I was skeptical about finding a good Philthy Cheezsteak after being disappointed at so many places claiming to have "Authentic Philities". So I took a ride on a beautiful Saturday afternoon to Roy's and see what all the fuss was about.
Located in the corner of a no frills gas station strip mall, I found myself the only one in the whole joint. Did I care? No. I liked it because I knew my phility would be made properly. There were a lot of stuff on the menu but I was there for one thing and one thing only.
Regular philthy "wit" onions and provolone on a real Amoroso roll... make sure you ask for provolone or else they give you that low rent white American fromunda cheez. Believe me, it makes all the difference in the world with the melt. This thing was great, really tasty... chopped steak piled high and seasoned nicely, sweated onions, proper melt of the cheez and a nice fwesh Philthy roll.
Finish it all off with a TastyKake and Barq's root beer... baby Jesus, is this how it feels to be in heaven? "Pretty damn close" he sez.
Amen.
Burp.
2900 Highlands Pkwy SE
Smyrna, GA 30082 (404) 799-7939
Thursday, August 21, 2008
The Bleu House Cafe
It's kinda creepy to eat at a joint on a road named Cemetery Street. I don't want some re-animated demon spawn hacking away with a scalpel at my Achilles tendon while I nosh on some muffalata. Once you get inside it's anything but a horror movie. The decor is totally kitschy. It's like the Romper Room of nosheries or some cute gwub shack on a tropical island.
The menu is pretty simple... sammies, wraps, salads, soups and quiches. It's all made fwesh daily and pretty tasty. The house specialty is the chicken salad which is made with almonds, grapes and apples on a croissant. The bweads are nice, you can't go wrong with the boule, hoagie, croissant, focaccia or multigrain. The soup du jour one day was a gumbo... eh, it was more like a greezbo, it had more oil than the Exxon Valdez. The quiche sitting out looked kinda dried out and tired... but I'm sure it was good when it came out fwesh.
Cute place to grab a bite at and the service was spot on. With so many generic sammy shops everywhere, I rather give my money to a mom & pop shop. It's better to have Bleu house than blue balls from some bland corporate monster that left me unsatisfied. It's kinda hard to find this place in the woods of Norcross but if you're in the area I would recommend it.
Chomp.
108 Cemetery St.
Norcross, GA 30071 (770) 209-0016
The menu is pretty simple... sammies, wraps, salads, soups and quiches. It's all made fwesh daily and pretty tasty. The house specialty is the chicken salad which is made with almonds, grapes and apples on a croissant. The bweads are nice, you can't go wrong with the boule, hoagie, croissant, focaccia or multigrain. The soup du jour one day was a gumbo... eh, it was more like a greezbo, it had more oil than the Exxon Valdez. The quiche sitting out looked kinda dried out and tired... but I'm sure it was good when it came out fwesh.
Cute place to grab a bite at and the service was spot on. With so many generic sammy shops everywhere, I rather give my money to a mom & pop shop. It's better to have Bleu house than blue balls from some bland corporate monster that left me unsatisfied. It's kinda hard to find this place in the woods of Norcross but if you're in the area I would recommend it.
Chomp.
108 Cemetery St.
Norcross, GA 30071 (770) 209-0016
Big Easy Grille
I have been here one other time to try the po'boys that I heard was good... but by the time I got there around 9pm, they said the kitchen was closed. WTF? It's 9 friggin PM, did I get bamboozled? Now I know how those two chodes at The Tavern at Phipps feel. I'm calling Ken Nugent... one call, that's all. I need a big pay day as well.
Big Easy is right... because the service was at ease. The server had the personality of a billy goat. Some items on the menu had the flavor of saw dust. The entire joint moved at a snail's pace with all your typical townies swilling their problems and welfare checks away at the bar instead of buying a pacifier to shut up their baby's piehole.
Po'boy - Combo of half oysters and shrimp was not too shabby, medium sized and crispy. The bwead wasn't bad at all, just a tad too big for a proper po-po. The filler was just about right... on the light side.
Jambalaya- When did jambalaya become just overcooked, dried up,sticky, clumpy rice with sausage and chicken bits in it? I think it was Kibbles 'n Bits. This thing had no trinity, no stock, no seasonings, no flava, no creole soul... an absolute abomination. I had better from a box.
Gumbo- This was the total opposite of the jambalaya... it was wetter than a baby's diaper that had one too many bottles of apple juice. It woulda helped if they added some jambalaya as a thickener. No roux, no file powder, no trinity, bits of mystery meat pieces and a few okra floating around. Sad, so sad that this recipe didn't get swept away with Katrina.
Oysters on the half- How could it be warm if it's sitting on ice? These things have been pre-shucked and lost all the briny juices and flavors. These pearl tongues barely passed inspection. The cocktail sauce was straight from a FMV ketchup bottle... terrible, just terrible.
Stick with the po'boys if you really have a hankering for them but everything else is for-gutta-ble. Adding an "E" at the end of Grill doesn't make the grub taste any better. I suggest you buy another Chefe.... "john s."
My levee just bwoke.
Squirt.
1193 Collier Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318 (404) 352-2777
Big Easy is right... because the service was at ease. The server had the personality of a billy goat. Some items on the menu had the flavor of saw dust. The entire joint moved at a snail's pace with all your typical townies swilling their problems and welfare checks away at the bar instead of buying a pacifier to shut up their baby's piehole.
Po'boy - Combo of half oysters and shrimp was not too shabby, medium sized and crispy. The bwead wasn't bad at all, just a tad too big for a proper po-po. The filler was just about right... on the light side.
Jambalaya- When did jambalaya become just overcooked, dried up,sticky, clumpy rice with sausage and chicken bits in it? I think it was Kibbles 'n Bits. This thing had no trinity, no stock, no seasonings, no flava, no creole soul... an absolute abomination. I had better from a box.
Gumbo- This was the total opposite of the jambalaya... it was wetter than a baby's diaper that had one too many bottles of apple juice. It woulda helped if they added some jambalaya as a thickener. No roux, no file powder, no trinity, bits of mystery meat pieces and a few okra floating around. Sad, so sad that this recipe didn't get swept away with Katrina.
Oysters on the half- How could it be warm if it's sitting on ice? These things have been pre-shucked and lost all the briny juices and flavors. These pearl tongues barely passed inspection. The cocktail sauce was straight from a FMV ketchup bottle... terrible, just terrible.
Stick with the po'boys if you really have a hankering for them but everything else is for-gutta-ble. Adding an "E" at the end of Grill doesn't make the grub taste any better. I suggest you buy another Chefe.... "john s."
My levee just bwoke.
Squirt.
1193 Collier Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318 (404) 352-2777
Noni's Italian Deli and Bar
So... I took the omniscient advice of "john s." from the Big Easy Gwille and decided that my "bitter, fat ass" should stop "bitching about everything" and "get a life"! And what gweat advice it was...
As we parked in front, I looked over my snarky gal pal and made sure we didn't look too Elitist or an AJC food critic in this chicken neck of da the woods... a hoodie woulda been handy right about now. I didn't know what living was until I walked into this awesome joint in the middle of South Central ATL and the Good Times vibe filled the air from the jukebox.
The joint was spacious, warm and inviting. The huge bar was impressive... the menu even more! The homemade Tagliatelle with Lemon Anchovy sauce was flavorful and delicate but yet al dente. The Cold Noni hit the spot with super fresh ingredients and a kick ass Orzo Pasta Salad. Everything on the menu looked so tasty, I might as well change my name to Bookman.
I swore I heard this playing in the background...
Any time you meet a payment. - Good Times.
Any time you need a friend. - Good Times.
Any time you're out from under.
Not getting hassled, not getting hustled.
Keepin' your head above water,
Making a wave when you can.
Temporary lay offs. - Good Times.
Easy credit rip offs. - Good Times.
Scratchin' and surviving. - Good Times.
Hangin in a chow line - Good Times.
Ain't we lucky we got 'em - Noni Times.
Someone musta knew I was there because they left me a box of Popeyes next to my car on the way out.
Buffalo Butt...
Burp!
357 Edgewood Ave
Atlanta, GA 30312 (404) 343-1808
As we parked in front, I looked over my snarky gal pal and made sure we didn't look too Elitist or an AJC food critic in this chicken neck of da the woods... a hoodie woulda been handy right about now. I didn't know what living was until I walked into this awesome joint in the middle of South Central ATL and the Good Times vibe filled the air from the jukebox.
The joint was spacious, warm and inviting. The huge bar was impressive... the menu even more! The homemade Tagliatelle with Lemon Anchovy sauce was flavorful and delicate but yet al dente. The Cold Noni hit the spot with super fresh ingredients and a kick ass Orzo Pasta Salad. Everything on the menu looked so tasty, I might as well change my name to Bookman.
I swore I heard this playing in the background...
Any time you meet a payment. - Good Times.
Any time you need a friend. - Good Times.
Any time you're out from under.
Not getting hassled, not getting hustled.
Keepin' your head above water,
Making a wave when you can.
Temporary lay offs. - Good Times.
Easy credit rip offs. - Good Times.
Scratchin' and surviving. - Good Times.
Hangin in a chow line - Good Times.
Ain't we lucky we got 'em - Noni Times.
Someone musta knew I was there because they left me a box of Popeyes next to my car on the way out.
Buffalo Butt...
Burp!
357 Edgewood Ave
Atlanta, GA 30312 (404) 343-1808
Baraonda Italian Restaurant
I don't get by this cucina Italiana much these days because all the tourist donkeys around the Fox theater creates such a friggin traffic nightmare... but you won't find any kitchen nightmares at Baraonda.
I always thought the grub was good not great but my visit this weekend made me kick myself for not eating here more often. Where's Gordon Ramsay to call me a stupid donkey when I need him?
Calamari Fritti - Your standard issue fwied ring of tubes... but pales in comparison to Chinese style salt & pepper squid. Calamari rings always seem so pre-fab to me.
Carpaccio di Manzo - Tasty, light and refreshing with the arugula... but the quality of the cut could be better. Not a bad appetizer though.
Pizze - A killer woodfire oven that has been aged makes all the difference in the world. Their pizza is verra verra good with it's thin crust, sauce, cheese and foldability factor. I love my NYC style 'ZA's but this comes close. The char was spot on and gave it that hint of bitterness that is oh so important in a great 'ZA. No matter what you put on it, it comes out verra tastee... and quick like a true pizze should, no more than 2 1/2 minzies at that high temp.
Shrimp Risotto - Seems like it's a nightly special, so why not just put it on the menu? It's so darn tasty, I want that dish to be available on a regular basis. Tons of shwimpz, flavorful, seasoned well and not super creamy or as heavy as you might think. Since they charged me $1.90 for this risotto... I think they should keep it as a special. Oops, did I let the cat outta da bag? I'm such a douchebag.
Service was not bad at all... just a couple bumps here and there. This joint ain't a fake full of piss and wind. It's back on my radar. Totally worth it... value to quality. Run, don't walk you donkeys!
Hee Haw.
RUTTO!
710 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 879-9962
www.baraondaatlanta.com
I always thought the grub was good not great but my visit this weekend made me kick myself for not eating here more often. Where's Gordon Ramsay to call me a stupid donkey when I need him?
Calamari Fritti - Your standard issue fwied ring of tubes... but pales in comparison to Chinese style salt & pepper squid. Calamari rings always seem so pre-fab to me.
Carpaccio di Manzo - Tasty, light and refreshing with the arugula... but the quality of the cut could be better. Not a bad appetizer though.
Pizze - A killer woodfire oven that has been aged makes all the difference in the world. Their pizza is verra verra good with it's thin crust, sauce, cheese and foldability factor. I love my NYC style 'ZA's but this comes close. The char was spot on and gave it that hint of bitterness that is oh so important in a great 'ZA. No matter what you put on it, it comes out verra tastee... and quick like a true pizze should, no more than 2 1/2 minzies at that high temp.
Shrimp Risotto - Seems like it's a nightly special, so why not just put it on the menu? It's so darn tasty, I want that dish to be available on a regular basis. Tons of shwimpz, flavorful, seasoned well and not super creamy or as heavy as you might think. Since they charged me $1.90 for this risotto... I think they should keep it as a special. Oops, did I let the cat outta da bag? I'm such a douchebag.
Service was not bad at all... just a couple bumps here and there. This joint ain't a fake full of piss and wind. It's back on my radar. Totally worth it... value to quality. Run, don't walk you donkeys!
Hee Haw.
RUTTO!
710 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 879-9962
www.baraondaatlanta.com
French American Brasserie
When I feel like a FOB, I go nosh somewhere on Buford Highway... But when I feel like a SNOB, I go grub downtown to FAB.
I hit this joint on that DT Resto Week shindig to see what all the fuss was about. Could French cuisine really exist in Atlanta, the land of chains, stwip malls and soccer moms? Here's the skinny... only if I was afterwards. Hmmmm...
First Course:
* Creamy Onion Soup - Not too oniony, nice flavor, Gastro's tummy likey.
* White Bean Soup with Truffle Oil - Just very pleasant, good consistency and purdy good tasting to this country mouse.
Second Course:
* Sauteed Skate Wing with Spinach, Roasted Potatoes, Pantellerian Capers and Brown Butter Sauce - It was prepared well, not salty like most have stated. It was moist and tender inside but yet had that little crispiness on the outside... ooh, take me under your wing anytime.
* 8 oz. Marinated Creekstone Skirt Steak, Organic Watercress, Garlic Frites, Bistro Butter - For a thin piece of meat, it was cooked well. Medium rare and tender. Seasoned a bit too salty but tasty still. Frites were crispy and hot... kinda like me poolside.
Third Course:
* Meyer Lemon Crepe, Pomegranate Syrup, Tapioca Pearls, Pine Nuts - It was alright, nothing to write the boys overseas about some tiny nuts on a thin pancake. But Ricky Bobby would prolly find them tasty.
* Apple Tart - Besides all the skanks in gaudy mini skirts upstairs on the patio, this tart wasn't half bad. It gave me that warm and fuzzy feeling those tramps never could.
After tasting a nice sampling of their vittles, I must say I would go back and try out the rest of the menu. It might not be true French in the vernacular sense but for Atlanta... it's not too shabby. At least the mini skirt mafia were clean shaven.
ROTER!
30 Ivan Allen Junior Blvd
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 266-1440
www.fabatlanta.com
I hit this joint on that DT Resto Week shindig to see what all the fuss was about. Could French cuisine really exist in Atlanta, the land of chains, stwip malls and soccer moms? Here's the skinny... only if I was afterwards. Hmmmm...
First Course:
* Creamy Onion Soup - Not too oniony, nice flavor, Gastro's tummy likey.
* White Bean Soup with Truffle Oil - Just very pleasant, good consistency and purdy good tasting to this country mouse.
Second Course:
* Sauteed Skate Wing with Spinach, Roasted Potatoes, Pantellerian Capers and Brown Butter Sauce - It was prepared well, not salty like most have stated. It was moist and tender inside but yet had that little crispiness on the outside... ooh, take me under your wing anytime.
* 8 oz. Marinated Creekstone Skirt Steak, Organic Watercress, Garlic Frites, Bistro Butter - For a thin piece of meat, it was cooked well. Medium rare and tender. Seasoned a bit too salty but tasty still. Frites were crispy and hot... kinda like me poolside.
Third Course:
* Meyer Lemon Crepe, Pomegranate Syrup, Tapioca Pearls, Pine Nuts - It was alright, nothing to write the boys overseas about some tiny nuts on a thin pancake. But Ricky Bobby would prolly find them tasty.
* Apple Tart - Besides all the skanks in gaudy mini skirts upstairs on the patio, this tart wasn't half bad. It gave me that warm and fuzzy feeling those tramps never could.
After tasting a nice sampling of their vittles, I must say I would go back and try out the rest of the menu. It might not be true French in the vernacular sense but for Atlanta... it's not too shabby. At least the mini skirt mafia were clean shaven.
ROTER!
30 Ivan Allen Junior Blvd
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 266-1440
www.fabatlanta.com
King & I
Who are they kidding? They should just rename it to the "Queen & I"...
This dark and dingy corner of Ansley is full of some colorful people... yeah, y'all know what I'm a saying, Taste the Rainbow! I can't believe there is a vet clinic in this dirty strip mall filled with rowdy bars... talk about animal trauma.
The joint's owner, "Tom", is like the third Czech Brother... he's a Wild and Crazy Guy! I don't know what this guy is on but I want some! It must be all that Thai chili powder he's been sniffing for 27 years here... cause he's bouncing off da walls! But what a sweet guy... very funny, soft and cuddly... kinda like a Monchhichi or Mogwai.
Ok B.D. Wong, enough of the theatrics, just bring me a Singha and something Thai Hot to gwub on pweez...
Spring Roll - The fried rice wrapper threw me off a little but after a couple bites, it grew on me... the filling of chicken bits, bean thread, veggies and crunch was not too shabby. Peanut sauce was eh.
Papaya Salad - Like a giddy little school girl, Tom, asks if I wanted it Thai Hot... ah, is there any other way? "Ok, I bwing you hot from like Thailand!" Y'all know what, it wasn't half bad, it actually made me sweat a drop or two... like in the jungles of upstate GA.
Pad Thai - Since this national Thai dish isn't really spicy, I only ask for it medium hot. I have yet to have a Pad Thai that blew me away but this wasn't bad either. The ingredients were fresh tasting and a squirt of the lime gave it that refreshing taste and smell to it. Decent filler.
Penang Duck (Thai Hot) - Aww, how cute... served in a brass pot on top of a little sterno stove. Only problem was, it kept cooking that damn duck. WTF? A little tea light woulda worked better. It looked like a witch's brew with that massive blue flame. Shit was bubbling and squirting curry juice into my eyeballs... that's one way to make me cry asking for Thai Hot. Once the flame went out, it wasn't bad at all... curry was rich and flavorful. It wasn't Thai Hot but it had decent heat to it. The duck a was bit chewy but I kinda figure it would sitting on that torch. Not a bad dish.
This is a funny joint in a funny place in a funny area... but I like it! It makes you kinda wanna hit Oscar's, Felix's and Burkhart's after getting all Thai Hot and bothered.
Haaay!
1510 Piedmont Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30324 (404) 892-7743
This dark and dingy corner of Ansley is full of some colorful people... yeah, y'all know what I'm a saying, Taste the Rainbow! I can't believe there is a vet clinic in this dirty strip mall filled with rowdy bars... talk about animal trauma.
The joint's owner, "Tom", is like the third Czech Brother... he's a Wild and Crazy Guy! I don't know what this guy is on but I want some! It must be all that Thai chili powder he's been sniffing for 27 years here... cause he's bouncing off da walls! But what a sweet guy... very funny, soft and cuddly... kinda like a Monchhichi or Mogwai.
Ok B.D. Wong, enough of the theatrics, just bring me a Singha and something Thai Hot to gwub on pweez...
Spring Roll - The fried rice wrapper threw me off a little but after a couple bites, it grew on me... the filling of chicken bits, bean thread, veggies and crunch was not too shabby. Peanut sauce was eh.
Papaya Salad - Like a giddy little school girl, Tom, asks if I wanted it Thai Hot... ah, is there any other way? "Ok, I bwing you hot from like Thailand!" Y'all know what, it wasn't half bad, it actually made me sweat a drop or two... like in the jungles of upstate GA.
Pad Thai - Since this national Thai dish isn't really spicy, I only ask for it medium hot. I have yet to have a Pad Thai that blew me away but this wasn't bad either. The ingredients were fresh tasting and a squirt of the lime gave it that refreshing taste and smell to it. Decent filler.
Penang Duck (Thai Hot) - Aww, how cute... served in a brass pot on top of a little sterno stove. Only problem was, it kept cooking that damn duck. WTF? A little tea light woulda worked better. It looked like a witch's brew with that massive blue flame. Shit was bubbling and squirting curry juice into my eyeballs... that's one way to make me cry asking for Thai Hot. Once the flame went out, it wasn't bad at all... curry was rich and flavorful. It wasn't Thai Hot but it had decent heat to it. The duck a was bit chewy but I kinda figure it would sitting on that torch. Not a bad dish.
This is a funny joint in a funny place in a funny area... but I like it! It makes you kinda wanna hit Oscar's, Felix's and Burkhart's after getting all Thai Hot and bothered.
Haaay!
1510 Piedmont Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30324 (404) 892-7743
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