Chow Down Atlanta

Waiting on cold, blustery mornings are the pits — you either have to sit in your car or brave the elements like we did and sit outside to wait. But coffee in hand makes it all bearable. Plus you get to people watch, as some “celebrity” flamboyant guy dressed in a long mink coat arrives and makes you forget about the 20-minute wait (I overheard some say he is from a local reality tv show involving housewives.)

First up for us were the biscuits and gravy. The $4 order comes with two, fresh out of the oven biscuits that were yeasty and crumbly. The biscuits are good but the gravy was too floury for my taste. I opted to slather their freshly-made jam (peach and raspberry that day), and of course, butter instead.

There is a reason why the Brisket Breakfast is the most popular item on the menu. It has been consistently good. The 14-hour, slow-roasted Angus beef brisket is so tender, with each fiber detaching from each other. While the tomato broth is bold and flavorful, I would have liked it to be spicier. Don’t get me wrong, though, it is already good as it is. Two poached eggs complement the dish, with the eggs cutting down the heavy flavor of the beef. The accompanying toasted baguette is so perfect for sopping up the delicious broth. If there is one thing you should try at Ria’s, then this one is it.

That day’s special was an Eggs Benedict made with roasted pork loin and topped with a pesto-hollandaise sauce. The server had me at pork so I got it. The pork loin was dry and the very rich pesto sauce did not really go well with the meat. The grits was so soupy and it tasted more like the gravy they serve their biscuits with, only grittier. Disappointing on both counts.

The blueberry pancakes look great on the outside but was very mealy inside. I should have stuck with the original buttermilk version which is thick, chewy, and always really, really good.

This is one of my favorite places for breakfast. I have heard people say their omelets are not that good but I am not a scrambled-eggs person — I love my eggs on the runny side (poached or over medium). In any case, most everything here, as is the coffee, is always good.

Read other reviews here and here.

The scoop:
Ria’s Bluebird
421 Memorial Dr SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 521-3737

Technorati Tags: breakfast, brunch, Grant Park

We have had an onslaught of burger joints lately and this one is the newest member of the bunch. I have visited a few times including opening week and they have been getting a whole lot of business lately. Go during peak hours and there is a wait of up to a half hour. Most noticeable is their fun decor and ambiance. It looks like a 50s diner inside complete with a nostalgic-looking bar.

Surprisingly, the burgers are really good. They only use Meyer Natural Angus beef on their burgers and hotdogs and all signature burgers are charcoal grilled! You know how fantastic that smoky taste in burgers are, right? Each 7-ounce patty can be added to a choice of five buns — onion, kaiser, wheat, kimmelwick, and cracked wheat. The burgers are juicy and the buns are soft. Burgers do tend to get a tad overcooked so a medium will most likely end up medium-well. I suggest you choose from their signature burgers which are all charcoal grilled as opposed to their customizable singles and stacks which are flat-top grilled. Signature burgers start at $6.95 and include the most popular toppings. Upgrade to a meal for $2 more and you get slaw (creamy, mustardy) and fries or chips. Cheeses and other premium toppings add up to the price but start at a mere 50cents to $1.25 (for pancetta and portabella). The hotdogs are equally good — nice snap on the casing and not too salty.

The potatoes here are all freshly cut daily. The fries are really great, nicely brown and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The chips are crunchy and not oily and I like that they are not jaw breakers either. I highly recommend getting the chili-cheese fries. Their version includes house-made turkey or beef chili that you can get with or without beans, melted cheddar cheese, onions, jalapeños, and a dollop of sour cream all piled on top crispy fries. They are really good.

Milkshakes rule here. They are hand-spun and made with, get this, four scoops of ice cream. Dark chocolate ice cream is used for the chocolate milkshakes so the resulting concoction is not too sweet.

Service is prompt and very friendly. Truly a good spot for a great quality burger if ever you find yourself in the area.

Insider tip:
This place is going to be a chain so watch out for more locations in the future.

The scoop:
Flippin’ Out
2100 Ray Moss Connector
Johns Creek, GA 30022
(678) 867-0851

Technorati Tags: burgers, hotdogs, Johns Creek

“The combo plate comes with a nap.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll make room for you.”
“On one of those benches.”

Apparently, they do not know who they are dealing with.

My meal: Rib Combo. Plate. Beef rib and sliced brisket. Mac-n-cheese and collards. And a Diet Coke.

I was anticipating a platter with humongous portions with the way they were talking to me. So although the plate that came had substantial serving sizes, it was a piece of cake for me. Of course, I can out eat everyone I know. But that is just (little ‘ol) me.

The brisket was glorious. The fibers detached from each other without any effort. Its smokiness was addicting. The beef rib (sans bone) had a nice crust. Both are fork tender. And very, very flavorful.

The mac-n-cheese is simply to-die for. The cheesy, sweet cream oozing out of every rigatoni is just so good. I could eat a whole platter of it. The toast was buttery and soft. The collards are silky and not at all mushy, although, it was a bit on the salty side for me. Seeing it untouched, I was offered to replace it with something else (they use a very bold chicken stock but the kitchen will be appropriately notified, I was told). With the meal almost over, I settled for a banana pudding instead. I am not a dessert person but all I can say is that it was good and creamy, not too sweet, and not too rich.

I had the pleasure of having lunch with the lovely, lovely, lovely Amy (yes, that is three lovelies for you) after weeks of trying to get our schedules in sync. She had a pulled pork sandwich and a side of mac-n-cheese. The pulled pork was as good as the other meats. It was tender and juicy and just as tasty.

Overall, a great lunch. Great barbecue and great mac-n-cheese. The sauces are both good — there is a vinegar-based one and a sweet one. Combine them both for a good kick. I cannot wait to come back and try all the other meats and sides. Incidentally, I demolished everything on my plate. As usual.

Insider tip:
Located at the old spot that used to be The Epicurean restaurant.
Menu here.

The scoop:
Community Q BBQ
1361 Clairmont Rd
Decatur, GA 30033
(404) 633-2080

Technorati Tags: Decatur, barbecue