Dine Like a Local

Hurry Up and Vote for Atlanta’s Centennial Cocktail

ATL Insider — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 02:01:00 GMT

Only two days left to vote for your favorite cocktail from the nearly 70 entered in Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau’s “Sit. Sip. Vote Centennial Cocktail Contest.” Mixologists at Atlanta restaurants created special cocktails in the hopes of theirs becoming the city's Centennial Cocktail. To get a better idea of what we mean, take a look at this video of the Southern Gintennial cocktail entered by Two Urban Licks.

Voting ends June 14. No time to lose.

Follow the Lawyers to Article 14 in Midtown

ATL Insider — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:33:00 GMT

By Mary Welch

It’s easy to walk by and miss Article 14, a wonderful restaurant on 14th Street near Crescent Avenue. Only a small sign beckons, but it’s worth it looking for it. Even more confusing is that the address is 1180 Peachtree St., but, trust us, it’s really on 14th Street. If you have trouble, follow the King & Spalding lawyers leaving their offices and heading downstairs for a healthy, delicious lunch, dinner or post-work cocktails.

Article 14 epitomizes what is great with the new American cuisine philosophy -- natural, homemade and exciting. All the seafood and meats are cured on the premises and all dressings and condiments are made fresh from scratch daily. Executive chef Bernard McDonough thoroughly understands his ingredients and brings to the table an eclectic mix of flavors. Even standards like a Caesar salad (known as the Emperor) somehow tastes more vibrant and alive.

Started by Brian Bullock, who began his career at Houston’s, Article 14 has something for everything -- and if you’re not sure what you want, enthusiastic servers are quick to recommend and delight in your satisfaction.

We started our dinner with our server’s suggestion and one of the restaurant’s signature dishes -- bacon, dates and blue cheese. House cured and smoked bacon is wrapped around Medjool dates and then stuffed with Sweetgrass Dairy’s Asher blue cheese. Our companion only likes one of the three ingredients -- bacon -- but somehow loved the combination. The three ingredients blend effortlessly and provide a comforting and surprising starter.

The Emperor’s salad stands up as among the top Caesar salads in the city. Tart, tangy and alive with flavor, the Emperor’s salad is perfect for lunch, especially when topped with one of four proteins -- fried plantation quail, grilled Tanglewood Farms chicken, spice seared Scottish salmon or the daily catch.

Our second salad was another server recommendation -- the roasted cauliflower panzanella. For those, like us, who were unfamiliar with a panzanella salad, it’s a Florentine salad with soaked stale bread, tomatoes, onions and basil. Added to the dish were cauliflower, dried cranberries, toasted pumpkin seeds, spinach leaves and Parmesan and herb oil. The server was correct. It’s a lot of different ingredients that blended together into a tasty, messy and delightful healthy summer salad.

We then chose a rack of Colorado lamb served with pimento cheese potato puree and the seared New Bedford sea scallops with grilled corn pudding, baby spinach, bacon and crisped potatoes. The lamb was tender, grilled to perfection and our companion now is requesting that his mashed potatoes be puréed with pimento cheese in the future.

The sea scallops were decadent. Four large scallops were plopped atop the spinach and corn pudding with the bacon and potatoes adding the extra oomph to make the dish a delightful blend of soft scallops and crunch. Perfection.

We ended the meal with lattes, banana pudding and flourless chocolate cake and ice cream.

Article 14 describes itself as “refined dining,” and we’ll go along with that. The menu is uncomplicated yet elegant; sophisticated rather than ostentatious. The chef is confident in his ingredients and lets them shine.

Article 14 is the real deal in current American cuisine with fresh ingredients and unique pairings of ingredients. Next time you’re walking down 14th street toward Crescent Avenue, cross the street and delight in Article 14.

Photos by Grady McGill

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.

Centennial Cocktail Contest: Remember to Vote Soon

ATL Insider — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 20:37:00 GMT

What’s it gonna be? Which of the nearly 70 cocktails entered in Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Centennial Cocktail Contest will win? The last day to vote (June 14) is drawing near, but there’s still time. If you haven’t yet voted, take a look at the entries, then pick out one or two you and your buddies would like to try so that you can vote. Here’s a video all about the entry, Fiji 100 Punch, from Aja restaurant. You know, just to get you in the mood to Sip. Sit. Vote.

Brunch at Olmsted Would Please Goldilocks

ATL Insider — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:07:00 GMT

By Ashley O’Dell

When it comes to weekend meals, it’s hard to beat a good brunch. Perhaps it’s the Goldilocks Principle: Breakfast just isn’t what you want, and lunch doesn’t hit the spot either, but then there’s brunch and it’s jussstttt right.

Finding a great brunch spot in Atlanta is as easy as finding Peachtree Street, and that’s exactly where you should start. Olmsted, located at 14th and Peachtree streets, opened its doors in summer of 2012 and began brunch service soon thereafter.

On the menu, you’ll find dishes steeped in Southern roots and delivered with a little twist. For example, a seafood take on eggs Benedict gives way to Olmsted’s eggs Savannah – and my choice for a recent Sunday brunch.

Having been to Olmsted for several weekday lunches, I wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with the offerings, and when I noticed the deviled eggs with candied bacon had found a second home on the brunch menu, I knew better than to pass it up.

Let’s be clear – this isn’t deviled eggs with bacon bits sprinkled on top. These are your grandmother’s deviled eggs with a kick of cayenne and full strips of candied bacon served on the side. Eggs aside, the bacon alone is a good enough reason to give them a try.

As we finished our appetizer, our server brought out entrees – the aforementioned eggs Savannah for myself and “yet another shrimp and grits” for my friend.

The shrimp and grits featured succulent, plump wild Georgia shrimp served over sweet corn and white cheddar grits, tasso and scallion gravy with a shellfish reduction. A well-balanced dish, the gravy and shellfish reduction was a pleasant contrast to the creamy grits.

One look at the eggs Savannah was enough to make my mouth water. A perfectly poached egg and sautéed spinach were balanced delicately atop fresh blue crab and wild Georgia shrimp cakes with a freshly toasted English muffin as the base. The dish was complemented by breakfast potatoes – crunchy on the outside and just right on the inside.

The draw of Olmsted goes beyond the deliciousness of the menu. The space itself is beautiful with tons on natural light that makes dining inside almost feel like being outdoors. The curved floor-to-ceiling glass walls look out to a lush, green courtyard and the genesis of the restaurant’s name. A homage to Frederick Law Olmsted, the famed landscape architect who designed New York’s Central Park and Atlanta’s Druid Hills neighborhood, the restaurant Olmsted is a prime example of bringing the beauty of the outdoors to white-linen indoor dining.

The next time you are looking for brunch, make your way down Peachtree Street and into Olmsted. The upscale, inspired Southern concoctions – from Miss Gussie’s secret recipe fried chicken to eggs Olmsted – will surely hit the spot for any palate.

Born and raised in Alabama, Ashley O'Dell has lived in Atlanta since 2008. She has a love for all things culinary and enjoys writing about Southern food culture on her blog, Dash and Dine Atlanta. When she's not writing, Ashley can be found exploring Atlanta's neighborhoods, restaurants and live music venues.

Peaches Star in Steel Restaurant’s ‘Peachtree Place’ Cocktail

ATL Insider — Thu, 30 May 2013 22:28:00 GMT

By Carol Carter

First you muddle the peaches and mint with a little simple syrup.

Huh?

To make a drink! This particular cocktail, pictured below, that begins with the muddling is called “Peachtree Place” because that’s where Atlanta’s Steel Restaurant & Lounge is located – at 950 West Peachtree St. at Peachtree Place.

“It’s basically a twist on a mint julep,” says Miles Kirk, Steel Restaurant & Lounge general manager, “but more Southern, with peaches.”

The Peachtree Place cocktail is one of nearly 70 cocktails entered in the Sit. Sip. Vote. Centennial Cocktail Contest sponsored by Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB). Atlantans and visitors to Atlanta are encouraged to try a few of the cocktails entered in the contest then vote for their favorite. The winner will be named ACVB’s Centennial Cocktail, in honor of the bureau’s 100th anniversary.

Kirk and his colleagues named their entry Peachtree Place both because of their location and also “to promote the South, to promote Georgia heritage,” thus the bourbon and Georgia peaches in the cocktail.

Here, by the way, is the recipe: Muddle 3 peach slices and 3 to 5 pieces mint with .5 oz simple syrup; add crushed ice, 2 oz Woodford Reserve and 2 oz peach schnapps; use bar spoon to layer; garnish with a piece of peach and a mint sprig.

When Kirk and company decide to create a new cocktail, they begin by taking the season into account, then using appropriate fruits.

“It takes several rounds of ‘Oh, let’s play a little with this,’” he says. “Do we need to add a little lime juice? Is it a little sour? Do we need to add more sugar? Does it need a different liqueur? It takes about five to 10 times to actually get something started, then we focus on the finishing touches – what garnish works well with this drink? Our motto is ‘Never settle – never settle for second best.’ We always want to make sure it’s the perfect drink before we put it on the menu.”

Even though the Peachtree Place is fruity, Kirk cautions that it’s “not a sissy drink. It’s got a good burn from the bourbon, but it really plays well with the sweetness of the peaches and the fresh mint.”

Customers love the Peachtree Place cocktail, Kirk says. “It’s not overwhelming, but it’s still a strong drink.”

So, what are you waiting for? The contest continues through June 14. Grab some buddies; try a cocktail or two. And, well, you know – Sit. Sip. Vote.

Carol Carter writes for Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Grab a Friend and Play the Centennial Cocktail Contest

ATL Insider — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:11:00 GMT

By Carol Carter

What do you get when you mix Jack Daniels Tennessee honey, grapefruit juice, lemon sour, honey, grenadine and a cherry? Why, you get a Whistlin’ Dixie. Where do you get it? At Burgers BBQ Brews at the airport.

The Whistlin’ Dixie is but one of nearly 70 drinks from Atlanta bars and restaurants entered in Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Sit. Sip. Vote. Centennial Cocktail Contest. Sample a cocktail or two, then vote on your favorite here.

To whet your appetite, see if you can match up the ingredients listed below with the name of the drink.

Have fun.

1.   Bacardi Silver, B&B, Bailey's Irish Cream, splash of half and half, candied pecans
2.   Bombay Sapphire, St. Germain, grapefruit juice, lime juice, splash of champagne
3.   Bacardi 8, Irish Mist, Georgia honey, fresh lemon juice, grapefruit juice, bitters, soda water, lemon twist
4.   Bacardi 8, pineapple lemon puree, Yuzu Anise Sour, Star Anise
5.   Woodford Reserve, housemade maple bacon and sorghum syrup, Luxardo, clove and orange peel infused black tea ( garnished with a Slim Jim)

Here are the names. Ready. Set. Go.
A.   5 by 20
B.   Hemingway’s 100th Hemlock Honey Drop
C.   Southern Belle
D.   Southern Gentleman
E.   Parlour Punch

Carol Carter writes for Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.

(Answers: 1c; 2a; 3b; 4e; 5d)

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

ATL Insider — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:11:00 GMT

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

CSAdmin — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:18:00 GMT

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!

CSAdmin — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:06:00 GMT

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?

ATL Insider — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:34:00 GMT

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

ATL Insider — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:59:00 GMT

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!

ATL Insider — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 20:25:00 GMT

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

ATL Insider — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:07:00 GMT

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

ATL Insider — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:14:00 GMT

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

ATL Insider — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:46:00 GMT

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.