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Bone’s Buckhead, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Feb 12

Posted by in 5 star restaurants, American, Atlanta visiting, Buckhead, Romantic, Steaks, atlanta, steakhouse | No Comments

Bone’s restaurant celebrated it’s 30th birthday last year. That’s quite a milestone, especially given the fickle Atlanta restaurant market. Many restaurants are lucky if they see their 5th anniversary, quickly becoming just a flash in the pan. Bone’s restaurant has built it’s solid reputation on top-notch food combined with superb service.

I was attending a wine tasting dinner at Bone’s courtesy of Artesa Winery. So, while the majority of the menu was pre-selected, I was lucky enough to chose my steak: Filet or NY Strip. I went with the NY Strip. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Although I’d never been to Bone’s before, I surmised that probably not much has changed as far as the interior in it’s 30 years of existence. I’m certainly not dinging them for this. After all, it is still a classy place, just not super trendy, and a young hipster crowd you won’t find here indeed. I inquired at the host stand as to where my wine tasting would be, and was ushered to the private room. It wasn’t a minute after seating that a server asked if I would like anything besides wine to drink. Shortly after that we were brought gigantic seafood platters.

Bone's Seafood Platter

These seafood platters were full of crab legs and claws, lobster tails and jumbo shrimp. With the shell stripped away, this is exactly how I like to enjoy seafood, with all the hard work done for me. The jumbo shrimp and lobster tail were terrific, however the best tasting morsels were the crab claws. Plump and sweet, I could have made meal out of these alone. And I certainly went a little overboard, devouring 3 on my own. I could have easily eaten 1 more, but, knowing the best was yet to come, I did want to save room for it.

Bone's Beef Carpaccio

Next up we were treated to beef carpaccio salad. Given that Bone’s is a steak place, it wasn’t something I would have chosen to order, as I was about to be chowing down on a big slab of meat, but I was pleasantly surprised. No doubt the carpaccio salad was selected, as it would pair well with Pinot Noir we were sampling. But it was a lovely presentation, with the mix of shaved parmasean and arugala. I ate most of it and even though there was quite a bit of meat on the plate, I didn’t feel overly stuffed and knew I’d still be able to enjoy some of my steak.

Now, had I ordered the filet, I think I would have eaten it all. But the NY Strip was just too big a portion with all I had eaten previously. It was perfectly prepared, medium just as I had asked. Every morsel was delicious, especially with the exceptional Cabernet that accompanied it.

And don’t forget the sides. If there’s one thing that steakhouses do well besides, well, steak, it is the side dishes. I am always amazed at how they can take the simplest items, like potatoes, spinach, or mushrooms and turn them into these amazing vittles.

Bone's Mushrooms, Potatoes, Spinach

All were exceptional but the spinach really did stand out. I was tempted to ask them to wrap that up for me with my steak, but didn’t want to appear too greedy as I was the only one who asked for my food to be boxed. But I guess that’s what happens when you are in a room full of foodies.

For dessert, we all ordered something different, from pecan pie, cheesecake, chocolate cake and creme brulee. They must’ve all been damn good, because not one of us even stopped to snap a picture before digging in.

3130 Piedmont Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
404 237 2663
Website

Bone's Steakhouse on Urbanspoon

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Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Kennesaw, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Nov 24

Posted by in 5 star restaurants, American, Restaurant Reviews, Seafood, Steaks, kennesaw, steakhouse | No Comments

Nearly 45 years ago, Ruth Fertel, a single mother, mortgaged her house and invested her life savings to buy a restaurant named “Chris Steak House.” Shortly after taking ownership, Ruth added her name to the restaurant, becoming Ruth’s Chris Steak House. The Ruth’s Chris empire has expanded to well over 100 restaurants spanning several countries.

Although Ruth’s Chris had humble beginnings, the cooking styles, recipes and overall hospitality and top-notch service are still evident when visiting Ruth’s Chris Steak House. I felt that immediately when walking in the door. Originating in New Orleans, many menu items have a Cajun-style influence to them – shrimp cocktail with Creole remoulade or bread pudding with whiskey sauce. The New Orleans influence is even more evident in the lunch menu with items like French Quarter Steak Skewers and Chicken La Louisianne.

Ruth\'s Chris Kennesaw Dining Area

Ruth's Chris Kennesaw Dining Area

I had been to Ruth’s Chris once before and remember it being a fantastic and pleasurable meal. So, I was pretty thrilled when I was invited to check them out for the debut of the Kennesaw location of Ruth’s Chris. Open just over a week, the restaurant was fairly busy on a Wednesday evening when I visited. Most tables seemed to be comprised of business diners, with a few couples scattered in the mix.

The appetizers at Ruth’s Chris are comprised entirely of seafood. You can find the usual suspects – calamari, shrimp cocktail, and stuffed mushrooms. But I decided to veer away from that and order the Crab Cakes and the Ahi Tuna.

Ruth\'s Chris Ahi Tuna and Crab Cakes

Ruth's Chris Ahi Tuna and Crab Cakes

The steaks aren’t the only things that get delivered on a sizzling plate – the Crab Cakes were delivered the same way. These were full of lump crab with not much else and no iota of filler or breading. My only recommendation is to leave them on the sizzling plate and eat off of that. Otherwise, they will tend to get cold rather quickly. Still tasty, mind you, they are just much better when hot.

The Ahi Tuna is equally as delicious served atop a ginger/ mustard sauce. I love sauces, but I would go easy on this one. Don’t drown your tuna in it; otherwise the sauce will tend to overpower the tuna. In fact, I would ask for the sauce on the side, was I to order that again. Then gently dip the tuna slice in the sauce, so as to enhance the tuna NOT overpower it.

Ruth\'s Chris Mozzarella and Tomato Salad

Ruth's Chris Mozzarella and Tomato Salad

Up to this point, portions seemed decent – not huge. But that all ended after the appetizers. We ordered the Buffalo Mozzarella and Tomato Salad, which were split between the two of us. At the recommendation of our server, we had them split it in the kitchen and deliver it to us. Nice thick pieces of mozzarella sat on fresh sliced tomatoes. Again, the dressing was little overpowering here, I’d ask for it on the side.

For mains, there truly is something for everyone with seafood selections, lamb, chicken, but of course, steaks are the stars at Ruth’s Chris. They only serve USDA Prime steaks, which are only 2% of the steaks produced in the country. These steaks are cooked at 1800 degrees to lock in the flavor, and then served on sizzling plates to ensure that the meat stays hot the entire meal.

Ruth\'s Chris Ribeye and mushrooms

Ruth's Chris Ribeye and mushrooms

The two steaks we sampled were the Ribeye and the Tournedos and Shrimp. The Ribeye was huge and had excellent marbling. Steaks can be complimented with a sauce of your choosing – blue cheese, Au Poivre, Bearnaise, Hollandaise, but I prefer mine just as they are with Ruth’s Chris butter toping and I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest.

Ruth\'s Chris Tournedos - Filets and Shrimp

Ruth's Chris Tournedos - Filets and Shrimp

The Tournedos with Shrimp are two small 4 oz filets that come with jumbo shrimp on top. The filet was melt in your mouth tender and the shrimp sweet and full of flavor. The side dishes are large and one will most likely be plenty for two people to share. Potatoes come in 7 varieties, and the standout is the sweet potato casserole with pecan crust. The slightly sweet side was a compliment to the buttery steak.

Ruth\'s Chris Side Dishes

Ruth's Chris Side Dishes

While there is no shortage of au gratin, creamed or cheesy sides, I took a pass on these as I felt they would be too heavy with all I had eaten up to this point, so I opted for the simpler sautéed mushrooms. Simple, yes, but they weren’t lacking any flavor. And they were huge. Ruth’s Chris doesn’t do anything in small way. Had I not had such a filling start to the meal with two starters and the salad, I would have chosen a more rich side like creamed spinach or potatoes au gratin, which are specialties here. But there’s always next time.

When they wrap up your food at the end of the evening, and I say when because it is inevitable, not one group left without taking some food home, they refer to it as a food souvenir rather than a doggy bag. We were no exception, with half of our steaks wrapped and most of the side dishes as well.

Ruth\'s Chris Apple Crumb Dessert

Ruth's Chris Apple Crumb Dessert

Ruth\'s Chris Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake

Ruth's Chris Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake

But we still had to have a bite of dessert. The Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake and the Apple Crumb Tart were colossal and individually more than two people could eat. So, after a couple delicious nibbles we had to pack those up as well.

If you are a coffee lover, don’t miss the French Press coffee at Ruth’s Chris. Served in individual carafes, it is such a treat to have this freshly brewed coffee. My intent was to have one cup as it was already 9 pm, but it was so wonderful, I ended up having 3 cups, hence, here I am at 1 AM writing this article.

It’s nice to have a restaurant like Ruth’s Chris in Atlanta and even closer to us OTPers in Kennesaw. You probably know Ruth’s Chris isn’t cheap. But once in a while, it is worth the splurge to have a steak so high in quality, you’re reminded why you’re a carnivore and prepared so well, it just melts in your mouth. Everyone that we encountered seems to not only be well versed in the menu and professional, but genuinely proud of where they work.

Extras: They are open Thanksgiving Day from noon until 9 pm and are offering a 3-course meal for under $30 per person.

620 Chastain Rd
Kennesaw, GA 30144
www.ruthschris.com

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse on Urbanspoon

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Thanksgiving Dinner at Ruth’s Chris and Menu Recipies

Nov 18

Posted by in 5 star restaurants, American, Recipes, atlanta | No Comments

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is already next week. Where did November go? Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the new Ruth’ Chris steakhouse in Kennesaw (review will be posted soon). The reason for this post is that I wanted to mention that they have a special menu for Thanksgiving day that is available for $29.95. The 3-course meal includes a soup or salad, Turkey with dressing, potatoes, broccoli, cranberry sauce and a dessert. As far as I know, this menu is available at all Ruth’s Chris Atlanta locations.

Planning on staying in for Thanksgiving? Ruth’s Chris is offering their sides that feed 8-10 people for $25 each. The choices are Sweet Potato Casserole, Creamed Spinach, Mashed Potatoes, and Broccoli Au Gratin. These need to be pre-ordered 48 hours in advance. My personal favorite is the Sweet Potato Casserole. I’ve included the recipe below as well.

Want to cook at home the old fashioned way? See below -Ruth’s Chris Select Recipes. Recipes courtesy of Ruth’s Chris.

RUTH’S OYSTER DRESSING

YIELD 12 generous portions.

TOOLS Large Skillet, Slotted Spoon, Large Bowl, Baking Dish

INGREDIENTS

Smoked Sausage, finely diced 8 oz.
Hot Sausage: 8 oz.
(In New Orleans, hot sausage is a
fresh pork sausage seasoned with red pepper,
paprika and stuffed in pork casings like Italian
sausage without the fennel seeds.) If unavailable,
cut 8 oz. boneless pork shoulder into 1” cubes –
toss in a mixture of 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1
teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon
black pepper – let stand 2 hours, then grind or
chop fine.
Onions 2 medium
Celery 2 stalks
Green pepper 1 large
Fresh garlic 1/4 cup
Freshly chopped parsley 1 bunch
Chicken bouillon 4 cubes
Oysters – cleaned and drained (save the liquid) 4 pints
French bread (dried – cut into 1/2” cubes, 2 qts) 1 – 1/2 loaves
Butter 2 sticks
Salt, white pepper and cayenne pepper To taste
Eggs 6 large

PROCESS

1. Saute sausage – add vegetables – cook until soft on medium heat. Add parsley
and then remove from heat.
2. Saute oysters in 2 tablespoons of butter until the edges curl. Remove from skillet
with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool. Add remaining oyster liquid and
dissolve bouillon cubes, then bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and add the
butter (cut up into small pieces).
3. Chop cooled oysters and add to the vegetables.
4. In a large bowl beat eggs and stir in the vegetable and oyster mixture. Add bread,
oyster liquid and butter then mix well. Season to taste with salt, white pepper and
cayenne pepper.
5. Bake in a buttered baking dish at 350 degrees for 1 hour covered; uncover for 15
minutes.

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

YIELD Serves Approximately 6

TOOLS Mixing Bowl, Baking Dish

INGREDIENTS

SWEET POTATO MIXTURE
Amount Measurement Ingredient Name
3 Cup Mashed Sweet Potatoes
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 Each Eggs, well beaten
1 Stick (1/2 cup) Butter

CRUST MIXTURE
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1/3 Cup Flour
1 Cup Chopped Nuts (Pecans preferred)
1/3 Stick Butter, Melted

PROCESS

1. First, combine Crust Mixture in mixing bowl and hold on the side.
2. Combine Sweet Potato Mixture ingredients into a mixing bowl in the order listed. Combine
thoroughly.
3. Pour mixture into buttered baking dish.
4. Sprinkle the surface of the sweet potato mixture evenly with the crust mixture.
5. Bake for 30 minutes at 350°. Allow to set at least 30 minutes before serving.

Ruth’s Chris Website

Other Restaurants with meals under $30. To make a reservation, click here.

Chequers Seafood

Garrison’s Broiler and Tap – Vinings

Livingston Restaurant

McCormick & Schmick’s

No matter how you choose to spend your Turkey Day, I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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Dogwood, Midtown Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Nov 9

Posted by in 5 star restaurants, American, Atlanta visiting, Downtown, Midtown, Restaurant Reviews, Romantic, Southern, atlanta | No Comments

I’ve never been much of a fan of Southern Food. And I’m even more of a skeptic about what’s called “upscale Southern” as Dogwood Restaurant has been dubbed. To me, Southern food can be found and hole in the wall type of places. So, I put off visiting Dogwood Restaurant for quite a while.

Part of the reason I was enticed to visit Dogwood was their promotion I found on the Groupon site. They were offering $35 off of the meal, for the cost of $15. Waiting until the last day possible to use the certificate, we headed out to Dogwood on a rainy Saturday evening.

Dogwood Upstairs Seating

Dogwood Upstairs Seating

Located on Peachtree Street, just a couple blocks south of the Fox Theatre, Dogwood is a very pretty place. Inside, neutral colors are abundant throughout the restaurant. We were seated downstairs against the wall, but had I seen the upstairs prior to being seated I would have insisted on sitting up there as it seems more private and away from the noise of the open kitchen.

Our server, although very pleasant, didn’t waste anytime touting their wine special that evening. The special that evening being a red, available for $55 (bottle only). She gave us a taste (only a small one that we both had to share) but neither of us cared for it that much. We each picked one by the glass, averaging $10 a glass. If you don’t want to buy a bottle, there is a limited selection by the glass – one per variety.

Our server had shared with us her favorite appetizers, which also happened to be the most expensive ones. Coincidence? Perhaps. We went against her recommendations and didn’t order the foie gras or the lobster cake. Instead, we ordered grits and the pork belly with pickled collard green relish.

Dogwood Sherry Cream and Scallop Grits

Dogwood Sherry Cream and Scallop Grits

There are 3 types of grits but we chose the scallops with sherry cream. Although I’m not a fan of grits, I still did want to give these a try to see if “upscale Southern” isn’t just an oxymoron. I liked the sweet sherry but not the grits. It wasn’t the consistency, but the saltiness that I didn’t care for. I understand that they have a tasting of all 3, which if you have a group may be a good option as the other options are pork and sweet tea and pimento cheese and ham.

Dogwood Pork Belly

Dogwood Pork Belly

I’m not sure why, but for some reason I had in my mind that the pork belly would be served in a bun – perhaps like a slider. I suppose it was because the description says it comes with collard green relish and mustard, so I just assumed there would be some bread – but it was Atkins friendly. The 4 pork belly on skewers were decent, don’t get me wrong, but at only about 1/2″ square, hardly worth the $7 price tag.

We also gave the Acorn Squash Soup a try. With parmesan, pecans and maple creme fraiche all working well together making a very tasty soup – our meal was starting to look up. And the red wines were starting to open up with the progression of our food.

As for mains, Glen immediately choose the flat iron steak with fingerling potatoes and lobster. It was the only thing that appealed to me. Nothing else on the menu seemed all that interesting – trout, salmon, swordfish, short ribs, chicken breast. So, I revisited the small plates menu and settled on the mussels. I had seen them be delivered to another table, so I knew they were a generous portion.

Dogwood Flat Iron Steak

Dogwood Flat Iron Steak

Glen’s steak was delicious, cooked medium and with a great chimichurri sauce. And the potatoes with lobster were terrific. I wasn’t expecting such large pieces of lobster, which was a nice surprise. Glen shared a couple perfect bites (a piece of steak smothered in chimichurri sauce, lobster and cilantro) with me.

Dogwood Mussels

Dogwood Mussels

My mussels were tasty as well, no regrets on my part for not ordering an entree. They were made with smoked tomatoes and sage which gave them an overall smokey flavor which I very much enjoyed. Not only were they tasty but they were large and they pulled apart from the shell effortlessly, quite the opposite of the mussels at Dolce.

Although we had sampled a variety of food by this point, the portions weren’t huge, leaving us room for dessert. There were only 3 options – a chocolate / peanut butter cake, a strawberry almond bread pudding and another option that escapes me right now. But we chose the chocolate cake which didn’t disappoint. Rich, but not too rich, it was a delightfully sweet ending to our meal.

565 Peachtree St
Atlanta, GA 30308
404 835 1410
Website

Dogwood on Urbanspoon

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Afternoon in the Country at Serenbe

Nov 5

Posted by in 5 star restaurants, American, Family, Taste of, Wine Selection, Wine Tasting, cook like a professional chef, culture, outdoor dining, travel | No Comments

If you love good food, you’ll definitely want to be at this event. The Atlanta Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, a worldwide society of women in the culinary, beverage, and hospitality industries, will host its 9th annual Afternoon in the Country at Serenbe this Sunday, November 8, 2009 from 1 -4 p.m.

More than 35 chefs from Atlanta’s best restaurants and select retailers will be set up in a tasting format under festive big-top tents. Some restaurants that will be there are: 4th & Swift, Abattoir, Aria, JCT Kitchen, Joel Brasserie, Kevin Rathbun Steak, , Murphy’s, Muss & Turner’s, Pura Vida, Rathbun’s, Rosebud, Holeman & Finch, Restaurant Eugene, Kevin Rathbun Steak, Woodfire Grill. Select wineries and breweries will also be on hand with tasty samples. For the full list of participants click here.

Other highlights include: Live music by DriveTrain, the South’s premiere Bluegrass band, a one-of-a-kind cake raffle featuring sweets from Atlanta’s top pastry chefs, hayrides and an expanded silent auction offering exclusive dining and travel packages, food and wine merchandise and original art by prominent artists.

Regular ticket price is $95 per person. Children 12 to 20 are $35 each. Children under 12 may attend free of charge. Tickets are now available for purchase here.

9110 Selborne Lane
Palmetto, GA 30268
Serenbe Website

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Georgia Aquarium’s 4th Annual Aqua Vino, Downtown, Atlanta, GA

Oct 26

Posted by in 5 star restaurants, American, Downtown, Taste of, Wine Selection, Wine Tasting, atlanta | No Comments

Got $200 to blow? Then you might want to think about attending the Georgia Aquarium’s 4th Aqua Vino event. It takes place this Thursday at the Georgia Aquarium and there are more than 200 wines to sample. There will also be over 30 Atlanta restaurants providing food. Ok, so the $200 is the for the VIP Tastings which basically means you are granted admission an hour before everyone else and you have access to a VIP area. Regular admission is $150.

Date: Thursday, October 29th, 2009
Time: 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. VIP Tasting
7:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. Grand Tasting
Where: Georgia Aquarium, entrance via Oceans Ballroom
Tickets: VIP Tasting – $200 per person
Grand Tasting – $150 per person
Attire: Cocktail Chic

For a list of participating restaurants, click here. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.

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Pink Ribbons Afternoon Tea

Oct 21

Posted by in 5 star restaurants, Buckhead, atlanta | No Comments

The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead will be pretty in pink during the month of October with the addition of a Pink Ribbons Tea menu in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Chefs worked the color pink into different menu offerings.

Offerings include:
Tea – Berry Wellness Organic Tea, a rose-colored blend formulated with vitamins and mineral-rich fruits.
Food: Tea sandwiches and quiche, such as Smoked Salmon, Brie, Fruit Salad and Edible Flowers on Toasted Brioche
Desserts: Pink-Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Pink Ribbons Cupcakes, Very Cherry Macaroons and Pink Tea Cookies.

Pink Ribbons Tea is offered daily during the month of October, with seatings at 2:30 and 3 p.m. The cost is $36 per person, including tax and gratuities. Reservations are required and may be made by calling (404) 240-7035.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Pink Ribbons organization, an organization that promotes awareness and education, advocacy efforts to increase breast cancer research funding and access to breast cancer screening for all women, and providing low-cost mammograms for under-served women.

Website

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Atlanta Grill, Downtown Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Oct 16

Posted by in 5 star restaurants, American, Atlanta visiting, Downtown, Restaurant Reviews, Romantic, Seafood, Southern, Steaks, atlanta, outdoor dining | No Comments

The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta located Downtown recently extended an invitation to me to dine at their restaurant, Atlanta Grill. I stayed overnight at the Hotel as well. I’ll have a full review of the hotel, services and highlights of my stay in a follow up post. But Atlanta Grill is a standout in it’s own right and deserves a separate review.

This recent evening, the weather was absolutely perfect for outdoor dining with low humidity and temperatures in the low 70s. So, even though the interior of Atlanta Grill is beautiful, I just couldn’t resist sitting outside. Atlanta Grill’s patio overlooks Peachtree Street and provides some pretty nice views of the nearby buildings. Of course, there was the occasional street noise, but it didn’t stop us from enjoying our dinner one bit.

Atlanta Grill Rolls

Atlanta Grill Rolls

Just after being seated, we were introduced to Silvio, the restaurant’s resident Sommelier. Although he really knows his stuff, he is completely humble about his knowledge, wanting to make suggestions never forcing his opinion on guests. The wine list is very diverse and I could have easily spent 30 minutes perusing it looking for the perfect wine, but we thought why not let the expert pick out our wines for us. He made some great choices that really opened up as we ate our meals. But more on that in a minute.

The menu isn’t huge, but has some standouts. It is mostly seafood and steaks with a couple southern favorites thrown in, a nod to the old south. A recent addition, is the Smokehouse dining options. The Smokehouse items are salmon, ribs, chicken or beef brisket. I hear that Chef Bennett Hollberg, Chef de Cuisine at Atlanta Grill has a real passion for smoking foods and it was his idea to add the Smokehouse options to the menu.

Atlanta Grill Ox Tail Ravioli

Atlanta Grill Ox Tail Ravioli

I had seen the Ox Tail ravioli on the online menu and decided I couldn’t miss that dish. The pasta was so fresh tasting. I’m not sure if it is made in house, but it sure tasted like it. The meat, while tender, was a tad on the salty side. Glen’s Arugula salad, although simple, topped with radishes and pecans, was light and flavorful. He was wise to choose something that wouldn’t fill him up as the best was still yet to come.

Atlanta Grill Salad

Atlanta Grill Salad

Silvio paired my ravioli with a Pinot Noir. And Glen had a Chardonnay. I’m not usually a fan of white wine but I did like this one as the oaky taste that tends to be apparent in most chardonnays was missing from this one. In case you were wondering, the brand of chardonnay is “ZD” and it is from CA.

When our server mentioned the special of the evening, an 8 oz filet with lump crabmeat on top – I was sold. Glen, although interested in the special as well, ordered the shrimp and grits. I was a little surprised, as I would have expected him to prefer the trout (with apples and walnut chutney) or halibut (in tarragon fennel broth), but being the good southerner he is, he went for the shrimp and grits.

Between the rolls, appetizers and entrees, this was plenty of food for the two of us, especially if we had any intention of eating dessert. But as sides aren’t included with meals, I at least wanted to sample a side dish while I was here. As one would expect of a steak and seafood restaurant, sides included mashed potatoes, creamed spinach and asparagus among a couple others. Portions are large and one is plenty for two people. So with little discussion, we both agreed on asparagus.

Atlanta Grill Filet and Crab

Atlanta Grill Filet and Crab

My filet was cooked medium and was extremely tender. I almost didn’t need the knife. The crab was delicious as well, not just thrown on top, but baked on top (see the slight browning on top of the crab).

I really love that the Atlanta Grill isn’t stingy with the crab portion as sometimes restaurants can be – no crab shortage here. The meal, although simple, was very flavorful, probably what happens when you have fresh, quality food and know how to cook it right. And, while I did enjoy the wine reduction sauce, the meal can certainly stand alone.

Atlanta Grill Shrimp and Grits

Atlanta Grill Shrimp and Grits

Glen’s dinner was equally as delicious. I’ll admit, when he placed his order I thought to myself “shrimp and grits, really?” I have had shrimp and grits plenty of times, but never tasted any quite as unique as these. Aside from the fact that the shrimp were large, fresh and cooked perfectly, there was a hint of spicy tomato mixed in the grits that gave it an overall sweet and spicy taste. Wondering why the grits are green? It is the avocado cream sauce mixed in! Glen’s Chilean Pinot Noir went very well with his meal as to be expected.

As for my wine? Well, it was like liquid velvet – all 3 glasses! Good thing I wasn’t driving home. All great recommendations from Silvio. I really appreciated the fact that he gives guests a choice of two or three wines that will pair well with their meal rather than forcing them into the one of his choosing.

I almost forgot to mention the asparagus. Not a slight at the asparagus, just because there’s so much to say about the food. This jumbo asparagus was crisp and buttery at the same time.

Atlanta Grill Cheesecake

Atlanta Grill Cheesecake

By this time, we were pretty full, but the assistant manager, Jason Schmalz suggested that if we were too full for dessert, that we place an order to be delivered to our room later. The cheesecake we selected was to be delivered to our room about 2 hours later. Besides the beautiful plating, it was creamy, sweet and just enough to fill us up without feeling gluttonous.

If you haven’t been able to tell by now, there’s a BIG emphasis on unparalleled service at Atlanta Grill. Staff works together to provide an outstanding meal and experience, all while making it seem effortless. Looking around I could tell there were several groups celebrating special occasions, and Atlanta Grill was certainly a great choice for it.

181 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30303
404 659 0400
Website

Atlanta Grill on Urbanspoon

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WaterHaven, Midtown, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Oct 9

Posted by in 5 star restaurants, American, Good for Groups, Midtown, Prix Fixe, Restaurant Reviews, Romantic, Seafood, Steaks, Taste of, Wine Selection, atlanta, outdoor dining | 3 Comments

So, it was Midtown Restaurant week. Where to go? I’d already been to many of the restaurants listed and wanted to try something new. WaterHaven’s menu intrigued me. I like that Waterhaven had a solid offering of dishes – not just 2 apps and 2 entrees. Lamb sliders, crabcakes, bacon wrapped trout, oxtails all sounded yummy to me.

As it turns out, there were a group of friends that wanted to check it out as well. So we headed out on a Tuesday night to sample their menu. I don’t know what it is about that subtle change from August to September, but there was an immediate drop in humidity, perfect for sitting outside. As I was the first to arrive in my group, I checked out the patio, which is about 10 wrought iron tables and chairs that seat 4 people each. It didn’t look all that comfortable so I opted to sit inside.

Our group arrived around 730ish. Wathaven offers some specialty cocktails like a strawberry infused mojito, sweat tea vodka, sloe gin mule and the like. I’ve been burned by theses cocktails as of late. And when I say “burned” I mean that the description sounds good, but it often ends up being a high-ticket price without delivering on the alcohol.

Several of us opted for wine instead. A nice Grenache priced at $48.

Waterhaven Lamb Sliders

Waterhaven Lamb Sliders

Again, I loved that WaterHaven had a good representation of their menu for restaurant week. Actually, nearly everything on their regular menu was on the restaurant week menu. I was so glad there was a group so I could sample different menu options. For appetizers, we ordered a mix of the calamari, fried green tomatoes, lamb sliders, and the crabcake.

Waterhaven Crab Cake

Waterhaven Crab Cake

My first inclination was to go with the lamb sliders, but as no one else was going to order the crabcake, I had to order that. Although it was full of meat and not too much bread, it lacked any real taste to it. It was pretty bland. The lamb sliders on the other hand, although simply prepared, were full of flavor. I was also concerned that the bun would be too much in relation to the amount of meat as with sliders at JCT Kitchen, but it wasn’t.

Waterhaven Fried Green Tomatoes

Waterhaven Fried Green Tomatoes

The calamari was decent, nothing to complain about, but was overshadowed by the lamb sliders as well as the fried green tomatoes. Now, this is probably the last appetizer that I would have chosen to order, but it was delightful. The thin, fried tomatoes were served with a pesto sauce that adds a wonderful flavor to the tomatoes. I don’t care for goat cheese so I didn’t taste that with the tomatoes but the others seemed to like it.

Waterhaven Bacon Wrapped Trout

Waterhaven Bacon Wrapped Trout

As far as entrees we ran the gamut, from Bacon Wrapped Trout, Flatiron Steak, Chicken and of course the Oxtails. The trout was flaky and cooked perfectly with bacon and a side of mushroom lasagna. I’ve never seen lasagna quite like this before. It was like a round pasta sandwich. The pasta was on the top and bottom and the mushroom and asiago and ricotta cheese were mixed inside. Very yummy and unexpected. They could almost serve that dish by itself. In fact, it would make a perfect offering for vegetarians.

Waterhaven Oxtail

Waterhaven Oxtail

Waterhaven Steak

Waterhaven Steak

I did taste the Oxtails myself and was impressed. These were braised and fall off the bone tender. The only thing I didn’t care for or did my friend for that matter is the dumplings they were served with were not very dumpling-like. They were more like hard potatoes. But all in all it was a very pleasurable meal. I didn’t sample the steak or the chicken, but judging by the fact that there wasn’t a speck of food left on anyone’s plate, I’d take it everyone was satisfied.

But we weren’t done yet. We still had the dessert course. Our choices were the Chocolate icebox cake, the lemon and blueberry panacotta or the Chef’s nightly creation which was a poundcake with berries and ice cream. Again, within our group we had a sampling of all 3.

Waterhaven Desserts

Waterhaven Desserts

The least favorite of mine was the chocolate cake. Don’t get me wrong, I love chocolate but this was so rich, one bite was plenty. The pound cake was delicious and moist and the sweetness of the cake went well with the tart berries. But the Lemon blueberry panacotta takes the cake, so to speak. If you’ve never had panacotta, it is like a pudding or flan. Not only was the plating pretty with thoughtful details like a candied lemon zest on top, the lemon flavor came through in every bite, with the lemon and blueberry in perfect harmony.

Service was also great, with friendly, consistent service. And the chef even came by to ask us how we liked everything. I love that even though they knew we were here for restaurant week, they still wanted to make sure we had a good experience. And they had a good menu offering as well. Listen up restaurants – THAT is how you successfully execute a restaurant week, quite the opposite of my many other restaurant week experiences.

75 5th St
Atlanta, GA 30308-1019
404 214-6740
Website

Extras: They have valet parking if you need it but street parking can be found nearby as well.

WaterHaven on Urbanspoon

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Dolce Atlantic Station, Midtown, Atlanta, Ga Restaurant Review

Oct 6

Posted by in 5 star restaurants, Italian, Midtown, Restaurant Reviews, atlanta | 1 Comment

My friend, Tim, chose Dolce for his birthday celebration this year. He loves Atlantic Station, though I still can’t figure out why. Stepping inside Dolce, you immediately notice that not only is Dolce’s decor pretty but it is full of pretty servers and pretty people. The chandeliers and tables are all gorgeous as well.

We were the first to arrive from our party and mentioned this to the hostess who told us they were getting our table ready. About 10 minutes later apparently they were still getting our table ready even though the place was nearly empty. She walked by me several times and I tried to make eye contact with her – just looking for a status update but I was ignored. I think they wanted the entire party there before seating, cause when the remainder of our group arrived we got seated right away.

It is pretty dark inside, save for the curtained off private dining room that is all white. As it was pretty dead on this particular Thursday night, we asked to be seated in this dining room. Too bad it was already booked, or that would have made the evening much more pleasant. I hope for the sake of Dolce it is more busy on weekend night or I don’t know how they can stay in business.

Dolce Martini\'s

Dolce Martini's

We started off with a couple martinis. At $10 a piece I would have expected them not to be so stingy with the liquor. My first drink, the lemoncelli with chamboard was way to sweet. I couldn’t enjoy it one bit and had to send it back for another. This was just meh, definitely not worth the $$. You are probably better off to take your chances with wine at Dolce but I just decided to stick it out with my drink.

There is also a 2 for $39.99 menu where 2 can share and appetizer and dessert and get 2 entrees of their choice. NOT a good value as they don’t offer anything that stands out – mostly bland pasta entrees and if you add up the price it is the same as if you ordered the items a la carte.

Dolce Mussels Appetizer

Dolce Mussels Appetizer

I had already honed in on the mussels with artichokes in a garlicky broth for an app and the gnocchi with sausage for an entree. Both seemed reasonable at 10 bucks a piece. Glen had the veal, and others tried the scallops, halibut, chicken parm and filet minion.

Dolce Fried Calamari, Shrimp and Scallops

Dolce Fried Calamari, Shrimp and Scallops

As far as the apps, the trio or “must haves for the table” (as they are referred to on the menu), we sampled the fried sampler with calamari, shrimp, scallops and zucchini. It was tasty, however, it is mostly the zucchini with far less shrimp, calamari and scallops. But at $12 a bowl it was reasonable for sharing. The mussels, on the other hand, were a bit of a disappointment. I never knew mussels could be so tiny – they were not much bigger than a peanut. I enjoyed the broth much more. In fact we had to order 2 more bread baskets, so we could sop up all that broth.

Dolce Sausage Gnocchi

Dolce Sausage Gnocchi

Honestly, I was pretty full by the time my gnocchi came, so I really didn’t mind that it was rather small. That’s why I intentionally ordered the mussels first. And while it was small, gnocchi tends to fill you up pretty quickly. While it did taste homemade as advertised, it was waaay too spicy. And I’m a girl who adores hot and spicy foods. It was so spicy it wasn’t all that enjoyable unless I took break in between bites to let my mouth cool off.

But the other entrees were great – Veal was cooked perfectly and a big portion – Glen cleaned his plate completely. I sampled the halibut with truffles which was cooked to perfection with a parmesan bread crust that made it divine. The scallops were also quite tasty – they were 4 large scallops in a brown butter sauce. And the butternut squash that came as a side was delish with a great consistency.

Dolce Pasta

Dolce Pasta

The remaining pasta dishes (lasagna, veggie pasta) seemed to be ho-hum with no pizzazz. It seemed more like they were on the menu as an obligation with no heart put into these dishes.

After the plates were cleared, our server asked if we knew what we’d like for dessert. I asked for the dessert menu as we hadn’t been given one. Now, there were 11 people in our party, but we were brought 1 dessert menu, same thing with the drink menu. I don’t get it. Are they afraid we are going to abscond with their menus?

Friends Kerry and Monica ready to eat their dessert

Friends Kerry and Monica ready to eat their dessert

The chocolate cake and other desserts didn’t seem to excite me too much so I took a pass, but did taste the ice cream dessert. And I was glad I didn’t spend $8 for it.

Service is a severely lacking here. I would think they would be happy to have guests as dead as they were, but I didn’t get the feeling anyone at Dolce cared if we were there or not. And while I like they idea that they price things on the lower end of the scale ($10 dishes) it is just too bad they taste like $10 dishes. If you really want to have a decent meal, you’ll need to for the $20+ dishes here to get it. And save your $$ on the drinks and just order wine.

261 19th St
Atlanta, GA 31132
404 872-3902
Website

Extras: Monday night dining is half off.

Dolce Enoteca E Ristorante on Urbanspoon

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