Chow Down Atlanta

West Egg Cafe has been one of my go-to places for breakfast (that is, the few times I can get myself out of bed early enough). Had a chance to finally go to their new location in White Provisions a couple of months back and I might say, the place is really nice. Funky nice. My visit was the first stop in my usual “food field trip” — several lunches, several dinners all in one day with one of my eating buddies — so we were very conservative in ordering food.

The Georgia Benedict had these savory turkey sausage patties topped with beautiful poached eggs sitting on their famous biscuit. All these were drenched in a turkey sausage gravy that was perfect in consistency (thin enough to go down smoothly, yet thick enough to coat everything). It’s always been a trusted favorite. It was, however, a little floury for my tastes this time around. My eggs came with a side of grits. They serve one of the best grits in town and it didn’t disappoint as usual. It was creamy and the taste of corn really stood out.

The Belgian Waffle was good. It was crispy on the outside. I would have loved it to be chewier on the inside, though. Make sure you substitute regular butter if you aren’t a sweet (honey) butter person like me.

FB’s Blue Plate is a good choice if you want a hearty meal. We’re both huge fans of cheesy eggs and he wanted to get the same effect but they just couldn’t duplicate it. Oh well. It was still good. I do love that the skillet potatoes came with chunks of crusty potatoes. They were peppery and really flavorful.

Other favorites of mine here include the Black Bean Cakes and Eggs (an interesting take on the Huevos Rancheros) and the bacon, eggs, and cheese biscuit (or the biscuit period). Read more here.

West Egg Cafe
1100 Howell Mill Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 872-3973

Technorati Tags: midtown, breakfast, brunch, White Provisions

Quite simply one of the best pasta dishes I’ve had in a while: Spring Fettucine. Made with homemade fettuccine and house-made ricotta. With thin strips of asparagus to hold the pasta together as you twirl your fork around. Fresh mushrooms and English peas complete the gang. Oh so unbelievably light and delicious. Repeat: delicious.

But wait. Everything else is good. The Green+Egg+Ham is inventive and outstanding. The 5-minute egg has a crispy shell. Ham is courtesy of Benton’s, while the Green is provided by a creamy veggie puree. Yummy.

The Potato and Manchego Croquettes are balls of crunch and soft. A perfect pairing of opposing textures and flavors.

The usually ho-hum Steak Frites is wonderfully executed. The steak is tender and flavorful and the fries retained their crunch up to the last bite. Need I say more? Go. Now.

More here, here, and here.

Insider tip:
Last time I was there, Chef Katie was fermenting lemons in vodka for 40 days for use in a house-made Limoncello. Go ask. Oh, and my sister swears by their The View From Up Here cocktail. Go try.
Free 2-hour parking.

NOON Midtown
1050 Crescent Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 496-4891

Technorati Tags: Midtown, breakfast, brunch, dinner

It’s called the The Stack: crispy, tender fried chicken fillet, thick slices of Benton’s bacon, gooey Tillamook cheddar, a fried egg, all slathered in a creamy sausage gravy, inside a fluffy, fresh-baked biscuit. Down that with an ice-cold bottle of Diet Coke and you have an amazing breakfast.

Or get this– Kobe Roast Beef: slices of tender Kobe roast beef, crispy-fried slivers of onions, horseradish sauce, all on a toasted French roll.

Round out your breakfast (or brunch) with a mimosa and a Sublime doughnut. Yeah.

NOON Midtown
1080 Peachtree St, Suite 6
Atlanta, GA 30309
(Crescent Avenue between
11th & 12th Streets)
(404) 496-4891

More reviews here.

Technorati Tags: Midtown, Atlanta, Noon, breakfast, brunch

We were originally going for some cult burgers. But before I can even step out of my car in the parking lot, I got a text and then a call from Broderick: “It’s CLOSED!!!” I could not believe my eyes. And ears. So we ended up at The Porter in Little Five Points. One thing about this area is that it is quite difficult to find parking space. We did manage to snag one a couple of blocks away. I love cold weather but the blustery 18°F weather made it painful to walk to and back.

I remember when this place used to be Bridgetown Grill (they had those awesome pineapple bread straight out of the oven!) It has evolved a few more times but the place looks exactly the same, save for a few knickknacks as decoration. As a beer bar, they have pages and pages of all kinds of beer available. I am not a big drinker — three sips of wine or alcohol literally knocks me out (yeah, I know, I am a cheap date). But Broderick liked his Belgian and my sister loved her German. Do not ask me what they were. I can not tell you. I did find something that looked delicious in print: Hitachino. It has 12.5% alcohol content. I hate to imagine what that will do to me.

Let me just say that all the dishes that Broderick and my sister picked were fantastic. As for me, well, I must have been wearing a “Hate Me” sticker on my forehead…

The duck prosciutto with poached eggs and greens (sorry, not a salad fan) was really great. The duck was very tender with a saltish flavor that went well with the egg and greens.

The Belgian fries were outstanding. The garlic in the oil used was quite pronounced but not in an aggressive kind of way. The charred onion mayo dipping sauce was creamy and oniony. Better eat these fries while hot and crispy as they became soggy as soon as they cooled.

My not-so-good luck started with the mains. Broderick and I both wanted the pork chop but since he called first dibs and they only had one left (it was after 10PM after all), I had to choose something else. A clear winner, the center-cut pork chop was thick and juicy and perfectly grilled. It had a clean, simple salt and pepper flavor all the way through. The pasta and mushroom provided texture and the pan jus made it a really great dish.

My sister’s Kraut and Beer Brats was also good. The homemade bratwursts had a nice snap to them. They had a slight herby taste that I really liked. The sauerkraut could have used a little more acidity but it was a good accompaniment, nonetheless.

So just my luck, the half-pound cheeseburger that I got was a total let-down. Although cooked medium in the middle, it had a hard, dry, dark, well-done crust on the outside. It was also flavorless. Even the good, soft and buttery tomato focaccia it came in could not save this failure. (For the record, that side salad of greens and pickled beets went to my sister.)

Now for the best part… Totally disappointed and still hungry, I decided to get their banana crepe. Visions of Paris and the crepes we got there from the street and cafes at every visit played in my mind. I just knew it was going to be good. I mean, how hard is it to mess up crepes?

I wanted to cry so bad when it was set in front of us. What came was what looked like banana slices swimming in dark brown gooey soup. Banana soup? Did they think I would not notice that this (insert your favorite expletive here) does not even look remotely close to a crepe? I felt so offended. It was so gooey. It was sickeningly sweet. It. Was. Not. A. Crepe!!!

I hardly have disappointing meals. In fact, I can only think of one in the last couple of years. And now this. You know, to me, you only get one chance to make a first impression.  Especially if it costs me $60.  I had to make a 2AM run to Krystals just to erase the memory from my mind. And mouth.

Many thanks to Savory Exposure for the pictures.

The Porter
1156 Euclid Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 223-0393

Technorati Tags: Little Five Points, beer, beer bar, gastropub

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

Had brunch here last Sunday with my mom and sister. My sister booked priority seating on Open Table but did not really have a need to use it when we arrived at 1PM. The place was full but the tables were turning over so quickly. Incidentally, this is not a chain. This is part of Buckhead Life Restaurant Group (of Chops, Kyma, Nava, etc). It should not be confused with Corner Bakery Cafe which is a chain.

We started with mimosas and coffee. While the mimosas tasted of fresh orange juice, they came at room temperature. Not exactly how mimosas should be served, but, oh well.

I chose the Braised Short Rib Benedict which I have never had before. It came served on a toasted brioche with a poached egg drizzled with Bearnaise sauce and a side of thin green beans. I found this dish very rich and as much as I have a big appetite, I could not finish it despite all efforts. The pulled meat was just too heavy for the very thin piece of brioche and the Bearnaise sauce added more unnecessary richness to the dish. There was also too much meat for such a small piece of brioche — a half and a cup of shredded meat for a 4-inch square toast.

My sister had the Vegetarian Three-Egg Omelet made with egg whites. It was filled with broccoli, onions, peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, and cheddar cheese. It was okay. Nothing really jumped at me in terms of flavors. Besides, it’s really hard to mess up a veggie omelet to begin with. I did like the Italian toast that came with the dish although it was so thinly sliced that it fell apart on the first bite.

The oatmeal that came with our meals were also just okay. The texture was right but the consistency isn’t. Mine turned watery as soon as I added brown sugar. I love Murphy’s oatmeal and theirs can’t compare.

My mom wasn’t very happy with her Roasted Chicken Breast sandwich and I can understand why. The chicken meat was so dry that no amount of dijon mayo could save it. She did appreciate the fact that there were a good amount of chicken breast chunks in the sandwich. But… meh. Her vegetable soup wasn’t as bold and hearty as she would have wanted it to and I agree.

We shared a stack of pancakes. They were so chewy that we didn’t like them at all. We’ve had pancakes everywhere and we order them whenever they’re on the menu. Sad to say but fast food joints have better versions.

We weren’t really satisfied with our meal. To top it off, our server was not very attentive. We had to ask for every single thing — water refills, spoons for our soup or oatmeal, sweetener for coffee (which never came so I had to steal from the next table), extra plates (yes, we told her we were sharing the pancakes — did she expect us to eat off of one plate), maple syrup, clean silverware. A good server can make or break a great dining experience and ours definitely made our visit a mediocre one.

Corner Cafe isn’t really a favorite of ours. I liken it to an upscale Panera except Panera actually has better sandwiches. I do like the bakery here and the Italian loaves and baguettes are a must-buy.

Insider tip:
A plate of warm blueberry mini muffins are served at each table.

The scoop:
Corner Cafe & Buckhead Bread Co.
3070 Piedmont Rd,
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 240-1978

Technorati Tags: brunch, bakery, bread, Buckhead, Atlanta

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

Gasp — I spent close to $100 at Souper Jenny today. That’s for 2 lunches at $14 each (my sister loves this place), 2 tubs of soups to-go, a peach bread, and a personally-signed Jenny cookbook that set me back another $22. It’s to add to my ever-growing collection of never-opened, mostly autographed cookbooks.

My sister’s lunch

My plate

There were free cupcakes today (we ate 2 each) and a book signing for Jenny’s new cookbook. Lots of people. As always. And if you don’t already know, they have amazing soups, sandwiches, and salads. All freshly made each morning. With the best and freshest ingredients. You get two items with soda/water/ice tea for $12. Good deal.

The scoop:
Souper Jenny
56 E Andrews Dr NW
Atlanta, GA
30305-1316
Phone: (404) 239-9023

Technorati Tags: Souper Jenny, lunch, lunch deals, brunch, fresh daily, Buckhead, sandwiches, soup

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]