A friend and I visited Straits a couple of days ago. It’s the new venture from rapper Ludacris who aims to bring a fresh, new vibe to the Atlanta food-slash-bar scene. I have been a fan of Luda for a while but I have been more impressed with his intention to help the youth and give back to the community — a very admirable side to his bad boy persona.
The scene
Contemporary Asian feel is what comes to mind. Lots of dark wood coupled with red walls and curtains. It’s a kind of place you dress up to go to yet it has a comfy feel. The noise level is high with people shoulder-to-shoulder in the bar area. The place was packed, to say the least. This is not the place to have a quiet dinner. Instead, it’s one where you kick off your shoes, enjoy a cocktail, hobnob with beautiful people, and have food as a bonus.
The meal
We tried a few things from the menu starting with the Roti Prata. Identical to the Malaysian roti canai, this one came with slices of grilled flour, yeastless flatbread and a bowl of yellow curry with chicken pieces and potatoes. I like my curry bold and hearty and this one, although flavorful and hearty, lacks the punch I require of curries: the simmered for hours taste. Still, I consider it a decent choice for a starter.
Next, we tried the Singapore Satay Sticks that came with skewers of chicken and steak on a bed of peanut sauce. These were pretty good. In fact, I consider this the winner of the night. The marinaded meat were succulent — tender, juicy, tasty. I absolutely loved the peanut sauce. This version is chunky. Sauteed in onions and tomatoes with chunks of peanuts, it was delicious. A different take on a rather boring sauce.
I found the Vegetable Egg Rolls and Samosas a bit underwhelming. The egg rolls were filled with the usual stir-fried veggies while the samosas were filled with bland potato puree. The only saving grace for these appetizers were the sweet and sour chili sauce.
Supposedly the dish that lured Chris to open Straits in Atlanta, the Kung Pao Lollilops were next on our plates. These were teriyaki-glazed chicken drummettes fried crispy on bed of the sweet-sour chili sauce. A fun and perfect bar food, I found the teriyaki-glaze a bit on the salty side. Still, I would order this dish again in hopes that it wouldn’t be as salty the next time.
For our mains, we had the Lobster Pad Thai, the Tamarind Beef, and the Seafood Green Curry. The Lobster Pad Thai was a sight to behold — a whole steamed lobster atop a bed of shrimp and chicken pad thai. Impressive looking, really. Although, I found it to be on the dry side, it has lots of potential. With loads of big fresh shrimp, tender chicken pieces, crunchy bean sprouts, and noodles, this may just be Strait’s signature dish in Atlanta.
The Tamarind Beef came with huge chunks of filet mignon on a bed of baby brussel sprouts with black pepper oyster sauce. individually skewered, the pieces of steak were very tender and juicy, albeit on the salty side. The brussel sprouts were refreshing and actually balanced the saltiness of the steak. This is another dish with a great potential and I’d like to see an improvement in future visits.
I give extra points for the Seafood Green Curry. It was inventive: with fresh, not-overcooked veggies that are not your run-of-the-mill curry vegetables. This one had napa cabbage, Thai eggplant, long beans, cabbage, carrots, and broccoli. It also had shrimp, chunks of filleted fish, clams, and mussels. The jalapeño curry was light and refreshing, though I would have liked it to be bolder. No matter, it’s a great choice for those who want a light but filling meal.
I’m not much of a dessert fan but we did try the French Kiss. The name alone warrants a try, don’t you think? This one came with a moist, velvety chocolate cake topped with strawberry ice cream with strawberry sauce. A good ending to a filling meal.
The service
Service is still spotty which I’m hoping will (and should) improve. I had a feeling our server was nervous more than anything else.
The verdict
I seriously hoped Luda would be in the house that night. Imagine the surprise when he walked by — no posse, no security, no scantily clad women hanging by his arms. Just him. Checking out the scene. I made a bee line, said hi, and had my date take a picture of us. Sorry, I’m still giddy up to now. He was very friendly and unbelievably nice. An added treat to a fun evening.
Overall, this is a hip place for Atlantans to chill out while sipping creative cocktails or munching on classy lounge food. The place is beautiful and inviting. Good vibe, good music. A great food concept this side of town and I imagine the kitchen making improvements and tweaking its dishes to suit the tame palates of the average American.
Insider tip:
The upstairs area is quieter and more cozy. Valet parking available. Adjacent parking lot with plenty of spaces ($3).
The scoop:
Straits
793 Juniper St. NE
(Corner of 5th and Juniper)
Atlanta, GA 30308
404-877-1283
Hours: M-W 5pm-12midnight, Th-Sat 5pm-1am, Sunday 5pm-11pm. Sunday Brunch 11am-3pm
Technorati Tags: Straits Restaurant Atlanta, Singaporean cuisine, Chris Bridges, Ludacris, Chris Yeo, Juniper St.
