Chow Down Atlanta

It isn’t hard to believe that this Atlanta institution has been around since 1927. I say that because of the much older clientele — regulars who add to the hour-long waits during lunch time; including a good mix of hungry folks from all walks of life. And there’s good reason why the wait is usually long.

The main star at Colonnade is the fried chicken. It is simply the best fried chicken. Just like your momma used to make. Its buttermilk crust is light and crispy, and the chicken meat is tender and juicy. It is perfectly seasoned and comes with two sides.

While the fried chicken takes center stage at this joint, other southern favorites come close behind. The pork chops are fantastic, as well as the fried catfish. Sides are house made and include the usual fried okra, creamed corn, black-eyed peas, collard greens, macaroni and cheese. They’re all good. But the best part of the meal at Colonnade is the bread. Hot off the oven, yeasty Parker rolls, wheat rolls, and corn bread. I am so in love with the yeast rolls that I’m known to horde them, hide them in a napkin, and take them home. I just can’t get enough of them.

Colonnade serves delicious southern food at very affordable prices. The place is very unassuming with a cafeteria feel. Service is very warm and friendly.

Insider tip:
Blue plate specials daily.

The scoop:
Colonnade Restaurant
1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 874-5642

Technorati Tags: Colonnade Restaurant, Buckhead, Cheshire Bridge, American Southern cuisine, fried chicken, yeast rolls

Located in a strip mall on the corner of Old Alabama and Holcomb Bridge Road just east of GA 400, Nelayan is one of only a handful of Indonesian restaurants in Atlanta (which numbers less than 5). It is odd because there’s actually a big community of Indonesians here in Atlanta. They’ve only been opened a few weeks yet you’ll see a bunch of familiar faces on a regular basis.

The place is small with only about 10 tables yet it is spotless and bright. There’s a counter that separates the kitchen which is common in Asia and used to place cooked dishes a la cafeteria style. Plus a wall of shelves by the entrance showcasing dry goods for purchase. Notable items include kropek (shrimp crackers that you fry in oil), kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), pastries, chips, and other Indonesian pantry staples.

My favorite Indonesian food is the bihun. I eat bihun in every single meal whenever I’m in their part of the world. Even for breakfast. No, make that, especially for breakfast. It is comforting and filling. Nelayan’s bihun is exactly as the ones in Indonesia. It’s made with rice noodles softened in broth then topped with tasty stir-fried chicken with mushrooms and green onions. It comes with a side of meatball soup that you can eat on its own or dump on the entire dish. Don’t worry, it not gonna make a soupy dish as the noodles will readily absorb most of the liquid. Either way, it’s great. If there’s only one dish that you need to eat at Nelayan (or Indonesia, for that matter), then this is it. It is so delicious. Period.

The Barbeque Chicken is another winner. It is marinated, boiled in its own marinade, then grilled over charcoal. It is fantastic with its sweetish-salty glaze. It comes with rice, soup, cucumber slices, and hot chili paste. This one’s a perfect size for lunch. The Chicken Satay is also a great choice. Their version is a regular entree portion (with 6 big skewers), unlike other places where they serve it as an appetizer. The chicken is grilled, then topped generously with a thick peanut sauce but not as peanuty as the Thai version. It’s served with cubes of steamed rice cake. It is important to note that you don’t eat these cakes by themselves as they are bland have no taste whatsoever. Instead, you sop them up with the peanut sauce before biting into them. It’s a great combination, believe me.

Other items which I’ve tried include the Stir-fried Vegetables with Tofu, Shrimp, and Chicken. It’s a few steps above its Chinese counterpart with it’s very flavorful sauce and crisp veggies. The Grilled Fish wrapped in banana leaves is to-die for. Unfortunately, they hardly have it and the one time they did, it was unbelievably delicious. Their Nasi Goreng Kambing (curry fried rice) is actually made of lamb instead of the customary goat. No matter, it is yummy.

Family-owned and operated Nelayan has long been added to my Asian rotation. Although a little on the expensive side, food is consistently top quality and delicious. Service is warm and friendly (like you’re family).

Insider tip:
Entrees start at less than $10 but average over $15. The Ice Cacang dessert is a must try — it’s similar to the Vietnamese version — with fruit and jelly in a sweet syrup then topped with ice.

The scoop:
Nelayan
1570 Holcomb Bridge Rd
Roswell, GA 30076
(770) 650-7775

Technorati Tags: Nelayan, Indonesian cuisine, Indonesian restaurant, Roswell, Holcomb Bridge Rd., kambing, bihun, Atlanta restaurants

Alas, I have found one of the best burgers in ATL. Hungry for a snack one late evening, my family ended up at H&F and ordered the last 4 burgers of the evening. It was 10:05PM. The burgers sold out less than 5 minutes after they were available. Incredible.

This burger is simply fantastic. Ground the same day, it is juicy, meaty, and tasty. It is perfectly seasoned, through and through, without any bland spots (or bites). Two plump patties with cheese and onions on their own buttered, toasted bun. With a side of perfect fries. I’ve gone to burger heaven.

But the goodness doesn’t stop there. We also had the Metzger Farm Pork Belly with creamy grits, charred onion and b&b pickle. My mom finished an entire order by herself — and that’s in addition to her burger. The pork was crispy yet juicy with just enough fat to tease. The grits, onion, and pickle relish were all superb, all on its own, yet allowed the pork to shine. Together, they made one fantastic team. I would love to have a dinner portion of this.

I love okra and the Fried Okra with sweetish, spicy vinegar truly delivered. The okras were extremely fresh and sweet with just a light dousing of batter. A perfect side to the pork belly. I demolished an order and would’ve loved another but my burger, the Eli’s bread with salted butter, and drink (below) have occupied most of the space in my belly.

It was a perfect late night snack. And a habit that would be extremely hard to break.

Insider tip:
Grab an available table when you see one.
Service is impeccable.
While the bar side has a fun and lively ambiance, the other side is cozy and gives plenty of room to dine in a casual yet classy space.
Valet parking available.

The scoop:
Holeman and Finch
2277 Peachtree Road
Suite B
Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone 404.948.1175
Fax 404.969.3034
Hours of operation
Mon – Sat 5:00pm to 1:30am
Sun – 12:30pm to 3:00pm

Technorati Tags: Holeman and Finch Public House, burgers, gastropub, Buckhead

Once in a while, a craving for Szechuan cuisine hits and Sichuan House is the answer. Szechuan cuisine is characterized by very spicy foods with lots of heavy sauces and gravies. Because of the geographic location of the Sichuan province in China, the climate lends a hand in food spoiling very easily. Thus, food preservation is necessary. Pickling, smoking, drying, and salting are techniques that have been perfected in the region. Personally, I like Cantonese food better (having visited Hong Kong yearly while growing up so my taste buds are more accustomed to it); but that’s just me.

Sichuan House boasts of authentic Szechuan cuisine. Their Traditional Choice Menu includes items geared more to the Chinese palate — the Tea Smoked Duck is fantastic, the Stir-fried Beef Tripe is delicious, the Roasted Whole Tilapia with Scallions is a must try, the Cumin Mutton (or beef) is also a must try (very flavorful); however, the Spicy Sichuan Pork (salt and pepper pork with tons of chili peppers) is disappointingly all heat and no flavor.

Other items form the Traditional Choice Menu that I never tire of include the Winter Melon Chicken Soup, Ground Pork with Mustard Greens and the not-on-the-menu Shredded Chicken in Spicy Garlic Sauce. The Winter Melon soup is comforting with big chunks of chicken and slices of sweetish winter melon. It’s a good take on the plain chicken soup. The pork with mustard greens is absolutely delicious with a good bit of bitterness from the greens balanced by the saltyish pork. The chicken in garlic sauce with julienned winter melon, wood ear mushrooms, red and green bell peppers is a spicy, tasty dish. Get past its oiliness from the chili oil and you have a dish that’s truly a winner.

For a truly authentic Szechuan food, Sichuan House offers a piece of China. For the not-so-adventurous, a toned-down American version is available. The place is clean and bright while the staff is helpful but can get absent-minded (especially when they’re busy shucking vegetables in a nearby table. No worries, just flag them down to get service.

Insider tip:
All orders come with house roasted peanuts (roasted at home by one of the servers) and pickles.

The scoop:
Sichuan House
5900 State Bridge Rd
Duluth, GA 30097
Located on the corner of 141/Medlock Bridge/Peachtree Pkwy and State Bridge Rd/Pleasant Hill Rd where Target and Home Depot are.

Technorati Tags: Sichuan House, Duluth, Gwinnett, Atlanta, Szechuan cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, spicy food, Chinese cuisine, Cumin Mutton, Tea Smoked Duck

Casa Vieja has been my long time go-to place for my pork-grease fixes. Like most places on Buford Hwy, it has a cult following of office lunch crowd; although their main business comes from fellow Colombians who tend to linger over a leisurely meal.

Case Vieja’s homey and colorful ambiance attempt to imitate its homeland. Scenes from everyday life are depicted in every corner with murals that resemble a studio backdrop. It’s enough to get you in the mood and think you’re eating in a far away place. Add to that a staff that is warm, efficient, and forgiving of a gringo’s lack of familiarity with the Spanish language and you’d really feel like you’ve been transported back.

If you want to get a taste of a typical Colombian cuisine, I highly recommend the Bandeja Paisa, a typical dish from the northwest region. I call it “everything including the kitchen sink“. A steal at $8.50, this one includes just about everything: a grilled skirt steak, fried pork rind, a fried egg, beans, rice, fried plantains, a slice of avocado, and an arepa. It’s an overwhelming sight. But delicious, nonetheless, as I have never found any problems finishing the entire order — of course, I’ve always been a big eater, despite my size. The flavorful steak is pounded flat then grilled. Its simplicity complemented by a good dousing of the fantastic cilantro-vinaigrette sauce (Colombia’s answer to ketchup). The fried pork belly (chicharron) with the rind included is my absolute favorite. It is perfectly cooked to a crisp golden brown. Think of it as a glorified fried pork chop. It’s finger-lickin’ good! The rice and beans are also notches above the usual. Theirs are house made. And tasty. The plantains are sweet and balances the entire dish. The arepa, sadly, is forgettable. It’s chalky and hard. I’ve been eating arepas forever, compliments of family friends who make arepas from scratch and literally hand-carry them on their flight to Atlanta everytime they return from a visit to Bogota. In fact, their cheese-filled arepas are to die for. But I digress.

The Pechuga De Pollo or grilled chicken plate is another solid choice. The flat chicken breast is flavorful and grilled perfectly. It comes with a side salad, rice, and fried sweet plantains.

For something lighter, the steak tacos are a perfect choice. An order gets you 3 corn tacos filled with thick chunks of steak topped with cilantro and onions. It’s the best value on the menu at $4.50 per order which has the same amount of steak as the plates. Not on the menu, the big bowl of steaming chicken rice soup is a great starter. Although be warned that this isn’t the chicken soup you’re probably accustomed to. Theirs has curry, which adds a big punch to an otherwise common fare. I’m not very fond of their empanada as I’ve always loved Cuban empanadas. Casa Vieja’s empanadas are filled with chicken curry stew which is good; just not my favorite type.

For great Colombian food, Casa Vieja is the answer. The food is good, the place is clean, and the service is efficient and friendly.

Insider tip:
Be warned, as servings are huge. Service is good but the kitchen can get slammed during peak lunch hours when a wait on food is normal. Try the fresh fruit shakes — they’re very good and refreshing.

The scoop:
Casa Vieja
3652 Shallowford Rd NE # D
Doraville, GA 30340
(770) 454-8557
Open daily from 11am to 9pm. Call ahead to be sure.
If you’re familiar with Asian Square on Buford Highway, Casa Vieja is directly behind it on Shallowford Rd.

Technorati Tags: Casa Vieja, Buford Hwy, Shallowford Rd, Colombian cuisine, Bandeja Paisa, arepa, chicharron, pandebono