Hot Dish Review

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!

Me and the Bunny have stopped at Krystal’s for cheeseburgers on the drive home from Florida the past two years and were planning on it again this year when I saw the Steak ‘n’ Shake sign. Curiously, I had never eaten at a Steak ‘n’ Shake. But after several hours of stop and go traffic on I-75 both of us were ready for a break.

I considered going to Wendy’s. I love their single with cheese. Yet I was compelled to try something new so I ordered the exact same burger, with lettuce, onion, and mayo, at Steak ‘n’ Shake to compare.

My first reaction was that the sandwich appeared to be smaller than a Wendy’s single. Wendy’s uses better lettuce, and more of it, plus their beef patty is more substantial. The steak burger did have a good flavor, much like Wendy’s. I liked the shoestring fries, but they didn’t beat McDonald’s for flavor and crunch. Wendy’s comes in second in the fries department.

Checking out the websites to compare nutritional information, I discovered that Steak ‘n’ Shake’s single steak burger with cheese has fewer calories (which explains the smaller appearance), just 330 (probably 370 with mayo), compared to Wendy’s single with cheese at around 520. I say around 520 because Wendy’s website, despite its user-friendly appearance, is a frustrating mindf*ck. It offers the option to personalize your sandwich for specific calorie and nutritional information, but the widget doesn’t work properly. After six attempts, I gave up. I thought my outdated work PC may be to blame for the website issues, however, I encountered the same problems at home.

I did manage to get the scoop on Wendy’s fries, the small serving containing a whopping 320 calories….ouch! Steak ‘n’ Shake’s small fries came in at 240 for a meal total of 610 calories. Not horrible. Plus, their website was easy to navigate.

Altogether, not a bad burger experience, but I would give the edge to Wendy’s for overall taste. The Bunny really enjoyed her bites of meat, eaten off the receipt (see photo evidence). But these days, with all the awesome gourmet burger joints like YEAH! Burger, Flip, and Farmburger, it’s getting mighty hard to eat fast food.

The last time I ate at a Ted’s, I was sitting with Ted. It was only the chain’s third location, in Norcross, and I was there for the media dinner. He and his business partner, George McKerrow, were doing interviews. So there we were, the three of us in a booth with a big bison steak on the table. Surreal. Later, Ted described this new venture by saying “We’re like a juggernaut….nobody can stop us now!” Man, he was hot. But who the hell says juggernaut?

Fast forward to Friday night. B wanted to grab a bite to eat downtown before the Black Crowe’s show at the Tabernacle so we stopped in at Ted’s. It was packed. We got lucky and found one bar stool, basically in front of the kitchen. The guy next to us gave his seat to B upon his departure.

We quickly ordered two Coronas with lime and salted glasses. Having checked out the menu online earlier in the day, we didn’t need to consult a menu to place our order. B trusted my judgment so we decided to split a “green and hot” bison burger, the “green” being guacamole, and the “hot” sliced jalapenos. Monterey Jack was melted over our thick burger that was cooked through, although I had requested it medium. Shredded lettuce, pickles, and a slice of tomato came on the side, along with crispy skin-on fries. The burger was seriously juicy, but the guacamole could use some work. It was more like cubes of avocado. I did appreciate that the jalapenos were fresh, not pickled.

B ordered a small Caeser salad on the side. Seated next to the bowls of hot fries and onion rings at the pass, we coerced one of the line cooks to snag a couple of the big fat onion rings for us to snack on.

In our haste I forgot to photograph our food. But I did manage to get some shots of their popular sliders and steaks as they were coming up. Now that Winter is upon us I hope to visit Ted’s to warm up with a bowl of the bison chili soon (like within the year).

Some years have passed and those three Georgia locations have grown to forty-seven in sixteen states. Seems Ted’s prediction has come true. The old boy’s still got it.

133 Luckie Street NW 404-521-9796

Zebulon and Jeremiah….almost sounds biblical, right? Well, they’re not exactly choir boys at the Baptist church, these dudes cook up one of the meanest menus in town at Livingston.

Following Gary Mennie’s recent departure, his sous chef Zeb Stevenson was promoted to Executive Chef. B and I are big fans of Zeb so we were excited to hear the news! With Fall upon us, we were invited to a media dinner where he debuted his new menu featuring the seasons best vegetables and fruits like Brussels sprouts and apples from Ellijay. Jeremiah, by the way, is the new sous.

Is it fair to do a review based upon one dinner, and a complimentary one at that? Sure, what the hell. Zeb served the table of a dozen or so food writers a selection of appetizers and salads, family style, so we all had the opportunity to sample a bit of everything.

Well-known foodie, writer, and television personality Carolyn O’Neil was among the guests and quipped about the blurry black and white photomural behind the adjacent booth. (Yes, it was intentionally blurry!) Later, one of the diners at my table remarked that Kwanza Hall was seated there. Me? Namedropping? Never.

The space is very dramatic in a rich, luxurious way, fitting for the renovated Georgian Terrace Hotel where it is located.

Our server, Wyatt, started us off with a little bubbly, then brought out an amuse bouche of tuna crudo topped with pistachio and candied mustard paired with a sliver of yellow beet with a champagne-vanilla vinaigrette…..an interesting nibble. The bread service was excellent, with an assortment of breads including the crispy sourdough roll I devoured, slavered in softened sweet cream butter.

An array of appetizers began to arrive….salads, crab cakes, bratwurst. Zeb came by to talk about the dishes. He pointed out that the crab cakes were more crab than cake. They were served on waffle potato chips and gone in a flash! I tried a taste of the sauvignon blanc that was pouring as well as a full glass of the red….can’t remember what varietal but I do know it was a 2008. CO’s friend M had inquired.

A simple spinach salad was dressed up with a smoky and sweet cippolini and candied bacon vinaigrette and topped with chunks of gorgonzola. Don’t let anyone tell you bacon is out of fashion, honey. Even better, however, was the smoked trout and apple salad. Like the Waldorf salad’s stylish cousin, this dish was a favorite of the table. I scraped the last bit out of the bowl to eat along with a slice of chicken bratwurst. Zeb makes the bratwurst in-house and serves it on a bed of shredded Brussels sprouts. Very German flavors, I was lovin’ it.

Then came my bodacious lobster. I probably should have prefaced that with the statement that our table was given the full menu of entrees, eleven in all, from which to choose. (Then back to family style for dessert.)

Back to the butter poached lobster. Once again Zeb was there to explain the intricacies of poaching a lobster in butter and water….a precise science and well worth the effort. It was supposed to be served with chive gnocchi and garlic broth. When Wyatt detected my lukewarm attitude towards the potato dumplings, he suggested a substitution (gasp!) of the truffle mac ‘n’ cheese. Yessir!

I was hoping the mac would be baked, served in its own little ramekin but it was beneath the lobster instead. Can’t complain about creamy, truffley goodness and buttery tender lobster.

After much debate B decided upon the grilled skirt steak with hand cut fries and smoked hollandaise. She commented that the tender steak really flipped her skirt and we all laughed. Zeb’s hollandaise was made with cold-smoked butter. Mad scientist! Rather than being heavy and rich, the sauce was lightly whipped. I found myself dipping bites of lobster in it, as well as stealing her skin-on fries.

Across from me KL had the juicy filet mignon with creamed spinach, and M had the lamb chop. I tasted his spaetzle, forgetting that it was flavored with mint. Although herbaciously green, I didn’t detect mint specifically. Creative side. Four or five of us ordered the lobster. I would have had a hard time choosing between the two smoked meats, duck and pork, had I not been enthralled by the lobster.

Each week Livingston hosts Millionaire Mondays, offering a three course dinner with a choice of lobster or filet mignon for only $16. And there is a nightly theatre menu with four entree selections, that includes a glass of wine, for just $29.

A platter of flourless chocolate tart, a chocolate mousse, and espresso ice cream was presented, complimented by another glass of red wine. Beignets with coconut dipping sauce were crispy and irresistible.

We bid our acquaintances farewell and made our way to the bar, having a chat and a smoke with the two chefs, across from the fabulous Fox Theatre, it’s grandeur and history intertwined in Atlanta’s story. And I thought how grand it was all of us making new history here. Makin’ it happen.

659 Peachtree Street NE 404-897-5000

If you find yourself travelling up (or down) GA 400 and you get the hankerin’ for a burger, stop in at Red Robin in Cumming, a chain that originated in Washington in the 1940′s, recently opening several stores in Georgia suburbs.

After our trip to Oktoberfest in Helen a few weeks ago, me, LC and his family stopped in for dinner on our way back to Atlanta.

I love a good cheeseburger. Lately I’ve become quite fond of the grassfed organic variety at YEAH! Burger. And Wendy’s single with cheese, mayo, lettuce, and onion will always have a place in my heart. Red Robin is all about burgers, in fact “Gourmet Burgers” is their tagline.

The four of us grabbed a table, drooling over the mouthwatering menu of fancy burgers. With creations like the Burnin’ Love Burger topped with pepper jack, salsa, and crispy fried jalapenos, it was a difficult decision.

After some debate, LC and I decided to split the Guacamole Bacon Burger, a juicy beef patty layered with melted pepper jack (substituted for Swiss which makes no sense on this burger), lettuce, tomatoes, onions, mayo, and of course, guacamole and chewy bacon. If you’ve ever heard a Red Robin commercial, the jingle simply says “Red Robin….yuuuummmm”. Now I see (and taste) why! I like the way they wrap them in paper, the steam making the cheese all gooey and the bun soft. It really was a great burger, although I would prefer organic grassfed beef.

Along with burgers we shared an order of fried appetizers/sides….fried jalapeno slices, onion rings, and French fries. I could have done without the whole lot. The fries were cut too thick and not crispy enough, and the onion rings were extremely greasy as were the jalapenos. A Miller Lite washed down the grease and cooled the burn from the peppers, which were actually nice and spicy.

Although Red Robin has that appeals-to-everyone chain atmosphere, it was certainly several notches above fast food.

There are also salads, wraps, and entrees on the menu but why stray from the house specialty when they are so darn delicious? Stick with a burger and you’ll say “yuuuummmmm” too.

370 Peachtree Parkway 770-781-0200

Remember back when the W Midtown first opened? The downstairs bar called The Living Room, with its patio overlooking 14th street, was the place to be seen. Everyone who was anyone made an appearance. But like so many venues in Atlanta, they go from hot to ice cold in a matter of minutes.

Fast forward a couple of years. After the Eagles concert last Friday, LC and I took a cab back to the W, the scene of the VIP pre-party earlier that evening. With reports of a line to get out of the parking deck, we decided to wait it out at the bar.

I was surprised to see the place packed, the patio full of people just chillin’. It wasn’t local trendsetters, but rather a mix of hotel guests and concert goers.

The specialty drinks were as creative, and pricey, as ever. I decided to try a grapefruit basil martini, despite my firm belief that real martinis can only be made with gin and putting any liquer into a martini glass does not make it a martini. It was an interesting cocktail, slightly sour, and decidedly herbaceous. I had two.

While sipping cocktails we debated whether to go to Krystal or get a midnight snack at the bar. I’m not sure of the hour but Spice Market had closed. Bar snacks at The Living Room are served until 1:30am, some of them small plates on the menu upstairs.

We decided to keep it simple and stay put, ordering their sliders with fries and black pepper shrimp served on a slab of pineapple. I remember the latter from a meal at Spice Market. The menu calls it sundried pineapple but it didn’t appear dried to me on either occasion. Nonetheless, the shrimp were pretty tasty, bathed in (what looks and tastes like) black bean sauce.

It is quite possible that the sliders were advertised as Kobe beef. I’m not sure but I do know they were $14 and there were only two. They were very cute to look at, but to eat? Not so cute. I believe the menu said they were topped with melted gouda and caramelized onions.

I took a bite of one of the little burgers. It was dry as the Sahara and neither of us could detect any cheese. I showed our bartender/server the cheeseless slider, with its smattering of cooked onions. Upon closer inspection, LC and I were astonished to discover the pitiful excuse for cheese after all….a once inch square (no exaggeration) so thin it was clear! The buns were equally dry, made edible only after a thick layer of mayo was applied.

Fries were very good indeed. But for the total cost of over $60, I think we would have faired better at Krystal!

Talk about taking advantage of a situation. The Holiday Inn on Capital Avenue, which is walking distance from Turner Field, rakes ‘em in after Braves games.

Saturday’s mid-day matchup with the Phillies proved to be another dissappointment as the Braves continue their quest for the play-offs. Me and LC walked the full mile to the car only to find it gone. Towed.

The Holiday Inn was across the street so we thought we could walk over and catch a cab and deal with the vehicle situation in the morning. Great idea, except there were no cabs. I called my personal cabbie, K, who said it would be about 45 minutes, so we settled into a table at their nameless restaurant for a drink and a snack from their special menu designed for Braves fans.

It seemed so much later than 7:30. The place, with a dismal decor straight out of the ’80′s, was full of sullen Braves fans drowning their sorrows with big plates of fried chicken and mashed taters from the buffet. It was a sad scene. We ordered a couple of beers and a plate of hot wings from our server who had the personality of a dish rag.

Eight big wings and drumettes arrived with decent fries and three meager sticks of celery. Why are restaurants so stingy with celery lately? A small plastic to-go container held a serving of blue cheese dressing for dipping. Not bad as far as wings go.

Aside from their special Braves menu, the restaurant offers a dinner buffet. I don’t know if this is standard procedure or only on weekends or game nights. There was a salad only option and the other included entree items like the fried chicken I mentioned earlier.

I would hate to think that out-of-town visitors stay at this motel and eat at this restaurant and that is how they remember Atlanta….a cheap motel, a cheesy, nondescript restaurant. I didn’t even know shit like this existed in the city limits! Then again, from the looks of the diners they probably thought it was pretty classy.

Following my inaugural Widespread weekend with B, we were coerced into brunch at Hobnob (will post when I receive the photos) after arriving back into Atlanta from the remote state of Cumming.

A shower washed off the makeup and the mud, but instead of tucking into my ridiculously comfortable and enormous bed, I ended up hopping in the car with LC and T to check out some football at Taco Mac. We chose (OK….I chose) the Metropolis location due to its proximity to T’s hotel, the Palomar. Known for their huge selection of specialty beers and wings, the space is big enough to comfortably seat 5 or 6 NFL teams with flat screens in every direction. I’ve tried their “death wings” in the past which are, needless to say, deadly hot.

The fried green tomato benedict called the “hangover helper” at Hobnob, plus the three mimosas, had perked me up quite nicely. Now at Taco Mac, I was craving onion rings. The three of us ordered the NEW! queso poblano, a bowl of melted white cheese with ground beef, poblanos, jalapenos, and cilantro in the center, served with a basket of not-so-good corn chips. Their salsa had a nice kick.

A couple of Miller Lites later, LC decided on the NEW! Buffalo chicken tacos. Among the choices of sides he got the fresh veggies. Why? You’re at a sports bar not a salad bar. Anyway, a bowl of chicken tortilla soup and a side of onion rings sounded like the perfect cure for me. T made the wise decision to get a cheeseburger, cooked medium. Then he made the bad call of apples on the side. WTF?

Food arrived but there was a flag on the play. LC dove into his broccoli as I pounced on the onion rings. It is possible (although a long shot) that his broccoli was better than my onion rings. With an ultra-thick breading, they were the kind that the slice of onion pulls out of the breading when you take a bite. Obviously frozen. I sent them back and ordered fries instead. I hated to do it but had to send the soup back as well because it was barely luke warm.

My soup came back piping hot and hopefully not with any unsavory additives. Corn, chicken, and some peppers and tomatoes in a stew-like broth was soothing and satisfying. Fries were delivered sizzling, straight out of the fryer. They were certainly better than the half-ass onion rings.

I took a bite of one of LC’s Buffalo chicken tacos, a flour tortilla filled with fried chicken nuggets tossed in hot wing sauce, blue cheese, cole slaw, and tomatoes. The chicken tenders weren’t spicy and I didn’t care for the blue cheese. Overall, they scored low. T offered me a bite of his cheeseburger which was the real winner of the day.

Another beer for dessert and we headed out, only moments away from my soft and fluffy bed. Game over.

Some complain that it’s difficult to find good food late at night in Atlanta. True, but it’s getting easier. Restaurants like Top Flr cater to those of us who sometimes eat dinner at midnight.

But after a night of drinking I often find I’m in the mood for something less refined than Top Flr, but more refined than Krystals. That’s where The Highlander comes in. Behind its low-brow rock ‘n’ roll atmosphere lurks a talented kitchen staff, making more than competent sandwiches, entrees, and bar food.

Me, B, and LC ended up there not long ago. Inside the cavernous yet smokey space, we chose a corner table. A few regular looking dudes were stationed at the bar, although it is more common to see tattoos and leather at this place. I would have been right at home back in the day.

It was late and a school night too, so we got on with the task of mindless late night eating. Calories do not count after midnight, right?I think B ordered a Reuben. LC got a Cuban with a side of mac ‘n’ cheese, and I tried the classic BLT with fries.

Once the food arrived there was utter silence. B and LC were clearly winding down as I sipped my last Miller Lite of the night. My BLT was devine, built upon two thick slices of toasted sourdough. Lots of thick, chewy applewood smoked bacon, ripe tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and pesto mayo. Seriously, the quality of each ingredient was stellar. The Highlander has fabulous fries, cut thin and perfectly crispy. Although not the best in town, LC’s mac ‘n’ cheese was pretty good.

This was certainly not my first visit to The Highlander. AD and I used to go there often to play Nudie Mega-Touch. I had an awesome gyro on one of those visits. And my friends SP and AA eat there frequently, as does SS, due to the fact that they still allow smoking (although last I heard AA quit). I barely recall some sliders that were just OK….not all of the food is awesome all of the time.

With an extensive menu ranging from Caesar salad to beef stroganoff and everything in between, they do a pretty damn good job.

931 Monroe Drive 404-872-0060

Shaun Doty and Erik Maier’s long anticipated burger joint officially opens today! B joined me last night for a pre-opening tasting of their custom-made burgers and sides.

Doty, who has drawn much attention with his gluten-free dinners at Shaun’s in Inman Park, will be offering burgers served on gluten-free buns and gluten-free fries too at YEAH! Burger. Everything on the menu is organic from the meat to the lettuce. I am impressed.

Partner Erik Maier greeted me when I arrived and seemed genuinely excited about the concept. I imagine YEAH! Burger will enjoy the same intense popularity as Blais’ burger bar Flip has down the street, fueled by a media frenzy and facebook postings circulating among Atlanta’s in-crowd.

YEAH! Burger is a bit less frou-frou than Flip. Guests order at the counter and take a number then find a table on the spacious patio or in the dining room furnished with stainless steel tables. Fun murals add a dash of color to the modern dining room and bar area.

Diners design their own burgers, choosing from grass-fed beef, grass-fed bison, organic chicken, organic turkey, or an organic veggie patty. Buns are made by Holeman and Finch…..Southern or gluten-free white, whole wheat. Or, skip the bun altogether and wrap your patty in lettuce.

Complete your sandwich with organic cheese and your choice of regular toppings like lettuce and tomato, or get all fancy with nitrate-free bacon and sunflower sprouts.

I ordered my beef burger with pepper jack, grilled Vidalias, bacon, and lettuce with tomato and avocado on the side, thinking all those toppings would get too sloppy. Guests can choose a sauce as well including tempting selections like bacon jam (hello!), honey mustard, and rooster sauce. The traditional Duke’s mayo for me please! Extra sauces are .50 cents each. The bacon jam was as good as it sounds, YEAH! sauce seemed like ketchup and mayo, but I could be wrong.

B ordered a bison burger on a gluten-free bun. We both would have ordered them cooked medium but all burgers here are cooked medium-well…..the eager staff promised they would be juicy. Bison and grass-fed beef are far less fatty than standard beef so I was curious how Doty was going to keep the meat from drying out. Why not cook them to order? Flip does a tartare so I’m assuming it is possible, especially since the meat is of the highest quality.

B chose blue cheese, grilled Vidalias, and avocado on her burger. We each ordered the fifty-fifty as a side….half buttermilk onion rings and half fries. They will offer sweet potato fries but unfortunately not last night. We also tried the red chili and the cole slaw.

Pints of Sweetwater 420 were delivered followed by our burgers and sides. Thick patties covered with melted cheese sat upon toasted buns. Crisp lettuce, perfect tomatoes, freshly cut avocado, chewy bacon….they looked delicious, but how would they stand up to other sandwiches in Atlanta’s burger boom?

OK, a big bite (note photo). Juicy, cheesy goodness! Crunchy onion rings and shoestring fries….hell YEAH! How do they keep the meat so juicy? I’m gonna need to know. B loved her burger too, we both ate every bite!

Made with beans and meat, the chili wasn’t spicy enough for us. The slaw was so light and fresh. B said it had cilantro in it so I dug in. But it wasn’t cilantro, it was mint which I usually cannot tolerate, but in this dish it was refreshing.

There are a few salads and all natural hot dogs too, but most folks will come for the burgers served on H & F’s practically famous buns. I even spotted Chef Linten Hopkins delivering them!

On the sweet side, Doty offers old-fashioned floats made with Boylan’s sodas, organic milkshakes (no foie gras here), and concoctions called Concretes made with soft-serve vanilla ice cream with your choice of creative mix-ins like chocolate covered coffee beans and peanut brittle. I would have ordered a dessert but Erik said the machines were off.

The verdict? Even more impressed. The second location on the corner of Virginia Avenue and North Highland is slated to open this Fall….can’t wait!

1168 Howell Mill Road at 14th Street, adjacent to the White Provisions complex.