Chow Down Atlanta

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

This is my life saver restaurant. Because if everything’s close, WF is open. Well, Buford Highway-slash-ChinaTown is open, too, but if you happen to be on a road trip and it’s midnight on Thanksgiving Day (and I can’t imagine myself on the road during this time, but anything can happen), you’d be rejoicing that it is. Open, I mean.

When I was still a poor college kid in undergrad, my friends and I would eat cheap so that we can spend our allowance on other frivolous things. I’m still a poor college kid lady (grad this time) and I still think WF’s return-on-investment can’t be beat. Waffle House epitomizes cheap eats. I mean, where else can you find made-to-order breakfast for less then 3 bucks? And you’ll be surprised because the food isn’t that bad.

So I came in one day just for kicks. I haven’t been in a long while. I wanted a snack but didn’t want to eat junk. I look at the menu and see waffles. Hmmm, as in Waffle House? So I get one and a one-egg breakfast. I have never been a waffle person. It’s probably the crunch that I dislike. Give me soft (and yeasty) anytime. But I wanted to try it. I mean, they’re not called what they are if they didn’t make it good, right? Besides, they’re around two dollars. With chocolate chips. Nothing to lose (but my $2).

I watched Mr. Cook as he poured the batter in the waffle maker. The makers look like scary implements. So different from the ones I see at Williams-Sonoma. Less than 5 minutes later, I was presented with this:

I slathered some butter, poured some syrup and took a bite. I was stunned! This was the most soft and chewy waffle I have ever had. It had just enough small chocolate chips inside so as not to render it too sweet and a few additions on top for good measure. Really, this is one good great waffle. I take back every bad thing I’ve said about waffles. This was fantastic. It was almost pancake-like with just a tiny, teeny hint of crunch. It was so good I finished it in two minutes flat! And I’m a very slow eater.

Next up, my one-egg breakfast. It was nothing special — just an egg, some toast, and the customary hashbrowns. For $2.40, this is the best bang for your buck. I’ve been to places where one egg costs $3 and I still reel when I think about it.

Did you know the first WF opened in Avondale Estates? They now have over 1500 locations. And they’re open 24 hours all year long. So if you get hungry and nothing is open, you know where to go.

Insider tip:
Most places now accept Visa and Mastercard.

The scoop:
Waffle House
1500 locations

Technorati Tags: Waffle House, open 24 hours, waffles, breakfast

Maybe it’s about the perfect combination of eggs, meat, and carbs that makes me love breakfast enough to be able to eat it anytime of the day. For such fixes, Goldberg’s is one of my favorite choices. I’m sure you’ve heard about their bagels, too. They’re chewy, dense, and have that distinct bagel taste. You know, as opposed to that regular bread taste. With so many kinds to choose from, you’re bound to go home with a dozen bagels or more. Which is usually what happens to me. Two of this and two of that, and before I know it, I have a huge bag of bagels and a big tub of cream cheese.

Goldberg’s (which resembles a NY deli complete with hanging sausages) has everything I want in a breakfast (served all day): eggs, turkey sausage, oatmeal, and a side of toasted bagel with cream cheese. The turkey sausages were plump, juicy, and surprisingly not salty. The oatmeal was home-made and chewy. Oh, did I tell you about the toasted bagel that comes with your breakfast? Yummy.

Insider tip:
Expect long waits on weekends. Open daily from 6am-3pm.

The scoop:
Goldberg’s Bagel and Deli
4383 Roswell Rd Ne, Atlanta
(404) 256-3751

Technorati Tags: Goldberg’s Bagel & Deli, breakfast, bagel, American, NY

Radial is well known for its creative breakfast menu which includes their famous buckwheat pancakes and vegetarian sausage. On this particular visit, I opted for the boring played it safe with the American Breakfast that consisted of two eggs (poached), toast, and vegetarian sausages. I can’t rave enough about the vegetarian sausages — they’re juicy and tasty and the perfect perk-me-up to your boring eggs-and-toast fare. I also ordered a side of grits that came in a huge bowl and although the first bite was promising, the second was a complete let-down. Not only was it cold (as in refrigerated cold), the whole thing resembled what looked like a huge clump of goop.

Since it was past lunch time and I was feeling rather ravenous (as always), I decided on also getting the weekend special of Walnut Waffles with Cinnamon. I’m glad I did as it was a true winner. It had enough crunch as well as chewiness and just a slight hint of cinnamon. It was mighty delicious especially doused with pure maple syrup.

My sister who also ordered the American Breakfast got a short stack of pancakes. The pancakes were huge and okay tasting but didn’t really leave a lasting impression on me.

Service was below average on this visit. It was funny how our server, when asked for her recommendation, replied that she wasn’t a breakfast person and offered no help whatsoever. We had to ask for drink refills a few times which we didn’t mind since we weren’t in a hurry to leave anyway. At one time, my sister had to ask our server to replace her coffee as there were lots of coffee grounds floating all over her mug. She got a new cup but with the same floating stuff. Funnier is when she’d refill my sister’s drink and leave my empty glass completely empty.

In any case, Radial is a favorite breakfast place of mine. The food is good, the atmosphere is relaxed, the place is chic, but the service can be awful at times.

Insider tip:
Turn-over of tables is pretty fast. Avoid tables closest to the kitchen unless you want to smell like bacon all day long.

Radial celebrates it’s 8th birthday on April 18 with free Joshua John cupcakes.

The scoop:
Radial
1530 Dekalb Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 659-6594
Open daily 8am-4pm

Technorati Tags: Radial, breakfast, brunch, buckwheat pancakes, vegetarian sausage, Candler Park, Edgewood, Dekalb Avenue, American cuisine

Serving the Alpharetta area since 1920, Alpha Soda serves Southern fare with a Greek twist in a setting of black and white tiles, lots of dark wood and leather. It’s not your typical diner. More like an old country club.

I love Alpha Soda’s daily specials and their breakfast fare. I love it even more because they serve it all day long. Notable dishes include the Alpharetta Egg Sandwich (a kicked-up egg/blt sandwich), the Eggs Benedict (available only on weekends), and the Chicken & Brie Scramble (chicken and brie omelet).

Chef’s daily specials are worth a try especially the pot roast which makes an appearance every so often; as well as freshy made vegetables. Make sure you leave room for dessert (especially the Red Velvet Cake) and check-out the mouth-watering pies, cakes, cookies that are showcased in a huge deli case.

Insider tip:
Open daily beginning at 7am.
Service is unsually slow even in off-peak times so don’t expect to breeze in and out.

The scoop:
Alpha Soda
11760 Haynes Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA 30004
Phone: (770) 442-3102

Technorati Tags: Alpha Soda, diner, Alpharetta, breakfast

A craving for grits brought about by a trip to Charleston (South Carolina) where shrimp and grits is a staple, landed me for the first time in Geraldine’s Fish & Grits on Hairston Rd. in Stone Mountain over a year ago. Opened in 2005, Geraldine has been serving 7 types of fish with grits for lunch and dinner as well as chicken & waffles among other items.

Operated by a two-person staff, Geraldine cooks while another guy waits and buses tables. Because everything is made-to-order, expect to wait a few minutes for your food to arrive especially during peak times.

I highly recommend her famous fish & grits. My favorite is the deep-fried, cornmeal-battered catfish fillet and grits with an egg and a biscuit. You can’t go wrong with this specialty. The fish is fresh, fried perfectly, and has the lightest of dusting of cornmeal. At $6.95, it’s a good value served all day long. I’ve also tried the chicken & waffle but I wasn’t as impressed as the fish & grits. The chicken was a tad undercooked and the waffle was so hard I felt like I was eating a hard piece of toast. Stick with the fish & grits and you won’t be disappointed.

Insider tip:
Bring a newspaper and linger for as long as you want.

The scoop:
Geraldine’s Fish & Grits
website: http://geraldinesfishandgrits.net/
971-1B North Hairston Rd.
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
770-298-3660
Open daily except Mondays from 7am-3pm

Technorati Tags: Geraldine’s Fish & Grits, Stone Mountain, breakfast, lunch, chicken, waffles, fish, grits, Southern cuisine

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If you want an 8-dollar breakfast that is surely guaranteed to fill you up, then head on to The Original Pancake House where 6-egg omelettes plus a side of 3 buttermilk pancakes are the norm. Aah, too much food. But good food. And the best pancakes. the Dutch BabyEverything is made from scratch daily including the whipped cream and the fresh-squeezed orange juice. The signature sourdough-yeast-batter pancakes are really the best — chewy and not overly sweet. The baked Dutch Baby served with a plate of lemon wedges and powdered sugar looks like a huge moon crater with a crispy outside and a soft inside. Most everything on the menu comes with a short-stack of pancakes: the omelettes, the meats, and the egg specialties. Don’t miss the kosher corned beef hash. It has cream!

Expect hour-long waits on weekends and since everything’s made-to-order, your food won’t come in a flash. But the taste, price, and size will surely make up for it.

Insider tip:
The omelettes are big enough for two people. Try the Dutch Baby, it’s delicious.

The scoop:
The Original Pancake House
http://www.originalpancakehouse.com/index.html
Duluth Location (not on website)
3665 Club Dr Ste 104
Duluth, GA 30096

Technorati Tags: The Original Pancake House, breakfast, brunch, pancakes, Dutch Baby, sourdough-yeast, omelettes

I was one among the chosen few invited during their closed-to-the-public-friends-and-family-only opening night in October 2003 and I’ve been impressed ever since. A cozy den. That’s how I think of Bear Rock located in Buckhead. You’ll find a working fire place, comfy couches, stone and wood accents, and deep-hued walls. You’re gonna be wanting to kick back and relax. And they actually encourage you to do so. Read the rest of this entry »