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Whistle Stop Cafe Reopens

Feb 22

Posted by in Southern, kennesaw | No Comments

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The widely popular (at least in Kennesaw) Whistle Stop cafe has reopened once again. You may remember it caught on fire some several months ago. It’s new diggs are right along Barrett Parkway, at the corner of Barrett and 41. This is located in the large strip mall where Floor and Decor is located.

I sent some of my cohorts over to check it out and report back to me. They said the food is the same quality and the decor is pretty much the same but just a much larger space. This is good, because the Whistle Stop was always crowded and if you didn’t get there by 11:30, you’d almost be guaranteed that there would be a wait.

1200 Ernest W. Barrett Parkway
Kennesaw, GA 30144
770 794-0101

Tags: Barrett Parkway, kennesaw, Southern

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

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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

Tags: Ruth's Chris, Seafood, Steaks

Keegan’s Irish Pub, Kennesaw, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Sep 9

Posted by in Pub, Restaurant Reviews, bar, kennesaw | 3 Comments

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Having been to Keegan’s Irish Pub about 3 times now, I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, Keegan’s is a charming pub, with friendly staff and a decent out door patio. But on the other hand, it seems to be lacking in the food department. I so wish I had my camera with me, but I hadn’t planned on ending up at Keegan’s, so unfortunately I don’t have any pictures.

As far as the crowd, Keegan’s seems to be a mix of young and older, very different from the crowd at Bailey’s up the street which is mostly young and rowdy college kids. This is surprising, given the fact that Kennesaw State University is not far away.

Now the first time I visited Keegan’s I just had a couple beers myself and found the service to be prompt and courteous. My friend had a cup of soup, and thought the quality of was good, the portion was pretty small for the price tag.

On this most recent visit, food seemed promising but ultimately was somewhat of a disappointment. Two of us out of our party of three began with a cup of the Mulligan’s stew. This stew is a mixture of lamb, onions, potatoes and carrots. It is pretty hearty and a cup offers a generous portion of lamb. And at $3.95 per cup it is a great value. You can also get a bowl for $6. If you visit, don’t miss this.

So far so good. I wanted to go with something small as the stew was pretty filling, so I ordered the Irish Egg rolls. Unlike traditional egg rolls, these are wontons filled with cabbage, swiss cheese and corned beef. They also come with thousand island dipping dressing on the side. Very reubenesque.

What a mistake it was to get these! I would tell you how the corned beef tasted but I can’t because the tiny specs they put in there were dwarfed by the cabbage and swiss cheese. I wish I had been able to take a pictures, as no one would believe how pathetic the offering of corned beef was. Although the wonton was crispy, the lack of corned beef left the eggroll unbalanced and was a huge letdown. It is too bad because the idea is a good one- but the actual execution is a failure. As I sit here writing this post, my stomach is punishing me for this meal selection.

Glen ordered the fish tacos for his entree. I’m puzzled as to why Keegan’s lists this an an appetizer, as it is clearly an entree. The portion is large with 3 overstuffed fish tacos. And when I think of appetizers I think of sharing, and these aren’t for sharing. But I digress, the cod was cooked well and there was plenty in each taco. It also comes with a side of tomatoes and onions. Glen went for mouthful and promptly spit them back out – they were rancid. How disgusting.

We also had Glen’s daughter with us and she ordered Shepherd’s pie. Well, actually I’m getting ahead of myself. She really wanted to order the corned beef and cabbage, but was told it was only offered on Sundays, even though it is on the main menu. Ok, so an Irish pub that only has corned beef and cabbage one day of the week, that’s interesting.

So, she settled for the Shepherd’s pie in stead. She only had a couple bites and was not overly impressed. I tasted it as well and thought it was solid, except for the swiss cheese on top. I wasn’t expecting that.

Overall, there are some winners in the mix on this menu, but there are some clear losers as well. However, the service is friendly and reliable. So, although some of the offerings were less than stellar, I would still visit Keegan’s Irish Pub again.

1625 Ridenour Pky NW
Kennesaw, GA 30152
678-213-2460
Website

Tags: Barrett Parkway, bars, beer selection, draft beer, Irish Pub, kennesaw, live music, patio, Pub, public house

Papis Cuban Grill Restaurant Review, Atlanta, GA

Sep 2

Posted by in Cuban, Restaurant Reviews, kennesaw, outdoor dining | No Comments

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When I first visited Papi’s last year, it was shortly after they had opened the Kennesaw location. Although Papi’s had been open about a month there were a few slip ups but I could overlook this as the staff still seemed to be in training mode. The food was decent and prices were reasonable at Papi’s so I returned numerous times.

A couple visits ago, I noted they had really stepped up their game: service had improved, they expanded their dining area to include more booths and even added a bar area. This more efficient service was a notable change from the previous 4 times I had been there. Sadly, on a recent visit, service had declined once again. And the restaurant was almost empty. We had to wait for long periods to order and the server kept forgetting things.

$Papi\'s Ropa Vieja Sandwich$

Papi's Ropa Vieja Sandwich

After sampling many menu items I have narrowed it down to 2 favorites: the Ropa Vieja sandwich and the garlic marinated pork special available on Thursdays. Both are under $7. The Ropa Vieja is shredded beef marinated in cuban spices. I remember that it used to come with peppers in it but they’ve since done away with that which is too bad, because it really added a dimension of flavor. The pork special is great because you get rice, beans and plantains with it as well.

$Papi\'s Cuban Sandwich$

Papi's Cuban Sandwich

I’m really not much of a fan of their Cuban Sandwich. The pork always seems dried out. I’ve had it several times and not been to pleased. I think I’d enjoy it more if it weren’t shredded pork, but more like a pork loin as I’ve had in other restaurants.

$Papi\'s Yucca Fries$

Papi's Yucca Fries

As far as sides, I’d choose the plantains or yucca fries over beans and rice any day. The plantains are always sweet and flavorful and the yucca fries are always served hot and crispy. They come with a side of garlic dipping sauce. Be careful, a little goes a long way. My favorite way to eat these are to dip the fry in some garlic sauce then in ketchup. The mixture of the two flavors is delicious.

One thing I wish they would change is that they don’t offer fries with sandwiches. You can add black beans and rice to the sandwich but you have to order fries separately (they are on the appetizer menu and enough to feed 2 people) and they always bring out the fries first. What gives?

If anyone from Papi’s reads this, here’s my $0.02: Start offering the sandwiches with yucca fries for one price. I know the portions of both sandwich and fries are pretty substantial. So, make the portions a little smaller for both the sandwiches and fries, but charge the price you were charging for the sandwich alone and offer it as a combo.

As it stands, 1 sandwich and 1 order of fries are plenty of food for 2. Unless you are famished, this will fill ya up.

Coffee and dessert here a tasty too. The cafe con leche is excellent and the flan and tres leches cake are good but be warned, very rich too. I just don’t understand why they insist on serving them in those ridiculous plastic containers. If the guest isn’t taking the food to go, give them a plate for goodness sake.

I’m not blown away by the service, but for the price and quality of the food, I’ll deal with it.

Papi’s Cuban
745 Chastain RD
Kennesaw, GA 30156
678-797-0502
Website

Tags: Cuban, Cuban Restaurant, kennesaw

Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival Today, Kennesaw, GA

Aug 15

Posted by in Family, Festivals, Good for Groups, Recipes, kennesaw, outdoor dining | No Comments

The City of Kennesaw, Pigs and Peaches BBQ goes is still going on today and lasts until 10 PM. Included is musical entertainment, a BBQ Cook Off, Kids Zone and even a Farmer’s Market.

Entertainment on Saturday, August 15:
10am – Orchard Acadamy
11am – Bob Patterson a.k.a. Bogey
1pm – Chocolate Thunder
2:30pm – Reserve Generation (of the U.S. Air Force)
4pm – Contest Awards Presentation
5pm – About Time (For Jazz!)
7pm – The American Flyers

Where
Adams Park and the Ben Robertson Community Center
2753 Watts Drive
Kennesaw, GA 30144

Tags: BBQ, BBQ competition, Family, Festivals

Top FLR Restaurant, Midtown, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Aug 7

Posted by in American, Cheap, Midtown, Restaurant Reviews, atlanta, kennesaw | 3 Comments

Damn you, Tuna Tartar on Sardinian Flatbread – you are so delicious. That’s often what I find myself thinking when I revisit my experience at Top FLR restaurant in Midtown. Tucked away behind Papi’s Cuban Grill on Myrtle Street, you could easily miss Top FLR as it is located in an unassuming building. Even stepping inside, Top FLR is pretty basic looking with nothing overly swanky about it. And I did find it somewhat awkward that there is no waiting area.

Top FLR Waiting Area

About 8 of us were squeezed into the joke of an entry to Top FLR. We could barley fit so the front door was slightly ajar to fit all of us, and we were promptly scolded for leaving the door open. Needless to say, I was not overly impressed so far. But once seated (upstairs without a doubt), service improved a good deal.

Top FLR Cynar Blood Orange and John McEnroe Cocktails

We started off with 2 of their signature cocktails: Cynar Blood Orange and the John McEnroe. Keep in mind none of their cocktails are girly or overly sweet, this is old world, baby. The Cynar was slightly sweet with a grapefruit aftertaste to it. What is Cynar exactly? It is an apertif made from 13 herbs and plants, but the most predominant ingredient is, unusually, the artichoke (Cynara scolymus), from which the drink derives its name. So yummy, I could have easily had 3, but at 9 bucks a piece I limited myself to 2. If you are a fan of gin, you will probably like the John McEnroe – very refreshing with a hint of cucumber. If you’d like to know more about wine you should check out Eat It, Atlanta’s Review.

Torn between the mussels in coconut lime and soy broth and the Tuna tartar on sardinian flatbread, we chose the Tuna. I believe we made the right decision. I couldn’t believe how much tuna they give you! They don’t skimp at all here. I do believe the description is a tad deceiving. I would in no way call this flatbread, it seems to be more like a big cracker or chip than bread.

Top FLR Tuna Tartar

And while I’m not usually a fan of ingredients being “thrown on top” of a flatbread, pizza or whatever you want to call it – I loved it on this flatbread. The thai mint pesto, arugala, sliced avacado, and tuna blended perfectly together.

While perusing the menu for dinner options, I was surprised that there were so many duck offerings. There was the duck pizza, the duck pappardelle (pasta), duck breast AND they even had a duck appetizer special which consisted of some sort of duck prosciutto among other items. Needless to say, they are proud of their duck. So, we decided we must get one meal with duck. We went for the duck pizza and decided to go with the hangar steak as well.

Our server recommended we get one side to share as they are pretty large. New on the menu was a sweet potato mixed with vegetables side dish which we opted for. I was disappointed that they no longer offered the gnocchi as a side. It was on the online menu but not offered anymore. I love gnocchi as a side dish, but find that a full meal of it is just too much.

Top FLR Duck Pizza

The pizza was a rather large portion for one person. It would be more than adequate for 2 to share if you started off with a couple appetizers and share a side dish. While I appreciated the fact that Top FLR was generous with their duck portion (it wasn’t just cheese and bread) I did feel like there was just too much dough. A thinner crust would have worked better as I felt my jaw starting to work overtime chewing the pizza.

Top FLR Sweet Potato Succotash

The sweet potato side was tasty and I would definitely order it again. It had a slightly creamy, buttery sauce that complimented the veggies well. As for the hangar steak, it was cooked medium as specified and was extremely tender. I can’t complain, but I didn’t love it either. I didn’t taste the lavender or ginger jus as promised on the menu. But the price is fair at only $13.

Top FLR Hangar Steak

Service was reasonable, our server was friendly and helpful throughout the entire meal. But what’s up with the water guy? Glen’s water glass remained empty for the last 15 minutes of our meal. The water guy would come by, look right at it (water jug in hand) and turn and walk away. Glen put his water glass at the very edge of the table so he could get some more water to no avail.

I appreciate the low prices at Top FLR. It is nice to know 2 can eat for around $60 before tip. Our bill would have been right around that if we didn’t indulge in 2 cocktails a piece. Damn you, Cynar Blood Orange cocktail for being so good.

674 Myrtle St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308-1445
404-685-3110
Website

Tags: Duck, Flatbread, Midtown, Top FLR

The Shed at Glenwood, Atlanta, GA Summer Menu Review

Jul 23

Posted by in American, Cheap, Downtown, Restaurant Reviews, atlanta, kennesaw | 1 Comment

Last month, The Shed at Glenwood was debuting their new summer menu and I was invited to a Media Dinner. I love freebies especially when good food is involved, so I made sure to attend, even if it meant fighting my way through Braves evening game traffic.

I was happy to see that The Shed has an open kitchen. With a hottie chef like Lance Gummere who wouldn’t want to see him in action? He is also on the short list of hottest Atlanta chefs over at Adventurous Tastes.

Upon entering, we were presented with some bubbly and noshed on apps of Foie Gras with Blueberry Jam on Bread, Chicken Liver and Bacon Bruschetta, and Deviled Quail Eggs. Although these were small bites meant to nibble on while we mingled, I found them to be very substantial. The Foie Gras was solid and was perfectly capable of standing on its own without the “aid” of the Blueberry jam. I loved the Chicken Liver and Bacon Bruschetta. The Deviled quail eggs were and interesting take – about the size of a quarter, I only had one and as I said it was very substantial.

The Shed Beet Salad

The Shed Watermelon Salad

Salads:
We sampled 2 different salads: Beet Salad with goat cheese and a Watermelon salad with Feta. Both had a balsamic sauce to compliment them. The beet salad (I heart beets) was tasty with 2 different kinds of beets (red and yellow). Since I am not a fan of goat cheese, I didn’t mind that it’s flavor was somewhat subdued. As for the Watermelon salad, the salty feta balanced well with the sweet melon. I barley tasted any balsamic as there was hardly any on the plate. But balsamic can be a slippery slope; a little too much and you’ve ruined your salad.

The Shed Sliders

Mains:
The Shed has a great special of $3 sliders on Wednesday evenings. In fact, I plan on going back soon to sample more. So, it was fitting we started off with sliders. Our group tried 3 varieties: Pork Schnitzel, Pastrami, and Fried Chicken. There wasn’t enough for everyone to sample, so, I was limited to the pork which was fine as it was tender and juicy. I couldn’t have eaten more than 1 anyway. For sliders, they were a large portion. And it isn’t all bread either – all of them were packed full of meat. I think we would have all been happy if they came quartered so that we all could have sampled each of the 3 (just a suggestion for next dinner).

The Shed Trout

Funny, I thought the ribeye and lump crab would have been my favorite, but the trout was the highlight for me. Light, full of flavor and complimented by the pesto sauce. Perhaps a tad heavy on the pesto for some, but I enjoyed it.

The Shed Ribeye and Crab with Sunchokes

The prior entree did have a new discovery for me: sunchokes. If you have never heard of sunchokes, they are also known as Jerusalem Artichokes, read about them here. They tasted like a cross between a potato and an artichoke. More restaurants should serve these.

The Shed Ding Dong

The Shed Date Cake

Dessert Course:
Out of the 3 desserts we sampled, the date cake was by far the best, very moist and sweet but not overly so. It was simple and elegant and the perfect finish to our meal. The other two choices seemed to be a homemade version of store bought desserts with a twist: The house made ding dong and the chocolate peanut butter bar. The ding dong tasted, well, like a ding dong and the chocolate peanut butter bar (sort of like a Peanut butter cup) was creative with dark chocolate for twist. But I think it backfired, I didn’t find the dark chocolate (although I love it) to pair well with the peanut butter. Milk chocolate would have been better in this combo.

The Shed Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar

Overall, a decent menu, especially great starters and salads. I look forward to going back for 3 buck slider night and vegetarians should definitely visit for Thursday veggie night (4 veggies for 10 bucks). Don’t even think about not ordering the sunchokes.

My only regret is not being able to sample some of the more obscure menu items. I had my heart set on the scallop sliders and am intrigued by the fried chicken hearts. Foodies like me love trying new and different items like this, and want restaurants to let us sample unique menu items such as these so we can let our readers know about them. Perhaps a return visit is in order.

The Shed at Glenwood Specials:
Tuesday - $8 Bottomless Glass of Sangria!
Wednesday – $3 Slider Night!
Thursday – $10 for 4 Veggie Sides!
Friday & Saturday - $1.50 Cold Water Oysters On The Half Shell!
Sunday Supper- $20 Three Course Prix Fixe

Tags: Downtown, Lance Gummere, Prix Fixe, Shed at Glenwood, sliders

Atlanta Cheesecake Company, Kennesaw, Atlanta, GA Review

Jun 11

Posted by in American, Healthy, Restaurant Reviews, Take Out, atlanta, bar, kennesaw, outdoor dining, travel, view | 1 Comment

Atlanta Cheesecake Company

No, not The Cheesecake Factory. The Atlanta Cheesecake Company is quite different. As the name suggests, they do sell cheesecakes, but there’s so much more than that. Located in Kennesaw, The Atlanta Cheesecake Company is an interesting concept, offering not only fresh made cheesecakes, but high quality sandwiches, teas, and specialty desserts and custom cakes.

I’ve actually tried almost everything on their menu. The folks at Atlanta Cheesecake company invited me to stop by for lunch one day and sample their food. I’ll get to the food in moment, but first let me give you a little background about Atlanta Cheesescake Company. Three siblings started the Atlanta Cheesecake Company in 1988 in Anniston, AL. This was all based on their grandmother’s cheesecake recipe. With the need for more space and a more metropolitan area, they relocated to Atlanta and have been in their Kennesaw space for several years now.

Today, their Atlanta location is still run by family: headed by Lindsey Kewin and her cousins, Pieter and Clare Birch. I would have never known they were open to the public as they are located in a business complex, but as a long time lover of cheesecake I passed their offices and curiosity got the best of me. I called them up, hoping for a visit to their facility for a taste of cheesecake. Instead I got invited to a delightful lunch of yummy sandwiches, high end teas, and awfully delicious sweets.

Atlanta Cheesecake Lobby

A visit to their website, and you’ll see they have just about every cheesecake imaginable. And they will make and deliver these to the US location of your choice for a cost of $29.95 plus Fedex Shipping Charges. If you want to stop by and choose one of their already made cheesecakes out of their display case, the cost is $24.95. The 9 inch cakes feed approximately 12 people.

Atlanta Cheesecake Company Amaretto Cheesecake

Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake

Personally, I sampled 4 of their cheesecakes, but you can bet I’ll be back for more.
Vanilla Bean – traditional and very satisfying
Cinnamon Roll – very sweet and very rich, almost forgot I was eating cheesecake
Amaretto – bold Amaretto taste
Raspberry – exceptional with the sauce even baked into the middle of the cake.

Atlanta Cheesecake Company Tea Station

So, upon visiting, I was able to sit down with the managers of Atlanta Cheesecake Company, Lindsey, Pieter and Clare and find out a little more about their concept. Their goal is to expand from being a offering only cheesecakes and desserts, to offering sandwiches, healthy sides and teas, with the cafe / grab and go concept. So, they don’t offer waiter service. The idea is for customers to select the sandwich and side of their choice from the refrigerator case and either enjoy it in the comfort of their relaxing cafe or take it with them.

Atlanta Cheesecake Company Refridgerator Case

Lindsey says they aim to be somewhere in between fast food and casual dining. How so you ask? Well, the idea is simple, they use high quality, fresh ingredients and everything is made on site. So, quite the opposite of fast food. But to keep prices low, they don’t offer table service. So, you have the quality of a sit down type of restaurant but because there is no waiter service the prices are somewhat lower.

It is so peaceful and relaxing inside their cafe. I hate to compare it to anything, but think of it like a prettier version of Starbucks (yes they have free WIFI). Lindsey told me all the furnishings were either hand picked by her mother or custom made from a drawing by her mother. There is great attention to detail here. Just glancing around, I instantly could tell that a lot of planning and focus went into the design.

Atlanta Cheesecake Company Dining Area

Let’s get back to my lunch. As I said, Lindsey invited me to have lunch at the Atlanta Cheesecake Company. As of the time of this post, they’ve been offering sandwiches for about a month. I was expecting a couple different sandwiches to try. But they really outdid themselves and made a sample of each sandwich on the menu! I really think Foodie Buddha needs to add this place to his sandwich tour.

Triple Decker Sandwich

While I did want to try each sandwich myself, I thought it would be a good idea to get feedback from others as well. So, I let several of my coworkers try some of the other sandwiches (tuna salad, pimento cheese, and chicken salad). When asked for their feedback, the words I heard most often were “fresh”, “homemade”, “unique” and “when can we go there?” Yes, I was a hero that day.

Atlanta Cheesecake Company Roast Beef Salad Sandwich

Out of the sandwiches I tasted, my favorites are the Roast Beef Salad, Hawaiian Ham, and Deviled Egg. Roast Beef Salad Sandwich? Yes, I know it sounds weird, but it is so delicious. And there was something special mixed in (nutmeg?) that gave it that extra umph. The Hawaiian Ham was perfection with actual small pieces of pineapple mixed in with the cheese and mayo. The Deviled Egg was literally falling out of the sandwich there was so much packed in the sandwich. And I liked the fact that they didn’t go overboard on the mayo, it was just enough.

Egg Salad Sandwich

But these sandwiches are a lot more than the meat inside them. The bread of which there are 2 kinds (white and 15 grain) is high quality. You know how sometimes you get a sandwich and by the time you actually get home to eat it, the bread is buckling from the mayo or other liquid? Not the case here. And what’s more, I had to keep a couple sandwiches over night as I just couldn’t eat them all in 1 day, and even the next day the bread was still intact and the tomato and lettuce were still completely fresh tasting.

I’d be remiss in my review if I didn’t mention the sides. Continuing with the better for you trend, sides offered are fruit cup (mixed with blueberries, strawberries and cantaloupe), Coleslaw (light on the mayo – thumbs up), and Mashed potato salad (good flavor with bits of egg mixed in as well). They do carry chips as well.

Atlanta Cheesecake Company Coleslaw

Atlanta Cheesecake Company Mashed Potato Salad

Sandwiches are priced between $4 and $5, with sides being only $0.99.

Located at the corner of Shiloh and Wade Green Road, there is a Starbucks just around the corner from Atlanta Cheesecake Company. I asked Lindsey if they planned on staying open later in the evening to compete with Starbucks. While that may be an option in the future, she says they want to get the cafe a steady stream of repeat customers before expanding hours. The cafe /retail side of the business is quite new for them, so I think they are doing the right thing by slowly expanding. Currently, they are open Monday through Friday, from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM, focusing on the lunch crowd.

If you are in the area, stop in and give them a try. If you aren’t in the area, it is well worth a short drive to sample their menu. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.

Extras: Nearly all packaging is eco-friendly.

Atlanta Cheesecake Company
1300 Shiloh Road
Kennesaw, GA 30144
770-427-4896

Website

Tags: Atlanta Cheesecake Company, desserts, kennesaw, sandwiches

Ecco, Midtown, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Jun 8

Posted by in Italian, Midtown, Pizza, Restaurant Reviews, atlanta, bar, kennesaw, outdoor dining, travel | 4 Comments

Ecco Restaurant, part of the Fifth Group Restaurant Group, located in Midtown has always been one of those places that I’ve been meaning to try. I’ve had lots of friends tell me how fantastic Ecco is, but just never seemed to get around to visiting it. Until a recent evening in June that is. Glen and I took his daughter Hannah to Ecco for her 15th birthday.

We arrived promptly for our reservation and while it is really beautiful inside the restaurant, it is also rather cold for us ladies in our sleeveless tops and dresses. What is it with these restaurants and keeping it absolutely freezing inside when it is like 85 degrees outside? So, rather than feel like we are in a meat locker, we opted for outdoor seating and grabbed the last available patio table.

The weather on this particular evening was extremely pleasant, but I could tell halfway into a glass of red I’d be pretty warm. Red wine tends to make me hot, probably why I love to sip on it in winter time. So, while I love red wine, especially with Italian food, I went for one of their specialty drinks -In the Middle of My Buchtel, a cool drink, perfect for sipping on a warm summer evening. Made of aged rum, plum puree and purple basil, think of it like a fancy mojito. Glen’s drink, Long Live the Queen, made with Bombay Sapphire gin, was equally as good but a little stronger.

Ecco Cocktails

As an aside, if you need a laugh, visit Ecco’s online menu and read their drink descriptions. They must have hired a retired greeting card writer for these things….

But enough about that, onto the food.

I knew I couldn’t leave Ecco without tasting the Meatballs with Saffron and Almond sauce. I didn’t taste the almonds, but there was a great smokey flavor to these meatballs. And don’t be fooled by the small bowl, there are enough for 3 or 4 to share as an appetizer.

Ecco Shrimp with Fennel, Saffron Meatballs

Now the shrimp appetizer was a surprise hit for me. Here’s why: The description says it is made with fennel. I HATE fennel. If you aren’t familiar with fennel, it has a licorice flavor which I cannot stand.

So, when my 2 other companions honed in on this, I resigned myself to the fact that I’d only eat the Meatballs. However, I couldn’t NOT try the shrimp. I actually didn’t taste fennel at all. It was just a spicy tomato taste that I found absolutely delicious. There was something in the sauce that gives it the slightest Asian flair. Now, there were only 4 shrimps in the small bowl, albeit big shrimps, but this isn’t going to be enough for more than 2 people. If you order this, don’t let the sauce go to waste- put that bread on the table to good use.

Timing here was perfect. As soon as our appetizers were being taken away, our entrees were coming out. I really appreciate this, as I’ve eaten at plenty of restaurants that bring out entrees 2 bites into your appetizers. And then you sit there, wolfing down your apps, not wanting your meals to get cold. But Ecco had timing perfectly balanced.

Ecco Chili-Braised Pork

I had ordered the Chili Braised Pork, which was solid, except I was expecting something spicy due to the word “chili” in the description. So, either someone forgot to add the chilis, or my heat barometer was off that night. Glen had somewhat of a similar experience with his Cobia. The description doesn’t say anything about a spicy broth, yet he found it to be pretty spicy. Are you beginning to see a pattern here?

Ecco Cobia Fish

He didn’t mind the spiciness of the sauce, in fact, he quite enjoyed his fish, however, it was just unexpected. The chicken fettucine was equally enjoyed by the birthday girl. But if you are expecting the typical creamy sauce that usually goes hand in hand with chicken fettucine, you won’t find it here.

Ecco Carrots

Now the highlight of the entire meal: the side dish of carrots. Seriously, the carrots were the best thing I had all night. And that isn’t a slight at the other dishes, the carrots were just that phenomenal. I don’t know what they do that makes them so delicious, but I would have gladly traded my entree for a plate of these. And their presentation with the thyme and onions wrapped around them, is beautiful. Please don’t visit Ecco and not order this side.

Service was spot on the entire night. Our server, Charles, made sure the evening was absolutely perfect, even bringing out a piece of chocolate cake for the birthday girl at the end of the meal.

Prices are reasonable. Drinks and glasses of wine are around $10. However, I’d like to see more wines by the glass available as their selection seems somewhat limited. The small menu is reasonable with prices between $15 and $20. But I’d like to see a side dish offered with the mains. After adding a side dish prices are more like $25 an entree, which is rather high.

Extras: They have a Sunday special of your choice of pizza or pasta and a drink for $15. So, basically they are giving you a free drink and you are paying the regular menu price for the meal.

40 7th St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
404-347-9555
Website

Tags: Ecco, Fifth Group, Italian, Mediterranean, Midtown Atlanta

Whistle Stop Cafe, Kennesaw, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

May 19

Posted by in American, Cheap, Restaurant Reviews, Southern, breakfast, kennesaw | 1 Comment

I never thought of trying the Whistle Stop Cafe until I saw a coupon for it in my local coupon book. The Whistle Stop Cafe is a quirky little restaurant tucked away in an old building in Main Street Kennesaw. Perhaps I had a block against the Whistle Stop as it is located right next to a store that is owned by a man who is a self-proclaimed white supremacist. I’ve now been to the Whistle Stop Cafe 3 times and never had any negative experiences.

My first visit was with my co-worker Linda, who couldn’t stop raving about how good it was. She insisted that we go to lunch at 11:30 am as the Whistle Stop gets REALLY crowded. Boy was she right. About 10 minutes after we arrived the Whistle Stop, there was a line out the door of people waiting for a table. The place isn’t that big – probably only 15 tables in the restaurant. Since that first visit, I’ve gone and even with a short wait, we were in and out in about 50 minutes.

This is definitely a meat and three place. My first time, I went for the meatloaf. Truth be told, the sides are much more of a tough decision than the meat. That time I opted for fried okra and sweet potato fries. The okra was good, but not exceptional. The sweet potato fries were fantastic – really crispy and really flavorful. Oh yeah, I enjoyed the meatloaf too – very juicy. I really wanted to try the fried chicken but I thought 2 fried items were plenty in one meal.

Whistle Stop Meatloaf, Fried Okra, and Sweet Potato Fries

All meals come with your choice of biscuit or cornbread. I’m usually a cornbread girl rather than a biscuit girl, but to me, the biscuits are the clear winner here. I like my cornbread slightly sweet and this is not how it comes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. This isn’t much of an issue as the portions are so generous, you only will have about 1 or 2 bites of your biscuit or cornbread.

Ok, so visit #2:
I opted for the country fried steak, after our watiresses politely steered me away from the country fried chicken. Sides were mashed potatoes and fried green tomatoes. I was good – I didn’t go for all 3 items being fried. Out of the 3 meals I had there, this was my least favorite, although still good. The steak tasted too salty and the mashed potatoes were just blah. Now, the fried green tomatoes (3 huge ones) were ok, but I’m just used to having some sort of sauce or cheese with them and they just tasted like something was missing without any sort of sauce.

Whistle Stop Country Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Fried Green Tomatoes

Visit #3:
I just couldn’t resist having the fried chicken any longer. I had to go for it. I like dark meat and my order came with a leg and a thigh as you would suspect. I was licking my fingers in no time. For my sides? Cucumber salad and yam patties. Now the cucumber salad was good, but it’s kind a hard to mess that up – its just cucumbers, onions and tomatoes (although mine only had one small speck of a tomato in it) with some italian dressing. Yam patties were ok but I would have preferred a full sweet potato with cinnamon and butter on it.

Whistle Stop Fried Chicken, Yam Patties and Cucumber Salad

I have now been there with several co-workers who absolutely rave about the collard greens. They tell me they are some of the best they’ve ever had. I just don’t care for collard greens at all. But if you are fan, give them a try at the Whistle Stop Cafe.

Whistle Stop Collard Greens

My only issue with the sides here is that they vary in portion so much. For example, the fries, mashed potatoes and fried green tomatoes were a huge portion, but items like the okra, cucumber salad and yams were much smaller. They put them in small bowls, so you need to be aware of that when ordering.

Prices are so reasonable at $6.25 for all this food. And, you can also choose to get all veggies if you want and the price is under $5.00. Waitresses have always been super friendly and it is obvious that they have regulars who absolutely adore them.

Extras: They serve breakfast as well, at reasonable prices.

Tags: kennesaw, Meat and Three