Weekend in ATL
A group of us from Boston and Providence spent the long weekend in Atlanta. With such a large group I didn't do any research ahead of time on CHOW, but allowed our friend from ATL to guide me through the weekend. All in all it turned out quite well.
Friday night: Went to Stats Sports Bar. We started off with an order of the Nacho's for a few of us, this honestly could have fed the entire table because the serving was absolutely huge, pretty tasty as well. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and it was solid, good tasting bbq sauce as well. The group was too large to sit at one of the tables with the Taps, but I thought that was a pretty cool concept.
Saturday morning for breakfast we went to Goldberg's. I ordered the NY Stack Tongue on Rye with a side of fruit. The sandwich was very good, the tongue was sliced well and the bread was fresh. I lived in NYC for a while and this was a solid representation of a NYC deli sandwich.
Saturday dinner: The Room at Twelve Centennial Park. We showed up a little early because my friend said that we should try to have a could pre dinner cocktails at the bar. I ordered my favorite cocktail which is an old fashioned. The bartender suggested that they make an excellent blood orange old fashioned and I should give it a try, well I am very happy I did! I am very serious about the way my cocktails are mixed and where I live (Boston) has an excellent cocktail scene.....with that being said this was one of the best versions of an old fashioned I have had, the bartender was very knowledge about classic cocktails and I would recommend the bar to anyone who is in ATL.
Now onto dinner. First of all the restaurant is designed very nicely, very cool space. Our group ate in one of the private dining areas which was also nice. I ordered the 7oz Strip Loin with a side of the Mac and Cheese with Herb breadcrumbs. The mac and cheese was excellent, the cheese was sharp and delicious and the macaroni soft and cooked well. I was very disappointed with my steak though. I ordered it medium rare and it came out medium well in my opinion. It was very dry and the overcooking really took away all the juice and flavor. My wife order the Gnocchi which was very good from what I tried.
Sunday Brunch: Canoe. This was the highlight of the weekend, what a great restaurant. As you all know the location is great with the restaurant set right on the ravine, the area in the back was beautiful. The food matched the setting as well. We started out with the scones, they were perfectly flaky and moist and the Jam and butter Combinations they were served with where great. I had a sweet tooth that day so I ordered the Brioche French Toast. This was prepared to perfection, the bread was excellent, the marsacpone cheese was a perfect balance for the syrup and the almonds gave the dish a nice saltiness and crunch. My wife ordered "The Riverside" which was applewood bacon, scrambled eggs and french toast. From what I tasted it was also executed well. Compliments to the Chef, i will definitely be back.
Sunday night we went to Cafe Intermezzo for Desert and cocktails. Very nice setting. I unfortunately did not have any desert because of eating too many sweets from brunch, but the pour of Absinthe was generous and the shrimp cocktail was solid. Everyone else seemed to think the desserts were done well though.
Finally Monday afternoon on our way to the airport we stopped off at Glady's and Ron's Chicken and Waffles. Now I grew up part of my life in the south (Florida) and even though I have found a few good soul food places in Boston, it is still not a substitute for the options you have below the mason-Dixon so I needed a fix. I ordered the 3 pieces of dark meat fried chicken, Mac and Cheese, Yam's and the original waffle. The Yam's where prepared very well, not too sweet and moist. The mac and cheese was solid as well. The cornbread was also moist and great. Now onto what matters the Chicken and Waffles. The waffle was solid, no complaints here, but the headliner was the Fried Chicken! Light, crispy and not greasy at all, the dark meat was seasoned perfectly, I was stuffed but could not stop eating until it was all gone! I long for fried chicken up here like that.
So as you can tell we all had a great time in the ATL, very fun city and a great and maturing food scene to match.
