Chow Down Atlanta

Breaking news: I am interrupting my much enjoyed laziness to actually write a post and tell you about this one ridiculously amazing dish we had at Steinbeck’s.

I present to you… the Chinese Breakfast*. Yes, at an Irish pub, no less. In Decatur (Oakhurst). Imagine two thick slices of the most delicious braised pork belly that was just exquisite. They had a nice crisp on the outside and a buttery, tender inside. These, plus grilled fresh leeks atop perfectly cooked, fragrant, white, Jasmine rice drizzled with a soy-sesame oil concoction. But it doesn’t stop there. A beautiful sunny side up egg completes the dish. It. Was. Dreamy. *swoon*

But wait. There was this other surprise… the House Burger. Delicious. Enough said. Go see for yourself.

**Props to Troy (via @AsianCajuns) for the inside info. Troy, you had me at pork You guys rock!!! ~C.

Insider tip:
*Chalkboard Specials rotate every week. Call or check website for availability.

The scoop:
Steinbeck’s
659 East Lake Dr.
Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 373-1116

Technorati Tags: Decatur, bar, gastropub

Remember Genki in Buckhead? Well, they gave up half of their space to this new Italian restaurant/wine bar. Decor is the usual Buckhead type bar/restaurant — yellow walls, dark woods, shiny floors, cozy booths, not to mention a humongous patio which is great for people watching or catching some rays. They have a pretty long wine list and the usual beers (including Fat Tire).

I was surprised by the pizzas which are actually pretty good — the crust is sweetish, thin, nicely charred. The pizza sauce is very good: fresh, not runny, not paste like. I had the Margherita (they use ricotta cheese but I prefer mozzarella), Pepperoni (I like that it wasn’t salty), and Cheese.

The Meatball Stomboli is also very good. I love its yeasty dough filled with lots of mozzarella cheese.

The Cheese Ravioli with its creamy sauce is also a good choice. The pasta is perfectly cooked, just the way I like it — right in the middle of al dente and mushy.

This is another good addition to the area.

Insider tip:
Valet parking and street parking.

The scoop:
Villa Vino
3188 Roswell Rd
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 228-3934

Technorati Tags: Italian, Buckhead, Fat Tire, bar

Teela is a new venture from former Eros owner Nik Panagopoulos who aims to bring fun food — tacos — this side of town.  The new digs is nestled inside Sandy Spring’s City Walk which is a huge upscale plaza with a big Kroger, bars, restaurants, and shops. Lots of parking spaces, too. Teela sits on one end close to one of the exits.

The Trios starter at $8.50 is a great way to sample the appetizers at Teela. It comes with a bowl of salsa, guacamole, and queso. I particularly loved the fresh, warm tortilla chips dusted with nacho seasoning that adds and extra oomph to an otherwise ho-hum chip and dip combo.

I sampled many tacos during my visit. The Brisket had chunks of fork-tender meat simmered in a blend of Mexican spices.  The Fajita Steak is quite possibly the best in the menu, with thick, juicy slices of flavorful steak. The Fried Chicken, Bang Bang Shrimp, Mushroom, and Pork Carnitas are all equally good. Tacos are smallish so 2-3 can make for a filling lunch (or dinner).

Enchiladas come two to an order but I requested two different kinds for mine. The Mole Chicken and and Fajita Steak were both good — tasty, with huge chunks of meat.

Overall a great place and fun place, complete with a funky patio — great for meeting people for drinks and a quick (and a cheap) bite to eat.

Insider tip:
Menu can be found here.

The scoop:
Teela Taqueria
227 Sandy Springs Pl NE
Atlanta, GA 30328
(404) 604-9893

Technorati Tags: Tacos, Sandy Springs, Mexican, Bar, Roswell

After undergoing a multi-million renovation, The Georgian Terrace, an Atlanta institution, now sports a more grand, more modern appeal while still retaining its Southern feel.

Included in the face lift is the beautiful Livingston restaurant and bar headed by Chef Gary Mennie. The stylish space includes snakeskin-covered furniture, chrome and leather seats, and floor-to-ceiling windows, among other things. A revolving door was retained from the original design and now stands as a stationary place to showcase wine bottles. It seems out of place, really.

On a recent visit with a regular lunch buddy, we decided to get items from three sections of the menu. We started off with the Wellfleet Oysters Gratin. Served on a bed of rock salt, whole peppercorns and star anise, the oysters are plump, fresh, and briny. The spinach, cheese, and bacon added just a tiny hint of flavor and texture. Great execution on this simple dish.

Next, we went with the Pick-3-for-$15 martini lunch: peeky toe crab salad, white truffle chicken salad, and grilled hangar steak. While the presentation was superb (using stemless martini glasses), the flavor of each item was lacking. As my friend, I also noticed a considerable amount of lettuce in each serving. The peeky toe crab was under-salted which focused on the taste of the mayo instead of the crab. Sad. And such a waste. The white truffle chicken salad tasted about the same. I did like the texture of the chicken which was grilled before being tossed in dressing. The hangar steak was cooked perfectly but sadly, I couldn’t discern any stand out flavor. Meh.

For our mains, we went with the Georgia White Shrimp and a good ol’ burger. First off, five medium pieces of steamed shrimp doesn’t justify $14 in my book. Especially if it’s devoid of any flavor. Although fresh, the shrimp’s simplicity couldn’t be saved by the bland fava bean puree. The bits of ham hock did add a tiny hint of flavor but not enough to elevate the dish. I was totally disappointed with it.

The burger was mediocre at best. I wasn’t too keen on the crumbly, flavorless, dryish bun. Honestly, I’ve had better fast food burgers. Worse, I bit several pieces of hard rock salt in the patty. This just didn’t do it for me.

Overall, a disappointing meal — both in taste and in value. I was hoping Chef Mennie would be more inventive with the food. I’m pretty sure his menu is a work-in-progress.

Insider tip:
Complimentary valet parking — however, you must have your ticket validated.

The scoop:
Livingston Restaurant + Bar
659 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 898-8316

Technorati Tags: Georgian Terrace, hotel restaurants, bar, Midtown, Atlanta

I am impressed by what looks like hole-in-a-wall places, especially when it does not look nor feel like so when you step in. Such is the case here at Kozmo — a new gastro pub deep in the heart of suburbia. It’s in a strip mall with tight parking many miles away from the nearest major highway.

The decor is suggestive of Buckhead and Midtown with its usual minimalist take — clean whites, contrasting dark booths, splashes of wood, open kitchen, shiny concrete floors, huge boards plastered on the wall. The focal point is a large wooden communal table complete with Starck’s Emeco bar stools. The clientele, however, is typical of the affluent area: the more matured, more polished, more reserved crowd.

Food wise, it’s top notch. The House Poutine is simply incredible and one of the best versions I’ve had in town. Theirs come layered to ensure the fries stay crisp. Au jus, fork-tender flaked short rib, cheese, and fries are arranged neatly from bottom to top. It is a gigantic portion good enough for sharing. I love the layering effect (as opposed to the “pile-on-high” results found in nachos) and more so that they don’t skimp on the flaked short rib which is so flavorful.

The burger is a great contender to the popular versions in town. It is hand-made with a brisket-sirloin mix that produces a tender, juicy, thick patty. The Alon’s brioche is buttery and soft and gives a sweetish hint to the fatty meat — a perfect combination. The sparse amount of lettuce and thinly sliced tomato guarantee the flavor of the meat to shine. Delicious. The side of macaroni-and-cheese is a grown-up take on the kiddie favorite. Twisty macaroni shells are drenched in creamy Parmesan, mozzarella, white cheddar, and bleu cheeses. This is definitely not what your momma used to make.

Tuesdays is Fried Chicken night. And it is in your best interest not to miss it. They do run out so do hurry. Three pieces of lightly battered yet crispy fried chicken are tender and moist with flavor all the way through. It’s not a massive portion but with two good-sized sides, this $8.99 dish is enough to get you filled. My chosen sides of garlic spinach and coleslaw are both fantastic. The spinach retains its crunch and the garlic lends a flavor. The coleslaw is crisp and creamy but not so that you feel like you’re eating mayo. You can tell they only use fresh and quality ingredients here.

The Short Rib Pappardelle is scrumptious. The stewed-for-hours short rib is fork tender and the flavor is bold and hefty. The house-made sheets of fresh pasta allows the meat to mellow, sopping up all the sauce for a great-tasting dish.

Dessert wise, everything’s made in house. The chocolate chip cookies with ice-cream is a simple choice but big on taste. The cookies are mounds of soft, chewy short-bread infused with chunks of chocolate. They were so good and fresh out of the oven that I didn’t want to waste a minute by photographing them.

Drink wise, well, I’m not much of a drinker. But even the non-drinker that I am found the White Sangria pretty weak. No kick, no taste of wine, and more like a watered-down fruit juice with wine-infused bits of fruits. But I am curious to try their Kozmojito and the Kozmorita on my future visits.

This is a real gastropub in the true sense of the word. Food is amazing, decor and ambiance are top notch, and prices are very reasonable. Although lunch and dinner have the same price points, the one most expensive item on the menu, the Flat Iron Steak and Fries will set you back a mere $14.99 while the burger weighs in at $8.99. Truly a great benefit to the folks who live in the area.

Insider tip:
Be sure to join their Lunch Club: buy 5 lunches and the 6th one is free.

The scoop:

Kozmo Gastro Pub
11890 Douglas Road
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(678) 526-6094

Technorati Tags: Kozmo, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, gastropub, bar

I grew up eating at Tavern. When we were young and our mom would go shopping, tagging along meant eating at The Zodiac, Brazerie Le Coze, or here. It’s a family tradition that I look forward to regularly up to today. Last week, I lunched with mom at Tavern for the hundredth time. After all these years, dining at Tavern still feels like you’re visiting family.

Tavern is probably the first gastropub in Atlanta. It serves good food in a hip and trendy pub (okay, tavern) setting. I remember stepping into their revolving door the very first time when I was 14 and it made me feel so cool to be able to be in a bar where all the grown-ups were hanging out. These days, the beautiful grown-ups are still around — they still hang out at the bar, but most have now small children in tow and has made the feel a more family friendly one.

My favorite here is the burger. And the Tavern Chips. I’ve tried all of their chips and the Thai Chicken, Barbecue Chicken, Traditional, and Cajun top my list. On this visit, the chips of choice was the Cajun. It comes with a huge pile of warm, freshly-baked tortilla chips then topped generously with crawfish tails, andouille sausage, and cheesy, creamy lobster sauce. This is so good. So good.

For our mains, we went with dishes we’ve never had before. I chose the broiled trout and my mom had the fried trout. My entree came with a de-boned whole trout broiled to perfection. It was very flavorful and clean tasting and the fish was very fresh. It came with the usual mash potatoes and green beans. The sides are ho-hum but the fish was really good.

Mom’s fried trout was a winner (and better than mine). It was a big-sized fish, lightly battered then fried golden. Both the batter and the fish were seasoned well and the tender meat played well with the crunchy outside. I would get this again next time. This dish is topped with sauteed crabmeat and toasted almonds that my mom opted to be served on the side. Her cheesy mashed potatoes were also much, much better than mine.

For dessert (we’re both not fans of dessert), I ordered a basket of their famous freshly-baked croissants drizzled with warm honey. I finished 3 and mom ate the other one. This is such a perfect dessert for the bread-loving me.

Tavern is a great place to grab a bite to eat while at Phipps Plaza. It is such a fun place. I highly recommend the burger and Tavern chips.

Insider tip:
Lunch for two average $65 before tip — chips, 2 fish entrees, sodas, coffee, and bread.

The scoop:
Tavern At Phipps
3500 Peachtree Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 814-9640

Technorati Tags: Tavern at Phipps, gastro pub, Phipps Plaza, Buckhead, tavern chips, American cuisine

Last month, my sister an I went to Ecco for their Shop-and-Dine event where you can get a $25-dollar Prix Fixe dinner with 3 courses. Most importantly, we went because it was Spanish Tuesdays. With most restaurants barely making it these days, the place was unbelievably packed when we came in. In fact, there was a considerable wait. Fortunately for us, we were smart and made reservations days before.

We got a good kick at watching handsome Chef Micah doing his magic the entire evening. It was great to see how hands on he was: expediting, tasting, even bussing tables. What a refreshing site to see considering most chefs (especially the celebrity ones), tend to socialize more than get busy in the kitchen. Of course, it also helps that he’s really cute. Really!

My sister went for the 3-course dinner and started with the Roasted Mussels in a saffron-chili broth. (Sorry no picture– the lighting was so bad and the dark color of the mussels didn’t help at all.) The mussels were fresh and the broth was delicious. We needed a whole loaf of bread to sop up all the broth. It was that good. There were about 2 dozen mussels in there which was a lot for an appetizer but great if you’re sharing. I had the Grilled Asparagus and Tomato salad which was very good. The white asparagus were tender and grilled lightly while the tomatoes were crisp. The vinaigrette was very flavorful.

For her main, my sister got the Spolettoni with Mushroom Ragout. This dish was a total let-down. The pasta sheets, albeit house-made, were so undercooked. They were dry and hard. There was a good amount of mushrooms and the sauce was pretty tasty but the dish was lacking in oomph. Perhaps a few bits of short ribs would have made this dish a winner.

I came for one purpose alone: the Cocido. My Spanish-blooded grandmother used to cook this every Sunday while we were growing up. It’s a very laborious dish to make. My mom makes a close-enough version. I wanted to see if Chef Micah can measure up. And boy, he did. It was fantastic. The meat was well seasoned and fork-tender and all the required veggies (cabbage, chick peas, carrots) were present. The broth had the right balance of sweet and salty and tasted bold — like it’s been cooked for hours. The Au Jus sauce served on the side wasn’t necessary at all. The Cocido was already good by itself. Definitely makes up for the awfully and painfully slow service we got.

For dessert, my sister got the Apple Torte which came with her meal, while I got my favorite Blueberry Panna Cotta. The Apple Torte was another blech. It was freezer cold and hard. Whole Foods makes a better version, sad to say. The panna cotta here is heavenly and I never tire of it. It is creamy and has tastes of fresh blueberries in it. Even the non-dessert fan that I am can eat several servings of this.

It was hit-and-miss on this visit. The cocido was amazing and the apps were great but the ragout and apple torte were both forgettable. Our server was totally in the weeds the entire night and a nice lady serving tables near us had to step in many times. With our present economic status, Ecco must step-it up big time on the service department as patrons who now seldom eat out will surely go somewhere else where food and service can be both great at the same time.

The scoop:
Ecco
40 Seventh St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: (404) 347-9555
Bar opens at 4pm daily; Dinner starts at 5:30pm until 11pm (M-Th), 12am (F-Sat), and 10pm (Sun)

Technorati Tags: Ecco, Midtown, wood-fired pizza, pasta, bar, Italian cuisine, European cuisine

I end my chain series with Bahama Breeze. I actually went first when it opened years ago and then again a couple of weeks ago but didn’t know how to tie it into my other articles until now. My brother who lives in NY came for a visit and wanted to try (of all places) Bahama Breeze. He said it looked quirky. So off we went.

I’m not going to comment about the decor — all chains are the same. Except with different themes. This one has an island-slash-Caribbean theme complete with wicker chairs. I’ve heard about this place as having great and inexpensive drinks. But I’m not impressed. Although they have an arsenal of cocktails, the alcohol is so weak you can hardly taste it. And that’s coming from a non-drinker like me. (I have a good friend and an eating buddy who got me drunk on 3 sips of Amaretto Sour. But that’s for another story.)

I really liked the Jamaican Grilled Chicken Wings. They’re marinated with spicy jerk seasonings that are very flavorful. The wings are grilled right and are just plain wonderful. These make great appetizers.

We got a few pasta dishes that seemed to all taste the same and three orders of paella. The paella looked really good. But it was salty beyond belief that we had to take them back. We never have anything taken back anywhere unless absolutely necessary. But this one’s uneatable. It tasted like there’s a half a teaspoon of salt for every bite! The server (who gave really great service) told us that the culprit was the sausages and that they’re cooked separately and then incorporated into the paella including the drippings. Makes sense. But still. So we had the sausages completely taken out and, alas, the paella became bearable but tasted like there was something lacking. The yellow rice resembled Uncle Ben’s which was a turn-off. Good paellas use Arborio rice. Long grain Asian rice is the next option but never Uncle Ben’s. The only saving grace were the fresh seafood and chicken.

Like I said, the pasta dishes we ordered all tasted basically the same. But I did like my Lobster and Shrimp Pasta with a creamy sauce, fresh mushrooms, and herbs served over linguine. I must say it was really good. The sauce was buttery and creamy but not cloyingly rich and thick. It had a hint of brandy which added depth to the flavors. There was a surprisingly good amount of lobster and shrimp which was another plus.

Okay, so it’s chain dining. There are some really good chains out there. This one’s just middle of the road.

Insider tip:
The Breezy Sangria, Bahamarita, and Piña Colada are worth a trip.

The scoop:
Bahama Breeze
3590 Breckinridge Blvd
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 935-6509

Two other locations:
Alpharetta:
10845 Haynes Bridge Road
Alpharetta, GA 30022
Phone: (678) 319-9949

Kennesaw:
755 Ernest W. Barrett Parkway N.W.
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: (678) 354-7777

Technorati Tags: Bahama Breeze, Caribbean cuisine, bar, Duluth, Alpharetta, Kennesaw

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