Tag Archives: Cocktails

American Food & Beverage

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American Food & Beverage, Buckhead

Creative Loafing has yet to steer me wrong. It reviewed American Food & Beverage back in the Spring and it has since been on my short list. Tom & I went one Saturday night with another couple that also loves food (what are the odds?). The décor is clean and bar the main attraction. The cocktails were delicious I had the gin gimlet and the old-fashioned coke-tale. The menu was not extensive but nothing sounded or looked bad. Our table ordered the burger, the turkey sandwich, braised pork shoulder with grits, and fried chicken with collards and a biscuit with apple butter. The burger was the clear winner. Holman & Finch can move over as there is a new burger in Buckhead. I can’t really put my finger on it but the burger was saltier all the while not killing you with sodium overload. The desserts were also surprising. They make their own ice cream and no I’m not just talking about strawberry or chocolate. The flavors that night were corn with chocolate ganache, Sauvignon blanc with citrus  marmalade, and watermelon with tomato compote and a basil base. We also ordered the peach profiteroles which were like the month on July in cloud form. The whole night was great until it took forty-five minutes to get the check and then walking up to my car to find not one but two boots on my car. Who did they think I was MacGyver? Two boots were really unnecessary. Before the night I was super excited about the prospects for a fun new restaurant in Buckhead but it may take a while for the sting of waiting for the check and two boots to wane.

Terra Terroir

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Terra Terroir, Brookhaven

Have you ever been in the situation where you need to make a last-minute reservation for a 10 person group dinner on a Saturday night? No? Well props to you for having friends that plan! I wasn’t optimistic since it was already 4pm when I was looking for places but I stumbled upon Terra Terroir with an 8pm availability. It was almost serendipitous. When I drove up I was a tad concerned since it was in a strip mall but on the bright side there was ample parking. I walked in early and instantly forgot where I was. There was a covered patio and a long bar. The cocktail menu was great and the mussels were just what I was hankering. Now I ordered something that I’ve never seen on a menu except for my mother’s Christmas dinner menu. I’m not sure where Beef Wellington comes from but for the last 10 years it has graced our Christmas dinner table and I have zero complaints. I ordered it and was happy to say I tried a version slightly different from my mom’s but think it is best left up to Patty on December 25th. I didn’t get to try dessert but have no doubts that it wouldn’t be good.

North Georgia

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Recently took the opportunity to spend a weekend up in North Georgia and I am so glad I did. Originally went up to celebrate Tom’s birthday and just go white water rafting but then (last minute) we decided to turn it into a FULL weekend.

We stayed at Rabun Manor in Dillard, GA and it was a fabulous Bed & Breakfast. Nancy is the owner and is just too sweet. She called saying she wouldn’t be there when we were planning to arrive and gave us perfect instructions on how to get to our room, which happened to be one of the cottages. The king size bed was a dream and the breakfast delicious. A bowl of fruit and a yogurt parfait were on the table when we got to table both mornings. On Saturday we had peach stuffed french toast with eggs and bacon. On Sunday it was carrot bread, pan-fried potatoes, and bacon.

On Saturday we rafted all day with Southeastern Expeditions in Clayton, GA. We did the class IV trip on the Chattooga river. It was my first rafting trip and I successfully only fell out of the raft once! The rapid was called 7 falls and you fall roughly seven feet (tip: when they say lean right actually lean right). Our river guide was Josh and he was beyond amazing. He told us all about the river, what to expect, and was a history buff so learned a lot about the Chattooga, which I honestly knew nothing about. Most importantly he told us about this BBQ place just over the state line in South Carolina…

I’ve never had BBQ in South Carolina so some might say I’ve never really had BBQ before. There is another saying in South Carolina that the less the place is open the better is it. Brasstown Creek BBQ in Westminster, SC is open 2 days a week for a total of 10 hours. There is no website and it is cash only. Now that I know what BBQ should and can taste like I fully agree that nothing compares. Tom & I shared the pulled pork sandwich with the Carolina mustard sauce, baked beans, apple sauce, and homemade pecan pie. Once we were done we promptly hopped back in line to bring home leftovers.

Our final stop on on the trip was at Fortify Kitchen in Clayton, GA. It is a farm to table restaurant near all the farms; a novel idea I tell you!! Having heard they were known for cocktails Tom and I decided to start with a Manhattan and Old Fashioned and since having BBQ only a few hours before we decided to skip the appetizers and just order mains. I opted for the Duet of Duck with farro and kale sauteed with sun dried tomatoes. Tom choose the 6 oz Filet with mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. I ordered a glass of cab-franc for dinner from Stonewall Creek Vineyards in Tiger, GA. And it was really good! I guess I shouldn’t be surprised but I certainly do like local gems. We wanted to check out the winery but it wasn’t open until later on Sunday so this just mean we have an excuse to go back. The dessert was an easy decision, chocolate creme brulee with two Irish coffees. Finishing up the weekend on a sweet (and boozy!) note was really kind of perfect.

The Luminary

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The Luminary, Inman Park (Krog Street Market)

I went on a Friday night (do make reservations!!) after it had been open for a while and can definitely say all kinks of a new restaurant had been worked out. The waiter was not only funny but also knew the menu well. We all enjoyed cocktails, Ceviche, & Pate while we looked over the menu. While they have something for every palette I wouldn’t say the menu is overwhelming. Luckily we all got something different; I ordered the Duck Leg Confit, Kiffy the Swordfish “Amandine”, & Taylor the Crispy Rabbit Leg. strangely enough the most memorable part of the meal was the coffee. Sounds odd I know but it came in a french press and was probably some of the best restaurant coffee I’ve ever had. I enjoyed it so much that when I went home for Christmas I asked my mom for hers (I promised her it was going to a good home). I can clearly see why all sorts of crowds have been raving about this place as it really has something for everyone.

P.S. If you’re in the mood for ice cream after dinner Jeni’s is right across the way!

Gunshow

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Gunshow, Glenwood Park

I can’t remember the last time I’ve heard so much about a restaurant before I got to go; from Esquire to friends it was one of the few Atlanta restaurants anyone could or would talk about towards the end of 2014.

The restaurant itself has a different feel. It is totally open, unpretentious in all the right ways, and you don’t order like you would at another restaurant. Picky eaters seriously don’t come and take a coveted seat– had to make reservations a month in advance (was 100% worth the wait)! Kevin Gillespie along with six other chefs concoct two dishes each, come to your table, and try to “sell” you on their creation. If you’re thinking of dim sum you’re right on the money. The menu does change frequently and on average each dish is on the menu for a couple of weeks.

My tablemates and I went with wide eyes and empty stomaches, which was a great thing since we ordered 13 out of the 16 dishes being offered that night. While some dishes are a little larger I’d say most are sharable small plates just like tapas. So without further delay below are all the dishes we devoured.

  • New Mexican style cheese enchiladas. short rib peccadillo. crema*
  • Goat cheese agnolotti. wild mushroom. beet. truffle
  • Middle Eastern style pizza
  • Lobster roll… like in Boston
  • Crispy pork belly. marinated octopus. charred scallion. chorizo vin
  • Ceviche made like they do in Peru*
  • Smoked Berkshire pork loin. creamy polenta. coke braised figs. broccoli
  • Falafel. tahini sauce. house made pita. skoog
  • Olive oil poached halibut. orange braised endive. citrus. olive. fennel
  • Vietnamese style chicken wings
  • Warm old-fashioned banana pudding (always on the menu as it was Kevin’s grandmother’s recipe plus it’s just the BOMB)
  • Chocolate bread pudding. pecan pie innards. bourbon, candied bacon
  • Chocolate-peanut butter cheese cake. pretzel

the * annotate Kevin’s dishes and while you shouldn’t skip on any definitely don’t miss his!! You can tell all dishes are perfected but it didn’t stop with the kitchen as the bar is a worthy opponent. Cocktails have two categories: “while you wait” that are made behind the bar and “from the cart” literally a cart comes to your table and you see it made right there. I didn’t ask what the difference was but I had one from each and both were delectable.

There are flavors from all over the world and the style of eating can be compared to a variety of places, it may not be totally new but in Atlanta it is a breath of fresh air. If I could only choose one restaurant in Atlanta not to miss this surely would be my pick.

This was also a farewell dinner to a close friend. I’ve shared many tables and even more charcuterie plates with Kiffy but am glad we got to partake in one more restaurant together. Best of luck in Birmingham!

South City Kitchen

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South City Kitchen, Midtown

Coming here on a Sunday was great idea. My sister and I had just returned from traveling and we simply wanted a fool proof meal without a lot of fuss. Their First Flavors struck our fancy more so than the main dishes so we got four and split them all. We ordered the fried green tomatoes, smoked pork belly, crab cake, and scallops. The smoked pork belly was probably the most creative as it was served with collard green kimchi and orange-Tupelo honey. Not to say the others weren’t good since they were they just didn’t have that wow factor that will keep me coming back.  What did, however, were their cocktails. They were fun and all had a southern theme. They even had one celebrating the 75th anniversary of Gone with the Wind, it was called return of the wind. I’m not sure what Rhett Butler drank but if he was around today I’m sure he would give this a try. The drink was composed of Woodford Reserve single barrel bourbon, cayrum, rhubarb tea, and braised beet liquor. If you’re looking for a sweet drink I would not recommend this one but I certainly enjoyed it. Lastly we split the peach shortcake, which ended the meal perfectly. I’m a fan of Southern cuisine and when paired with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere I’m sure to become even a bigger supporter. 

H. Harper Station

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H. Harper Station, Reynoldstown

This place used to be a railroad station and when the owner turned it into a restaurant he kept a lot of character, I took note of the super high ceilings and exposed brick, clearly I’m no architecture buff but nevertheless I thought it was cool! The owner is a mixologist so the cocktail list is lengthy and well crafted. I went with a group of five on a Friday so I did my share of checking out what they had to offer. I had their version of a Manhattan and Dirty Gin Martini, while neither were too crazy I throughly enjoyed  both. The snacks were tasty; we ordered five and thought this might have been too much, however, they have a very literal meaning of the word  snack. We ordered the Deviled Eggs with bacon crunch, the Smoked Pimento Cheese with jalapeño red marmalade & crispy bread, Fried House Pickles which consisted of carrots, cucumbers, and radishes served with a sriracha mayo, Bacon CrackerJack- caramel corn, bacon, & salty peanuts, and lastly the Cheese Plate that had two Consider Bardwell cheeses and one Jasper Hill. I was surprised to find all Vermont cheeses but still excited since I love all three. Fun fact the Consider Bardwell logo is actually my favorite logo in the cheese world. I would order the fried pickles, the bacon crackerjack and cheese plate again but not the other two. Not to say they were bad they just didn’t leave me wanting more. They have about six to seven bigger plates. I ordered the North Carolina Catfish that was served with romanesco, sunchokes, celery & orange. I often find myself thinking that catfish will be gross since they aren’t pretty things alive but I should probably get over that notion already since I’ve had two good catfish dishes recently. This is a cocktail centric place so on the dessert menu they did a marvelous thing and paired the two together. I ordered The Dude, a white Russian (if you got The Big Lebowski reference props to you!), one of the best I’ve had and a warm chocolate chip cookie. This by far was my favorite… how could it not be? The food was good and had some fun things on the menu but I would come back more for the drinks and ambiance than anything else.

Miller Union

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Miller Union, the Westside

“New American” is becoming a synonymous with restaurants in Atlanta but I won’t complain because while many have similar takes all have a little twist that makes them stand out in their own way. I went to Miller Union with Kiffy and her mom, Patti. While I didn’t know this Miller Union is also very aware of their carbon footprint and try to limit in every way possible including what they print their menus on. This may not be a factor to many, however, I think it’s super cool to have a restaurant care that much. Now back to the food! Their cocktail menu was impressive and one of the things that made me want to come. I ordered a Miller Thyme that really was too good as it went down rather quickly. As a table we shared the Feta Snack & the Farm Egg baked in celery cream served with grilled bread. Warning if you happen to be lactose intolerant these are not the dishes for you because holy dairy both were superb! Kiffy then the got the Country Captain Chicken, which came with almonds, coconut, and chutney. Patti ordered the Ribeye with fingerlings, Vidalias, and mushrooms. I ordered the Seared Duck Breast with farro spaetzle, buttered cabbage, and duck sausage. And now this is where I wished we stopped the meal. Up until this point we were not disappointed. The desserts did look pretty unique but I don’t think we really thought about it. We ordered the Beet Red Velvet Cake with goat cheese and tarragon ice cream and the Chocolate Ganache Cake with peanuts and fig-balsamic ice cream. While certain parts of the desserts were good I couldn’t fully recommend either but at least I know that I do not like beet red velvet cake. I do consider myself lucky though because I eat out a lot and am normally not this surprised with the actual outcome. This restaurant is constantly being raved about and I am now glad I can say I’ve been!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Cocktails

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Good mixologists are not a rarity down here is Atlanta. You can go to a plethora of restaurants and bars and find you’re self not only a good cocktail but one that you have not heard of because the one and only bartender serving you created and perfected it. I myself am a gin girl and I like my dirty martini’s, but I have managed to stray away and taste some of Atlanta’s finest. Below are a list of where I think you can get the cream of the crop.

Holeman & Finch, Buckhead

  • I came here for the burger one night, and made sure I got there early, which only means one thing. I had time to kill and this place had great drinks to make the time fly by. It is a guarantee that you will enjoy a well drink crafted here. The Deviled Eggs Three Ways would also be a great way to start your night.

JTC Kitchen & Bar, Westside

  • You will initially come here for the fried chicken and great view of the city at the roof top bar but you will come back for the delightful libations that are made only by the pure enthusiasts.

Leon’s Full Service, Decatur

  • This is a full restaurant (hence the name) but I would stick to the cocktails, snacks, & small plates, I recommend The Glass of Bacon (Genius…right?!) or The Mussels.

Empire State South, Midtown

  • I have only been here for dinner and what went best with the delicious cocktails was the In Jar snack, it is an assortment of dips, which sounds lame but I am not giving the pimento cheese or trout mousse justice.

The Highland Tap, Virginia Highlands

  • This is where I go to get my dirty martini, this Atlanta classic has all the new comers beat!