Ah, Decatur. When visiting Atlanta, this little enclave is my charming ‘in-between’ location — a destination close enough to my parents’ house without having to go all the way in the city and a place I don’t have to worry too much about parking — not to mention the abundance of original restaurant outlets. Having had wonderful meals at Kimball House, as well as Leon’s Full Service, I was prepared for another winner in Decatur.
After my somewhat disappointing experience at Bacchanalia, having searched for a fine dining or degustation lunch in Atlanta and come up woefully short, I turned my attention to other restaurants within a suitable geographic area. Finding Brush, I was most interested in the omakase menu (offered Friday and Saturday evenings) and sent a quick note to friends in town to see if they wanted to join me. While unfortunately, the omakase seatings were too full for the four of us, my trio of friends was happy to meet up in the dining room, and assured me this was one of their favorite restaurants in the city. Winner.
On arrival, I noted Brush included a traditional sushi counter, bar area, small private dining room, and ‘Decatur-y’ dining space. We slid into a four-top, and our waitress was attentive in chatting through our drink orders. As an expat, there’s something I will forever love about American servers – really, just the ability to joke and laugh means everything to me while living in a country where banter is difficult to come by. For example, my friend requested a citrusy sake, and when they were out of a particular brand, our waitress immediately had a (very) adequate suggestion. Sure, this level of service may seem commonplace, but for me, it was all I could do not to hug her. It’s not that wait staff isn’t well trained in the UAE, it’s this sort of friendly relationship that is missing. Anyway, I was more than happy with a very decent pour of prosecco, served along with, what else? Free local water, and plenty of it (UAE restaurants, please take note).
The menu was broken down into easily discernible categories – nigiri, sashimi, sushi rolls, ramen, hot dishes, cold dishes, and other original concoctions. Everything at Brush seemed appropriately priced, but I’m not an expert on sushi costs across Atlanta. I appreciated the ability to order half and full rolls (4 and 8 pieces, respectively), which would be an excellent choice for those dining as a duo, rather than a quarter (as we were).
Our hero dish of the evening was on the recommendation of our waitress, the Tako Kara-age, USD$12, a collection of fried octopus balls that delivered umami in spades. We were also impressed with a late order of Seared Miso Duck, USD$12. However, in all honesty, I would happily order everything I tried again. For those in search of more luxurious ingredients, Brush boasts a collection of A5 Wagyu across many of their dishes, and I spied a Lobster Ramen that looked intriguing. Overall, I think what impressed me most at Brush was the complete flexibility of the menu. You could easily visit a few times in a month and have a completely different experience each time.
Would I go back to Brush? Yes, in a heartbeat. I love downtown Decatur and would be happy to try the omakase menu based on my dinner experience.
Who is Brush best for? Anyone with love for an authentic sushi experience.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Decatur?
A to Za’atar was a guest of her friends because they are awesome.
