Chow Down Atlanta

You just have to love this cute doughnut shop. It reminds me so much of San Francisco: from the concept, down to the store colors. Even the mascot is super cute.

Doughnuts are made in-house by hand daily using nothing but top notch ingredients — Valrhona, Tahitian, Canadian — are just some of the catch words thrown around at this place. Proprietors Arpana and Martin (both of whom are professionally-trained chefs), are both veterans in the restaurant industry, with stints at Mesa Grill and Craft, to name a few. I came in one morning, a week after they opened and saw Chef Martin busy making the dough for the following day. I love the bakery smell that permeates the place which is just pleasantly intoxicating.

There are about 20 types of doughnuts in any given day including the regulars, and a few specials that change daily. The doughnuts here are yeasty, dense, and resemble bread more than pastry. They are thicker in size, yet soft, with an inside that is airy and springs back up after each bite. They are good. But in a yeasty, bready kind of way. I like it that they are not cloyingly sweet either.

Insider tip:
Check website for daily flavors.

The scoop:
Dutch Monkey Doughnuts
3075 Ronald Reagan Blvd Suite 502
Cumming, GA 30041
(404) 432-5130

Technorati Tags: doughnuts, Cumming

My mom and I had lunch at J. Alexander’s about two weeks ago and she was totally disappointed. I’ve been to this place a total of four times and I’ve been disappointed all those times except for my first visit which was maybe 3 years ago when I had their famous prime rib. This Nashville-based restaurant reminds me so much of Houston’s. They pretty much have the same look and feel. But it stops there. Food-wise, I prefer Houston’s where food is consistently good.

We started off with the seafood gumbo. It had a nice, bold broth, a good amount of seafood, and not a whole lot of rice. It also had just enough heat that you can feel it in your tongue but not enough to make you sweat. Overall a good soup.

I chose the Special Of The Day which was a grilled sea bass topped with a lime-pesto sauce and mango salsa. The fish, pesto sauce, and salsa all tasted fresh but I got tired of the taste of this dish after a few bites. It’s like when a dessert is so rich that you can’t eat it after a few bites. That’s how I felt about it. The couscous pasta provided to temper the dish and mellow it out, but on its own, it was saltish and dry. It must have been the very sweet, syrupy salsa that ruined this dish. Disappointing, nevertheless.

My mom had the Grilled Pork Loin with Bang Bang Sauce which is nothing but barbecue sauce. This dish was so bad we both couldn’t swallow the first bite and literally had to throw it out in a napkin. The pork tasted boiled and the sauce was a pathetic excuse for a Thai barbecue sauce. They really need to remove this from the menu.

For me, the execution of the dishes here just falls short. In an attempt at inventiveness, the combination of ingredients on a dish just doesn’t make sense — a combination of syrupy sweet with salty doesn’t always make a good combination. I’d rather spend my money on Houston’s any day.

Insider tip:
Right next door to The Forum Shops.

The scoop:
J. Alexander’s
5245 Peachtree Pkwy
Norcross, GA 30092
(770) 263-9755

Technorati Tags: J Alexander’s, American-Asian cuisine, fusion, steaks

My family used to go to Ted’s a lot when it first opened.  Until the novelty wore off.  Then we totally forgot about it for a couple of years.  We visited again three times in the last two months.  Most everything is still the same, except for a miss or two.

First the hits.  The Bison burger is really fresh and very good depending on the location.  The one in Norcross (at The Forum) and the one in Midtown both make consistently great burgers:  the ground meat is seasoned very, very  lightly before grilling, just enough so that the real bison flavor gets to stand out.  I also like that my burgers always come out at the perfect temperature. The one in Cumming (The Avenue), unfortunately, makes theirs bland. And they tend to overcook their burgers.

The Bison Chili is fantastic.  Always. It is meaty and flavorful and only has a few beans in them. I don’t like beany chili — I’ve had some where there are more beans than ground meat. The chili here is really so good. There are big clumps of ground meat despite having been simmered for hours. Partner this with their heavenly fresh baked rolls and it’s already a meal in itself.

The Bison Meatloaf is also very good. But I’ve gotten one or two orders at different places that were dry. This meatloaf tastes just like beef meatloaf so for those who are apprehensive in trying bison, this is a great way to initiate yourself. I really love bison meat because it tastes great — it’s not gamey at all and it actually tastes much like beef. No to mention it is leaner and contains less calories and cholesterol than beef or chicken.

The Pot Roast lately, has been watery most times especially at the Cumming location. However, when you do get a good one, it is fork-tender and the sauce is smooth and flavorful. It is available on Saturdays and one day during the week.

If ever you get a craving for a bison burger or just want a light lunch of bison chili, head on over to Ted’s on Midtown or Norcross. They make it good. All the time.

Insider tip:
You must leave room for the Malted Chocolate Milkshake made with Haagen-Dazs ice-cream.

The scoop:
Ted’s Montana Grill
For locations, click here.

Technorati Tags: Ted’s Montana Grill, bison burger, bison chili, bison potroast, Midtown, Norcross

First things first: tapas literally mean appetizers which originated from Spain. Because they’re appetizers, you get cute little plates of dishes which are designed to be shared and are usually eaten while consuming alcoholic beverages. In any case, Blue Grotto attempts to bring the tapas experience to diners opting for a lighter, yet filling fare.

The inviting interior complete with comfy couches, netting, and subdued funky lighting is enough to make you feel at home and linger. Coupled with really great service, you’re bound to have a good experience. However, my girlfriends and I must have come (Sandy Springs location) on an off day as all the tapas we ordered weren’t nearly half as good as previous reviews have been.

The Fried Calamari was very disappointing. All I could taste was oil and breading. They should have just called this Fried Flour Rings. The Chicken Satay was just okay and I fault the chef for attempting to make a Thai dish that he’s probably not familiar with. Next, the Grilled Shrimp with grits was just so-so; nothing fantastic although the shrimp was fresh. I found the hummus to be more on the dry side; and the Spicy Spinach and Artichoke dip tasted store-brought. The Paella didn’t really make an impact either, as I found it bland and forgettable overall.My verdict: Blue Grotto is the type of place you’d go to with lots of friends because then, your mind will be occupied with interesting conversations rather than focusing on the mediocre food.

Insider tip:
Open for lunch Mondays to Fridays

The scoop:
Blue Grotto Tapas Bistro
Two locations:
Sandy Spring Location
220 Sandy Springs Circle Suite 205
Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: 678.705.6688Johns Creek Location
3495 Peachtree Parkway
Suwanee, GA 30021
Phone: 770-888-9986

Technorati Tags: Blue Grotto, tapas, appetizers, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek

Trinidadian family owned and operated, this island fare restaurant opened late 2004 and has created a permanent imprint in the Atlanta dining scene. Borne out of frustration for lack of (decent) Caribbean restaurants in Atlanta, the Lawrence family decided to take matters into their own hands and opened a charming restaurant on Medlock Bridge Rd inside the Regal Cinema plaza. The result is a labor of love. Mom (as I have fondly called her) prepares authentic homemade dishes from scratch using fresh ingredients both found locally and from Trinidad and beyond; while son Dale (with brother Deion whom I’ve both known forever being a few years ahead of me at GSU) manages the operations.

While every single item on the menu is absolutely delicious, the most popular ones tend to be the pelau and roti. Pelau is probably the one dish that epitomizes Trinidadian cuisine and described as flavorful rice blended with meats and vegetables. Soca’s pelau is just that — fork-lickin’ good, hearty, and full of flavor. The rice is cooked perfectly, moist and savory; while the accompanying caramel chicken was, oh so fork tender, with the most amazing blend of spices. Mom told me to get the plantains for my side as she knows exactly what goes well with any dish. The sweet plantains had just the right amount of bite, not mush and soggy, though ripe enough.

The Caribbean roti (pronounced row-tea) which resembles a burrito is a huge flour pancake enveloping different fillings such as curry chicken with potatoes. The curry chicken is the best curry you’ll ever taste — melt-in-your-mouth chunks of chicken simmered for hours in perfectly-seasoned curry sauce — a real comfort food. Teamed with the not-your-usual baked mac ‘n cheese, it makes for a filling lunch.

A perfect period to any meal, the homemade (by a close friend) mango pie is to die for. In fact, I’m no longer allowed to attend any parties without bringing a whole pie (or two). It is not overly sweet, with the right amount of tartness and a consistency between cheesecake and mousse. Add to that the special crust and you have the most delectable dessert.

For the more authentic tastes, I highly recommend the ox tail stew available on Fridays only (they ran out within a few hours of opening), the Callalloo soup (spinach-okra puree), and the curried goat.

Insider tip:
Kids menu available. Menu items include dishes for the hard-core and for the less adventurous as well. Whole Mango pies available for purchase.

The scoop:
Soca Caribbean Cafe
website: http://www.socacafe.com/index.html
9700 Medlock Bridge Road
Duluth GA 30097
Telephone: 770.476.0042

Technorati Tags: Soca Caribbean Cafe, Caribbean cuisine, pelau, roti, mango pie, oxtail stew, goat curry, callalloo, Medlock Bridge Rd., Regal Cinema plaza, chicken curry, Duluth

Opened just two months ago, Aroy-D is already attracting a lunch crowd. And with the humongous space they have, any lunch crowd can be accommodated. For a strip mall restaurant, I was really surprised to see how big the place is — with a good-sized beverage bar and a separate large sushi bar. Speaking of big, the portions are ginormous!

The menu consists of Thai staples and sushi items/combos. I settled for my favorite Gai Pad Gra Pow (minced chicken sauteed with basil leaves) which is the first thing I look for in any Thai restaurant. Here at Aroy-D, they have a funny name for it: Chicken Ka Proud. I give them major points for serving it with a fried egg automatically. None ever do. Saved me time from ordering. The dish was superb, tasty, with just the right amount of seasoning. I would’ve loved it more to be on the spicy side, but hey, you can always adjust that by asking for the condiment set (dry peppers, chili sauce, jalapeno slices in vinegar). I also give them points for using minced meat as most Thai places have gone to using slices of chicken instead.

Another favorite is the Thai barbeque chicken. Aroy-D gives you half a chicken that tastes more Americanized than I wanted it to be. The sauce tastes like, well, ordinary barbeque sauce with no hint of Asian flavoring whatsoever. A little addition of tamarind to the sauce would have elevated this dish to great heights. It came with shrimp fried rice which was flavorful. Read the rest of this entry »