Archive for category East Cobb

Free Lobster at Houlihan’s East Cobb, Atlanta, GA

Get yourself some free tail on Thursdays. Lobster tail that is.

Every Thursday (after 4 p.m.), the East Cobb restaurant will give diners a complimentary cold-water lobster tail with every 9 oz. Prime Top Sirloin, 8 oz. Filet Mignon or 12 oz. New York Strip steak. There is no expiration date – they just told me they will keep the deal “while supplies last.”

1401 Johnson Ferry Rd
Marietta, GA 30062-6495
770-977-9324

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La Strada Italian Restaurant, Marietta, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

When West Cobb Magazine asked me to review La Strada restaurant in East Cobb, my first thought was “Wow – I haven’t eaten in there in forever. I wonder if La Strada is still as good as I remember?” So, I did what I usually do before visiting a restaurant. I went online and checked out their website to get a general idea of what their menu is like and a sense of what I’d like to order. Judging by La Strada’s basic website, I jumped to the conclusion that food would be average. Full disclosure: this was a free meal as I was reviewing for West Cobb Magazine.

La Strada owner, John Lefkaditis

La Strada owner, John Lefkaditis

Upon entering, I was greeted by John Lefkaditis, the current owner, who bought it from the original owners 7 years ago. His warm and friendly demeanor immediately let me know this was a family restaurant that wants to turn every guest into a regular. I learned that in it’s 21 years the restaurant has gone through several iterations from originally being a house, to a pool hall, an Ernie’s Steakhouse, to the restaurant we now see as La Strada.

La Strada Interior

La Strada Interior

Being seated in a cozy table at the back of the restaurant, I felt free to take pictures without the flash being a nuisance to other diners nearby. The decor, hasn’t been updated in quite a while. John said the regulars seem to like it and he doesn’t want to mess with what works. He recently updated the booths which was a major change for them, but a necessary one.

La Strada Bruschetta

La Strada Bruschetta

Before looking at the menu, we were brought some garlic bread with an minced olive spread, which I quite enjoyed, surprising, as I don’t usually care for olives, but this was quite tasty when spread on top of the garlic bread. Note: this is different than the image above, which is Bruschetta.

Our server, Dee, who’s been at La Strata just under 2 years, recited to us the 4 appetizer specials and 4 entree specials that evening without having to consult a cheat sheet once. As she touted the stuffed shrimp, we gave that a try. And I knew I wanted to try the calamari, of which they have 2 offerings – 1 is the traditional ring calamari with red sauce, but I found myself leaning to the more unusual calamari steak, which, in it’s appearance is like a thin fried chicken cutlet.

La Strada Calamari Steak

La Strada Calamari Steak

The shrimp stuffed with crab, scallions, onions and garlic and topped with melted mozzarella cheese was fantastic. If you like shellfish and are a fan of crab cakes, this is a great choice if available, as you not only get crab but shrimp too. I had mixed feelings about the calamari steak myself. It comes with a lemon sauce that is VERY strong. It grew on me slightly, but I think because it is was not what I was expecting, I was a little disappointed. I would recommend the more traditional calamari to anyone.

At this point, John, popped over once again to see how our dinner was. I kept my eye on him most of the evening, and watched as he chatted up patrons, which seemed to be almost entirely made up of regulars. After speaking to John for a while, I learned that he worked for the revered Buckhead Life Restaurant Group as a manger at several of their restaurants (most recently Kyma) for years before buying La Strada. So, obviously he knows what he is doing.

La Strada Lamb Shank

La Strada Lamb Shank

That being said, we took his recommendations on dinner and each tried one of the specials. Originally, I intended on ordering the Steak Pizzaiola – a NY Strip topped with marinara sauce. But when I heard about the lamb shank Osso Bucco special, I just couldn’t resist. And, Glen went for the veal chop special.

La Strada Veal Chop

La Strada Veal Chop

My lamb shank didn’t disappoint. The huge shank had tender, juicy meat, nearly falling off the bone – no knife necessary. I chose the risotto as a side, but you have a choice of potatoes if you prefer. Speaking of huge, Glen’s veal chop was gigantic. Although he arrived at the restaurant with an appetite, he barely made a dent in this chop, amazing as it was. I highly recommend ordering anything veal here. If there isn’t a veal special, the stuffed veal parmigiana, sounds like a great choice – topped with prosciutto, eggplant, marinara sauce, and mozzarella.

La Strada Zuppa Inglese Dessert

La Strada Zuppa Inglese Dessert

La Strada Chocolate Cake

La Strada Chocolate Cake

After having our remainders boxed up, we truly had no business looking at a dessert menu, but we did anyway. Believe or not, this was the hardest decision of the evening – and usually it is the easiest. As to be expected the true Italian classics are on the menu – Tiramisu and Cannolis. I’m sure the Tiramisu is good, but I just couldn’t handle a rich dessert like that at this point. So, I asked for a lighter suggestion and was told about the Zuppa Inglese – the Italian version of the English Trifle. As promised, this was light and small enough to be the perfect finish to my meal. I did also have a taste of the Cioccolato at Forno – a flourless chocolate cake. It was superb – the decadent chocolate filling pairing well with what was left of our red wine.

In my chat with John, I found out that he hosts monthly wine dinners and wine tastings. “How do you spread the word?”, I asked, as it obviously wasn’t noted on their website. He said it is almost like an underground event – not something they promote. Only regulars are in the know. As one of the customers was leaving he shouted at John “See you next Thursday!”

Ah! I finally began to understand, La Strada isn’t about hype or mega advertising. They are just about being a family-oriented restaurant who has built a loyal following by providing friendly, thoughtful service and consistently good food. Prices are very reasonable, with most under $20. Go. Try. Become a regular.

2930 Johnson Ferry Rd
Marietta, GA 30062
770 640 7008
Website

Extras: The restaurant offers gluten-free pastas and rice.

La Strada on Urbanspoon

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Cafe de Paris, Marietta, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Located in a strip mall in East Cobb, Café de Paris is a welcome refuge from the chain restaurants and fast food establishments that are abundant along the Johnson Ferry / Roswell Rd area. I visited this quaint French restaurant on a Wednesday afternoon for lunch. Tucked away in the corner of the Woodlawn Commons shopping center, Café de Paris is attached to a European style home décor store –C’est Moi, both owned by the same people.

Upon entering, you’ll notice the blackboard stand near the front door that lists the 3 or 4 specials of the day. There’s also a display of various canned and packaged foods for sale – with things like monkey bread mix, tri-colored pasta, pancake mix, syrup and the like several of the items imported from France.

Cafe De Paris Goods

Cafe De Paris Goods

The laminated menus are located near the register where you place your order. If there is a line when you enter, go to the counter and grab one of the menus, so you can peruse it as you wait in line. Once your order is placed and paid for, grab a seat and your meal will be delivered shortly.

The menu at Café de Paris is comprised on omelets, salads, sandwiches, and quesadillas (yes, quesadillas in a French restaurant). You can also choose a half and half combo consisting of your choice of 2 of the following: soup, salad or sandwich. It appears breakfast is served all day or at least through the lunch hour.

Cafe de Paris Quiche Lorraine

Cafe de Paris Quiche Lorraine

As it had been many, many months since I had had quiche, I ordered the quiche of the day- Quiche Lorraine and the soup of the day – Lobster Bisque. We also sampled the chicken salad sandwich melt. My cohorts and I were starved (we had skipped breakfast) and I was a bit concerned that the quiche Lorraine and the chicken salad melt weren’t going to sustain us for very long, but I remained satisfied well into the evening hours.

In my experience, true French food tends to be very rich but served in small portions, so the diner doesn’t feel gluttonous, and Café de Paris was no exception. My cup of soup and the small piece of quiche was served with a side of fruit, a welcome change from the normal carb fest at most other lunch spots.

Cafe de Paris Chicken Salad Sandwich Melt

Cafe de Paris Chicken Salad Sandwich Melt

My Quiche Lorraine was decent and had a fair offering of ingredients – ham, spinach and swiss cheese. But sandwiches are the real winner here. I sampled the chicken salad melt and it was divine. I’m a chicken salad addict myself, but the melt, served on thick toasted slightly sweet wheat bread was excellent. It had a slight lemon flavoring in it as well, which added another dimension of flavor.

I had the chance to sample all three of the featured soups that day: Lobster Bisque (which came with my meal), Tomato Basil and Lemon Artichoke. I felt the bisque was decent but a tad too sweet and creamy. I prefer my bisque to be a little more spicy as opposed to sweet.

“The Lemon Artichoke soup is what we are known for”, which the owner / manager, Jim (I only caught his first name) proudly extolled as he set the soup in front of me. It is definitely a bold flavor. It was not like anything I’d ever tasted before.

Cafe de Paris Lemon Artichoke Soup

Cafe de Paris Lemon Artichoke Soup

And, to be honest, on the first sip, I didn’t care for it, as both the lemon and artichoke flavor is extremely strong, but it actually grew on me and I was loving it by the end. While in line, I heard 2 customers talking about it as well with polar opposite opinions, so it appears to be one of those dishes you either love or hate.

Café de Paris is open from 8 am until 9 pm every day but Sunday, when they close at 3 pm. The café also has dinner entrees like Steak au Poivre, Lamb Chops with Mint Pesto and Shrimp Carbonara all priced at under $14. Lunches are around $8.

Service was pleasant and quick. The majority of customers look like soccer moms out to lunch with their girlfriends, in between shopping and errand running. Although the atmosphere lends itself to the Parisian-style long, leisurely lunch, with the quick service it is possible to get in and out within your lunch hour. So, if you work in area, Café de Paris should be on your short list of lunch spots, a definite escape from the ordinary.

1100 Johnson Ferry Rd
Marietta, GA 30068
770 977-4945
Website

Cafe de Paris on Urbanspoon

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Soba Bar and Bistro, Marietta, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Soba Bar and Bistro is exactly what East Cobb needed in the exact location it needed it. There are not many non-chain restaurants in East Cobb, and even less with superior decor, food and service. Open for about 2 years, Soba is a freestanding building located off of Piedmont Rd near Roswell Road in the Publix Shopping center just across the street from the YMCA. Soba’s cuisine is Asian – with an offering of sushi, chinese and thai.

Bar at Soba

Bar at Soba

Stepping inside Soba Bar and Bistro, you would never know that it once housed El Toro restaurant. The restaurant has been completely transformed. Gone are any traces of a chain Mexican restaurant, replaced by beautifully appointed furnishings and several semi-private dining areas, perfect for groups or couples.

We were seated at a booth, but due to the proximity of a family with a screaming baby we chose to move to a more private area. Seriously people, do you really need to be told it is rude to have your screaming kid at a nice restaurant after 8 pm on a Friday night? But I digress…the staff was super friendly about us wanting to move.

Soba Pork Dumplings

Soba Pork Dumplings

Much happier with out new seating arrangements, we perused the menu. Torn between the calamari and the pork dumplings, we chose the dumplings as it was the healthier option (not being fried). The six dumplings came out shortly and were extremely tasty. It is a perfect appetizer for two to share.

Soba Firecracker Shrimp

Soba Firecracker Shrimp

I ordered the firecracker shrimp which to me is close to a Szechwan shrimp. And Glen, although a little skeptical, ordered the tuna steak. Having not eaten here before, we weren’t sure how fresh the fish would be, but the tuna was done perfectly. The pink center was just right, not to mention what a generous portion it was.

Soba Tuna

Soba Tuna

We finished the evening with the Xango Cheesecake. This is cheesecake wrapped in wonton-like substance and drizzled with lemon, raspberry and chocolate sauce. The plating was absolutely beautiful. Although I was pretty full at this point, it was totally worth it.

Soba Xango Cheesecake

Soba Xango Cheesecake

Our server was helpful, friendly and efficient the entire night, making great recommendations. He may have been a little green (perhaps this is his first server job) but his eagerness to please made the service completely enjoyable. Entrees are priced modestly under $20 and there are beer and wine specials even on a weekend night. Overall, Soba Bar and Bistro is a great find in East Cobb.

1060 E Piedmont Rd NE
Marietta, GA 30062
770 971 1888
Website

Extras: Date night specials on Friday and Saturday: 1 bottle of wine, 2 entrees and dessert for $50. Tax and tip extra.

Soba Bistro & Bar on Urbanspoon

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Cobb County Restaurant Week, Marietta / Smyrna, Atlanta, GA

Not to be outdone by restaurants Inside the Perimeter, with their own restaurant weeks, Cobb County is having its own Restaurant Week. Beginning September 19th for one week, special restaurants in Cobb Country with be offering 3 course meals for $30, or lunch for $15. Of course, this doesn’t include tax, tip or alcohol.

Some participants are Aspen’s, Maggiano’s and South City Kitchen. Menu offerings look good, but the $30 price tag seems steep, considering restaurants ITP offer 3 course meals for only $25.

Participating restaurants along with their prix fixe menus can be viewed here.

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Houlihan’s BOGOF and Serpas $10 off Deals Expiring Soon

Here are 2 deals expiring within the week you should take advantage of:

1. Houlhian’s Buy One Entree and a S’mores Fondue Dessert and Get one entree free. You’ll need the coupon below. Expires 9/7/09

2. Serpas – $10 off your a meal of $20 or more. You’ll need to print and fill out the coupon below. One per table. Expires 9/6/09

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Aspen’s Steakhouse, Marietta, Atlanta, GA Dining Deals

Aspens Steakhouse in Marietta, is offering some great deals. If you haven’t been there lately you may want to check them out. These deals are good until August 31. It looks like deals are good only at the Aspens East Cobb Location, not West Cobb.

Early Bird Specials:
Discounted menu entrees as low as $11. Available before 6 any day of the week and all evening long on Sundays and Mondays.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays:
$5 small plates

Tuesday:
50 cent oysters in the bar area

2942 Shallowford Road
Marietta, GA 30066
Phone: (678) 236-1400
Aspens

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Food, Inc. Showing, July 22, Strand Theatre, Mareitta, GA

If you still haven’t seen Food, Inc. here’s another opportunity to see it (but it isn’t free). However, if you live in Cobb and are looking for a place nearby, check out the Strand Theatre in Marietta which is showing Food, Inc. this Wednesday, July 22. Cost is $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

Here’s the deal:

The Strand, located in the historic Marietta square is hosting what they call “The Indie Triple Feature” They are designed to be affordable nights out featuring music and and Indie film. The way it works is that local band opens up, followed by an indie movie, which is then followed by a headliner band. The opening band goes on at 7:30 and the movie begins at 8.

For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

Extras: Indie nights are 18+ events

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Marietta Fish Market, Marietta, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Marietta Fish Market

Marietta Fish Market

The Marietta Fish Market had a highly anticipated opening in Marietta in December 08. Started by the folks who brought you the Marietta Diner, there are obvious similarities between the two, most notably the enormous dessert portions. Seeing the throngs of diners since it opened, I thought I’d let them die down and work out any kinks before I visited the Marietta Fish Market.

So, it wasn’t until a recent June evening that I was able to sample the Marietta Fish Market. It is an oddity to have a restaurant offering valet service on a stretch of road mostly marked by fast food establishments, gas stations and outdated strip malls. There is some self-parking available, but by early evening (about 5 pm) most of it becomes valet territory. Driving by more times than I can count, and seeing the crowds at the Marietta Fish Market, it is apparent parking is a huge issue.

The most recent Father’s day found me there with my dad along with my brother and a couple others. My Dad refuses to go anywhere for dinner later than 5 pm. What is it with old people and eating early? To be fair, MFM was already starting to fill up at 4:30 when we arrived. Although I could tell the Marietta Fish Market is a big place, once inside I saw that they truly do have a huge amount of seating and a large waiting area: thank goodness because they need it.

Walking though to the dining area, I immediately noticed the display case of fresh seafood, reminiscent of another popular fish market in Atlanta. There are 4 dining areas: the bar area with high top tables, the outdoor patio, dining area with large booths for big parties and the second dining room with tables and chairs mostly accommodating groups of 4. Obviously expecting many more visitors than they could handle, they setup a couple large plastic tables and folding chairs on this Father’s Day.

I’m not sure why, but the hostess sat us at one of these “picnic-like” tables even though there were plenty of booths available when we arrived that could have much more comfortably sat our party of 5. I’m certain it can’t because the booths were reserved since they have a “no reservations” policy. So, 3 out of our party of 5 were seated.

They asked the names of the other 2 to join us, assuring they would bring them to our table when they arrived. But when our companions arrived and gave their name at the hostess stand, they didn’t make the connection, and were never brought to our table. It is always a shame when restaurants try to be a cut above by offering these perks only to drop the ball.

Although not overly impressed with the service by this point, I have to cut them some slack as it was a busy evening for them with it being Father’s Day. So, I overlooked this and was eagerly anticipating my dinner. Shortly after sitting down, our server brought us bread – a nice thick challah with a cream cheese spread. I loved the cream cheese but wish it was served on the side as it wasn’t evenly distributed on the bread.

Much like it’s sister restaurant, the Marietta Diner, the menu goes on and on and on….There’s so much to choose from, if you are like me, you’ll want to peruse the menu online before visiting the restaurant because in addition to the regular menu there are a list of daily specials to choose from as well.

MFM Zucchini Fries

MFM Zucchini Fries

MFM Oysters Bienville

MFM Oysters Bienville

We began with the zucchini fries and the Oysters Bienville. It is pretty apparent that the Marietta Fish Market doesn’t do anything in small portions. One appetizer would have been fine for our group of 5. The zucchini fries were terrific and the ranch dipping sauce was a nice touch. Please do yourself a favor and limit yourself to 1 appetizer. The oysters were ok, but I felt there was too much parm cheese and crumbs, which took away from the oysters. Having known that, I would have ordered the oysters on the half shell instead.

MFM Gumbo and Seafood Bisque

MFM Gumbo and Seafood Bisque

Moving on to mains: we all varied when it came to menu selection. As an aside, I really appreciated the fact that you can get a cup of their tasty soup with your meal – Seafood Bisque, Gumbo or Clam Chowder. So here goes:

Crab Cakes
Seafood Paella
Shrimp and Scallops Supreme
Chicken Tenders
Daily Special: Grouper pasta with shrimp

MFM Crab Cakes

MFM Crab Cakes

MFM Shrimp and Scallop Surpeme Pasta

MFM Shrimp and Scallop Surpeme Pasta

While my dad loved his crab cakes, he is not as picky as I am. I tasted a small piece and thought they were decent but certainly not anything outstanding. The shrimp and scallops in my meal were huge and there were lots of them too – no skimping here. Part of the appeal to me was the addition of artichokes in the pasta. While I enjoyed it and then again and again as 2 more leftover meals, I thought it was a little too cream heavy. I didn’t taste the chicken tenders or grouper pasta but they were well-liked by our other companions.

MFM Seafood Paella

MFM Seafood Paella

Without a doubt, the star of the table was the Seafood Paella. While I’m not a fan of paella, this is one incredible dish. From the presentation to the generous portion of lobster, shrimp, scallops, mussels, it is very impressive. No wonder it was featured on The Food Network. Although the folks at Marietta Fish Market may not like this, this meal could easily be split between 3 or 4 people.

To be honest, I was getting rather full from the fries, oysters and soup by the time my meal arrived. The problem with seafood? Doggie bags and seafood don’t go well together. I ate as much as I could but still had plenty to take home. From the portion standpoint, it would be nice if there were half portions available. My brother who can definitely put a hurting on any buffet, still had to pack up most of his paella.

Leftover Paella

Leftover Paella

For the portion of food offered, the prices are extremely reasonable. Most entrees range from $17 to $20. But if you want to go for specials the the Seafood Paella, it will be more like $25, although well worth it. The quality is top notch too, very fresh.

I kept my eye on the servers and they were all busting their butts everywhere I looked. There was no slacking on this evening. By the time we were leaving, around 6:30 pm, the waiting area was packed with what must have been 40 -50 people. It was pretty noisy in the restaurant and most tables seat 4 to 6, so this is definitely not the place for a romantic date, but more a family atmosphere.

It is hard to see all those yummy cakes and pies and not order something. But just keep in mind, portions are huge. If you really want to try something smaller, I recommend the cannoli – small but still delicous!

MFM Cannoli Dessert

MFM Cannoli Dessert

3185 Canton Rd
Marietta, GA 30066
678 354 6416
Website

Marietta Fish Market on Urbanspoon

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Presto Colombian Bakery / Restaurant, Marietta, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Presto Columbian Bakery

Presto Colombian Bakery

Tucked away in a strip mall near Sidelines, you would never know the Colombian Bakery had such delicious meals. Glen turned me on to the Colombian Bakery after his co-worker took him there. While the restaurant is geared towards a Spanish speaking crowd (menus are in Spanish with English descriptions in parantheses), the staff really does do their best to accommodate non-Spanish speaking customers.

I’ve now been to the Colombian Bakery a handful of times. After ordering off the regular menu and the lunch special of the day, your better value is the lunch special. I love it when they have the whole fried fish (head, tail and everything). It is real deal at $6.99.

Colombian Bakery Empanadas

Colombian Bakery Empanadas

My most recent visit was with a group of 4. To begin we had the beef empanadas. Delivered quickly to our table, these crispy snacks were perfect in size, whetting our appetites but not leaving us too completely full to enjoy the feast that was to come. And the cilantro sauce that comes with it ads a pleasant degree of spiciness. If you can handle a little heat, don’t miss out on this.

While there was somewhat of a language barrier in the beginning, I think I’ve learned enough about ordering here that I can get by. Just know that the specials come with a choice of soup and either potatoes or maduros (sweet plantains).

Colombian Bakery Fish Soup

Colombian Bakery Fish Soup

On my visit the soup was either chicken or fish soup. Fish soup = fish, shrimp and squid. Even though I was going to have fish for my meal, I still ordered the fish soup. And while I enjoyed it immensely, it would be nice if salad was an option as soup isn’t always my first choice on a hot day.

Colombian Bakery Whole Fried Fish

Colombian Bakery Whole Fried Fish

I’ve now had the whole fried fish twice and highly recommend it, although you’ll have to work for your food. By work, I mean separating the meant from the bones. As you can see form the picture above, you really do get the entire fish. head to tail complete with eyeball, which I ate swallowed on my most recent visit. While it seems like a huge portion of food, once you really start cutting into it you’ll see it isn’t nearly as much “meat” as it appears. Start in the back, dig in with your fork and go to work.

Colombian Bakery Chicken

Colombian Bakery Chicken

The other daily special was chicken. I almost never order chicken when I go out to eat as it usually seems rather boring, but I did have a taste of the chicken at Presto and it was tender and juicy. Surprisingly it wasn’t spicy as I had suspected it might be.

If you want to get a true sampling of Colombian food order the Bandeja Paisa. At $11.50, it is well worth its price. The huge plate consists of a chorizo link, grilled beef, fried pork skin, fried sweet plantains, one corn cake, red beans and rice, an avocado half and a fried egg. Whew! Got all that?

Another one of my favorites is the Arroz Con Camarones (Shrimp and Rice). The huge portion of rice has lots of carrots and peas and has a rich tomato, onion and garlic flavor. And they don’t skimp on the shrimp. There are about 10 – 12 medium sized shrimp included. Definitely enough for 2 to share.

Extras: They have unique fruit drinks worth trying. Think Mango, Papaya and other tropical flavors. I assume they come in concentrate as they are offered mixed with your choice of water or milk. My favorite is the Guayaba, sweet but not too sweet, very refreshing on a hot summer day.

1392 B. Roswell Road
Marietta, GA 30062
770 973 2196
Website

Presto Latin Restaurant on Urbanspoon

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