Tag Archive for: food

DOWNTOWN WOODSTOCK RESTAURANTS CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY WITH STAR SPANGLED PUB CRAWL

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 7/1/21

Downtown Woodstock

Saturday, July 3rd at 2 pm

The Star Spangled Pub Crawl will take place in Downtown Woodstock on Saturday, July 3rd from 2 to 6 pm. Crawl-goers will enjoy festive food and beverage specials as they visit the participating bars and restaurants.

 

Participants include Copper Coin, The Daily Draft, Eden, Kai (formerly ICE Martini Bar), Madlife Grill, Pure Taqueria, Prime 120, Reel Seafood, Reformation Brewery, Rootstock, and Truck and Tap. Musicians will perform at select locations on a staggered schedule during the event.

 

When a crawl participant arrives at their first restaurant on the crawl, they will be given a stamp card. For each restaurant visited, they will receive a stamp on their card. Once they have received five stamps, they may turn in their card to any participating restaurant to be entered to win prizes.

 

Winners will be drawn from the entries and announced on Visit Woodstock GA social media in a live event on Tuesday, July 6th. Prizes include gift cards to participating restaurants. The grand prize is a Downtown Woodstock prize pack that includes a Downtown Dollars gift certificate.

 

Highlights from the featured food and beverage specials include Prime 120’s Happy Hour Smashburger (two beef patties topped with American cheese, caramelized onions, secret sauce, and shaved lettuce) with fries, Kai’s Star Spangled Beer & Boil, and the Bomb Pop Vodka Lemonade at The Daily Draft. All of the participating restaurants are offering dine in or carry out for crawl specials.

 

“The Star Spangled Pub Crawl is great way to celebrate with friends Independence Day weekend,” said Visit Woodstock GA Marketing and Communication Manager Stacy Brown. “The focus is on the delicious food and beverage features and there won’t be vendors on the sidewalks so people can move from one restaurant to the next easily.”

Find more information about the Star Spangled Pub Crawl at visitwoodstockga.com/crawl

Yebo Beach Haus: Island Oasis in Buckhead

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 6/25/21

 

The lavish patio is dotted with black, white and hints of color, while large lush palms overhang to create an island oasis you don’t have to travel to the beach to experience. This is Yebo Beach Haus! In the middle of the courtyard, a trickling water feature lulls you into the beauty of the space and invites you to stay for just one more cocktail. What ultimately matches the patio so well is Yebo’s tropical, South African, and beachy cuisine. Entrees and shareable plates like a whole branzino, tuna tataki, chicken paillard, ostrich sliders, seafood risotto, and tasty cocktails round out the amazing Yebo menu. Let’s take a tour.

 

While relaxing next to the sound of trickling water, we sipped on the BB Cooler and the Rosemary Vesper Martini. One of the most refreshing cocktails was the BB Cooler that is a bright patio drink with hints of fruit, tartness throughout the sip. It’s easily drinkable for an afternoon with the girlfriends, on the other hand is the boozy Rosemary Vesper Martini!  This one would be one Bond would approve of with boozy and earthy notes up front while the cool and crispness of the lemon comes through on the end. Pinkies up!

 

Yebo also prides itself on a myriad of sharable plates you can dip and snack on prior to your entrée. We delved into the Yebo Popcorn, Tuna Tataki, and Ostrich Sliders. We haven’t seen ostrich on a menu in forever, so we had to try it. The meat was perfectly cooked and seasoned and then paired with spicy arugula, cool, creamy mayo and a tomato dollop for a balancing tang. The entire thing came off mellow with no gaminess and was like a burger slider with just a lighter, leaner meat.

 

The favorite bite of the three was the Tuna Tataki. It was a delicate, light mild tuna with a crusty, well-seasoned edge all enveloped in creamy avocado and jalapeno for spice. Then, pour on the amount of savory and rich ponzu that you like, and you get even more flavor. The entire thing is on rice paper, so if you’re feeling rebellious, you could wrap the whole thing in it and eat it rolled up. Finally, if you’re looking for a nice, light snack, to enjoy while sipping a cocktail, the Yebo Popcorn is right up your alley. With the one-two punch of peri-peri seasoning and Parmesan, it’s a good all-around flavor and a great shareable treat.

 

Fish is the quintessential go-to entrée when you’re near the beach, right? Enter the Whole Branzino that is flaky, mild and tender, yet the skin is crispy and crunchy.  Plus, the addition of the jalapeño cilantro sauce that starts spicy and ends tangy, a good addition to the fish while the earthy asparagus and bright lemon drizzle is just icing on the cake for this dish. One of the best dishes of the entire experience. Hold on to that, because even though this was amazing, the Chicken Paillard was the overall favorite bite!  The meat is tender and juicy while bursting with a gamut of flavors and ending with a bold spiciness. The arugula, sauce, and accompanying vegetables are the perfect pair to add earthiness and a hint brightness. The best bite is to get all the elements together for a spicy, savory, earthy, tangy bite that doesn’t stop. We could have this every day.

 

When you go to the beach, what’s your go-to food?

PONCE CITY MARKET ANNOUNCES CENTRAL FOOD HALL EXPANSION SET TO OPEN EARLY SUMMER 2021

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 4/14/21

Food Concepts will Include Nani’s Rotisserie Chicken from Meherwan Irani and VIỆTVANA, Serving Vietnamese Phở & Bánh Mì, With More to Come

Plus, JJ’s Flower Shop Will Relocate to a Larger Space Within the Expanded Wing

Ponce City Market, Atlanta’s iconic mixed-use community hub, announces the forthcoming expansion of its Central Food Hall. Set to open to the public early this summer, the extension will add over 5,000 square feet of space to the Central Food Hall on the first floor by taking over the former Onward Reserve space (which has relocated to the second floor) and a former property management office. The aesthetic will mirror the design of the main Central Food Hall with polished concrete floors, red accents, and elements honoring the character of the existing historic building, including exposed brick walls and open ceilings.

In total, the new wing will house six restaurants and retail shops, plus communal seating throughout, including:

  • Nani’s Rotisserie Chicken – From the Chai Pani Restaurant Group, Nani’s Rotisserie Chicken was imagined when the COVID-19 pandemic began and Co-founder Meherwan Irani saw a need for comforting, take-home friendly food like never before. The menu, and in turn the restaurant title, is inspired by his daughter’s maternal grandmother, often referred to in Indian culture as “nani.” Serving American cuisine and specializing in all-natural rotisserie chickens rubbed with Piri Piri or Herbs de Provence spice blends from sister company Spicewalla, the restaurant strives to make familiar food both extraordinary and convenient. Guests can expect to find an assortment of sides like savory corn pudding, charred and chilled green beans, and ancient grains salad at the counter-service restaurant. The Nani’s flagship opened in Asheville’s historic Grove Arcade in November.

  • VIỆTVANA Phở Noodle House – Currently serving Avondale Estates and Midtown Atlanta with two locations, VIỆTVANA Phở Noodle House, also known as VIỆTVANA, is a Vietnamese restaurant that specializes in authentic phở and bánh mì made with the freshest ingredients. Owned by husband-and-wife team Dinh Tran and Khanh Dang, VIỆTVANA’s rice noodles are made fresh in-house daily. Bubble teas and Vietnamese staples like phở, bánh mì, crispy egg rolls, fried rice, specialty soups and more round out the menu. VIỆTVANA’s recipes are created by Tran and his mother, Tina Nguyen, who often is found in the restaurants’ kitchens.

  • JJ’s Flower Shop – Owned by Founder and Florist Sarah Donjuan, JJ’s Flower Shop began in 2018 as a mobile flower business from a 1968 Volkswagen Bus. In 2019, JJ’s opened its first brick-and-mortar location inside Ponce City Market’s Central Food Hall. The shop offers thoughtfully designed seasonal and year-round floral arrangements plus fully customizable bouquets for every budget. JJ’s larger space in the expanded region of the market will allow for a broader assortment of florals and greenery in addition to more room for hosting its popular floral arranging workshops each month.

Additional businesses joining the Central Food Hall expansion will be announced once confirmed.

The White Bull

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 2/16/21

Our Foodie Unicorn

On a gray, cold, overcast day with freezing rain in the air, we headed to Decatur Square to enjoy a meal at one of Atlanta’s best restaurants, The White Bull. This is one of those places that you dream about as a foodie and a reviewer. You know we were counting the days to go and try Chef Pat Pascarella’s amazing creations and when that day arrived, we were blown away by so many dynamic plates. They have everything from the fantastic Cold Chicken Sandwich, the savory Poutine, fresh Half Chicken entrée, some earthy Burrata and Beets, smoky Smoked Trout, rich Brussel Sprouts, and some buttery Bread and Butter. It was worth the wait.  Alright, let’s not leave you in suspense; we’re ready to get down to the details.

With a diverse array of starter dishes and share plates, The White Bull has some spectacular bites. With all of them so good, it’s hard to pick a favorite, but probably the simple smoky smoked trout was the stand-out with a mellow fish spread with the perfect amount of smoke, charred bread, and tangy pickled onions. It was a ton of flavor, salty, savory, smoky, charred, and tangy. Also, we really enjoyed the Burrata and Beets with its naturally earthy and savory flavors with a hint of sweetness. We loved the addition of the anchovies for a natural salt and savory source to pair perfectly with the creamy cheese and roasted earthiness of the beets. Don’t let the anchovies scare you, they’re a great way to amp up the flavor without the sodium! From the sweet and tang of the sauce to the earthiness of the Brussel Sprouts, we loved these morsels! Plus, along with the creamy and sharp cheese paired with bacon bites for a dash of savory, these are some of the best sprouts in the city. John’s favorite starter was the Bread and Butter, a masterful piece of light and airy focaccia with melty butter and topped with piney rosemary. We found it was perfect for dipping in the main entrée, the Half Chicken or plain with some good, old fashioned butter. Warm and hearty.

Of the menu, the most brunchy of the entrees had to be the poutine. A heaping pile of crunchy, warm, and tender potatoes topped with wonderfully cooked beef brisket, then on the bottom, the savory and garlicky gravy with onions was the perfect combination. On top, mild and light cheese and the savor of the fried egg complete this amazing bowl. The best part is on the bottom, so get as much of the ingredients in the savory gravy and take one big bite. You’ll end up with a creamy, savory, crunchy, tangy, and rich bite. Plus, for the price, this is a TON of food, you’ll want to share!

On our road to The White Bull, we’ve had some great chicken, fantastic, phenomenal even, but one thing we remember about Chef Pat is that he has the absolute best chicken you can find in the city. We sampled it at a Polenta party back in early 2019, and it showed back up again in the Half Chicken dish. Fall off the bone tender and immaculately cooked chicken, skin on to lock in the juices, this dish is mind blowing good and you just can’t match the freshness.  Alone, this chicken is the star of the show, but you add the accoutrements of the sweet, hearty grits, savory garlic sauce, and charred broccolini and you’ve got THE flavor spectrum. Rich, savory, hearty, creamy, smoky, earthy, do we need to even go on? Pro tip, make sure to get the chicken off the bone and roll it around in the sauce, grits, cut off some broccolini and dig in. Put this on your must try list.

The waitress told us that her favorite menu item was the Cold Chicken Sandwich, and after her ooh and ahh-ing we were sold. It has to be good if she loves it that much? She was spot on, this practically perfect chicken sandwich in every way, has it all. The crisp of the fried chicken hits you on the front of the palate then the flavor changes and you get the creaminess of the mayo, the crunchy pickles, and the savory of the hearty bacon jam slathered on top. The flavor is so rich, deep, and complex that you don’t know what ingredient you like more. The combination of flavors is striking, and you will NOT be able to stop eating it! Needless to say, put this on your list too!

What’s a fantastic experience without an amazing cocktail? We got the Wollman Sour that was reminiscent of red wine up front but as you drink it sweetens as the egg white hits your palate and ends up being creamy and sweet. Rustic and earthy then sweet, so delicious.

At the end of our meal, the sleet was coming down pretty good outside, so we sat a while and watched another group order food for the table and talk about how good the food is, we concur! Everything is top-notch. What would you like to try?

Vin 25 in Roswell

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 2/8/21

In a quaint cottage just off the hustle and bustle of Canton’s food district in Roswell, Vin 25’s heated patio glows with firepits and the chatter of diners can be heard down Plum Street. We visited for Roswell Restaurant Weeks, but beyond that, this little slice of heaven is the perfect spot for an intimate date night, a glass of wine with your bestie, or just for a relaxing meal on the patio. Their stellar menu boasts large plates like succulent salmon to amazing charcuterie and fromage boards, unique wines like the Albarino Reserva from Uruguay, craft cocktails, and a whole slew of small plates. Just thinking about Vin 25 is making us hungry, let’s dig in.

Just because Vin 25 sells as a wine bar, doesn’t mean you can’t sip on a tasty cocktail. We sampled the La Rosa and it was a real treat from the mix of lemon, tequila, and sparkling rose. But what really makes this cocktail is that bit of spice from the prevalent amount of black pepper. It gives it just that little edge to elevate it from good to great. Now, being that Vin 25 IS a wine bar, we had to try something different, so we paired our salmon with the wine pairing recommended, the Barbera. A mild red wine out of Italy that is lighter bodied and more reminiscent of a pinot noir. Not too fruity, but not too bold, this one went so well with the earthiness of the foraged mushrooms and Brussel sprouts on the main course. We also were treated to the Albarino Reserva out of Uruguay, which is a white varietal that reminds us of in between a Vinho Verde and a Pinot Grigio. It was tart with a slight acidity but mellows out on the back of the pallet for a smooth finish. What a wonderful wine!

As we mentioned, we went for Roswell Restaurants Weeks and got the 3-course meal that included Winter Squash Toast, 60 South Salmon, and Buttermilk Cake. On top of that we got gigantic charcuterie and fromage board! The board consists of 5 rotating meats and cheeses that can range from Tomme, which was John’s favorite, to Red Dragon from Whales, which was Liz’s favorite. What’s Red Dragon? It’s an aged cheddar that contains grain mustard seeds. Delicious. On the meats, we sampled two types of salami, prosciutto, and more. Who knows what will end up on the board next time! Hope it has the honeycomb and the bacon jam, those were very welcome accoutrement to the meats and cheeses presented! One of the better meat and cheese boards around, if you ask us.

The first course for the 3-course meal was the Winter Squash Toast. This seasonal vegetable toast had so much flavor! Just imagine the creamy and sweet winter squash purée melts into the crunchy toast and as you bite you go from creamy and sweet to savory of the bacon, tart of the currant vinaigrette, to tang of the pickled onions. Did we mention this one was bursting with flavor? It’s so complex and really tasty! The second course was the 60 South Salmon.  This one is a beautiful plate and just as beautiful tasting. The English pea purée is creamy and a little earthy that pairs perfectly with the tender salmon. Sitting in the middle of the salmon, the brussel sprouts are cooked just right and mixed with foraged mushrooms. This rounds out the flavors of earthy, crispy, and a richness. Such a good dish, and a great portion! Must try. The third course was the Buttermilk Cake.  Not too sweet, not too rich, this moist and delicate cake has a warm and buttery caramel on top of a boozy Rumchatta cream. Those dynamic flavors are well balanced with the addition of strawberries for tartness and almonds and pecans for a crunch.

What’s better than good food is always good company, we enjoyed talking to Mac, the GM, and our waiter about all things wine and beer. They have an amazing staff, stellar menu, and top-notch drinks. We can’t wait to sit on their amazing patio when the weather gets warmer. We’ll have to get the Albarino Reserva again and try a new bite or two. What would you like to try?

Mac’s Chophouse: Brunch on the Square

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 2/1/21

On a beautiful sunny weekend in the middle of winter, staring out the big windows at Mac’s Chophouse is the best view of the beautiful Marietta Square. You’d never know gazing down there it was cold enough to wear a heavy wool coat, the warm sun shown into the dining room, feeling almost like summer. Beyond the beautiful second story views, Mac’s Chophouse has impeccable service and even better brunch dishes. Lazy Susan in the middle, we got a hodgepodge of brunch staples like the wonderful Chicken and Waffles, creamy Eggs Benedict, and the big “bring-your-appetite” Lazy Susan sampler. Then, we took a moment to sip on the Black Thai Affair and a mimosa to perfect the day. Let’s dig in.

Our wonderful waiter didn’t skip a beat in recommending a cocktail, he immediately pointed to the Black Thai Affair. This gem of a cocktail starts out with a slight booze and then finishes with a creamy, frothy, citrus bite. The best part of this cocktail has to be the peppercorn thai basil syrup that gave it a peppery nose that lingered into the sip and on the back of the throat. It was such a wonderful unique addition to jazz up the entire drink. Must Try.

Moving on to the food, we saw they had pork belly appetizer and just had to at least try it.  Perched a top a bed of perfectly crisped Brussel Sprouts, the belly was the right amount of fat and meat, plus well-seasoned. To top it off, a drizzle of barbecue sauce for a little bit of a tang. All together the earthiness and crisp of the sprouts paired well with the savory meat and the tart of the sauce. Get everything in one bite! Moving to our brunch items, we got the Eggs Benedict and opted for the ham, you could also get crab cakes. This duo was rich egg and tangy hollandaise resting on a crisp English muffin and hearty, thick and meaty ham. We’d recommend getting these with the cheese grits and mix them together. OMG, now that’s amazing.

Of everything we got, the chicken and waffles were almost too good to believe. Starting with the crisp and tender chicken topped with candied bacon, all sitting on a warm and fluffy waffle. Don’t forget to drizzle on a generous amount of maple syrup for the best possible bite. It has all the flavors from savory, crunchy, sweet, and rich. Beyond this amazing dish, the Lazy Susan Sampler was another bright spot, and something we’ve not seen on any other menu. It was a hodgepodge of delicious brunch items like a salmon bagel, creamy and cheesy grits, all the brunch meats you can imagine, a slice of dreamy crème brulee French Toast, a waffle, crispy potatoes, and scrambled eggs. It doesn’t get any more complete than this really as you get a good bit of everything on the menu. The favorites from the sampler had to be the amazing cheesy, tart, and creamy grits, along with the perfectly cooked and thick crème brulee French toast slathered in maple syrup, and the little salmon bagel.  Remember to bring your appetite, you’ll need it for this one.

As the waiter took the lazy susan away, we peered back out the window and watched people stroll through the Marietta Square, one couple hand-in-hand, a few young ladies giggling, and a biker stopped to check his watch. We agreed at that point, the food was just as good as the view. We can’t wait to try more at Mac’s Chophouse.

Zafron Restaurant Sandy Springs

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 12/13/20

From the moment you walk in and see the lavish and gorgeous garden room adorned with a chandelier and notice the dynamic food, Zafron Restaurant turns out to be a true Persian gem in Sandy Springs that has style. From dips and starters for every taste, an extensive wine list, to tender sea bass, and the fantastic and unique experience of the Rhubarb Lamb Shank, we sipped and tasted our way around the menu. We can’t wait to share our experience any longer, let’s dive in.

Dipping into the Starters, the Dolmeh Stuffed Cabbage and Zafron Special are both highly recommended one being savory and the other spicy. First, the Zafron Special has a ton of flavor with the crunch of the palm to the sweetness of the mango, paired with a very spicy chili. This one has a flavor journey from sweet to spicy all in one bite. Just wow! Then, the stuffed cabbage is the perfect balance of savory and earthy. The cabbage was so tender and easy to eat, then perfect pair with the stewed tomatoes and the meat in the middle. It ended up being savory, earthy, and rich with the stewed tomatoes. So good.

John’s favorite ended up being the Baked Goat Milk Feta Cheese and this one is a flavor explosion! Just imagine the creamy and milky feta topped with a pistachio compote that levels out the earthiness of the cheese with an injection of sweet. It’s a one-two punch of awesome. We found out you can ask for more or less pistachio compote depending on how sweet you want it. But we liked the way it was served. Pro tip for the appetizers: get the Zafron Special and the Baked Goat Milk Feta and MIX THEM together. The Zafron Special is very spicy, but the feta is very sweet so they go together like PB&J! They compliment each other so well and the feta cools the special a little for an all-around great bite. Thanks to our server for recommending it!

Whatever you do, get the Rhubarb Lamb Shank. It’s an exclusive experience you can only have at Zafron! When the lamb comes out, it is in a bowl with a pita laying on top. What the pita does is soak up all the flavor and keeps in the heat. When you’re ready to eat, you punch the pita down into the broth. Give it a few minutes so the bread can soak up the broth and spices, then enjoy. Beyond the grand experience, the lamb comes out perfectly tender, while the broth had a so many spices and flavors. With the pita added and the addition of the fava beans and rice, this concoction becomes a hearty meal once mixed together. So many great flavors and textures, it’s a must get. On the other side of the spectrum, the other entrée we got was the Chilean Sea Bass that was so very tender and fell apart off the skewer. The just right amount of seasoning on top, side of fluffy rice, and you have a light, tender, dynamic little dish.

Now that you’re starving, what would you want to try first?

McCray’s Tavern East Cobb

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/30/20

Just as the sun sets in the sky, the lights start to glow inside McCray’s Tavern East Cobb, while the hustle and bustle of the guests, bartenders, and staff picks up. The energy permeates the air and entices you to enjoy a light appetizer, try the latest chef’s special, and maybe a cocktail or two. We also have to admit, McCray’s Tavern is more eatery than the Tavern name suggests with dynamic and diverse dishes that Chef Mo continues to knock out of the park. Yes, McCray’s Tavern East Cobb may have traditional tavern fare like wings and burgers, but when you see the extensive menu and specials, all you know is you’re in for a treat. From feisty, spicy tuna tartare, delectable duck, divine butternut squash agnolotti, hearty pork chop, to the lemony East Meets West cocktail, McCray’s Tavern East Cobb turns tavern into culinary adventure. Who’s ready to eat?

While waiting for our food, we sipped on two frisky cocktails, the East Meets West and the Mayan Copa. East Meets West does a balancing act between the smooth gin, lemon, and tiki bitters. Light, lemony, and refreshing, this patio sipper, has so much flavor! This ended up being the favorite because it’s one of those drinks you could have a few of and really enjoy! The other cocktail was Mayan Copa. This margarita-like number takes it up a notch with a little bit of grapefruit and dark colored salt on the rim to give it some sass. It’s a beautiful cocktail with the dark salt contrasting the pink of the drink.

When the food arrived, we couldn’t wait to dive into our first course, which started with the spicy tuna tartare and ended with thai chili wings. This is not your regular tuna tartare, it’s a fun take on this dish with a perfect mixture of tender, spicy, tuna, plus ginger, lime, and garlic. Not too spicy and with a ton of flavor, it’s topped with a dreamy avocado mousse that gives it that right amount of creaminess. Don’t forget to eat it with the wonton chips, those give it that crunch. Our pro tip is to make sure to mix it all together well and eat with those chips. Flavor time! Something McCray’s does well are wings. From the crispiness of the skin, mighty meaty flats, and spicy, sweet thai chili glaze, we were definitely treated to a plate of goodness. No ranch or blue cheese required.

Something we didn’t expect was that amazing specials that McCray’s Tavern East Cobb offers daily! We sampled both the Tea-Brined Duck and the Pasta of the Day, Butternut Squash Agnolotti. Starting with the pasta, this to-die-for dish marries hearty, sweet pasta stuffed with creamy butternut squash with a phenomenal truffle vinegar and butter pecan glaze. With hints of lemon, butter, and the bite of hard cheese, it’s rich, cheesy, hearty, creamy, earthy, sweet, with the perfect amount of sauce. Are you hungry yet? We’re not done, either. Next, the Tea-Brined Duck started with a tender piece of meat with a little crisp on the skin. Paired with a delectable, slightly crunchy jasmine rice cake and a citrus-forward, orange miso glaze, this was a match made in heaven. The richness of the duck works so well with the orange of the glaze and the crunchiness of the rice and skin. We’re thinking just like pork and peaches is a winning combo, let’s add duck and orange to your dynamic duo list.

Finally, we couldn’t resist a crack at trying the Wood Grilled Pork Chop. Boy, we weren’t disappointed as the pork chop was just as tender and juicy as advertised. Simply seasoned and thick pork chop gives off a slightly charred flavor followed by a deep and rich pork flavor that is so basic, but is just one of the best flavors in the world. Must try. We got it with crunchy, earthy, and garlicy green beans that really brightened the dish! Yum.

Something we love about McCray’s Tavern East Cobb is the energy of the manager and how it permeates his team. His love for food, fine dining, seafood, and the customer experience really made this dinner special and not just for us, but for everyone that goes and eats there. Plus, we can’t wait to see what Chef Mo comes up with next, just watching their Instagram makes us hungry, and a little jealous. We’d love to try ALL of those amazing specials they show!

Atlanta Fish Market

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/11/20

In the heart of Buckhead, one place that has withstood the test of time is the classic seafood spot, Atlanta Fish Market. Greeted by a gigantic fish and a gaudy neon sign, they serve up seafood that’s so fresh that it’s flown in every day! Of the menu, this go-to spot has it all from captivating carpaccio, sassy sushi, killer cocktails, delicate sea bass and salmon, to even scrumptious dessert. It’s apparent Atlanta Fish Market corners the market on fresh fish. Drop an anchor and join us for a see-food extravaganza.

What’s a good meal without the cocktails that go with it? We sampled three that included The Bramble, Beachside, and Sidecar. Pinkish purple in hue, the Bramble is boozy, and sweet with the blackberry puree, make sure to mix it up because it balances between the two and you get a dynamic drink. The Beachside is an easy, breezy cocktail that reminds you of the “islands.” With hints of coconut rum and the slight tart of the grapefruit, you’ll go from sweet to tart throughout the entire sip. The one that ended up being our favorite was the Sidecar. It was mellow and balanced with the sweeter cognac and the booziness of the Gran Marnier. What we loved was that it was so clean with just a hint of lemon on the back. Which one would you want to try?

To get us started on food, they brought out the Yellowtail Carpaccio. The fish itself is marinated in olive oil and was so tender that it literally would melt-in-your mouth. Plus, it was perfectly seasoned then topped with shallots and onion that mixed together into a meaty and tart bite. Our pro tip is to add the fresh lemon squeeze for a little bit of brightness. All together we’d recommend skipping the bread and just eat it plain. It’s everything you’d imagine and more.

The addition of sushi at Atlanta Fish Market is a welcome sight because with the fresh fish would come the best sushi, right? Both rolls we tasted were simply dynamite! The first one was the Tiger Roll. Imagine the tender tuna, crunch of tempura, the creaminess of cream cheese, and a sweet and spicy of the sauce all rolled up in seaweed for everything sushi should taste like! Plus, we loved the addition of the asparagus because it brought a little extra crunch and earthiness, so it ended up being creamy, crunchy, earthy, and just plain GOOD. A must try. The second roll that knocked our socks off was the Volcano Roll. This spicy number was super colorful in both sight and taste! Starting with the crunchy cucumber intertwined with the mellow and spicy tuna and the creamy avocado, then the spicy comes in to punch your mouth. We mean that in a good way, too. The best bite is to choose the pieces with the avocado and fish together on the outside because you get more of the creamy flavor and it mellows some of the spice. This one has all the flavors and another must try.

Don’t get us started on how much we adored the Hong King Combo Chilean Sea Bass and Faroe Island Salmon Entree. This wonderful dish is a simple, fresh, and tender sea bass and salmon duo atop a moat of a fantastic sweet soy sauce and wilted spinach greens. We cannot express how perfectly fresh the fish turned out to be or how it literally fell apart in your mouth. Surrounded by sweet and rich soy forward sauce that’s perfectly balanced, not too salty, complimented the tenderness of the fish and the earthiness of the greens. Then, insert rice to soak up all the deliciousness of all the ingredients! Still dreaming of this plate.

The literal icing on the cake was the Mousse Cake. The light and airy chocolaty mousse combines well with the decadent and rich chocolate cake layers. We swear they must have some type of alcohol cooked into the layers it’s so rich and deep! Stop, do not remove the sugar crisp on the top, instead crunch it up and mix it in the cake and mousse because it elevates the cake with some crunch and bite. Every bite was calorie free, we’re sure! Worth it.

What we loved so much about Atlanta Fish Market is they have a little something for everyone; sushi for the sushi lover, entrees with the freshest fish, lobster and oysters for the shellfish lovers. What sounds the best to you?

Osha Thai Sushi Galleria Atlanta

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 10/26/20

On a corner in the south Buckhead, there’s a new Thai and sushi place that stimulates the senses, Osha Thai Sushi Galleria. The second you walk in, the bar illuminates the middle with vibrant purple hue, while to the right you walk into a beautifully adorned dining area filled with cozy cloth benches, warm wood tables, and a gorgeous mural in gold! Osha Thai Sushi Galleria doesn’t stop with the décor, their food is just as dynamic. From the Tokyo Tower to the Mona Lisa to some of the most unique cocktails and the grilled pork chop, everything you get will be sure to please. Let’s explore, shall we?

Whatever you do, start off with a cocktail or two from the fantastic cocktail menu at Osha Thai Sushi Galleria. We decided on two unique cocktails, the Butterfly Kiss and the Tiki Thai. The most unique experience of the two was the Butterfly Kiss.  With one of the best presentations you can find in Atlanta, it’s sporting a bright pink-purple hue and in a beautiful bird glass. Beyond the fun of the glass and presentation, don’t sleep on the taste, it’s a sassy, sweet gin cocktail with a one-two punch of floral aroma and a slight boozy kick. We could drink those all night and enjoy every sip. Plus, how cute that you get to drink out of the butt of a bird? It’s definitely a conversation piece. The waitress said you wouldn’t believe what people say about that, we can’t imagine. The Tiki Thai is also one we’d recommend you try! Being a connoisseur of all things tiki, we give our stamp of approval for this sweet, warm rum, and pineapple-forward little number. Then, after the sweet the pomegranate comes in with a tart that balances out the whole sip. Yum.

Of the Japanese appetizers, we had to try the Tokyo Tower and boy, that’s one terrific dish. Beautifully presented and flavorful, it starts off with the tuna and mango sweetness up front with a slightly spiciness of the delectable sauce on the back. While going from sweet to spicy, make sure to get as much crunchy cucumber in each bite because it makes it so balanced with so many dynamic textures! Our tip is to make sure to mix up all the ingredients well and get all of them in one bite. What a crowd-pleaser. We’ll take another!

With a large and stellar craft sushi roll and sashimi menu, we opted for the Mona Lisa. We’re so glad we did because this has to be one of the best sushi rolls we’ve had all year! Starting with the spiciness of the tuna, which was perfectly balanced between the meatiness and spice that brought the heat and built as you sampled. While spicy on the front, the wonderful mustardy-citrus sauce on top in tandem with the salmon outside calms that spice a little and adds a tart and meaty end. The best part is this roll is so good, no wasabi or soy sauce is needed to even make it any better! We wouldn’t want to cover up it’s beautiful smile. Pro tip: get your own roll, you won’t want to share.

From the Thai end of the menu, we opted for the grilled pork chop and the brussels sprouts. The sprouts were perfectly cooked with tender inside and crisp, charred outside. Topped with an apple-forward gastrique, there’s a balance of char, sweet, tart, and earthiness. In love with this! For our entrée, we sampled the grilled pork chop. This is a tender chop you don’t even need a knife to cut. Then, it’s laced with the fantastic house-made basil sauce. Creating a perfectly salty, sweet, spicy bite, the sauce works beautifully with the meatiness of the chop to the crunch of the peppers, which bring in a bit of brightness to the dish.

Have you ever wondered why Mona Lisa is such a mystery? You know what’s not a mystery? Osha Thai Sushi Galleria is a place to definitely visit for amazing sushi, fantastic cocktails, terrific Tokyo Tower and beautiful pork chop entrée. If you could try any of these, what would you get?