Chow Down Atlanta

My best friend and I couldn’t decide where to meet for lunch today — it was either Food 101, Joey D’s or Seasons 52. I wanted to go to Alon’s afterwards so we decided to go to Seasons 52. We came in at 11:30am and the place was practically empty. Fifteen minutes later and there’s not a single table available. It got considerably louder, too.

For some reason, the decor and ambiance reminded me so much of PF Chang’s (which I absolutely hate). Lots of dark wood, contemporary lighting, cozy booths, a huge open kitchen, a very wide bar, and a cool patio. Even the clientèle is so PF Chang’s. But it does have that casual, fine dining appeal.

Seasons 52 offers a healthy take on fine dining. Using the freshest, local ingredients the entire year round (hence, the name), every single item on the menu is less than 475 calories. At that count, I was thinking of tiny, matchbox-sized entrees. They also pride on not using butter, oil, or cream. Hmmm, does that mean no taste, either?

We started out with an order of Rosemary and Parmesan Cheese Crispbread. I love the presentation of this simple appetizer. It consisted of strips of flatbread baked crispy and chewy. A great starter that won’t get you too full.

My friend Mark had the Turkey Portabello Burger. The soft bun was full-sized and had a third of a pound of ground turkey burger then topped with cheese and a slice of portabello mushroom. Clearly one of the best turkey burgers in Atlanta. It came with a side salad with crisp greens and a dousing of vinaigrette dressing. It was a good lunch option and quite hard to believe it’s all under 500 calories.

I wasn’t feeling too hungry so I went with the Oak-Grilled Chicken Citron with pearl pasta, a trio of green vegetables and thyme-shallot reduction. I was surprised with the size of this entree and could not believe (again) that it was only 475 calories! It had a whole chicken breast that was quite big. It was marinated in nothing but lemon juice then grilled over an open fire. It was juicy and tender. I was told that the pearl pasta is the most popular side in the restaurant and I can see why. It was quite inventive! You have these tiny balls of pasta infused with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and parsley. It was so good. My only complaint (about this dish) is that since they don’t use butter, oil, or cream, the only flavors they can really play with are just salty and sour. It was evident that those were the only two flavors they used on my entree. After a while, I got tired of it and really took an effort on my part to finish it all.

We decided not to get any dessert since I’m not a big fan of dessert and I am already so tired of Seasons 52’s offerings. I’ve tasted all their dessert on previous events (Chocolate!, Taste of Atlanta, and Toast of the Town). Plus, we were hitting Alon’s afterwards anyway so we decided to pass.

Overall, I like Seasons 52. I like their concept. It was amazing to see inventive dishes presented so imaginatively and all for under 500 calories. Not only that, they were regular-sized, too. Service is attentive and friendly, and the entire staff is so knowledgeable about their food. Definitely a good choice, not only for the health-conscious, but for any foodie as well.

Insider tip:
Main entrees average $15, apps start at $3.50, flatbreads at $9.75. Lunch crowd starts at 11:45am.
Located right across Dillard’s, next to Wildfire.

The scoop:
Seasons 52
By the Perimeter Mall
90 Perimeter Center West
Dunwoody, GA 30346
Phone: (770) 671-0052

On Peachtree at W Paces
3050 Peachtree Rd., NW
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: (404) 846-1552

Monday-Friday:
Lunch: 11:00AM - 2:30PM
Dinner: 5:00PM - 10:00PM
Saturday:
Open 11:00AM - 11:00PM
Sunday:
Open 11:00AM - 10:00PM

Technorati Tags: Seasons 52, American Cuisine, healthy eating, Dunwoody, Perimeter Mall, Buckhead, under 500 calories