Chow Down Atlanta

Deep in the bowels of the BOA area between Cumming and Alpharetta lies a rustic-looking white house typical of old southern homes. Step inside and you’re bound to feast on real southern cooking. The Midway Meal House offers southern breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

Raring to eat breakfast, I was sorely disappointed to find out we missed it by 5 minutes. No concessions. Breakfast is served til 11am daily. Moping and ready to leave, a basket of bread appeared and being the bread person that I am, couldn’t resist and grabbed one immediately. The freshly baked biscuits were fluffy and milky. Enough reason for me to stay.

So I had to order lunch — grilled chops and two sides while my eating buddy had Chicken Livers. The grilled chops were tasty and well seasoned, albeit a little on the thin side. With too many sides to choose from, I settled for the fried okra and broccoli casserole. The fried okra were fried to perfection. While the casserole looked better than it tasted (think baby food consistency). I would have liked to see more solid bite-sized bits of brocolli.

The Chicken Livers were outstanding: lightly battered, well seasoned and perfectly fried. The mac-n-cheese was creamy and cheesy.

All in all, it was a good lunch. I can’t say I was floored, but enough to make me come back the next time I’m craving for a decent southern meal. Service is great and the kitchen is fast. Expect to wait on weekend mornings.

Insider tip:
Breakfast daily until 11:00AM. Repeat, 11:00AM.
Daily specials available.

The scoop:
Midway Meal House
5150 Atlanta Hwy.
Alpharetta, GA 30004
770-442-3738

Technorati Tags: Midway Meal House, Alpharetta, Cumming, Highway 9, southern food, meat + two, chicken livers

Tuesday is my favorite pasta day. It’s because Tuesday is lasagna day at VZ. It’s the only day they ever make lasagna. But more on that later. VZ is this amazing pizzeria place on 141/Peachtree Parkway in the Johns Creek area. Believe me when I say this place rocks! Everything is made to order so although you’ll have to wait a few minutes for your pizza, pizza knots, and garlic bread, it is so worth the wait. The side salads are big and so fresh you’d think the greens came straight from the garden. The strombollis are huge enough for two people to eat and can be ordered with any combination of ingredients. The 10-inch heros are baked crispy on the outside. I mean it, everything on the menu is good.

First, the pizza dough is made in-house, fresh and really just amazing — it has the right amount of chewiness, crispiness, and doughiness. The homemade pizza sauce is bold and tasty. And the toppings, fresh and plenty! One bite and you’ll be hooked.

Then, of course, there’s the lasagna. Huge portions of home-made-from-scratch lasagna. It is THE best lasagna this side of Italy. Seriously, I’ve been to Italy countless times and although the version of pasta there cannot be duplicated, VZ sure makes a worthy contender. The layers of al dente pasta sheets, meat, and sauce then generously topped with their chuncky tomato sauce make this lasagna so addicting. Unfortunately, it is only available on Tuesdays. But now you know where to find me on Tuesdays!

If you’ve never been at Verra Zanno, you owe to yourself to go and be wowed. Start with some garlic bread which comes with a side of marinara sauce for dipping. Follow with a side of salad. The pizza is a must try for your first visit. After that, which I guarantee you’ll be back, try the pastas, then the rolls/strombollis, and the heros. Of course, you have got to be there on Tuesdays!

Insider tip:
Lunch specials daily. New specials available (click here). Whole pizzas cost a little more than what you’re used to but the taste and quality will definitely make up for the price.

The scoop:
Verra Zanno
(678) 473-0209

11600 Medlock Bridge Road (AKA 141) Suite 190
Duluth, GA 30097

Technorati Tags: Verra Zanno, pizzeria, pizza, pasta, Johns Creek, 141 Peachtree Parkway

This place is packed to the rafters every time I go for lunch. Honestly, I don’t see what the hype is all about. So far, I love the grilled shrimp tacos with tender, huge shrimp. The enchiladas and burritos are just okay, not bad, but nothing to rave about either. The charros (beans in broth) are delicious. As well as the tamales which are only available on Fridays.

Let me put it this way, the food is fresh but I’m not going out of my way to go there. The few times that I’ve eaten there was always to meet someone who lives in the area. There are so many Mexican places in Atlanta that are just about as good or a lot better. But I do like the fact that there’s a more-than-decent Mexican restaurant in the Tucker area.Insider tip:
There are a number of specials served daily.

The scoop:
Tacqueria Los Hermanos
4418 Hugh Howell Road, Tucker, GA 30084
678 937 0660
Inside the Publix shopping plaza

Technorati Tags: Taqueria Los Hermanos, Mexican cuisine, tamales, tacos, enchiladas, burritos, Tucker, Hugh Howell Rd, Atlanta restaurants

Souper Jenny has one of the best lunch deals in town: $10 gets you a humongous bowl of soup, a side (choose sandwich, pasta, or salad), a seeded roll, a cookie, a fruit, and a drink. While $10 may seem a bit much for some folks, consider this — you get tasty, freshly made food daily using the freshest, healthy ingredients and the portions are substantial.

There are six kinds of soups daily (hot and cold), as well as two types of sandwiches (one of which is made with homemade pita bread), pasta, and salads. The soups are hearty and flavorful while the sandwiches are creative (think chicken salad with arugula, basil, and dried cherries).

The line outside starts a good 15 minutes before the place actually opens but fear not for it moves rather quickly. The place is cozy but rather cramped. Parking can be a pain during peak times.

Insider tip:
Menu changes daily. Call ahead to get the day’s menu.
Cash only.

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

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

Okay, I’m getting tired of walking into hip-looking places with mediocre food. Such classic example is Salsa Havana over at Howell Mill Rd. You walk into this nice looking place with brightly-painted walls showcasing local art for sale, cozy pleathered-booths, painted concrete floors, and you’re thinking, wow, the food must be as good as the look-and-feel of the place. Not. My first disappointment came in the form of a cheese dip that resembled what my 10-year old nephew would make at home — bland, store-bought cheese with way too much milk added to it. Add to that the teeth-shattering, almost-stale tortilla chips and you have one of the worst cheese dip-and-chips combo I’ve ever had.

But let’s not stop there. The chicken taco on a hard flour tortilla was quite dry that adding two kinds of grated cheeses on top did not help at all. The mushy, canned peas and carrots side made matters worse — over-cooked gray peas and carrots which was devoid of any flavor (trust me, my pro camera was that good to render the picture so appetizing, but in real life, it didn’t look edible at all). They should have used the frozen kind; at least, it would’ve been bright in color.

Saving graces: the roasted chicken was flavorful, moist, and tender, I give them that; but it was so ordinary tasting. It came with rice and black beans and I admit the black beans were quite good. Probably the only thing worth ordering is the fake boliche. I call it fake because boliche is sausage (chorizo) stuffed beef roast. Salsa’s version is a prime rib stew that was really flavorful with two chunks of prime rib: one was fork-tender and the other one was gnawingly-tough (what is it with this place?) It came with rice, black beans and yucca pieces.

The verdict: totally disappointing. Would I ever go back again — probably not — but if I did, I’d probably get the boliche again. Oh, and to top off one of my not-so-good lunches, the service was soooo slooooow. There were two servers (Howell Mill location) with 3 tables occupied (each with two people each) yet they took their time clearing dishes, refilling drinks, and bringing the check.

Insider tip:
Avoid peak times, else, you’d be in there forever.

The scoop:
Salsa Havana
Two locations (open daily from 11AM):
749 Moreland Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30316
(404) 624-3105

2020 Howell Mill Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
404.352.3101

Technorati Tags: Salsa Havana, Cuban cuisine, boliche, cheese dip, tortillas, Moreland Ave., Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta

I like going to Figo (and its sister Osteria del Figo) for its inexpensive yet good pasta dishes made with the freshest ingredients. I like it even more that they make everything from scratch, on site everyday. Including the pasta. And with the ability to mix and match items to suit your mood, what’s not to like?

The Caprese was deliciously fresh with red, ripe saladette tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella cheese and sprigs of basil. The pastas are all good — cooked al dente and drained well (read: not watery). My party of four had (left to right pictured above) Wild Mushrooms ravioli, Penne, Pappardelle, and Gemelli. The sauces we chose completed our selected pasta: Pollo on the ravioli, Siciliana on the Penne, Bolognese on both Pappardelle and Gemeli. While I found the Bolognese a little on the dry side (or maybe the Gemelli soaked it up before we were able to eat it), the other sauces were just perfect — hearty and really full of flavor.� The Crespelle we had for dessert was ordinary but how else can you jazz up crepes with nutella? I did like the home-made whipped cream.Expect long lines during peak hours and do try the daily Specials posted on the board. Make sure the pepper shaker they give you is visible as it serves as a table marker and helps with delivering the food to the right table.

Insider tip:
For ambiance, go to the Howell Mill location (Osteria del Figo) — it’s also bigger, too.

The scoop:
Figo Pasta
Four locations: Howell Mill, Decatur, L5P, Buckhead (with Virginia High coming soon)
Average cost of meal: $10

Technorati Tags: Figo Pasta, Osteria Del Figo, pasta, Italian food, daily Specials, Buckhead, Decatur, Howell Mill, Little Five Points

This place on Haynes Bridge Rd in Alpharetta has been open for five years and is operated by an all-Thai staff. It has been consistently popular among office workers around the area wanting a quick, delicious, inexpensive lunch. I came in around noon and no tables were available. In fact, there was a wait of about 10 minutes and people were lining up all the way out the door.
The simple menu consists of mainstream Thai food — mainly stir-fry and curries. There are a few notable items such as the chicken wings and the salads (Larb and the Spicy Sausage salads) but I’d forgo the soups (which I think don’t justify the $3 price tag given the small bowl you get).

The main entrees are very tasty with the right amount of spices and made with fresh ingredients. Lunch specials come with a tiny eggroll (literally, it takes two bites to finish it), and steamed or fried rice. Overall, I’ve always found their dishes to be quite yummy.

Insider tip:
Don’t let the lunch crowd scare you — the kitchen and service are lightning fast. The service is courteous and very efficient.

The scoop:
Thai Thai
11525 Haynes Bridge Rd. Suite 150, Alpharetta, GA 30004
(770) 777-1306
Lunch: M-F 11am-3pm
Dinner: 5-10pm

Technorati Tags: Thai, Thai food, Thai Thai, Alpharetta, Haynes Bridge Rd., lunch, dinner, lunch specials

From the outside, you’d think this place is just another strip mall food joint: the sign is ordinary and the outside looks like a fast food deli complete with menus posted on the glass walls. But since it was their opening week at the time, I was determined to give it a try. And boy, was I surprised. Inside was a lovely restaurant with shiny maroon concrete floors, muted golden walls, dark wooden tables and chairs, columns, and Grecian style decoration.

The menu is typical Greek — salads, pitas, roasted chicken… nothing fancy and not extensive either. But if you want a quick bite to eat and you’re already in the neighborhood, then this is the place to try. For starters, they give you a free plate of four different kinds of dips: cucumber-yogurt, chili, honey-mustard, and garlic-mayo; with pieces of grilled pocket pita on the side. I’m saying pocket pita here as opposed to the flat doughy pita

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