Have you ever found yourself weary of the Buckhead bustle; craving, perhaps, a casual-yet-chic space with delicious dishes? Spend an hour or so at Anis Café & Bistro and you'll be miles away without ever leaving town!

Tucked alongside a sleepy side street and decidedly French Country in décor, Anis Café & Bistro greets you with a tree-shaded patio and lattice-work fence. An overhead trellis and faint mood lighting create an intimate moment for each table - a great option for a relaxed, romantic evening. True to its French heirloom roots, the patio and inside dining room are host to a mix of eclectic tables, chairs and ever-evolving conversation pieces. (My favorite are the quirky patio frogs and vibrant door murals, reminiscent of Toulous-Lautrec.)

Oh, and the food - the mouth-watering, Mediterranean-inspired menu is perfect for both adventurous and finicky eaters. Along with its expansive wine list, Anis Café & Bistro has made its mark on the city with the signature Moules Marinières. Now, I've got a thing about textures (nothing jiggly for me!) but you simply cannot leave without trying ‘em. Served in a creamy wine broth with a garlic, shallot and parsley garnish, these mussels were succulent, tender and just fun to eat. For my entrée I opted for the night's special: an aromatic offering of pan-roasted Hawaiian Ahi tuna, plated with white asparagus, inca gems, corn and butter beans sauteed in a crab-flecked butter sauce. My darling dinner partner chose the Côtelettes d'Agneau Grillées - fall-off-the-bone tender grilled Australian lamb chops, served atop a cucumber, feta cheese and mint salad, spritzed with garlic-infused lemon juice. (Fear not the fancy French names! The waitstaff are kind and knowledgeable foodies who love walking you through the menu and showing you "the French way" to eat.) For dessert, he and I split a sampler of sweet treats: crème brûlée and fresh berries, flourless chocolate cake, blood orange sorbet and Georgia peach crumble - each an excellent option for sharing with your own someone sweet.

In short, he said/she said: a decadent meal, packed with rich and sumptuous flavors, that somehow managed to leave us just comfortably full. Though it's been a cult classic for more than 15 years, Anis Café & Bistro is such a fun and unique find, you'll have a tough time deciding whether to tell everyone you know or keep it as your little secret!

Anis Café & Bistro is open daily for lunch (11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) Dinner starts nightly at 6 p.m. and you can now enjoy Sunday brunch from 11:30 a.m - 2:30 p.m. as well. Dinner service is accompanied by live music every Thursday and Friday, while every first and third Tuesday is French Night - complete with a prix-fixe menu of signature, seasonal dishes and French singers.