Chow Down Atlanta

My sister and I went opening week for a quick lunch and fell in love with the food. There are so many amazing restaurants in Decatur and this is one of my many favorites.

The one thing you should not miss here is the agnolotti. The house-made pasta tossed with oyster mushrooms and roasted sweet corn kernels in a corn milk broth then topped with tarragon and a dollop of goat cheese is pure genius. A big order for $14 gets you 6 pieces of agnolotti and is big enough for sharing when you get other items, while the $8 smaller order with 4 pieces is good enough as a solo appetizer.

The other thing you should get is the meatballs. You can either get it as topping on a toast or as a sandwich during lunch service. Oooh, the meatballs are fantastic. They aren’t packed tight so they’re so juicy and tender. They’re made with a delicious San Marzano tomato sauce that has the right consistency — not too soupy, not too dry. Sandwich plates come with garlic fries or a small rocket salad.

The chicken paillard sandwich comes with crispy chicken pieces that are battered perfectly and fried golden. They are very tasty and juicy. The rocket leaves topping in a lemony dressing makes it a grown-up sandwich, although some simple lettuce and tomato will do, as well.

Want something sweet after your meal? You’d love their zeppole. I mean, fried dough then drizzled with espresso ganache, what’s not to like? The picture above was taken during Taste of Atlanta 2011 over this past weekend. Those were topped with a nutella chocolate sauce. Mmm.

Everything here is good. The carbonara, roasted chicken, and pan-roasted grouper are all delicious choices. You can’t go wrong with anything from the menu. If you haven’t been, go now!

No. 246
129 E. Ponce de Leon Map
Decatur, GA 30030
(678) 399-8246

Lunch Everyday 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Dinner
Monday to Thursday 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Friday and Saturday 5:00 – 11:00 pm
Sunday 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Technorati Tags: Decatur, Ford Fry, Drew Belline, Italian, tidal

The much awaited return (to cooking) of David Sweeney has finally come. Today was his first day taking helm during lunch hours at Cakes&Ale Bakery. The menu is small, typical of a bakery lunch, but each dish is well-thought of, in true David Sweeney fashion, that is. Chef David is brilliant with veggies and even the non-believer non-veggie eater that I am has become a big fan.

The roasted corn soup was delicious. It was creamy yet not milky. It went down smooth and warmed your entire body. I love the texture of the coarsely puréed soup that has nutty flavors from the pumpkin seeds.

The slivers of Appenzeller cheese on a grilled baguette was delightful. The butter and pepper jelly lending a tiny bit of heat and sweet to balance the flavor of the cheese.

I really liked the smoked trout on brioche. It was similar to a seafood salad except a thousand times better. There were a lot of flaked trout meat that were bound together by the tiniest amount of mayo, just enough to hold them together. The horseradish cream , watercress and cucumbers gave this sandwich a creamy, herby taste and the necessary crunch. The dense and buttery brioche was a perfect partner. Smallish (the size of a slightly bigger slider) at $5 but the quality and taste were all worth the price tag.

But the scene-stealer (as I was told) was the big salad plate. It was ordered for the table, I had two bites, and no, I didn’t take a picture. I have to admit that I really liked it. It had lettuce, fresh corn salad, potato salad, cucumber salad, tomato-basil salad, and avocado slices. It was so refreshing, believe it or not.

Overall, an amazing spot for lunch. Expect to spend a minimum of $10, a lot more if you’re a big eater like me. My total bill for soup, two sandwiches, and a soda was $18 before tip. A little pricey for lunch but really, really worth it. So what are you waiting for? Go!

Bakery at Cakes & Ale
151 Sycamore St
Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 377-7960

Technorati Tags: Decatur, tidal, David Sweeney, lunch, bakery, bread

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

Sun in my belly means happy. Magic. I’m constantly inspired to come here by two of my good friends, the Asian Cajuns, who are doubly happy and who constantly rave about this place. You see, they come here a lot! Mind you, for those uninitiated, it’s quite difficult to find the place. No huge signs. No bells and whistles. Just an old, red J. A. Bailey & Sons Hardware letters on the front. It’s very easy to miss, actually.

But what’s not to love? The place is cozy. And hipster. A mish-mash of furniture, old cookbooks on the shelves, comfy couches. Quirky murals. Mason jars. Brown paper table lines. Hipsters. Oh, and the food.

You must, must have the Kirkwood. Soft scrambled eggs: not, I repeat, not the overdone, over-dry ones you see elsewhere — kinda like the difference between over-easy and fried eggs. The large, soft, creamy curds make your mouth happy. Infused with herbed boursin cheese. It’s subtly herby and cheesy and eggy. The honey-glazed bacon will rock your socks off. It’s slightly spicy. Sweetish. And addictive. Yeah, you’ve been warned.

The Challah French Toast? Wow. Delicious. Gigantic. A thick piece of challah filled with creamy, honeyed ricotta and piled with fresh, brown sugar-glazed berries. And a side of real maple syrup. It was the perfect dessert. It was divine.

Mmm. Happy. Sun in my belly.

Did you know? More love here, here, here, here, and here.

Sun In My Belly
2161 College Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30317
(404) 370-1088

Technorati Tags: breakfast, brunch, Decatur, Kirkwood

My mom found this place on her own last month and she’s been back every week. With us in tow. This neighborhood bar is a collaboration among well-known folks. It’s a cozy place with great, inexpensive food, and a semi-extensive beer menu to boot.

Beef Brisket with Saffron Risotto. A must try. The fork-tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef has a sweetish glaze. The risotto is to-die-for: creamy, perfect texture, saffrony taste. The red pepper sauce is a little rich which works perfectly with the beef and risotto.

Spicy Spaghetti. My mom’s favorite. Lots of tender seafood atop al dente pasta in a spicy red pepper sauce. Delicious.

Braised Beef Napoleon. Tender, pulled beef brisket atop ciabatta bread. Housemade savory steak sauce. Crispy fried onion strings. This isn’t your typical sandwich. It was so good.

Fish ‘n Chips. Two large pieces (or more) of beer battered cod. The fish is so clean tasting. Oh, and the seasoned fries are amazing.

Korean Short Rib Taco. Meh. There isn’t anything Korean about this. It is cloyingly sweet. Stick with the sandwiches and entrees instead.

Overall, a great addition to the neighborhood. Large portions, inexpensive food (entrees average $13), great ambiance, and fantastic service.

Napoleon’s Grill
2836 La Vista Rd
Decatur, GA 30033
(404) 321-5000

Technorati Tags: American, Gastropub, Decatur