Chow Down Atlanta

You all know I’m not a big fan of sandwiches (or salads) because they make me hungry an hour or two later. In order to get satisfied, I’d have to eat a couple or have them as side items. If I were counting calories, that would be really bad. Anyways. I stopped by Victory one night after school. My class ends at 9:30 and finding a late night spot to eat a good meal has been a life long mission. Miso Izakaya, H+F, Steak&Shake (don’t hate), bars, have been favorite spots, as well as Chinese joints that are open past midnight on Cheshire Bridge and BuHi. I’m now adding Victory to that list.

These aren’t your normal, ho-hum deli sandwiches. They’re fancier. The bread is from Bakeshop. The fillings are from top-notch ingredients. They’re smallish so I usually have to eat 3. You’ll probably get full with two but one is definitely not enough. The $4 price tag might be steep on paper but definitely worth every penny once you see it live and in person. Like I said, the fillings and the bread are what make these sandwiches stand out.

Three of my favorites. The Castro with roast pork, ham, fontina cheese, & yellow mustard is a fun take on the Cuban sandwich. The pork is tender and very flavorful. Of course, love the pressed bread. Excellent.

Beast On Yeast. The pot roast with horseradish crème will remind you of roast beef. Very good.

Can’t remember what this is called. Ham and pimiento cheese. The pimiento cheese is pretty good.

There’s a huge wall where they project movies and my best friend/eating buddy swears by their Jack Daniel’s slush. I’m not a drinker so I’ll leave that all up to you. I just like that it’s cozy enough to whip up my laptop and hang out by the big glass walls.

Victory Sandwich Bar
280 Elizabeth Street
Atlanta, GA 30307
(770) 676-7287
Mon-Sat: 11:00am-2:30am
Sun: 11:00am-12:00am

Technorati Tags: Inman Park, sandwiches, bar, late night, tidal

One of my favorite eating destinations is Decatur. Aside from eclectic boutiques, indie bookstores, and historic structures, there are so many great eating (and drinking) places in this progressive city that you literally need weeks to try all of them. Such is this neighborhood gem whose food has been flying under the radar: Steinbeck’s. Helmed by Chef Andy Gonzalez, this Irish pub not only offers a great selection of beers, they have good, freshly-made food!

You might think the hodge-podge of international dishes on the menu to be a bit sketchy at first glance. But, seriously, each one is carefully and properly executed. There’s one thing here that is actually on my death row meal — the Chinese Breakfast! I know, I know. Chinese dish in an Irish pub? Trust me. It’s amazing. I started eating this chalkboard special last winter. It was so elusive you could only have it during lunch. And not all the time. Guess what, it’s now on the regular menu. Yay for me!!! Just imagine. Fork tender, delicious, braised pork belly sitting on perfectly cooked, fragrant Jasmine rice and grilled fresh leeks that have been drizzled with a soy-sesame oil sauce then topped with a sunny side up egg. Wow. Wow. Wow.

I’ve loved everything I’ve eaten here. One other favorite is their Buttermilk Fried Chicken. It’s juicy and tasty. The creamy, stone-ground grits make a perfect background for the crispy chicken. And the sliced tomatoes just round up everything. Mmm, yum.

But there’s more. The House Burger will make you a believer. It’s perfectly cooked and seasoned. The Pimiento Cheese has a sharp cheddar yet creamy taste. Great with grilled bread and vinaigrette cucumbers. The fries are to-die-for.

I really love this place. A friendly, neighborhood bar with great food and great service nestled in a great city. What more can you ask for? Go. Now.

Thanks again to my good friend Troy for introducing me to my Chinese Breakfast addiction. You and the AC girls, are awesome!

Steinbeck’s Ale House
659 East Lake Drive, Suite B
Decatur, GA 30030
404.373.1116
Dinner 7 Days a Week (5PM – 11PM)
Lunch 7 Days a Week (11:30AM – 2PM)
Brunch on Sundays (11:30AM – 2:30PM)
Bar open late.

Technorati Tags: Decatur, pub, Oakhurst

Ok, there’s a new family member to our growing Korean community. The name is Star Daepo. It opened on September 29. It’s been packed ever since. And just like any other Korean bar/restaurant, they’re only open for dinner.

The place is huge. The tables inside are regular Korean BBQ tables. But they’ve got a quirky patio (it used to be a Longhorn’s) that has been covered and converted into a dining room. The cute table bases are steel trash cans and the back-less seats are tiny. Do not, I repeat, do not make a mistake of leaning back. They’re stools without backs. I witnessed an older man keel over right in front of me and (almost) landed on my feet. So beware.

I’ve only had the Korean BBQ here. They use flame on box-type cooking trays. See how thick the slices of pork belly are? So far, everything’s pretty good.

Oh, and the tofu soup? Amazing.

Did you know? Can’t wait to try more of the food. Who’s coming with me?

Star Daepo
Near Mega Mart
3525 Mall Blvd., Ste 3
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 418-9810

[tags]Duluth, Korean, Korean bbq, bar[tags]

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