Peasant Bistro
Remember the famous Peasant chain of restaurants? You’d be surprised to find out that one of my very first jobs as a teenager was as a server at Mick’s. It was such a coveted job among teenies that I delved into it with such gumption as someone trying to win the Presidency. My mom, the best supporter one can ever have, bought me several hundred dollars worth of pricey uniform — six sets in all. For the days I would have been working. Guess how long I lasted on the job? Two days. I had a new found respect for servers after that.
While the Peasant group has been sold and none of its member restaurants still exists, one last hurrah remains in the form of Peasant Bistro, located across from the Georgia Aquarium, and owned by two ladies who wanted to keep the name and group alive. My parents and I met my wonderful aunt for lunch a few weeks ago and was astounded by everything about it. The place is beautiful — modern but with a romantic feel, thanks in part to the curved staircase that provides the focal point (the romantic part); and the exposed smooth, white brick walls, and dark planked floors (the modern part). I know it’s a cliché but it really transforms you: from the harsh environment of downtown, to this elegant, cozy place.
We started out with the Calamari and Fried Green Tomatoes. The Calamari was okay, but didn’t really make a lasting effect on me. They were, at least, fresh and not chewy. I still think Murphy’s Calamari is tops. The FGT were pretty good, with the creamy goat cheese and red pepper sauce elevating this Southern staple.
I love beets and I always get it whenever I see it on the menu especially when goat cheese is involved. Simple and good.
Their version of Shrimp and Grits, which my dad, my aunt, and I all got was pretty straight-forward. It had fresh, plump, big shrimp on a bed of creamy cheese grits with a few pieces of andouille sausage in a tomato cream sauce. It’s a good sized entree. Flavor-wise, it was spot on, though, I would have liked it to have a bit more spiciness.
The Grilled Pork Chop was a clear winner. It was well seasoned, perfectly cooked, tender, and with lots of juices oozing out. The Sweet Corn Bread Pudding was a surprise hit. It had the consistency of a hard quiche inside but with a hardish, bread-like crust outside. There were lots of whole kernel corn incorporated in it, too, that provided a little hint of sweetness.
Overall, I like the 5-star feel you get while dining here, but without the pretension. Prices are quite reasonable for the portion size and quality/taste of the food (entrees average $12).
Insider tip:
Fantastic service
Valet parking is $5.
The scoop:
Peasant Bistro
250 Park Ave West NW
Atlanta, GA 30313
(404) 230-1724
Technorati Tags: Atlanta, Downtown, Peasant Bistro, Peasant Group, Southern, American food
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1 response so far ↓
1 Maureen Kalmanson // Sep 24, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Thank you so much for the lovely review. It’s so very nice that you shared your experience with so many. I thank you and hope you will ask for me next time you are in; I would love to meet you.
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