Archive for category outdoor dining

Find Atlanta Restaurants
Powered by Max Banner Ads

La Tavola, Virginia Highland, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Feb 17

Posted by in Dates, Italian, Restaurant Reviews, Romantic, Virginia Highlands, outdoor dining | 3 Comments

Get Pregnant Naturally. Discover How To Reverse Infertility Even If You're in Your Late 40's. Click Here!
Powered by Max Banner Ads

A couple weeks back, La Tavola Trattoria, part of the Fifth Group Restaurants, had a BOGOF promotion. Never having sampled La Tavola before, I thought this would be a great opportunity to give it a try. So now, my Fifth Group Restaurant experience is complete; I’ve dined at them all – South City Kitchen, Ecco, The Original El Taco and now La Tavola.

We pulled up on a rainy Friday night and there was an open spot right in front of La Tavola. After snagging that primo spot I just knew it was going to be a good evening. We were a couple minutes late for our 8:30 reservation and as the place was absolutely packed, I feared that they might have given our reservation away to punctual diners. But our good fortune prevailed and the host assured us we’d be seated shortly.

As I surveyed the tiny dining room, I was so glad I had made reservations. But it got even better. They escorted us to the outdoor dining area that shares space with Noche. They obviously had the heaters going and the plastic covers to keep out the cold. I liked this even better than the interior as it is much more conducive to talking than the inside dining area with it’s open kitchen.

I started with their Il Fiore, (Mojito made with Gin instead of Vodka). I liked it ok, but at $12, would have preferred to put the $ toward an entire bottle of red wine and skip the specialty cocktails altogether.

Nothing grabbed my attention on the appetizer menu, but Glen chose the Farro soup which is a soup made with barley, pancetta, leeks and butternut squash. I had a taste and loved it. It was perfect for warming me up on that cold, rainy night. I usually hate leeks but didn’t even taste them in the soup.

For our entrees, I chose the Pennoni with Rabbit. This is tubes of pasta stuffed with rabbit sausage. It comes with a Swiss Chard Bechamel (bechamel is made from milk, butter and flour) sauce. I quite enjoyed the meal and really liked the bitterness of the swiss chard paired with the slightly sweet pasta and cherry tomatoes.

Glen had ordered the Fish special that night, but his order was confused with the regular trout entree which he got instead. He ate it and didn’t complain, but it’s too bad, because the special sounded spectacular. The presentation of both dishes was beautiful. I would love to see what items like the Pork Porterhouse or the Smoked Risotto with Boar Sausage look like.

La Tavola Trout

I liked our server up until our entrees were delivered. He was friendly and seemed to know the menu inside and out. But we saw less sand less of him as our evening wore on. I really wanted a glass of wine with my meal, but I was halfway through my meal before I was able to get it.

The Dolcetto I got was a good compliment to my rabbit pasta and one of 14 reds by the glass. I counted 9 whites by the glass. It seemed to open up more as I let it sit there. La Tavola definitely has a good wine list and lends itself to the type of place you’d want to go and share a bottle with someone.

For dessert we shared the cheesescake with blueberry sauce and candied lemon zest. It was absolutely delightful – light but very flavorful.

La Tavola Cheesecake

Although service was less than attentive, I enjoyed our leisurely dinner and definitely recommend La Tavola Trattoria as a date night option. Just ask to be seated on the patio. Although it overlooks the parking lot, I still think it is more romantic than the noisy dining room.

992 Virginia Avenue Northeast
Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 873-5430
Website

Tags: Fifth Group, Italian, La Tavola, Trattoria, Virginia Highland

Uncle Julio’s Mexican Restaurant, Sandy Springs, Atlanta, GA

Dec 14

Posted by in Good for Groups, Restaurant Reviews, atlanta, margaritas, mexican, outdoor dining | No Comments

Get Your Ex Back Now! WARNING: Unconventional Methods - Click Here
Powered by Max Banner Ads

Last month, Uncle Julio’s Mexican Restaurant opened its second location in Atlanta. The new location in Sandy Springs, is at the intersection of Hammond and Peachtree-Dunwoody Rd, I was invited to sample some of the cuisine at the Media event.

$Uncle Julio\'s Patio$

Uncle Julio's Patio

Luckily, the weather was absolutely perfect on this Monday afternoon, sunny and in the 70s. As we entered Uncle Julio’s we immediately noticed the attention to detail. This is truly a beautiful space. In speaking to a couple of the marketing staff that were in town for the opening, I found out that they actually import some of the stone pieces from Mexico.

$Uncle Julio\'s Mojito$

Uncle Julio's Mojito

First stop was of course the bar. I first opted for a margarita on the rocks, although the signature Swirl Margarita did look quite temping. The margarita was quite tasty and didn’t skimp on the alcohol, but I wanted to see how their Mojito was. And, it blew me away. I’m not usually a fan of Mojitos, as they tend to be too sweet for me, but this one had just the right balance of sweet flavoring and alcohol.

$Uncle Julio\'s Fresh, Soft Torillas$

Uncle Julio's Fresh, Soft Torillas

Drink in hand, we were escorted on a tour of the 2-story restaurant. Beginning with the kitchen, we passed by their tortilla machine, which was churning out warm, soft tortillas, which we nibbled on as we walked around. I haven’t toured many kitchens, and I know the restaurant is new, but this has got to be one of the cleanest kitchens I’ve ever seen. Peering inside the fridge, we noted all produce is dated. And I found out Uncle Julio’s even has it’s own butcher on site.

$Uncle Julio\'s Sandy Springs Dining$

Uncle Julio's Sandy Springs Dining

After the brief tour, it was time to sample some of the cuisine. What mexican meal wouldn’t start without chips and salsa? I loved the smokey flavor of the salsa here. The guacamole was very fresh tasting too. For appetizers we were treated to veggie (mushrooms, peppers and onions) quesadillas as well as tamales. While I thought the tamales were somewhat bland, the quesadillas were extremely flavorful, definitely a vegetarian entree that could be thoroughly enjoyed by a non-vegetarian.

$Uncle Julio\'s Shrimp, Fajitas, and Pork Ribs$

Uncle Julio's Shrimp, Fajitas, and Pork Ribs

Next we were on to the main entrees. We sampled the Plato Gordo, which a sampling of the 3 most popular menu items: chicken and beef fajitas, camarones brochette, and costillas. The fajitas were delicious. The camarones brochette (shrimp stuffed with cheese and jalapenos then wrapped with bacon) were probably my favorites – fresh, spicy, what’s not to like? The Costillas which are ribs were equally as tasty.

$Uncle Julio\'s Desserts - Cajeta, Flan, Sopasillas$

Uncle Julio's Desserts - Cajeta, Flan, Sopasillas

But we weren’t done yet – we still had dessert. Of course we sampled the flan, a traditional mexican dessert and it was done just right. And the Sopapillas, puffed pastries served with honey for dipping were definitely tasty and a great option if you have a large group and want to share. But the most exceptional was the Cajeta – vanilla ice cream with toasted coconut and pecans, topped with caramel sauce. Think of it like mexican fried ice cream with a twist.

1140 Hammond Dr NE
Building K Ste 100
Atlanta, GA 30328
(678) 736-8260
website

Tags: mexican, Sandy Springs, Uncle Julio's

D.B.A. Barbecue, Virginia Highland, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Dec 9

Posted by in Atlanta visiting, Good for Groups, Restaurant Reviews, Southern, Virginia Highlands, atlanta, outdoor dining, wings | No Comments

Make Spa Products at Home for Fun or Profit - Start Now!
Powered by Max Banner Ads

D.B.A. Barbecue stands for “Doing Business As”, although owner/ manager Matt Coggin originally wanted to name the restaurant “Kermit” after a legendary Blues singer. Walking around D.B.A. Barbecue, you’ll notice some of the decor lends itself to the New Orleans Jazz theme. Even the music (courtesy of Matt’s iPod), on certain days, may be playing jazz. I had the pleasure of meeting Matt recently when he invited me to check out D.B.A. in the Virginia Highlands.

D.B.A. Barbecue Owner, Matt Coggin

D.B.A. opened in June at the Virginia Highlands Festival. Since then, D.B.A. Barbecue has gone through some changes including a revamp of the menu and a new chef. Drew Kirkland, the new chef, brought with him a smoker along with greater experience than prior chefs.

On the recent Saturday night when I visited D.B.A., the smoker was doing it’s thang and the pleasant aroma was wafting around the parking lot as I made my way into the restaurant. Earlier in the day I went on a 6 mile hike, so as a treat, I was looking forward to chowing down on some barbecue and sipping on a cold beer. But, to my surprise, there was a full bar and decent, if not intriguing cocktail list. I chose the Sweet Tea Vodka and Glen chose the Watermelon Mojito. Something about sweet tea and barbecue just go well together and this drink hit the spot. If you like martinis and pickle juice, they have a drink for you too.

Looking around, I noticed the nod to New Orleans with the paintings Matt picked up at Jazz Fest, one wall painted with the Abita beer logo and another wall sprinkled with record albums of some of the jazz greats. I also loved the touch of using the mason jars for lights.

D.B.A. Barbecue Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

I went a little crazy with appetizers, sampling the corn muffins, bacon-wrapped shrimp, deviled eggs, and boiled peanuts. Of the four, the clear winner was the bacon-wrapped shrimp. The 5 large shrimp sat on a bed of house made coleslaw and were topped with spicy bbq sauce – absolutely delicious. One surprise was the coleslaw is like getting an extra side thrown in and the red onion adds a great flavor overall to it. If you have more than 2 in your party, you’ll need 2 orders guaranteed.

D.B.A. Barbecue Boiled Peanuts

The corn muffins were wonderful, as well; soft, sweet and with real corn pieces, I could have eaten them all. But keep in mind, the dinner platters are pretty large, so, think carefully, before spending $1 per roll on these (total 4 in an order). If you want a snack in addition to the shrimp go for the boiled peanuts. At only a buck, they are your better value vs. the rolls.

Had I been on my own, I would have probably ordered a platter with 2 meats. But we chose to order the sampler platter ($40) which comes your choice of 4 sides and a large portion of all meats: beef brisket, smoked turkey, pulled chicken, pulled pork, wings, spare ribs and baby back ribs. You better have at least 4 people in your group if you order this baby.

D.B.A. Barbecue Smokehouse Platter

Of the selection, my favorites were the beef brisket and pulled pork. They were the juiciest and most flavorful of all items in the offering. However, the ribs were a close second, with a very meaty selection. I’ve been to some barbecue joints that have don’t offer much meat on the bone, which leave you feeling like you got the shaft, but this was not the case at D.B.A.

Oh, and the wings – as soon as I bit into them I was transported back to the days when Chinese restaurants used to include a chicken wing with your take out order. Remember that? I always loved the crispiness of the skin on these which is duplicated at D.B.A. Definitely out of the ordinary and available as an appetizer as well.

There are 3 sauces to choose from: Regular, Spicy and Mustard. The Regular is sweet and tangy. The Spicy was good though not as hot as I would have expected, perhaps I’m just used to eating very hot and spicy. However, it did the trick on my wings. My least favorite was the mustard – called Verley’s (made by one of D.B.A.’s customers) – pretty bland with no umph to it.

D.B.A. Barbecue Sides (Creamed Corn, Fried Corn on the Cob, Potato Salad, Collard Greens)

For sides, we chose, collard greens, creamed corn, fried corn on the cob, and potato salad. Although I ordered 2 corn sides, I don’t regret it as each served a purpose: the creamed corn had a sweet taste as you would expect, but it was balanced by the pepper and had a slight char to it as well. And the fried corn on the cob, was amazing too- much better than the so-called fried corn on the cob I had here. Again, if you don’t order the shrimp as an appetizer (you’re crazy) then you should definitely get the coleslaw as a side.

I’m not much of a collard greens fan, but Glen loved them. Perhaps it is the bacon and ham hock used when they cook them. Sorry Vegans. And the potato salad was decent, not overly creamy as far as potato salads go.

I know that the staff knew I was there to review the restaurant, but putting that aside, I observed very friendly interaction with all diners. I really do like visiting restaurants when the staff seems to genuinely happy to be there and enjoy their work.

1190 N Highland Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
404 249 5000
Website

Extras: Free parking on site – a rare find in the Highlands.

Tags: Barbecue, BBQ, Virginia Highlands

Stella Pizza and Pasta Grant Park, Atlanta to Close this Month

Dec 1

Posted by in Italian, atlanta, outdoor dining | No Comments

Killer Secrets to Dominating World of Warcraft - Click Here!
Powered by Max Banner Ads

John Kessler first broke this story last month. Stella Pizza and Pasta will be closing it’s doors at the end of this month. It has been a neighborhood favorite. But due to the economy, business just hasn’t been enough to keep the doors open. So, this post is just to serve as a reminder you have until December 30th to get your Stella fix.

The location will be closed for renovations for a short time (about a month) before opening as Doc Chey’s sometime in February.

563 Memorial Drive
Atlanta, GA 30312
404 688 4238

Tags: Grant Park, Italian, Stella

Cafe de Paris, Marietta, Atlanta, GA Restaurant Review

Nov 12

Posted by in East Cobb, French, Restaurant Reviews, breakfast, marietta, outdoor dining | No Comments

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

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

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

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

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

Tags: Bistro, East Cobb, French, marietta, Quiche, soups

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

Tags: day trip, Palmetto, Serenbe, Taste of, Wine Tasting

Virginia Highland Chili Pepper Festival

Oct 22

Posted by in Cheap, Festivals, Good for Groups, Taste of, Virginia Highlands, atlanta, margaritas, mexican, outdoor dining, thai | No Comments

The first annual Chili Pepper Festival is Saturday, Oct. 24 from 4-11pm in the heart of Virginia-Highland at N. Highland Ave. & Amsterdam Ave. There will be special chili-inspired food, live music and 2 chili eating contests.

Special chili-inspired offerings include:

Roasted chili pepper and chicken tacos and Green chili stew (The Original El Taco)

Braised beef-stuffed chili peppers and Brunswick stew (DBA BBQ)

Thai BBQ chicken skewers (Mali Thai and Sushi Bar)

Buy tickets in advance as they are $5 in advance but $10 at the door. Note that tickets are just for entry, cost of food is additional. And no dogs are allowed.

For more information about the festival click here.

Tags: chili festival, hot and spicy, Virginia Highlands

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tags: Downtown, fine dining, Ritz Carlton, Romantic, Seafood, Southern, Special Occasion, Steaks

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

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

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

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

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 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

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.

Tags: Midtown, Restaurant Week, Technology Square, WaterHaven

Canyons Burger, Woodstock, Atlanta, GA Review

Sep 30

Posted by in American, Buckhead, Burgers, Restaurant Reviews, atlanta, outdoor dining | 2 Comments

As if there aren’t enough of the fast casual burger joints in town (Five Guys, Cheeseburger Bobby’s), there’s a new player, Canyons Burger. This review is a short one as there isn’t much to say. Canyons only has 2 Atlanta locations – Buckhead and Woodstock. I visited the Canyons Woodstock location on a recent Sunday.

Canyons had a special promotion going on this Sunday. If you ordered a drink and fries you were entitled to a free burger. The free burger was your choice of a regular hamburger or cheeseburger, of which one each was sampled. Not unlike Five Guy’s or Cheeseburger Bobby’s you get to choose from a multitude of toppings – although toppings were a little more limited than Five Guys. Five Guys offers sauteed mushrooms and green peppers whereas Canyon’s does not.

Canyons was extremely busy on the Sunday when I visited. I can’t be sure if this was due to the promotion or if they were just that busy, but the line was very long. The crowd at the Woodstock location was mostly families. Now, here’s where the bottleneck happens; instead of calling out orders and handing them to customers, Canyon’s has the staff walk around looking for the matching table sign you are given when you place your order. The staff must have been a bit green as it took them quite a while to match the food with their tables. I watched as food was stacked up waiting to be delivered.

Canyons Cheeseburger with Sweet Potato Fries

The burgers were cooked well and were juicy. I especially enjoyed the shoestring sweet potato fries that came with the burger. Five Guys offers great fries (fried in peanut oil) but not sweet potato fries. The regular fries, crinkle cut variety, were not bad either.

Canyons Crinkle Cut Fries

The pre-discounted total would have been around $17 or $18 for the two meals. Although I enjoyed my meal and the outdoor seating, I doubt I would return to pay that much for a burger and fries. You can get just as good a burger with a better selection of toppings for less money at Five Guys.

Woodstock Downtown
Canton Rd and Townlake Parkway/Arnold Mill
678-494-8868

Buckhead/Brookhaven
3877 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
View Map
404-841-9933

Website