Brush, another Decatur delight.
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…
Bacchanalia, not the fine dining experience I expected.
Have you ever had a place that you’ve literally been thinking of going to for over ten years? Did you ever (finally) get to go? Did it live up to your expectations? For me, that restaurant was Bacchanalia. This Atlanta staple has been in every top foodie list the city has to offer, and I’ve not once made it for a visit. Until now. In town for a few days for some paperwork, my visit was close enough to coincide (almost) with my Mom’s birthday. What better excuse to check out this restaurant which had been on both of our lists? While a bit challenging to get to (OTP to ITP, folks is a real thing – we had to drive nearly an hour to arrive in slightly out of the way location in Atlanta), on arrival, we walked through the sister Star Provisions restaurant and into the open dining room and took…
Antebellum, Contemporary Southern Charms.
After a return trip to Yonah Vineyards (a must do if you are in Northern Georgia), and a high school reunion that wasn’t (a longer story if you want to hear it, just ask) and other stressful type things on my weekend to Atlanta, I was glad when my friend pulled things together and got us a reservation at Antebellum. To start, I don’t love the name — sorry, I don’t like the connotation — why would anyone want to focus or highlight the American South before the Civil War? I digress, but really, there are other ways to bring Southern traditions to mind that aren’t so, well, you know… I find this especially unusual for a restaurant listed in the top 100 of restaurants in OpenTable (for the States). In my mind, the title of a restaurant should, at a minimum, be inclusionary for all customers, however, maybe others feel…
Parkside District: Local food done right.
As you might have come to realize, Atlanta is a relatively big city. My parents live in the same house where I grew up which is ‘OTP,’ that is, Outside the Perimeter, a local Atlanta colloquialism. For the most part, the best restaurants in the city are, as you might also have guessed, not in the suburbs, but instead ‘ITP’ or Inside the Perimeter. However, for a free place to stay and seeing family who you haven’t seen for two years, it’s worth the chance to seek out good restaurants away from the city. Thus, having revisited 1910 Public House (which, most, unfortunately, did not hold up in value or quality) earlier in the week, for our last night in the States, it was up to me to find a new place to try. Gwinnett County has a great website for supporting local restaurants, and I poured over them, looking…
Empire State South, a filling breakfast.
Empire State South is an institution that has long been on my list of places to visit in Atlanta. Chef Hugh Atcheson is involved with an old Athens favorite (Five & Ten), but alas, it’s rare that we ever stay over in our university town. However, our Airbnb did happen to be located very near Empire State South, and after a last minute change in our weekend plans, I was more than happy to make a brunch reservation. While the restaurant wasn’t crowded at 11 AM, brunch was much needed after a late, but very fun night, at Ponce City Market (a location well worth a visit if you’re even in the city). The exterior, a well-known bocce ball area set between two massive buildings, gives way to a covered outdoor eating area. The interior is spacious, filled with tall ceilings, dark wood, and a lived-in feel that sets guests…
The Optimist, the sad case of ordering incorrectly.
While we were home, Hubs and I spent a day with our niece and nephew at TopGolf, which, for the record, is an entirely excellent way to spend a morning (and if I could franchise the concept in Dubai I would be a gazillionaire). I was — naturally — placed in charge of selecting a venue for lunch. Having done some research before arriving in Atlanta, there were a few restaurants in the neighborhood (including Bacchanalia, which is most unfortunately only open for dinner). I settled on The Optimist, a highly regarded seafood destination in West Atlanta. As the title of this review might imply, I have never ordered so poorly at a restaurant. First of all, let’s discuss what went right before we focus on what went wrong. Pros The ambiance. Nailing that West Atlanta loft vibe perfectly, The Optimist is incredibly airy and bright. With a moderately open kitchen, it’s a…
Grayson’s Graft.
For our last meal in the United States, we took another suggestion and drove to Graft, a farm to table initiative in one of the suburbs of Atlanta, GA. The location is a former house, off a busy Grayson Highway and quite unassuming from the road. With both indoor and outdoor space, the venue can be maximized year round. Done in dark wood and lots of reclaimed materials, the interior is exactly what one would expect (except, maybe darker — it was a bit cavernous for the middle of day). The no frills, country chic of the venue is a good match for the down to earth menu. According to the website: “Graft is a culmination of a dream and a reality. Ashley has known since she was a little girl that she wanted to have restaurants. Her childhood summers of growing up in her grandfathers’ restaurants in Houston, Texas, allowed…
Staplehouse: Worth the hype?
So, of all the restaurants I was looking forward to in the States, Staplehouse was highest on the list. And why is that exactly? Well, as there is a distinct shortage of Michelin stars in Atlanta, this venue (with its nomination for the James Beard Award Best New Restaurant 2016) was going to fill in the blanks. After some hiccups online — the booking service was through Tocktix, which took nearly an act of God and a pricey call to my bank back home to complete, I completed my reservation. (It’s worth noting these issues were addressed upon my arrival, a detail I sincerely appreciated). We caught an Uber and in the unexpected location of the Old 4th Ward and nearly drove by the restaurant (it REALLY blends with the neighborhood). Walking in, we were promptly seated at 7 PM at a table very close to the entirely open concept kitchen.…
Leon’s Full Service: Perfect (and kid friendly) lunch spot.
After participating in an awesome scavenger hunt (no, seriously, it was a blast and I may have to write up an additional review), Hubs, the Niece and Nephew (ages 11 and 13, respectively) and I were ready for something to eat (and a cool place to sit). As Decatur has plenty to offer, I was looking for a kid-friendly spot that didn’t have a wait. We had passed Leon’s Full Service during our search for clues, and doubling back, it seemed to fit the bill. We decided to sit outside (voted ‘very cool’ for the misters that were set up) and were promptly greeted by our waiter. The name of the restaurant, in case you were wondering, takes a cue from both the filling station the venue used to be as well as the alcohol selection. Although the truly extensive list of spirits, wine and beer were (loudly) calling my name,…