February 22, 2012
Hobnob

Go here if…
you’re having a meal with someone you don’t see that often and want to mitigate awkward vibes before they can ever set in.

Foursquare tells me that I have been to Hobnob 10 times. This is perhaps more times than I’ve been anywhere else in Atlanta, and with good reason: everything that’s ever touched my tastebuds while I’ve been seated within this restaurant’s cozy interior has been doggone good, from drinks to entrees to dessert.

Maybe it’s the delightful food and smiling staff that give the place its kickass atmosphere. Maybe it’s the crackling fireplace and the fact that the warm, brown wood floor and tables are a shade that perfectly matches the liquor-filled bottles lining shelves all around the (sizable) bar. Maybe it’s all of these things combined with the fact that by the time I order my food and look around to soak up the environment around me, I’ve already downed half my pint glass of Victory Golden Monkey (which is served on tap along with plenty of other craft & local brews).

As I said, though, the stuff they send out on piping hot plates is all delicious. It’s pretty basic bar food — often with a twist — but pretty magnificent in its simplicity. The sandwiches make a great lunch, the appetizers taste best during happy hour, and the entrees are spot-on in size and price point.

Hobnob calls itself a neighborhood tavern, and it’s a great description: you’ll find see a few regulars chatting with the bartender no matter the time of day, and when you walk in the door, you’re always greeted like a pal.

I suppose that if stuffing face in cozy quarters is enough kindling to light a friendship, Hobnob’s the perfect place to get to know your neighbors, and an excellent, low-key choice when you’re dining with someone you might not know that well… but would like to know a little better by the end of the meal.

HOBNOB
1551 Piedmont Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 968-2288
hobnobatlanta.com

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Filed under: hobnob tavern bar go here if midtown lenox park morningside ansley park casual groups lunch dinner 
January 25, 2012
Boners BBQ

Go here if…
you want to cure a hangover with some finger-lickin’ BBQ from the “Howard Stern of the restaurant world.”

You might’ve heard of this thing they’re calling “Bonersgate,” a social media controversy that’s probably already been fodder for major consultants’ and analysts’ presentations at digital gatherings across the country. However, as an optimist, I’m here to talk about all the good things about Boners… and there are lots of good things about Boners.

Heh.

But seriously, all wiener jokes aside, the BBQ at Boners is I think my favorite in all of Atlanta. It’s decked out in decor that will remind you of a high school dude’s bedroom, but it boasts a beer list and menu that are decidedly grown-up, with cool dishes like fried collards, a BBQ bahn mi sandwich, and mac & cheese topped with “smoked crack” (which I think they named as such just so they could giggle whenever you ask what it is). It’s all served up with a fair amount of sass, which is maybe my favorite way to enjoy a meal.

I like Boners for lunch on a weekend, when I’m hungover and in need of a fast, comforting fix for the weird grumbles going on in my stomach. I’ll stumble in all hazy-eyed, be greeted sympathetically with a PBR, and order a serving of fried collards, 1/4 lb of pork, and a couple of slices of Texas toast as soon as I can get up the energy to spit out the words.

And the wings. Oh, the wings. I could write a 5,000 word essay on those wings and I still don’t know if it would be a proper tribute. So here’s a haiku.

Oh, Boners, your wings
are blessed by the angels of
tasty chickens past.

Think crispy skin, fall-off-the-bone meat, and a symphony of spices all wrapped up in this magnificent little package that you can eat without silverware and be so enamored with that you won’t even care when you look in the mirror and find it slathered all over your face, from chin to eyebrows. Best washed down with a cold beer while sitting on a chair upholstered with an old pair of Wranglers.

I’m done here.

Boners BBQ
634 Fraser St SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 659-9000
bonersbbq.com

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(Notes: 24)
  
Filed under: bbq lunch sandwiches southern boners bbq fun unconventional turner field baseball atlanta braves go here if 
January 19, 2012

Anonymous asked: I want Indian food I've never heard of...

Try Cardamom Hill, a totally new concept on the west side of town. Spice Route Supper Club’s Asha Gomez is in the kitchen with a great staff, making dishes inspired by her native Kerala, a southwestern region of the Indian subcontinent.

Kerala cuisine is way different from the Indian food you’re probably used to — it’s full of fresh, tropical fruits and flavors that pay homage to Kerala’s location along ancient spice routes between Europe and Asia.

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January 12, 2012
Toscano & Sons Italian Market

Go here if…
it’s lunchtime and you need a creative gift for a housewarming/dinner party, your fiancé’s parents, a holiday gift exchange at the office, or, you know, yourself.

When it comes to food, restaurants, etc. I really hate the word “artisan” and all derivations thereof. It’s way overused and ruins it for the few dishes, ingredients, and establishments that truly are “artisanal” — Toscano & Sons Italian Market being one of them.

First of all, when you walk into this little market in the Brickworks development on the west side, you’re immediately confronted with this really heavenly smell. The sort of smell you can imagine wafting on the breeze over the gates of heaven and into the nostrils of everyone stuck in purgatory. It’s a mix of freshly-baked ciabatta, Italian cured meats, fresh herbs and veggies, and probably angel dust from what I can tell. You’ll swoon a little, but when you catch yourself on one of the small café tables tucked up against the front windows of the shop, I suggest you head to the chalkboard menu in the back corner and choose a sandwich. Any sandwich, but don’t leave without a sandwich.

Toscano & Sons is well-stocked with imported Italian ingredients, from arborio rice and fresh orecchiette to San Marzano tomatoes and even Italian butter, which is supposedly way, way better than whatever you’re buying at Kroger. There’s also cheese, and of course, wine, much of which is totally affordable and often comes in fancy bottles that will make it look like it set you back way more than it really did when you roll into your next big dinner party.

In fact, everything is way more affordable than you’d expect it to be. Given the freshness and quality of the ingredients in the sandwiches, $5.50 a pop isn’t too shabby, and considering most of what they carry is hard to find elsewhere — at least outside of Italy — prices all seem very fair.

But then again, I’ve been chowing down on truffle oil and goat cheese on the reg lately, so what do I know? The world is ending this year, people, so start living (and eating) like you mean it.

Toscano & Sons Italian Market
1000 Marietta St
Ste 105
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 815-8383
www.toscanoandsons.com

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(Notes: 33)
  
Filed under: toscano & sons italian lunch cheap eats cheap westside west midtown gifts wine sandwiches meat cheese shopping 
January 9, 2012
Smashburger

Go here if…
you’re in the neighborhood and craving something a little more dynamic than Five Guys without having to sacrifice concept or price point.

Originating in Denver, Colorado, Smashburger is a chain of fast casual burger restaurants that’s a whole lot like Five Guys, or Yeah! Burger, or whatever regional equivalent you’ve stumbled upon in your travels elsewhere in the country. It’s bright and clean and smells like a mixture of grease and garlic with a hint of rosemary, probably on account of the popular house “smashfries” that are seasoned with all of the above. I liked the atmosphere. Everyone there seemed happy.

Side note: Doing a little research (i.e. Wikipedia-reading) I’ve just discovered that the reason why I liked the atmosphere so much might have to do with the fact that Tom Ryan, founder of Smashburger, also happens to be the creator of stuffed crust pizza, McGriddles, and the McFlurry. My 3 favorite fast food menu items! So turns out I have a lot in common with this Smashburger guy.

Anyway, Smashburger is basically a lot like Five Guys in concept and price point, but with more menu options. If you’re dining with your family or a larger group, this is a good thing. If you’re not, though, it’s also a good thing. I ordered a Baja Small Smash with a side of fried pickles (which happen to be my kryptonite). “Small smash” means “little burger” and for me “little burger” means “totally manageable.” This held true at Smashburger, where my burger came out topped with pepper jack, jalapenos, guacamole, spicy mayo, and some standard burger-topping veggies which I feel like I shouldn’t be obligated to mention, all on a chipotle bun. The burger was on the smaller side but didn’t get eclipsed by the toppings, and I could comfortably fit the thing in my mouth, which doesn’t always happen with big juicy sandwiches. And it was pretty! Everything was laid out quite nicely on the plate before I slopped it all together and oozed guacamole all over my pile of fried pickles. Which ended up being a happy accident after all.

I did not try a milkshake. Apparently their shakes are great, are made with Haagen-Dazs ice cream, etc. but I cannot realistically expect to function after I have a burger and a shake in one sitting. I know this about myself. If I am ever in the area and craving something sweet I may have to go back for a shake.

That being said, I don’t think anything at Smashburger really makes it destination-worthy if you’re more than a stone’s throw from the restaurant (except for maybe the fries, if you’re a fry person) because there are so many similar burger joints located throughout the city. However, if you do happen to be in the area (which we were) it’s totally a good idea to stop for lunch or dinner.

Smashburger
2625 Piedmont Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 237-2374

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(Notes: 13)
  
Filed under: smashburger burgers shopping lindbergh lunch dinner casual cheap french fries sandwiches atlanta atl