Chow Down Atlanta

I was cajoled by my sister to have a very late lunch here. It was 15 minutes til closing when we came in but we made sure (called ahead) and asked again upon arrival if it was still okay to come in. I’ll leave the pedigree details to all the other reviewers here, here, and here. Great pictures from Ironman Jimmy are here. Let me just tell you about the food.

We started with the Pork Rilette. It was creamy yet still had shreds of meat to render enough texture. It was topped with sweet wheatberries and cucumbers. It was so good I could have eaten it straight from the jar.

My sister’s Pan Roasted Carolina Trout was so fresh and clean tasting and the side of collard greens really rocked.

My Grilled Pork Chop was so fantastic I’m still dreaming of it up to now. It was succulent and so perfectly seasoned. It was topped with a small piece of cider-glazed apple to provide a slight sweetness but not too much to take away from the pure flavor of the pork.  As a friend would say, “It’s crazy good.”  The slightly stir-fried radishes in brown butter vinaigrette was an interesting concept on paper but was amazing in the mouth.  Crisp, buttery, earthy.  It works.  The rice-a-roniesque rice (both in taste and texture) with field peas was the only thing that was weak.

My sister also had the chocolate pudding topped with Chantilly cream. She liked it.

Despite having arrived so late, we were never rushed. Lunch (and table service) is until 3PM, we left past 4. Service was so hospitable and the place was so cozy we wanted to stay and hang out the entire afternoon. Actually, they would have let us. Can’t wait to go back.

Empire State South
999 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 541-1105

Technorati Tags: Midtown, Southern

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

This is my current favorite burger: buttery, soft bun, tender, juicy, tasty patties, gooey cheese — *swoon*. Paired with perfect fries.

This roasted poblano-bacon-fried green tomatoes-pimiento cheese sandwich is a great contender. And the accompanying tomato bisque is fantastic. Go ahead, dip your sandwich in it. Thank me later.

P.S. You know you have absolutely the worst server in the state of Georgia when you have to constantly ask other servers to find yours and then close-out your own check. Lame. And to think she only has one other table in a restaurant that’s 30% full. Yes, bad server, you know who you are. We will remember you. Always.

Credits:
Brattiness by the sister
Lighting by Sean.

Bocado
887 Howell Mill Road
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 704-5850

Technorati Tags: burgers, Midtown, sandwiches

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