Chow Down Atlanta

Deep in the bowels of the BOA area between Cumming and Alpharetta lies a rustic-looking white house typical of old southern homes. Step inside and you’re bound to feast on real southern cooking. The Midway Meal House offers southern breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

Raring to eat breakfast, I was sorely disappointed to find out we missed it by 5 minutes. No concessions. Breakfast is served til 11am daily. Moping and ready to leave, a basket of bread appeared and being the bread person that I am, couldn’t resist and grabbed one immediately. The freshly baked biscuits were fluffy and milky. Enough reason for me to stay.

So I had to order lunch — grilled chops and two sides while my eating buddy had Chicken Livers. The grilled chops were tasty and well seasoned, albeit a little on the thin side. With too many sides to choose from, I settled for the fried okra and broccoli casserole. The fried okra were fried to perfection. While the casserole looked better than it tasted (think baby food consistency). I would have liked to see more solid bite-sized bits of brocolli.

The Chicken Livers were outstanding: lightly battered, well seasoned and perfectly fried. The mac-n-cheese was creamy and cheesy.

All in all, it was a good lunch. I can’t say I was floored, but enough to make me come back the next time I’m craving for a decent southern meal. Service is great and the kitchen is fast. Expect to wait on weekend mornings.

Insider tip:
Breakfast daily until 11:00AM. Repeat, 11:00AM.
Daily specials available.

The scoop:
Midway Meal House
5150 Atlanta Hwy.
Alpharetta, GA 30004
770-442-3738

Technorati Tags: Midway Meal House, Alpharetta, Cumming, Highway 9, southern food, meat + two, chicken livers

Tuesday is my favorite pasta day. It’s because Tuesday is lasagna day at VZ. It’s the only day they ever make lasagna. But more on that later. VZ is this amazing pizzeria place on 141/Peachtree Parkway in the Johns Creek area. Believe me when I say this place rocks! Everything is made to order so although you’ll have to wait a few minutes for your pizza, pizza knots, and garlic bread, it is so worth the wait. The side salads are big and so fresh you’d think the greens came straight from the garden. The strombollis are huge enough for two people to eat and can be ordered with any combination of ingredients. The 10-inch heros are baked crispy on the outside. I mean it, everything on the menu is good.

First, the pizza dough is made in-house, fresh and really just amazing — it has the right amount of chewiness, crispiness, and doughiness. The homemade pizza sauce is bold and tasty. And the toppings, fresh and plenty! One bite and you’ll be hooked.

Then, of course, there’s the lasagna. Huge portions of home-made-from-scratch lasagna. It is THE best lasagna this side of Italy. Seriously, I’ve been to Italy countless times and although the version of pasta there cannot be duplicated, VZ sure makes a worthy contender. The layers of al dente pasta sheets, meat, and sauce then generously topped with their chuncky tomato sauce make this lasagna so addicting. Unfortunately, it is only available on Tuesdays. But now you know where to find me on Tuesdays!

If you’ve never been at Verra Zanno, you owe to yourself to go and be wowed. Start with some garlic bread which comes with a side of marinara sauce for dipping. Follow with a side of salad. The pizza is a must try for your first visit. After that, which I guarantee you’ll be back, try the pastas, then the rolls/strombollis, and the heros. Of course, you have got to be there on Tuesdays!

Insider tip:
Lunch specials daily. New specials available (click here). Whole pizzas cost a little more than what you’re used to but the taste and quality will definitely make up for the price.

The scoop:
Verra Zanno
(678) 473-0209

11600 Medlock Bridge Road (AKA 141) Suite 190
Duluth, GA 30097

Technorati Tags: Verra Zanno, pizzeria, pizza, pasta, Johns Creek, 141 Peachtree Parkway

There are some days I just crave for hibachi food. I know, our American version is not real Japanese compared to the teppanyaki we’re used to eating in Japan, but, sometimes you just feel like you want to eat some. My introduction with American hibachi started decades ago. My mom has been good friends with Morimuto since the early 80s. He was Rocky Aoki’s star chef at Benihana on Peachtree Rd. (hand-picked by Aoki himself). Mr. Muto appeared in all Benihana tv ads back then. I remember visiting him at his home when we were kids and was always fascinated by his most extensive, lavish bonsai collection (over 300 grand in today’s money).

Anyway, we used to be regularly invited to Benihana where he would cook for us. During the late 80s and sick tired of American hibachi food, my mom decided she was boycotting hibachi. She hasn’t eaten it again ever since save for the real teppanyaki version outside the country.

I was never a fan of Benihana in general. For less than half the price yet the same service and flair, Shogun is a favorite haunt. Tucked inside a dieing plaza on Pleasant Hill, it’s been around since the early 90s. This Korean-owned restaurant has several hibachi and regular tables. They have $1 sushi also but hey, for that price, would you really want to eat it?
So I stick to the hibachi. Huge shrimp. Decent taste. Great value.

(Postscript: Mr. Muto [highest-paid chef ever] left Benihana in the late 90s and opened the most amazing sushi bar in Snellville. He sold the business and retired, years before hitting retirement age, to the serenity of his bonsai collection a couple of years ago.)

Insider tip:
Located in the corner of Sattelite and Pleasant Hill

The scoop:
Shogun Japanese Restaurant
2300 Pleasanthill Rd.
Building B-3
Duluth, Ga. 30096
Tel. 770-623-6611

Technorati Tags: Shogun, Japanese cuisine, hibachi, Duluth

I have guy friends who go to Little Azio’s weekly. It’s kinda like their ‘weird’ ritual — bike the Silver Comet then eat pizza/pasta afterwards. So I went one day and was slightly impressed. The pizza dough reminds me of flatbread but chewier. The topping held on nicely and didn’t make the dough soggy. All in all, good Margarita pizza.

I love Italian Wedding soup so I ordered a bowl. It was so hearty with lots of meatballs, orzo pasta, and veggies. The broth was so tasty. I would say it’s one of the better ones I’ve tasted.

I am a sucker for bread. I love bread. So much so that I am known to skip dessert in favor of bread. I love yeasty, doughy bread fresh out of the oven. Having said that, I ordered a basket of their fried bread and ate all of it. All. of. it. They were sooooo good. Yikes, I’m looking at the picture now and didn’t realize I finished 6 of them!

Then, the pasta came. The penne was perfectly al dente and the Telefono sauce made of spicy tomato sauce, mozarella, and basil was really good, although didn’t have enough zing for me. I had it topped with grilled chicken and ate everything off.

Everything I ate was pretty good. I wouldn’t say it’s stellar Italian but good enough. Twice, I had take-out from their new Suwanee location and was sorely disappointed. The first time, they forgot to put shrimp on my Shrimp Telefono pasta. Second time, the Sausage Pasta was bad (as in food poisoning kind of way) — the minute I opened the container, I could smell it was already past its expiration date. Called the restaurant back and told them and was told they were going to check it out. I just learned this newly-opened location is now closed. I feel sad when restaurants close.

Insider tip:

All pasta orders come with garlic bread.

The scoop:

Little Azio’s

Several metro-Atlanta locations. Check website for details.

Technorati Tags: Little Azio’s, pasta, pizza, Italian cuisine

Growing up, tagging along with our shopaholic mom make her rounds of boutiques in Buckhead means snacking or lunching at Brasserie Le Coze, The Tavern at Phipps, or at The Zodiac. She’s a creature of habit so it’s either one of those three or nothing else. These days, Brasserie is gone and The Zodiac is now called NM Cafe.

While the menus haven’t changed, the look definitely has. Gone are the dark interiors and clubhouse feel. Today’s look resembles, well, let me just say this, it reminds me of Cafe Aquaria at the Georgia Aquarium. I have to say I have mixed feelings with the new cafeteria-style decor. It’s good that they updated their look but I’m kinda partial to the warm clubhouse feel. There’s just something about it that made the place cozier. The new plastic-looking white chairs and melamine tables do nothing for me.

One good thing is that the menus haven’t changed much. You still get these warm, fresh-from-the-oven, airy popovers served with homemade strawberry-infused whipped butter the minute you get seated at your table. Minutes later, you get demitasse cups of warm broth for dunking your popovers with — yummy and heavenly. I tell you, my sister and I can finish two of these apiece. That’s aside from our main entrees! These hollow popovers have custard-like walls that are chewy while the outside remains flaky. No trip to Neiman Marcus is complete without a visit to The Zodiac for these amazing popovers. The bar menu offers quick bites, daily specials, and light fare while the regular menu offers more substantial choices. The she-crab bisque drizzled with sherry wine is a popular choice. The creamy soup is smooth and has huge chunks of crab. Presented in a covered tureen, would you believe only the head chef is allowed to add the sherry wine to it? A mainstay for many years, the herb roasted chicken is another popular choice. The chicken is moist, tender, juicy and flavorful with just a hint of sweet glaze on the outside. It comes with garlic mash and steamed haricot vert. I’m not much of a sweet-glaze person so I always get a side of au jus to wash it off.If you’re tired of the usual mall food, then The Zodiac NM Cafe is a great alternative. Expect to wait during peak lunch times when the ladies who lunch are all out. Prices are very reasonable — the soup is $8 and the chicken is $15. They also have good salad choices with the special salad of the day always a great choice (usually a combination of 3 small salads on a plate).

Insider tip:
Located on the ground floor inside Neiman way in the back.
Opt to sit at the bar where you get a choice of the two menus.

The scoop:
NM Cafe
Neiman Marcus
Lenox Mall
3393 Peachtree Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 266-8200
Mon-Sat 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Sun 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Technorati Tags: Zodiac NM Cafe, Buckhead, Neiman Marcus, Lenox Mall, Buckhead, Atlanta