions and goat cheese. If you’re not looking to be totally overwhelmed the The All American is a solid choice as well, this creation includes a double stack of beef patties with ketchup, mustard, pickles, onions and american cheese. If you want something besides fries or onion rings, although they’re both delicious options go for the Crispy Brussels Sprouts with goat cheese. As for libations they serve beer and all the local suspects are present but their milkshakes are top-notch and if you need a midday pick me up look no further. This place is casual and is great no matter the time of day or the company you’re with.