Steakhead's Atlanta Eats Blog

Happy New Year!!!

2008-12-31T14:06:00.000-08:00

I wish you all the most healthy, prosperous, fulfilling and rewarding New Year, and may it be filled with wonderful meals and equisite finds within the ATL restaurant scene. As previously mentioned, the New Year will bring some changes to the Atlanta Eats blog. I will have a more formal announcment later in the week, but to see a preview, you can go to www.atlantaeatsblog.com.

In the meantime, celebrate well and celebrate safe tonight.

Happy New Year!!!

Tom Colicchio Applies His Craft in Buckhead

2008-12-27T11:33:00.000-08:00

Despite the incredibly busy holiday season, I was able to make my first visit to Craft last week with much anticipation. Craft and Craftbar are located in a stand-alone structure in the Mansion on Peachtree complex on Peachtree Rd. near Lenox. Craft and its various incarnations (Craftbar, Craftsteak and Wichcraft) are the babies of Chef Tom Colicchio and has locations in NYC, LA, Vegas, Foxwoods, Dallas and now Atlanta. Its location in the super high-end Mansion hotel and condominiums, where condo prices start at $2.5 million and go up from there. The prices at Craft aren't quite as outrageous, but this is no cheap night out either. In fact, Steakhead was even priced out of the two steaks on the menu.

As I mentioned, Craft is housed in its own building, where Craftbar (which has its own menu) occupies the ground floor and Craft lays claim to the 2nd floor. One step inside and you know you are at one of the more formal restaurants in town. The decor is elegant, the dress was predominantly coat and tie, and the service was top notch.

The menu changes nightly, but on this night I found it to be somewhat limited. For the first course there were a handful of raw oysters and one dish of hamachi sashimi. There were also a couple of non-Steakhead like starters like Country Terrine and Roasted Sweetbreads with Boiled Peanuts. My Dad went with the Sweetbreads and said they were excellent. And since this is the man who would bring home things like calf's brain when I was a kid, I'll just take his word for it.

For the main courses, there were 6 fish/shellfish entrees and 6 meats. However, two of the meats were $50+ steaks (including a Waygu skirt steak). But I just can't see paying $50+ for a steak, at least not in Atlanta, so I went with a braised Sea Bass with Horseradish. This was very good, and at $27, was easier to stomach. Dad had the braised short rib, which he liked but thought the size of the portion could have been a little larger. I told him that's what happens when you order the cheapest meat dish on the menu ($28).

I mentioned the great service here and it is worth calling out that they were absolutely fantastic about not rushing the meal. The appetizers came out without much of a long wait, but they really let us enjoy that and gave us some time before bringing out the main course. I hate it when the main courses come immediately upon clearing the soup bowls. By the time our meal was over, it was 11:30 and we were the last folks to leave, and even with that, I never felt rushed.

Craft is definitely a fine dining experience, and in Atlanta, it may well rate amongst the best of them. The menu tends to be a grade-level higher than this Steakhead can appreciate. I may well be back, though it may have to be an expense account meal the next time.

Merry Christmas!!!

2008-12-24T06:18:00.000-08:00

Today is Chritsmas Eve, which means tonight is the meal I most look forward to all year. For at least 20 years, my family tradition has called for cold seafood on Christmas Eve. Smoked salmon to start with, followed by shrimp cocktail, and finished off with a whole steamed lobster. The smoked salmon from Costco is cheap and better than anything you will find in your local supermarket. I'll probably get the shrimp from Whole Foods, and I'll be lazy about it and buy them precooked and forzen. Finding good lobsters at an affordable price, however, has been a challenge since moving from New Jersey down to Atlanta. But this year, prices for lobsters are hitting rock bottom. I special-ordered the lobsters this year from Publix (one of the few places in Atlanta where you can still find live lobsters), and was quoted a price of $11.99 a pound! They will even steam them for no extra charge, saving my wife from watching me throwing them in the pot.

For Christmas Day this year, we have ordered a Turducken breast from the Cajun Meat Company. I'll do a separate post on that later this week. Whatever the holiday you celebrate, and whatever your tradition, I hope you have a wonderful and safe one!

Cheers!

Some Changes Coming to the Blog

2008-12-17T07:30:00.000-08:00

Just a heads-up that I am going to be changing the look and function of this blog in the coming days. I had a grandiose change in mind, but after some consultation, have decided to make the changes a little more modest. There will be an updated look, some new links where some restaurant information will reside, and I am finally getting my own domain, so the URL will change as well. More information to come!

A New Little Steakhead In The World

2008-12-14T08:34:00.000-08:00

I know it has been a while since my last post, but I actually have a really good excuse this time. My son, Reece Colin Griffith, was born last Sunday. He is a fine, healthy little baby and every one in the Steakhead home is doing well. My posts may continue to be a little sparse for the next couple of weeks, but I hope to be at it again soon after the holidays!

Richard Blais To Reinvent the Burger at Flip

2008-12-01T19:08:00.001-08:00

I guess there is a trend in LA and NYC for upscale burger concepts. Well, that concept is soon coming to Atlanta in a new restaurant called Flip that will be located at 1587 Howell Mill Rd. And one of Atlanta's signature chefs, Richard Blais, has signed on as creative director. With Blais on board, you can bet there will be some interesting takes on the traditional favorite. I already from the press release below that you will see lamb burger, shrimp burger, lamb burger, kobe burger (oh yeah) and assorted veggie burgers. Don't have an opening date yet, but will publish when I get it. In the meantime, here is the official release.

Atlanta, GA (November 2008) – Restaurant industry veteran Barry Mills will open his first restaurant, FLIP, a modern burger boutique this fall. FLIP offers diners more than the basic hamburger, think, “fine dining between two buns.”

“I was initially inspired by the ‘hamburger rebirth’ that started in L.A. and then spread to New York City. But, what I didn’t like about those concepts was that they were still bound to the traditional diner-style image and weren’t updating the restaurant around the modernized burger menus,” says Barry Mills, owner of FLIP. “So, I decided that if I was going to reinvent a burger menu, then I better modernize and redefine the entire restaurant.”

FLIP’s creative director, Richard Blais, is one of the country’s most inventive chefs who is playing a significant role in the development of the menu and the operations of the kitchen. “When I first starting visualizing this concept, Blais was the chef that came to mind as the one to modernize the burger,” says Mills. “He is so creative and really complements our concept.”
Chef Richard Blais, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, has worked with some of the world’s most-respected chefs, including Thomas Keller, Ferran Adria and Daniel Boulud. Blais, a recipient of Gayot Guide’s ‘Top Five Rising Chefs of 2005,’ appeared on BRAVO’s ‘Top Chef: Chicago,’ and on the Food Network’s ‘Iron Chef America.’ He has been featured in Sports Illustrated, The New York Times and Food & Wine Magazine for his creative take on American food.

The unique menu will feature modern burgers served on a variety of artisinal brioche buns, sandwiches, sides and salads created by Blais. “The menu I developed for FLIP was a challenge I was up for,” Blais said. “It was fun to take something so common, like the burger, and give it a modern twist.” Some feature items include organic beef with homemade ketchup and mayonnaise; a po “boyger” with grilled shrimp, fried lemon and spicy tartar sauce; a lamb burger with green olive relish and raisin ketchup on a rosemary bun; and an authentic Kobe burger, utilizing fresh beef imported from Japan, dressed with herbal butter, red onion marmalade and blue cheese. For top flavor and freshness, FLIP will grind their signature FLIP beef burger using short ribs, hanger steak and brisket. Balancing out the menu, a variety of vegetable burgers will also be available, creating a selection suitable for all taste palates. The burgers will be smaller than the traditional burger to encourage diners to indulge in more than one.

FLIP’s menu features thoughtfully paired unique and house-made condiments and sides that complement the different proteins. In addition to traditional side items like French fries, tater tots and cole slaw, innovative bites will also be offered including sweet potato tempura, okra poppers and vodka battered onion rings. Salads will be equally unique with peaches ‘n’ feta; beets, avocado and mango; and frisee, bacon and egg. The menu will highlight the freshest ingredients available, through the rotation of seasonal produce. FLIP will also offer a full drink menu, including specialty martinis and margaritas. In addition to the full bar, guests will also enjoy the delicious selection of milkshakes at FLIP’s unique milkshake bar. Choose from flavors like Krispy Kreme, Peach and White Chocolate, and Sweet Tea to name a few.

Mills enlisted the design experts at ai3, Inc. to execute the interior design plan for FLIP. Dave Heimbuch, at ai3, Inc. comments: “Like the food, Barry and Richard have envisioned a space that harnesses modern sophistication with a light-hearted approach toward the dining experience. They want people’s first taste of the menu to be the space. So, we brought the unconventional and edginess of the cuisine to the design using reflecting ceiling elements, bold colors and finishes, and playful graphics. The result is a design that’s invigoratingly modern, yet like the menu, doesn’t take itself too seriously.”

A vibrant color palette and modern materials will result in a playful integration of the term “flip.”
A row of tables will take center stage in the space and will be flanked by a countertop bar on one side and a row of banquettes on the other. Blond wood tables and aluminum chairs will create a chic backdrop for the vibrant pops of color that will come from the red carpet. Custom wall graphics will stand out as vivid elemental works of art.

“I’ve always known that my calling was to run my own business,” Mills said. “I chose to open a restaurant because most businesses don't really allow for so many outlets for creativity and expression. I look at creating this new restaurant concept as creating a pragmatic work of art.”

FLIP will be a modern hamburger boutique offering “fine dining between two buns.” The menu, developed by creative director Richard Blais, redefines the classic hamburger. Located on the west side of Atlanta at 1587 Howell Mill Road, FLIP will be a contemporary, hip space that incorporates elements of fine dining with a creative, raw energy. Open for lunch and dinner daily from Sunday - Thursday 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Friday - Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. For more information call 404.352.FLIP or visit www.flipburgerboutique.com.

Technology is NOT Your Friend at Legal Sea Foods Atlanta

2008-11-30T08:25:00.000-08:00

I have been working in the tech industry for the last 12 years and can easily be described as a technology optimist. But there are some times where simple, basic human interaction trumps technology every time. And when I am looking at a menu with prices easily in the $20+ range per entree, there is no substitute for good ole fashion, attentive customer service.

My guess is most people probably know about Legal Sea Foods. It’s a Boston-based seafood restaurant that has opened up shop in the Hilton Garden Inn near Centennial Park. (Actually, it’s right across the street from the Georgia Aquarium, prompting multiple queries as to where they were getting their fresh seafood from. If I see Whale Shark on the menu, we’ll have our answer.) The bottom of the restaurant is primarily a bar, with the main dining one floor above. The views of the Downtown Atlanta skyline from the 2nd floor are outstanding. Legal Sea Foods prides itself on its exceptionally fresh seafood and its “famous” clam chowder, which most of our group of 7 ordered. I found the prices a little high considering fried clams cost $19 and a lobster roll sandwich cost $23. But considering we are a landlocked city, and there is no such thing as a working lobster dock within a 3-hour flight of here, I guess you’ll have to take it.

But what made this meal stand out, was not the food, however, which was decent. It was the almost comically awkward service we received. Our waitress had some sort of handheld contraption to take our orders. However, either the user or the device was unable to take a person’s appetizer and their entrée order simultaneously. So after 3 people ordered, we were somewhat scolded to first provide all soup and appetizer orders so she could submit them, and then she could take our entrée orders.

Now you would think that with this modern technology, at least there wouldn’t be any mix up with the actual order taking. Wrong. One person didn’t get their chowder. Another didn’t get their entrée. Lady Steakhead tried twice to order a cranberry and soda, only to be given straight cranberry. I’ll give the manager some credit here, who realized things were running amok at our table and comped all the soups and appetizers. That was appreciated and almost made everything better. Almost. They were so close.

But the problem was the meal wasn’t over and we still needed to deal with our waitress to at least get the check. When that came, I said we were going to give several credit cards. At that point, the waitress placed the contraption on the table and told us we could do that ourselves. What? Are we in McDonald’s?? You have screwed up our order multiple times, and you won’t even run the credit cards? Maybe that was a good thing, because who knows what we would have been charged.

I think Legal could do well in Atlanta, especially in that location where there are not a ton of options (though this is changing). Service, though, will need to be improved significantly. The other thing they may want to consider is a cheaper lunch menu, as their prices could limit some of the daytime tourist traffic. There is no way I am paying $23 for a lobster roll for lunch.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T04:17:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone has a fun and safe Thanksgiving today. There are many things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving including a wonderful family, great friends, and the opportunity to write this blog and enjoy the many meals that I do. And I am also thankful to learn that the Craft Atlanta Grand Opening is set for December 8th. If Steakhead gets a pre-opening invitation, he will be even more thankful!

New Orleans Is Not Pharr at Harry Bissett's in Buckhead

2008-11-25T19:02:00.000-08:00

Considering how close Atlanta is to the Crescent City, I am amazed at how few decent creole restaurants there are in this town. But now, with Harry Bissett's on the scene, that has changed. Even though Harry Bissett's is a descendant of the Athens scene, the menu screams New Orleans. Words like 'Lafayette', 'Bienville', and 'Thibodaux'. There are oysters done 5 ways, alligator and crawfish. There is even something described as a 'Carpetbagger', although I took offense to that.

I went with Lady Steakhead and a few friends last Saturday night, and business appeared to be brisk. The bar was crowded, all watching whatever SEC game happened to be on at the time, and the dinner crowd steadily escalated throughout the night. The service was attentive and friendly, although there were a couple of hiccups that can be expected from a new establishment.

The menu offers many of the cajun/creole favorites and we endulged in many of them. For appetizers, we ordered the barbecue shrimp, the grilled andouille sausage and the louisiana crab cake. Of these, the andouille, which had a decent kick to it, was my favorite. The barbecue shrimp was not swimming in butter and black pepper and not served with the heads on, so it was not quite what I was expecting.

For main courses, Lady Steakhead and I each ordered the Shrimp Creole which was served with a generous portion of shrimp. The order of the day came from STJ, however, who ordered the delicious Uptown Stuffed Filet- a medium-sized filet stuffed with blue cheese. We capped the night off with a traditional New Orleans bread pudding.

Harry Bissett's will earn a spot in the Steakhead rotation. The food is good, and for Buckhead, the prices are reasonable. Most entrees, except for the steaks, are under $20. Even the steaks are priced under $30. Speaking of which, next time Steakhead will stay true to his name and get the Uptown Stuffed Filet. Man was that good.

The Smell of Fall at Woodfire Grill

2008-11-15T11:54:00.000-08:00

The first thing you notice when walking into Woodfire Grill is the smell. As its name suggests, the wood-burning stove is a prominent feature in the restaurant, and you feel like you may have been teleported to a weekend away in the mountains. But in Blue Ridge you are not. Although it may have a cabin like feel to it, you are actually in the least rustic location in Atlanta...Cheshire Bridge Rd.

The concept of Woodfire Grill is "farm to table", where they partner with local and national organic farmers to produce a meal that was healthy for everyone involved, including the diner, the farmer, the cow and the soil. The menu changes daily based on what ingredients are available, although some staples seem to be available seasonally. There menu is divided into frist courses, second courses and entrees. There are also 3-course and 5-course tasting menus. Our waiter did a great job of promoting the tasting menus, including how they could pair the wine with the courses, so Lady Steakhead and I both went with that.

The first course was a fried pork terrine served with a poached egg and a mustard viniagrette. The fried pork terrine had the consistency of a sausage patty, and I couldn't help think "gourmet breakfast sandwich". It was delicious, don't get me wrong. The second dish was an heirloom fried green tomato with a salsa verde that was the missus favorite dish. In between the courses were several small tastes to complement the meal.

The main course was a small plate of quail (small being the operative word here). Now quail is a pretty small bird, and I don't believe this was the whole bird. So once you worked around the bones, you got what was maybe the equivalent of 3 chicken wings worth of bird. It was good, but not nearly enough. The owner told me the tasting menu plates are smaller than the normal entrees as the focus is on tasting. I understand that, but I was wondering if I was going to need a 2nd dinner at the Thrasher game later that night. Then dessert came.

I don't normally have a sweet tooth, but since it was part of the prix fixe (and I was still really hungry), I wasn't going to turn it down. I ordered the carrot cake and it may have been the best carrot cake I have ever had. And it was a big piece too, so by the time I wolfed it down, my hunger pangs had disappeared!

So my take on Woodfire Grill is a positive one. The setting is wonderful, the food is healthy and delicately prepared, and the service was outstanding. Next time, I'll pass on the tasting menu, and order some menu items that caught my eye - such as Grass-fed beef carpaccio appetizer and the wood-grilled sonoma duck breast. Definitely the carrot cake again. Heck, I'd go back for that smell alone!

PS- I received this email from the restaurant regarding 1/2 price wine on Thursdays during the months of November and December. They appear to take pride in their matching of wines to meals so if you go, you may want to take advantage of it.

"Woodfire Grill offers half priced wine on Thursdays during November and December. This new 50% discount will be taken off every wine, both by the glass and by the bottle, every Thursday. Woodfire Grill’s vast wine list is sourced from 13 distributors and features selections from 11 different countries. The diverse list changes weekly to stay current with the best new releases from all over the world as well as to complement Chef Kevin Gillespie’s ever changing menu. Woodfire Grill is open for dinner Monday through Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and is located at 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road; 404-347-9055."

Asian Street Food with a Twist…It’s Expensive

2008-11-10T13:40:00.000-08:00

I think the new W in Midtown is a great example of the continued progress in making Atlanta more of an urban destination. With a signature restaurant and one of the hottest clubs in the city, the non-stop parade of well-dressed, beautiful people (yours truly not included) parking their German imports at the valet and entering the chic hotel seemed endless. Spice Market had been on my list for a while not only because of its Asian-inspired menu, but also due to the reputation of Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s New York original, and my constant desire to go to the “in” places.

The Spice Market knows they are hot right now, and they let you know it by some standard “hip” restaurant annoyances. First, the mandatory wait at the bar, even though there seemed to be plenty of tables available and we had a reservation. Second, the “thump-thump-thump” of a hidden base speaker that seemed to be situated right over my head. The room they had us in was cool, however. A small, tucked-away nook down a flight of stairs that featured an Asian water feature in the middle of the room. Third, they find some bizarre, unique way to describe their concept. In the case of Spice Market, it’s “southeast Asian street cuisine”. Now I have not been to Southeast Asia, but my hunch is that street cuisine there doesn’t cost $50+ per person, so I had some immediate price/value concerns.

Since we were celebrating a profitable year for fanBunker, my business partner and I decided to splurge a little (also, I needed material for this blog, which has NOT been a profitable venture…but heck, I do it all as a labor of love). We ordered four appetizers for the four of us, which were quite hit and miss. A couple of the more exotic choices- such as the Lobster Roll with Dill and Sriracha and the Tuna Tartare were useless. The Lobster Roll was so over powered with dill, you could not taste the lobster at all. This may also have something to do with their lobster, which was rubbery and not flavorful to begin with. Same could be said for the tartare, which looked nice with small chunks of tuna over radish, avocado with a ginger vinaigrette dressing. But if you were to have told me the tuna was diced tomato, I would have been none the wiser. Other flavors just took over and the fact that it was tuna was lost on me. The lesser-expensive calamari and chicken samosas were much better choices (and probably more passable as “street food” than lobster).

Things did improve with the entrees, however. Lady Steakhead ordered the best here, selecting the Cod with Malaysian Chili sauce. My strip steak with garlic and sesame was tender and nicely seasoned. My friend ordered the short ribs, which was served in a bowl with egg noodles in a broth. He did have to inquire as to how to eat it, with which led to a ridiculous answer to take the meat out of the bowl and pour the noodles somewhere. I forget, but it seemed like a lot of work with no purpose. Speaking of service, I have had better. Our waitress was nice enough, but there were long stretches where we were totally ignored. It seemed like once we received our appetizers, she thought that was it for us.

The total bill for our group of four was $240 which definitely puts it in the pricey category if you are not on an expense report. We didn’t go nuts with the alcohol, and we didn’t order dessert, though we did go a little overboard with the appetizers so while you may be able to do it somewhat cheaper than us, probably not that much cheaper (staying away from the expensive appetizers will help). I’m on the fence as to whether I would give Spice Market a thumbs up or not. It was good, not great. And while there are plenty of places I would recommend over Spice Market in that price range, it is good to see a place that is trying to add to the Atlanta city vibe succeed.

The Original, The Taco, The Scoop

2008-10-30T18:40:00.000-07:00

There is a new Mexican place in the location previously occupied by Sala in the Highlands/Morningside area called The Original El Taco, which I guess translates to The Original The Taco. I am not aware of any new El Taco restaurants so I am not too sure what "The Original" refers to. This is the latest Fifth Group concept, and at first I was scared (actually, I was petrified), that this would follow the same mistakes as The Original The Sala, which meant overdone and overpriced Mexican. But fear not, this is not the case with El Taco.

When you first walk into the restaurant, you realize right away this is supposed to be a casual neighborhood place. Cool, fun colors, star chandeliers, and my favorite- a prize wheel, which among other things, awards free pitchers of margaritas for 15 minutes if it lands on that space and you hold the winning number. Gambling, tequila and tacos- you know this is a Steakhead kind of place!

The menu is pretty standard for the modern taqueria these days. The queso royale includes japapenos, and chunks of chorizo sausage. Other items include fajitas, mexican pizza, enchiladas, etc. But given the name, I went for the tacos. There are 8different tacos on the regular menu, including the fried tilapia (don't be scared off by the salsa habenero, it is not spicy at all), fried chicken, mexican chorizo and the pork carnitas tacos. But the best taco I had this night was the Red Chili Steak taco (of course, you say). The chili rubbed steak was tender and extremely flavorful. There is a salsa bar towards the back which has some decent concoctions, though nothing overly spicy if you are into that sort of thing. The great thing about the taco menu is that they all are about $3 each. So with the change you save on food, you can direct that toward the drink menus. Speaking of which, the margarita list is impressive and I've heard good things about the frozen mojito (though I will not admit to having one of those).

I think El Taco should do very well. They offer decent food, at a good price, in a fun atmosphere. Its both kid-friendly and singles-friendly. The front porch will be a popular spot in the Spring and Summer months. They do need to run that prize wheel a little more often- they didn't spin it once when I was there. I want to be like that guy in the KENO commercial when my number hits winning free pitchers of margaritas for all my friends!

El Taco Veloz May Benefit From the New Prado

2008-10-19T08:14:00.000-07:00

As the construction around the Prado will likely bring more of the same chain-type restaurants, visitors may want to venture just North of the new Sembler complex for lunch to the El Taco Veloz, an authentic Mexican taqueria. You will need to look past the exterior and the fact that its situated right next to a Love Shack adult store. Come to think of it, the inside won't win any Architectural Digest award either. But the fact that the Dora episode they were showing on the two TVs was in Spanish led me to believe I wouldn't be disappointed. And I wasn't. The food here will make you look past any burrito you have ever had at Moe's or Chipotle.

The menu is relatively simple- mainly tacos and burritos. There are carne asada versions of both, with the meat tender and full of flavor. Lady Steakhead had a chile relleno taco, which was also outstanding. She is a big fan of corn tortillas, which is how the tacos are served (you can request either). There is a salsa bar with some wonderful selections including a particularly spicy salsa verde. The pico served with the side order of chips is outstanding.

As I was leaving, I requested a to-go menu and was ecstatic to see they serve breakfast. I just love me some huevos rancheros! And breakfast places are what I have missed the most since move from Cabbagetown. May have to do that next weekend.

Coming Soon- Harry Bissett's Buckhead

2008-10-18T05:41:00.001-07:00

John Durrett, a fellow classmate of mine from the Fuqua School of Business, is opening Harry Bissett's Buckhead- an offshoot of the well-known Cajun restaurant in Athens. I stopped in at his Pharrr Rd. location last night to check out the progress, and they are just days away from opening. Durrett is aiming to recreate the exact feel of the original Athens location, from the menu to the decor. While I haven't been to the orginal, the menu does look tantalizing- blackened ribeye, filet au poivre, shrimp creole, crawfish ettouffe and of course, my all time fave- New Orleans-style barbecue shrimp. Now Lady Steakhead, she is both a UGA grad AND a cajun from Baton Rouge, and she loves Harry Bissett's. So when we make our first official visit in the next week or two, she will every bit of the food critic as yours truly. Best of luck John and we look forward to your Grand Opening!

Eating & Drinking Tour of Santa Fe

2008-10-01T17:23:00.000-07:00

Growing up, I spent many a weekend traveling with my Dad to various car shows around the Northeast. It was his passion and I enjoyed the bonding time with him. It had been 17 years since our last trip together and we decided last year that we were due for another adventure. The trip requirements were fairly minimal- it needed to be within the lower 48, and a place that neither of us had been before. After hearing glowing reports from several friends and relatives, we decided upon Santa Fe, NM. We quickly checked calendars (and I researched available Delta Sky Miles seats) and zoned in on the last weekend in September, which happened to coincide with my Dad's birthday. After booking our tickets, a Google search on Santa Fe activities revealed that our weekend was also the week of the Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta. Bonus!!

Santa Fe is known for being a big artist community. To soak in some of the local culture, I even bought something from a struggling artist. I like to give back like that. But where we truly gave back was to the fine restauranteurs, bartenders and waitstaff of Santa Fe. We stayed at the Inn of the Governors- a short walk from the historic Santa Fe plaza. This hotel is not overly expensive and nicely decorated in a Southwestern motif. The Ritz, it ain't, but it suited us perfectly. The thing that was most memorable about the place, though, was the margaritas they served in the downstair saloon- Del Charro. They pour the glass and give you the rest of the shaker which easily fills the glass another three times. We leisurely drank our ritas while my Dad opened his birthday presents.

We stayed in Santa Fe for three nights and had three very different meals. Night one was La Plazuela at the La Fonda hotel. I had heard about their tableside guacamole and the pictures of the indoor courtyard setting looked perfect for a first night. The guacamole was good and fresh, but I did wonder if I make a better one at home. The remainder of the meal was somewhat unmemorable, but they may have been due to the aforementioned margaritas. Did I mention the shaker could refill your glass three times?

The next morning, we visited the Georgia O'Keeffe museum and then got on the bus to take us to the Wine & Chile Fiesta. This festival is located several miles out of town in the parking lot of the Santa Fe Opera. Four massive tents all serving bites from the best restaurants in town. Next to each restaurant was a vineyard serving several varietals. With the exception of having red wine spilled on my pants (not by me) and my Dad losing his glasses, this was a great event. (Though after attending numerous beer festivals in my life, I had to adjust to the "pacing" concept of a wine festival.)

Night two was the somewhat famous Coyote Cafe. I was a bit leery of this at first since it seemed to be the touristy place to go. Man am I glad I didnt get scared off. It has a modern look to it with an open kitchen, and a trendy feel. And the meal was outstanding. We started with the surf and turf tartare- beef tartare paired with tuna sashimi. The presentation was on this ridiculously long platter that spanned past the edges of the table. Beef on one end, tuna on the other, and the accoutrements in the middle, including a quail egg. My main course was killer as well. Twin mesquite-rubbed lobster tails over pappardelle, served with a spicy, red cream and chile sauce. Wow. If you go here, consider stopping at the rooftop deck for a margarita.

For our last night, we went old school to a restaurant called the Old House. This is located in the El Dorado hotel and is much more white tablecloth/fine dining than Coyote Cafe. Small plates of complimentary salmon mousse to start and cabernet sorbet to cleanse the pallet were nice surprises. This was my big meat night, and I went with the Veal Delmonico, which was served french cut, off the bone. The menu recommends a glass of wine for each entree and we were more than happy to take their recommendation. All in all, this was a great way to end a great trip, as we headed home the next morning.

A Little Part of Japan on Buford Highway

2008-09-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of buzz lately about a sushi place on Buford Highway called Sushi House Hayakawa. This authenticly Japanese sushi bar is located on Buford Highway several blocks north of 285. When we first pulled into the parking lot, I got all excited about the bright neon sign next to the 'Grand Opening' sign that read "Karaoke Bar". Wow, I thought, this place is authentic! But alas, the karaoke bar was the next door establishment.

But with or without karaoke, this place is truly Japanese. If you call during non-business hours, the answering machine greeting is in Japanese. Our waitress, an American, was the same person who I was passed on to when I called to make my reservation. While she was very good, I couldn't help but think she may be the only English-speaking staff in the place. And the clientele was 50% Japanese. Always a good sign.

When I go into a place like this, I almost always order Omakase to see what new experiences the sushi chefs can throw my way. While the fish quality was amazingly fresh, I was a little disappointed in the actual selections, especially since I ordered the more expensive $65 version. The sashimi and nigiri selections were your typical tuna, yellowtail, cooked shrimp, octopus, squid. There was even a tuna roll. In all, it didn't seem too different from a chef's choice selection at your run-of-the-mill sushi bar. I was especially disappointed with no toro in any form in any of the courses. The last course, a bowl of a dapping of rice topped with a generous portion of salmon roe was the most distinct course of the Omakase. Other than that, I thought the dinner sort of lacked creativity. I wondered if being gaijin that I got a more pedestrian version? We didn't speak with the sushi chef ahead of time, to let them know we wanted an adventurous selection (and toro), so that may have been a mistake. But again the fish quality was outstanding, so I will definitely give it another try some time.

What Exactly Is a Gastropub?

2008-09-09T17:10:00.001-07:00

Considering I never heard of the word "Gastropub" a year and a half ago, I am beginning to think it has already lost its meaning. I have been to three so-called Gastropubs in Atlanta and they are all completely different. The first, Tap, is a nice bar with a great patio. The food wasn't all that inspiring. The second, Holeman & Finch, has a menu that can best be described by this layman as odd. Given the term comes from England, their interpretation is probably fairly authentic. The third was my visit today to The Glenwood. Their take is apparently "smoky dive bar" with food.

I needed more info so upon looking at wikipedia, it apparently is merely a bar with high-quality food, above "pub grub". Pretty vague. I suppose, The Glenwood fits this description in several ways. First, it is first and foremost a bar. While the food may be decent, you would never mistake it for a white tablecloth establishment. No separate dining room, cigarette smoke lingering in the air, a shuffleboard table in the corner. Second, the menu does provide more upscale chow than a typical bar. The menu isn't as off-the-wall as Holeman & Finch, which I found to be a plus, but there are a few intersting takes, such as the Turducken Burger and Rabbit Brunswick Stew. I went with the Eastern NC BBQ Sandwich, a generous portion which had a great blend of vinegar and spice.

Unfortunately for me, though, the place just looks too much like a divey bar to want to spend a couple of hours eating there. There are just too many good choices in Atlanta to give up that much on atmosphere. But if I happen to be in the area late night and want a brew or two, no problem.

Samaritan House's Cafe 458 Now Open for Dinner

2008-09-03T19:07:00.000-07:00

Samaritan House's Cafe 458 is a remarkable establishment that does great work in the City of Atlanta helping the homeless men and women in our city become self-sufficient. For years, they have used a Sunday Brunch to the public to help fund the great work they do every single day in helping to feed those less fortunate. Beginning tomorrow, they will expand their public dining hours to offer Dinner every Thursday and Friday night from 5:30-8:30. I got a peak at their menu offerings that include Fried Green Tomatoes, Coconut Shrimp,Lobster Ravioli, Filet Mignon, and Key Lime Layer Cake. There is even a 3-course, prix fixe menu for $28. For more info, go to http://www.samhouse.org/cafe458/cafe458.cfm

Chima- A Fogo de Chao Alternative?

2008-08-26T18:36:00.001-07:00

For those that have read my blog over the past 3 years, you know what a big fan of Fogo de Chao I am. When a new Brazilian Churrascaria called Chima opened in Buckhead my first thought was "Why bother?" After all, Fogo is right around the corner, and can you really improve on that concept? But armed with curiosity, an appetite and a 2 for 1 coupon, I went last week to find out.

My first impression was that the place must be popular. The dining room and adjacent bar was packed, and our 8pm reservation didn't yield a table until 8:50. This may be one of the few kinds of restaurants where I don't mind a wait that much since my goal is always to extend the meal (I have been known to have a full Fogo meal in 45 minutes because I can't contain myself). However, a 50 minute wait when you have a reservation is excessive.

If you are familiar with Fogo, the premise of Chima will be familiar. A salad bar with smoked salmon, various cheeses and salads etc. If there is one area where Chima may have outscored Fogo it may be the salad bar. There seems to be a few more choices including beef carpaccio (if the 'all you can eat beef" in the main course is not enough red meat).

Speaking of the main course, you know the drill. Gauchos serve endless selections of beef, lamb and some chicken, mostly on a skewer. A two sided card on your table alerts them when you are hungry and when you are taking a break. At Fogo, turning the card to green unleashes an assault of gauchos from all sides. Not quite the case at Chima. We had several lulls where there wasn't a gaucho to be seen. And that brings me to another point. Yes, the Chima gauchos wear some traditional garb. But it doesn't look that much different from the white shirts of the waiters and other staff. Therefore, it doesn't have that same unique appearance as Fogo where the gauchos really standout. As far as meat selections, I would give the nod to Fogo here as well. Some pieces were overcooked. Some pieces were cut too big, therefore cutting down on the sampling fun. The house special cut lacked the flavor that Fogo offers. And some of my favorite pieces were just plain missing- like the bacon-wrapped filet.

So for me, Fogo will still be my Churrascaria of choice in Atlanta. Chima was good, and the coupon helps (register at chimasteakhouse.com to get one). But its not like I am going to these places that often. So for the 2 or 3 times per year I do, there just isnt a good enough reason to go someplace else.

Shaun Doty & Fifth Group Opening The Original El Taco

2008-08-18T07:32:00.000-07:00

It seems like the taco is about to get some attention from some heavy hitters in the biz. Shaun Doty (of Shaun's in Inman Park) and Fifth Group are coming together to bring you The Original El Taco in the space formerly occupied by Sala. I was never a big Sala fan, primarily because they strayed from two tenants of good Mexican in my mind- it was neither simple nor cheap. I hope Fifth Group learned their lesson from that. Here is the official release.

"The owners of Fifth Group Restaurants have joined forces with Executive Chef Shaun Doty, owner of Shaun’s, to create The Original El Taco in the former Sala space in Virginia-Highland. The new restaurant will open in mid-October. Doty is developing recipes for creative Mexican fare like tacos, tortas and salsas, and the Fifth Group Restaurants team is working with William Peace, Peace Design, to change the look and feel of the restaurant.

“The Original El Taco will be lively, bright, open, and - most of all - fun,” said Robby Kukler, co-owner of Fifth Group Restaurants. “We have known Shaun for years and when we found out he had been thinking about doing Mexican too, we knew it was a great partnership.”

“I love Mexican food and have wanted to do a restaurant like this for a while,” said Doty. “To have this opportunity to work with the pros at Fifth Group Restaurants is great.”

“We are going to create an easy, approachable destination for great Mexican food,” added Kukler.

Doty will work with a chef de cuisine at El Taco when the restaurant opens, while remaining executive chef at Shaun’s.

The Original El Taco is located at 1186 North Highland Avenue N.E. (formerly Sala) and will be open for dinner nightly. Fifth Group Restaurants sold Sala in mid-2007 and reacquired it in July 2008.

Fifth Group Restaurants is the privately owned company that operates Atlanta restaurants South City Kitchen® Midtown, South City Kitchen Vinings, La Tavola Trattoria and Ecco, as well as Bold American®, a catering and events company with onsite services at the Studio 887 and the Event Gallery at the King Plow Arts Center and offsite at private homes, offices and Atlanta's premier venues. For more information, call 678-302-3251 or visit www.fifthgroup.com.

Outback Gets A Facelift

2008-08-07T17:48:00.000-07:00

I have always been a fan of Outback Steakhouse. Perhaps it's that dang Bloomin' Onion , which I can never pass up whenever I go there. Or perhaps I remain nostalgic from my days in grad school many years ago when going to Outback (and dealing with a likely 2 hour wait drinking Fosters at the bar) was considered a splurge. Or perhaps it's because I realize now with a 2 year-old that a night at Outback is up there with the best of them in terms of a fun and fulfilling dinner out with the family. And so while my reasons for Outbacks appeal may have changed over the last 15 years, the restaurant itself really hasn't. But that is about to change.

I was recently invited to check out the new Outback in Johns Creek, for what they are dubbing as the new prototype of Outback restaurants. While there are a few new items on the menu, its pretty much the same at first glance- Bloomin' Onions, steaks, shrimp on the barbie- you know the routine. What is different is the look of the place. The Johns Creek location, which just opened this week, is one of 4 locations in the country to sport the new look.

As you will see from a couple of pictures below, they have gone with almost a Southwestern motif- lots of earth tones, and nice use of wood, stone and metal. In fact, when you look at the outside, it has more of the look of a Santa Fe saloon than the ranch house style of the traditional restaurant. Speaking of saloon, the bar is now separated from the main dining room, with the idea of keeping the TVs away from the dining room experience. There is still plenty of seating in the bar area and they still have Fosters, so for those looking to watch a game, eat and have an oil can, no worries.

I'll be curious to see how long it will take them to retrofit the existing Outbacks to this theme, and when my more local restaurant in Dunwoody will get the upgrade.

The New Outback in John's Creek

The New Outback Dining Room

The new Outback bar.

Almost Famous at Straits

2008-08-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

I wasn’t sure about what to expect when I walked into the celebrity-owned Straits last night. Chef Chris Yeo has partnered with Ludacris to bring his popular SF-based Malaysian concept to Midtown in the space previously occupied by Spice, and at first it may seem like an odd pairing. I mean, Yeo has been wowing Bay Area foodies for years with his take on Singaporean cuisine, and Luda (yes, we are that tight, he calls me Steak) gets people grooving to “Move Get Out the Way” (at least, that’s what I think the song is called- my only exposure to it was that they used to play it at Falcons games when TJ Duckett plowed through the line.) I’ll give them both credit, though. Ludacris partnered with a seasoned chef that brings something different to the Atlanta market, and Yeo partnered with someone who will bring in the customers. I was sort of hoping that one of them would be in the restaurant that night, but Yeo had just left town, and if Luda shows up, supposedly it’s usually after midnight. But heck, I was there, so I am sure that made someone’s night.

When I first walked in at 7pm, the place was mostly empty. Sitting at the bar sipping on a Kirin, Tears for Fears was playing (somewhat loudly) over the sound system, and I was thinking to myself “Would Luda approve of this?” It was a nice tune, however, reminding me of my days as the “guy on the scene” in 1985 (I was that hip, even at 17!). The bartender was quick to tell me that not only would it pick up, but the kitchen would likely be open until 2am that night. Why, I asked. “Because it’s Tuesday.” (Of course, silly question). There are also upscale private rooms both upstairs and downstairs for those looking to take their groove to a higher level. One day.

As the night went on, the place filled up, the music got louder, and let’s just say, more contemporary. So on to the food. The menu is filled with many small plates and you are encouraged to share everything. Even the entrée’s are quite small, so the two of us easily devoured two appetizers and two entrees. Their signature appetizer is the Kung Pao Lollipops, and these rock. They are chicken wing drums (prepared more like a “General Tso” style, than Kung Pao- but Kung Pao sounds better), covered with minced peanuts and jalapenos. I could have eaten 10 of these (you only get 4 per plate).

For the main course, we had the Tamarind Beef and the Origami Sea bass. The Tamarind Beef was served with a delicious black pepper oyster sauce. Unfortunately, the beef was slightly overcooked and not very tender for a filet. Also, this was one of the rare dishes that suffered from not enough sauce. I found myself using the beef to mop up any residual sauce on the bottom of the plate. The Sea bass was outstanding. It was cooked and served in something like a parchment covered box which kept the fish hot and moist. Flavor exploded from each bite. And given that there were quite a few mushrooms (Steakhead’s big food aversion), I still cobbled up my share.

As I look at Straits, I could definitely see myself going back for drinks and grazing on the small plates. There were so many that caught my eye (like the Crispy Wontons, Sambal Udang, and Straits Spareribs to name a few). And who knows, if you time it right- both day of week and after midnight- you may see someone famous.

Pig Roast in Midtown

2008-07-22T06:07:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, July 26th, between 3 and 7, the new Cypress Street Pint & Plate will be hosting a Pig Roast with live music. The wifey used to live across the street from this when it was Toast (pretty forgettable), and the new name alone tells me I probably would have spent many a night here back in the day. I am really curious as to how they are going to do this in the middle of the city. Are they closing the street? Where are they setting up the spit? It does sound very tempting. I am going for lunch on Thursday and can report back on the food (as I have not been here since Toast closed), and this event. Meanwhile, anyone from CSP&P that reads this, feel free to reply with details.

Steakhead in San Francisco

2008-07-18T18:28:00.000-07:00

There are so many reasons I love coming to the Bay Area, and the fact that San Francisco is my favorite eating city in the US is probably at the top of the list. After having spent three days here this week, of which I carefully researched and planned my food itinerary well in advance, I am dedicated this post to covering my adventure. As you will see below, I went a little heavy on the Asian cuisine, but it’s so good here, it was hard to resist.

Night 1- Crustacean- San Francisco
I bet a friend who claims to be a Pats fan (he has like 3 or 4 favorite teams, so its tough keeping track) that the Giants would beat them in the Super Bowl. Mind you, the Giants were a 13-point underdog, and being a real fan, I offered the bet straight up. Winner picks the restaurant, loser pays. Karma rewarded my faith, and we hit Crustacean. Crustacean is a family-run Vietnamese seafood house. Their signature dish is their whole dungeness crab prepared 3 different ways- the Roasted Crab (garlic), the Drunken Crab (wine, scallions and black pepper), and the Tamarind Crab (red Vietnamese sweet and spicy sauce). This night, I went with the Drunken Crab, but I have had all three and probably lean toward the Roast Crab. But seriously, it’s not like you can make a bed selection. We started with numerous appetizers- the salt and pepper calamari were excellent. But the absolute must here is getting the An’s Garlic Noodles as a side dish to whatever you get. There is a secret kitchen in each Crustacean location, protecting the family recipes, and my guess is that the Garlic Noodles is the dish they are most concerned with protecting.

Night 2- Tamarine- Palo Alto
Monday night brought me further toward Silicon Valley and Tamarine in Palo Alto. Once again, Vietnamese, but probably a little more traditional (and cheaper) than Crustacean. Tamarine is located right in downtown Palo Alto on University Ave. We started with the tuna tartare appetizer, which is presented more like a ceviche, and served with fried wontons. While the entrees are called “small plates”, that really only means that you order the veggies and starches separately. The dishes are meant to be shared, so for 2, we ordered one entrée and a veggie and rice dish and split everything. So yes, that means Steakhead ordered a vegetable- the black bean asparagus, and they were awesome! Cut up into short pieces, with a terrific Asian black bean glaze and very crunchy. The tamarind shrimp entrée was served over a bed of crunchy noodles and very tasty. The rice dish- the empress rice- came with garlic, leeks and served with a fried egg on top, and mixed tableside. Another winner. When looking for a decent Asian place in the Palo Alto/Mountain View area, I highly recommend it.

Night 3- Kiss Seafood- San Francisco
This was the meal I was really looking forward to. I discovered Kiss Seafood online- a very intimate sushi bar in Japantown that seats only 13. I was not looking for a run of the mill sushi place- what I would call a “piece and roll” sushi bar. I was looking for a sushi experience where the sushi chef could really show off his skills and introduce me to some new things. Kiss Seafood did not disappoint when judged on that criteria.

As I mentioned, the place is small. The only two employees I saw was the one sushi chef and the hostess (I think it’s a husband and wife team). I was actually able to make a reservation for 1 at the sushi bar a week in advance. Good thing too, as people who tried to walk in were turned away for the night. I had been told the Omakase is the way to go here, and at $60 for the “Special Omakase” (as opposed to $42 for the “Regular Omakase”), this was an easy choice. The meal entailed 6 courses starting out with a tray of octopus, king mackerel, and some kind of Japanese root vegetable. The sushi and sashimi courses were to die for. There was a great mix of fish I was familiar with (tuna, yellowtail, toro, and clam) and some that I was not as familiar with (baby sea bass, halibut, amberjack and the king mackerel). The tuna nigiri already comes having been soaked in soy, so I was given explicit instruction not to use any of my own soy/wasabi with it. All three sashimi/sushi dishes are pictured below.

My only reservation on this Omakase is that 3 courses were some form of soup (including one concoction of custard, broth and clams that I really wasn’t a fan of at all). If I were to go again, I may just order the sushi/sashimi dishes and skip the Omakase completely. The fish was what I came for, and what I really liked about this dinner. The clam custard soup, yeah, not so much.

Move Over Taqueria del Sol- Lime in Smyrna Impresses!

2008-07-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

On a recent visit to Taqueria del Sol, I asked the owner if he had any plans to expand north of the Perimeter. The question was scoffed at, and the answer was unsatisfying. But after a visit to Lime, a new taqueria in the West Village complex off of Atlanta Rd and I-285, I no longer crave for lunchtime lines on Howell Mill Rd.

Lime is an appropriate name for this place as you will see the theme played out over and over again in decor and menu. The name alone had me craving a tall margarita from the moment I walked in. Comparing Lime to Taqueria del Sol may be easy, but I'm not sure if it's very fair. After all, there is much more to Lime's menu than tacos. And besides the $3 a la carte price, the taco selections aren't even that similar. I found Lime to be much more robust and daring in its taco offerings. For example, we went with the fried catfish, carne asada, chorizo, and grilled lobster tacos. There was even a chicken mole taco, though we didnt try it. Each taco has its own take on salsas and accoutrements. For instance, the fried catfish taco is served with mango jalapeno slaw and lime.

While there are full entrees available at Lime, we stuck primarily with the smaller dishes this night. The margarita helped wash down the 4 Salsa and Chips, which included several spicy offerings. To accompany the tacos, we also ordered the ceviche of the day and a tamale. Both were excellent. The ceviche was a shrimp and talapia dish, served in a margarita glass, with diced pepperes, jalapenos, cilantro, tomato and avacado. The tamale was traditional featuring braised steak, cornmeal and wrapped in the corn husk.

All aspects of Lime were excellent. The atmosphere (I hear they have salsa dancing on weekend nights), the drinks, the food, the service. We will definitely be going back!

Maxim Prime- A Prime View, But Little Else

2008-06-17T18:45:00.001-07:00

Reading the initial reviews of Maxim Prime, I was expecting a lounge that resembled a brothel, an expensive but fully satisfying steakhouse, and a very guy-oriented experience with Maxim Magazine's name attached to it. I got none of these. The lounge is much more Fur Bus than Whorehouse, the restaurant was nothing special, and is definitely not a "guys" steakhouse. The only saving grace about this place is the rooftop lounge with a fantastic view of the city.

The lounge on the ground floor of the Glenn Hotel is bizarre. Maybe this would be trendy as some speakeasy in the Village, but just outside the elegant bar of the Glenn Hotel, it seems very out of place. It's not very big, and as I mentioned above, the decor is very reminiscent of the inside of the Fur Bus. Two top shelf drinks cost $23, and they were out of Bombay Sapphire. How can a bar be out of Sapphire at 8pm?

The main restaurant is located on the second floor, and is a definite step up decor wise. According to our waiter, its supposed to be a "steakhouse you can take girls to". Odd that Maxim has attached its name to the place if that's the concept. And since when can't I bring my wife to Lobster Bar or New York Prime? The steak offerings were limited but not overly priced. A couple of filets, a strip, a skirt and a flat iron, all priced in the $20-30 range. No bone-in ribeye for one, but there was a 32-oz. bone-in for two, which a friend and I split. Unlike Kevin Rathbun's porterhouse which is a great dish to share, the ribeye doesnt really work as a "for 2" dish. The slices are too inconsistent when precut, with some being outstanding, and others containing too much gristle or fat.

The menu also features "threesomes" where you can pair a cut of meat with seafood and a veggie. Neat idea, but they are not pairing their best steaks IMO, and each selection has some funky way of preparation, such as "bitter orange, tamarind and honey marinated skirt steak". C'mon.

For appetizers, we split the tuna and yellowtail crudos, which were described as a marinated form of ceviches. It's actually more like sashimi with 4 small slices for each plate. I found the yellowtail with rum, lime and jalapeno to be very salty. The tuna with avacado and grapefruit was decent, but not in anyway filling.

So, unfortunately, Maxim Prime will not join Steakhead's list of top Atlanta steakhouses. However, there is one big caveat to this review. The upstairs deck may have the best nightime view of the Atlanta skyline. Drinking a mojito upstairs in the comfy lounge chairs was all good, and is a place I will definitely revisit.

Decadence, Style and Great Food at MF Buckhead

2008-06-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

With the wife and kid out of town for a few days, I am taking advantage of the open schedule by hitting some mighty fine restaurants. Last night, I left a bar crawl to hit up the new MF Sushi in Buckhead. I fugured it would be a good choice since 1) the wifey can't eat sushi at the moment, and 2) I figured it would be half the cost since I was going solo (by the time I was done, it wasn't).

First impression when I walked in- Wow!. The place is huge- 8000 sf ft. The sushi bar alone can comfortably seat at least 20. The feel is completely different than the MF in Midtown. Where as that place feels soothing and sedated, this place screams at you. I felt I had walked into the trendiest place in LA or Vegas. I started with a couple of appetizers, a seaweed salad and a dish with yellowtail, lemon, cilantro and wasabi. Outstanding. And it got me in a creative frame of mind, so when the sushi chef suggested Omakase, I immediately jumped on it.

The chef put together a great blend of old favorites of mine as well as some more creative elements. On the traditional side, they offered a great spicy tuna roll, melt in your mouth salmon nigiri, and golden eye snapper sashimi (I had never had this before). One interesting dish they presented was a miso marinated duck. All of this left me clamoring for more, so I ordered more nigiri including Toro and yellowtail. By this time, I have been soaking up this experience for 90 minutes and had gotten on the good side of the sushi chefs. He then showed me the kobe. I remember a scene from Sixteen Candles when Anthony Michael Hall shows a bunch of high school freshmen a pair of girls panties. Their reaction was probably similar to mine in this case: "Ooooooooooo." He cut off two thin medallions and then sears them with a blow torch (the beef, not the panties). I was in heaven.

The experience at MF Sushi Buckhead rivals the experiences I have had at Nobu and at Morimoto. The Omakase is a little more planned at those locations - you know the # of courses and the price ahead of time. But the MF selections spanned the perfect blend of traditional and creative. And the feeling that you get when sitting in MF is as big and bold as the food you are eating. You know you are at someplace special. And for sushi, whether its Atlanta, NYC or wherever stateside, you are.

Steamhouse Lounge Re-opening in Midtown Next Month

2008-06-13T05:33:00.000-07:00

For those fans of old school Buckhead, you will be happy to know that Steamhouse Lounge will be reopening its doors next month in Midtown at the previous location of Element. From the looks of things, all the old menu favorites are returning, including the Lobster Bisque. Here is the press release:

"Atlanta, Georgia, June 10, 2008 - Steamhouse Lounge is proud to announce the reopening next month at 1051 West Peachtree St. in the former Element location in Midtown. Rediscover great fresh seafood and ice cold beer chilled on ice 364 days a year! Keeping with the true character from the Buckhead location, the relaxed atmosphere will be similar including the original bar, tables and booths inside the two-level, 100 year-old house, wrap-around outdoor deck seating shaded by a 200 year-old oak tree and patio dining complete with a palm tree and outdoor bar.

"We are excited to reopen our doors to Atlanta and all of our loyal customers throughout the years," said Steamhouse Lounge managing partner Sam Weyman. "We always intended to move to a new location and we know we found the perfect spot."

The Steamhouse Lounge menu accommodates every appetite ranging from fresh seafood to salads and classic burgers. Some menu favorites include the award-winning Lobster Bisque, Oysters on the Half Shell, Frogmore Skillet with oysters, shrimp, corn, potatoes and sausage in a spicy butter sauce served in a steaming hot skillet with garlic butter and the Lobster Roll filled with ¼ pound of Maine lobster meat served on a hot bun with drawn butter and a side item.

Nightcap, LLC. Food & Spirits owns Steamhouse Lounge along with their other restaurants that include Fontaine's, Vickery's, Highland Tap and The Depot. Proclaimed as "The Best Little Dump in Buckhead", Steamhouse Lounge originally opened its doors in 1986, only to close due to the Streets of Buckhead project. The renowned restaurant won many awards throughout the years including the Best Lobster Bisque, Best Outdoor Patio, Best Oysters, Best Seafood and more.

Steamhouse Lounge will be open daily from 11am-2:30am and Sundays from 11am-12am. For more information, interviews, photos, menu or press kit, please contact Lorrie Dixson of Eskimo Advertising at 404-441-3473 or lorrie@eskimoadvertising.com. For more information about Steamhouse Lounge, visit http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001jrIObgvwUnTSx6q0kNmmrhEOePw1ccEZM1Iw8Aee1pmDbcOoSTj0Iy9YJOjeW_rpf4lIEGti5GWkuw9Ylr8EOMFwWDTbVGP_nDk5jlPwCe1QMXJa3WhwkV-GOBbghqWp."

Hudson Grille Opens at Perimeter

2008-06-07T20:32:00.000-07:00

The transformation of the old Garrison's at Perimeter Mall to Hudson Grille has been completed. Although there were was still ongoing construction in the main entryway, the restaurant soft-launched last week.

Hudson Grille considers itself and "upscale sports bar", and the furnishings and surroundings of the place seem to support that. The place is beautifully appointed, with the bar and some seating on a main level, and a more elegant restaurant section up a brief flight of stairs. And unlike your typcial sports bar where waitresses adorn tight, breast-accentuating t-shirts and shorts (not that there is anything wrong with this), the staff at Hudson Grille wear shirts with collars and pants. Even in their first week, the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful.

Like your favorite sports bar, there are flat screen tvs at every turn of the head, and the menu is much more sports bar than fine dining. The two sided menu is 50% appetizers, 25% dog/burgers/sandwiches, and 25% entrees/steaks/seafood. We started with an order of the chips and guacamole, and Little Steakhead and I made quick work of it. We also split a cheeseburger and an order of wings. The burger was great. We had two flavors of wings- wasabi/ranch and the asian Samurai wings. The wasabi ranch, while sounding interesting, was a horrible choice. First they look unappealing, with a thick yellow sauce. The taste was equally as uninviting. The asian wings were better, but if I want wings while watching a game, I will almost always go to the Taco Mac across the street.

Herein lies their challenge. If you look at what I ordered, chips, a burger and some wings, I might as well have gone to Taco Mac. The thing that Hudson Grille has going for it, is it could be a destination where someone wanting to watch sports and get a good meal can go. If the menu pushes the apps, burgers and 6 flavors of wings, they are playing in Taco Mac's wheel house, and will likely lose. In fact, I went in leaning towards getting a steak, but was scared away because the price was too low at $15. Believe it or not, if it was priced in the low-20s, it may have instilled some confidence.

I will go back to Hudson Grille to try out a couple of their entrees next time. I am also interested to see if they expand the menu at all. Being so close, I really want to see this place succeed. Upscale dining and sports would be a great combo for me.

Not Jazzed About Parish

2008-06-01T11:02:00.000-07:00

Going out these days involves much more than the actual cost of the night out. There is also Opportunity Cost, in the fact that true nights out are so few and far between for us right now, the price of a bad meal is exacerabted. My experience last night at Parish, a new Concentrics concept that claims to be Cajun, had me questioning why I was wasting my time at places like this when I could be going to any one of the many places in Atlanta that I KNOW are good.

I will give Parish some props in that the building the restaurant is housed in is beautiful. Apparently, it goes back to the 1890's, though for the life of me, I can't remember what this place looked like before Amick and Company got their hands on it. The whole area has changed 1000% in the past 2 years, with condos, apartments, shops and restaurants lining both sides of Highland Avenue, which until recently was a barren wasteland.

So, back to the restaurant. First complaint, they cram too many tables and people in the space they have. Second, all those people account for a boatload of noise. Third, and most annoying, there are no menus! The food items are listed on several blackboards, and good luck if you don't have a decent viewing angle of them. Our waitress told us the menu would be a "verbal presentation". Her idea of "verbal presentation" was to say the "menu can be found on the blackboard" and "any questions?". When I asked about a tuna entree, something called ahi tuna tournedos, she gave me zero insight as to what it actually was. Turns out, it means cooked with pieces of ham and very salty. Who knew? Obviously not the waitress. Nice "verbal presentation". If they printed a damn menu, I may have ordered better. Fourth, the entire meal was way too rushed. The entire dinner took only 45 minutes, and this includes appetizers.

As for the food, mediocre to poor. First, don't be fooled, this isn't a cajun place. It may be Cajun themed, but don't think Paul Prudomme is back in the kitchen. The barbacue shrimp was nothing special. Not enough black pepper in sauce, and serving it with the baguette toasted made it difficult to mop up the broth. Wifey, a Louisiana native, had the Gumbo for starters, which was so chalky she needed to douse it with hot sauce to give it flavor. I already mentioned the tuna, which was neither cajun nor was it very good (and as explained, poorly communicated).

I am not one of those folks that has a thing against Concentrics restaurants. In fact, Two Urban Licks, as I have stated many times, is one of my favorite places in Atlanta. But they really missed the mark with Parish. Seems like they are trying to be different just for the sake of being different, without any thought to implementation. They have a nice theme, but lack the execution to deliver upon it.

But the night wasn't a total loss. First we strolled through the neighborhood and found Zaya, a promising looking Mediterranean place. Second, we stopped off at Cafe Intermezzo on the way home, and I still have half a piece of Oreo Cheesecake in the fridge for tonight!

Tequilas and Ceviches in Roswell

2008-05-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of ceviches, the tangy Latin American marinated seafood dish. When in Cozumel earlier this year, we made a specific trip to the east side of the island where beach bars without electricity serve up ceviches and cold margaritas. When I heard about a restaurant in Roswell with the same name, you could imagine how excited I was.

Lady Steakhead and I kicked off the holiday weekend with a much anticipated visit to Ceviche last night. Located in historic Roswell on Canton Rd., Ceviche seems to be quite the popular place these days. By a little after 6, all the inside tables were full, and by 6:30 the few outside tables on the sidewalk were occupied as well. The place feels very Mexican beach authentic in terms of the lack of decor. A ratty tapestry nailed into a barely-painted white cinderblock wall constitutes the only "art" in the place. Dont worry about getting too comfy in the plastic chairs. And as for worrying about Little Steakhead making too much noise? No worries about that either since its so loud that no one would ever hear her.

In looking at the menu, a part of me felt this place was misnamed. There are only 3 cevishes on the menu, but there is a completely seperate menu with 15 or so different tequilas. But maybe the name "Tequila" would frighten off the family-friendly crowd they have definitely attracted, so scratch that. My first order was for a Patron Silver 'rita on the rocks with the shrimp ceviche. Being the beginning of the holiday weekend, I felt compelled to go pseudo- top shelf with the liqour, though at a price of $12, I wasn't counting on too many of them. And unfortunately, its not like some big Lulu's fish bowl of a glass, only a medium size lowball glass. Probably good for the crowd, but at $12, I should have gone house brand for $5.

The ceviche was not quite what I expected either. It was served in the same lowball glass as the margarita, and served with a red tomato juice that completely overpowered the conventional tastes of lime and peppers. And, while I can't verify this, but the shrimp had the taste and texture of being cooked and chilled, as opposed to being marinated. Probably wouldn't order this again.

For a main course, I went with the steak tacos, which were served with corn tortillas. Man I love corn tortillas, so much better than their flour siblings. This was decent, and about what you would expect.

In the end, I enjoyed several elements of our trip to Ceviche. Not an expensive meal, good margaritas, and a real hole in the wall ambiance. I lalso love the fact that it is a family run business (the family actually has two other restaurants on the same block). But will it stand out from the run-of-the-mill fare at El Azteca? Work on the ceviche offerings (since that is your name), and absolutely.

What's Mother's Day Without Fried Goat Cheese?

2008-05-11T19:24:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is one of those holidays that turn places into true family-friendly restaurants that might not normally be that way. Take Ecco in Midtown, for example. I called ahead of time to see if kids would be welcome for their special Mother's Day brunch, and if they had high chairs. After hearing they would, I booked my reservation through Open Table (wanted my 100 points, you know). I later learned they don't normally carry any high chairs. They had planned to rent them for the day, but their supplier fell through. Ecco was really on the ball, and called us to let us know and to advise us to bring our own booster chair. They must have had a lot of calls to make, as most tables had small children, and many of those folks got the advanced word and brought their own boosters as well.

As soon as I told Lady Steakhead about our reservations at Ecco, she began salivating over the Fried Goat Cheese. And for good reason as I love the way the taste of the cheese mixes with the honey and peppercorns. We also sampled some of their cured meats and salamis. This was definitely the highlight of our brunch. I ordered the pizza as it was something that could be easily shared with Little Steakhead. Good, but not as good as the fried cheese. Lady Steakhead had something that resembled a quiche. It didn't live up to the fried cheese either. That's the downfall of having one of the best appetizers in Atlanta...the main courses may not live up in comparison.

The staff was great, and our waiter made sure that our Mother's Day brunch was the special occasion we were looking for. We'll definitely be back, even if its just for the fried cheese. It's that good.

Mother's Day Dining Options

2008-05-05T18:01:00.000-07:00

The calendar is full of days where we honor great heroes in the human history. Leaders like MLK, George Washington, even JC. But this Sunday is the day we honor perhaps the most important figure in our lives, Mom! Whether it's your mother, an in-law, or the mother of your kids, these great women deserve some attention, and the great restaurants of Atlanta are happy to oblige.

Thanks to my good friends at Melissa Libby & Associates, here is a list of some specials that can be found this Sunday. Also, check out my post from last year's brunch at Pastis in Roswell. I am heading to Ecco and will provide a report next week.

Aqua Blue will offer a special Mother’s Day brunch buffet from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Buffet offerings include a wide variety of items from strip steak and carved turkey to chicken rotini primavera in cream sauce to eggs Benedict and breakfast pastries. Cost is $29.95 for adults, $9.95 for children ages 12 to four and free for children under four. The restaurant will serve its regular dinner menu from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell; 770-643-8886. http://www.aquablueatl.com/

Canoe creates a commemorative meal for moms with a side of riverside scenery. The restaurant, situated on the Chattahoochee River, will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch menu from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The restaurant’s regular menu will be available for dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Located at 4199 Paces Ferry Road; 770-432-2663. http://www.canoeatl.com/.

Ecco will open for brunch on Mother’s Day with a special menu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The restaurant will also be open for dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Located at 40 7th Street at Cypress in Midtown; 404-347-9555. http://www.fifthgroup.com/.

Fogo de Chão salutes moms with savory slow-roasted meats from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mother’s Day for the price of $38.50. The Brazilian churrascaria will be serving dinner that night from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the cost of $46.50. 3101 Piedmont Road; 404-266-9988. http://www.fogodechao.com/.

Food Studio merges culinary art with celebratory cuisine on Mother’s Day. The restaurant will open for a special buffet brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $39.95 per person. The brunch will also feature a children’s menu for $10 per child (12 and under). The restaurant will also be open for dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. 887 West Marietta Street in the King Plow Arts Center; 404-815-6677. http://www.fifthgroup.com/.

The GLOBE will open for Mother’s Day brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and serve the regular brunch menu. Located at 75 Fifth Street NW in Technology Square; 404-541-1487. http://www.globeatlanta.com/

La Tavola Trattoria offers a taste of Italy in Virginia-Highland on Mother’s Day. The restaurant will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a limited brunch menu and will serve the regular dinner menu from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. 992 Virginia Avenue NE; 404-873-5430. http://www.fifthgroup.com/.

All locations of Marlow’s Tavern (Alpharetta, Kennesaw, Midtown and Vinings) will be serving the regular brunch menu from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the regular dinner menu from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m. In Alpharetta at 3719 Old Alabama Road, 770-475-1800; Kennesaw at 745 Chastain Road, NW,
770-425-8777; Midtown at 950 West Peachtree Street, 404-815-0323; and Vinings at 2355 Cumberland Parkway, 770-432-2526. http://www.marlowstavern.com/.

Morton’s The Steakhouse in Buckhead and Downtown will serve a special prix fixe menu on Mother’s Day for $59 per person. Menu includes choice of salad; choice of one entrée from a selection of filets, fish and chicken dishes, choice of one side dish; and a dessert. The Buckhead location is open from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is located in the Peachtree Lenox Building at 3379 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-816-6535. The Downtown location is open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is located in the SunTrust Plaza Building at 303 Peachtree Center Avenue; 404-577-4366. http://www.mortons.com/.

South City Kitchen brings contemporary Southern dishes to the table, giving mothers a break from home cookin’ on their special day. Bring the family to the Midtown location from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a limited brunch menu, or for the regular dinner menu from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. 1144 Crescent Avenue;
404-873-7358. The Vinings location will offer a limited brunch menu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the regular dinner menu from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. 1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700. http://www.fifthgroup.com/.

Taste of Sandy Springs This Sunday

2008-04-30T05:39:00.001-07:00

I often state that the biggest thing I have missed since moving from Cabbagetown to Sandy Springs has been the lack of great, non-chain restaurants in Sandy Springs vs. my former haunts. To be fair, there are a few very good ones in my new hood, such as Rumi's Kitchen. But this is the burbs, and currently, the chains dominate.

But one thing Sandy Springs has that Cabbagetown didn't is a food festival (Chomp & Stomp doesn't count- that's more of a drink festival if you know what I mean). While the overall participating restaurant list isn't very inspiring (Kroger, Baskin & Robbins, Caribou Coffee amongst others), there are a few places that are winners (Eclipse di Luna, Rumi's, Food 101, Slope's), and there are a few places I am curious to try (Nancy G's, Mambo Italiano, Ramon's). To find out more, go to http://www.tasteofsandysprings.org//.

Mobile Again

2008-04-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

Well after 4 weeks of hobbling and limping around, things are finally starting to get better. Not that the limp is completely gone, but at least I'm much more mobile. Good enough to make it to a few restaurants and even play 54 holes of golf last weekend (I have now officially lost all sympathy from Lady Steakhead due to this). One of my first stops with my new found mobility was Vita.

Vita occupies the space that Mick's used to have on Peachtree Rd. near Piedmont Hospital. Vita is the creation of Tony La Rocca, who started the recently closed Fratelli di Napoli on Bennett St. It's a beautiful open space with lots of dark tones. Our server was very attentive to our needs, including helping replace the several broken high chairs for Little Steakhead (maybe worth an investment in some new ones, if you want to be considered family centric).

For an appetizer, we split the mussels fra diavlo. The mussels selection here is unique as you can have them 5 different ways (wine and garlic, marinara, cream poblano sauce, wine and gorgonzola, and fra diavlo). There are two slices of bread on the bottom of the bowl that allow you to sop up the sauce. For me, this dish was the highlight of my dinner.

For most part, the menu features basic Italian fare- pastas, parmagianas, picatas, etc. With prices in the teens for most of these dishes, I should have known better than ordering the $26 Tony's veal chop. This dish was described as a breaded veal chop with tomatoes, basil and balsamic vinaigrette and sounded unique. What actually came was something like a veal cutlet with a bone in it.The tomatoes were chunky and I could barely taste the vinaigrette. Not worth the $26 price tag. Lady Steakhead had the penne with artichoke hearts, olives and tomatoes. Good, but not a very Steakheady dish. Next time, I will stay simple and have the veal parm.

I liked Vita, with just a few nits. One was my particular order, which was my fauly for not understanding the dish when I ordered it. Second, while the entrees for the most part are well priced, I thought the mussels ($11) and the wine (the cheapest Pinot Noir glass was $10) were slightly high. I will give it another chance to see how the more basic dishes turn out. If I can get a decent meal for 2 with a glass of wine each in the 60-70 range, it would be a keeper.

Fox Brothers- The Kings of Atlanta Brisket

2008-03-19T17:43:00.000-07:00

St. Patrick's Day was a long, but fun afternoon. The day started with a brisket face-off between Fox Brothers and Rolling Bones, transitioned into drinking several (maybe more) pints at Limerick Junction, and ended with my left knee the size of a grapefruit. Maybe I am getting too old for days of excitement like this? More on that later.

The day started at Rolling Bones, an old gas station that appears a little too sterile. In all honesty, there aren't a ton of places to sit inside, so it may be more condusive to takeout. RB covers their brisket with a tangy barbecue sauce, but I found the meat itself to be somewhat dry and chewy. Good, but I found their pork shoulder to be the better of the two main courses we had. The sides were completely uninspiring (and that may be generous as it applies to the pinto beans).

Next, we headed east to Fox Brothers, a new fave of mine since they opened last year. This place has considerable more seating than Rolling Bones, and the atmosphere and smells scream BBQ joint. The brisket here may be served dry (without sauce), but the meat is moist and tender. The flavor is much smokier than RB. Nick, my partner in crime for this all day fiesta, raves about the sides at Fox Brothers, and he is right. The baked beans here put to shame the pintos offered at RB. Fox Brothers also offers a bigger selection, including Brunswick Stew. So, in the end, it really wasn't that close. Fox Brothers won on all three areas I was judging- brisket, sides, atmosphere.

Then it was on to Limerick Junction. We met this 87 year-old guy who apparently served in an Irish brigade in WWII and later became president of Guinesss US. Needless to say, we liked him immediately! While I didn't understand most things he said, he seemed to be telling us to go f- ourselves every 5 minutes. Funny stuff.

So after a couple of hours (maybe more) of this revelry, when trying to find Nick to give him back his credit card, I wound up tripping over a wheel stop in the parking lot and severely bruising my knee. Of course, I'm claiming that the fact it was St. Patrick's Day is complete happenstance. I am uncoordinated enough naturally. But that still hasn't stopped the jokes. But its a good story (well, its a story, maybe not so good) and a day that I won't forget anytime soon.

BBQ Challenge & Green Beer

2008-03-11T14:03:00.001-07:00

In the South, I have learned that one must tread lightly when discussing barbecue joints. Expressing partiallity to one place over the other can be equated to one wearing Gator colors to a Georgia fan, or donning a #24 hat to an Earnhardt fan. Looks like my review of the brisket at Fox Brothers has garnered some attention. I have been asked by Cliff Bostock to do a comparison between Fox Brothers and Rolling Bones and it is a request that I will happily undertake. And why not make it an event? This St. Patrick's Day, to celebrate my Welsh/German heritage, a Jewish friend and I will be hitting Rolling Bones and Fox Brothers for a lunchtime tour de force of brisket sampling, then making our way to Limerick Junction for a few libations. If anyone is interested in joining, please email me at steakhead@earthlink.net.

Getting My Groove Back at Fox Brothers BBQ

2008-03-07T13:13:00.000-08:00

In a recent blog entry in OmnivoreATL, Cliff Bostock poked fun at my recent trip to the organic/vegetarian Dynamic Dish. Since his readership is considerably larger than mine, maybe my meat-eating reputation could be put in jeopardy? So today I took my carnivorous cravings to Fox Bros BBQ to regain my manliness, rebuild my brand, and, oh, to have one helluva plate of cue.

Fox Bros started out as a catering outfit with an outpost inside Smith’s Olde Bar. While those operations still exist, they now have their own stand-alone restaurant on Dekalb Avenue just east of Moreland. As soon as you park the car, you pretty much know you have come to the right place for barbecue. The building has the appearance of a roadside shack and the smells of smoked meat surround you as you make your way in the door.

We started with an order of sliced jalapeno “chips” (a special of the day, literally its breaded slices of jalapenos), which comes with a side of ranch sauce for dipping. The Tomminator, a mound of tater tots covered in melted cheese and Brunswick stew is a treat, although very filling (go with the ½ order if there you don’t have a full table, because you don’t want to be too full for the main course).

They have all the standards you would expect- pulled pork, ribs, chicken. But the real treat here is the brisket, which really soaks in the smoky taste from the cooking process in each bite. The outside skin of the meat can be slightly charred (I actually like this), but the inside is moist and tender. In general, this is not a place that serves their meat covered in some thick sauce that hides the true taste. Here you get pure barbecue, smoky flavor and all, with the option to add a peppery vinegar-based sauce that sits on the table. I have had numerous sides and all are first rate. The Brunswick Stew (with chunks of fatback) and the hearty baked beans particularly stand out.

I have probably hit Fox Bros. every month or so since they opened last year and have never had a disappointing meal. The staff is exceptionally nice and genuinely interested in making sure your experience is top notch. With places like this in town, Fat Matt has to be worried.

Steakhead Recommends: Oh yeah
Price: $

More Sports Bars Coming Downtown

2008-03-05T07:14:00.000-08:00

The sports bar scene in Downtown Atlanta will change rather significantly over the next few months. First, Jocks n Jills at CNN Center is closing, potentially as early as the end of the month. According to the AJC, Dantanna's is in the final stages of negotiating a lease to take over that spot. And for those that have noticed some construction on the facade of Philips Arena that faces the GWCC, that is going to be a Taco Mac. This will supposedly have access from both the Arena and from outside the Arena. While there is no official opening date, I have been told from a source at Taco Mac's corporate office that it will be this Spring.

Organic Dining at Dynamic Dish

2008-02-13T07:02:00.001-08:00

Its been three years since my one and only trip to Sunflower Cafe, and I still have not let my wife hear the end of "tofu mock chicken" jokes. So she was quite surprised when I told her yesterday of my visit to Dynamic Dish- a mostly vegan, organic spot on Edgewood Ave, near Downtown.

Dynamic Dish is a sparesely decorated place with just four tables. It's mainly a lunch place, with dinners served only Thursday-Saturday. All the food is locally grown, and pretty much adheres to vegan preparation rules (although Georgia trout will be on the menu for Valentine's Day dinner). The menu changes everyday, although you will always find a soup, a salad, a sandwich and an entree. You would think this is not a place that a Steakhead like me would venture into, and for the most part, you are pretty much spot on. But two guys I work with have been raving about this place, and one in particular is a true Foodie, so I had to check it out.

My overall impression was actually quite positive. The soup was a Carrot soup with a hint of habanero. Now since Steakhead likes his spicy food, this was a big hit. The entree was called "Tea Space" Tofu Balls. Jeez, more tofu. I guess Tea Space was the name of a similar kind of place in Little Five Points back in the day, and one of the chefs there occasionally helps out at the Dish. I did try them, and since the tofu was all ground up, it didn't taste like it sounded (which to me was a ball of solid tofu). I still don't know if I could eat an entire meal of it though. I went with this mixed green salad with a kind of cheese that I never heard of and can't remember, and sunflower seeds.

Drinks are another area of challenge for me in a place like this. Of course I wasn't expecting Diet Coke, but my only choices were hot espresso or tea, carrot juice, ginger juice, apple juice or bottled water. So bottled water it was. But here's the rub- the small soup, the salad, and the bottled water came out to $12. I wouldn't have thought such healthy living would cost so much.

So, I think Dynamic Dish will probably do very well. They seem to have a strong following, and I think the whole "locally sourced" food concept will just get bigger (see the sales of the book Omnivore's Dilemma for further proof). One thing that I liked about it was even if you are not living this kind of lifestyle, you will likely find other things on the limited menu that are very good in their own right. In other words, its not like you have to eat tofu.

Steakhead Recommends- Yes, for those looking for a healthy alternative
Price: $$

And the Winner of the Worst Clam Chowder in History Belongs To...

2008-01-30T14:37:00.000-08:00

....Six Feet Under! I don't usually post something like this, but this was so bad, it was comical, and I wished I had my camera. The color was sort of greenish, and the consistency was more reminiscent of a gloppy white gravy, than soup. But the kicker was the entire surface of the cup was topped with a big scoop of canned minced clams! The actual soup appeared to have no clams in it at all, so apparently the recipe goes something like this: Make potato soup (not well), pour in cup, add heaping spoon of canned clams, serve. Progresso would give them a run for their money. The catfish po boy was better, although its size makes it impossible to eat with your hands. I got no further than 1/4 through before it disintegrated into a culinary explosion onto my plate and lap. Good times at lunch today.

Yuraku- New Sushi Bar in Smyrna

2008-01-27T06:44:00.000-08:00

Smryna's West Village is a good example of the new urbanism spreading across Atlanta. Sprawling at the intersection of South Atlanta Rd. and I-285, the West Village contains condos/townhomes all with numerous retailers, bars and restaurants. Yuraku Steak and Sushi is one of the latest entrants into this complex, and will probably do quite well.

As we walked into Yuraku, the staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, which was maintained throughout the meal. They were great with Little Steakhead, constantly humoring her, and she responded with giving us an incredibly stress-free night out. I'll go out on a limb to say the service is amongst the best I have seen in a sushi bar in Atlanta to date.

The sushi menu is quite extensive, although its one of those that provides pictures of the food for each dish. This seems to be indigenous to Asian places, and my usual experience from places that do this usually don't have the best food. Yuraku doesn't necessarily reverse that trend.

We started with the Tempura Udon Soup, which I thought was quite good. (The picture of the Miso Soup with big chunks of mushrooms sort of turned me off...good thing they had the pictures!). We then shifted to what our waitress called their most popular roll- the Super Crunchy Shrimp Roll. If you can get past the presentation where it sits on a bed of rice krispies, this too was actually tasty. For our main course, we split the Sashimi Deluxe plate, which is easily enough for two when you add in everything else we ate. Here, we were somewhat disappointed. The presentation was nice (which can be said about most things at Yuraku), but it definitely doesn't stand up to other places in the city, including the nearby Tomo. The spicy tuna roll was nothing special.

Yuraku will not be a favorite amongst true sushi enthusiasts. But that is not to say the place will not find a niche in the growing Smyrna community. The price is reasonable, and the atmosphere is very inviting. I would probably stick with more pedestrian sushi and roll selections next time, and keep your expectations reasonable. And to me, there are times when that will crave the sushi fix. If in that area and looking for more, make the trip to Tomo.

NHL All-Star Ticket Giveaway at South City Kitchen

2008-01-11T13:16:00.000-08:00

If there is one thing Steakhead likes as much as food, its hockey. And South City Kitchen has a deal that brings those two worlds together. Here is the press release:

"On Wednesday, January 16 from 6 pm to 8 pm, guests who bring a canned good to South City Kitchen Midtown or Vinings will be entered to win two tickets to the NHL All-Star Game (on 1/27 at 6 p.m.) at Phillips Arena (one raffle ticket per can – no limit, so the more cans you bring, the better your chances). Canned food will go to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. A pair will be raffled off at 6:30, 7 and 7:30 pm; you must be present to win."

Call 404.873.7358 (Midtown) or 770.435.0700 (Vinings) for reservations. I will be attending!

Vintage Pizzeria- Good Atmosphere and Family Friendly in Chamblee

2008-01-10T14:28:00.000-08:00

I needed to take MARTA last week when my car was being serviced on Peachtree Industrial Blvd, and was quite impressed by what I am seeing in Chamblee. It seems urban planners are doing something right on Peachtree Rd. across from the Chamblee MARTA station. There are numerous lofts already built and several more on the way for those looking to ditch their morning commutes for a more eco-friendly mode of transportation. And in the middle of this new enclave of housing density sits Vintage Pizzeria.

Vintage Pizzeria sits on the ground floor of a new brick loft building at 5434 Peachtree Rd. The place is a great combination of casual food, good beer list, and a good place to take the youngsters. In fact, when we went last Saturday, almost every table had at least one child. But, don’t get me wrong, this is no Chuck E Cheese. It would be just as comfortable for a couple of friends or young couple to grab some pizza and drink a few bevvies. The beer list boasts 14 brews on tap and another 20 in bottle. My wife and I were commenting how this had an “in town” feel to it, and was something we have missed since moving to Sandy Springs.

I will say that if you’re a really picky pizza critic, Vintage is probably not for you. We started with the calamari that included slices of jalapeno and okra. The spicy fra diablo sauce provides a little extra kick. But without the spice, the calamari was actually sort of bland. I’ll definitely skip that next time. The pizza was okay, and I definitely devoured my half, but I wouldn’t put it in the same class as Capozzi’s or Napoli’s. (Although these places are solely take out for me- the dine-in experience leaves much to be desired.)

Here’s the thing though, I enjoyed eating here. The atmosphere more than made up for the shortcomings of the kitchen. And I live close enough that I don’t really feel like I am going tremendously out of my way. So for those of you with young families in Chamblee and Brookhaven, you may want to check it out if you haven’t already done so.

Holiday Dinner at Eclipse di Luna

2007-12-14T06:34:00.000-08:00

My friends and I did our annual holiday dinner at Eclipse di Luna by Perimeter Mall this week. For big gatherings, this place works very well for a number of reasons. First of all, they were easily able to accommodate our group of 16. Second, the tapas menu is great for large groups as you can try many different things. And lastly, the atmosphere is fun and loud, so we didn’t feel like our boisterous group was infringing on other diners.

The menu at Eclipse di Luna is two sided, one side is meets and the other side is veggie. Each side of our table took turns ordering, and our side, being mostly guys only ordered from the meat side. While I don’t remember the exact names, there were plates of calamari, seviche, empanadas, steak skewers, pork skewers, and the white sausage. We even splurged with an order of the paella. When it came time for the other half of the table to order (mostly female), I saw plates of tomatoes, potatoes, cheese and hummus. I have been a number of times with Lady Steakhead, and the same pattern occurs there as well, so I wasn’t too surprised. We devoured everything we ordered, and even ordered a few seconds on somethings (the white sausage and the steak skewers made encores on our end).

The holidays are a great excuse for having these kinds of dinners. Lives get busy. Some folks are married, some are single, some have kids, and it’s very difficult to get everyone together that often these days. So when we do, we want a place that will allow us to laugh out loud, provide some decent grub, and offer a festive environment. And a place that doesn’t put a major crimp in the wallet during the holidays is a big plus as well. Eclipse di Luna delivered on all fronts.

Steakhead Recommends: Yes (especially for big groups)
Price: $$

Lo Lo Lo Lo Lola

2007-12-02T03:39:00.000-08:00

I had mentioned a few weeks back that I had popped into Lola in the Terminus complex in Buckhead and was anxious to check out the fare. I thought the prices looked reasonable, and it would be a place that baby Steakhead would do well in. Right on the first count…wrong on the second. More on that later.

Lola is a Tom Catherall Italian concept and I would say he is focusing on the lighter side when you look at the menu. The featured item appears to be the Antipasto Bar, where you can get a combo of three meats and cheeses for $15 or five for $22. We split a plate of the Caponata (a relish of eggplant, tomatoes and olives), the Copa (a spicy salami of pork shoulder) and the Latur cheese (a soft cheese that’s a combination of cow/sheep/goat’s milk). This was very good, especially the caponata…and usually I am not an eggplant fan.

The great thing about Lola is they have done a great job of making a night out easy on the wallet. The menu features several wood-fired pizzas, several pasta dishes which can come in a half order if you so choose, and a couple of features in the “light” category (under 600 calories). All of these dishes are under $20.

I had the linguine with clam sauce, which seemed to get better as I ate it. At first, I thought the broth didn’t have a lot of flavor. By the end, I was eating the remaining sauce with a soup spoon! For some inexplicable reason, they took our bread away when they cleared the appetizer plates, and it would have been nice to have with the pasta and mopping up the sauce. The linguine was not your typical linguine, having the width (over a ¼”) and the curved texture of an egg noodle. I was told this is “real” linguine and all the other linguines I have ever had “are really just spaghetti”. I sort of want to call BS on this, but can any Italians out there confirm what real linguine is? Lady Steakhead had the Primavera pizza and her Dad had the pappardelle with sausage Bolognese, both of which I sampled and were quite good.

This is not a romantic spot, as the scene can be quite loud. The bar area is particularly lively and takes up a good chunk of the overall restaurant space. The service at Lola was very good, and they were quite patient when it came to Little Steakhead and her occasional screams. We spent half our meals taking turns walking her outside to ensure we weren’t bothering anyone else. Obviously, we have entered a phase where we just can’t take her and expect to have a relaxing meal anymore. This is partly why the posts have been a little sparse on the blog lately, and unfortunately, I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Price: $$

Introducing fanBunker!

2007-11-20T05:27:00.000-08:00

While this is first and foremost a food site, I wanted to let you know of another project I have been working on for the last year. Some of you may know that along with being a foodie, I am a die hard sports fan. A Mets fan living in Atlanta...not an easy life :). Just like restaurant reviews, the blogosphere has completely changed the way fans digest sports content. Whereas in years past, there were only a handful of sources to get sports content on your favorite team, now there is a seemingly endless supply of relevant (and not so relevant) sites that try to fill that need. Who has the time to figure out where all those sites are?

That is where fanBunker comes in. A one-stop shop for all the best content on your favorite teams. The local beat writer side-by-side with your team's best bloggers. I have included the fanBunker links to the Atlanta teams in the side bar for you to check out.

But now back to the business of this site- food! Although I am travelling this week, I am looking to hit the new restaurant STATS this weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Plenty of Room for a Good Downtown Steakhouse

2007-11-12T18:07:00.000-08:00

The maitre’d at Room must have known what he was dealing with. Every year, my buddies and I go out for a real “guy’s night” of steaks and a Thrashers game- Steaks and Skates we call it. This year, our steakhouse of choice was Room at the new Twelve Hotel Centennial Park. With one look at our motley crew, he sat us in one of the three semi-private rooms in the place. Maybe he was scared others would hear us, maybe he was scared that they would see us, maybe it was a little of both. But it was an excellent decision for all involved!

Room is the steakhouse concept from Bob Amick of Concentrics Restaurants. The area around the Twelve is nothing to speak of at the moment. It’s situated in this no man’s land between downtown, midtown and Centennial Park. But there is ongoing construction all around as a new W Hotel is being constructed, and there is continuing work on the Twelve towers. So maybe in time, this area will be a destination site or at least well connected to the other major destinations around downtown.

We started with a Chef’s choice sushi platter for the table. This was no ordinary chef’s choice, as this platter included Toro amongst other fine items. I don’t remember the cost of this dish, but my guess was it was over $100 (there is one on the menu listed for $80 for 4, but we had 6 in our group). Indulgent, yes. Good, very!

The steaks on the Room menu are fairly standard: two different sizes of filet, bone-in ribeye, NY Strip. Prices are fairly consistent with other steakhouses around town- in the upper $30 range. I had the filet and you could cut it with a butter knife. Everyone commented how the chef cooked each steak to perfection.

You could get a number of different sauces with your steak, which are served on the side in a small pouring cup. If you like this sort of thing, it’s not a bad way of going about it, because two people can easily share one. We got 3 for our table- the peppercorn brandy, the chimichurri verde and the home made steak sauce. I am usually not a sauce person, but I do like a good au poivre. The peppercorn sauce did not meet my expectations, as it was pretty bland. The chimichurri sauce, while good, didn’t really complement the steak very well.

So how does Room stack up against the other steakhouses in town? Well, there was nothing that I can say it has done to give it a leg up on Bone’s, Chops, or Rathbun’s. But it does have one thing going for it…location. In the Downtown and lower Midtown area, they don’t have a lot of competition. Our night here blew away our night at Ruth’s Chris last year. And for a real steakhouse, you cannot include Fire of Brazil.

Room can get pretty expensive. By the time we drank 3 bottles of wine, ordered a round of top shelf tequila for 3 people, the sushi, the steaks, 4 sides, and one dessert, we were at $110 per person. Now that I write this, that doesn’t seem as shocking as it seemed Saturday night. Oh well, one night per year, and it was full of belly-aching laughter, so it was well worth it!

Steakhead Recommends: Yes, if you are Downtown and looking for Steaks
Price: $$$$

BrickTops Isn't Tops in My Book

2007-11-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

A constant dilemma that I have is finding decent places to eat where we can take Baby Steakhead. ElAzteca and Meehan’s get old, but getting a sitter could add 50% to the cost of the meal, which isn’t sustainable every weekend. So in my never ending search to find good places, new places, where we can take the kid, I wound up at BrickTops at the Terminus building in Buckhead last night. BrickTops had assured me that kids are welcome at the restaurant, and to their credit, they have a special kid’s menu and even an “etch-a-sketch” type device for kids to draw on. Actually, this was a nice touch. Baby Steakhead had a grand ole time. I wish I could say the adults did.

BrickTops is a new chain started by the founders of Houston’s. There are currently 4 locations, all in the Southeast. You can definitely tell the Houston’s influence on the menu, which is to say relatively simple meat and fish offerings. We wound up sharing a couple of appetizers- the chips and guacamole and the smoked salmon flatbread. The flatbread, with warm cream cheese, capers and dill, was cut into individual squares, and only a small dap of salmon adorned each square. For $15, they could have been more generous.

For her entrée, Lady Steakhead went with a cup of the soup of the day, which on a Friday is Lobster Bisque. This had a much stronger tomato taste than a lobster taste. Given I just came back from three days in Boston where I had chowder (or chow-duh as the locals would say) every night, I found this to be disappointing. Same thing can be said for my crab cake entrée, just not a lot of seafood taste. There was plenty of crabmeat in it, so I wonder about the quality of the crab they are using.

The clientele at BrickTops was noticeably older. The interior is pretty bland, and as my wife accurately pointed out, it sort of looked like a diner inside. The bar seemed to do decent business, so maybe this will be more of a lunch/happy hour place. For dinner, they seemed to be caught in restaurant “no man’s land”. We had three appetizers, one entrée and 2 glasses of wine, and the total tab was almost $120. For that kind of change, I would have rather spent a little more, gotten the sitter and gone to Chops or Rathbun’s and had a nice leisurely evening. Or conversely, I could have gone to Outback and spent half this much, with just about the same quality. And had a Bloomin’ Onion to boot!

But all is not lost for the Terminus complex in Buckhead. Lola, a Here to Serve Restaurant, is now open. I stopped in after dinner last night, and the place was hopping (and it looks like it may be possible to take kids there-it’s certainly noisy enough that you would never hear them). MF Sushi is also opening a Buckhead location at this complex, and Aquaknox, a concept from Las Vegas, looks to open soon. If you can navigate the parking situation, which at the moment is a complete disaster with all the construction, this may become a popular destination for Buckhead dining.

Steakhead Recommends: No
Prices: $$$

Why Two Urban Licks Is One of My Favorite Places

2007-10-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

I really like Two Urban Licks. And I especially like it as a restaurant for out-of-town friends. Friday night, we went out with friends that were visiting from Kansas City and this place was a perfect destination. Why? Well for starters, there is something chic about a place that you can't find. With no signage on Ralph McGill, I drove by it once and almost a second time, and I have been there multiple times. But chicness oozes out of Two's every pore. The old warehouse location, the weird drive-thru valet, the jazz band in the bar, and the bonfire in the middle of the restaurant all help to let you know you may not be cool enough to eat here.

The barrels of wine are another unique aspect of the dining experience here. And with our friends being wine enthusiasts, we were able to experiment with several varietals. Now, most of this is lost on me, as I pretty much have been ordering Pinot Noirs exclusively ever since seeing the movie Sideways for the first time. So it was nice being with someone who knew what they were doing and assumed the wine ordering duties.

Places that rock in atmosphere often have trouble living up to that standard in the kitchen, but Two comes close. The menu is a lot like a Bruce Springsteen concert. The set list may change nightly, but the old standbys are always there. The calamari appetizer is served with a sweet honey glaze and are amongst the best in town. We also shared the crawfish and corn beignets and the fried green tomatoes. All very good. My main course, I had the seared tuna, served rare with a spicy dressing and edamame, which was outstanding. The wives ordered the Bronzed Scallops over gouda grits, which were also very good.

I have been a fan of Two Urban Licks from my first visit during an ice storm three years ago. Given the "fire" theme of this place, it was a somewhat ironic first experience. But the combination of food and atmosphere, and with prices that won't break the bank, it remains one of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta. And your out-of-town friends will be impressed!

Steakhead Recommends: Absolutely!
Prices: $$-$$$

Taste of Atlanta This Weekend!

2007-10-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

In case you have forgotten, Taste of Atlanta is this weekend at Atlantic Station. Looks like the weather will cooperate for a second year in a row and provide us with two picture perfect days to sample all the great offerings from some of Atlanta's best dining destinations. If you are planning on going, get there early! I cannot stress this enough. The gates open at 11am and I plan to be there when they open.

Allegro Opens in Midtown Tonight

2007-10-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

Tonight marks the Grand Opening of a new Italian restaurant in Midtown called Allegro. It is located on the ground floor of the Belvedere condominium on Dutch Valley Rd., and will feature the cuisine of Central Italy. Executive Chef Jose Rego comes from Sotto Sotto, so that bodes well. According to their press release, signature menu items will include tuna carpaccio, pheasant in cream, king crab cannelloni, veal Milanese, whole fish in cartoccio, pork shank braised in milk and porterhouse alla Fiorentina for two. Prices will range in the $20-30 range for entrees. For more information on Allegro, you can visit their website at http://www.allegroatlanta.com/

Here's to Your Health at Pacific Kitchen

2007-10-03T10:56:00.000-07:00

Pacific Kitchen may well be one of the better date restaurants in town. It’s tucked away location off of Highland Ave. in Inman Park, along side the Freedom Park trails makes for a very serene setting. And with numerous tables outside on the patio, its definitely one of the more romantic settings I have been to in a while. Oh, and the food is pretty decent as well.

Pacific Kitchen specializes in “California cuisine”, which I suppose means healthy. That’s what makes me liking this place somewhat of a surprise. And, even though there was a peppercorn crusted New York Strip on the menu, I decided to keep with the healthy theme and avoid it. For starters, Lady Steakhead and I tried the Crab & Grilled Corn Fritters and the House Smoked Salmon Crostini. The fritters were served with a spicy aioli and for some reason, honey. And while the fritters were good, the salmon was definitely the winner. I wish I could find smoked salmon like that from a store somewhere.

For our entrées, I had the Hawaiian Moonfish, a fish I had never even heard of before. It’s a white fish, with a consistency like tuna. In fact, like tuna, it can be served medium rare. It was served over vegetable quesadillas with a rock shrimp cream sauce. I loved this dish- everything went together extremely well. Lady Steakhead was delighted to see a Cioppino on the menu- a sort of fish stew for those not familiar. This was good, but not as grandiose as others we have had in the past.

Pacific Kitchen is a restaurant that will be participating in Taste of Atlanta next week, so you should stop by their booth if you get the chance. If you like the food, chances are you will love the atmosphere. And for the single guys, keep this one in mind as an excellent 2nd or 3rd date place.

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Price: $$$

Lunch at Marlow's Tavern in Midtown

2007-09-20T07:25:00.000-07:00

I recently wrote about grabbing a drink at Marlow's Tavern in Midtown during Restaurant Week late last month. Lady Steakhead and I enjoyed a small appetizer and a beverage before our dinner at Ecco, and thought the place showed some promise as a dining destination as well. Yesterday, I gave them a shot to prove their worthiness as a lunch spot.

For those that don't know, Marlow's is located in the Plaza Midtown high-rise on West Peachtree and 8th St. The weather was near perfect yesterday, and there are a handful of small tables outside, but they also open their large windows so the larger tables immediately inside have an outdoor feel. The wait staff is very accomodating, and dressed in black, you definitely get the impression they are catering to the hip Midtown crowd.

There is no specific lunch menu, so if you want to stay under $15 for lunch, salads, burgers and wraps are your only choices. Even with the nice surroundings and good looking waitstaff, the menu unfortunately reinforces the fact that this place is a bar first. I was trying to stay healthy, so my choices were even more limited. I went with the blackened tilapia fish tacos, which was served with a bowl of fruit. Very good. But again, I would have liked to have seen a few more choices. For example, the crab cake they list for $16- how about a crab cake sandwich for $10? Or maybe a pasta dish in the same range.

I enjoyed my lunch at Marlow's but I think they could stand to put some more thought into menu. Especially with their location in Midtown, lunch, and food in general, could be a much bigger part of their business than some of their other locations. I still really like this place for a drink after work, and will be curious how it will be accepted by the Midtown clientele.

Steakhead Recommends: For drinks, and casual bar grub- Yes
Price: $$

Taste of Atlanta 2007 Coming October 13th & 14th

2007-09-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

Taste of Atlanta will be returning to Atlantic Station for this year’s event on Saturday and Sunday October 13th and 14th. Chefs from over 70 restaurants are expected to attend, but based on last year, so will throngs of eager tasters. The hours are 11am to 6pm each day, and take my word for it that you’ll want to get there early. To purchase tickets or to learn more about the event and participating restaurants, you can visit their website at http://www.tasteofatlanta.com/.

Ecco Emerges from the Haze

2007-08-31T11:18:00.000-07:00

When Lady Steakhead lived in Midtown a couple of years ago, the building on the corner of Cypress and 7th was a grey cinderblock nightclub called Haze. A crumbling hotel sat across the street. Today, the Spire, a gleaming glass high-rise, now sits across the street. And in the place of Haze is Ecco, the latest entry by the Fifth Group restaurants.

Ecco has been on our list for sometime, partly because we remember how this area used to look a short time ago. And with this being Midtown Restaurant Week, this was a perfect excuse to have a date night.

The day was filled with highs and lows. First the lows, I learned this was the last weekend for McCray’s in its current location. Damn, I really liked that bar. Once of the few great hangout bars in Midtown- really reminded me of NYC. Then a high- we discovered the new Midtown location of Marlow’s Tavern. This will take McCray’s place. In fact, I’m meeting a fellow Mets fan there tonight before heading down to the Ted.

But, as this blog is primarily about food, let’s get on to the main course, our dinner at Ecco. I want to give Ecco a lot of credit for giving a great selection of their regular menu for restaurant week. They didn’t cut portion sizes of the entrees, and even included an entrée that normally sells for $24. For appetizers, I went with the Mussels (the only dish on the Restaurant Week menu that is not the normal size), while LS went with the fried goat cheese with honey. I’m not a huge goat cheese fan, but this was pretty good- the cheese, pepper and honey created a nice blend of sweet and spice. I was happy to see one of the entrée choices was the chili-braised pork with pappardelle. The pork was very tender, and the red chili sauce had a good little kick to it. The wife’s choice of the braised lamb was good, but she thought a little too heavy for the time of year. My dessert was one of the oddest I have ever had- an olive oil poundcake with rosemary ice cream. And it tasted exactly like it sounds- sort of like salad dressing cookies with garlic bread ice cream. Like I said, odd.

The service was very good and the place was packed, probably due to Restaurant Week. It’s nice to see continued development of Midtown, especially off Peachtree St. This was an area you may have been nervous to walk at night several years ago. Now, it’s a destination restaurant in the shadow of Midtown high-rise living. Very cool to see.

Steakhead Recommends: Definitely for Restaurant Week
Price: $$

A Slice of NY Heaven at Capozzi’s

2007-08-13T14:03:00.000-07:00

One of my biggest pet peeves about Atlanta has been the lack of decent New York-style pizza. As good as the Atlanta dining scene can be, there are a few staples from home- namely pizza and Italian subs- where I find most of the options completely unsatisfying. Well, I may have found the answer to one of those cravings.

I was turned on to Capozzi’s NY Pizza & Pasta by a co-worker who makes a special trip from Decatur all the way to this East Cobb joint located on Roswell Rd. just east of the intersection with Johnson Ferry. Lady Steakhead and I went Sunday night and it was a bustling scene. This place looks like a New York neighborhood joint (and the main wall is adorned with pictures of the Manhattan skyline, to drive the point home). The kitchen and the counter is in the front as you walk in, with a narrow strip of tables extending toward the back of the restaurant. The place was almost completely full when we arrived at 6pm, and as you can imagine, is quite child-friendly.

I ordered two slices of pepperoni and onion, and did the traditional fold (Lady Steakhead doesn’t understand this practice). Pepperonis generously covered the entire slice, and yet were not overpowering. Furthermore, this may have been the least greasy pepperoni pizza I have had in Atlanta. I gobbled down my two slices with great gusto, and still had room to try some of the wife’s Penne Bolognese. This bowl of pasta is massive, and provided enough food for her and Baby Steakhead (and the occasional forkful stolen by yours truly), and there was still enough to take home for dinner tonight.

And here is the kicker for the evening- two entrees, an appetizer of cheese garlic bread, one glass of chianti and a bottle of Sam Adams only cost $27! Since Capozzi’s is only about 5 miles from the house, it is primed to takeover as favorite pizza for takeout. Ippolito’s may still be the favorite for dining in, based solely on atmosphere. But make no mistake, the food and prices at Capozzi’s kick the pants off of Ipp’s.

Steakhead Recommends: Is there better NY-style pizza in Atlanta? Fuhgeddaboudit!
Prices: $

August Appears to be Restaurant Month in Atlanta

2007-08-09T06:29:00.000-07:00

I hope you are all finding ways to stay cool these days. With temps threatening to hit the century mark here in Atlanta over the next few days, I will admit that eating a big meal somewhere doesn't have that much appeal. But maybe a good bargain will help.

Over the next few weeks, both Downtown AND Midtown will host their 2007 Restaurant Week events. You all probably know the drill at the point- $25 gets you a three course meal at many participating restaurants. First up is Downtown Atlanta Restaurant Week from August 13-19. Participating restaurants include Azio, Dailey's, FAB, Ray's in the City and many others. I am looking forward to checking out the new Luckie Food Lounge. For more information, you can visit http://www.atlantadowntown.com/HavingFun_RestaurantWeek.asp.

After a week off, you can head over to Midtown Restaurant Week from August 26th - September 1. Their restaurant list is a little more intriguing including the new Geisha House, Food Studio, the Globe, the Bob Amick Numbers, as well as others. Information for Midtown can be found at http://atlanta.about.com/od/foodanddrink/a/midtownrestweek.htm.

These events are definitely a good opportunity to check out some of the finer restaurants in the city of Atlanta. You may not get the full menu, or the typical serving sizes, but you will get a good feel of the restaurants, and at $25, you can't really go wrong.

Stay cool and Happy Eating!!

An Evening of Celebration and Poetry at Nakato

2007-07-30T06:20:00.000-07:00

Saturday night, we celebrated Lady Steakhead’s birthday at Nakato on Cheshire Bridge. We reserved one of their Tatami rooms, a private room where you take off your shoes and sit on the floor. This particular room seated 14, and thank God, had a hole in the floor under the table where you could put your legs, so you did not need to sit cross-legged for three hours!

When you reserve this room, there is an option for a prix fix menu, but we went with the $15/pp. room charge (which includes two appetizers), and let everyone order a la carte. We even ordered a few sake-bombs, which was much more accepted than at Tomo. Our waitress set the shots of sake on two chopsticks over the glass of beer, however we separated the chopsticks by hand at the big moment (vs. banging the table very hard and have them fall in on their own).

As you would expect, Lady Steakhead and I ordered from the sushi menu with another couple. I thought the yellowtail, maguro, scallop, unagi and our assortment of rolls (rainbow, super-crunch and spicy tuna) were all excellent. We even splurged on the Toro. But for those not interested in sushi, there is an extensive Japanese menu of cooked items as well.

For this gala affair, Nakato offered everything I was looking for. It was different, and certainly fun. The private room allowed us to be goofy. And the service was very accommodating. I did miss the big spectacle when they brought the cake out, as I was in the bathroom at the time, but I won’t dock them too much for that, as they were really great in every other aspect of our dinner. (Next time, they should check with the person in charge before bringing the cake out.) And for those that came, here is one last haiku for you:

Thank you for coming,
And for all those great poems.
Yes Nick , even yours.

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Price: $$$

Tomo: Nobu Protégé in Atlanta

2007-07-17T07:06:00.001-07:00

Tomo may be one of the better kept secrets for Atlanta sushi. Chef Tom Naito worked for world renowned Master Sushi Chef Nobu Matsuhisa in his Las Vegas restaurant for three years, and has now opened his own place in Vinings. Located in a Kroger shopping center just south of Cumberland Mall on Cobb Parkway, it doesn’t ooze of hipness like the Nobu’s of Vegas or Tribeca, or the clubby feel of Morimoto’s in Philadelphia. We tried ordering some sake bombs, but the waitress made it pretty clear that such behavior was frowned upon. (She did bring us beer with our sake, but the sake glass wouldn’t fit all the way inside the beer glass, so it didn’t really work.) But make no mistake; the sushi is the real deal.

We started with the Yellowtail Serano Sashimi, which included six pieces of fish, each adorned with a small jalapeno slice. My friend told me this was one of Chef Nobu’s signature items, and I wouldn’t doubt it. Excellent. At that point, we decided to live large and go with the Omakase dinner. At $50 per person, half the price of a Nobu Omakase, it’s a relative bargain.

This Omakase featured about 6 plates, and I couldn’t even begin to describe most of them. The “Live Scallop” dish was extremely memorable, if for no other reason, the waitress said the mollusk was alive no more than an hour ago. Most plates are fairly small, so I was a little concerned if we would need to order more at the conclusion of the Omakase. The final plate is a fairly large assortment of sushi, so leaving hungry is not a concern.

The sake menu is fairly extensive, and we sampled several of their varieties (which probably explains the lack of detail in this review). So bottom line, I would like to take Lady Steakhead here and try this again sometime. Being on Cobb Parkway, there is no need to go ballistic on the sake again, so I may remember a little more (and spend a little less).

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Price: $$$

Those Silly French

2007-07-07T06:12:00.000-07:00

There's a reason why I state on my blog that I rarely eat French. They just do things in a restaurant that I don't understand. I met a friend yesterday for lunch at the French American Brasserie, and for the most part it was pleasant enough, although, both us being sports-loving, steak eating guys, we found only one thing that sounded attractive- the roasted lamb sandwich. But for me, the whole meal will be remembered for one thing- no refills for our Diet Cokes.

I know this seems really trivial to harp on, but c'mon. A) It wasn't like they were giving us bottles or cans, these were fountain drinks. B) It's lunch time, and its not like I had the option of nice white from the Loire valley. C) This place can be pricey- Ordering off the lunch menu, with a roquefort and peppercorn oil for a bread (by the way- don't order this- totally not worth the $6 charge), and paying $5 to park we each spent over $25 for lunch. At dinner, you will be lucky to get out for under $50pp with a glass of wine and sharing an appetizer. Is there really a need for this kind of nickel and dime move when you are paying this much?

Blackstone- Good Steaks in Smynings

2007-07-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

Amidst the pouring rain last Thursday night, I paid my first visit to Blackstone, a steakhouse in the growing Smynings area around South Atlanta Rd. I gotta say, I was pretty impressed. It was pleasant to go to a place in this area that appears to be a stand-alone establishment, instead of the Smynings version of another popular intown establishment. Once Atkins Park opened up there, I can’t get my friends who live in Smynings back in town anymore. (Oh, and now, McCray’s just opened a location on S. Atlanta Rd in the West Village complex, so this task will become infinitely harder.)

The service was decent, though we felt a little rushed when we first sat down. And I was a little annoyed at his insistence to take the extra napkins from our table when I needed them to dry myself off after walking in from the monsoon. But once the meal got going, he did fine.

For an appetizer, a friend and I split an order of the Asian Calamari which was outstanding. Lightly breaded, very tender and served with not an overpowering sweet plum sauce. For my steak, I ordered the “Cowboy Cut” bone-in ribeye. The meat was well marbled and very tender. The au poivre sauce I added was outstanding- full of peppercorns and I liked the fact that it was not as thick as some others I have had recently.

While some of the cuts will compare price-wise with the big boys in town, the meal in total wound up being about 15-20% less than a comparable meal at the high-end places. For example, while my steak was $39 when the au poivre sauce was added, my friend had the standard rib eye, which was only $28. You do get one side with your steak, so there isn’t a big need to order a la carte. And you can’t get into too much trouble with the appetizers here- no seafood tower on the menu.

With so many friends living in Smynings today, I can see hitting this place fairly frequently. The steak is definitely worthy, and with the extra $20 saved, that will at least pay for a couple of drinks at the Smynings versions of Atkins Park or McCray’s.

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Price: $$$

Steak Week for Steakhead!

2007-06-28T12:30:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Lady Steakhead celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary at Kevin Rathbun Steak. We split the dry-aged porterhouse for two...an absolutely heavenly piece of meat! The steak was cut into strips or medallions and placed back around the t-bone for a wonderful presentation. Oh, and did I mention we started with the steak tartare?

The next day, Lady and Baby Steakhead took off for a family reunion (due to work reasons, I was not able to join them), which has created somewhat of a bachelor week for yours truly. Tuesday night, I hosted a poker tournament at the house, accompanied by beer and pizza. (Came in 3rd in case you were wondering). Last night, it was a sweltering night at the Chop House watching the Braves (between the ungodly heat and the Braves clobbering the Nats, I was pretty miserable). Tonight, I am checking out Blackstone, a steakhouse in Vinings. All of this before TWO physicals in the next two weeks. My cardiologist won't be very happy with me....

Full report on Blackstone coming this weekend. Cheers!

Tap Gastropub Opens In Midtown

2007-06-15T04:37:00.001-07:00

What is a “gastropub”? According to Tap, the new restaurant/bar from Bob Amick’s Concentric Restaurants (One Midtown Kitchen, Two Urban Licks, etc), it is a pub “which specializes in high-quality food, a step above the more basic pub grub”. If this is what Amick was looking for, I think he basically succeeded with Tap.

We had a “boys night” at Tap last night, which is located in the shiny, new 1180 Peachtree skyscraper on Peachtree and 14th St. The bar area was buzzing when we arrived, and with a wide selection of domestic and international brews available, we were happily occupied as we waited for our table. From what we could tell, the main dining spaces were either outside or upstairs. Between the two, outside is where you want to be, especially this time of year. We were seated upstairs, which had a nice view looking out over Peachtree, but was unfortunately right next to the kitchen.

For the most part, the staff at tap is friendly and accomodating. Our waitress in the bar was very helpful, the hostess was nice and took a genuine interest in our experience, and our waiter was pleasant enough. But there is room for improvement here. For example, when I ordered two plates of the steak tartare appetizer, the waiter...who may have been half my age... asked "Do you know what that is?" Ummm, do I look like I just walked in here off the farm?? Our group spanned the ages of mid 30s to early 40s, and with the exception of one guy who was wearing shorts and flip-flops, we were dressed like we have eaten a few high-end steaks and lobsters in our life. Dumb question. Here's another example- after dinner, we decided to grab a table outside and have a nightcap. The outside waitress would walk past our table, pause, sort of look at us funny, and then walk away. After 10 minutes of that, we left. If we needed to be seated by a hostess, which was not apparent, then tell us.

Food wise, Tap was decent. The aforementioned steak tartare was awesome. We also tried the buffalo calamari and the steamed potstickers. The calamari was good enough; the pot stickers were not at all memorable. I will at least give our waiter kudos for increasing the order from 5 pot stickers to 7 so everyone was able to get one. With only 6 entrees, the dinner menu isn't huge, but everyone liked what they had. I probably ordered the worst, going with the $12 burger. There are definitely much better in the city, and at this price, I don't expect the pile of fries to be 4 times the size of the burger. Others had the halibut and some had the pork chop, and they all seemed to enjoy their choices.

As Midtown continues to evolve with all the new high-rise condos being built, Tap should do quite well. The outside patio on one of the premier intersections in the area should be quite popular on warm summer nights. It's probably a little more about scene than substance, and, as its name would suggest, it's more bar than restaurant. But in the theme of the "gastropub", the food is definitely a notch above compared to other bars in the area.

Steakhead Recommends: When the weather is warm and you can sit outside
Price: $$

Kevin Rathbun Steaks His Claim Among Carnivorous Elite

2007-06-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

Kevin Rathbun has hit a homerun with Kevin Rathbun Steak. It ain’t cheap, and it wasn’t quick, but boy was it good. Let’s start with the space. KRS is almost the anti-thesis of the original Rathbun’s. Whereas Rathbun’s is an open space, with plenty of light, KRS sports dark wood paneling, dark color tones, and little overhead light. For a steakhouse, this masculine feel not only works, but for me, is a necessity. It tells me they take their beef seriously.

KRS offers a different approach to the cold seafood tower appetizer. Unlike places like Chops, where they price the appetizer at a flat rate per person, you create your own tower at KRS. Each seafood item is priced around $8-9 dollars making it more financially feasible than the strict per person charge. You don’t get as much food, but if you are about to indulge on a 21oz. bone-in ribeye, do you really need more? Our group of three had a tower of shrimp (3 jumbo shrimp), ahi tuna sashimi (5-6 pieces) and hamachi sashimi (5-6 pieces). There could have been an extra shrimp or two for $9, but I was not at all disappointed with the sashimi quantity (or quality).

The menu is fairly traditional for a steakhouse. A good selection of seafood and non-steak items. The sides are a la carte, but the quantity is not like other steakhouses where one side is good for 2 people. For the three of us, we had 2 sides and we probably could have gone for a third. One interesting note on the sides- the twice baked potato is listed as “Market Price”, which led one of us to ask what has happened to the price of potatoes lately to warrant market pricing.

But let’s face it, the real reason you come to a place like this is for the steaks. KRS offers multiple choices here including two dry aged porterhouses- one for 2 people and one for 4 people. I couldn’t even think about what the 4-person beast looks like on a plate. Two of us went with the 12 oz filet (a 6 oz version is also available), while one friend went with the bone-in ribeye. You have your choice of various sauces for your steaks. My choice- the peppercorn au poivre- was served in a side dish so you can regulate how much you wish to use. My filet was outstanding- a great cut of meat that I could have cut with a butter knife.

I am already planning my next trip to Kevin Rathbun Steak. My anniversary is at the end of the month, and since Lady Steakhead didn’t join us last night, this would be a great occasion to introduce her to it. I probably better my make my reservations now, though. If it’s anything like Rathbun’s, weekend reservations at KRS will be hard to come by.

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Price: $$$$

Coutdown to Kevin Rathbun Steak is On!

2007-05-31T06:13:00.000-07:00

While I was too slow to react to get a reservation for Opening Night, I will be checking out Kevin Rathbun Steak tonight. I hear the design is outstanding, and hopefully, any kinks from the Opening Night will have been worked out for tonight. Will report this weekend.

Kevin Rathbun Steak to Open May 30th

2007-05-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

The much anticipated Kevin Rathbun Steak formally opens its doors to the public on Wenesday May 30th. I have called for reservations, and as you can imagine, seating is very limited for Opening Night. There are some openings after 9pm and they do take walk-ins. You can get more info at www.kevinrathbunsteak.com.

Hot Off the Press: Steakhead Enjoys Meal at French Restaurant

2007-05-14T14:45:00.000-07:00

True foodies probably shake their head at me when I say I rarely eat French. But the truth of the matter is, sometimes French cuisine something just tries too hard. And for a simple Steakhead like me, it just gets lost. But I am always up for trying to expand my horizons, and after reading about the Mother's Day brunch at Pastis in Historic Roswell, I thought this may be as good an opportunity as ever to give the French another chance.

It was a learning experience all around for me. Let's start with Roswell, which is a town I was not very familiar with. Not only did I not know Roswell had an historic square, but I was surprised to learn there are actually two squares in Roswell. Neither is a square in the true sense (like the four-sided variety in Marietta), but both feature old buildings, adjacent green space and are home to several restaurants and art galleries.

The two-story building that houses Pastis dates back to 1813. There is a balcony upstairs that looks out onto a small park across the street. The inside reminded me a New England or Pennsylvania farm house with beautiful wide board hardwood floors. The house and décor alone is reason enough to visit Pastis, as you just don’t find houses like this very often in Atlanta.

As for the brunch, it was a nice spread for $24/pp. A buffet was set up in the bar area, which is the main area on the first floor immediately inside the front door. For the seafood lover, fresh smoked salmon, oysters on the half shell and chilled and peeled shrimp adorned the bar. Fried calamari and mussels in a tomato broth were also available. A carving station featured hot roast beef and ham. There were even a few traditional French staples like French toast and chicken fingers and French fries for the kids. Dessert included crème brulee and chocolate mousse (they sound French). Seriously, though, we thought the brunch was a great value.

So, even though my profile says I rarely eat French, I did enjoy my visit to Pastis. I would like to make a trip back one night to experience the regular menu (I was pleased to see the vodka smoked salmon is a regular offering, and I would definitely have that again). Perhaps take a stroll by some of the galleries, and then sit at one of the balcony tables that overlook the square. Who knows, maybe foie gras will be next.

Mother's Day Brunch Ideas

2007-05-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

Mom's big day is coming up and I hope all you sons, daughters and husbands have plans in place to treat her well. If not, it's not too late to make the day special for the person who works tirelessly to take care of her family. I am a big fan of the Mother's Day brunch for a great way to start out the day. Check out this compilation of various Mother's Day brunches being served around the ATL this Sunday (courtesy of Melissa Libby & Associates).

Mom will be treated like the queen she is at Bonefish Grill, where Kate's Halibut, a delectable combination of artichokes, fresh basil and Bonefish Grill's signature lemon butter sauce, will be offered as a special just for Mother's Day. The restaurant will open at 11 a.m. on Mother's Day, giving the entire family the luxury of not having to rush to the restaurant. Photographs and a recipe are also available should you wish to recreate their Bonefish Grill experience at home. Bonefish Grill is located at 11705 C Jones Bridge Road, 770-475-6668. www.bonefishgrill.com

Einstein's will be serving its renowned brunch menu from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Menu items include crab cake Benedict -- jumbo lump crab, lightly poached eggs, toasted bagel, diced tomato and hollandaise sauce ($13); and classic French toast made with thick sourdough bread ($7). Also, enjoy the restaurant's create-your-own Bloody Mary bar - complete with a plethora of mixing options. Reservations are accepted. 1077 Juniper Street; 404-876-7925. www.metrocafes.com

Treat your Mom to a feast from across the world. Fogo de Chão will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for dinner. Mothers will enjoy being served 15 savory selections of meat, traditional Brazilian side items, and a wide array of fresh vegetables and salads at the unique salad bar. Lunch is $38.50 per person and dinner is $46.50 per person. Fogo de Chão is located at 3101 Piedmont Road, 404-266-9988. www.fogodechao.com

Culinary talent may not be genetic, but guests can prove to their mothers that an appreciation for good food is. Garrison's Broiler & Tap (Perimeter Mall and Duluth) will offer an exceptional Mother's Day brunch buffet including assorted salads, imported cheeses, grilled salmon, pastas and a selection of breakfast breads and desserts for $25 for adults and $8 for children. Both locations will be serving brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Garrison's Vinings will offer its regular à la carte brunch menu from 10:30 a.m. 3 p.m. Garrison's Duluth: 9700 Medlock Bridge Road; 770- 476-1962. Garrison's Perimeter: 4400 Ashford Dunwoody Road; 770-350-0134. Garrison's Vinings: 4300 Paces Ferry Road; 770-436-0102. www.globeatlanta.com

If Italy is out of the picture this weekend, take your Mom to La Tavola Trattoria in Virginia- Highland, then stroll around the area's quaint streets. Here, authentic Italian dishes are a hit with the whole family. The cozy, neighborhood gathering place will open an hour earlier for Mother's Day Brunch at 10 a.m. Brunch is served until 3 p.m. 992 Virginia Avenue, N.E.; call 404-873-5430 for reservations. www.metrocafes.com

On Mother's Day, Rainwater in Alpharetta will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., serving a unique brunch buffet for $45 per person, including tax and gratuity. Children ages 4 -12 are $25; children under 3 eat free. 11655 Haynes Bridge Road; 770-777- 0033. www.rainwaterrestaurant.com

Mom can savor a taste of the islands this Mother's Day at Roy's. Roy's will open from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a special Mother's Day brunch. Roy's will re-open at 4 p.m. and serve the regular menu, so that mothers can enjoy Roy's signature Hawaiian fusion® cuisine, such as the Hawaiian style misoyaki butterfish or Roy's classic roasted macadamia nut mahi mahi. Don't forget to end the Mother's Day with Roy's melting hot chocolate soufflé! Roy's in Atlanta is located at 3475 Piedmont Road in The Marsh Building, 404-231-3232. www.roysrestaurant.com

SAGA in Midtown will be offering a special a la carte menu in addition to its regular brunch menu from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Menu items include Springer Mountain chicken breast with Anson Mill grits and broccoli rabe ($16); candied orange French toast with housemade orange challah, fresh fruit and maple syrup ($11); grilled ham Benedict - poached eggs, toasted brioche, hollandaise sauce ($8); and shrimp and grits ($16). SAGA is located at 1100 Crescent Avenue. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 404-872-0999. www.sagamidtown.com

Sala - Sabor de Mexico offers a culinary trip South-of-the-border-no passport required! Check out the new warm colors and décor (moms love to do that kind of stuff) as everyone delves into Executive Chef Jeff Smedstad's rustic dishes, such as a country ham quesadilla with two sunny-side up eggs and salsa verde, or Kahlua-spiked French toast with piloncillo syrup, whipped cream, caramel and almonds. The upscale Virginia-Highland restaurant offers a new Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 1186 North Highland Avenue NE, 404-872-7203. www.fifthgroup.com

A modern Southern belle? South City Kitchen unites old South classics with new South flair and timeless Southern hospitality. South City Kitchen Vinings extends its Sunday brunch hours from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to mark Mother's Day. 1675 Cumberland Parkway; call 770-435-0700 for reservations. South City Kitchen Midtown lets mom sleep in a little longer, offering Saturday and Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 1144 Crescent Avenue; call 404-873-7358 for reservations. www.fifthgroup.com

Shaun Doty Saves the Evening

2007-04-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

Friday night was looking like a complete loss. The SweetWater 420 Fest in Candler Park was by far the lamest festival I have ever attended in Atlanta. Parking was a nightmare. With only two trucks, the beer lines were easily 30 minutes plus. One of the bands (and I use that term loosely) was so bad, the person or committee in charge of booking the talent must have been stoned out of their mind when listening to their demo tape. Actually, judging by a good number of the patrons, this would have been fitting.

After about 2 hours, Lady Steakhead and I decided to try to salvage the night with a trip to Shaun’s in Inman Park. And salvage it, we did. After bouncing from executive chef gigs at Mid-City Cuisine and Table 1280, Shaun Doty opened his own restaurant in the space previously occupied by The Patio. The first thing I noticed is how big and open this place is compared to The Patio.

Our server, Lindsay, was outstanding. I really gave her free reign to provide us a meal that would showcase the Shaun’s experience. She started us off with the Crispy Sardinian Flatbread, a wonderful concoction of flatbread, arugula, sliced parmigian, and oil. After quickly polishing that off, we ordered the beef tartare as a second appetizer. While this was very good, I like the pomp and circumstance of the table-side preparation at Chops, and would probably leave my tartare cravings for those visits going forward.

Lindsay did such a great job on ordering our appetizer, I let her have a go at my main course as well. She came back with the pork chop “schnitzel”. Much like a German Wienerschnitzel, the chop is a very thin cut with a tonkatsu-like fried breading. I loved this choice, not only because it was so good, but also because I probably would have looked right past it if I ordered on my own. Lady Steakhead went with the shrimp and grits. She quickly proclaimed that dish the best shrimp and grits she has ever had. Too often, shrimp and grits is a very bland and dry dish, but Doty’s version, served with a poached egg, was full of flavor, and not in the least bit grainy.

By the end of our evening at Shaun’s, I had forgotten how the night started. Shaun’s gets high praise from me on all accounts- food, service, atmosphere and price. For those heading down to the Inman Park festival this weekend, this would be a worthwhile addition to your day.

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Prices: $$-$$$

Sweetwater 420 Fest- Today in Candler Park

2007-04-20T07:01:00.000-07:00

Now that the weather has finally taken a turn toward Spring (wtf- I moved from NJ to get away from Aprils like this), nothing could hit the spot better than being outside for some live music and good beer! To celebrate Earth Day, be sure to check out Sweetwater 420 Fest in Candler Park from 2-11pm today. I am not a tree-hugger by nature, in fact, far from it. But I look at this much like I do St. Patrick's Day or Cinco de Mayo. I'm not Irish or Mexican either, but if it means drinking good beer, I'm in! After the Fest, I'll be looking to check out one of the area restaurants in Candler or Inman Park, so look for a new review this weekend.

Let's Go Thrashers!

2007-04-12T06:30:00.000-07:00

I got my first Thrashers season ticket plan when they moved here in 1999, looking ahead to this game tonight. Mind you, it has taken a bit longer than I probably thought back then, but tonight we celebrate what will hopefully be the first of many play-off home games for the Boys of Blueland.

I will be enjoying a pre-game brew at McCormick & Schmick's around 6pm before heading into the game. But for those looking to take advantage of the McCormick's Happy Hour menu- including the best bargain around the arena...the $1.95 cheeseburger- I would advise getting there around 5pm. Unlike many other Thrasher games, this one will be a sellout, and will be an early arriving crowd.

Go Thrashers!!

Not Hip Enough for Fune Sushi

2007-04-06T06:29:00.000-07:00

Bert Weiss of Q100 fame recently listed Fune Sushi as one of the best things about living in Atlanta. Bert Weiss also didn’t think a free promotion to Six Flags during Spring Break would be too popular. Maybe the pollen has gotten to his senses. To get right to it, Fune Sushi should be avoided by anyone over the age of 30.

Fune Sushi, located in the Spire building in Midtown is following the all-too-popular theme of nightclub/sushi bar. Club music beats on and on in this place, where neon lights constantly rotate on the arching walls and ceiling. The sushi bar sits in the middle, with two conveyor belts rotating around the chairs and tables that surround the bar. Let’s talk about the conveyor belt for a minute. I’ve seen several of these kinds of places in LA, and the places that have them are more about the gimmick than good sushi. Unlike those places though, at Fune, only rolls are served on the conveyor belt. From our vantage point, it was impossible to tell what kinds of rolls they were and you had no idea how long they had been on the belt. So, since you had to do the majority of your ordering from the waiter anyway, the belt seemed completely useless. I didn’t really see anyone adventurous enough to take anything off of it.

Speaking of the waiter, ours was so bad, it was somewhat comical. He ignored us for at least the first 15 minutes, with the exception to ask if we were still waiting on people. He brings the sushi out without plates. And he forgets part of the sushi order. Then there is the thing about the table décor. Each place setting has a small dish, about the same size as a wasabi dish, with a white tablet in it. I was about to pour soy sauce in it, but figured I would first ask why the wasabi was white. The waiter says, “Hold on a minute and I’ll show you what that is.” He comes back with a pitcher of water, pours it in the dish, and low and behold, the white tablet begins to rise and turns into a hot towel. I can’t make this stuff up. WHY NOT JUST GIVE ME A HOT TOWEL AND BE DONE WITH IT??? He did bring us free shots, so I’ll give him some props for that.

As for food, there were actually a couple of winners here. The Hamachi was outstanding, and the Kamekaze Roll with spicy hamachi was a great call. The salmon nigiri was very smooth, although cut a little too big. The maguro, unagi, tai and spicy tuna rolls were good, although not spectacular. The prices are fairly standard for sushi bars these days- $5 for two pieces of nigiri, $10-$12 for specialty rolls.

Someone suggested I’m just not hip enough for the place, and I’m not going to deny it. The bar area was buzzing when we left, so maybe it’ll become more nightclub than sushi bar, and for those looking for that kind of scene, I suppose it will suffice. But to call this one of the best things about Atlanta? Hardly.

Steakhead Recommends: No
Cost : $$-$$$

Small Plates, Smaller Tables at Krog Bar

2007-04-05T06:39:00.000-07:00

For a place without a stove, Krog Bar serves some pretty amazing food. But when they say “small plates” they aren’t kidding. Lady Steakhead and I met some friends there Saturday, and I tried to warn them this is tapas in its truest sense (meaning, don’t come hungry). Maybe I should have done a better job of warning myself, since I needed a drive-thru stop at Steak n Shake on the way home!

Krog Bar is a Kevin Rathbun creation and is literally a tin shack in the parking lot of his reknowned restaurant in the Stove Works in Inman Park. I would say Krog Bar is a wine bar first, and the wine menu is relatively easy to navigate. The wait staff was very helpful in directing us to glasses of red that satisfied our varied tastes. The seating, both inside and outside was limited. We sat outside, huddled around two tiny tables that could barely fit our glasses of wine , and maybe one or two plates. I don’t know what the word for small table is in Spanish, but that may be a better descriptor of this place than “tapas” (small plate).

As I mentioned, there is no stove at Krog Bar, despite it being located in a place called the Stove Works. Usually at tapas places, I figure two plates per person will fill you up. At Krog Bar, you’ll need to increase that. Our party of four had nine plates and two desserts, and it wasn’t nearly enough.

I would call out the plates that stood out for me, but really they all did. I liked the beef carpaccio so much, I had a second plate for dessert. We had one plate with these nuggets of tuna sashimi with a soy glaze. There was this special with pieces of smoked salmon topped with anchovy that was aces. The chorizo finger sandwiches and the hot salami were also big hits.

I doubt I will return to Krog Bar for a full meal again. Between the four of us, we spent well over $200, and still left hungry. However, the atmosphere is wonderful, and it is definitely worth a pre- or post- dinner stop for a glass of wine and a plate or two. I know I will plan on stopping by after a meal at Kevin Rathbun Steak when it opens in early May!

Steakhead Recommends: Yes (but not for a full dinner)
Cost: $$-$$$

Go Buckeyes!

2007-04-02T03:53:00.000-07:00

Steakhead will be rooting strongly for Ohio State tonight for several reasons. First (and foremost), I win my bracket pool with a Buckeye win. Second, I have been hanging out with a group of Ohio State fans all weekend and would like to see them go home happy. Speaking of happy, eight of us did a marathon session at Fogo last night. Two and a half hours...a new Steakhead record. Let me tell you, these guys are some serious eaters! Once the cards turned green, the only breaks these guys took was a bathroom break. As for me, I think I consumed a months worth of fat and sodium. It may be days before I eat again.

Six Feet Under – Westside Opens This Week

2007-03-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

I just got the word that the new Six Feet Under location in the Westside area of Midtown is slated to open this Thursday at 4pm. The address is 685 11th St., between Howell Mill Rd. and Northside Dr. For those that are not familiar with the original Six Feet Under, it’s a great neighborhood spot on Memorial Drive across the street from Oakland Cemetery (hence the name). Their specialty is seafood, and I tend to stick to the basics: catfish, po boys and I absolutely love their fried green tomatoes. Out of all the places near my old Cabbagetown stomping grounds, it’s the place I miss the most, because it is the perfect place for a casual dinner and a beer. But with this new location, I can definitely see lunches (sans the beer), happy hours and pre-hockey dinners in my future. And if the owners ever consider a 3rd location, may I suggest Sandy Springs?

Fried Chicken a Daily Treat at JCT Kitchen & Bar

2007-03-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

What’s in a name? When it comes to Ford Fry, the chef at JCT Kitchen and Bar, I guess it’s fitting that his signature dish is fried chicken. Fried chicken seems to be quite the Atlanta culinary rage these days. At the top of the list is the Tuesday night special at Watershed, which has gotten Scott Peacock national acclaim. The fried bird at JCT is getting very complementary comparisons to the Decatur hotspot. But unlike Watershed, it’s a menu staple every night, without the fear of running out by 7pm.

JCT Kitchen is located in the Westside Urban Market on Howell Mill Rd. (in the same complex as Bacchanalia and Taqueria del Sol). The décor is very bright and open with a French country motif, which fits in well with the classic Southern fare that adorns the menu. There is even a small patio for outdoor dining.

We started off with the White Bean Bruschetta, which is more like a hummus spread. The spread is seasoned with olive oil and garlic and is most yummy. Of course, I had to order the fried chicken for my entrée. And I gotta say, this fried chicken is a far cry from the bucket of the Colonel’s Extra Crispy that I remember as a kid. The meat was tender, juicy (not greasy), and the breading had a decent spice to it. Served with a side of mac and cheese and green beans, this is a great fix your comfort-food jones.

Lady Steakhead did not order as well as I did (after reading my posts for the past 2 years, you’ll notice this is a common theme). Her Shellfish Pan Stew, a bouillabaisse with shrimp, clams, mussels and sausage, was good, but not entirely memorable. And it was the one dish on the menu that didn’t seem to fit the rest of the country-style offerings. She regretted not going with the shrimp and grits instead. The dessert menu looked very enticing, including a fried apple pie (Ford Fry living up to his name again), but Baby Steakhead was beginning to make it clear that she wanted to head home, so we had to skip it.

Overall, I would definitely recommend JCT Kitchen and Bar. It’s a fun, casual environment, and not in the least bit pretentious. The prices for most entrees were in the mid to upper teens, so it’s priced in the right range for a neighborhood spot (although my glass of wine cost almost as much as my main course). And if you are in the mood for fried chicken, there is a bird waiting for you six days of the week (closed Sundays).

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Price: $$-$$$

Atlanta James Beard Nominees

2007-03-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

The James Beard Foundation Award nominees have been announced and several Atlantans are on the list. Congrats to the following folks who are helping make Atlanta a world-class dining town:

Besha Rodell- Creative Loafing
Category: Newspaper Feature Writing About Restaurants and/or Chefs With or Without Recipes
"2006 Food Issue- From the Farm to your Table"- 10/12/2006

John Kessler- AJC
Category: Newspaper Feature Writing With Recipes
"What Does Chinese Take-out Have in Common with Tomatoes, Pizza, Parmesan and Also Sushi? - Unami"- 6/22/2006

John T. Edge- AJC
Category: Newspaper, Newsletter or Magazine Columns
" The Pit and the Pendulum", "Roadside Renaissance" and "Where Coconut Cake Meets Sweet Tea Pie"- 4/27/2006, 7/20/2006 & 11/9/2006

Arnaud Bethelier- The Dining Room in the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead (Atlanta, GA)
Scott Peacock- Watershed (Decatur, GA)
Category: Best Chef: Southeast

For more information on the James Beard Foundation, and to see a listing of all categories and nominees, click here.

Lunch Madness

2007-03-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

The next two days are my favorite two days on the sports calendar- the first two days of the NCAA Basketball tournament. With multiple games being played simultaneously for over 12 hours, its enough to give every adult male a serious case of ADD. People say this is also the least two productive days in American workforce, as many of these games take place during weekday afternoons. I don't doubt that at all.

For me, I am taking tomorrow off and meeting for a nice lengthy lunch at Stool Pigeons in Midtown today. Why Stool Pigeons? Well, for today, its not entirely about the food. The requirements become much more about the view. With 3 games tipping off at 12:30, having good viewing angles becomes key. Stool Pigeons is a wide open sports bar, which should easily provide for optimal viewing.

I am curious how others will celebrate this annual ritual of unproductiveness? Also, let's hear your Final Fours. Mine is Florida, UCLA, Ohio St., and Texas...with UCLA beating the Longhorns in the finals.

Umezono- The Best Sushi Lunch Deal in Town

2007-03-13T05:41:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for high quality sushi that won’t empty your wallet, Umezono is your place. I have been here several times for dinner, and have thought well of their nigiri selections. It’s not a place for fancy sushi rolls, it doesn’t transform itself into a hipster club after the sun goes down (usually a sign of bad sushi), and its location next to a nudie bar on Cobb Parkway just south of Windy Hill Rd. won't impress anyone. But the sushi you get for your money will.

The best deal is the lunch special. For $6.85, you get a soup, salad and your choice of 2 plates including, sushi (4 pieces), sashimi, tempura, tonkatsu, teriyaki and over 15 other menu items. I went with the tonkatsu (deep fried pork cutlet) and the sushi. I added a spicy tuna roll on the side, and it cost as much as the rest of the meal, and was completely unnecessary. I would actually avoid the rolls at Umezono completely. It’s just not their specialty, and with the low prices for such good nigiri, you might as well fill up on that. The main menu also features a wide selection of other Japanese dishes including shabu shabu, sukiyaki, and udon bowls.

The decor of Umezono is very traditional. There are even several Tatami rooms, if sitting shoeless on the floor is your thing. While I was very happy to have been turned on to Umezono, I will say that many others have already found it. I met a friend for lunch at 12:30 last week and it was a packed house, so if you go, get there early.

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Price: $-$$

Decent Thaidings in Fairlie-Poplar

2007-03-08T11:06:00.000-08:00

I am not sure if I initially liked Thaidings because a) its actually decent, b) the lack of other options in this cool little Downtown area, or c) because my expectations were so low going in. Perhaps it was a combination of all three.

My first experiment with this place was about 9 months ago, before Thaidings opened. The previous Thai place was completely forgettable with the exception that they had no air conditioning. The décor was ratty. And I was grateful I made it through the day without getting food poisoning. About 3 months ago, I noticed a Grand Opening sign and a new name- Thaidings- and decided to poke my head in. (BTW- the Grand Opening sign is still there.)

The décor has been much improved. New, somewhat cheap-chic tables and chairs, a fresh coat of bright lime-green paint, and yes, an air conditioner! The place already looked 1,000 times better. The menu features your standard Thai classics- curries, noodle dishes, basil chicken, basil rolls and coconut soup. Lunch will run you about $10, which includes a bowl of soup or salad. And now that I have been there a couple of times, I can actually say it’s not that bad. I have had the basil chicken and the drunken noodle bowl, and each was generally pleasing. The basil rolls, which should forego the imitation crab meat for shrimp, could have been better.

They get a decent crowd for lunch, as most tables were occupied by noon. But when you think about the number of people who work downtown, where getting into a car for lunch is an impossibility, and the very few acceptable alternatives for an inexpensive, nearby lunch spot, it’s not hard to figure out why.

After speaking with the owner, who is a very friendly and sociable soul, I am not sure of the future of Thaidings. This is disappointing, considering she seems to have a following amongst the downtown lunch crowd. It's not a place I would recommend driving to from other parts of the city, but if you happen to work nearby their location at 68 Walton St., it’s worth the walk over on a nice day.

Steakhead Recommends: Perhaps...if you happen to be in the area
Price: $-$$

A Wildfire at Perimeter Mall

2007-03-01T08:17:00.000-08:00

The Perimeter Mall area continues to get inundated with new restaurants, to the point where they must have reached market saturation at this point. The two latest entries to the area are literally located in the mall parking lot- Seasons 52 and Wildfire. Last night, a fellow foodie and I decided to check out Wild Fire, a Steakhouse concept by the same folks who introduced Maggiano’s.

Wildfire has been open a couple of months now, and it appears to have generated a strong amount of interest. Being a Wednesday night, I was shocked at the line of people waiting to be seated. Thank God we had a reservation, or we may have been SOL. But here is something I don’t understand. The place knows they are popular. They also know that in most cases they are making a first impression. Then you better have enough bartenders to handle folks while they wait for a table. There were only two bartenders, and one was primarily focused on making drinks for the dining room, leaving one overwhelmed soul to take care of a packed bar. Needless to say, having a drink while we waited for our table was a complete chore. So, again, my advice to you, make a reservation….especially if you go on a weekend.

The dining room atmosphere is an open set up, with lots of wood and stone. You definitely get the feeling that this not a place for the faint of stomach. And while the noise level can be quite high, but there is a certain energy that I found appealing. The service is decent, but one sin they committed was they brought the entrees before clearing the appetizer plates. You expect this at Outback, but when you spend $30 for a steak, I don’t want to be rushed.

For starters, we split an order of sweet & sour calamari, and an order of shrimp stuffed with crabmeat. The calamari was awesome! Many times, calamari can be mistaken for rubber bands. This calamari was extremely tender, and the sweet and sour glaze was a unique touch. I can’t speak as glowingly of the shrimp and crabmeat dish, however. The four medium-sized shrimp sat in a 1/4” puddle of oil with crabmeat more in the puddle than stuffed in the shrimp. I am not exactly sure how you would stuff shrimp that small anyway.

Then, it was on to the steaks. Wildfire offers the standard selection of cuts- several filet mignons, NY strips, ribeyes, etc. I was in the mood for a filet after having one completely overcooked at Ruth’s Chris last weekend. I added the blue cheese dressing and I need to stop doing that, as only Chops has done it well lately. The blue cheese topping at Wildfire sat on the meat like a pancake. The consistency was hard and grainy, and was too thick. I wound up scraping most of it off. The meat, however, was cooked to perfection and was very tender. Not qualms about that at all.

The main upside for Wildfire is value. For an upscale steakhouse (remember, this isn’t Long Horn), you get a very good steak, at prices about 20% less than others in that category (my filet was a decent size and $28). Furthermore, you get a choice of side with your entrée, so they don’t get you with a ton of a la carte add-ons. The quality of meat is right up there with the big boys as well. The sides options aren’t great, but hell, that’s not why I go to a Steakhouse. And the service can be a little refined. But these are all nits. If you are in the mood for a good steak, but don’t want to shell out $80-100 per person to do it, Wildfire is a strong choice.

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Price: $$$

The Joke Is On Us!

2007-02-26T13:52:00.000-08:00

Those crazy Japanese have us all fooled. Check out this video clip of a worldwide culinary joke the Japanese have played on all of us.

How to Survive a Night at Fogo de Chao

2007-02-24T08:25:00.000-08:00

I consider myself to be an expert on Fogo de Chao. It has been my birthday dinner every year for the past 6 years. Sprinkle in the occasional business dinner, a few nights out with the boys, and a mandatory stop every time my father comes in for a visit, and I have probably dined there 15 times. For the uninitiated, here’s the concept. For roughly $50, waiters dressed as Brazilian gauchos roam the dining room with meats on skewers. A card in front of you tells the gauchos when your hungry (green side) and when you need a break (red side). On any given night, there are approximately 15 different types of meats making the rounds. While “all you can eat meat” is a dream come true for some (including yours truly), the dining room is full of traps and pitfalls. So to help rookies and beginners of this fantastic Brazilian Churrascuria on Piedmont Rd. in Buckhead, I have outlined a roadmap that will help ensure carnivorous maximus!

1) Preparation- What to do about lunch?
You definitely want to go hungry, but not overly so, that you go hog wild the moment you walk in. I recommend a normal sized lunch, but try to avoid beef. A turkey or tuna sandwich would be perfect. The last thing you want is a ½ burger that sits like a rock in your stomach when you walk in. Try to time it, such that you have a good 7-8 hours between meals.

2) Moderation…at the Salad Bar
This may seem like a no-brainer, but I can’t tell you how many people I see that return from the salad bar with a plate piled six-inches high. This is of course what the restaurant loves to see- people filling their stomachs with 10-cent artichoke hearts as opposed to filet mignon. If you’re going to have anything at the salad bar, grab some smoked salmon. Grabbing multiple swiss cheese sticks and mozzarella balls is idiotic.

3) Be Wary of the Sausage Man
There is a reason why the best Steakhouses in town don’t offer a sausage main course. I always feel bad for the gaucho walking around with the chicken and sausage skewers, because he probably gets the least amount of attention. But someone is taking this stuff, or they wouldn’t keep offering it. There is no prize for having one of every meat available, and it would be fool’s gold if there was one. Be picky. Stick with the house special, top/bottom sirloin, filet mignons and the lamb chops. The pork tenderloin is even acceptable. If you say yes to the chicken, you are out of your league.

4) It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint
This is probably the most important tip I can give. Turning your card to green will elicit a response similar to looking for a day laborer in the Home Depot parking lot…gauchos from far and wide will make a bee line for your table. Its okay to say no to something you really want because, trust me, they will come back. Try not to have more than two meats on your plate at any one time, and its okay to take periodic breaks. If you finish your dinner in 45 minutes, you ate way too fast.

If you have not yet been to Fogo de Chao, it’s a definite must, even for the non-carnivores. The atmosphere is terrific and the gaucho service is first rate. But for the meat lovers out there, this is paradise, especially when you go in with a winning strategy

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Price: $$$-$$$$

North Fulton Restaurant Week

2007-02-23T06:17:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Chloe at Chow Down Atlanta- another great Atlanta food blog- for the info on the North Fulton Restaurant Week taking place next week. Y'all know the drill by now- $25 gets you a 3-course meal at some of the finest dining establishments on the Northside. Check out the event site for info on the exact participants, but I will tease you with the great news that diPaolo- a Steakhead 2006 Top 10- is a participant!

Sake & Sushi Event

2007-02-21T13:23:00.000-08:00

Compound will host a Sake & Sushi event on Thursday March 8. The event takes place from 6:30-9:30, with tickets costing $40 in advance and $45 at the door. Participating restaurants include Zuma, Silk, The Real Chow Baby, Nakato and others. I am not familiar with some of the restaurants listed, and am somewhat confused by the inclusion of The Real Chow Baby at a sushi event, but I can vouch for the top notch sushi served by Zuma. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to http://www.launchatlanta.com/sakesushi/

Gone Fishin’ at Atlanta Fish Market

2007-02-15T14:48:00.000-08:00

It’s amazing that after 11 years of living in Atlanta, I still hadn’t ventured into the Atlanta Fish Market until this week. I mean, just the big fish jumping out of the ground is usually the kind of gimmick that would attract a goofball like me. Thanks to my boss, who gave me a Buckhead Life gift certificate for the holidays, this was the Steakheads’ destination for Valentine’s Day.

Like most Buckhead Life restaurants, the service at Atlanta Fish Market is top notch. Our waiter was fantastic, and really knew the menu, which can be daunting. Because this was a rare night out without the little one, we were not in any hurry, and we weren’t rushed to make our selections. For starters, we tried his recommendations of the yellow fin tuna carpaccio. This was outstanding, but as is the case with most carpaccios, there is not a lot of substance. So to complement that appetizer, we ordered a volcano roll from their sushi menu. This was outstanding- one of the better spicy tuna rolls I have had!

I really struggled with the main course. There was a long island boil that included a ½ lobster, scallops, mussels and clams that caught my eye. Numerous fresh fish selections and the crab cakes also looked appealing. But in the end, I went with the 1 ¼ lb. stuffed lobster. While this was good, I wound up regretting this selection for a couple of reasons. First of all, the deviled crab topping was too rich and really took away from the lobster. Second, this wasn’t the kind of dish that really showcases what a kitchen can do. I mean, how hard is it to take a lobster, throw him in a pot of boiling water, and serve him on a plate? From now on, when in the mood for lobsters, I’ll either have it at home, or go to Maine, where any lobster dock with a picnic table is a 5-star joint.

We did enjoy our evening at Atlanta Fish Market, and would like to think we will come again. While you may have noticed we haven’t been heading out much lately, we will be hitting the town hard next week. A pre-Spamalot dinner at Baraonda on Tuesday, and then Steakhead’s traditional birthday meal at Fogo on Wednesday! Can’t wait!

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Price: $$$-$$$$

Limp Noodle

2007-01-19T06:01:00.002-08:00

It’s surprising to me that there are still only a few good choices in Midtown for lunch. I met a business colleague yesterday and needed something within walking distance of a MARTA station (Lady Steakhead had the car), where you could grab lunch for under $10. Vortex? Good, but not the healthiest. Spotted Dog? How could I go there and not grab a pint (taboo, since we were both going back to work). We settled on Noodle at the corner of Peachtree and 8th. I wished I had opted for “unhealthy”…or “taboo”.

There are a lot of places around Atlanta like Noodle- semi- fast food Asian consisting of bowls of curries, stir frys, and of course, noodles. Noodle offers nothing to distinguish itself from its competition. The menu could have a Doc Chey’s title on it and you wouldn’t know the difference.

I decided on the Sichuan beef, figuring I would try something different than the standard noodle bowl. Mistake. The beef was overcooked, and seemed not to be the best cut in the world. Thank God the heavy, over-seasoned Sichuan sauce drowned out the taste. And at a cost of $10, this wasn’t necessarily a lunch bargain. Spoon, Real Chow Baby, hell, even Mama Fu’s provides better food, at a better price in a better atmosphere than Noodle.

After this disappointing visit, I am heading to Spoon today to get my Asian lunch fix. And if that is not enough, tomorrow night, Baby Steakhead and I are heading to Tasty China. With selections like this, I don’t see making any more trips to Noodle.

Steakhead Recommends: No
Price: $-$$

New Years Resolution

2007-01-08T06:26:00.000-08:00

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Time to make those resolutions of eating better and exercising more in a usually futile attempt to shed a few pounds. Steakhead is not immune from these types of resolutions, but when you enjoy food as much as I do, these resolutions typically last less than a week.

This year is no different, although after spending the last two weeks in the Big Easy and Baton Rouge, I can honestly say I haven’t quite started yet. Sidebar here, but this is the last place where you want to be on a diet. Maybe I overindulged a little between the numerous dishes of crawfish ettouffes (Mike Anderson’s Seafood and Acme Oyster House), Shrimp Po Boys (Jones Creek Oyster Bar and Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House), Barbecue Shrimp (Pascal’s Manale- a Steakhead favorite), Turkey Gumbo (the mother in-law's day-after-Christmas tradition), Big Ass Beers (Bourbon Street, New Orleans) and a few Pat O’Brien Hurricanes. But today, January 8th, I will begin my yearly attempt of healthier living.

The first thing I have recognized, though, is that being realistic is half the key to success. I like food too much to make massive changes to diet. So an easy place to start is lunch. The food court where I work is full of artery clogging options. Just cutting out the occasional trip to Wendy’s and a Moe’s Burrito should be easy to do without sacrificing a whole lot.

The second area I will look at is portion control. I still like to sample several appetizers when I go out, and I don’t see this changing. But this applies to perhaps one dinner per week. The other 6 nights, when we eat at home, we can easily control the amount of chow we consume.

The third element of my plan- more exercise. For as long as I can remember, I have had a health club membership of some sort or the other. I am pretty gung ho for the first few months, but then the inevitable fall off occurs. The reason is simple- I hate going to the gym. It’s out of the way and just too damn boring. This year, I am trying a new tact. We just bought an exercise bike, which is conveniently situated in my basement in front of my HD TV. All I have to do is walk downstairs and a healthy workout awaits. Also, between memberships at the local pool, and the Chattahoochee River trails 10 minutes away, I may never have to step foot in another health club again...actually, I don’t really set foot in one now, so what I should say is hopefully I never have to pay for another health club again :).

So this is the plan. The theory is that I can live healthier, lose some weight and still be Steakhead. I’ll let you know in two months if this is working.

Happy Holidays!!

2006-12-21T06:20:00.000-08:00

Thank you very much for visiting the Atlanta Eats blog over the past year. I hope you have enjoyed reading it even half as much as I have writing it. May your holidays be safe and filled with much happiness, cheer and great food. We will be taking a few weeks off, but we'll be back on the food trail again in early January.

Cheers!

The Steakheads

Steakhead’s Top 10 of 2006

2006-12-13T08:19:00.000-08:00

The end of the calendar year is quickly approaching and what a year it has been! Lady Steakhead and I joined the Parent Club in April with the birth of beautiful Baby Shea. The Sports Gods gave me a Mets post-season for the first time in 6 years, but then ripped my heart out in Game 7 of the NLCS. This blog celebrated its 1-Year Anniversary of providing restaurant opinions in the ATL. And, of course, another year of eating in some of the best eateries in the city.

My year-end recap is structured a little different this year. Because I want this list to reflect places I visited during the year, and that was not possible for me to visit as many places I would have liked, I will not do a “best of” by category. Instead, I am going to recognize and award places I consider to be my “top 10” joints in the city. It was incredibly difficult to narrow it down to 10, and I am in no way saying that these were the only good places I considered. But as the final list began to take shape, these places stood above the rest in that the mere mention of them got me excited and hungering for my next visit. Some are “once a year” places for special occasion. Some are ultra-casual, inexpensive joints where $10-$15 gets you one of the best meals in town. There is even one take-out place on the list.

So, without further ado, I present to you the Steakhead Top 10 of 2006 (in alphabetical order)!

Chops- Chops, and specifically the Lobster Bar for ambiance, continues to be my steakhouse of choice in the city. The bone-in ribeye is aces, and the tableside-prepared steak tartare is my favorite appetizer in town. This is where Lady Steakhead and I celebrate our anniversary every year.

di Paolo- Top-notch Italian cuisine in Alpharetta. Well worth the drive OTP. And I love the fact you can bring your own vino (with a corking fee).

Fogo de Chao- Ahh- the meat palace. This is Steakhead’s birthday dinner every year. How can you go wrong with gauchos carving meat off a spit until you scream “uncle”? There are a number of imitators in town, but from an experience perspective, this place is second to none.

Little Bangkok- This Cheshire bridge location is where to go when you want unpretentious, very spicy Thai food in Atlanta. And, they are one of the few places that serves Papaya Salad- a Steakhead favorite.

Paul’s- Paul Albrecht’s restaurant in Peachtree Hills became one of my favorite places after only one visit. A little pricey, but the deep fried lobster tail is worth trying if you haven’t already done so.

Real Chow Baby- This ever-popular take on Mongolian BBQ is fun, tasty and inexpensive. You are in charge, as you mix your own ingredients of veggies, meats and sauce. I have been many times, and still make a different concoction each time.

Rumi’s Kitchen- Props given here to a local restaurant in my home hood of Sandy Springs that isn’t a chain. Great tasting kabobs, in an upscale environment. The cars outside may all scream expensive, but the entrees are in the low-mid teens.

Sam & Dave’s BBQ1- The best BBQ joint in Atlanta is actually a takeout place. Located on Lower Roswell Rd. in an older strip mall, these guys are BBQ aficionados (with many trophies from world-class competitions to prove it).

Tasty China- Setting the standard for Chinese fare in Atlanta. It has been a month since my last visit and I am having Hot and Numbing Beef Roll withdrawal.

Trattoria il Localino- Localino is all about the atmosphere. It’s a family-run business- the owner is this crazy-looking guy with wild gray hair sort of resembling Einstein- and they are dedicated to make sure your experience is a good one. ABBA and the Bee-Gees will interrupt ballads of Mario Lanza and Jerry Vale, as party hats are distributed to the guests. Weekends are best, as it’s more fun when it’s crowded.

Congratulations to all the winners!

RIP Imari- SushiHouse Takes Over

2006-12-08T07:26:00.000-08:00

Lady Steakhead and I decided to meet for lunch yesterday at our favorite Sushi spot- Imari on Peachtree Rd. in South Buckhead. As soon as we walked in, we realilzed something was amiss. The walls had been painted a dark red, the furniture seemed new, and there was the thumping club-like music playing. Was this Imari- a place that would win no award for its simplistic, white interior design? Apparently, it was not. Imari had closed, and SushiHouse, an Orlando-based sushi bar, had taken over.

I was devastated. Imari not only served excellent sushi (and in my mind, the originators of the best spicy tuna roll in Atlanta), it was also one of the most reasonably priced sushi bars in town. This new menu, however, is adorned with numerous accolades annointing SushiHouse as the best sushi place in Orlando, so maybe all was not completely lost.

Well, that was wishful thinking anyway. SushiHouse does offer a lunch menu, but it completely misses the mark. The only sushi available on the $10 menu are rolls. If you want Nigiri, you have to move to the standard menu. There is a sushi combo plate with Nigiri, but even at the lunch time $15 price, it is no bargain. We substituted the California Roll that came with the combo for a Spicy Tuna Roll. What a disappointment. The tuna had little taste, completely overpowered by a huge chunk of cucumber, that was so cold, it may have just come out of the freezer. We also sampled one of their signature rolls- the Happy Sumo. This was a warm roll with avocado, cucumber, crab, tuna, salmon, cream cheese, and fried tempura style. This was good, no argument there, but its certainly isnt the kind of roll that would make me want to make a special trip. And that really can be said for the sushi itself. Okay, but in a town with so many good sushi bars, nothing stands out here, with the exception of the price. Two $15 sushi plates, one $10 roll, no drinks (not even a Diet Coke), and add tip and tax, I spent over $50 for lunch. Ridiculous.

Imari did it right. Forget the clubby atmosphere and fancy decor. They served very good sushi at a very good price. You will be missed. SushiHouse- no thanks. Taka may have just moved up to #1 on my list.

Steakhead Recommends: No
Price: $$-$$$

High Cotton: Good Food and Family Friendly

2006-12-03T09:42:00.000-08:00

We went out with friends for dinner on Friday night, and when asked where we would like to go, we had only two requirements- we needed to go early and someplace that is somewhat baby-friendly (these are pretty much standing requirements for us). Their recommendation was a spot they have been talking about for months- High Cotton in Dunwoody.

High Cotton is located in the Publix Shopping Center on Chamblee-Dunwoody Rd., and is quite the popular spot. They do not take reservations, but you can call at 5pm for some form of call-ahead seating. This is definitely recommended, as even at 6:30, the small bar area was packed with waiting patrons. I was happy to see several small children and at least 3 babies in the restaurant, all on their best behavior (they were seen, not heard).

The menu is fairly standard- pastas, chicken, steaks, tuna. I wouldn't say it was the most creative menu, but then again, its better to do simple dishes well, than creative ones poorly. I went with the a rare ahi tuna dish, that was sliced and served with ginger, soy sauce and wasabi. Lady Steakhead went with the Firecracker Pasta with assorted shellfish. Both were very good. While I shied away from the steaks, one of our friends ordered the filet, which was a more generous cut than I would have expected.

I was definitely impressed with High Cotton. It's a good. "comfort food" destination, comparing favorably to places like Food 101. Most dishes were priced in the $18-24 range, so it won't break the bank. But the big draw was how easy it was to take Baby Steakhead. Pizza and Tex-Mex get old after a while, so its good to know of other local options.

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Price: $$

Restaurant Gift Certificates- Up to 60% off!

2006-11-30T10:57:00.000-08:00

Hello again. Sorry for the long hiatus, but things have been quite busy and we haven't gotten out as much as I would have liked recently. And especially around the holidays, its tough to justify the expenditure of a nice night out when there are all those gifts to buy, airfare to purchase, etc. But I have found something that may take a little of the sting away from getting out to some of Atlanta's best restaurants.

AtlantaEats now offers dining coupons worth $25 for only $10....and many of Atlanta's better eating spots are included! For instance, two of my favorite places- Paul's and Two Urban Licks are listed. For more casual dining, there's Front Page News and Fontaine's. For the sports fan (and those who like darky smoky joints where you can't see the hand in front of your face), the Famous Pub is a participant. The list of restaurants is expansive, and with the holidays fast approaching, these would make excellent stocking stuffers for your Foodie friends! Simply click here or the banner on the left sidebar to check out this great deal!

Tasty China More Than Lives Up To Its Name

2006-11-01T10:31:00.000-08:00

There has been a lot of buzz lately on several online forums, including AtlantaCuisine.com and Chowhound, about Tasty China. People are raving about very traditional Sichuan cuisine in Marietta that tops anything on Buford Highway. In fact, Lady Steakhead and I believe this place can rival the best anywhere. Chef Peter Chang comes to 585 Franklin Rd. in Marietta after winning numerous accolades for his distinctive cuisine in Washington DC, and previously as the head chef at the Dynasty Hotel in Beijing. And by judging from the mostly Asian crowd last Saturday night, his reputation is quickly spreading in Atlanta as well.

The menu is expansive- 6 pages and well over 100 items to choose from. Don't let this intimidate you, as you can skip the middle section of American Chinese Dishes. This is where you will find all the moo goo gai pans and kung paos. Nothing to see here. Move along. Spend your time navigating the appetizer and Classic Sichuan sections. We went in with the attitude that we wanted to try as many things as possible- and with appetizers costing only $5, this was easy to do from a financial perspective. Tom Maicon of AtlantaCuisine gave us a couple of suggestions, including the Hot & Numbing Beef Rolls, which were not as spicy as the name would indicate. Its actually one fairly large roll, cut into four pieces. Another recommendation was the #1 listed on the table placard. Since everything after the "#1" was written in Chinese, I can't tell you exactly what it's called, but in essence, it's 3 sticky buns filled with ground pork. A third appetizer was a sweet and spicy broth with wontons . All three were very good, with our favorite being the beef rolls.

For a main course, we went with the Hot Pepper Fish (#98). This was a sort of fish stew with tofu and diced habernero and other peppers. Our server gave us a great recommendation to have a chicken dish accompany this, but we left it up to him as to a specific dish and have no idea what it was (I think he said it wasn't on the menu). Nonetheless, it was diced chicken served with a kind of chips. There was a slight glaze to the chicken, but not your typical "glop" that accompanies many chicken dishes in typical sub par Chinese places. Both of these dishes were fantastic. The fish was not quite as hot as I would have thought leading me to immediately believe it was toned down for the American.

Tasty China is BYOB so you may want to bring your own Tsingtao. The cost is very reasonable- we had 3 appetizers and 2 main courses (enough for dinner the following night) and the tab came in under $40. I can't wait to go back and continue exploring the menu and learning about authentic Sichuan dishes. The sichuan noodles, pork belly in garlic mud, duck, and roasted fish with green onions are all on my list to try. And we'll definitely have those beef rolls again. And maybe some more wontons. Okay, maybe I need several more visits.

Steakhead Recommends: YES
Price: $$

This Looks Different...

2006-10-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

After 18 months, I figure its time to shake up the blog a little with a new look and feel. I am going to a 3-column layout (why doesn't Blogger offer a 3-column template???), as well as looking to add some additional functionality and eye candy. Unfortunately, what would take a college student 15 minutes to accomplish is taking me days. So what you are seeing today is not the final product, but hopefully I'll get there soon. In the meantime, please excuse the "partial" re-design.

Castleberry Hill- The CNN Center Food Court Alternative

2006-10-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

Those that have been reading my blog will know a couple of things about me. 1), I am a big sports fan and attend many events at Philips Arena and the GA Dome. And 2), I am a frequent complainer of the lack of dining and drinking options around these venues. I may have found a solution. A co-worker recently told me about some restaurants that have recently opened in her Castleberry Hill neighborhood and we decided to check out Wasabi before last Saturday night’s Thrashers game.

For those not familiar with Castleberry Hill, it is burgeoning area of lofts just south of the Dome and Philips Arena (map). Wasabi is located in the heart of the loft community at 180 Walker St., right next to another newcomer to the neighborhood- NoMas Cantina. It is very easy to get to and there is plenty of parking in back, so this place is a winner from a convenience standpoint. And as an added bonus, when headed back to the Arena, the approach from the South (Spring St.) is completely devoid of the traffic hassles that you would encounter trying to navigate through and around the Park.

A recent review described Wasabi as having an “LA” feel, and I can see where this comes from. Hip music, and simplistic bright decor all add to this persona. This place seems more club than restaurant. It was practically deserted at 6:30 on a Saturday night, and according to our waitress, it doesn’t really get going until 9:30. There is not a ton of table seating at Wasabi, but the long sushi bar seems perfect for sipping on sake or enjoying one of the many creative cocktails on the Wasabi menu.

We started off with our usual sushi appetizers- seaweed salad and miso soup- and things got off to a rough start. The miso soup was devoid of flavor, and the seaweed was like eating a heap of rubber bands. I was immediately depressed, (and to be honest, a little nervous since raw fish was on the way). But I must say, the sushi was a very pleasant surprise. The presentation was fabulous. The Bulls Eye Roll, with eel and avocado and topped with yellowtail and a jalapeno slice, was one of the better tasting creative rolls I have had. And the nigiri was fresh and cut perfectly.

I will be returning to Wasabi, although maybe not for a 3 course meal. Maybe to get a quick sushi dinner before a game. Maybe for some sake after a game.While not 5-star cuisine, it is good if you stick to the sushi and drinks, and it is different. And that may be its biggest plus when compared to the options around the Arena.

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Price: $$

Great Food, Big Crowds at Taste of Atlanta

2006-10-17T04:51:00.000-07:00

Organizers of Taste of Atlanta have to be thrilled with their decision to move Taste of Atlanta to the streets of Atlantic Station. Helped by a near perfect day weather-wise, the crowds began pouring onto the 17th Street Bridge shortly after noon on Saturday, and didn’t let up all afternoon. Getting there early was an absolute necessity in order to enjoy this event. Otherwise, if traffic on the downtown connector didn’t get you, the will call line or the booth lines would have.

The organizers did a great job getting some of the more upscale restaurants to participate. We sampled the Mussels Mediterranean from Au Pied de Cochan and the clam chowder from The Oceanaire Room. Fleming’s wins the award for best booth display (see picture above) and gets added props for the size of shrimp they supplied for the shrimp cocktail. The shrimp hushpuppies at Spice were delicious. Sheri Davis of Dish featured her shrimp lollipops which are very tasty. But this was third food event I had been to this year where Dish had participated, and this was served all three times. I love ya girl, but how about something different next time, like perhaps a sample of that lobster lasagna of yours?

The plate of the day in the minds of our group was the Szechuan BBQ Ribs at Roy’s. I give a lot of credit to Roy’s approach to this event, as this is a signature dish at all Roy’s restaurants, and they used this festival to put their best foot forward. Bravo, I say, and I would venture we will be coming into the restaurant soon for more!

Taste of Atlanta partnered with the Atlanta Wine School for tastings and seminars throughout the day. Unfortunately for many (including myself), these sold out well in advance, so even if you purchased a VIP ticket, you were turned away. There seems to be a big demand for these kinds of events, and the school offers various courses and a wine club for novices and enthusiasts alike. More info can be found on their website (www.atlantawineschool.com).

While turnout for the event can be definitely gauged as a success, the experience suffered by many of the paying patrons can not. I like the Atlantic Station venue for this and with a few tweaks, this event can be even better next year. Here are my recommendations:

Email tickets with advance purchase to cut down on the will call line
Station coupon-only ticket booths throughout the festival so people looking to buy more tickets and eat more food (and that is the goal, right?) can do so quickly.
Forget the VIP pass. Food demonstration entry should be on a first-come/first served. Sell wine seminar tickets separately so those paying for that are guaranteed a seat.
I like Moe’s. I really do. But is there really a need for fast-food chains to be a part of this festival? The alley where Moe’s, MamaFu’s, Doc Green’s and Waffle House were parked was a mad house full of people who probably eat there every week.
Sell less festival tickets. If you succeed in encouraging more coupon purchases, you will break-even on event revenue, and probably encourage more trial for the restaurants.

Well, now that this big week is behind me, it’s back to more of a sense of normalcy. The Steakheads will be checking out the Castleberry Hill area this Saturday before the Thrashers game. Until then, Happy Eating!

Culinaire- A Festive Opening for Taste of Atlanta

2006-10-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

Steakhead was in his element last night, hobnobbing with the famous chefs and personalities of the Atlanta entertainment scene. Kevin Rathbun gave me some scoop on his soon-to-open Kevin Rathbun Steak concept in Inman Park, which is targeting a May 2007 opening. Sheri Davis of Dish hugged me when I proclaimed her Lobster Lasagna as the best meal I have had in Atlanta. Mike Blum of Real Chow Baby made my night when he told me that the restaurant will open another location in my home hood of Sandy Springs in the next 7-8 months!

And of course, being an esteemed member of the press, being able to rub elbows with my fellow media colleagues is always a treat. A special shout-out to Leslie Fram of 99X who pointed me in the right direction for the Event Program. Meanwhile, Jeff Dauler of Q100 and I opined on the impending move of Mellow Mushroom from the backroom of a tattoo parlor to its own stand-alone building in Sandy Springs. Yeah, us local celebrities are a pretty tight group, and love to come together for a great cause: Food!

And speaking of food, it was delightful, if not bountiful. 9 Different stations with the executive chefs from Rathbun's, Restaurant Eugene, Aria, Taurus, Dish, Repast, Sotto Sotto/Fritti and Pacific Rim/Silk. Kevin Rathbun, always one for presentation, featured a Thai Squid Salad served with chopsticks and in a chinese to-go carton. Many of the chefs seem to be big fans of squash. I particularly liked the butternut squash with ham sample from Chef Linton Hopkins' Restaurant Eugene. Despite my claims to the contrary, I even tried Foie Gras from the offering from Repast! It helped that it was covered with a hot dog slice, onion straws and ketchup.

Now its on to the main festival this Saturday & Sunday on the streets of Atlantic Station. Remember, you can get more info and advance tickets at www.tasteofatlanta.com. Have a great week, see you Saturday and Happy Eating!

Taste of Atlanta This Weekend!

2006-10-09T05:43:00.000-07:00

Hello one and all. Steakhead is back from a week on Hilton Head Island completely rejuvenated. What a week- sun, golf, seafood, and with the Mets sweeping the Dodgers in their NLDS series on the same day as the Yankees were eliminated, well, it just doesn't get any better!

But now I am back, and its a good week to be Steakhead. My aforementioned Mets open their NLCS series against the Cards on Wednesday, the NY Football Giants make their first visit to the GA Dome in 5 years on Sunday and the Taste of Atlanta festival takes place this weekend! The festival actually opens with Culinaire- a $150 per plate extravaganza featuring 10 of the best chefs in Atlanta, open bar and live entertainment. The event takes place Tuesday night at the Lobby at Twelve. Steakhead will be one of the esteemed members of the press at this event, so I look to give you a first-hand account on Wednesday morning.

The main festival- just a tad less decadcent- takes place Saturday and Sunday from 11am - 6pm at Atlantic Station with tickets going for $15 in advance and $25 at the door. There will be more than 70 restaurants represented at this year's festival, with samples, cooking demonstrations, wine classes and more. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the official web site at www.tasteofatlanta.com. Happy eating and I hope to see you this weekend!