Chow Down Atlanta

If you want good shawarmas, then this is your place. The meat is juicy, not dried out like some places, the tahini sauce is spot on, and the veggie filling is fresh and tasty. The bread is also made in-house. In fact, they are a major distributor of Middle Eastern breads and baked goods here in the South. Shawarmas come in your choice of beef, chicken, and falafel. All are equally good.

If you’d rather prefer to eat you shawarma with a fork, then the plates are for you. Instead of having the filling assembled inside a pita bread, they are laid out on platters, served with a side of pita slices. They’re exactly the same as the shawarmas, just in a different presentation.

The Lamb Kabob platter, which I didn’t see on the menu, but highly recommended by the owner, was quite delicious. The lamb was well seasoned and perfectly grilled. It came with yellow rice, baba ghanoush, hummus, and couscous.

The Baba Ghanoush is mild tasting but good, nonetheless. There is no overpowering garlic taste which allows you to taste the eggplant even more. The consistency is quite good, too, creamy but with enough texture. The Grape Leaves are a little too tart for my taste but they’re plump and fresh. Six pieces will set you back a mere $2.99.

Assorted pastries are made in the bakery in the back and include the usual baklava, harsah, and wabat, as well as muffins, danishes, and croissants. If Middle Eastern fare isn’t what you have a taste for, fear not as they have pizzas, strombolis, and calzones.

Insider tip:
Open daily from 7am to 9pm.
Only the Alpharetta location has a deli.

The scoop:
Jerusalem Bakery (Alpharetta)
4150 Old Milton PKWY
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 777-0193

585 Franklin Road
Suite 160
Marietta, GA 30067
770-419-1666

Technorati Tags: Middle Eastern, shawarma, Turkish food, ethnic grocery, Alpharetta

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

I love Korean food. In fact, my obvious passion for this cuisine hadn’t gone unnoticed and, thus, I’ve been declared an honorary Korean by none other than Mr. E-D-Man himself. Thank you. I am honored.

This is the third reincarnation of this building. It was first a Japanese restaurant complete with a sushi train and color-coded plates. Cool concept but it didn’t fly. Next, it became a Korean restaurant. High on prices but low on taste. And now, Jang Su Jang. I’ve been to this place for lunch two times. The last time was with the lovely Blissful which was also her second time.

I liked the boiled pork belly. The taste of the meat itself is simple but the kimchi and radish slices it came with made it very interesting. There were also a lot of meat in one serving that it’s really good for two people.

The Dahk galbi (chicken barbecue) was just okay. Although it was flavorful, it was nothing but a Korean version of chicken teriyaki. A good choice for the unadventurous.

The beef noodle soup was awful. It was bland, thin, and watery. It did have a little bit of spiciness, but that’s about all there was to it. I wouldn’t order this again.

The bulgogi was so-so. Flavorful, but lacking in oomph. Tasted boiled, too.

So far, the only good thing on the menu are the dumplings. Oh, are they heavenly. The wrapper is soft, perfectly cooked. The meat inside is tasty. Great as is, but fantastic with the dipping sauce. There are two kinds on the menu, regular and King dumplings. The word King has nothing to do with the size. There is a difference between the two but I just can’t remember what it is for the life of me.

Verdict: I’m disappointed with their food. But I would come back for the dumplings alone. That, and the banchan.

The scoop:
Jang Su Jang
3645 Satellite Blvd
Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 475-9170

Technorati Tags: Jang Su Jang, Korean cuisine, dumplings, Duluth, Gwinnett

I do a good amount of driving from OTP to go to Star Provisions and H&F weekly for my bread addiction. Specifically, I go for my weekly ration of baguettes. I went to Parish Foods & Goods last week to have lunch and saw their baked goods very tempting. But first, lunch.

I looked around to see what everybody was eating before settling on the Fried Green Tomato BLT. First of all, it was huge. Really huge. A good value at $7.50. There were crisp fried green tomatoes with just a light dusting of batter, 4 substantial slices of thick bacon, fresh red tomato slices and lettuce, in a spicy remoulade. Lots of different textures. It was delicious and very filling. My only complaint is that they could have used slightly thicker slices of bread. The bread, which were grilled to perfection, simply couldn’t hold up to all the filling and disintegrated in my hands. Shame. It was good bread, too.

Of course, I couldn’t leave without grabbing some baked goodies. Got a couple of baguettes that were very hard and tasteless. Despite rejuvenating them in the oven. To the trash they all went. The chocolate tea bread was a bit dry but very chocolatey in taste which I like. I just can’t get past the dryness. The banana-nut and blueberry muffins were bursting with flavor and fabulously moist and dense just the way I like them. Will remember to get more next time.

There are a lot of interesting items on the menu that I’d like to try in future visits. Yes, I’ll be back. But not for the baked goods.

Insider tip:
They have to-go meals for 4 people that can be picked up daily.
Sandwiches range from $6-10. Dinner entrees range from $12-24.

The scoop:
Parish Foods & Goods
240 N Highland Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 681-4434

Technorati Tags: Parish Foods & Goods, Inman Park, Atlanta, bakery, New Orleans cuisine

I’ve been to V1 BBQ more than six times since it opened in August including a Saturday night when there was a 20-minute wait for a table. Although no one beats Hongkong BBQ when it comes to roast meats, V1 is a great contender and a much cleaner place. I actually went to Hongkong BBQ for a late lunch today and further realized no one can trump their roast pork. But I love V1 and have become friends with the staff who give warm and friendly service.

Hainanese Chicken is my favorite Cantonese chicken dish. It’s the national dish of Singapore which they have adopted from the Chinese. I’ve had Hainanese chicken in hundreds of places; all over Singapore, Hongkong, and China. I’ve had it in Chinatowns in NYC, Toronto, San Francisco, and here. V1 has the best Hainanese Chicken outside of Asia. Simply put, their Hainanese chicken is superb — it’s clean: the chicken doesn’t smell fishy, it is steamed perfectly (cooked all the way through), it is not fatty, and there are no traces of dried blood inside. It is seasoned all the way to the bone so each bite is as fantastic as the last. It is so flavorful, succulent, tender, and juicy. I love it.

The roast pork, roast pig, and roast duck are all also good but, like I said, Hongkong BBQ still has the best. Not even Ming’s BBQ can come close to Hongkong BBQ. The roast pork here at V1 just doesn’t have the requisite texture and crunch. Theirs is a little on the soft side.

Possibly the best Malaysian dish on the menu, the Homemade Noodle soup is fantastic and definitely a must-try. It’s a soup made with tasty chicken broth added with fat, chewy house-made noodles, pieces of Chinese broccoli, ground beef, then topped with crispy fried small fish. It is comforting and plain delicious. This is one of my favorites here.

I recommend sticking with V1’s Cantonese dishes. Their Malaysian dishes seem novice. These dishes are usually bland and the sauces are thin. Despite that, I do think they make great roti canai pancake. The pancake is flaky yet so chewy inside. But curry dipping sauce just doesn’t have that simmered-for-hours taste and is on the thin side. The bubble teas aren’t as good as other places either and they don’t put as much tapioca.

V1 is a must-try for their Cantonese dishes and competitive roast meats. The place is spotless and doesn’t give off a cheap Asian fast-food joint.

Insider tip:
Rice plates with two or three roast meats are a great sampler.

The scoop:
3940 Buford Hwy NW
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 623-1896

Technorati Tags: V1 BBQ, roast pork, roast duck, roast pig, roti canai, Cantonese cuisine, Malaysian cuisine, bubble tea, Duluth

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]

I’m going to hurt all Cafe 101 fans by saying this place is so overrated.  I have spent most of of my life eating authentic Chinese food in China and Asia.  I grew up eating real Chinese food — spending summers and extended vacations in their part of the world.  Therefore, my standard definitely isn’t the Americanized version (read: dumbed-down).  Having said that, I wouldn’t go out of my way just to eat here and get food that is, at best, 2 notches above Panda Express.  Don’t get me wrong, though, most people are okay with westernized Chinese food — it’s suited for their palates and it’s what they are used to. Nothing wrong with that.

When it first opened, I really liked their Dan Dan Noodles — thick, chewy noodles doused with a hoisin-peanut sauce and topped with steamed watercress.  It was fantastic. Was, being an operative word here.  These days, Dan Dan Noodles have evolved to a super salty sticky mess.  Four times in a row (and all within 2 months), I’ve had to leave the noodles untouched, or worse, throw them in the trash when I got it to-go.

The shredded beef and Chinese celery is pretty decent in the Panda Express-kind of way which is nothing out of the ordinary. The celery outnumbered the beef 12-to-1 so all you taste is celery. The beef, however, was tender. For lunch, you get a cup of hot and sour soup and their version is on the watery/bland side. The Salt and Pepper Pork Chops is a decent choice. You get strips of deep-fried pork laced with jalapeño peppers. Last complaint, they really need to do something with their steamed rice. I know the price of rice has tripled in the last couple of months but it’s still no reason to serve 3rd-class brownish rice.

Bottom line, the decor is better than the food. If you want authentic Szechuan cuisine, don’t waste your time here, head on over to Sichuan House instead.

More pictures here.

Insider tip:
Located in the round building (that used to be Tofu House) along Buford Highway just inside 285.
The pickled radish is fantastic.

The scoop:
Cafe 101
5412 Buford Hwy NE
Doraville, GA 30340
(770) 458-8883

Technorati Tags: Cafe 101, Szechuan cuisine, Chinese cuisine, Buford Highway

Casa Vieja has been my long time go-to place for my pork-grease fixes. Like most places on Buford Hwy, it has a cult following of office lunch crowd; although their main business comes from fellow Colombians who tend to linger over a leisurely meal.

Case Vieja’s homey and colorful ambiance attempt to imitate its homeland. Scenes from everyday life are depicted in every corner with murals that resemble a studio backdrop. It’s enough to get you in the mood and think you’re eating in a far away place. Add to that a staff that is warm, efficient, and forgiving of a gringo’s lack of familiarity with the Spanish language and you’d really feel like you’ve been transported back.

If you want to get a taste of a typical Colombian cuisine, I highly recommend the Bandeja Paisa, a typical dish from the northwest region. I call it “everything including the kitchen sink“. A steal at $8.50, this one includes just about everything: a grilled skirt steak, fried pork rind, a fried egg, beans, rice, fried plantains, a slice of avocado, and an arepa. It’s an overwhelming sight. But delicious, nonetheless, as I have never found any problems finishing the entire order — of course, I’ve always been a big eater, despite my size. The flavorful steak is pounded flat then grilled. Its simplicity complemented by a good dousing of the fantastic cilantro-vinaigrette sauce (Colombia’s answer to ketchup). The fried pork belly (chicharron) with the rind included is my absolute favorite. It is perfectly cooked to a crisp golden brown. Think of it as a glorified fried pork chop. It’s finger-lickin’ good! The rice and beans are also notches above the usual. Theirs are house made. And tasty. The plantains are sweet and balances the entire dish. The arepa, sadly, is forgettable. It’s chalky and hard. I’ve been eating arepas forever, compliments of family friends who make arepas from scratch and literally hand-carry them on their flight to Atlanta everytime they return from a visit to Bogota. In fact, their cheese-filled arepas are to die for. But I digress.

The Pechuga De Pollo or grilled chicken plate is another solid choice. The flat chicken breast is flavorful and grilled perfectly. It comes with a side salad, rice, and fried sweet plantains.

For something lighter, the steak tacos are a perfect choice. An order gets you 3 corn tacos filled with thick chunks of steak topped with cilantro and onions. It’s the best value on the menu at $4.50 per order which has the same amount of steak as the plates. Not on the menu, the big bowl of steaming chicken rice soup is a great starter. Although be warned that this isn’t the chicken soup you’re probably accustomed to. Theirs has curry, which adds a big punch to an otherwise common fare. I’m not very fond of their empanada as I’ve always loved Cuban empanadas. Casa Vieja’s empanadas are filled with chicken curry stew which is good; just not my favorite type.

For great Colombian food, Casa Vieja is the answer. The food is good, the place is clean, and the service is efficient and friendly.

Insider tip:
Be warned, as servings are huge. Service is good but the kitchen can get slammed during peak lunch hours when a wait on food is normal. Try the fresh fruit shakes — they’re very good and refreshing.

The scoop:
Casa Vieja
3652 Shallowford Rd NE # D
Doraville, GA 30340
(770) 454-8557
Open daily from 11am to 9pm. Call ahead to be sure.
If you’re familiar with Asian Square on Buford Highway, Casa Vieja is directly behind it on Shallowford Rd.

Technorati Tags: Casa Vieja, Buford Hwy, Shallowford Rd, Colombian cuisine, Bandeja Paisa, arepa, chicharron, pandebono

My mom is a creature of habit and one habit she hasn’t kicked is Murphy’s. We’ve been going to Murphy’s regularly since I was a teenager but despite of that, I, too, have not gotten tired of their food. Located in the hip neighborhood of Virginia Highland, Murphy’s has been consistently good with their food and service for 25 years. Current chef Gregg McCarthy churns out favorites such as the grilled smoked double-cut porkchops (available during brunch and at other times by request), or the rainbow trout which still keep attracting diners.

I’ve tried almost every item on the menu at Murphy’s and though I have my favorites (and not-so-favorites), I can honestly say you can’t go wrong with any items. My top recommendations include: Grilled Porkchops (very juicy, very flavorful), Crispy Beef Shank (seasonal; bold and heavenly), Shrimp and Grits (light but packed with flavor), and the North Georgia Trout (clean, refined taste). For brunch, try the Corned Beef Hash (the mustard gives it a kick) and Eggs Virginia Highland (an exciting veggie option).

More pictures on my Flickr account here.

The desserts are also all good but opt for the seasonal items. A week ago, they had this amazing Carrot cake that was so moist. It was insanely good!

Post Script: As I’m writing this, my mom calls and asks me to have lunch at Murphy’s today. She is addicted

Insider tip:

Avoid peak hours at all cost as waiting times can be as long as 2 hours. Your best bet is to come on a Sunday evening. Valet parking available.

The Scoop:
Murphy’s
997 Virginia Avenue NE, Atlanta GA 30306
404.872.0904
Very limited free parking. Valet only available during dinner. Pay parking nearby.
Hours: Monday - Thursday: 11:00am –10:00pm
Friday: 11:00am –midnight
Saturday: 8:00am –11:00pm Brunch served 8:00am�4:00pm
Sunday: 8:00am –10:00pm Brunch served 8:00am�4:00pm

Technorati Tags: Murphy’s, Concentrics Restaurant group, Va-Hi, brunch, Gregg McCarthy, porkchops, beef shank, Atlanta

Had lunch with my best friend over at Gordon Biersch in Midtown today. It was my first time and I was really impressed with the decor and ambiance.

I loved the high ceilings and the upper mezzanine where they have a private banquet room, a billiard room, and a bar. Lots of warm wood contrasted with cold steel with light colored walls to balance it all. I really like it. Sadly, no amount of ambiance or decor can salvage the disappointment I had with my food.

I asked our server how the Meatloaf Sandwich was and he said it was, “really, really good”. It was also the lunch special so I went ahead with it. What came before me was two unappealing, very-dry looking squares of grilled meat on a bed of shredded lettuce and a slice of tomato in a big dried-out bun. All I can say is that the taste was as bad as it looked — bland, bland, bland — and no amount of ketchup can save this sandwich.

Okay, so I probably ordered wrong because my friend’s Chicken Caesar pizza was quite tasty. It had chunks of tender chicken, crisp lettuce, and gooey cheese; and the crust was chewy and doughy. It was also big for a lunch portion, although, my friend, being a guy, had no trouble finishing it. Overall, it was flavorful and I wouldn’t mind ordering it next time.Verdict

I wouldn’t mind coming back to try a few other things from their extensive menu. The problem with micro breweries is that they usually would rather let their food take a back seat to their brews.

Insider tip:
Attentive service but the kitchen is very slow. Valet and self parking available. Located on Peachtree and 6th.

The scoop:
Gordon Biersch
848 Peachtree Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: 404-870-0805
Fax: 404-870-0806

Hours:
Sun-Thurs: 11:30 AM - 12:30 AM
Fri-Sat: 11:30 AM - 2:00 AM

Technorati Tags: Gordon Biersch, micro brewery, Midtown, Atlanta, Peachtree St., 6th Street, meatloaf sandwich, chicken caesar pizza