Dine Like a Local

Sit. Sip. Vote. Help Choose ACVB’s Centennial Cocktail.

2013-05-16T18:11:00Z

By Carol Carter

Wanna have a little fun? We’ve got you covered. Grab a friend or three and help select Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Centennial Cocktail. Our “Sit. Sip. Vote” contest continues through June 14.

All you have to do is go to any of the eateries on the contest page and try the cocktail that establishment has entered in the contest, then vote for your favorite.

Atlanta mixologists were quite creative when whipping up their recipes.

For example, consider the the One Midtown Kitchen entry: peanut infused Woodford Reserve Bourbon; Coca-Cola; Garnished with salted peanuts; served in a vintage glass Coca-Cola bottle.

Or the Centennial Southern Scarlet from Ruth’s Chris Steak House/Buckhead: 2 oz Southern Comfort; .75 oz Sweet Vermouth; .25 oz Peach Schnapps; 2-3 dashes Fee Brothers Peach Bitters; add all ingredients in a mixing tin with ice, shake vigorously; strain into a martini glass; garnish with a fresh peach slice

There are nearly 70 cocktails from which to choose, so take a look at the list. Get your friends to do the same, then go and sample two or three so that you can vote.

Carol Carter writes for Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Mother's Day Eating-Out Options in Atlanta

2013-05-07T19:18:00Z

By Carol Carter

Sunday is Mother’s Day. Where will your mom be? Find suggestions for things to do in Atlanta on Mother’s Day here. Or, consider dining out at one of the restaurants listed below.

Aqua Blue. Brunch includes carving stations, made-to-order omelets, sushi, assorted desserts and more. Adults of age can indulge in $15 bottomless mimosas and the restaurant’s famous bloody Mary bar. The regular dinner menu is available from 5 to 9 p.m.

Bantam + Biddy. For Mother’s Day, there is a special three-course menu. Choose from starters of tomato gazpacho or English pea salad with goat cheese. The second course offers options of chicken and dumplings or salmon with asparagus and caper egg vinaigrette. Assorted pies, cupcakes and cookies finish off the meal. Moms receive a bag of sweet treats as a parting gift.

Bhojanic in Buckhead and Decatur celebrate moms with a special North Indian Punjabi brunch. Fans of the home-style Indian restaurant can enjoy the one-of-a-kind brunch from noon until 4 p.m.

Georgia Aquarium. Enjoy Mother's Day brunch while watching whale sharks, manta rays and beluga whales as you dine in the Oceans Ballroom. Brunch begins at 11 a.m.

JCT. Kitchen & Bar. Choose from a four-course Sunday supper, the regular Sunday supper menu plus special featured items of the day.

Lobby Bar and Bistro. The buffet opens at 11 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. Among the many choices, consider shrimp salad, house-cured salmon, brined and smoked turkey breast, lobster tamales. For dessert, you could try bananas foster, a profiterole or a frangipane tart.

Mandarin Oriental. Mother’s Day temptations include Georgia prawns & grits and White Oak-pastured chicken roulade. Look for the seafood display, a made-to-order omelet and egg station plus stations for Brasstown beef, ribeye roast and roasted banana leaf wrapped grouper. 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Olmsted. Brunch, served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m, includes the regular menu plus special Mother’s Day features. All mothers receive complimentary flowers and chocolate-covered strawberries. Families who want to remember the occasion can have portraits taken by an on-site photographer.

One Midtown Kitchen. The brunch menu is available from 11 a.m to 3 p.m; dinner seating begins at 5:30 p.m.

Parish. Early risers, take note: The Parish brunch begins at 9 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. Southern brunch favorites include Georgia trout & eggs, chicken Benedict and brioche French toast. Dinner starts at 5:30 and runs until 9 p.m.

Pittypat's Porch. Pittypat's Mother's Day brunch opens at 1, serving steak and eggs and chicken and waffles. Not only that, moms gets a complimentary dessert.

RA Sushi Bar Restaurant. Choose from more than 35 sushi, appetizer and tapas items. Mother’s Day specials are available from open to close for dine-in orders only.

Ray's Restaurants. Ray’s on the River in Sandy Springs is celebrating all weekend long with Spanish-themed drinks and tapas on Saturday, May 11. Moms can sip on sangria and enjoy different tapas options while listening to live Spanish guitar music. On Mother’s Day, the restaurant offers a buffet all day long. Ray’s on the Creek in Alpharetta is serving brunch, with the regular dinner menu available from 5 to 9 p.m.. Ray’s in the City downtown is serving Mother’s Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. From 5 to 9 p.m. the regular dinner menu is available.

Room. Brunch, served from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.. includes a complimentary glass of bubbly for mom. Specials include mascarpone blueberry crunch pancakes and cherry and pepper salmon lox Benedict. For children, there will be silver dollar pancakes, oatmeal and brown sugar, and half orders of French toast.

Seven Lamps. Mother’s Day brunch opens at 11 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. Options from the a la carte menu include the citrus-cured salmon sammie, Seven Lamps eggs Benedict and Georgia shrimp with South Carolina grits. Special brunch cocktails, created just for the day, are served shaken or stirred.

TAP. Feast on TAP’s usual brunch menu along with added specialties for moms. Mothers dining with their families get a complimentary mimosa.

The Spence. An al la carte Mother’s Day brunch will occur from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The dinner hour runs from 5:30 until 10 p.m.

Two Urban Licks. Brunch, including roses for moms, starts at 10 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. Dinner is served from 5 to 10 p.m.

Villa Christina. Mother’s Day brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. includes made-to-order omelets, pancakes, prime rib, fresh seared tuna sashimi and pastas plus fruits, vegetables and salads. Desserts include bread pudding, cakes, tortes, cookies and more. Keep kids entertained with arts & crafts, face painting, a moonwalk and rock climber slide.

Woodfire Grill. Just for Mother’s Day, there is a four-course prix fixe dinner. The menu offers local greens with blackberry vinaigrette, purple basil, raw beets and smooth cheese, Georgia white shrimp and grits with smoked tomato gravy and green tomato jam, wood-grilled skirt steak with chimichurri, braised beans, root beer BBQ and fried Vidalia onions, and blueberry cobbler served with vanilla ice cream.

Carol Carter writes for Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.

BurgerFi Opens at Emory Point: Yummy!

2013-04-22T15:06:00Z

By Mary Welch

Have the burger wars played themselves out? For a while, it seemed that every strip center and out-of-business franchise space was home to a new hamburger restaurant. I’ll admit it, we tried them all. After extensive research, we came to the conclusion that Atlanta really didn’t need a new burger place.

But we were wrong.

BurgerFi just opened its third restaurant at Emory Point; the other two are in Alpharetta and Kennesaw. And, we are standing up, applauding and saying “Welcome to Atlanta!” We really do think BurgerFi is our favorite place for burger, fries and a drink. Honestly, it’s that good.

First off, the food comes from all natural, grass-fed beef with no chemicals and no additives. The burgers are never frozen and never cooked in a microwave oven. In addition, the restaurant is environmentally friendly and built with sustainable materials such as chairs made from recycled Coke bottles, tables made out of compressed recycled wood and large fans that use 66-percent less electricity.

And, while we applaud their commitment to fresh ingredients, the test comes from the taste -- and BurgerFi aces it. We tried the BurgerFi Cheeseburger (650 calories), served with natural Angus, American cheese, lettuce, tomato and the BurgerFi secret sauce. Our hungry companion opted for a double cheeseburger with hickory bacon. Honestly, it was delicious, and we salute the bun for being sturdy enough to handle all the juicy ingredients.

In addition, there are the VegeFi burger made with quinoa (520 calories); the B.A.D. (breakfast-all-day) burger that adds hickory bacon drizzled with maple syrup, fried egg, hash browns and grilled onions; and the brisket burger (650 calories) made with double natural 28-day aged grown brisket with Swiss and blue cheese.

Fries, of course, are almost as important as the burgers, and BurgerFi doesn’t disappoint. We threw caution -- and our diets -- to the wind by ordering the Cry & Fries: onion rings and fresh cut fries that come in at a whopping 1,010 calories. But, so worth it. We loved the large, thick, sweet, salty onion rings. The fries were firm and habit forming. They were even more addictive when our companion had his own order with cheese sauce on it. Fries alone clock in at 650 calories, and we didn’t even mind adding another 80 for the cheese sauce.

We were too full to try the hot dogs, but they sure looked good. Choices include the Chicago style (370 calories); New York style; Texas style chili cheese dog; chicken apple dog and the 100-percent Wagyu Kobe beef dog.

We did manage to test the red velvet cupcakes and the coffee mocha shake (910) calories. The store has a large offering of frozen custards including shakes, floats & cows, sundaes and ice cream cones -- all made the old-fashioned way with cream, cane sugar, eggs and all-natural flavors.

BurgerFi offers a great place to stop, have a casual meal or a drink (wine and beer) and enjoy the patio or take a respite from the heat in the large, airy restaurant. The only improvement we could suggest is that we really would have loved a side salad.

But honestly, we loved BurgerFi. In fact, we took a vote and two out of two named Burger Fi our favorite burger restaurant in Atlanta. It’s not scientific, but it gets our vote -- and our wallet. We definitely will be frequenting BurgerFi.

Photos by Tim Wilkerson

Mary Welch is a veteran journalist who writes about travel, lifestyle and business. Her work has appeared in publications such as the Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Fulton County Daily Report and Family Vacation Critic..

Easter Brunch? Well, Why Not?

2013-03-26T17:34:00Z

By Carol Carter

Easter is a fine time for a family brunch (or dinner). And Atlanta restaurants (see our full dining guide) are into full bunny mode:

Ecco: Easter brunch starts at 11 a.m. and continues until 3 p.m. Taste-and-share items for the table include chocolate strudel, mixed olives, crab fritters and plenty more.

Lobby Bar and Bistro: Brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Specials range from huevos rancheros to French toast. Activities include an egg hunt, face painting and pictures with both the Easter Bunny and Alice in Wonderland.

Lure: Especially for Passover, executive chef David Bradley serves gefilte fish, made from fresh pollack and Georgia rainbow trout.

Mandarin Oriental: Easter brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will include a visit by the Easter Bunny and an egg hunt in the garden. Dishes include pan-seared red snapper, leg of spring lamb and a made-to-order omelet and egg station.

Murphy's: Arrive early to beat the crowd. Enjoy brunch from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.; dinner from 5 to 10 p.m.

Olmsted: Expect the restaurant’s regular brunch plus specials from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. An Easter egg hunt is planned for 1 p.m.

One Midtown Kitchen: Brunch is available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and if you’re running late, dinner service begins at 5:30 p.m.

Parish in Inman Park: Brunch starts at 9 a.m. and runs to 3 p.m. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m.

Paschal's: Celebrate Easter from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with fried chicken, pork loin and blackened tilapia, to name a few menu items.

Ray's on the Creek: Easter buffet from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.with the regular menu also available.

Ray's on the River:: Easter buffet from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Choose from breads, salads, egg dishes, Virginia ham and more.

Room: Easter brunch happens from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring specialties such as regional eggs benedict.

South City Kitchen Midtown and Vinings: Try the three-course prix fixe brunch menu which includes pecan granola and fried green tomatoes.

TAP: Chef Nick McCormick serves brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Spence: A la carte brunch starts at 10 a.m. and continues until 3 p.m. An Easter egg hunt starts at noon.

Two Urban Licks: There will be brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. plus egg hunts with the Easter Bunny at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Watershed on Peachtree: A three-course brunch includes egg dishes, coconut pancakes, blinis and more. 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Go on, make your reservation. You know you want to.

Carol Carter writes for the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. She was a founding staff member and later editor of Atlanta Business Chronicle, and she is the author of "JUNIOR DRAGSTER DREAMS: How Sam Found His Own Ride," a children's novel; editor of a business history of Atlanta; and author of the history of an Atlanta hospital.

Chai Pani: Magical Mystery Tour of Indian Food

2013-03-25T14:59:00Z

By Mary Welch

Dining at Chai Pani, the new Indian street food restaurant that recently opened up in Decatur, is like a trip on the magical mystery tour. It’s a kaleidoscope of colors, sounds, sights and tastes that swirl around in a fabulous setting that takes you to explore India and its enigmatic cuisine in a most fun way.

Chai Pani, which recently took over the vast Watershed space, has quickly found a niche in Decatur. The restaurant already has a popular following in Asheville, N.C., and the magic continues in Decatur. On a Tuesday night the place was hopping with Indian music in the background, and families, singles and couples dipping into the mostly unfamiliar dishes, sharing and delighting in the new experience. To our amazement, there were a lot of grammar school-age children expanding their taste buds beyond burgers and fries. And, if the cuisine is good enough for a 6-year-old to try, well, it’s good enough for us.

The menu is divided by chaat (street snacks); salads; uttapams (crepes); sandwiches and wraps; and thali. We started with street snacks, which the very helpful waitress said were akin to appetizers. Beware, there is no such thing as a small portion. We ordered several chaats and realized we had ordered dinner-size dishes.

We started with the papri chaat – savory puffed flour crisps stuffed with potatoes, onions, cilantro and crunchy chickpea noodles. It’s actually a great dish to order if you’re tipping your toe into the Indian cuisine; it’s not too hot or spicy. One even hates to say it was a bit bland; in fact, it was helped immensely by the yogurt dip.

Our second pick was chicken pakoras (pictured below) – Ashley Farms chicken seasoned with Kashmiri spices in a curried chickpea batter. Total winner. It was so good that when we took the leftovers home, we had to flip a coin to see who could have them for lunch.

The third chaat was another home run: julienned okra fries (pictured below) tossed with lime, salt and seasoning. Yes, it took a Southern Indian restaurant to get this Yankee to finally love okra. It was delightful and so much better than the breaded fried okra or -- even worse -- the slimy stewed kind. If you want to fully revel in okra, go to Chai Pani.

Uttapams are crepes made from rice and lentil batter that are served with sambar, a spicy, tangy vegetable stew. The stew lends a bit of flavor without being overpowering. It was fun to roll up the crepes and dip them in the stew.

For a change of pace, we tried the sloppy jai, a spiced lamb hash simmered with tomatoes, ginger and a variety of aromatic spices. We wish we could report on its taste, but our fellow diner claimed it all and wouldn’t even offer up a bite. We’re betting it was incredibly delicious.

The kathi kabab roll is another dish that we heartily recommend. Filled with Ashley Farms chicken seared with onions, cilantro and tandoori spices with rice, roasted lentils, tamarind and green chutneys in a griddled wrap, it’s an Indian version of a burrito.

Our final foray into this incredibly eclectic and delicious cuisine was thali, a traditional meal featuring a daily selection of regional dishes. We don’t even quite know what we ate, but we would order it again.

To accompany the meal, Chai Pani serves a variety of beers, wines and specialty cocktails. We ordered the Prinz von Hessen Riesling on the advice of our waiter who said that the Riesling wasn’t sweet, but somehow complemented the spicy foods. Correct. We ordered two. Our younger companion ordered the lime ricky, which is made with raspberry syrup, fresh lime juice and soda water; for adults there is a gin ricky.

Chai Pani is an adventure. It doesn’t matter than you may not be at all familiar with the dishes or the ingredients. It all works. It’s a throw caution-to-the-wind type of place, but the joy is that every dish is so delicious and unique that you’ll enjoy the trip. Make sure to visit Chai Pani with friends as half the fun is discovering and sharing together.

Even though we were a bit unfamiliar with many of the ingredients, it didn’t matter. In fact, this new culinary offering was as enticing as the bold colors on the walls. You will just want to keep coming back and continuing on the magical mystery tour that is Southern Indian street food.

Thanks to Chai Pani for the photos.

Two Restaurants; One Location. Verdict: Delish!

2013-03-12T20:25:00Z

By Mary Welch

The corner of 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue right in the heart of Midtown is the place for great food and amazing drinks -- not to mention people-watching. The distinctive feature of this particular corner is that it is the home of two adjoining restaurants -- Gilbert’s and the aptly named 10th & Piedmont.

Gilbert’s has been a long-time staple in the Midtown scene -- especially its weekend brunches, but Communitas Hospitality owners and brothers Sean and Gilbert Yeremyan took the space of the recently vacated Outwrite Bookstore and started 10th & Piedmont. It’s a great concept -- almost like two restaurants in one.

Mediterranean-inspired Gilbert’s Café & Bar (pictured below) is dark, intimate and serves hearty foods such as paellas and lamb shank. By contrast, 10th & Piedmont is hip, open, energetic and serves creative, Southern-inspired, house-made dishes such as Ecuadorian style cerviche, mushroom pot pie and lamb meat balls that are meant to be shared and celebrated.

Both men share an intense desire to please their customers and ensure an optimal dining experience. We started the evening at 10th & Piedmont, pictured below, where our wonderful server, Derrick, explained not only the menu but also the extensive cocktail list including specialty martinis and Farm-to-Glass, make-your-own martinis. Starting with Purity vodka, you choose three ingredients from a list including celery, bell peppers, cilantro, basil, cucumbers and then a nitrous charger uses the ingredients to infuse the martini right at your table. It’s something to see -- and taste.

We chose the old-fashioned, which was made with Woodford Reserve bourbon, house-made honey syrup, crème de griotte, fresh orange juice and burnt lemon peel. It was smooth, substantial and simply satisfying.

The restaurant’s menu is perfect for drinks and appetizers so we chose chicken & waffles, and Southern pot stickers. Executive chef Brett Ring loves to tantalize his guests with his modern Southern twist on old favorites. Let’s take the chicken & waffles. Under Ring’s deft touch, it was more like a corn dog with the chicken wrapped with Applewood smoked bacon and waffles and then deep fried and served with North Georgia Sorghum, confectioner’s sugar and hot sauce. “The bomb,” was the verdict from our young diner.

The Southern pot sticker was delicious with fresh ground pork, cider-braised collard greens and ponzu, a creative alternative to an Asian favorite.

With its large vodka bar, 10th & Piedmont attracts a varied crowd. It’s a great place to have a drink and appetizer before partaking in some of Midtown’s cultural activities (or doing the same on the way home) as well as having an after-work cocktail. On Sundays there is a Bellini brunch and tea dance. This restaurant has personality, attitude and terrific food and drinks.

However, sometimes one wants a more substantial menu -- no problem. A small hall leads to Gilbert’s, which is perfect for continuing an evening of great food and friendship (and karaoke on Sundays). “A lot of times people come in for drinks and starters at the other restaurant and then come here for dinner and they don’t have to get their car or even go out in the rain,” said our Gilbert’s server, Jason. Since Gilbert’s has been around since 2000, it does have the feel of a neighborhood place with locals coming in for take-out, staying for a drink and talking with the staff.

It’s a totally different vibe from its sister restaurant. Dark and intimate, Gilbert’s Mediterranean dishes are creative, substantial and destined to satisfy the pickiest of eaters. Among the starters are pear and endive salad, vegan lentil soup and the Zorba sampler platter (a sampling of dips such as hummus, baba ghanouj as well as artichokes, Kalamatas and artisan pita).

The paella is a specialty, and we opted for the seafood version that features mussels, shrimp, calamari, chicken, peas, haricot verts and peppers. Not in a seafood mood? No problem. There is a garden and sausage paella that can be made for one or two.

We opted for the lamb shank with chickpea polenta, cherry tomato confit, swiss chard and natural jus. The lamb was slow cooked to perfection, and the polenta was thick, creamy and held up well against the rich, strong taste of the lamb.

We ended the evening splitting a chocolate soufflé, which was our only misstep. The soufflé was so delicious neither of us wanted to share. Next time, two orders!

Both restaurants boast a varied wine list, with the best part being that the vast majority of the bottles cost less than $40.

There are many wonderful attributes about Gilbert’s and 10th & Piedmont. Both offer great dining experiences as well as fabulous bars perfect for a drink. They have valet parking behind the restaurants and windows that open up so you get the fresh air and an al fresco experience.

It’s two different restaurants, but either in tandem or separate, a visit to Gilbert's and 10th & Piedmont provides a fun time that encourages a celebration of great food, well-chosen wines, creative cocktails and a dining experience that will make you want to come back again -- and again.

Mary Welch is a veterann journalist who writes about travel, lifestyle and business. Her work has appeared in publications such as the Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Fulton County Daily Report and Family Vacation Critic.

STG Trattoria: Buckhead Restaurant Worth Finding

2013-02-27T16:07:00Z

By Mary Welch

Buckhead has always been a prime dining area of Atlanta, especially if you have a big wallet and no problem with cholesterol. But that is changing as wallets (even in Buckhead) have gotten slimmer over the years and people aren’t as interested in a great slab of beef or an intricate cream sauce (not that there’s anything wrong with either). But, what Buckhead needs is what is found in places like Virginia-Highland, East Atlanta and the West Side -- great, boutique restaurants that serve artisan-crafted food at reasonable prices.

STG Trattoria is just the place, and the even better news is that it is now open for lunch. We couldn’t be more excited. STG Trattoria comes with quite a pedigree. Owner Brian Lewis made a name for himself in New York and Birmingham, Ala., before bringing his deep love of cooking to Atlanta in 2009. He opened Bocado, which offered innovative comfort food and impeccable service and helped establish the Howell Mill corridor as a rising restaurant locale, and then STG Trattoria. Named after his sons (Sebastian, Tristen and Gabriel), STG lives up to Lewis’s reputation.

Adding to the restaurant’s impressive résumé is executive chef Sean Telo, whom many know and admire as the executive sous chef at STK as well as from his stints at Eno and Noon Midtown. Together, they are an unbeatable combination. Supporting Telo are sous chef Wilson Gourley, formerly of Miller Union; and Sarah Dodge, in the newly created position of pastry chef.

As one who watched her Sicilian grandmother make her own bread, pizza, cheese, sausages and tomato sauces (daily), this writer appreciates the care, ingredients and, frankly, the love, that goes into preparing STG’s dishes. It is genuine.

The lunch menu is simple, which allows diners a quick lunch without sacrificing quality. For a snack, choose a salumi and cheese plate ($12) or white bean crostini ($5). The salumi, all prepared on site, is simply delicious and provides a quick lesson on the many flavors of salumi.

The sandwiches are not only melt-in-your mouth yummy but also bursting with flavors. Among the selections are a roasted eggplant terrine, watercress and pickled shiitake ($8.50); pole-caught tuna, calabrese butter, avocado and local greens ($9.25); lamb and pork meatballs, tomato sugo, parmesan ($8.75); and prosciutto, mozzarella butter and basil ($11.25), pictured below. The mozzarella butter is sublime. We literally couldn’t decide if it was butter or mayonnaise, only to find out that it is homemade mozzarella butter. It lends a warm, moist texture to the sandwich that is sheer perfection.

There are also a variety of salads and side dishes. For those on the healthy kale ride, try the kale, whipped ricotta, pecans, buttermilk-herb vinaigrette ($7), pictured below. We’ve been having a lot of kale lately (mostly not our choice), but if anyone can make kale tasty, it is STG.

Just because it’s lunch doesn’t mean you can’t imbibe, and STG offers an exhaustive collection of Italian wines at a very reasonable cost (meaning barely over retail) as well as an aperitivo-style cocktail program including soda-inspired mixed drinks.

STG makes incredible (and fast) pizzas, although they are not available for lunch. We choose the lamb sausage, sweet onion, ricotta salata, mint pizza as well as the mushrooms, radicchio, fontina, rosemary, garlic selections. The salumi, with sopressata, capicola, prosciutto, tomato, basil and chili, is truly a meat-lovers pizza. STG even makes its pizzas to go.

Closed Monday, STG is the perfect place for a fun, casual dining experience where the emphasis is on fresh and local. Lunch is available daily from Tuesday through Friday. A quick note: STG is one of those places where you know where it is, you just can’t find it. The address is 102 West Paces Ferry Road., right across the street from 103 West. It’s easy to miss because it is located in space that was formerly a Mercedes showroom.

We went by the shopping center a few times before we actually found STG Trattoria. It’s worth finding.

Photos of prosciutto sandwich and kale salad by Lauren Hughes

Seven Lamps: New Buckhead Restaurant = Yum

2013-02-05T20:14:00Z

By Mary Welch

Seven Lamps, the new serious-food-in-a-fun-setting restaurant, is intriguing. It really is the type of place where you have amazing food and you want to come back because you haven’t quite figured it all out yet. It’s sort of like a mysterious woman who seems to be fresh-faced and open.

The intrigue starts the moment you walk into the door at the restaurant located at Around Lenox in Buckhead. There are large communal tables scattered about the room (a current restaurant trend we hope ends quickly) and five lamps on the wall. First mystery -- where are the seven lamps? Then, looking around the room, we tried to remember our geometry to figure out the shape of the room – triangle, quadrilateral, whatever. Regardless, the decor is warm and inviting with lots of natural wood, dark metal, a beautiful stone wall and a large shelf filled with wine bottles, plates and napkins. On another side is a large, back-lit bar with all sorts of bottles glistening.

Seven Lamps is one of the few places in town where you really must start with a cocktail before dinner. Cocktails are divided up into several categories: “effervescent,” “classically inspired,” “barrel aged,” “crafty & stemmed” and “drinkable desserts.” All are the brainchild of bar manager Arianne Fielder. We opted for Red Dawn, with a Four Roses bourbon, pur likor, spiced blood orange liqueur, Benedictine and black walnut bitters. It was similar to an Old Fashioned, but with a lot more punch.

Seven Lamps’ pedigree is first rate. Dre Van Leuvan is one of the city’s best chefs who has worked his magic at several restaurants including Toast, Spice and One Midtown Kitchen. Overall, his cooking style is to mix and blend complementary tastes with a more in-your-face presentation than usually found in other restaurants. It’s intriguing because even with the different flavors melding together, many of the dishes have little surprises, such as the champagne herb butter in the Maine mussels that didn’t seem to go with the smoked pancetta and jalapeño, but somehow did.

The key to Seven Lamps is its small plates: “savouries,” “iced oysters” and “salted, cured and whipped.” In other restaurants they’d be known as tapas or appetizers. But they really are the stars. By the time we had devoured our four small plates, we really didn’t need dinner, but of course we pushed through, thankfully.

We started with the potato and roasted garlic soup, a delicious, thick soup with a froth of smoked cream sparkling on top. Perfectly blended and tasty, we actually ordered a second because no one wanted to share it. “To die for,” was the opinion of our companion. We followed the soup with Maine mussels that were swimming in a jalapeño and champagne herb butter sauce. The mussels were so big and white that they shined. The sauce was so complex that at first it seemed to have an Asian twist to it, then a second later, a sweet taste. Regardless, they were so good that, again, we were measuring every inch of the bread to make sure we all had an equal amount to dip the crusty bread into the sauce. The sauce was so delicious we even ate the charred baby carrots just to have more of it.

Our third selection was the most intriguing: the buttered lobster bun with celery aioli in a steamed brioche. As ardent students of lobster rolls, we can honestly say we haven’t had anything like it before. It was all soft, mushy and sweet. The lobster meat, thankfully, wasn’t hidden in mayonnaise, and the roll added to the overall lightness of the dish. It was sort of like eating lobster in a marshmallow. It was a delightful surprise and shows the creativity that will make Seven Lamps a favorite for foodies everywhere.

Our fourth small plate was confit chicken wings served with grits, farm yolk and Szechuan peppercorns. The chicken was fall-off-the-bone soft and rich in flavor. The grits and egg served as a nice bonus but the chicken was a meal in itself.

We chose the tagliatelle pasta with Sapelo Island clams, andouille, jalapeno, soffritto and asiago for our dinner entree. Again, it was a bit different than what we expected but really good. The sauce stuck tightly to the large pasta so there was very little left in the bowl.

Our second selection was wood-grilled swordfish with cherry tomato and hedgehog mushrooms. Usually swordfish is simply prepared, grilled with butter. But this presentation gave it more gravitas. It was a hearty fish with richness of flavors that we usually don’t associate with swordfish.

A lunch or dinner at Seven Lamps is an exciting experience in creative foods and craft cocktails, beer and jerk sodas. That’s right, they make their own sodas -- lemon thyme, “Fo” orange, ginger beer, Dr. Paz and tropical winter. That’s a little thing but it shows the heart and soul of Seven Lamps: There is no such thing as a little thing when you are aiming for the food to be exciting, perfect and creative.

Seven Lamps is a welcome addition to the dining and bar scene (It stays open until 2 a.m.). The staff is incredibly helpful both in explaining the menus and the drinks. It is the type of restaurant that entices you to return often because you know the chef is always tweaking the menu, going in different places to excite the palate and demonstrating the beauty of fresh ingredients. Indeed, when the food and drinks can be put under the spotlight and shine brightly, you know the restaurant is a winner, and this Buckhead gem glows under seven lamps.

Oh Baby, Oh Baby – You’ll Love The Real Chow Baby

2013-01-29T16:46:00Z

By Mary Welch

A trip to The Real Chow Baby, 782 Ponce de Leon Ave., is an adventure in chemistry, empowerment, wild experimentation, good fun and -- oh yes -- great food.

Why chemistry? Well The Real Chow Baby’s experience involves selecting, mixing and matching. Pick up a bowl, choose rice or pasta, then go down the line selecting all sorts of items found on an extensive salad bar -- tiny corn cobs, peppers, bacon, mushrooms, squash, bean sprouts, carrots, soy beans, onions, cabbage (you get the picture). Then comes the chemistry part -- selecting the sauce (or sauces). There are 16 sauces, including sweet and sour, Thai cilantro, black bean garlic, peanut sauce, hot mustard and hoisin lime. And, you can mix them as well.

With another bowl, you choose the protein -- chicken, steak, sausage, calamari, fish or pork. For an extra charge, you can even add shrimp, roti, panko or salmon to the mix. Then add different spices and herbs. Give the bowls to the chefs who stir fry them on a hot grill, and in a few minutes your dinner is ready.

So, you mix and mingle different tastes, veggies, proteins and sauces. Chemistry 101 wasn’t this fun. You’re empowered because you choose your food and dictate exactly how it comes out -- right down to how much salt you want. The experimentation is a blast; the food is great.

Or maybe not.

The first time we went to the food line we got a little too carried away. As with selecting accessories for an outfit, a little can go a long way. We should have removed one of the sauces. But no problem. Although food waste is never encouraged, you can go to the buffet line as many time as you want, so you can try new combinations and find what works for you.

Our particular favorite is coconut curry, which has coconut milk, curry, peanut butter, sugar and fish sauce – a spicy yet cool blend. Our dining companion favors the teriyaki sauce with a bit of dark soy sauce. The fact that every dish is different makes it perfect for tasting your partner’s masterpiece. Every time up to the buffet is a fresh experience -- and experiment!

What is so great about Chow Baby is that everything is fresh with a focus on vegetables, cooked with very little oil. There is a definite focus on healthy eating. Right before the line is a very large poster explaining the sauces, complete with dietary information such as calories and fat content.

While the do-it-yourself bowl is the highlight of Chow Baby, there are other options. We start with the chicken pot stickers served with ponzu sauce. Delicious. Other appetizers include calamari, vegetable spring rolls, crab rangoon, edamame and hand-rolled spring rolls. Entrees include shrimp tempura, quesadilla, summer and panko-breaded chicken tossed in a sweet chili citrus sauce.

Desserts are just as wonderful and diverse. The key lime pie and cheesecake will definitely be ordered again.

The Real Chow Baby has a full bar and offers some really fun mojitos, such as the “dragonberry mojito” (Bacardi dragonberry, mint, lime juice and mojito mix), the “part-time lover” (Smirnoff orange, triple sec, pineapple juice and fresh passion fruit juice).

People-watching is another benefit of The Real Chow Baby. Surely there could be a psychology paper written on how people pile on the veggies and protein in their bowls. College students seem to have perfected the smash-them-in-the bowl action to make extra space, while others seem content to pile it high in the bowl and carry it carefully so that it doesn’t come tumbling down. Others are cool, creating a nicely formed, but not overly ambitious, bowl – knowing full well that seconds and thirds are available.

While I go back for seconds, our companion goes through the line three times and then takes advantage of a take-home bowl offer for an extra $5. Lunch is $8.99 and dinner, $12.99; however, the price on Saturday and Sunday is $12.99, even if it’s lunch.

The Real Chow Baby is perfect for so many people -- those who like to eat healthy, those who like to eat (a lot), those who like to experiment and those who just want a casual, fun atmosphere to have a drink and enjoy good food. It’s also perfect for groups because there truly is something for everyone. Check it out. You’ll love it, baby.

La Tagliatella: Fresh, Imaginative Italian Fare and Plenty of It

2013-01-23T21:08:00Z

By Mary Welch

There is a new culinary star in Atlanta. Yes, La Tagliatella is what everyone wants -- and needs -- in an Italian restaurant. Over-the-top decor, warm lighting, generous portions and great food -- lots of it -- all are found in this delightful restaurant that is destined to become a local favorite.

Located at the corner of Peachtree and Eighth streets, La Tagliatella is a European-based restaurant chain that is venturing into the states and showing Americans the traditional Italian cuisine from the northern regions of Piamonte, Liguria and Reggio Emilia. It reminds me of grand Italian restaurants like the famed Mama Leone’s in New York.

When you think of it, there aren’t that many great Italian restaurants in the area, although a few more have opened in the past couple of years. La Tagliatella goes to the top of the list. Its menu features a variety of traditional dishes including antipasti, salads, lasagna, calzones, risottos, lasagnas and scaloppine dishes and artfully crafted combinations of pasta and sauces. In addition, La Tagliatella offers more than 20 Napoletana-style pizzas.

All the ingredients are fresh; many from Italy. For instance, the tomatoes are from Puglia, the Parmigiano-Reggiano DOP is from Emilia-Romagna and buffalo mozzarella is from Campania. Black olives find their way into many of the dishes adding a special zest and color. An Italian chef once told us that Italian cooking is not that complicated, meaning that it is not a complex cuisine where a cooking technique is required or a lot of ingredients used. Rather, he said, the secret is matching the ingredients and using the freshest product. If that is the definition of great Italian cooking, then La Tagliatella is a master.

At first blush, the menu seems a bit overwhelming, but the incredibly knowledgeable staff discusses each dish, gives personal preferences and offers suggestions about what pastas go best with the sauce options. The staff also emphasizes that it is a family restaurant with generous portions that are made for sharing -- or at least sneaking a forkful when your friend isn’t looking. Another bonus is that the portions are so large that it’s almost impossible not to have a take-home dish or two, which stretches the delightful cuisine into another day and makes it even more affordable.

There are a variety of entree-sized salads including Insalata di Capesante e Gamberi (below top), which includes sautéed scallops and shrimp on pesto pierina served over mixed greens and artichokes, and the Insalata Torre di Pisa, which includes sautéed eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes layered with buffalo mozzarella and dressed with a black olive pate and stacked like the Leaning Tower of Pisa (below bottom).

We opt for a more traditional choice, which turns out not to be so traditional. La Tagliatella treats each dish as a piece of art, and the Insalata Caesar is a vision of color thanks to incredibly red solé di Puglia tomatoes that are placed (not just tossed) onto mixed greens. The shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and anchovies complete a delightful dish that is not overwhelmed by its tangy dressing. What a relief not to have a Caesar salad swimming in a beige liquid. Want a new taste on an old favorite? Come here.

The antipasti also offers a number of dishes rarely -- if ever -- seen in Atlanta, such as the Provoletta, which features provolone cheese based with sautéed zucchini and tomatoes. We opt for the Carpaccio Napoletano, which features grated fresh tomatoes dressed with black olive pate topped with buffalo mozzarella, anchovies and black olives. Again, this is a visual wonder that delights the palate. The tomatoes are shaved so thin they hug the cheese and the fresh basil.

On the advice of our waitress, we order the Pane della Tagliatella, an array of foccacia bread with tomatoes, green olives and onions. When dipped in olive oil, the foccacia becomes a delicious blend of garlic, bread, salt and oregano. Delicious!

Choosing a pasta takes some time and attention. There are 20 types -- raviolis, fresh pastas such as tegoline and fusilli rossi as well as hard pastas such as spaghetti and maccheroni tradizionali. Next, choose the sauce -- from 19 options. There are several cream sauces, a traditional Bolognese plus pestos and tomato-based as well as olive-based sauces.

We both opt for cream sauces, and, again, the dishes that arrive at our table are not what we expect – and, again, the result is better than we could have imagined. We pair pescatora – a cream sauce with salmon, seafood, and tomatoes – with pappardelle al pepe nero, a hardy noodle with pepper in it. (The pasta selection is a suggestion from our waitress.) Again, we expect a white sort of Alfredo sauce but are thrilled with a sort of tomato-blended cream sauce. The hearty pasta is the perfect complement for the delicate sauce and seafood.

Our companion orders the Salame e Verdure, a cream sauce with cheese, vegetables and sausage, and pairs it with a beef and pork ravioli. This is the beauty of La Tagliatella. We order different cream sauce-based dishes and neither one tastes a bit like the other.

We end up taking about half of each entree home, which frankly seems to delight our waitress. “We want you to eat and enjoy. That’s the Italian way,” she says.

We honestly don’t have room for desserts but our hosts insist. Our companion opts for Quattro Gelati Picconlini, a selection of four mini scoops of ice cream. We take the suggestion of our waitress (again) and choose the Bocconcino, a delectable blend of fresh cheesecake and custard. It is cool; it is light; it is rapture.

La Tagliatella in Midtown is the flagship and first La Tagliatella to open in this country. There a second one near Emory University, and a third opens in March in Virginia. It has everything to be successful in that there is something for everyone. The incomparable ambience is perfect for a romantic tête-a-tête, but it is not so overdone to make it uncomfortable for business gatherings or friends sharing a pizza. In fact, on our Monday night visit it is obvious that all three groups are represented.

The cuisine is sophisticated enough to entrance a foodie, but not so much that an average person looking for a good meal will feel out of place. While, at first look, the prices for the pasta may seem a bit high (most range in the mid-teens), the portions are generous and will serve as a second take-home meal, making it quite cost-effective.

Everything about La Tagliatella is welcoming: the decor, the friendly and helpful staff, and food that is comforting yet sophisticated. Let’s welcome La Tagliatella to Atlanta and make it one of our go-to restaurants.

Top photo of the interior of the restaurant by Heidi Geldhauser; the two salad photos courtesy of La Tagliatella

Mary Welch is a veteran journalists who writes about travel, lifestyle and business. Her work has appeared in publications such as the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Fulton County Daily Report and Family Vacation Critic..

Genki Noodles and Sushi -- Great Neighborhood Eatery

2013-01-22T18:19:00Z

By Mary Welch

Most neighborhoods have a favorite spot where regulars go to catch up with each other and where newcomers are welcomed and quickly become part of the gang. Cue the “Cheers” music. Genki Noodles and Sushi in Virginia-Highland is just that place.

Nestled between the quaint shops, Genki truly is part of North Highland Avenue -- the storefront window opens up so that patrons can sit at the counter, eat sushi, drink and watch – and even talk to – passersby.

Opened almost two years ago, Genki has quickly established itself as a neighborhood favorite. Whether it is the large bar with friendly bartenders or the Asian fusion food, Genki’s is a go-to place for a great meal or even a business meeting. Genki has a large back patio that is often used for private events.

The appetizers present a wide variety including portabella mushroom, calamari, ginger soy tofu, and tiger shrimp sautéed in garlic chili sauce served over house-made quacamole. We loved the gyoza, house-made seamed pastry stuffed with pork and vegetables, as well as the miso soup.

But we could hardly contain ourselves when presented with the sushi menu. As sushi aficionados, we first look for freshness, creativity and presentation. Genki pleases on all fronts. It offers a great variety, including many not usually seen in Atlanta including baby octopus, surf clam and sweet tofu pillows.

But it is in the rolls that Genki really shines. Try the Virginia Highland – spicy tuna and mango topped with escolar, avocado, fresh jalapeño and masago; and Pokerface – ahi poki, cucumber and avocado, topped with escolar, black and red tobiko and wasabi cream.

We tried the I♥ Sushi, which is shrimp tempura and cream cheese topped with tuna, avocado, sweet and spicy chili sauce and wasabi cream presented in a heart shape. We also delighted in the rainbow roll – imitation crab and avocado topped with tuna, salmon and yellowtail. With 16 Genki Favorite Rolls as well as a large selection of more traditional rolls such as California, spicy tuna and yellowtail scallion, there is something for everyone -- from a novice sushi eater to a seasoned one.

For those who have a hankering for something else, try Genki’s specialty – either traditional or make-your-own bowls. The Japanese marinated ribs (six ribs) over rice and sautéed mixed vegetables is great as is the seafood batayak – grilled tuna, salmon, yellowtail, shrimp, imitation crab and mussels served over somen noodles with a creamy tomato ginger sauce and parmesan cheese. We opted for beef, spinach and mushroom bowl – thinly sliced beef sautéed with caramelized onions served with crispy spinach and grilled portabella mushrooms.

The cuisine is a delicious mix of traditional Asian with a twist. Ingredients are nicely meshed, and the sushi rolls offer a fresh, fun approach. And, speaking of fun, make sure to order dessert. It was difficult deciding among the tempura fried cheesecake, tempura fried Oreos, tempura fried ice cream and tempura fried Twinkies. See a pattern? Well, we chose the Oreos, and, frankly, we weren’t sure what to expect. However, they were actually good -- light, crispy with a unique flavor that didn’t quite seem like Oreos. Regardless, try them and experience the silliness.

For those less adventurous, try the ice cream or the Japanese Napoleon, which is strawberries and whipped cream layered between house-made wonton chips served with ice cream and either chocolate or mandarin sauce.

Reid Zeising, who spent his childhood in Japan, opened the first Genki in 1996 in Buckhead; the third location is at The Prado in Sandy Springs. When Zeising opened Genki, the goal was to create foods that bring feelings of comfort, health and happiness. He achieved it and more.

Genki Noodles and Sushi is perfect for individuals, dates, group dining, business and birthdays. It aims to please and to make your experience as enjoyable as the food is delicious.

Try New Year's Eve Dinner Out at one of these Atlanta Restaurants

2012-12-18T21:16:00Z

By Carol Carter and Bianca Noel

What are you doing New Year’s Eve? How about dinner out at one of these Atlanta restaurants?

Eclipse di Luna: On New Year’s Eve, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., $65 (plus tax and tip) buys you the chef’s selection fixed menu plus unlimited sangria, party favors and a midnight champagne toast. The price drops to $30 for diners younger than 21. Wear your high-steppin’ shoes for the all-night-long music and dancing.

FLIP Burger Boutique: The special New Year’s Eve menu, available until 9 p.m., gets you any salad, any burger, any side, any desert or shake plus complimentary champagne for $4.25 per person.

Villa Christina: Executive Chef Andreas Georgakopoulous plans a three-course prix fixe dinner complete with wine pairings. Or, you can choose from Villa Christina’s dinner menu. Expect live entertainment throughout the evening from jazz vocalist Tammy Allen. 6 to 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Better make reservations.
Villa Christina also will cook up a Christmas Eve dinner, to be served from 5 to 9 p.m. Choose from 120 buffet selections including the Villa’s “almost-famous” bread pudding. $45 for adults and $25 for children 6-12. Complimentary for children 5 and younger.

Watershed on Peachtree: Chef Joe Truex will prepare a four-course menu that includes a champagne toast. All for $75.

Joystick Gambar: Attend the “Forget The Year” party, starting at 9 p.m. The festivities will be based on Japanese Bonenkai parties, which encourage plenty of eating and drinking as you forget the problems of the past. Look for specialty cocktails, drink specials and games. No cover.
Joystick Gambar aslo plans an “End of the World Party” on Dec. 20, starting at 9 p.m.. There will be a DJ, prize wheel, specialty cocktails based on the Mayan End of the World prediction and a midnight champagne toast.

Vanquish: New Year’s Eve begins at 9 p.m. Ask about the $35 early-bird special.

Serpas True Food: For $70 (plus tax, tip and beverages), you’ll be served a four-course prix fixe menu that includes a champagne toast.

The Shed at Glenwood: Spend $65 and get a four-course prix fixe dinner plus dessert and a glass of bubbly.

The Farmhouse at Serenbe: Travel south of Atlanta for the Farmhouse’s $65 three-course meal.

Davio's: The New Year’s special is a five-course meal for $75; add $35 for wine pairings.

Agatha's Mystery Dinner Theater: Mention ACVB and receive $5 off every ticket (This offer isn’t valid with any other special.).

This is It! BBQ & Seafood: In an interesting twist, This is It! wants to help those vowing to lose weight and eat better in the New Year. To this end, the restaurant will give a 10-percent discount to anyone ordering a veggie dinner. The slow-cooked vegetable meals start at $6.49.

Ocean Prime: Chow down on Ocean Prime’s American supper club menu or Chef Jason Shelley’s holiday features and toast 2013 with the restaurant’s berries and bubbles cocktail.

BLT Steak: Try Jerusalem artichoke soup, perigord truffle, a shaved parmesan venison rack and either a red wine pear or chocolate pear with cinnamon sauce.

Legal Sea Foods: Get a half dozen oysters for $6 from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Mary Mac's Tea Room: Ask for the family-style Southern Special. It’s for parties of two or more. Only one Southern Special per table, and in order to get the Southern Special, your entire table must choose this offering.

McKendricks Steak House: Feast your taste buds on prime rib slow roasted with herbs and spices. Or try stone crabs flown in daily from Florida. The nice people at McKendricks will even crack them for you.

Ruth's Chris Steak House: Spend $46.95 for a six-ounce petite filet and an eight-ounce lobster tail combo.

Thrive Restaurant: Thrive recommends its roasted beets salad, which includes Fuji apples, blue cheese, arugula and candied walnuts.

Opera Nightclub: $60 admission and open bar for ladies; $80 admission and open bar for guys. $125 VIP admission and open bar.

Get more Atlanta dining information at http://www.atlanta.net/dining

Carol Carter writes for the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB). Bianca Noel is an account executive in the ACVB membership department.

New Ansley Mall Restaurant: Fast, Casual, Budget-Friendly

2012-12-04T19:37:00Z

By Mary Welch

As we stand in line waiting to order, Atlanta restaurateur Shaun Doty comes over to give my companion, Atlanta cooking icon Elisa Gambino, a big hug. “We go to Yeah! Burger (in West Midtown and Virginia Highland) a lot,” says Gambino, whose fresh homemade pasta and sauces were a favorite of restaurateurs and food aficionados alike. “Great,” Doty replies, then adds, “Chicken is what’s happening now.”

Indeed. Shaun Doty and Lance Gummere just opened Bantam + Biddy in Midtown’s Ansley Mall, and they plan on opening Chick-a-Biddy next year at Atlantic Station. Bantam + Biddy is what everyone needs -- a fast, casual, family-friendly, budget-friendly restaurant that features all-natural, healthy food with seasonal organic vegetables. It’s sort of like a New Age meat and three.

Initially we are put off. A waitress announces to the confused gathering at the door waiting to be seated, “Menus are on the wall. Order and take a seat.” So we all stand around discussing options and making decisions. I guess enough of Bantam + Biddy’s patrons are equally put off because the restaurant now offers table service.

Of course, with any Doty offering, you start with a very high standard. So, even your least favorite dish is probably better than what you will find at most restaurants. We start with two snacks: pimento cheese with veggies and toast ($5) and pastured deviled eggs with bourbon smoked paprika ($4). The deviled eggs have a bit of a kick to them and the pimento cheese is fine. Again, fine is like an A+. Other snacks include organic black bean soup, poutine (duck fat fries, local cheese curds and chicken gravy $4), spicy wings ($8), chopped pastured chicken liver ($5) and fried chicken tenders ($6).

The real fun comes with the entrees. The star is the rotisserie chicken, served with two sides and jalapeño cheddar bread. The chicken is simply sublime. It is moist, pure and delicious. In fact, we take some of it home, and even two days later, it is still as moist and tender and just as enjoyable. For our sides we opt for Brussels sprouts (our favorite) and pickled beets and goat cheese. Honestly, we could have eaten the sides for a meal.

Gambino chooses meatloaf -- grass-fed beef Kentuckyaki with gravy. This is perhaps our least favorite dish. It is a bit crumbly and very heavy on the pepper. And while the sautéed broccolini and garlic rates a thumbs up from Gambino, she is in heaven over the marinated fennel slaw. “Exactly as it should be but even better,” she declares.

Other options include pork schnitzel, chicken sausage and mash, Gummere’s chicken pot pie and rotisserie chicken penne pasta. Bantam + Biddy also has a number of salads, including the powerhouse salad featuring organic egg, roasted broccolini, tomato, radish, sunflower sprouts and organic almonds; organic spinach salad; and Southern Cobb. A variety of sandwiches are available, and gluten-free bread can be had for $1.50 extra.

Bantam + Biddy serves full breakfasts, again with an organic twist. Many of the lunch and dinner options, such as pork schnitzel, poutine and fried chicken tenders are on the menu, but there also are mouth-watering offerings such as buttermilk cheddar biscuits with jam and honey, cheddar waffle, pastured three-egg omelet and organic low-fat yogurt.

Of course, the eatery offers a wide variety of beers, wines and cocktails.

Bantam + Biddy somehow does it all. It’s a great place for singles and families to come in and have a quick, delicious and healthy meal. But it also satisfies any foodie who is keen on the latest organic, fresh options with a twist that only a creative, caring chef like Doty can bring.

We’re putting Bantam + Biddy on the “not in the mood to cook but want a healthy meal” page in our Rolodex. Truthfully, we’re putting it right at the top.

Get more Atlanta dining information at http://www.atlanta.net/dining

Mary Welch is a veteran journalist who writes about travel, lifestyle and business. Her work has appeared in publications such as the "Atlanta Journal Constitution," "The Fulton County Daily Report" and "Family Vacation Critic."

Atlanta’s New The Joint Barroom Revives Adult Fun

2012-11-21T02:36:00Z

By Mary Welch

Remember the days of cocktail lounges? Well, maybe you don’t but they were places where adults could go, have a real cocktail, flirt and talk. Then they went away. But, don’t fear. The cocktail is back (maybe thanks to “Mad Men”), and Atlantans and visitors have a great place to enjoy creative cocktails, sample small plates of food, listen to great music and act like adults.

Yes, The Joint Barroom recently opened at Lindbergh City Center, next to the Tongue and Groove, which makes sense because the two clubs have the same owners.

The nonsmoking 1,500-square-foot “turbo-pub” features two bars, a DJ booth and loft-like features such as welded materials and raw concrete next to deep purple velvet drapes, European antiques and brown leather seating. A modern art installation by artist Jimmy O’Neal is the amazing centerpiece that hangs from the 23-foot ceiling. The spiral sculpture is constructed from the corrugated polycarbonate panels of an old greenhouse and reclaimed wood and is embellished with O’Neal’s patented, mirror-like paint. Lit up from within by LED bulbs, this elegant alternative to a chandelier fills the intimate room with an ambient glow.

But, of course, the real stars are the cocktails, and The Joint, at any given time, features three signature cocktails that are dispensed out of an ice-cold tap on top of the bar. Examples of featured cocktails on tap include: Death's Door Gin and Fever Tree tonic water with fresh lime; Joint's Southern Table Wine – Deep Eddy's Sweet Tea Vodka mixed with fresh-squeezed lemonade, Merlet Creme de Peche and garnished with fresh mint; and a boutique, barrel-aged bourbon based cocktail.

In addition to champagne, wine, craft beer and moonshine (yes, moonshine), The Joint also has a specialty cocktail menu. Specialty drinks include: the Moscow Mule – vodka, ginger beer, sugar syrup, lime juice, sprig of mint and a lime slice served in a copper mug; Georgia Moonshine – chug it in a wide-mouth Mason jar or order a whole jug; a Jalapeno Margarita – Tanteo jalapeno-infused tequila, Combier and fresh squeezed lime juice; Cuba Libre – light rum with a Coca-Cola bottle and lime wedge; Big Daddys' Tequila Sunrise – tequila with fresh squeezed orange juice and grenadine; and Ice Loves Coco – coconut rum, coconut water, served over ice in a coconut shell.

Food includes simple dishes and small snacks such as hot boiled peanuts, popcorn and soft pretzels served with cheddar beer cheese and mustard.

The Joint is a great place for parties and for friends to gather and talk and enjoy a drink or two. Located right at the Lindbergh MARTA station, it’s easy to get to and enjoy the night without worrying about getting behind the wheel. If you want a hard-driving nightclub, go to The Tongue and Groove, but if you want a unique, alternative barroom environment, check out The Joint Barroom in Lindbergh City Center at 569 Main St. It opens Mondays through Saturdays at 5 p.m.

Get more Atlanta dining information at http://www.atlanta.net/dining.

Photo by Teodora Nicolae

Mary Welch is a veteran journalist who writes about travel, lifestyle and business. Her work has appeared in such publications as the "Atlanta Journal Constitution," "The Fulton County Daily Report" and "Family Vacation Critic."

Do Brings Unique Dining to Atlanta’s Westside

2012-11-19T20:53:00Z

By Mary Welch

We’ve all been to restaurants that have a gimmick -- and all too often the gimmick takes center stage with the food a paltry side act.

Not so at do, a musically inspired restaurant that features innovative technology, interactive walls and touch-screen technology.

Located in the King Plow Arts Center on Atlanta’s Westside, do (pronounced dough) is a multisensory experience with the food playing a leading role in a thoroughly enjoyable and unusual atmosphere.

Walking into this amazing space is like walking into what might be some people’s vision of the gateway to heaven. There is a long white bar to the left. You see white round tables, white benches and long tables while the walls featuring various videos on different screens. Swirling white cloud-like images may be on one screen while an Adele video may be on another. Music flows, and all varieties of music tastes follow each other -- and there’s a reason for that.

Slowly the all-white room becomes engulfed in blue lights, then red. The room gets dark and then more light appears. It is always changing, ever flowing, but in a surreal dreamy sort of way. Never does the atmosphere intrude on the dining experience. You become a participant in the ever-changing environment, making it an exciting, stimulating atmosphere that is only bested by a fine culinary experience.

Foregoing traditional menus and continuing its high-tech theme, guests use an iPad on the table to look over the extensive list of appetizers, pizzas, desserts, cocktails and other beverages. The interactive menu allows guests to choose their dish, modify ingredients if necessary, add the quantity and submit their order without the need of a server. However, if you need the server, there is a “get help” tab on the iPad and very friendly and helpful servers appear, almost magically.

Guests can control the music by choosing a specific song on the restaurant’s remote playlist from their personal iTouch or iPhone or they can access do’s extensive music library on the table’s iPad and request songs. The iPad also allows guests to summon the valet service, provide their ticket and have the car summoned and waiting before they even leave the table.

As guests wait for their meal, they are surrounded by electric walls that showcase visual aspects that change throughout the night. Do was conceptualized by Christian and Nacasha Ruffin, who own One Stop Productions, an entertainment company.

But let’s get to the food. It is delicious. The restaurant features casual Italian fare made with the freshest and highest quality ingredients. The chicken, for instance, is free of growth hormones and antibiotics, and all the cheeses are made sans preservatives, fillers or artificial ingredients. The pizza sauce is made daily with San Marzano D.O.P. certified tomatoes. The extra care shows.

We started the meal with creamy crab and sausage flatbread -- crabmeat, spicy New Orleans style andouille sausage, tossed in a creamy tomato sauce, baked in a special blend of cheeses and topped with bell pepper and tomato salsa. Dreamy. All the flavors were in perfect balance, and the flatbread was gone in a flash.

Other popular ingredients include garlic cheese bites (cheesy bite-sized bread drizzled with garlic butter and served with two dipping sauces) and portamento mushroom (portabella mushroom topped with sundried tomatoes, artichokes, feta and mozzarella cheeses, drizzled with balsamic glaze.)

We also opted for a Caesar salad and were impressed with the garlicky taste but also with the size. Portions are quite large, giving guests a feeling of getting a great bang for their buck. That also, by the way, applies to wine servings.

Each pizza is made to order and includes a gluten-free crust option. We opted for the meat-lovers pizza -- called Rhythm-- and the bacon, ham, sweet Italian sausages, pepperoni and a blend of cheese, didn’t miss a beat. But in the midst of all the ingredients, the crust stood out.

There are a variety of desserts including a sweet potato soufflé and a double-layered red velvet cake. We opted for the banana pudding. Again, melt-in-your mouth.

We might even suggest taking your dessert and your after-dinner coffee (unfortunately, they don’t have a cappuccino machine) upstairs where there is a breathtaking unhindered view of Atlanta’s skyline.

Do is perfect for business and social meetings as well as dining with friends. In fact, the atmosphere is perfect for sharing good food, conversation and music. Go to the Westside and check out do. You’ll love it and will get onboard with the technology experience by Tweeting and Facebooking all your friends to come to do.

Get more Atlanta dining information at http://www.atlanta.net/dining