The newest happening place in midtown, Top Flr wowed CDA with its great atmosphere, inventive food, and mind-blowing desserts. Opened barely three weeks, Top Flr has been attracting a steady clientele: families, GenXers, and your typical Midtown hip crowd. Located on Myrtle off Ponce, it’s right smack in the middle of a residential neighborhood. No matter, it fits right in.
The scene
True to its name, we sauntered upstairs to the top floor where the dining area is located (the bar sits appropriately on the main floor). The dining area is cozy with black walls on the far side, white on the other, and this amazing wall paper on another. The tables and chairs are nondescript, as well as the entire decor (which, in my opinion, is good as it’s always better to focus on food), save for one side of the room where comfy, decorative yet functional pillows rest on a long bench.
The food
For starters, I had the Mussels in Coconut Lime Soy Broth. First bite and I literally got swept off my feet. It was heavenly. Think succulent mussels steamed in a Thai broth of coconut milk with a hint of lime and soy. Utterly comforting. I would have loved to have a side of crusty French bread or pomme frites to sop up all the sauce but who cares, it was simply fantastic. My sister had the White Bean Hummus served with grilled flat bread, olives, and chili oil. The olives complemented the hummus’ smoothness which had a well-balanced flavor, devoid of the usual tartiness that comes with most hummus; while the chili oil gave it a nice kick.
There were two kinds of salads on the menu and we both decided to try them: Frisee, Watercress, Asian Pear, Walnut, Gorgonzola salad in Champagne Mint Vinaigrette dressing, and the Mixed Greens, Figs, Chevre, Pistachio in Honey Lavender Dressing. Both salad were superb. The sweetness of the grilled, paper-thin Asian pears on the watercress salad off-set the acidity of the Champagne dressing while the toasted walnuts and gorgonzola added texture. The mixed greens salad with figs and pistachio created an explosion of flavors and textures with the dressing bringing it all together.
For the main course, I had the Grilled Hangar Steak and my sister had the Roasted Ginger Crusted Tofu. Both were exceptional. My steak was substantial, maybe 8 ounces, in a bold-tasting shallot demi-glaze. The tofu was perfectly crunchy on the outside yet warm and soft on the inside. The pomegranate-miso dressing neutralized the steamed spinach but intensified the tofu. For the sides, the Jasmine Rice was to-die-for. Resembling risotto, it was steamed in a creamy coconut milk-base and peppered with edamame. The house-made gnocchi was equally good — with cherry tomatoes and greens then topped with grated cheese. The Beets, Chevre, and Arugula side was extraordinary: delicious and inventive. I loved the sweetness of the beets with the saltiness of the cheese, while the arugula provided crunch and punch. (Side note: with all the items we ordered — yes, we can eat our weight in food — there was a bit of confusion as the servers trying to deliver our food were looking for a table of four and was surprised to see little ‘ol us!)
With all the food we’ve eaten so far (unsurprisingly, we finished everything), one would think there would be no room for dessert. But, aah, the dessert was what we really came for — Chef de Patisserie Taria is nothing but a genius. Her chocolate creations are out-of-this-world: all organic and no sugar. Top Flr’s two-part dessert menu includes a listing of imaginative truffles and creative concoctions. All chocolate. Among the $3-apiece truffles we tried were the El Rey Milk Chocolate Caramel topped with Hawaiian black lava salt and the Callebaut Milk Chocolate infused with Genmaicha rolled in candied brown rice with Matcha green tea. Both were delectable; blended with well-thought of ingredients.As if the truffles were not enough to send you to pure chocolate ecstasy, Chef Taria does more by offering her Late Night Chocolate features. The Valrhona White Chocolate and Basil Pots de Creme served in a demitasse cup and topped with a sugared basil was so magnificent that the only thing keeping me from licking the cup clean was the watchful eye of our attentive server. My sister’s Raspberry Mud Cake with Bittersweet Sorbet and Peppered Strawberries was so unbelievably delectable with the cake so moist, the sorbet so light yet chocolaty, and with the peppered strawberries adding contrast.
The verdict
Service was still a little spotty at times though I foresee an improvement as soon as the nervousness dies down. Top Flr is not just another trendy hangout. It offers an innovative menu and skillfully-executed and delicious food at exceptional prices. This is one of my fave spots in Atlanta.
Insider tip
- **No longer open for lunch as of August 25. See new hours below.
- Plenty of street parking.
- Wine by the glass comes close to 9 ounces.
- Also, be warned as food portions are huge.
- Price average: appetizers $8, salads $8, sides $5, and mains $11
The scoop:
Top Flr
674 Myrtle St., Atlanta, GA 30345
Telephone: 404-685-3110
Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday 4:30pm-1:30 am (kitchen closes at 1)
Friday-Sat 4:30pm-2:30 am (kitchen closes at 2)
Sun 4:30 pm-12:30 am (kitchen closes at 12)
Technorati Tags: Top Flr, Midtown, Asian cuisine, Bar, Dinner, Lunch, Chocolate Dessert
