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

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

The city of Duluth’s extensive downtown renovation created not only a live, work, play community, but a quaint yet modern Main street lined with locally-owned businesses. In the midst of this historic area is a row of commercial town houses, one of which is home to Chocolate Perks, a casually elegant coffee-slash-ice cream-slash-cupcake-slash-sandwich shop.

Owner Marsha Anderson Bomar, who also happens to occupy a seat in the City Council, offers a place to hang out, relax, and eat breakfast, lunch, or snack. While there are daily sandwich specials offered, the staples here are paninis: grilled cheese, beef and cheddar, Cuban, chicken salad, and ham and cheese. Each order comes with crunchy pickles and prices average at $6.

clearly, presentation is an issue here — the soup was sloppily served that way — drippings and all

I’ve had two of the soups (both very good) and three of their sandwiches here: the grilled cheese with turkey, ham and cheese, and beef and cheddar. I was a bit disappointed with the value of the Grilled Cheese because it came with two slices of regular white bread, 2 slices of cheese, and 2 thin slices of deli turkey. I thought the $6 price tag was a little steep for the simpleness (in taste and creativity) of the sandwich which I can very well get in another deli for a buck less.

The Black Forest Ham and Smoked Gouda panini was a much better value. The sourdough bread was sizable, the ham was tasty, and the cheese was fresh. Overall, a much better choice.

My Beef and Cheddar on my third visit yesterday was another simple sandwich. The brioche was buttery and sweetish as it should be but was clearly ruined by over-toasting (or over-pressing). I know some folks like their bread on the dark-toasted side but it should not be the default. Instead, people should be permitted to have the choice. I wonder why they even allowed this to be served — they probably thought I wouldn’t notice? That or they are just indifferent about the quality of the sandwiches that come out of their kitchenette. This disappointment plus chips set me back $7. Although, I have no qualms whatsoever paying good money on food, it has to have value — portion size, price, creativity, cooking method (was it cooked over heat or was it sourced elsewhere then assembled), and taste. Incidentally, a can of Diet Coke was an additional $1.75. Pretty steep for a canned drink, no?

Aside from coffee and sandwiches, Chocolate Perks also serves ice-cream and homemade cupcakes, muffins, desserts, and chocolate truffles. The red velvet and chocolate mini-cupcakes were good in a fresh kind of way. They are not too sweet and you can tell good ingredients were used. But the best part of these cupcakes were the icing. I don’t eat icing but their butter cream concoction is just so good. The chocolate muffin is by far, my favorite. It is moist, chocolaty, dense, and delicious. Pair that with a cup of coffee and you have a power breakfast (or snack) in your hands.

This is definitely a nice addition to the area for a quick breakfast or lunch or simply for whiling time away. But what would be nice is for them to offer a simple Sunday brunch. And a soda fountain machine.

Insider tip:
Join their mailing list or Facebook group page for info on their daily specials.
Free wi-fi.
They use Counter Culture coffee.

The scoop:
Chocolate Perks
3160 Main St.
Suite 200
Duluth, GA 30096
770-342-0037
Hours:
M-F: 7AM-9PM
Sat: 8AM-11PM
Sun: 11AM-6PM

Technorati Tags: Duluth, GA, sandwiches, coffee shop, ice cream, cupcakes, breakfast, lunch

I have a standing weekly date with a longtime friend who lives in Cumming.  We have breakfast, lunch, brunch or coffee one morning at least every week.  Braving the 17-degree weather, we ended up at The Red Hen Cafe on Windward Parkway.  It’s on the Deerfield office plaza next to an Italian place that I can’t remember the name of right now.

The place is small but cozy.  The decor screams Virginia-Highlands-slash-Buckhead and seems out of place in its chosen area.  But it works.  It’s actually a breath of fresh air amid impersonal office spaces.  I love the bright and cheery walls.

My friend had the house-made corned beef hash plate.  It came with 2 eggs, a choice of toast, french toast or pancakes, and a choice of grits or fresh fruit.  Substantial amount for a breakfast plate.  Her scrambled eggs are a little overdone for my liking. But the corned beef hash was nicely seasoned and had a great chunky texture.  I’m all for chunky rather than mashed which is what most breakfast places serve.

My ham plate was so-so but nothing really jumped at me when I looked at the menu so I settled for the boring Red Hen Breakfast plate.  I did like the thick french toast that came with maple sugar and maple syrup.

Verdict:  it’s good that there’s another choice for breakfast in this part of town but I seriously don’t think they can beat The Original Pancake House (a personal favorite) and I know it’ll be nearly impossible to compete with the forever-full Cracker Barrel next door.  However, service is great.  It’s just not enough to get me out of bed on a cold 17-degree morning ever again.

The scoop:
The Red Hen
5310 Windward Parkway
Alpharetta, GA 30004
(678) 297-0200

Technorati Tags: The Red Hen Cafe, Alpharetta, Windward Pkwy, breakfast, brunch, lunch

I had cousins from Toronto and Kansas City visit this past weekend. We were in the Poncey-Highlands area and I know there’s a lot of choices for breakfast. But we were on a time crunch so we landed at Java Jive where I know the lines won’t be as long. Sure enough, no wait.

Our entire table opted for the morning’s special which is fresh hashed corned beef, mixed up with potatoes, plus two eggs, and a biscuit. If anything else, you must, must get the biscuit. It is just a teeny bit crunchy on the outside yet moist and pillowy on the inside. I can eat 6 of these in one sitting! The corned beef was pretty good, too — large bits of fresh corned beef that wasn’t salty at all, coupled with big chunks of potatoes, cubes of green pepper, and some onion slivers. Overall, a good, filling dish.

I’m a big breakfast eater so I also got a Gingerbread Waffle and a small order of cheese grits. I didn’t like the waffle that much. It was soft — like pancake soft and cakey and had way too much gingerbread flavor. Too strong tasting, in my opinion. The cheese grits were good, though (creamy yet still had lots of grits).

Java Jive is a great breakfast place. It is both funky and retro with antique fans and stoves adorning the place. I love their biscuits. Too bad there aren’t any egg combos on the menus where you can get 2 eggs with a choice of meat. Anyway, we were all stuffed so we walked off what we ate at the Georgia Aquarium where we saw Mr. X Files up close and personal, graciously signing autographs. Who said he was a diva?

Insider tip:
Cash only. ATM located inside.

The scoop:
Java Jive Coffee House & Cafe
790 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 876-6161

Technorati Tags: Java Jive, Poncey-Highlands, biscuits, breakfast, brunch, diner

Flying Biscuit Cafe has been my favorite place for simple breakfast or brunch.  I’ve been going for a while since before they became a chain and remember seeing famous celebrities all the time, including Justin Timberlake recently, who patiently waited in line outside for a good hour to get seated.  Or Toni Braxton (at least, while she was still popular) who was so low key.  I went to their newly-opened location in Norcross (across from The Forum Shops) last weekend and had to wait a good hour at 9am in the cold!  I guess nothing has changed despite the takeover — the lines are still long and the food still tastes the same.

My favorite breakfast here is the High Flyer. I hardly ever get anything else. It comes with two eggs, chicken sausage, grits or potatoes, an oatmeal pancake, and a flying biscuit. It’s like a sample platter. The chicken sausages are deliciously flavored with rosemary and not salty at all. The grits are creamy and has just the right consistency. The pancakes are fantastic — organic oatmeal topped with housemade peach compote. Really, this is the best pancake. The compote is not too sweet with the peaches still having a good bite to it. And the flying biscuit — it’s slightly flaky on the outside and soft on the inside. Not only are they so good, they’re ginormous! They’re probably a good 4 inches thick! The apple butter is so good with them.

Another favorite here are the French toast. They’re these soft, thick slices of bread topped with raspberry sauce and créme Anglais. I usually get the raspberry sauce on the side because although it’s delicious, it takes away from the real taste of the toast. No matter, it gives the toast a nice sweetish touch.

Notice how huge the biscuit is above? Anyway, they really have good food here. I love all the omelette especially the Clifton Omelette made with three large farm fresh eggs with goat cheese, mushrooms & fresh basil, topped with spicy tomato coulis. The Egg-ceptional Eggs with two fried eggs on black bean cakes topped with tomatillo salsa and sour cream is also a great option. For a heavier alternative, you must try the Turkey Meatloaf and Pudge. The meatloaf is so flavorful. And the pudge is a great accompaniment (it’s their recipe for mashed potatoes with sundried tomatoes, basil and olive oil.) One last thing, the Fried Green Tomato BLT is also a must try.

For simple breakfast and brunch, my favorite places are the Flying Biscuit and the Original Pancake House. Food is good and always made with the freshest ingredients.

Insider tip:
Cookbook by April Moon now available.

The scoop:
Flying Biscuit Cafe
Several locations.
5270 Peachtree Pky NW, Ste 120
Norcross, GA 30092
770-407-5885

[tags]Flying Biscuit Cafe, Delia Champion, flying biscuit, breakfast, brunch, lunch, The Forum Shops, Peachtree Parkway[/dinner]

Lottafrutta is this cool sandwich place a few blocks from Georgia State in Auburn Avenue. It’s been one of our favorite places for a quick bite to eat whenever I’m on this side of town (which is about twice a week). A couple of years ago, you wouldn’t want to walk around Auburn Avenue. But they’ve really cleaned the place up. It’s beautiful here now with lots of quaint houses and quirky townhomes.

Lottafrutta serves grilled sandwiches on Latin bread. They’re wonderful. The sweet bread is soft, grilled panini-style, and filled with ham, turkey, or veggies. Or get it the way I do: Just Veggin’ with Turkey — creamy havarti with avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, and sprouts with a slices of oven-roasted turkey. It is just so delicious. Each sandwich comes with a tiny tub of chulpe (grilled corn, Ecuadorian style). It’s crunchy and very appetizing.

Then they have these fruit cups that are just equally amazing. My two favorites are the Limonatta and the Cremolatta. If you have a taste for tart stuff, then Limonatta is for you. It has slices of cantaloupe, coconut, cucumber, watermelon, pineapple, mango, and papaya with fresh lime juice then sprinkled with spicy chile guajillo. You get this sweet-tangy tastes with a hint of spice. No worries, it is not spicy at all, with the heat more akin to paprika. On the other hand, if you want all sweetness, then go for the Cremolatta with slices of grapes, watermelon, strawberry, papaya, and cantaloupe then topped with a generous amount of homemade cream. Both delicious and both great accompaniments to the sandwiches. The fruit juices and the ice pops are also irresistible.

Lottafrutta is one sandwich place you must, must try. Grilled sandwiches are only $6.25 (they are good-sized), fruit cups start at $4.75.

Insider tip:
Open during the week at 7am for breakfast. Try the Cuban coffee — awesome!

The scoop:
Lottafrutta
590 Auburn Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 588-0857
M-F: 7am-5pm
Sat/Sun: 9am-5pm

Technorati Tags: Lottafrutta, Inman Park, fruits, grilled sandwiches, Latin bread, limonatta, cremolatta, frutta cups, salads, breakfast, brunch, Cuban coffee

So I’m not the only one who has tried DD’s new breakfast sandwich.  It’s part of their DDSmart line of healthier breakfast fare which is the newest trend these days.  There’s this new DD on Pleasant Hill (close to 141) that just opened maybe 3 weeks ago.  They have this new contemporary decor that makes it look more like a cozy coffee shop than a regular DD.  They are the only location that makes humongous donuts.  I got a dozen chocolate-glazed and they wouldn’t fit the box!  I’m so used to getting donuts from other locations and they make these puny ones.  Theirs were huge and fluffy.  Anyway, back to the sandwich…

Okay, so the eggs and filling are pre-made but they get delivered daily so there’s a freshness factor there at least. They pop them into their ovens and they get toasted nicely. The result: a decent-tasting breakfast that you can eat on the go. Like when you’re driving (which I always do, I mean, the eating and driving part). I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of this “healthier breakfast trend” now.

The scoop:
Dunkin’ Donuts at
5980 State Bridge Rd
Duluth, GA 30097
678-957-8507

Technorati Tags: Dunkin Donuts, DDSmart, breakfast

Update (8:55am): Sorry, guys, but I’m out of gift cards. The lucky 5 people are: DH of Mableton, LR of Atlanta, MB of Atlanta, VD of Suwanee, and LG of Cumming. I’ve already sent you separate emails. Thanks so much for stopping by! Chloe

Starbucks recently unveiled their new, healthy breakfast menu to the public.  Which just makes sense, if you ask me.  I mean, you can only have enough Marble Loaf with your morning coffee.  We need options! Healthy options. So they decided to give America more nutritious alternatives . Six of them, in fact.

The Oatmeal: Priced at $2.45, America’s favorite breakfast item starts at only 140 calories. It is made fresh daily, served hot, and can be customized by adding your choice of milk and condiments including cinnamon and nutmeg. Each serving comes with three pre-packaged toppings of brown sugar (50 calories), dried fruit (100 calories), and a nut medley (100 calories). I had mine plain and just added half a packet of the brown sugar since I don’t have a sweet tooth anyway. The verdict: just like the regular ones you make at home. It has the right consistency and texture. And it is quite yummy.

don’t you just love the new coffee stirrers-slash-cuphole pluggers?

Power Protein Plate: For the protein-conscious folks, this plate comes with a whole wheat bagel, a cage-free hard-boiled egg, cheese, apples, grapes, and a single pack of peanut butter. Really, this is one power breakfast. I looked at it and thought it was too much to eat in one seating. No worries — you can munch on the rest the entire morning. It also makes for one light lunch. Which is exactly what I ate for lunch yesterday.

Baked Berry Stella: This 100% whole grain breakfast pastry is so yummy. I love the grainy texture and wheaty taste to it. Shaped like a star, it is topped with whole grains, raspberries and blueberries. It’s only 280 calories and has more than 200mg of Omega-3s. It is so perfect with my Cafe Mocha or a Skinny Latte (as they recommend). Did I tell you this is only $1.75?

Apple Bran Muffin: I hate the chalky taste (and aftertaste) that I get from most store-bought bran muffins which is why I never liked them. But this one doesn’t have that. It is moist and, well, branny. I also don’t like apple-flavored bread but this has a mellow apple taste that doesn’t overpower your taste buds. Or your coffee, for that matter. It’s not one of my favorites but it is also only $1.75.

Chewy Fruit and Nut Bar: For those who are always on the go, this one’s perfect for when you’re driving. Or when you just can’t find a minute to sit down and eat breakfast. Or when you need a quick snack. Like the muffin, I’m not a big fan of granola bars but I can totally see those who are to like this one. All I can say is that it tastes better than the ones you get from a box.

Vivanno: If you’ve never had one of these then you’re missing out. They call it a Nourishing Blend. I call it a smoothie. With only 270 calories, 16 grams of protein, and 5 grams of fat, I have become a Vivanno addict since it came out in July. Really, I have to have one of these every afternoon! It comes in two flavors: Orange Mango Banana and Banana Chocolate. I like the Orange Mango Banana better (even though I’m a chocoholic). The Banana Chocolate just doesn’t have that real chocolatey taste. But anyway, I tell you, it is so refreshing and not too rich.  And did you know they use one whole banana per serving and include whey protein and fiber?  A perfect protein-packed, liquid snack or breakfast.

Multigrain Roll with Spreads: All of you already know I love bread and this one’s a prefect breakfast bread. It is made with honey, is soft and chewy, and can be spread with almond butter and/or strawberry preserve. It is great with just about any beverage you choose. This perfectly-sized bread costs a mere $1.60, and you get 6 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber, and only has 280 calories.Finally, a healthy addition to your morning Starbucks coffee.

Now here comes the good part…

In celebration of the Better Breakfast Month which is September, I am giving away five $10 Starbucks gift cards (that you can use to sample all these new healthy options) to the first 5 people that email me. Send me a note at chloe @ chowdownatlanta [dot] com and tell me your name and address and I will send it out to you by mail. Or, you can save me a stamp and we can always meet for coffee at Starbucks

Insider tip:
The new menu is only available at company-owned Starbucks locations.

Technorati Tags: Starbucks, breakfast, coffee, Vivanno, oatmeal, baked berry stella

J Christopher’s has been one of my go-to places whenever I crave for breakfast. I like that you can expect the same good, quality food every time you visit. Service may be spotty at times and some locations just have it bad. But for quick breakfast stops, I head on over to this place especially now that they’ve expanded, the 2-hour waits have vanished.

I’ve been going to this place since 2000 so I’ve tasted everything on the menu. They’re all good. The skillets are fun because you get everything on one plate and, well, because they’re served on hot skillets. Now how cool is that?

But yesterday was the very first time I’ve ever tasted their Blueberry Crunchcakes. They are so wonderful. It’s like eating pancakes with a slight crunch thanks to the addition of crunchy granola. While I’m no fan of crunchy pancakes and I hate waffles because of the crunch, these crunchcakes are different. The texture is so unique. And the taste is amazing. You have to try it for yourself. It’s really, really good.

Insider tip:
Open for breakfast, brunch, and lunch daily from 7am until 2pm. Their Tuna Melt is worth a try.

The scoop:
J Christopher’s
Several locations

Technorati Tags: J Christopher’s, brunch, crunchcakes, skillet breakfast, Atlanta