Slack's Restaurant and Bar

TOWN Brookhaven is one of the newest cookie-cutter live work play thinger in upstate Atlanta. I hate these complexes because they tend to become super ghetto after word gets out from atop of Stone Mountain. One thing is for sure, this Sembler project (which seems like it's been ongoing for millenniums) will have no problem with that crowd since the overwhelming amount of triple pleated shorts and pants act like a sperm whale's gills to filter out all the crap from this sanctuary of khaki's and Polo's.

The complex is set up to contain all your favorite chain restaurants with the relentless 'in your face' signs and crowds on the patios that can be easily seen from Peachtree road... But there was one unique place behind all that malarkey that I was pretty interested in trying since they opened. A place that claims to have authentic Philly Cheesesteaks with the Amoroso rolls. Holy fuck, I'm so down with OPP (Other People's Philthies).

So, there's a bunch of Slack's Hoagie Shack franchises in Philly... Was this another franchise location? I was stumped because the name was just Slack's and on their website was Slack's Restaurant and Bar. And if they were affiliated, why does their website give out the vibe that it's an independent operation? With a little digging, it turns out they are a franchise of Slack's Hoagie Shack as stated on their website (http://slackshoagies.com/locations.htm). All this smoke and mirrors seemed a little shady to me... But if the Philthy is authentic then who gives a shit.

I'm fucking starving, let's go eat some cheese wit!

Gotta start off with some hawt wangz... The pouch demanded it.

(Half & Half: Maniac and Lemon Pepper)

So, I ask the server for their hottest of the hottest wings they got and to include an extra side of the sauce because it's usually never hot enough for me, so I like to dip it in extra sauce. First look... It looked weak, real weak. I tasted the extra side of Maniac sauce and it tasted like watered down tomato sauce. WTF???!!! This was the most pathetic display of Buffalo wings I have ever tasted. The wings itself were fried properly but their hottest sauce was a joke. The lemon pepper were as expected... Boring. Snooze. Pouch was disappointed.

Enough of this pussy footing around... Let's get to the main event. Looked like my neighbor's mom made it for her 8 year old...

(Philly Cheesesteak)

Not exactly an attractive presentation... I know it's a cheesesteak and it shouldn't look all fancy-schmancy but does this look appetizing at all? Putting this on a plate is just wrong. A Philthy deserves better, it should be on wax paper in a plastic tray.

(Up close and personal... Where is el queso?)

Looks kinda dry doesn't it? Seriously, did they forget the provolone? Seemed like the steak was cooked ahead of time and reheated in the microwave. Took one bite and my fears were realized... Shit was dry as a 70 year old hag. If you stood it up vertically, it kinda looked like one, too. Oh, man, what a disappointment.

(Why is there sesame seeds on the roll?)

I'm baffled... Amoroso doesn't make a sesame roll or do they? And what's with the shiny glaze all over the roll? This looked unusual for an Amoroso roll and from what their website states... "The menu offers a taste of Philadelphia that includes Yuenling beers, Amroso rolls,". No wonder why it looked different, it was an AMROSO roll! And obviously, they also serve a knock-off of Yuengling beer, too.

(Italian Hoagie)

Oh, look... They used the same roll as the cheesesteak but it actually works with this sandwich, instead. This wasn't half bad. Good amount of meat and tasted like it should in an Italian Hoagie... Ok, mebbe a little on the dry side. I guess that's what the house recipe "hoagie oil" was for but it tasted like nothing but plain old used cooking oil. I was sure as hell ain't putting that on me sammie.

I don't really know what to think about this place. It seems like it's still searching for a personality, a niche, an identity in this town because people aren't exactly lining up for their Philly Cheesesteaks or anything else on that menu. Let's face it, it was not a Philthy in any way, shape or form. It was just a let down and disappointment. Oh, well, there's still Roy's Cheesesteaks...

BTW- They got pizza, too... Wait, nevermind.

1 Star.

305 Brookhaven Ave.
Suite B1250
Atlanta, GA 30319
404-602-5558
http://www.slacksatlanta.com/