AUTHOR: ARTSY CHOW ROAMER

Top 6 New Picks

DINING AROUND ATLANTA

When I feel like I need a really good restaurant experience I hop in the car and head to the big city especially if I’m craving something ethnic. We don’t have much to choose from in the mountain community where I reside besides Mexican and Asian and while I love both I still like the thought of getting some other flavors into my taste bucket if ya know what I mean. So I asked some friends what some of their favorite places are of late and I’m sharing our top 6 picks with you in this post.

#1-THE IBERIAN PIG-SPANISH

I love the warm modern interior design of the place where you will want to go for the pig. Nothing beats it in all of it’s glorious forms especially in the creative tapas at The Iberian Pig; a fabulous Spanish spot with two locations in Buckhead and Decatur and another opening soon in Nashville, TN.

Start with the drinks which includes a very nice wine list with selections from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Argentina and Chile. They also offer a fair number of Tequilas and Mezcals in a range of prices from $9-28 a glass.

While you could pop in and pick up a Chef’s Choice Cheeseboard and a nice glass of Rioja, it is all about the meat, so get the more expensive choice and add the Charcuterie. Make sure you order the marinated Spanish Olives and Marcona Almonds-they work so well with the honey, jam and summer tomatoes they place around the cheeses.

Photos: Courtesy of The Iberian Pig

If dining for dinner there are several different paella meals you can order for the table whether 2, 4 or 6 in your party for a range of prices. You can also order Huevo con Trufa which is braised pork cheeks with poached eggs, black truffle pate and rustic bread.

I prefer to order a variety of tapas so I can try more things; they offer 14 different kinds ranging in price from $7-20. You could start with the crispy bacon wrapped dates with Manchego cheese, walnut and a romesco sauce. Gotta start with pig right?🤣🙋‍♀️

Then I would move on to the Ensalada de Manzana for some local greens, roasted apples, burrata and golden raisin vinaigrette. Next, it’s a real toss up between the Empanadas de Carne with braised short rib or the Iberico Fritters with bechamel and mojo picon. Pork cheek tacos and the pork meatballs are outstanding as well. Don’t miss this wonderful restaurant-drop in for small plates soon.

#2-KINJO ROOM-JAPANESE

Alex and Chris Kinjo brought MF Sushi to you in Midtown back some time ago. Their latest endeavor is Kinjo Room located on Howell Mill on the Westside in Atlanta. The room is small, dark and dramatic in design with movement from birds flying across the walls which contrasts wonderfully with the bright intense colors of signature cocktails and fresh sushi.

The intimacy of the 20-seat size makes it perfect for a girls night out party or date night for just two. Marketed as a casual sushi and Vietnamese eatery, this is where fresh fish meets lovely long platters decorated with unusual flowers, veggies and sauces.

The Kinjo’s have always employed the best Chef’s who know their stuff and while it will never be the least expensive Japanese restaurant in town, it will always be the best tasting with the freshest fish and local ingredients. The usual suspects are available on the sushi menu but there are also good choices in Apps, Bahn Mi, Noodle and Rice dishes.

#3-VAS KOUZINA-GREEK

With two locations in Roswell and Alpharetta, this is my British gal pal’s favorite hang out with her son. He often wants to take us or meet friends at either spot known for their roasted fish with the head on and a simple dressing of lemon, olive oil and fresh herbs. Vas Kouzina founder, Vasilios Liakakos, is providing a modern translation of authentic Greek foods.

Chef keeps it simple with a one page menu. The thing I love about Greek food is the selection of grilled vegetables, spicy spreads and cheeses that are available for first courses. You could make a meal out of just those with choices like spanakopita, dolmades and roasted cauliflower.

Mix it up with some spicy Kirokafteri red pepper and feta spread with pita points and a couple of dishes of flaming cheese called Saganaki and you just might be full enough to not need to order anything further! Should you skip the apps you can move right into a proper Souvlaki or Gyro served with a 7” pita bun done with a variety of different meats like traditional lamb with beef, chicken, shrimp or veggie.

If that’s not your thing, try the seafood like fresh fish of the day, calamari, mussels, shrimp and/or octopus offered in a variety of different types of dishes and preparations from grilled to fried. Moussaka and Pastitsio reside alongside lamb and pork medallions and many different kinds of salads including the traditional Greek. Save room for the Baklava. 😋

Photos: Courtesy of Vas Kouzina

#4-OSTERIA MATTONE-ITALIAN

Located in a trendy neighborhood on Canton Street in Roswell, Osteria Mattone is serving up some of the best authentic Roman food around. Whether you want a casual experience with pizza and wine at the bar or a more formal coursed meal in the dining room, you’ll enjoy the freshest ingredients and an award wining wine sommelier.

Share a nice salad with some small plates like Arancini or Polpette; braised meatballs in green and red sauces with melt in your mouth tender goodness and lots of cheese sprinkled across the top. The grilled artichoke hearts or zucchini soup are great choices for the vegetarians in your group.

You have to try a dish of the handmade pasta. I’m a fan of the Tagliolini Bolognese or the Agnolotti de Oxo which are small squares stuffed with braised short rib in luscious butter sauce. This is a life changing pasta experience-soft, textured and rich. You could also try some of their wonderful pizzas with light crispy crusts and toppings like caramelized onions, truffle cream, arugula and pecorino cheese.

Secondi dishes divide into two fish choices, a veal, a chicken and a skirt steak so everyone can find something they’ll love. Branzino is a particularly nice Mediterranean fish offered simply with a grill and a splash of olive oil, lemon and capers. And don’t even think of skipping dessert-try anything!

#5-BRASSICA-FRENCH

I normally don’t recommend restaurants in hotels as they are usually overpriced and not up to the same standards as free-standing restaurants but in this day of branding and top chef asks, I gotta put Brassica up there on my list. The restaurant is located within the Waldorf Astoria in Buckhead and is putting a smile on the faces of French foodies around the city.

I recommend your first visit be for a formal afternoon tea with the girls with seatings at 1:00 and 3:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a perfect way to spend the afternoon with your besties, your favorite tea and fancy little sandwiches. If that’s not your thing, you can drop into the bar for a quick glass of wine and snacks like boxcarr handmade cheese fondue for two, pimento cheese gougeres or foi gras torchon.

Heading out for dinner you say? Start with the sauteed frog legs in parsley cream; delicious and tender in the richest of buttery sauces. The brave can move on to veal sweetbreads in tomato confit with polenta fries and basil but I also love the Normandy Dover Sole in a creamy sauce (this is French at it’s best according to Julia Child) with a gold carolina rice pilaf or potato dauphine for two to share. It is totally worth the price tag asked of $120.

#6-RUMI’S KITCHEN-PERSIAN

With four locations it would be pretty hard to miss Rumi’s Kitchen for a fix on delicious fresh Persian cuisine. I first ate there at the Colony Square location but you can also grab a table at Avalon or in Sandy Springs and recently Washington DC has gotten into the Persian game.

Start with a fabulous falafel with torshi, pickled beets, hummus, toubbouli and tahini sauce. It is fried perfection in the midst of the most flavorful creamy hummus with a pour around of EVOO. The freshness of the herbs in the toubbouli offers delicious crunch and contrast.

Feast on any number of Kabob choices from beef and lamb to chicken or salmon. Most are basted in just the right match of a marinade, served with charred vegetables and different flavors of basmati rice. You can also chow down as a table on pomegranate glazed short ribs that are fork tender melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

The restaurant makes all kinds of delicious traditional breads on site to use with their different spreads and sauces. They make a great scoop for the lambs neck stew too. Be sure to ask for the torsi, chutney and yogurts as your sides to get the lovely contrasts of textures and flavors so necessary to the type of food.

CONCLUSION

So now you know my top 6 new picks for favorite spots to dine around Atlanta. Of course it is just my opinion and I know there are plenty more to choose from but this list will get you started for a long weekend visit to the city.

I hope you find this guide helpful if planning a trip to Atlanta in the near future. You might also enjoy reading other posts under Edible Fare and Explore the World you will find more blogs about my food and travel adventures.

Hey, don’t be a stranger! Let me know if you enjoyed this blog and if you have plans to visit Atlanta. Happy to answer any questions if I can! Until next time…

Cheers,

ArtsyChowRoamer

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