Chow Down Atlanta

I went to Pho Mimi once when it just opened a couple of years ago and haven’t been back since. It’s just that there are better alternatives on the block. They’re on the same plaza as Super H Mart in Duluth. The place is immaculate, big, and bright.

I judge a Vietnamese restaurant’s credibility by their pho. Pho Mimi’s is just okay. It could use a little more kick — make it bolder and more flavorful. It’s nothing fantastic but good enough to satisfy a (small) craving. They have this wonton and seafood pho that I haven’t seen in many places.

They have the usual com or rice plates. Pho Mimi’s version comes with a crunchy fried shrimp cake. A nice touch, actually. I had the porkchop rice plate among other things and I found the porkchop odd-tasting. Too sweet, perhaps.

Pho Mimi has an extensive bubble tea selection. My absolute favorite is their warm taro milk tea. It’s so good and comforting with just the right amount of sweetness and lots of taro taste. For those not in the know, taro is similar to a purple potato but starchier. It is used in many Asian dishes such as soups, savory pies, and desserts among other things.

Verdict: I went to Pho Mimi because they just newly opened. I haven’t been back. I wasn’t impressed with their pho. And their prices are $2 more than everywhere else. For great Vietnamese food, I would go to What The Pho up the street (2 blocks) or Phoenix Noodle. Better yet, for convenience, the one inside Super H Mart makes good pho.

Insider tip:
Closed on Mondays.

The scoop:
Pho Mimi
2550 Pleasant Hill Rd
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 622-9693

Technorati Tags: Pho Mimi, Super H Mart Plaza, Duluth, Pleasant Hill Rd., Vietnamese cuisine, bubble tea, pho, com

My best friend and I couldn’t decide where to meet for lunch today — it was either Food 101, Joey D’s or Seasons 52. I wanted to go to Alon’s afterwards so we decided to go to Seasons 52. We came in at 11:30am and the place was practically empty. Fifteen minutes later and there’s not a single table available. It got considerably louder, too.

For some reason, the decor and ambiance reminded me so much of PF Chang’s (which I absolutely hate). Lots of dark wood, contemporary lighting, cozy booths, a huge open kitchen, a very wide bar, and a cool patio. Even the clientèle is so PF Chang’s. But it does have that casual, fine dining appeal.

Seasons 52 offers a healthy take on fine dining. Using the freshest, local ingredients the entire year round (hence, the name), every single item on the menu is less than 475 calories. At that count, I was thinking of tiny, matchbox-sized entrees. They also pride on not using butter, oil, or cream. Hmmm, does that mean no taste, either?

We started out with an order of Rosemary and Parmesan Cheese Crispbread. I love the presentation of this simple appetizer. It consisted of strips of flatbread baked crispy and chewy. A great starter that won’t get you too full.

My friend Mark had the Turkey Portabello Burger. The soft bun was full-sized and had a third of a pound of ground turkey burger then topped with cheese and a slice of portabello mushroom. Clearly one of the best turkey burgers in Atlanta. It came with a side salad with crisp greens and a dousing of vinaigrette dressing. It was a good lunch option and quite hard to believe it’s all under 500 calories.

I wasn’t feeling too hungry so I went with the Oak-Grilled Chicken Citron with pearl pasta, a trio of green vegetables and thyme-shallot reduction. I was surprised with the size of this entree and could not believe (again) that it was only 475 calories! It had a whole chicken breast that was quite big. It was marinated in nothing but lemon juice then grilled over an open fire. It was juicy and tender. I was told that the pearl pasta is the most popular side in the restaurant and I can see why. It was quite inventive! You have these tiny balls of pasta infused with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and parsley. It was so good. My only complaint (about this dish) is that since they don’t use butter, oil, or cream, the only flavors they can really play with are just salty and sour. It was evident that those were the only two flavors they used on my entree. After a while, I got tired of it and really took an effort on my part to finish it all.

We decided not to get any dessert since I’m not a big fan of dessert and I am already so tired of Seasons 52‘s offerings. I’ve tasted all their dessert on previous events (Chocolate!, Taste of Atlanta, and Toast of the Town). Plus, we were hitting Alon’s afterwards anyway so we decided to pass.

Overall, I like Seasons 52. I like their concept. It was amazing to see inventive dishes presented so imaginatively and all for under 500 calories. Not only that, they were regular-sized, too. Service is attentive and friendly, and the entire staff is so knowledgeable about their food. Definitely a good choice, not only for the health-conscious, but for any foodie as well.

Insider tip:
Main entrees average $15, apps start at $3.50, flatbreads at $9.75. Lunch crowd starts at 11:45am.
Located right across Dillard’s, next to Wildfire.

The scoop:
Seasons 52
By the Perimeter Mall
90 Perimeter Center West
Dunwoody, GA 30346
Phone: (770) 671-0052

On Peachtree at W Paces
3050 Peachtree Rd., NW
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: (404) 846-1552

Monday-Friday:
Lunch: 11:00AM – 2:30PM
Dinner: 5:00PM – 10:00PM
Saturday:
Open 11:00AM – 11:00PM
Sunday:
Open 11:00AM – 10:00PM

Technorati Tags: Seasons 52, American Cuisine, healthy eating, Dunwoody, Perimeter Mall, Buckhead, under 500 calories

Last week, CDA was lucky enough to be invited to experience the new decor and menu concept at Outback in Johns Creek (Alpharetta). They just underwent a massive remodelling and I must say that the place is beautiful. I remember when Outback first came to Atlanta in the late 80s. I was very young then but the times that my family went to check it out were memorable since I really love their Bloomin’ Onion appetizer. My dad’s sister and her family migrated to Australia in the 70s and my cousins would tell us, in their cute Aussie accents, about their original version back in Sydney.

I love what they’ve done to the place. Although located on a strip mall, you’ll be transported once you get in. Sunny yellow walls accented with black steel with warm wood tables and booths make the place cozy and casual. It does have that steakhouse feel but in a modern kind of way.

Since I was driving and do not take to alcohol too well, I opted for a non-alcoholic drink while my long-time friend (we practically grew up here in Atlanta together) had a peach Bellini-type drink called The Wallaby Darned. It had champagne, vodka, and peach schnapps. Sweet and refreshing, it was like fruit juice, which makes it the more dangerous since it’s easy to have quite a few of it. The Spinach and Artichoke Dip served with honey-wheat toast was a great way to start a meal. I particularly loved the toast which wasn’t jaw-breaking at all. In fact, there was enough chewiness in it that made it so good.

I had been eating steaks four days in a row so I went with the Combo Griller with grilled shrimp and scallops. It usually comes with a grilled pineapple, wild rice, and grilled veggies which I really didn’t have a taste for so I went with the monotonous mashed potatoes and green beans instead. I always get apprehensive when Cajun spices are involved because I never have any luck with it but Outback’s version was simply perfect. My shrimp and scallops were succulent and so flavorful. My friend got the Victoria’s Filet which was 7 ounces of center cut filet cooked perfectly. It was moist, tender and tasty. A great steak to be had.

Not being a big fan of desserts (I did eat an entire loaf of the complimentary honey wheat bread), we shared the brownie with house-made vanilla ice cream and house-made whipped cream. The brownie was so moist, so chewy, and so chocolatey. Topped with the ice cream, whipped cream, and house-made chocolate sauce, it was a great way to cap off our meal.

The verdict

Definitely a solid, casual place for steaks and seafood. The decor is wonderful and makes you feel like you’re dining in an upscale place. It’s befitting of the city and its clientèle. Service is impeccable. Our server was very attentive and very efficient. Don’t discount this chain yet. It can definitely give you a run for your money.

Insider tip:
Located in the Steinmart plaza on the corner of Jones Bridge and State Bridge Roads. The restaurant actually faces State Bridge.

The scoop:
Outback Steakhouse
10955 Jones Bridge Rd, 120-124, Johns Creek GA 30022
770-442-8775
Hours:
Monday: 4:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Tuesday: 4:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Wednesday: 4:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Thursday: 4:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Friday: 4:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Saturday: 3:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Technorati Tags: Outback Steakhouse, steaks, seafood, honey wheat bread, Johns Creek, Alpharetta

I can’t believe I haven’t written anything about Super H‘s food court considering I’ve been a regular since it opened first in Duluth, then Riverdale, then Johns Creek/Alpharetta. The food court is amazing. They have stalls offering Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese cuisines. And a Barbecue stall in Duluth that serves roast duck and roast pork rice plates. A solid place for cheap, fast, house-made, good food.

Among my favorites:

From the Chinese stall, the Ja-jiang Noodles is my absolute favorite. Think chewy, thick noodles topped with black bean sauce with pork and lots of onions. It’s true comfort food. And all for under 6 bucks!

From the Vietnamese stall, I love the rice plates (with your choice of grilled beef, chicken or porkchop, slices of pork sausages, a side salad, and a fried egg) as well as their pho. Their broth is bold and well seasoned.

I used to write for The Atlanta Traveler so don’t be surprised if you see this picture over there. I took the photo. Incidentally, they’re looking for a new writer to take over so let me know if you’re interested.

From the Korean stall, well, I love everything from them. From the Bibimbap to the Galbi to the Bulgogi, to the Kimchi Fried Rice, to the Sundubu and now, their newest addition: Ribeye Steak! It is a substantially-sized steak marinated in Galbi sauce and cooked medium-well. For $7.75 it is one fabulous meal. Inexpensive and delicious.

The scoop:
Super H Mart
2550 Pleasant Hill Rd
Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 543-4000
3 locations (check website for addresses)
Suwanee location (Lawrenceville-Suwanee Rd) to open soon.

Technorati Tags: Super H Mart, Duluth, Alpharetta, Riverdale, Ja-jiang noodles, Asian food court

This is a bit of a short notice but my favorite chef in Georgia is doing a 6-course farm-to-table dinner at The Feed Store Restaurant tomorrow night (August 21) at 7pm. Chef Peter Golaszewski is a genius if you don’t already know yet so prepare to be wowed by his wonderful creations. This is in conjunction with Riverview Farms out of Ranger, Georgia.

Dinner is $55 per person but Chow Down Atlanta is giving away a limited number of $10 off coupons for tomorrow night’s event. Email me at Chloe@chowdownatlanta.com to get the codes and the details. Call and make your reservations now. See you there!

The Menu:

Amuse

Truffled Pinkeye Pea Caviar–Fresh Goat Cheese

baguette

Suggested wine : Ferrari-Carano- Pinot Grigio, Russian River $10

Appetizer

Watermelon Lacquered Pork Belly–Poached Ellijay Apple

Mustard Jus

Soup

Cream of Tomato Confit–Cheddar Cheese Bisquit

Suggested wine: Chateau St. Jean-Chardonnay, Sonama $10

Salad

Crispy Pig Ear and Pickled Okra Salad

Organic Cucumber Vinaigrette

Entrée

Petite Filet Mignon—Zephyr Squash Casserole

Scuppernong Steak Sauce

Suggested wine: Araucano, Carmenere, Chile $8

Dessert

Mountain Blueberry Cobbler

Vanilla Ice Cream

Suggested Wine: Taylor 20 year Tawny Port

$55.00 per person

For Reservations call 404-209-7979

The Feed Store Restaurant
3841 Main Street
College Park, GA
404.209.7979

Technorati Tags: The Feed Store Restaurant, farm-to-table, Peter Golaszewski