Chow Down Atlanta

The line up to the Bat Pan Cave can get really long. Like, 10 minutes long. But these are what you’ll get…

The Medio Dia. $11. Tender, moist, delicious roast pork with a tease of soft pork crackling. Hammy ham. Swissy cheese. Spicy mustard. Thin, soft pineapple sub. All wrapped in a piece of banana leaf then pressed. Good? Holy sandwich, Super Pan — Yes! There’s a substantial amount of tasty meat in there. It’s so juicy, you need a bib to eat it. It’s huge, too. And it smells so good especially the green scent emanating from the heated leaf. Except… I would have loved for the bread to be just a little bit thicker. Because I love bread. And the pineapple roll they use is fantastic. Definitely a must-eat here at the Pan Cave.

Pork Belly Buns. Whoa, $10. Two smallish Asian buns that were more yeasty and cakey than airy.  It felt like they were baked instead of steamed (to withstand the heavy filling, I’m guessing). Coconutish flavor. Super thick, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth, I’ve-died-and-gone-to-pork-heaven roasted pork belly. The layers your teeth will sink into as you bite is climactic: crispy skin, fat, meat, fat meat. Glazed lightly with a sweetish-tart tamarind sauce. Spiced with sambal. Truly outstanding. I want more.

Tofu Buns. $6. Similar to the pork belly buns except less taste. Buns and tofu don”t mix. Skip it.

BBQ Rib Bolillo. Whoa, yikes, $12. A good amount of adobo-flavored pulled beef rib meat on a toasted bolillo roll. Do not, I repeat, do not forget to douse your sandwich with the orange bbq sauce. You’ll thank me for it. Delicious. And, holy messy, Super Pan!

Beef Mole Empanada. $2.  Great appetizer.  The meat filling is exceptional.

Pork Empanada. $2. Holy Pork. Enough said. The phyllo pastry is so flaky.

Expect to pay $12-15 for a filling sandwich lunch. Is the price tag worth it? Holy goodness, it is. Are there less expensive sandwich places around? Of course. Now you have one more choice. Me? I’m definitely going back to the Pan Cave.

Super Pan
1057 Blue Ridge Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 477-0379

Technorati Tags: sandwiches, Virginia-Highland, Latin

The city of Duluth’s extensive downtown renovation created not only a live, work, play community, but a quaint yet modern Main street lined with locally-owned businesses. In the midst of this historic area is a row of commercial town houses, one of which is home to Chocolate Perks, a casually elegant coffee-slash-ice cream-slash-cupcake-slash-sandwich shop.

Owner Marsha Anderson Bomar, who also happens to occupy a seat in the City Council, offers a place to hang out, relax, and eat breakfast, lunch, or snack. While there are daily sandwich specials offered, the staples here are paninis: grilled cheese, beef and cheddar, Cuban, chicken salad, and ham and cheese. Each order comes with crunchy pickles and prices average at $6.

clearly, presentation is an issue here — the soup was sloppily served that way — drippings and all

I’ve had two of the soups (both very good) and three of their sandwiches here: the grilled cheese with turkey, ham and cheese, and beef and cheddar. I was a bit disappointed with the value of the Grilled Cheese because it came with two slices of regular white bread, 2 slices of cheese, and 2 thin slices of deli turkey. I thought the $6 price tag was a little steep for the simpleness (in taste and creativity) of the sandwich which I can very well get in another deli for a buck less.

The Black Forest Ham and Smoked Gouda panini was a much better value. The sourdough bread was sizable, the ham was tasty, and the cheese was fresh. Overall, a much better choice.

My Beef and Cheddar on my third visit yesterday was another simple sandwich. The brioche was buttery and sweetish as it should be but was clearly ruined by over-toasting (or over-pressing). I know some folks like their bread on the dark-toasted side but it should not be the default. Instead, people should be permitted to have the choice. I wonder why they even allowed this to be served — they probably thought I wouldn’t notice? That or they are just indifferent about the quality of the sandwiches that come out of their kitchenette. This disappointment plus chips set me back $7. Although, I have no qualms whatsoever paying good money on food, it has to have value — portion size, price, creativity, cooking method (was it cooked over heat or was it sourced elsewhere then assembled), and taste. Incidentally, a can of Diet Coke was an additional $1.75. Pretty steep for a canned drink, no?

Aside from coffee and sandwiches, Chocolate Perks also serves ice-cream and homemade cupcakes, muffins, desserts, and chocolate truffles. The red velvet and chocolate mini-cupcakes were good in a fresh kind of way. They are not too sweet and you can tell good ingredients were used. But the best part of these cupcakes were the icing. I don’t eat icing but their butter cream concoction is just so good. The chocolate muffin is by far, my favorite. It is moist, chocolaty, dense, and delicious. Pair that with a cup of coffee and you have a power breakfast (or snack) in your hands.

This is definitely a nice addition to the area for a quick breakfast or lunch or simply for whiling time away. But what would be nice is for them to offer a simple Sunday brunch. And a soda fountain machine.

Insider tip:
Join their mailing list or Facebook group page for info on their daily specials.
Free wi-fi.
They use Counter Culture coffee.

The scoop:
Chocolate Perks
3160 Main St.
Suite 200
Duluth, GA 30096
770-342-0037
Hours:
M-F: 7AM-9PM
Sat: 8AM-11PM
Sun: 11AM-6PM

Technorati Tags: Duluth, GA, sandwiches, coffee shop, ice cream, cupcakes, breakfast, lunch

Lottafrutta is this cool sandwich place a few blocks from Georgia State in Auburn Avenue. It’s been one of our favorite places for a quick bite to eat whenever I’m on this side of town (which is about twice a week). A couple of years ago, you wouldn’t want to walk around Auburn Avenue. But they’ve really cleaned the place up. It’s beautiful here now with lots of quaint houses and quirky townhomes.

Lottafrutta serves grilled sandwiches on Latin bread. They’re wonderful. The sweet bread is soft, grilled panini-style, and filled with ham, turkey, or veggies. Or get it the way I do: Just Veggin’ with Turkey — creamy havarti with avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, and sprouts with a slices of oven-roasted turkey. It is just so delicious. Each sandwich comes with a tiny tub of chulpe (grilled corn, Ecuadorian style). It’s crunchy and very appetizing.

Then they have these fruit cups that are just equally amazing. My two favorites are the Limonatta and the Cremolatta. If you have a taste for tart stuff, then Limonatta is for you. It has slices of cantaloupe, coconut, cucumber, watermelon, pineapple, mango, and papaya with fresh lime juice then sprinkled with spicy chile guajillo. You get this sweet-tangy tastes with a hint of spice. No worries, it is not spicy at all, with the heat more akin to paprika. On the other hand, if you want all sweetness, then go for the Cremolatta with slices of grapes, watermelon, strawberry, papaya, and cantaloupe then topped with a generous amount of homemade cream. Both delicious and both great accompaniments to the sandwiches. The fruit juices and the ice pops are also irresistible.

Lottafrutta is one sandwich place you must, must try. Grilled sandwiches are only $6.25 (they are good-sized), fruit cups start at $4.75.

Insider tip:
Open during the week at 7am for breakfast. Try the Cuban coffee — awesome!

The scoop:
Lottafrutta
590 Auburn Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 588-0857
M-F: 7am-5pm
Sat/Sun: 9am-5pm

Technorati Tags: Lottafrutta, Inman Park, fruits, grilled sandwiches, Latin bread, limonatta, cremolatta, frutta cups, salads, breakfast, brunch, Cuban coffee

**This place has closed.**

I was one among the chosen few invited during their closed-to-the-public-friends-and-family-only opening night in October 2003 and I’ve been impressed ever since. A cozy den. That’s how I think of Bear Rock located in Buckhead. You’ll find a working fire place, comfy couches, stone and wood accents, and deep-hued walls. You’re gonna be wanting to kick back and relax. And they actually encourage you to do so.

Morning regulars linger for hours over bagel sandwiches (toasted with ham/bacon, cheese and egg), the wheat tortilla wraps with an assortment of filling, or even the yummy blueberry scones. Sandwiches are served on freshly-baked bread and can be topped with freshly sliced or grilled meat, roasted vegetables or one of the many interesting spreads such as poblano, vidalia onion, pesto mayo, or roasted garlic tomato. There are also a good variety of specialty salads, one-pounder baked potatoes, pizzas, and soups that change daily. Desserts come in many forms such as cheesecakes, cakes, and cookies. By the way, the big chocolate-chip cookies with humongous chunks of chocolate is a must-try.

Most people would think of Bear Rock as an upscale sandwich shop. True, but not in the snobby, pricey sort of way. In fact, you’d never pay over $10 (or even close to it) for any meal. To think, you’re getting fresh ingredients, quality food, and inventive menu items. And if you’re thinking you’d tire of the food easily, fear not for the quite extensive menu changes every so often. It’s a good place for a quick bite to eat plus great service to boot that comes from the friendliest staff.

Insider tip:
Wi-fi is free. Check the website for special offers such as family nights where kids eat free.

The scoop:
Bear Rock Cafe
http://www.bearrockfoods.com/franchise/index.cfm?franchise=1
Peachtree Battle Shopping Center
2355 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
404-816-5515 (p) 404-816-5514 (f)

Technorati Tags: Bear Rock Cafe, sandwiches, sandwich shop, breakfast, wi-fi spot, American cuisine, Buckhead, Atlanta, Kids menu