FoodieBuddha.com

Recently I had the opportunity to try out Two Urban Licks, a restaurant owned by the same folks that run One Midtown Kitchen and Trois.  Self described as ‘fiery American food,’ Two Urban Licks offers a diverse menu that changes daily, and offers hearty seasonal dishes with options that even fill up gluten-free bellies.

I went with a group of friends on a Friday night to Two Urban Licks and it was quite a happening place.  With high ceilings, live music, full tables, and the kitchen located in the center of the restaurant, surrounded by glass, there’s action everywhere.  Being that it was a weekend night, it was particularly loud and I was glad that our table was far away from the band.  (Does that make me old and lame?)

Continue reading…

Café Alice is one of those non-descript restaurants that exists in every strip center in every city around the country.  In this case, you’ll find this glorified sandwich shop in the Windy Hill Shopping Center off Cobb Pkwy.  It’s probably family owned (seemingly Asian in persuasion) and the idea of being “chef driven” is as foreign to the staff as nuclear physics is to me.  They aren’t trying to win any awards or garner the attention of foodies near and far.  No, it seems instead that this is one of those business run by people who want to do the best they can without any misconceptions or false hopes.  Mind you, that statement is entirely assumptive.

Continue reading…

                                                                                                  Photo by David Naugle via MU

A recent dining excursion took me to the ever bustling Miller Union, a Westside eatery that has become one of the “it places.”  MU is a restaurant that showed up on the scene roughly two-months ago and is currently in the middle of a love fest not uncommon around these parts.  Some heavy hitters love it and judging by the packed house we witnessed, so too do the lay folk.

Continue reading…

While we were sleeping, aka – over the weekend, chef Eli Kirshtein finally confirmed months of rumors.  Known outside the ATL for his recent appearance on Top Chef, he is best known around these parts as the chef at ENO (now “By Zaza”). 

Now, Kirshtein has moved on from his post with intentions to take on the Big Apple.  While in NYC, Kirshtein plans to work as a “guest chef” at Solo (website) under Hok Chin.  I’ve always been intrigued by Solo; it’s an Asian fusion restaurant that does things Kashrut style.  As shocking as that combo may sound, it’s probably not as strange as you’d think.  Like the joke goes …

According to the Jewish calendar, the year is 5770.
According to the Chinese calendar, the year is 4707.
This means that Jews went without Chinese food for 1,063 years.
This period was known as the Dark Ages.

Back on task, Kirshtein has stated that he’s not sure how long he’ll be gone.  However, he has every intention of returning to Atlanta so that he can open his own restaurant here.  Say what you will about his cooking, it’ll be interesting to see what happens when and if he does return.

UPDATE: It turns out that Chin is no longer the executive chef at Solo.  While restaurant will still serves kosher food, the cuisine is “American” based.  Also, Kirshtein will start his gig on the 16th of January.

[via Omnivore]

I’ve had a few watershed traffic days in my soon to be 12-months of blogging.  One of those days came from a little blurb about the devastating flood damage to Canoe, that effervescent contemporary American restaurant which sits on the banks of the not-so-mighty ‘Hooch.  While the restaurant may or may not be in your daily dialect, it is almost always mentioned as one of the elite Atlanta restaurants.  Further to the point, after roughly 14-years, Canoe has the longest legs in the notoriety department of any restaurant in the Vinings/Smyrna area.

Sure enough, there was a big outcry when word spread that the restaurant was forced to close because of ridiculously high waters (yes … that’s the absurdly high waterline).  If there was ever any doubt as to its status in the “pantheon” of the ATL dining-scape, the public support that followed, which was swift AND substantial, would quell most any doubts. 

Some two-months later, riding the hardworking backs of executive chef Carvel Grant Gould, special events manager Laurie Vance, and the rest of the team, Canoe is back.  The excitement was pronounced enough to draw John Kessler’s attention, he returned to wax-foodetic in his last post of the awesomeness that was 30 restaurants, 30 days series.  It’s a great read.  Though I didn’t check it out until post meal, I noticed some subtle differences in the mutual dishes.

Anywho, when Papa Buddha and I headed over there for lunch a few days ago, something happened to me.  I got all giddy like a school girl.  You should consider just how disturbing that statement is … remember, I’m a straight dude.  But back on point, regardless of the culinary experience that was immanent, I just got all warm and fuzzy inside.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the same would happen for most any “culinarian” with Canoe on their schedule.  That alone may make a trip there worthwhile.

Continue reading…

On a recent working weekend, after Adam and I were rejected by Busy Bee Cafe (they are closed on Saturdays), we were forced to look elsewhere for grub.  We volleyed back and forth until Adam suggested Paschal’s, a long-standing highbrow soul food joint.  It’s amazing to me how many times I’ve visited Castleberry Hills for a meal, only to drive right past Paschal’s.  Furthermore, it’s not a particularly good sign that when pressed to come up with a place to get my Suth’un fix in, Paschal’s almost never comes to mind.  This despite the fact that it is in close proximity to where I work/live.

Started as a motor hotel by a couple of brothers way back yonder, this Atlanta mainstay has gone the way of corporate America.  As my only previous visits to Paschal’s occurred around the time I just started to learn my two plus two’s, I cannot really speak to what once was.  What we have now, for better or worse, is the fine dining version of Mary Mac’s Tea Room.

Continue reading…

While I have no problem hopping in the car for a 45-minute drive to check out a restaurant, I can assure you that nothing about my recent trip to the Coo Coo’s Nest in Cumming was redeemable.  The massive, two-story complex reads like many in this category.  The interior is marked by high ceilings, open rooms, and a polished finish.  It’s extremely clean, and doesn’t seem like a bad place to catch a game.

That’s where the joy in this bubbly establishment seems to run out.  I only had a chance to sample a few things, so it’s possible something on the menu is palatable; but I doubt I’ll ever be back to find out.  The menu reads like that of any basic chain restaurant, and the food tastes even worse.

The baked potato soup showed up and you could immediately tell it was simply squeezed out of a bag.  Still, it was passable.  The chicken salad sandwich was not.  It seems as if they took some shredded chicken, added in an ounce of mayonnaise, and then dropped in about 3 quarts of sugar.  Overbearingly sweet, I was done in two bites.  I had a similar action to the deeply fried steak fries as I did the the tater soup.

As for service … well … it didn’t help that they were short staffed, leading to one of the most drawn out meals I have ever bared witness to.  Though I was in no rush due to the topic at hand with my lunch buddies, it’s pretty sad that it took them 90-minutes to deliver two soups, three entrées, and a check.  I’m sure things are better when the staff is all there, simply because it has to be.  I didn’t care to point out to our waiter that there were at least four hostesses on duty who should have been able to help stop the bleeding.

I know that food isn’t the most important thing, but come on … there is a limit.  Though I’m distinctly unfamiliar with the surrounding area inside of a two-mile radius, I would hope there is a better alternative in the close proximity.  If there isn’t, I’d keep driving until I found something else.  I’d rather eat out of a dumpster than put anything from Coo Coo’s back in my mouth.  Hey, at least they got a facebook page

Coo Coo’s Nest Restaurant Address & Information

1290 Freedom Parkway, Cumming, GA, 30041 // 678.456.8932 // Coo Coo’s Nest website // Coo Coo’s Nest menu // Coo Coo’s Nest facebook

Atlanta’s newest buzz restaurant said hello world early last week.  Miller Union, a freshly designed (by ai3) Westside restaurant, features ever trendy farm fresh food from Steven Satterfield, formerly of Watershed.  With the help of GM Neal McCarthy, by way of Sotto Sotto, and the assistance of mixologist Cara Laudino, the group is hoping that M+U becomes Atlanta’s next “it” restaurant.

Though their menus and vibe are extremely disparate, I could not help but draw some immediate connections between M+U and the nearby Abattoir.  First and foremost, just as Abattoir borrowed its name from the history of the building within which it resides, so too does Miller Union.  Next, the two both share an affinity for finely styled country decor.  Third, there is a particularly acute focus on freshly sourced ingredients.

While my introduction to M+U was not the runaway success that I had hoped, there are a number of reasons to smile after taking the time dine there.  A man date with Savory Exposure (website) turned anniversary trio, it seemed that all the members of “Team Buddha” walked away from our meal smiling and content.

Continue reading…

Hudson Grille is a high-end sports bar with three spots around the ATL.  As of this past week, they have added a 4th with their new venture in Midtown Atlanta.  Located in the former Artistry location, you’ll find them trying to be the Burger King to the McDonald’s that is Taco Mac.  That is, much like every fast food chain, they have moved in right on top of their competition.  HG Midtown sits directly across the street from Taco Mac’s Metropolis location.   There ya have it!

Hudson Grille Midtown Restaurant Address & Information
942 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 // Hudson Grille website // Hudson Grill menu (pdf) // Twitter // Facebook

  
(photo Courtesy of Steven Eubanks)

Got a very cool email yesterday.  Unfortunately, my throbbing head prevented me from putting together a coherent sentence, much less a full post.  Anyway, here’s the deal.  Playboy.com has a habit of putting together top lists, and Atlanta has a habit of showing up on them (Clermont Lounge anyone?).

This time around, they put together a Top 10 Diners List, and guess who made it? (The title didn’t give it away did it?).  That’s right … the Majestic Diner, a 24-hour drunken food haven on Ponce.  No word on whether or not P’boy took into account the new digs … which took the place from comfortably trashy to surprisingly clean.

Anywho, here is what America’s favorite … cough… Men’s Lifestyle Magazine had to say:

This Atlanta institution has been serving “food that pleases” under its Art Deco-style marquee’s blazing neon glow since 1929. The Majestic serves everything from cholesterol-threatening omelets and fist-thick burgers to blue plate specials and gyros. Red stools complement a red counter, while squeaky vinyl seats are well worn, providing cushy support for a multitude of derrières. The Majestic is located along a stretch of “Hot ‘Lanta” that’s resisted urban renewal, so the freaks do come out at night: college students, clubbers and other locals.

Be back with some more posts tomorrow, including the next installment of Inside The Chef’s Kitchen.

Majestic Diner Restaurant Address & Information

1031 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta, Georgia 30306 // 404.875.0273