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.