Taste of the Ticket
While you are out traveling the world, THE
TICKET's trusty restaurant critic is prowling around Atlanta's top
eateries, tasting and testing so you don't have to. Every month, THE
TICKET, will introduce you to (or remind you about) some of the top
spots for a fine meal in Atlanta. All you need to do is make
reservations!
July 2009
RA Sushi
565 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30308
404-835-1410
www.rasushi.com
Throughout my travels I’ve been noticing RA Sushi locations in other
cities like Las Vegas and Pembroke Pines and have been so curious to try
the restaurant. Luckily, Georgia’s first location just opened in the
new 1010 Midtown building, and my wait was finally over! Upon entering
RA Sushi, there is no doubt that you’re going to be shown a good time.
The tall ceilings and the sake barrels that hang from them shout out
“fun.” This place is definitely hip, but with a relaxed vibe that
doesn’t feel pretentious or overly trendy.
My first observation upon sitting down
was the affordable food and drink specials that are offered Monday
through Saturday – I could foresee this being a fun weekly stop for
happy hour. My friend and I tried two of these specialty cocktails: the
Mango Martini ($3) and the Tokyo Tea ($5). The Tokyo Tea was a bright
and fruity concoction that me feel like I was on spring break. My dining
partner preferred the Mango Martini, which was a little more subtle.
We began our meal with the Tunacado
($11.50) and Pork Gyoza potstickers ($6.25) as starters. The Tunacado
was probably my favorite part of the meal; the seared tuna was fresh and
beautifully presented with avocado slices. The creamy ponzu dipping
sauce served on the side was a nice touch. I usually find potstickers
to be too greasy for my tastes, but these were crisp and tasty.
For an entrée, I ordered the popular Beef
Tataki roll ($9.75), while my companion ordered the crispy spicy tuna
($9.75). We also shared the spicy octopus and cucumber salad ($6.75),
which was tossed with vegetables and an Asian chili sauce. The Beef
Tataki roll includes artichoke, asparagus, roasted red peppers and
avocado rolled and topped with seared flat iron steak and soy chili
sauce. It is a good option if you’ve already had sashimi or other fish
dishes earlier in the meal. The spicy tuna was served on top of crispy
sesame rice balls that overpowered the tuna a bit, but the dish was
tasty overall.
Upon the recommendation from our server,
who said the cinnamon tempura ice cream ($6.50) is “what we serve for
birthdays and other celebrations…well, because it’s AWESOME,” we decided
to have dessert. Who could say no to that? I now know why they serve it
during celebratory dinners – it’s a giant portion and quite filling with
all the tempura batter, but it is delicious and the plate looks like a
celebration all on its own.
When we got up from the table to leave, I
got a full glimpse of all the other fun areas in the restaurant and was
tempted to start the meal all over again on the outdoor patio or at the
sushi bar. Next time!
Been
there?
Tell us what you thought about
it. We'll print your comments here:
Don’t
Forget! BOOK ALL YOUR ONLINE TRAVEL VIA
LINKS FROM THE TICKET!
airtran.com |
delta.com
|
Hotwire
|
June 2009
Pacci Ristorante
866 West Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30308
(678) 412-2402
www.pacciatlanta.com
 Pacci
Ristorante, the new Italian
steakhouse located adjacent to the Hotel Palomar in Midtown, exudes
elegance as soon as you walk in the front door. My dinner guest and I
arrived for our 6:30 p.m. reservation and were automatically impressed
by the elaborate décor in the entry way. We were soon drawn to the bar
scene, where guests were grabbing cocktails after work. Once we had
time to take in the atmosphere, we were seated in a comfy booth and
given our menus. Our waiter poured us ice water and informed us on that
day’s specials.
The dining room design was just as
interesting as the entrance. Large silver spheres hung from the ceiling
while velvet-covered chairs and dark hardwood floors ran throughout the
space. We started our evening off with two glasses of Deloach Merlot
($8 each) and a dish from their antipasti caldi section: the grilled
flat bread ($11). The toasted bread was served on a long rectangular
plate, in six easy-to-eat pieces and topped with prosciutto, roasted
garlic, goat cheese, rucola and sourwood honey. The mixture of flavors
flowed well together and I enjoyed the fluffy smoothness of the goat
cheese and the simple sweetness of the honey.
Next, it was on to our main course.
After much deliberation, my dinner guest decided to go with the
eight-ounce Wagyu flat iron steak ($26) with a side of mashed potatoes
with truffle oil. I ordered the sea scallops with wild mushroom risotto
and sweet pea nage ($26). Our dinner came just as we finished our
appetizer; the service was very prompt. My dining companion’s steak was
well seasoned and cooked just as he had requested. I am guessing he
enjoyed it since there wasn’t one bite left on the plate. The mashed
potatoes were exactly what we were expecting, full of flavor. The
truffle oil was a nice touch, but a little overwhelming. My scallops
were large in size and very juicy. The flavor was sweet and savory. An
equally satisfying part of my meal was the risotto, which was cooked
perfectly and a great compliment to the scallops. The sweet pea nage
gave the dish an overall cool flavor to balance out the saltiness of the
risotto.
Lastly, we had to give Pacci’s dessert
menu a try. We decided to go with the tiramisu trio, a sampling of
three different flavors: espresso, limoncello and banana cream. Each
one was the perfect portion for each of us to get a bite and a great way
to end our evening. We really enjoyed our dinner at Pacci. The
upscale environment and flavorful fare is sure to makes this new Atlanta
eatery one of the city’s classic dining destinations.
Been
there?
Tell us what you thought about
it. We'll print your comments here:
Don’t
Forget! BOOK ALL YOUR ONLINE TRAVEL VIA
LINKS FROM THE TICKET!
airtran.com |
delta.com
|
Hotwire
|
MAY 2009
Kozmo Gastro Pub
11890 Douglas Road
Johns Creek/ Alpharetta, GA 30005
Phone: 678-526-6094
www.kozmogastropub.com
From the outside, it looks like nothing special. In the middle
of a strip mall, next to a hair salon and tattoo studio, sits Johns Creek’s sexy
little secret: Kozmo Gastro Pub. From the time I walked through the door, I
felt like I was in a Midtown hot spot, without the inconvenience of paid
parking.
The cold industrial feel is
softened with various textures and shades of green throughout the restaurant.
The concrete bar and butcher block communal tables continued the theme of an
industrial, though comfortable mix of materials. The thoughtful design was quite
unexpected.
We were seated in the far corner
of the room, which was a perfect location for people watching. Our server,
Ashley, was personable and made us feel at home, which made up for time it took
for her to notice that we had been seated.
I started off with the Kozmojito
cocktail, a cross between a classic cosmopolitan and a mojito, with fresh
cranberries, lime, mint and rum. My friend had the Dark and Stormy, which is
made with ginger beer and dark rum. Both drinks were good, but I preferred the
fresh, crisp taste of mine over the stronger more boisterous flavor of the Dark
and Stormy.
The menu is decidedly less
upscale than the interior suggests. With appetizers ranging from $3.50 to $9.99
and entrées ranging from $8.99 to $14.99, the prices are more than reasonable.
To start off, we ordered the
cheese fondue, which is blue cheese, white cheddar, parmesan and mozzarella
melted into a white velvet consistency and served with toasted ciabatta bread
($8.99), as well as tempura shrimp, served with spicy mayonnaise ($9.99). Both
were much better than I expected, especially when I dipped my shrimp into the
fondue. Other tempting appetizers we would have tried if we’d had bottomless
pits for stomachs include the deviled eggs and the house poutine, which is a
modern twist on a classic Canadian dish with fries, braised beef brisket, gravy
and mozzarella cheese ($7.99).
For dinner, I chose the Kozmo
Cheese Burger, a handmade ground sirloin and brisket burger, served with
caramelized onion, white cheddar, shredded lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise
($8.99). I choose fruit salad for my side. My friend ordered the beef short rib
pappardelle, a bowl of slow roasted braised short ribs, pappardelle pasta,
horseradish, cabbage, and short rib jus ($12.99).
The burger was juicy and well
seasoned, but fell apart in my hand as I tried to eat it. By the time I
approached the second half of it, I was reduced to picking the meat out of a
burger pile on my plate. The fruit salad was seasoned with salt and pepper,
which made it sweet and a little spicy. While the short ribs were extremely
tender, the jus was not as flavorful as we had hoped.
Overall, the meal was rock solid
and worth every penny. In the land of restaurant chain mania, Kozmo’s unique
perspective helps remind suburbanites that there is life after toll booths. The
chic ambiance, fun cocktails and tremendous food value makes Kozmo a welcome
addition to the Johns Creek family.
Been
there?
Tell us what you thought about
it. We'll print your comments here:
Don’t
Forget! BOOK ALL YOUR ONLINE TRAVEL VIA
LINKS FROM THE TICKET!
airtran.com |
delta.com
|
Hotwire
|
MARCH 2009
Pizza Fusion
2233 Peachtree Road, Suite M
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-351-9934
www.pizzafusion.com
A large
group from our office visited Pizza Fusion on a cold Atlanta night. The
restaurant is located in the Aramore on Peachtree and after parking in the
garage (for free!) we let the smell of cooking pizza lead the way to the
entrance. When you walk in you immediately notice the clean, sleek atmosphere.
This is Atlanta’s first LEED Certified restaurant, meaning everything from the
light fixtures to the delivery vehicles are energy efficient. Our waiter gave us
the spiel when we were first seated. They use over 75% organic ingredients in
the menu, tables are made from recycled wood, toilets are low-flow and customers
who return their pizza boxes get a special discount. I love the concept of this
place just as much as I love the food!
We
started off with two bottles of organic wine, Santa Julia Organic Cabernet
Sauvignon and Casa Silva Reserva Merlot. The Merlot was great and for just $28 a
bottle, it’s a steal. I didn’t have a chance to try the Cab, but the empty
glasses tell me the other side of the table enjoyed it thoroughly. The
multi-grain and organic white bread sticks with tomato marinara ($3) were great
starters for our group. We decided to also get the olive tapenade ($2) for
dipping and I’m glad we did. The combination of olives, garlic and red peppers
made for a perfect dip.
We
wanted to get a good taste of the pizzas so we ordered four of the Specialty
Pies – Founder’s Pie, Greek, goat cheese & sundried tomato and the Seattle. All
specialty pies are served large, which is 18” x 9”, and on a wooden plank. You
have the choice of multi-grain, organic white or gluten-free crusts and we
decided to test out each one. Our Founder’s Pie ($20) came with chicken, tomato
sauce, mozzarella, gorgonzola, provolone, parmesan, kalamata olives and red
onions on a multi-grain crust. Every bite was filled with flavor. We decided to
try the gluten-free crust on the Greek pizza ($18). This is one of the special
options Pizza Fusion offers that attracts people from miles away. I’m not sure
if it was the gluten-free crust or the toppings of kalamata olives, feta cheese,
artichoke hearts, roma tomatoes, mozzarella, provolone and parmesan, but this
was my favorite of the four. The crust was a little sweeter when compared to the
multi-grain and organic white, but I can see why those eating on a gluten-free
diet would be excited about this place.
The
goat cheese & sundried tomato pie ($17) tied for second with the Seattle
according to my taste buds. The simplicity of goat cheese, sundried tomatoes,
mozzarella, provolone and parmesan were perfect. The Seattle ($18) came with a
delicious mix of freshly chopped tomatoes, red onions, fresh basil, garlic,
balsamic vinaigrette and olive oil with light cheese (mozzarella, provolone and
parmesan).
I
noticed on the chalk wall that the restaurant has great lunch specials and the
build your own pizza option is enticing. In addition to organic wine and beer,
they also serve Boylan sodas that use natural sugar and my favorite, Honest
Tea.
We had
such a great time at Pizza Fusion. It’s unique in that the restaurant can host a
group of ten or a couple on a date and everyone feels comfortable. The pizza is
great and I love supporting a restaurant that uses organic ingredients and
energy efficient appliances.
Been
there?
Tell us what you thought about
it. We'll print your comments here:
Don’t
Forget! BOOK ALL YOUR ONLINE TRAVEL VIA
LINKS FROM THE TICKET!
airtran.com |
delta.com
|
Hotwire
|
JANUARY 2009
MARKET
3377 Peachtree Road (In the W Hotel Buckhead)
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-523-3600
When I
first moved to Atlanta, I lived with two former New Yorkers who always talked
about going out to the W Hotel in New York; so, you can see my enthusiasm when I
heard the hotel chain was finally coming to Atlanta. Even more exciting,
Celebrity Chef Jean-George Vongerichten was opening some see-and-be-seen
restaurants in the hotels. The first, Spice Market, opened in the W Hotel in
Midtown some several months back, and the second, Market, just recently opened
in the W Atlanta-Buckhead. After hearing about the opening, I decided to pop in
and check out what all of the hype was about.
Upon
pulling up to the hotel, there was a huge line for the valet, and there seemed
to be a line to actually get inside the hotel. Now, granted, I had picked one
of the coldest nights in Atlanta this year, so it was certainly safe to assume
that the crammed entranceway and extremely crowded bar was just folks trying to
stay warm.
Nonetheless, after finally finding the entrance to the restaurant, we were
happily greeted by the hostess. She politely asked if we wanted to have a
cocktail while waiting for a table, but we decided to pass since we had just
fought our way through the crowd to get in the restaurant. She gave a quick
smile, and told us we could be seated immediately. Whew!
After
looking over the menu, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the prices
weren’t nearly as high as I had anticipated. And, it was a very versatile menu –
items ranged from pizza and burgers to lobster. This is great for a hotel
restaurant – it appeals to pretty much everyone. We started out with the Niman
Ranch bacon-wrapped shrimp ($10) and the shrimp salad with champagne vinaigrette
($9). Both were very yummy! Next for our entrees, I chose the steamed red
snapper with pureed potatoes ($16) and my friend chose the lobster with potato
wedges ($22). I wouldn’t say they were the best entrees I’ve ever tasted, but
they were certainly good.
About
the wine list – I couldn’t quite get past the fact that they only had one
chardonnay available by the glass…and it was $15. So, nonetheless, I decided to
go with another selection that was a little more in my budget.
On to
dessert – we ordered two staple desserts I see on most menus these days – molten
chocolate cake ($8), and apple torte ($8). Both of these were very tasty as
well!
The
service was about as good as to be expected for a restaurant that just opened –
the servers were a little clumsy, and food runners mixing up table numbers, but
all in all, it was a very pleasant experience.
Oh, and
I forgot to mention the chef – Ian Winslade. He used to head up the kitchen at
Spice Market. I highly recommend visiting if you’re looking for a night on the
town in a hip and trendy, new place.
Been
there?
Tell us what you thought about
it. We'll print your comments here:
Don’t
Forget! BOOK ALL YOUR ONLINE TRAVEL VIA
LINKS FROM THE TICKET!
airtran.com |
delta.com
|
Hotwire
|
OCTOBER 2008
Dogwood
565
Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA
30308
Located on
the ground floor of The Reynolds condominium building, Dogwood is pure
elegance. As we entered on a Friday night, we were welcomed by Owner Scott
Black. I felt transported far from the hustle and bustle of Midtown Atlanta and
was surprised at how peaceful the ambience turned out to be.
My first
suggestion: come hungry because you will want to dive into Dogwood’s bread from
La Baguette Bakery; it cannot be missed and it is difficult to refrain from
eating the entire loaf so as not to spoil the meal ahead.
My friend
and I began our dinner with the poppy seed tempura quail served with warm carrot
salad, pecan-mint gremolata and citrus honey ($14) and eggplant, tomato and goat
cheese blintzes with caramelized Vidalia onions and basil oil ($9). The quail
was moist but the tempura coating remained crisp and it worked nicely with the
citrus honey. It was the perfect portion for an appetizer, while the blintzes
were a bit heartier but also very tasty. We have our eyes on the “grits bar”
appetizer for next time!
I ordered
the crawfish, spinach and Gouda stuffed chicken breast, which came with a
heaping pile of braised greens and was topped with natural jus ($21). The
presentation was lovely – the chicken roulade was arranged around the green –
and I was pleasantly surprised at how subtle the flavor of the crawfish was when
mixed with the spinach and Gouda, all three stuffing ingredients complemented
each other. My guest opted for the SoCo glazed pork chop with caramelized
shallots and sweet corn soufflé ($25), which we were told has been one of the
restaurant’s most popular items thus far. The chop was very large and is a true
testament to the Chef Shane Touhy’s ability to put a sophisticated Southern spin
on American comfort food.
While we
were so stuffed we could barely breathe, we couldn’t resist sampling the
restaurant’s menu of sweets. For dessert we tried the grilled lemon pound cake
with key lime butter cookie gelato and the classic crème brûlée (both $6
apiece).
Another
aspect of Dogwood that I found really impressive is the restaurant’s valet
system. While you enter the valet parking deck on Linden Avenue upon arrival,
when we stepped out of the restaurant to leave, the valet was waiting right
outside the door to take our ticket and immediately pulled our car up to the
curb at the corner of Peachtree within a mere moment. Talk about door-to-door
service!
Been
there?
Tell us what you thought about
it. We'll print your comments here:
|
