Hot Dish Review

Any afternoon with sunny blue skies is a delight, but one at the end of January is particularly delicious. And it was Friday. A brief lunch escape from the office would do me and LC good.

We went to Mazzy’s down the street….a cavernous sports bar with more space than personality, and a staple of my coworkers. Dart boards and pool tables are ready to provide amusement to guys that have no chance of gettin’ laid.

It had been a super-stressful week, so an ice cold Miller Lite was in order. Mazzy’s menu didn’t hold any surprises. Appetizers like chips and queso, quesadillas, and chicken wings are expected at any sports bar, but ’90′s throwbacks like loaded potato skins and fried mozzarella sticks made me chuckle.

Sandwiches, burgers, and a short selection of entrees (items used to make sandwiches, served on a platter without the bun) make ordering pretty simple. I chose a turkey burger with jack cheese and fries. LC duplicated my order, except with cheddar.

Our burgers were gigantic and covered with melted cheese. We dressed our buns with mayo (served in to-go packets), and each took a big, juicy bite. Skin-on fries could have been crispier, but they did the trick nonetheless.

There was nothing to complain about at Mazzy’s, likewise nothing to rave about. I guess that’s the definition of suburban mediocrity.

7160 Jimmy Carter Blvd. 678-822-9888

That’s what’s on the door at Ormsby’s, the location chosen by L for her birthday celebration. The burly dude checking ID’s gave me a hard time about carrying in a bottle of champagne (L’s gift), as if we would drink it unchilled. What are we, heathens?

Decor is cozy at this neighborhood tavern, enhanced by lots of wood and dim lighting, but it was difficult to note details since the place was packed full of young patrons trying hard to look like they weren’t trying. LC was conspicuously absent as I joined our table for about 20 guests directly beneath the stairs near the bocce court.

My only prior visit was a late night accident with B, finding ourselves inebriated at the bar downstairs. I ate something but have no recollection, so I was excited to finally try their reinvented pub fare.

As we played musical chairs, chatting and catching up, our server ran her ass off delivering cocktails one at a time. I started with a Guinness draft. L ordered hummus and pimiento cheese fritters for the table as we perused the menu which includes a whole section devoted to wieners….gotta love wieners. The fried balls of melted cheddar didn’t impress me, but the hummus was a winner.

Entrees ran the gamut from a short rib (the priciest item at just $18) to shrimp and grits. I cannot believe L’s husband PC didn’t order it….it’s his MO. But instead, he ordered the bangers and mash, 2 big housemade brats with taters and green beans. He gave out samples to me and BH, his best friend (and one of my coworkers) seated next to me. I found it more fatty than flavorful, making me happy that I went with the chicken wrap, an odd dinner selection for me.

Although not a dish I would order, I was more impressed with BH’s fish ‘n’ chips. Flaky cod beneath crispy batter, a dash of vinegar, and a plate full of skin-on fries.

The birthday girl shared an order of chicken and dumplings with one of her pals. The very thought of dumplings makes me gag. Needless to say, I didn’t try it.

As for my wrap, it was full of roasted chicken, chunks of freshly cut avocado, crispy bacon, tomatoes and sprouts, each ingredient’s distinctive flavor coming together to make the perfect sandwich (which unfortunately didn’t photograph well). My side of sweet potato fries weren’t fries at all, but rather wedges. I would not have ordered them had I known, but my ignorance turned out to be bliss as they were sweet and spiced just right.

And what’s a birthday without cake? I ordered a round of chocolate cake shots at the end of the evening….delicious.

1170 Howell Mill Road 404-968-2033

LC and I made a dinner pit stop at the Yeah! Burger in my neighborhood after a meeting late one evening last week. I love the burger joint’s modern kitsch decor and chef Doty’s religious use of organic ingredients.

Having just received our horrific cholesterol test results, we both opted for turkey burgers rather than beef. Despite my health and fitness habits, I’ve managed to have the overall cholesterol of an obese 80 year old man.

Truth is, I make some pretty mean turkey burgers at home, so I was curious to see how chef Doty could inject flavor and keep them juicy at the same time. LC topped his burger with cheddar, mayo, lettuce, and grilled onions, while I didn’t stray far from my regular, with pepper jack, mayo, lettuce and grilled onions, both on wheat buns. We split an order of house made sweet potato fries and their almost-famous bacon jam.

Our burgers were enormous rough, hand-pattied monsters, full of grilled flavor. No dryness here, they were likely soaked in butter. So much for watching our cholesterol! The sweet potato fries were, not surprisingly, fried, so we didn’t win any points there either. Although I love sweet potatoes any way you slice ‘em, these fries were not very crispy, and therefore not very impressive.

Although it’s nearly impossible to spend less than $30 for two burgers, a side, and 2 beers, there’s no doubt that Yeah! Burger serves a tasty product that’s worth a few extra bucks.

1017 N. Highland Avenue 404-437-7845

I don’t get out much….out of the city, that is. But recently, LC and I had the pleasure of dining out with his cousin and his wife in their neck of the woods.

It’s not that I think restaurants in the suburbs are inferior, it’s simply a matter of convenience, or inconvenience. When there are an abundance of intown restaurants that fulfill my culinary cravings, why drive thirty miles? Especially when one might have a drink….or two.

Nevertheless, there we were, in Marietta, going to one of their neighborhood favorites, The Paper Mill Grill. The space was warm and inviting, with soft lighting and wood furnishings. Seated in a cozy booth, we started off with a round of various martinis, from peach to good old fashioned gin. We were particularly fond of the fish bowl placed on the shelf that separated us from the booth next door, but the colorful beta didn’t move….until we tapped the glass. He’s alive!

All of us were starving, so we ordered two flatbread appetizers and zucchini fries. The latter were especially greasy and didn’t warrant more than one bite. Of the two flatbreads, one was the special with smoked salmon, capers, and onions. Not so special. The other, however, was super delicious, topped with fig preserves, blue cheese, bacon and grapes. It’s a combination that could have been cloyingly sweet if poorly executed, but instead, was perfectly balanced.

LC’s cousin is as predictable as sunburns in Summer. He always, and I mean always, orders shrimp and grits if it is on the menu. He cleaned his plate. Despite having salmon on one of our appetizers, LC wanted more of the pink fish, this time grilled and served on a pool of creamed corn risotto. He too cleaned his plate.

Us chicks chose salads. L ordered the blackened grouper baby blue salad, an enourmous dinner portion of chopped veggies, strawberries, walnuts and blue cheese, with balsamic vinaigrette. I tried the warm spinach salad with grilled chicken breast, smoked bacon, avocado, chopped egg, and mushrooms with a warm apple bacon vinaigrette. All you have to say is bacon and avocado and I’m in….talk about predictable. Chewy bacon, fresh avocado, tender chicken and….(surprise!) blue cheese….yes, it was awesome.

No room for dessert other than the liquid variety. We sipped our last martinis while listening to the guy playing acoustic guitar in the bar area. Too bad Paper Mill Grill is in the burbs.

305 Village Parkway NE 678-766-1500

LC and I were determined to make the best of our beach vacation, despite the lingering tropical storm. While looking at a map of the nearby attractions, he stumbled upon a racetrack in Ebro. Not exactly Churchill Downs, it was a greyhound track. But the place is full of TV’s showing all the horse races throughout the country and patrons are there for one reason….to bet.

Food is not the focus here, but gamblers gotta eat! An abbreviated menu of standard bar fare was enough to keep ‘em alive so they could place their bets.

No stranger to horse racing, LC was practically giddy. Ironically, the birthday card I gave him had lucky numbers inside. We played them on some races and did quite well. But he missed the big money when he failed to bet on a longshot….one of the lucky numbers.

We didn’t let the dogs chase the bunny for nothing, but dogs are much harder to predict than horses. So we drank a few Miller Lites and studied the racing forms. With five tracks running all day, as soon as we bet on a race, another was set to go off minutes later. Non-stop action!

After a couple of hours of betting, it was time to get some lunch. LC ordered a chicken sandwich on a croissant, while I played it safe with a bacon cheeseburger. Both of us substituted potato chips with fries.

His came out in about ten minutes. Mine came out thirty minutes later….no joke. I was not impressed with LC’s sandwich, however, my burger was fatty, juicy goodness. Unfortunately, they use crinkle fries which I despise….they always have a mealy texture on the inside.

The following day we awoke to more rain, the wind creating a mini-tornado in the courtyard between the condo buildings. Another stormy day, another day at the track.

There was no live doggie action, but a couple of horse tracks kept LC happy while I perused the menu again for the least offensive item. I chose the hot wings, sauce on the side. Eight fat and crispy wings arrived, fried with expert skill. The wing sauce was thin and hot as hell. My mouth was on fire, cooled off with celery dipped in blue cheese dressing and a gulp of Blue Moon.

LC is a wing fanatic so I was shocked that he didn’t rave about these. I thought they were just about the best I had ever eaten.

And that’s why I ordered them again the following day. Sad but true.

6558 Dog Track Road, Ebro, FL 850-234-3943

This is my Summer for roadtrips. From Orlando to Louisville to Pigeon Forge, we’ve put some serious miles on the Hotdishmobile, making several interesting stops along the way. One such stop was in Knoxville, driving back from Dollywood.

LC had lived there briefly and was familiar with the city, especially the area around the University of Tennessee, who’s campus is near the river. Although he had not been there in years, he still recalled a great restaurant along the boardwalk called Calhoun’s, so we exited the highway and made our way toward the water.

Finding the restaurant on the Tennessee River only took about 15 minutes. We made our way to the spacious patio and ordered margaritas made with fresh lime (no sour), and a few appetizers to share. Time was tight since we had to get back on the road to Atlanta. Luckily, service was swift so we had a smorgasbord of snacks lickity split. And I do mean lickity. Calhoun’s specialty is ribs, so LC ordered their hickory smoked “ribatizer” with crispy fries, all finger-lickin’ good.

Our weird combo also included a skewer of decent char-grilled shrimp, a gooey side of mac ‘n’ cheese, a rich dish called spinach Maria, and a bowl of Calhoun’s signature white chili made with chicken, white beans, cilantro, and topped with crispy tortilla strips. The chili was good but I would have loved it if it had some heat.

We cleaned our plates and hit the road for a few more hours of driving bliss.

400 Neyland Drive, Knoxville 865-673-3355

Last weekend was little T’s last in town before going back to school in Texas, so a herd of us went to Zoo Atlanta for some good, smelly fun.

It was lunchtime and some of our group had already eaten while the rest of us were at the mercy of what the zoo had to offer. You can’t expect much from any theme park when it comes to food. There are always burgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers, pizza, and quite often turkey legs.

Unfortunately, Zoo Atlanta doesn’t have turkey legs, unless you’re counting the ones walking around in their habitats. The choices were meager, at best. LC popped into a tiny to-go place, getting a droopy, greasy slice of pepperoni pizza. I was hungry, but not enough to take the bite he offered.

I waited. After the reptile house, the gorillas, and the pandas, we finally found a free-standing cafe. We were ecstatic, mainly because it offered a break from the ridiculous humidity outside.

Most of us chose the cheeseburger basket, while LC got another slice of pepperoni pizza, with pickles of course. Although not pretty, once decorated with lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles from the toppings bar, and slathered with mayo, my cheeseburger was actually pretty good, served with relatively crispy shoestring fries.

Meanwhile, the animals that live at the zoo are thriving on gourmet cuisine prepared behind the scenes specifically for their species. And that’s a good thing. I don’t think those hairy orangutans would be too pleased if they were served that pizza.

Now I know why they say “don’t feed the animals!”

Can’t wait to get to the ballpark!
Although I adore greasy cheeseburgers and institution-grade pizza, I just can’t bring myself to go to a baseball game without eating a hot dog, its casing filled with mysterious meat, frightening yet somehow delicious.

Last night, before the Braves got completely clobbered by the Phillies, LC and I stood in an excrutiatingly long line to get our weiner fix. Luckily we had stopped by the 755 Club for beers to keep us occupied.

Rather than the standard foot long I opted for a bratwurst with sauteed onions. LC got the foot long with cheese and sauteed onions. It was a sloppy mess. My brat was pretty good with the addition of bright yellow mustard. An order of fries complimented our trashy dinner (check out the gaudy packaging!) that we scarfed down at a table near the concessions, watching the game on one of the thousands of TV’s mounted on every surface. Another Miller Lite, and another, washed it all down.

The fries at Turner Field are disappointing. I wish they were shoestring but they are cut a bit too thick. Even more disconcerting, however, is the ketchup. I don’t know how it’s possible to fuck up ketchup, but somehow they have managed to purchase the worst tasting product. Surely delivered in vats, the stuff has a weird sweetness, kinda disgusting.

As the season draws to a riveting close, I’ll be back at the ballpark this afternoon. Today I will most likely get the old reliable foot long simply dressed with raw onions and mustard. And maybe some hot boiled peanuts if I’m in the mood for a sodium-induced coma.

It’s do or die for our Braves. Will there be cause to cheer or will there be a tear in my beer?

After months of driving by the Yeah! Burger on the corner of N. Highland and Virginia on my way to some other restaurant, I finally had the chance to dine there with LC and his daughter TC, who we had just picked up at the airport.

I love the fresh retro-modern decor. Guests order at the register then take a seat and wait for their drinks and burgers to be delivered. Only problem with this system is Yeah! Burger ain’t no McDonald’s. There are thousands of sandwich combinations and a multitude of sauces, sides, and extras so you may end up behind some dude that didn’t look at the menu before getting to the cashier.

Unlike a fast food joint, Yeah! Burger serves alcohol. Great, except their selection is weirdly bad. I ordered an organic Bison IPA to go with my organic grass-fed bison burger, on a wheat bun with with pepper jack, lettuce, grilled onions, avocado, mayo, and bacon jam.

LC decided on a grass-fed beef patty on a whole wheat bun with cheddar, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, and jalapenos and a PBR draft. We split a side of fifty-fifty….half buttermilk battered onion rings and half hand-cut fries. As soon as I saw fried pickles on the menu, I knew he would order those too.

The little chick wasn’t hungry, just nibbling on fries and pickles while we scarfed down our burger. I only ate half my bun and was pleasantly surprised to discover my burger was cooked medium, not well. When Doty opened the first location, all burgers were cooked through. Now the menu says they are cooked medium, and well-done on request. Rare is not an option. LC’s burger was well done, although he didn’t specify.

My burger wasn’t as good as I remembered. It was difficult to distinguish the meat from the bun. It was all brown. Maybe the bun was too soft. My toppings lacked flavor, except the amazing bacon jam. LC only got two slices of jalapeno and they, too, didn’t have much kick, so he requested more, which were much spicier. Our sides were a little on the greasy side, but hell, they were all fried.

In addition to burgers, Yeah! Burger also offers hot dogs, salads, kiddie meals, and milkshakes made with High Road Craft Ice Cream, a local specialty ice cream company that recently opened their production facility on a limited basis to the public. A visit is on my to-do list!

At around ten bucks a burger plus two sides and two beers, our total was $35. Despite the price and the minor glitches, I really appreciate having this healthier alternative in Atlanta and consider Yeah! Burger one of the best!

1017 N. Highland Ave. 404-437-7845

At the last regular season Falcons game, LC had tickets for the suite. Nice, except we share with folks from other companies and therefore, no one orders food or drinks.

Rather than go down (and back up) two flights of stairs over and over, I ordered a six pack of Miller Lite to be delivered to the suite. With tax and the delivery charge plus a small tip it was $40. No joke.

After drinking a few of my high-dollar beers, we headed downstairs for a bite to eat. I was craving a burger, as I often do, so we got in line for cheeseburgers. They were already cooked so there was no choice on temp. Servers behind the counter added toppings per order….the usual suspects, lettuce, tomato, onions. Condiments could be added at the “condiment island” that serves all of the restaurants in the lobby of The Dome.

Our burgers were extra-thick with two slices of melted American cheese. They were good and juicy despite being well-done. I discarded the top of my bun and slathered mayo on the bottom. Better than average.

We got one big order of fries to share. They were fried twice for extra crispness. Again, better than average.

Back in the suite we finished off the six pack and watched the Falcons clench home field advantage for the playoffs!

GO FALCONS!