Restaurant Eugene ( Atlanta, GA) - American

Restaurant Eugene
American Cuisine
(404) 355-0321
Buckhead
2277 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, GA 30309
http://restauranteugene.com/index.html


DARIO "THE AVERAGE MAN" MOBLEY 7-2-2009:


Have you ever been in an intense debate and realized that the person you are arguing with is making very valid points also? After the exchange is over, you go home, let everything sink in and then state to yourself in the confines of your home,"Wow, that guy had some good points." This is always one of those eye or ear opening experiences for you because you realize that even though you are passionately pleading for your cause, sometimes things are just not set in stone so both views can be simultaneously right. I know you have done or witnessed this before. Come on, you have definitely seen this happen before. Okay, do you remember this?













"I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."











That was his side of the argument. I know you guys remember this:



"We have sources that tell us that Saddam Hussein recently authorized Iraqi field commanders to use chemical weapons -- the very weapons the dictator tells us he does not have."



That was his side of the argument. A debate in which both parties may be right is so common that both of these presidents got into an argument that had "more than strong counter arguments" against them. Consequently, I have devised a little list for you that can never be debated against. It is 100% factual and you will never go home with that bewildered feeling of "debate failure" ever again.


1) Titanic is the highest grossing film ever:


http://www.imdb.com/boxoffice/alltimegross?region=world-wide












2) Bill Gates is still the richest man in the world:

http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/11/worlds-richest-people-billionaires-2009-billionaires_land.html











3) Halle Berry is the most beautiful 42 year old that you will ever see










See, these facts are NON-DEBATABLE!!!!! They are undeniable!!!! If you engage in an argument about any of these topics, you will simply not lose. This is what I consider the Veal Sweetbread at Restaurant Eugene's to be. It is an absolute, undeniable fact that this is the best single item that I have had at any of the restaurants I have been to so far.

"The Foodie" and I went to Restaurant Eugene and the food simply blew us away. Restaurant Eugene is an upscale, expensive place but it delivers in every way. The setting was gorgeous and we were seated in a high booth that was very comfortable and unique. The waiter was excellent, super informative and the food was out of this world. Here is what we had:


veal sweetbreads, duck egg, bottarga and green garlic


Georgia Shrimp
Georgia Corn, Torpedo Onions, Hakurei, Bok Choi, and Ham Broth


levain crusted snapper, white shrimp, soft grits, scallion


Actually, now that I think about, Restaurant Eugene was not that expensive because I had the Sunday Super which includes an appetizer, entree and a desert for $29.95. I actually forgot what desert I had but I know it was good. They usually give you two appetizers and two entrees to choose out of. It is actually a pretty good deal. The food was SUPERB and I am definitely going to go back very soon. Their is something called the Chef's choice for $65 and $85 dollars and it is a sample of what the chef wants to serve you. I think it contains an appetizer, 3 small entrees and a desert. I can't wait to do that. When I do that, I will be sure to write a follow up review. My grade for Restaurant Eugene is:


A- GREAT SETTING, AMAZING FOOD AND GOOD PRICES


Happy Eating,
Dario"The Average Man" Mobley

Canoe (NW Atlanta, GA) - New American

Canoe
New American Cuisine
(770) 432-2663
Vinings Neighborhood
4199 Paces Ferry Road
NW Atlanta, Georgia 30339
http://canoeatl.com/


DARIO "THE AVERAGE MAN" MOBLEY 7-1-2009:

So, from what " The Foodie" and I gathered, their were some pretty famous people at Canoe when we were there. The first person was Katherine Heigel. She is the girl from "Grey's Anatomy". Ah, she is the girl from "Roswell". Okay, are you still not sure who I am referring too? Does the movie "27 Dresses" ring a bell? Hmmmm.... Still nothing huh. What about the movie "Knocked Up"? Ah, the ultimate identification for her has struck again. It seemed like whenever The Foodie said 'Knocked Up" while trying to identify Katherine Heigel to her friends, everyone suddenly knew who she was talking about. Is "Knocked Up" her crowning achievement? To be honest, I did not know who the hell she was either. I saw a girl with a long hot pink dress with huge sunglasses that I thought was semi-good looking but felt like she was one of those wannabe celebrities. Ha!!! It turned out to be Katherine Heigel. Here is a picture of her:





















Still don't know her? Forget about it. Additionally, their were two more celebrities who some refer to as a power couple. This couple consists of G.I. Jane and the Punk'D guy. For the record, I actually thought the show Punk'D was very funny. If you are not sure who I am talking about, you must live under a rock. A picture of them is below:



























We did not actually see them but the waiter made it a point to tell us that they were sitting in the booth next to us. Is it possible that he was lying? I don't know. Who cares? Apparently, Ashton and Katherine Heigel are shooting a movie in Atlanta so that is why they were there. Anyhow, maybe I should get to the point. Canoe is a very beautiful place. We went there for brunch.(What a surprise?) It is tucked away along the peaceful banks of the Chattahoochee River, yet conveniently located in the Atlanta community of Vinings. ( I got that last sentence from their website) Anyhow, we were sitting in a booth that overlooked the river. There is some kind of garden in front of the river. I am not a scenery guy but it was absolutely amazing view that contributed to the consistent excellence of the ambiance. The menu was pretty interesting that was followed up with good food. The food was not super awesome but it was good enough to not detract from the restaurant. Here is what we had:


"Pheasant & Eggs"
two sunny side up eggs, toasted sage biscuit, pheasant ragout 15.95

Grilled Atlantic Salmon
basil whipped potatoes, citrus caper vinaigrette 15.95

Toasted Georgia Pecan & Walnut Pie
spiced forelle pear sorbet, black pepper syrup 8


The Grilled Salmon was actually pretty good aside from the fact that it was more lunch than breakfast and I was kind of in the mood for breakfast. The Pheasant & Eggs was okay too. It was an interesting blend of meat, biscuits and potatoes. The highlight was actually the desert. When I ordered it, I was thinking that it was just a normal slice of pecan pie but it turned out to be ice cream like(sorbet) on top of the pecan, walnut pie on top of a flaky bread like bottom. As weird as it may sound, it actually went together well and "The Foodie" and I devoured it up like there was no tomorrow. The prices were good and the food was good. I will definitely recommend this place to anyone for the beautiful setup alone. My grade for Canoe is:


B- Amazing Dining Setup Overlooking the River With Good Food

Happy Eating,
Dario"THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

Chipotle (Atlanta,GA) - Fast Casual Mexican

Chipotle
Fast Casual Mexican
(404) 869-7921
Buckhead North
3424 Piedmont Road
Atlanta, GA 30305
http://www.chipotle.com/


ANGELA "THE FOODIE" SAYS:

All I can say is BEST STEAK TACOS EVER! I've spoken with people who say Willy's or Moe's is better, but I can only assume it's because they haven't tried the steak tacos.

They're so good, I reward myself by going to Chipotle. Having a bad day? I tell myself to go to Chipotle. And without one near my house, I try and stop at one every time I'm within a five-mile radius.

What makes it so great? The steak is amazing, not like the crappy steak you get at most taco places (I love red meat more than most). Plus, the soft-shell tacos aren't rubbery or hard...it's really soft-taco perfection. And the cheese is to die for! I wish I could find one similar at Publix.

The icing on the cake: Chipotle actually has a conscience and uses naturally-raised pork, chicken AND beef. Talk about setting a great example for the casual food industry.

You also get to watch as your food is made, which is great for me since my orders tend to be on the pickier side: I get steak tacos with light sour cream and extra cheese with nothing else. I'm a meat and cheese kind of gal.

Dario's first experience as Chipotle wasn't as enlightening as mine, but I feel I'm partially to blame because I had talked it up so much, I'm sure he thought it would be the holy grail of tacos.

All this typing has made me want Chipotle...

Always Hungry,

Angela

DARIO "THE AVERAGE MAN" SAYS:

Yes, it is true that my first experience at Chipotle was not like sex like "THE FOODIE" had made it sound. It is similar to the first time you may watch a movie that someone pushes so hard that you are kind of expecting for it to not live up to expectations. It is kind of like the movie Step Brothers. All of my friends were so in awe of Step Brothers that the first time I saw it, it came off to me as, "Ummmm, it was good but it is definitely no WHAT ABOUT BOB?". What about Bob is the funniest movie ever by the way. Anyhow, let me get back to Step Brothers. The more I watched it, the funnier it became so I purchased it and it is really hilarious. Note to people: If you see a movie first, don't build it up as if it should automatically qualify for the "GREATEST MOVIE AWARD". Let your friend or family decide for themselves and if it is a really good movie, it will speak for itself. My typical response is, "I won't say anything about it. Just go and see it". If they go and see it and they still don't like it........... well, maybe they are just stupid. lol!! Move on and let them soak in a poor state of bad movie judgement. Damn, that joke was corny as hell. Anyhow, that is how Chipotle is. It gets better and better every time you eat there and one day you are going to find yourself going (watching) to Chipotle (Step Brothers) once or twice a week until you get fat from the lack of exercise. My grade is below:

A - STEP BROTHERS IS GOOD AND SO IS CHIPOTLE !!!!!!

Happy Eating,
Dario "The Average Man" Mobley

Waitiki Retro Tiki Lounge (Orlando, FL) - Island-Inspired Delicacies of Waitiki

Waitiki
Island-Inspired Delicacies of Waitiki
(407) 481-1199
Downtown
26 Wall St.
Orlando, FL 32801
http://www.wallstplaza.net/

DARIO "THE AVERAGE MAN" SAYS:

"THE AHI TUNA JOURNEY"

Ahi !!! Ahi!!!! Ahi!!!! All I will say is please ask for the Ahi Tuna. This is a marvelous appetizer people. You have to understand that I am not a "CRAZED" sushi lover like other people and up until this point, I had never had any kind of raw fish. Why would I? I am from New Orleans. I was still trying to catch up with the many ways that "The Big Easy" prepares seafood. Anyhow, also, it has a very nice atmosphere. It is decorated like a small island and it has cozy booths that you and sit at. Additionally, at about 9 or so, there is a bar upstairs. It is called the Monkey Bar. It is a really nice setting. It has couches and has a view of Wall Street on the patio. I love it!!! It is very good for all ages if you want to just chill and hangout. Sometimes the music gets too loud but other than that, it is cool. Anyway, the tuna has some kind of peppery seasoning that sets it apart from any kind of Seared Tuna that I have had. I enjoyed this so much that I have tried tto get this dish at 3 different restaurants and none of them prepared it like this. I even brought my friend truck (not his real name) there and he thoroughly enjoyed. I will tell you another time how he got the name truck. Anyhow, if you are downtown hanging out, I would go there, have a few drinks and get tha AHI TUNA. The actual dish name is:

PACIFIC TERRIFIC
sushi-grade tuna seared, sliced and placed next to wasabi and soy ginger sauce

My rating for Waitiki Retro Tiki Lounge is below:

A - THE GRADE IS FOR THE AHI, AHI!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Eating,
Dario "The Average Man" Mobley

Imperial Dynasty- (Orlando,FL) -Chinese

Imperial Dynasty Chinese Restaurant
Chinese Cuisine
(407) 786-2266
Longwood
2045 W State Road 434
Longwood, FL 32779
http://www.imperialdynasty.com/


DARIO "THE AVERAGE MAN" 6-30-2009:

Asian restaurants are always very interesting to me because it seems like the ones I go to are buffet style and a lot of the owners speak broken English and it sometimes came across as poor service because of the language barrier. Imperial Dynasty made me realize that it was not the language barrier that made the service poor at the other Chinese Restaurants. It was just the fact that the people there were just rude as hell. Some people are just plain rude and that is that. It feels like they are upset that we are customers and we want service. Have you ever been to a place like this:

However, this was NOT one of those places. "The Foodie" and I were in the mood for sushi after the whole "AHI TUNA JOURNEY" (see Waitiki review). Consequently, we asked the waitress, who doubled as the owner, to suggest something that contains all of the different sushi items. She was very nice and she obliged. Also, we asked her to suggest some Sake and she proceeded to bring us three different types of Sake to taste. They all had a very unique flavor. I can't remember exactly what she brought us but I promise I will go back to Imperial Dynasty and get the exact names for you guys. Anyhow, I checked the menu and now realize that they made a special plate of sushi for us too. I can't say that any of the Sushi blew me away but it was extremely fun for me to try it because this was my first time trying anything other than the rolls. I had all the straight raw stuff over rice. I did not have many of the rolls. The waitress seemed to be just as excited as I was about trying the Sake and Sushi and I enjoyed the participation and the enthusiasm that she displayed. It seemed genuine and not fake at all like a used car salesman:

Anyhow, I don't think I am in the position to give you an accurate assessment of Sushi since this was my first time so I will leave that to "The Foodie" so please check her review. However, the service was really good and the food was well-priced. If I forced to grade the quality of the food, I would say it was decent. It was not great but it did the job. My grade for Imperial Dynasty is:

B- Great Service With Okay Sushi (This was my first real sushi experience though)

Happy Eating,

Dario "THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

ANGELA "THE FOODIE" SAYS:

Let me just start by clearing up a few things from Average Man's post.  What we ate wasn't made special for us - I chose a platter so we could sample a bunch of different things.  We ordered the Sushi and Sashimi sample platter, and it was decent but did not taste fresh.  However, the service was fantastic.  We went there on a Sunday, and must've had about five different servers stop by the table.  All were warm, friendly and made you feel happy to be at their restaurant.  Plus, I learned a lot about sake from one of the ladies.

Is the sushi great?  No.  Is the set-up nice?  Not really. But it's an affordable place to have some sake, some okay sushi and be around some extremely nice people.  

Always hungry,

Angela

First Watch - (Orlando,FL) - Breakfast,Brunch, Lunch

First Watch
Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch
(407) 682-2315
Altamonte Springs - Ethan Allen Plaza
249 W. State Road 436
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714

DARIO " THE AVERAGE MAN" MOBLEY 6-24-2209:

Well, I actually had two visits to First Watch. Intially, "The Foodie" and I visited First Watch and I think my expectations were a little too high. It is set up like a Denny's or IHOP with a very generic lobby, pay at the register and an open kitchen. I did not like that and felt that if they designed the lobby again, they could give it the look of place that is more unique and stylistic which would compliment there food which is really good. Anyhow, here is what I had on my two visits:

Healthy Turkey
Egg white omelette with diced turkey, spinach, feta cheese, diced onions and tomatoes. Served with fresh tomato slices and a dry English Muffin

Power Wrap
Fluffy egg whites, smoked turkey, spinach and mushrooms wrapped tightly in a sundried tomato basil tortilla with Swiss cheese. Served with fresh fruit and freshly made salsa

Chickichanga
Whipped eggs with spicy chicken, homemade chorizo sausage, green chilies, Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese, onion and avocado rolled in a crispy flour tortilla and topped with Vera Cruz sauce and sour cream. Served with First Watch Potatoes

Burrito Vera Cruz
Scrambled eggs, chorizo sausage, green chilies, onions, Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses fill a flour tortilla. Topped with our special Vera Cruz sauce, served with sour cream. Muy bueno!

I also had one Blueberry pancake on both visits and I must admit that the pancakes are the BIGGEST I have ever seen. Anyhow, everything I have eaten of the menu has been really good. The Power Wrap and the Healthy Turkey, which are two items that they feature on their Healthy Menu, was extremely good. That works really well for me because I like to workout and even though it was healthy food, I did not sacrifice any taste. If you are looking for an upscale Brunch place like you may see in Atlanta, this is not the place. However, if you are looking for a place with great prices, good food but with the look of an IHOP, this place is perfect for you. Also, I will say that the food is better than IHOP or Denny's. Anyhow, my grade is below:

B- NOT VERY FANCY BUT GOOD PRICES AND GOOD FOOD MAKE UP FOR IT

Happy Eating,
Dario "THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

ANGELA "THE FOODIE" SAYS:  

It's always fun to think you might have uncovered a great local breakfast place, only to realize what you've discovered is one restaurant that's part of massive chain just like IHOP.  However, I appreciate IHOP, even though the lighting, seating and atmosphere are horrible (designed to make sure you don't lounge around after eating, I'm sure), you can get some tasty food for dirt cheap.

Well, First Watch is just like IHOP in all the above ways, with slightly more creative menu options.  I enjoyed my Chickichanga very much, partly because of the name (I love puns more than the average person).  And I enjoyed seeing lots of old people, which you see a lot more in Florida.  

So the food was simple yet tasty and the atmosphere made me want to eat and be on my merry way.  If you're a fan of IHOP, then you'll love First Watch.  

Always hungry,

Angela

Chez Vincent (Orlando,FL) - French

Chez Vincent
Traditional French Cuisine
(407) 599-2929
Winter Park
533 W. New England Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32789
mail@chezvincent.com

DARIO " THE AVERAGE MAN"MOBLEY 6-23-2009:


Chez Vincent's really gave me the feeling of something special. It had a very different feel from Le Cog Au Vin. The waiter was French, the menu was in french and it just gave me a great unique French feeling as oppose to Le Coq Au Vin just being a French Restaurant being offered by Americans. Firstly, we had the snails for an appetizer people. Yes, I ate snails!!!!!! Snails!!!!!! I ATE SNAILS!!!!!! It actually did not have much of a taste. It was just kind of slimy on the outside. It was not a shock either way. The name of this appetizer was:

Feuillette d'escargots
Sauteed snails in a puff pastry with a Port wine sauce

Have you ever seen the movie Talladega Nights? Well, if you did, I am sure you remember the part where Sasha Baren Cohen broke Will Ferrell's arm. Anyhow, he broke his arm because he did not want to say the word "Crepe". Baren Cohen was suppose to be French and he was talking about an authentic french "Small Pancake" like Will Ferrell so elegantly explained it. Well, that is what "The Foodie" and I had at this restaurant. This is how it read on the menu:

Crepe bourguignone
Sauteed beef tenderloin tips and mushrooms in a burgundy sauce $12.00


Crepe du pecheur
Medley of fresh fish and seafood in a creamy white wine and mushroom sauce $15.00

My Beef Crepe was really good and The Foodie's Seafood Crepe was good also because you know I had to taste it. I wonder if the staff in all of these restaurants wonder if we are weird because we seem "really" excited to taste the other's food. Well, they have to understand that we just like food and we are not trying to be able to eat two different dishes in one outing. Well, maybe we are trying to do that. lol!! Anyhow, like I said, this restaurant had a really nice authentic unique feeling for me and the prices were reasonable and the food was good. I would say that this was a "Toot Toot" experience. That is me tooting my horn for having been there. I will give this restaurant a grade of a A for elegance, authenticity, good food and reasonable prices.

A- Good Food, Good French Feel and Good Crepes

Happy Eating,
Dario "THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

ANGELA "THE FOODIE" SAYS:

Let me first say how much I love the part of town where Chez Vincent is located.  It's a great area to walk around with fun small storefronts and seems to be a cool local area to get away from the hoards of tourists.

When we first walked into Chez Vincent, its white table cloths and penguin-dressed wait staff didn't match up with my chipped plate and homey food presentation.  But I liked that about the restaurant's personality; they obviously cared a lot about certain things but not so much about others.

Firstly, the snails were...snails.  Drowned in garlic like every escargot I've had, they were tasty, but tasted like...well, garlic.

As for the seafood crepe I had as an entree, it was very tasty and I have had cravings for it since.  In fact, it was my first savory crepe ever, and I tried to find as good a savory crepe in Paris recently - but had no luck.

Our waiter, who had an off-putting snooty air about him and seemed to mock our lack of knowledge about French cuisine, was - on the flip side - extremely attentive and humorous with personality for days.

I would absolutely go again, it's a one-of-a-kind place with personality to spare and great food.  As they say in France, fantastique!

Always hungry,

Angela 

Cafe Istanbul (Decatur,GA) - Turkish

Cafe Istanbul
Turkish Cuisine
(404) 320-0054
1707 Church St
Decatur, GA 30033
www.cafeistanbulatlanta.com

DARIO" THE AVERAGE MAN" MOBLEY 6-24-2009:

Well, the first thing I think about with this restaurant is "You Don't Mess With the Zohan" because this place serves Hummus as an appetizer. That is the sauce substance that Adam Sandler joked about throughout the movie. However, I did not taste the Hummus because they made it sound pretty gross in the movie. Anyhow, it is hard to remember what appetizers I had because "The Foodie" ordered them for me but I do remember that I did not like any of them.....Let me think......I think we had these:

Borek
Phyllo dough filled with feta cheese, herbs and spinach

Sarma
Grape leaves stuffed with rice, scallions and lemon zest

I want to say that I had this for an entree:

Lahmajune
Lavash bread topped with ground beef, green peppers, onions, and lemon juice. Served with onions and parsley

I am not sure though. Maybe 'The Foodie" can remember what I had. Anyhow, the food was not really impressive to me. I am not sure if it is the fact that I am not a Turkey Food Guy or the food was just not good. I have to stick with my model of "Good Food is Good Food" and just say that the food was not tasty. However, the atmosphere in Cafe Istanbul is great. It is dimly lit, small table arrangement where you sit on the floor on a load of pillows with a candle on your table. That seating arrangement gave Cafe Istanbul a feeling of authenticity for me. They will also provide a Hookah, which is a single or multi-stemmed pipe for smoking, for about 12- 15 dollars. Don't quote me on that but I think it is in that price range. Originally from India, Hookah has gained immense popularity, especially in the Middle East and is gaining popularity in the USA. I am not into smoking a Hookah but if you are into that kind of thing, it is there. I got that hookah explanation from wikipedia by the way. lol!!!!!!! Here is a website that sells them just in case you want to know more about them:

http://www.hookahcompany.com/all_hookahs_37_ctg.htm

Anyhow, it is a very romantic setting. The service was pretty slow though to be honest with you. "The Foodie" was kind of disturbed by these high school kids complaining about the speed of the service. Speaking of high school kids, it must have been "Cool Go To A Turkish Restaurant Day" because it was filled with a lot of them when we were there. If I would go back, it would be for the romantic dark atmosphere where you can hang out with your lady and sip some cocktails. Yes, we had some drinks. I actually just had a simple grey goose and cranberry. Wow, I go to a Turkish Restaurant and have a vodka and cranberry. I am a thug and a bad ass!! lol!!!!!! Anyway (I am starting to say anyway too much), 'The Foodie" tells me that they feature belly dancers there sometimes so I want to go back to see the Belly's!!!! If you want something different, it is a nice place to take your lady on a Friday night. Don't expect great food or really fast service though. My grade is:

(B-) - Average Food But Romantic and Unique Setting With Belly Dancers and The Hookah

Happy Eating,
Dario" THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

ANGELA "THE FOODIE" SAYS:

I don't know why eating while sitting on the ground is so much fun, but it really is great.  

I first went to Cafe Istanbul on my 30th birthday.  Even though I made reservations, I stood by the door for a good 15 minutes trying to get one of the staff to seat me.  After being brushed off by the servers repeatedly, I attempted to seat myself, only to be told that the table I was trying to sit at was reserved.  WTF?   My party was then seated at two unjoined tables in a corner. 

Lesson here:  If no one is helping you, seat yourself.  If you go to the wrong table, at least they'll be forced to pay attention to you and move you.

Fast forward to when "Average Man" and I went.  We walked in, sat ourselves (I learned my lesson), and waited a good 15 minutes to be served.  While some bratty, spoiled teenager complained about the wait at the table next to us, I enjoyed the slower pace of the restaurant, which reminded me very much of Europe, where you take your time at a restaurant and service is slower.   

I had read before ever going to Cafe Istanbul that the servers will ignore rude or disrespectful patrons, and I like this quality in a restaurant.  I always feel for the servers who management requires to smile at all customers, no matter how unpleasant they're being.

I enjoyed the Borek and Sarma appetizers along with popular Turkish beer, Efes, and the food was tasty, but not mind blowing.

"Average Man" was right about the restaurant being "the place" for teenagers to hang out, I'm guessing because they're able to smoke a hookah.  I'll admit, they did distract from my experience because they were loud and acted like...well, teenagers.

I LOVE Cafe Istanbul though.  Even though the food isn't the best and the service is super slow, there are several pluses.  The food is cheap, the ambiance is amazing and sometimes I just need to feel like I'm not in Atlanta.  Cafe Istanbul is one of those restaurants you can go to escape and feel like your elsewhere, especially on weekends when the place is filled with an international crowd with blaring international music.

I don't love Cafe Istanbul for one particular reason, but all the qualities of this dark restaurant located in a small, unassuming shopping center come together to make one of my favorite places. 

Always hungry,

Angela

Strait's Restaurant - (NE Atlanta, GA) - Singapore (Indonesian,Chinese, Indian & Nonya)

Strait's Restaurant Atlanta
Singapore (Indonesian,Chinese, Indian & Nonya) Cuisine
(404) 877-1283
793 Juniper St
NE Atlanta, GA 30308-1326
http://www.straitsrestaurants.com/

DARIO "THE AVERAGE MAN" MOBLEY 6-23-2009:

Ah Ha, the Ludacris Restaurant. Well, I have to start with the fact that they did not have free valet parking as compared to a lot of other restaurants that I have been to in Atlanta. Also, one other thing that bothered me was that at the end of the night, the valet service was gone and we had to find our own keys and our cars across the street. However, the restaurant layout was pretty good and it was a good romantic setting that did have very good service. I had this for an entree:

Origami Seabass
Baked en Papilotte, Ginger, Longan, Shiitake Mushrooms, Rice Wine

I also remember that "The Foodie" had this for an appetizer:

Singapore Satay Sticks
Grilled Skewers of Chicken or "Painted Hills" Tri-Tip, Spicy Peanut Sauce

I visited this restaurant with my friend "Party" from Houston and it was okay. The Seabass was presented in a little box like a birthday present which was cool but it did not blow me away and it was a small portion. It did have a very good flavor to it but it was not Halle Berry great. Wow, by the way, she looked very good kissing Jaime Foxx.

The Foodie: What was that?
Average Man : Ah, nothing, I said hurry up so I can help you with this Boxx.
The Foodie: Hmmmm...Okay
Average Man: That was close
The Foodie: What was that?
Average Man: I said let's make a toast.

Okay, let's get back to my review. In my esteemed opinion, Strait's Atlanta seemed to be a little over priced considering the quality of the food but I am interested in going back and trying some other things on the menu. The food was not awesome but it was good and it came in a great little birthday present sort of thing. Also, the waiter put us in a table where we could watch the Denver/LA basketball game which LA won by the way so my grade for Strait's is:

(B-) - Good But Not Great

Happy Eating,
Dario "THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

Maggiano's Little Italy (Atlanta,GA) - Italian

Maggiano's Little Italy
Italian Cuisine
(404) 816-9650
Buckhead
3368 Peachtree Rd
Atlanta, GA, 30326-1009
http://www.maggianos.com/

DARIO" THE AVERAGE MAN" MOBLEY 7-1-2009:

Let's make one thing very clear: I am sure that I will visit this place again. "The Foodie" and I went to Maggiano's but we kind of ran into a stumbling block while we were there. The waiter came out and announced, "We have two huge servings of any pasta for $12.95". Now, you can't deny that this is a marvelous deal but as I was ordering my food in slow motion like Neo from the Matrix, my mind visualized some old guy with no teeth in the kitchen scooping orders onto the plate for everyone taking advantage of the special. You have to believe that everyone was ordering the special. Wait, I am not suppose to order the special. I am a "Foodie In Training". I am a blog writer. Hell, I am cool!!! Well, maybe my imagination was running a little wild with the whole old guy thing:



























Even with that ugly visual in my head, who could pass up a deal like that? I mean even if I am not in a recession, the rest of the world is currently in a recession so spending frivolously is not always the correct path to take. Right? Wrong? Anybody? Anything? When am I going to realize that I am talking to myself? lol!!!! Nonetheless, the pasta that we ordered was not all bad. They were not lick my fingers good but they were not bad either. I will declare that this place was "pretty damn good" but I am confident enough to say, "pretty good minus the damn". Here is what we had:

Rigatoni "D"
Rigatoni pasta, herb roasted boneless chicken, mushrooms and onions, tossed in a light Marsala cream sauce

Baked Ziti & Sausage
Italian Sausage, Pomodoro Sauce and Ziti Topped with a Layer of Melted Provolone & Parmesan Cheeses

Chicken Pesto Linguine
Linguine pasta tossed with roasted chicken, pesto, and pine nuts in a parmesan broth with a hint of lemon.

I actually felt kind of lame for ordering the special but it happened so I have one strike on my belt. Hopefully, you can forgive me and we can move on from this debacle. Like I said though, the food was actually good and the service was good too. I am just upset at myself for not scanning the menu thoroughly and easily going for the first cheap thing that was announced. However, I can't blame Maggiano's for that. Actually, I should probably give them some credit because I actually ended up eating the leftover pasta for a few days. "The Foodie" would have no part of that because that may have jeopardized her "Foodie" status. That just left more pasta for me. My grade for Maggiano's is:

B- Good Food and GREAT PRICE!!!!!

Happy Eating,
Dario "THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

Einstein's (NE Altanta, GA) - New American, Breafast & Brunch

Einstein's
New American Cuisine plus Breakfast & Brunch
(404) 876-7925
Midtown
1077 Juniper St
NE Atlanta,GA 30309
http://www.einsteinsatlanta.com/

DARIO "THE AVERAGE" MAN 6-25-2009:

"The Foodie" and I went to Einstein's for brunch. I would say it is a typical, fancy Atlanta brunch place. It had a real unique personal arrangement with their lobby and the menu was interesting to the point where I scanned it 5 of 6 times before deciding on what I was going to eat. Before I got involved in "Atlanta's Secret Brunch Subculture", I had never thought to put certain foods together like salmon and bagels, eggs and sour cream and shrimp and grits. However, now that I have eaten at enough of these brunch places, I welcome the eclectic menu's and high prices if the food is good. The food here was pretty good. Here is what I had:

SMOKED SALMON OMELETTE
Cream cheese, caviar, chives, creme fraiche, choice of side

I had the cheddar grits as a side and that worked for me. I can't remember what "The Foodie" had but this was the exact time that I believe 'The Foodie" started to take notice of my weird habit of "Semi-Good Ordering" on interesting menus. "The Foodie" seemed very interested to taste my dish and the dish was seemed to deliver for her. I found it very interesting in how they put it together with the cream cheese, caviar and chives. It was a strange blend of taste but it worked for me. The only issue was that the caviar did not add anything to it except extravagant presentation. Other than that, it was good. My grade for Einstein's is:

B - Good Food, Interesting Menu & Good Setting

Happy Eating,
Dario "THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

TOP FLR (Atlanta, GA)-Mediterannean

Top Flr
Mediterannean Cuisine
(404) 685-3110
Midtown
674 Myrtle St.
Atlanta, GA 30308
http://www.topflr.com/

DARIO " THE AVERAGE MAN" MOBLEY 6-29-2009:

Well, The Top Floor was okay to me. The first thing I noticed about the Top Floor was the type of building it was in and the inability to find parking. We had to park pretty far away to get to this place. However, I must say this is a very unique looking restaurant from the outside. It almost looks like a double apartment with two floors. It is kind of hard to explain but here is a picture below:

I know it looks kind of run down in the picture but it is really unique inside. We sat upstairs and it was very intimate and different with a dark setting and the tables. It sort of had the feel for me of my own personal dining area. However, our table was pretty wobbly so that kind of ticked me off. Anyhow, I was not impressed by the food. Here is what I had:

Entrees:

PIZZA - Chorizo, Roasted Onions, Oaxca Cheese, Tomatillo Cilantro Relish ….. 12

Hangar Steak, Lavender, Brandy Green Peppercorn Demi ….. 13

Appetizers:

Lamb Skewers, Daikon Taziki, Cauliflower Couscous ….. 8

The pizza tasted like it was frozen. It was not very good at all. The Lamb Skewer appetizer was so uninspiring that I had to ask 'The Foodie" what we had for an appetizer. However, Top Flr is a place that can suck you in and makee you want to stay for a while because it is so secluded and intimate. However, the food was real good. When I go to eat, I am looking for food that will make me want to slap someone. This was not that kind of place.




The food DID NOT make me want to slap someone.




My grade for Top Flr is:

(C) - Average Food With Unique Restaurant Setting


Happy Eating,
Dario "THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

Babette's Cafe (NE Atlanta,GA) - French, Italian & Mediterranean

Babette's Cafe
French, Italian & Mediterranean Cuisine
(404) 523-9121
Inman Park and Poncey Highland Neighborhood
573 N Highland Ave
NE Atlanta, GA 30307
http://www.babettescafe.com/

DARIO " THE AVERAGE MAN" MOBLEY 6-29-2009:

I went to Babette's Cafe at a time when I was on my "Atlanta Brunch Tour". I wanted to have brunch as many times and at as many places that I could. I even realized that I was going to a lot of great restaurants and only eating brunch there. With Babette's Cafe, the brunch and overall feel of the restaurant was so outstanding that it just made me want more. Babette's Cafe is like The Dave Matthews Band in two ways. The first way is if you have never had it before, at the very least, you will ask,"What is that?" The second way that it is similar to DMB is that the more you listen to it or eat it, the more you want it.




Babette's Cafe is like The Dave Matthews Band.






"The Foodie" and I both had omelets here. I also had a side of cheese grits. Here is what we had per the menu:

SAUSAGE AND PEPPERS, ONIONS AND CHEDDAR
with homefries and toast $9.00

SPINACH AND GOAT CHEESE
with homefries and toast $9.25

All I can remember about what I had here was that it was great and I had absolutely no complaints. The food was great and the atmosphere was quite outstanding and I got to drink Mimosa's and have an intimate conversation with "The Foodie". The service was also quick, efficient and outstanding. (Did I just use outstanding twice in one paragraph?) The prices were very good too!!! I will give this restaurant thumbs up for brunch and I am definitely going to return for dinner. My grade is below:

A- Great Food, Great Service and Great Atmosphere

Happy Eating,
Dario " THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

Vinings Inn (SE Atlanta, GA) - Southern Authentic Charm

Vinings Inn
Southern Cuisine w/Authentic Charm
(770) 438-2282
Vinings Area
3011 Paces Mill Rd
SE Atlanta, GA 30339-3745
http://www.viningsinn.com/


ANGELA "THE FOODIE" SAYS:

The Vinings Inn has long been a favorite Atlanta restaurant of mine because everything I've ever had there has been delicious, the service is always great and I love the small, intimate dining rooms and patio. Also, upstairs on weekends, guests can enjoy live music. It's the restaurant in Atlanta that I feel deserves more recognition and can't figure out why it doesn't.

When "Average Man" and I went, we both got the exact same thing, the Peach BBQ Jumbo Shrimp and it was to die for! The time before that, I had the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Breast with mac & cheese gratin and braised greens, a Southern favorite that Vinings Inn does to perfection. Their Crab Cakes (don't think they're on the menu anymore) were the best I've ever had. My parents even love this place, with my mom saying to me last time we went how Vinings Inn topped her list out of the numerous places I've taken her in Atlanta. She had the Pan Blackened Catfish and raved about it.

Vinings Inn is definitely a gem in the Atlanta area and a must-go-to for any foodie. I want to go to there!

Always hungry,

Angela

DARIO"THE AVERAGE MAN" MOBLEY 7-9-2009:

I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?

"Well, do ya, punk?" This is the famous quote from the 1971 crime thriller film, Dirty Harry. This is Clint Eastwood at his best. This movie came out in 1971. That is eight years before I was even born. Isn't that amazing? You can probably ask a 10 year kid and they will undoubtedly know this quote. Well, I would have to say that the dish I had at Vinings Inn is similar to this. Wait, maybe that is not even enough to give this dish it's true just due. The Peach Shrimp & Grits at Vinings Inn not only changed the course of history for me but it revolutionized Shrimp & Grits. Okay, I have came up with something even better. It was like when Tiger Woods came along in 1996 and change the course of Golf History and then won the 2008 US Open on a torn ACL and firmly revolutionized the sport. All you could do is become entrenched in his excitement and admire and marvel at his greatness. Yeah, Peach Shrimp & Grits is more like Tiger Woods.

PEACH SHRIMP & GRITS IS LIKE TIGER WOODS

I never was a huge golf fan and probably never will be a hardcore gulf fan but I still tend to peek at what this guy does on ESPN every chance I get. I can guarantee that The Peach Shrimps & Grits will have that same kind of affect on you. You don't have to be a fan to appreciate it's greatness. In my Food 101 review, I stated that you always remember and love your first. Well, that is true but very few people marry their first. Just like most people, I did not marry my first. I am married to Vinings Inn's Shrimp & Grits. I guess I better let you know exactly what I had. Here is it as it reads on the menu:

Peach BBQ Jumbo Shrimp

pablano-cheddar cheese grits, red pepper coulis

five roasted peppers and caramalized onions

It really was an amazing dish. As far as I am concerned, Vinings Inn is awesome and flawless at this point. This is a perfect example of not judging a book by it's cover. From the outside, it really looks like a converted house. Don't misunderstand me because I actually enjoy the coziness and personalized feeling of a place of this magnitude but for some, it may not give you a great impression from the outside. Here is a picture:

Please ignore that misleading inner gut and the maybe awkward outer appearance when you see this place and trust "THE AVERAGE MAN" and "THE FOODIE" because we really do know what we are talking about. Right? Always remember that "Good Food is Good Food". My grade for Vinings Inn is:

A- Personal Unique Environment with Magnificent Peach Shrimp & Grits

Happy Eating,

Dario "THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

Tenth Thai Cuisine & Lounge (Atlanta, GA) - Thai Food

Tenth Thai Cuisine & Lounge
Thai Cuisine
(404) 748-1491
Midtown
132 10th St
NE Atlanta, GA 30309
http://www.thetenththai.com/

DARIO " THE AVERAGE MAN" MOBLEY 6-29-2009:

I had always been interested in tasting Thai Food since I had a brief encounter with a Thai guy that I met in Montana. He was the husband of my girlfriend's best friend at the time and he would always rave about how great the food was. Also, he used to tell me how spicy it was and he believed that I would like it because of the spiciness of the New Orleans cuisine. Since I am from New Orleans, he put two and two together and he assumed that he had a winner. Anyhow, Tenth was an okay place for me. However, "The Foodie" seemed to be very popular at Tenth because the host seemed to know her very well as if she had been there the day before. He was also nice to me which leads me to believe that either he was just a nice energetic guy or he was a hell of a salesman.(I am a little cynical.) Anyhow, here is what "The Foodie" and I had:

Spicy Catfish
Sauteed filet catfish with green bean, red curry paste, and basil sauce

Jeebs
Chicken and shrimp steamed dumpling

Of course, "The Foodie" had the most fabulous thing on the menu. She has been doing that all the time at every restaurant and it is starting to bother me a little because I am suppose to be the "Semi-Good Food Ordered". lol!! I think she goes to the restaurants beforehand and samples everything and then when she goes with me, she pretends like she has not had it. Oh, by the way, she got lucky in Mindball and she beat me in Scrabble by creating new rules. I'm sorry about that. That did not have anything to do with my review but it was a random thought that I had to get off my chest. Hey Foodie, I got something for you:





For the record, that is not a real picture of me or "The Foodie" and I am just kidding D'Mari. lol!!!







You will not win at anything again and I will be ready for you next time!!!!!














Anyhow, the Jeebs was what she had and it was GREAT!!!! It was an appetizer and it was brought out on a long thin plate. I had the Spicy Catfish and I was a little disappointed. Consequently, this was the very last time that I did "THE FAKE". I must explain the "THE FAKE" to the people out there and when you realize that you have committed this crime many times, maybe you will stop doing it just like I did. "THE FAKE" is when you go to a new restaurant pretending that you are so cool and state infamously," Yeah, I will try anything" but you scan the menu for something that looks familiar. Basically, it is you staying in your comfort zone. If you want to stay in your comfort zone, just go to Longhorn's, Outback or some well known chain that has saturated every county in the United States. I do not have anything against chains but I would just rather a unique menu with unique ideas and a unique Chef. If I must go to a chain, I would rather a lesser known chain like the one's that are not on every corner. Roy's Restaurant is a great smaller chain. The website and my review are below just in case you are interested:

http://www.roysrestaurant.com/

http://unofficialfoodiereview.blogspot.com/2009/06/roys-restaurant-orlando-hawaiin.html


Anyhow, I did "THE FAKE" and I paid for it as my catfish was simply catfish fried with some sweet sauce on top. It did not strike my fancy too much. Also, I had a "Dump Truck"(no reference to my friend Ray) full of white rice. That was enough rice to feed starving children in East Africa. All and all, I would say the food was good not because of my dish but because of The Foodie's appetizer. Also, the host was really nice so that put me in a good mood on the night. from the outside, the restaurant looks pretty simple and cheap. It is not fancy place but it was cool. My grade for Tenth Thai Cuisine and Lounge is:

B - Not Super Fancy But Nice Host and Good Food

Happy Eating,
Dario "THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

ANGELA "THE FOODIE" SAYS:

Although Tenth isn't on the level of Nan (best Thai in Atlanta), it's definitely got good, affordable Thai food in an intimate, cozy setting.  The guy Average Man refers to above is named Tommy.  I've only been to Tenth four times, but I guess Tommy remembers the restaurant's guests because he acts like I'm an old friend every time I go, which is awesome.

When Average Man and I went, I also had my favorite soup in the world: Coconut.  If you've never had it, you're missing a fantastic party in your mouth.  Most Thai restaurants offer it with either chicken or shrimp.  Both are equally fantastic.  And most Thai places in Atlanta do it well, whether it's Uncle Wong's, Tamarind, Nan or Spoon.  Nan, of course, does it best.

Also, I'm a sucker for pretty presentation, and - like most Thai places - Tenth pays special attention to this.  

Overall, a great place...if you go, do sit at the bar and make small talk with the super friendly staff.  You'll have way more fun.

Always hungry,

Angela

The Oceanaire (Atlanta,GA) - Seafood Room

The Oceanaire
Seafood Cuisine
(404) 475-2277
1100 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30309
http://www.theoceanaire.com/


DARIO" THE AVERAGE MAN" MOBLEY 7-23-2009:

For me, it is always extremely difficult when anything presents itself as more than what it is. How does that happen? Well, with restaurants, one of the biggest indicators of an internal expression of their inner greatness is the prices. Secondly, they usually try to are provide something extra to the atmosphere in an effort to produce a feeling of personal attention and a sort of elite idea to their customers. An example would be a guy playing a piano with soothing classical music in the restaurant. That makes most people feel like the restaurant is of high class.

A GUY PLAYING A PIANO SOMEWHERE GIVES YOU THAT HIGH CLASS FEELING

Their is usually one major problem when you have all of these qualities in a restaurant before you take one bite of anything The problem is that the restaurant builds an anticipation of complete fabolous-ness (I just made up that word) in your mind and you tend to expect the best. I would say that Oceanaire did this to me. The waiter was magnificent in his service and his manners. The personality of the place was definitely exuding elegance and a feeling of "Wow, this is a fancy place". Even with all that, I still am hesitant to say that the movie was better than the preceding previews. I searched the menu and it seems that the food we had is not on the menu so I asked "The Foodie" because she seems to remember everything. Here is what she said:

"What you had isn’t on there. I think you had salmon, but remember you ordered from a special three-course-for-a-set-price menu? I had the fish stuffed with crab meat, shrimp and brie. Oh, and I know you had Crème Brule for dessert."

At this current moment in time, their is nothing that I can remember that made me say, "Wow, this restaurant is OFF THE CHAINS". I got to tell you that my food was JUST okay. Like I said, I was a victim of restaurant seduction by outside forces. The forces promptly took me in and left me disappointed like the SheiKra roller coaster at the Tampa Bay Busch Gardens.
From the outside, the ride looked amazing. The length of the line and the anticipation of the riders was second to none. However, it was very short ride in length and just did not reach my "maybe exaggerated" expectations. It just picked me up high and let me down. It was similar to what Oceanaire did. It had everything on the outside but the prices were high and the food was just okay.

OCEANAIRE WAS A HUGE PICKUP THEN A LET DOWN LIKE THE SHEIKRA ROLLER COASTER BELOW:

B - Great Service and Atmosphere BUT High Prices & Okay Food

Happy Eating,

Dario "THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

One Midtown Kitchen (Atlanta,GA) - High Energy American

One Midtown Kitchen
High Energy American with Gourmet Flair Cuisine
(404) 892-4111
Midtown
559 Dutch Valley Road
Atlanta, GA 30324
http://www.onemidtownkitchen.com/index-home.htm

DARIO "THE AVERAGE MAN" MOBLEY 6-25-2009:

RO .............MAN...................TIC !!!!!!!!!!!! That is the first word I think about when describing ONE (That is what "THE FOODIE" calls it). Did the way I wrote "RO...MAN...TIC" give you any more of a dramatic effect? If it did, that's good because that is what I was going for. lol!!! From the outside, this place almost looked like a upscale club. However, on the inside, I would say this place was perfect for a romantic date with your significant other. There is a curtain separating the hostess from the dining area which was cool for me. Even though the tables were a little too close together for me, the dark spacious atmosphere put me into a trance where I wanted to not only eat but drink and hangout for a long time. This place can end a night or start a night if you are going to a club afterward or if you are just taking your lady home and planning to "Do What You Do". One Midtown kitchen is part of a group of individual restaurants offered by CONCENTRICS RESTAURANTS. They have about 15 restaurants listed on their website that are located in Orlando, Chicago and Atlanta. I have been to four of their restaurants and only one of them did not fulfill my expectations. Just in case you are interested, here is there website:

http://www.concentricshospitality.com/

You should check them out. Anyhow, let's get to what everybody wants to know. Here is what I had:

Appetizers:

CALAMARI
Deep Fried, Smoke Spices, Sweet and Sour

MUSSELS
Out of the Shell, Heirloom Tomato, Verjus Butter, Sorrel

Entree:

SALMON
Leeks, Yukon Gold Potatoes, Ruby Grapefruit, Chipotle Butter

Again, I did not have a desert. All the food was decent. The mussels did not have some exotic unique flavor that I expected. That was my first time having mussels. Anyhow, I would not say that the food was outstanding but the environment and prices made this experience an enjoyable one. Oh, wait, the CALAMARI was really good though. Anyhow, my grade is:

B- GREAT ROMANTIC ENVIRONMENT with good prices. Thumbs up!!!

Happy Eating,
Dario " THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

Parish (NE Atlanta,GA) - Creole and Cajun that blend French, Spanish, French Caribbean and African

Parish Foods & Goods
Creole and Cajun that blend French, Spanish, French Caribbean and African Cuisine
(404) 681-4434
240 North Highland Ave
NE Atlanta, GA 30307
http://www.parishatl.com/

DARIO " THE AVERAGE MAN" MOBLEY 6-25-2009:

This is what happens when I get upset:

STOP RIGHT HERE!!!!!! I can not possibly be fit to grade this restaurant because I am from New Orleans and I take it more than personal when someone tries to re create the New Orleans cuisine and fail miserably. NEW ORLEANS FOOD DOES NOT TASTE ANYTHING LIKE THIS!!!!!!!! Parish needs to take Creole and Cajun out of any description of their food. Remove it from your website and never utter anything that has “NEW” in it ever again. Unfortunately, this is the only Concentrics Restaurant that I have not enjoyed so far. So for this review, I must refer to Concentrics as Con - SHIT – trics. Where do I start? Well, I actually visited this restaurant twice so I got to see first hand what they were failing to do. Firstly, I went in there and asked the waitress for a Hurricane. The Hurricane is a really strong drink that is very popular in New Orleans. Pat O’Brien’s, which is located on Bourbon Street, serves the best Hurricanes. Here is the website for Pat O’Brien’s if you are interested:

http://www.patobriens.com/patobriens2/neworleans/

Anyhow, a Hurricane is one of those drinks that instantly brings out your “Sqenched Gremlin Face” or the "Ray 5-No Trump Face" at the first sip. For those of you who don’t know what that face is, it is that face you make when you see an attractive girl in a really tight dress or a fat, ugly, gorilla of a girl in a tight dress with her belly rolls poking out on each side. Do you understand? Okay, I am glad you understand. This was nothing like a Hurricane!!!!!! Secondly, a dish called “Crawfish Cheesecake” was on the menu and “The Foodie” ordered it because it sounded interesting. “GET THE GAT!!!!! I AM ABOUT TO SHOOT SOMEBODY IN THIS BITCH!!!!!!!! I apologize for the language because I never curse in my blogs but sometimes you have to cross the line to get your point across. This was horrible!!! Their were no “Craw” and damn sure no “Fish”. This was some lame baked unsweetened pie with some crunchy stuff baked inside. I still haven’t figured out what the crunchy things were. IT WAS HORRIBLE!!! I had some sort of fish for an entree. I will not tell you exactly because I would not recommend my fiercest rival to this place. Speaking of my fiercest rival, he has actually become an ally of mine these days. We were feared competitors in the game of basketball. We broadened that competition to Monopoly, Bid Whist, Sports Blog Writing and even internet slander portrayed in dialogue form. If there was a car crashing contest, we both would be dead. “Life”, as I call him, can tell you that I am not fond about lot of things in New Orleans but I have never uttered a negative word about the food. The reason is simple because if I did, I would be crazy. This is not a joke. I would be crazy and should be shot three times in my ass.

Anyhow, I visited Parish Food and Goods or as I like to call it, "Perish The Food and Goods" a second time what they marketed as a Mardi Gras celebration. Spock, are you out of your frickin mind? "Life", are you kidding me? "Truck", ARE YOU KIDDING?!!!!! They had the Shrimp Po-Boy cut into tenths with some sandwich spread on it, the muffaletta tasted like a bologna sandwich from Publix without a first name and the king cake could have been used as a deadly weapon because it was so stale. AND………………AND……..AND!!!!!! This teenage kid was boiling crawfish and after he would take them out of the pot, he would sprinkle the crawfish seasoning on top of it. YES, THE SEASONING. IT WAS NOT THE CONCENTRATED CRAB BOIL!!!!! THE SEASONING!!!!!!! I told him to stop multiple times and strongly considered jumping off the roof and placing my elbow squarely in the back of his head but I feared that I would land on the red beans that they were serving. Can you tell that the red beans tasted like dog food? WHY????!!!!! (High pitched voice)…….. Look, I am very frustrated right now as you can see. If you want some food that is at least close to New Orleans, here is the website to a decent restaurant:

http://www.pappadeaux.com/home/

This is the closest thing to New Orleans food that I have ever had. Anyway, the service and the setting was not that bad but the idea of trying to take a good thing and chop it up and stick New Orleans on it is just treacherous. It is just like when Nicky Barnes chopped Frank Lucas’ Blue Magic up in the movie “American Gangster”. Here is what Frank Lucas played by Denzel Washington told Nicky Barnes played by Cuba Gooding Jr:

“Blue Magic. That’s a brand name. Like Pepsi, that’s a brand name. I stand behind it. I guarantee it. They know that, even if they don’t know me any more than they know the chairman of General Mills….When you chop my dope down to one, two, three, four, five percent and then you call it “Blue Magic”, that is trademark infringement."

See, that is how I feel about New Orleans food. PARISH has committed Trademark Infringement. Does anyone have a shotgun? Anyhow, my grade for Parish is below:

F – STOP PLEASE. STOP AND RETHINK YOUR MARKETING PLAN!!!!! THIS IS NOT ANYTHING CLOSE TO NEW ORLEANS FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Eating,
Dario "THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

Food 101(Atlanta,GA) - American Classics

Food 101
American Cuisine
(404) 497-9700
Virginia Highlands
4969 Roswell Rd # 200
Atlanta, GA 30342-268
http://www.101concepts.com/

DARIO "THE AVERAGE MAN" MOBLEY 6-26-2009:

This was one of the first places I went to for Brunch in Atlanta. If I am not mistaken, this is probably the very first. After my first experience with Brunch in Atlanta, I simply just wanted more. I wanted Brunch all the time and as much as possible. The genius who had attempted to market a breakfast/lunch had finally gotten through to me. What did I do next? I called my friend Ray "Dump Truck" Jones and told him how I was finally becoming part of a the new "ATLANTA BRUNCH SUBCULTURE". I was very excited since I was not a official member of any other new found trend that defined the masses. If you are not familiar with "subcultures, let's go over a few. Firstly, there is the "Starbuck's Subculture". They have turned drinking a cup of coffee into a multi-million dollar franchise. Unbelievable!!!! It has become cool to go to Starbuck's and spend $4.00 on a cup of coffee when you can buy instant 100% coffee that makes 80 cups for $4.00.



WOW, THIS IS COOL!!!!!!




Also, their is the "MAC Computer Subculture." Again, you are not really cool until you buy a computer for double the price but it really isn't better but it has a cool commercial. I can tell you that this is not the only computer with no adware, spyware or viruses. Man, that commercial with the MAC vs. PC was a brilliant idea.





BRILLIANT IDEA !!!!!












Lastly, this is something that "The Foodie" won't like at all but it is also cool to drink PBR. It is considered trendy to some and it is considered the ultra hippy beer to others but whoever is in charge of public relations for Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer is a genius. You can go to any bar in the United States now and you will see it on someone's table.







GO TO ANY BAR AND YOU WILL FIND A GLASS!!!!








See, the beauty of new trends is that everyone will eventually get consumed by one of of them. Finally, I have been consumed by a subculture and I am fully immersed in it emotionally and financially. I am an official member of the "ATLANTA BRUNCH SUBCULTURE" and it all started with FOOD 101 folks. It is now cool for me to eat an extra unnecessary meal during the day while still being hungry before dinner. Seriously, I must honestly, truly say that everything about Food 101 impressed me. 'The Foodie" and I ordered this:

MAMA'S BELGIAN WAFFLE
Local Blueberries, Whipped Cream & Vermont Maple Syrup

WILD GEORGIA SHRIMP & GRITS
Andouille Sausage, Caramelized Onions & Tomato Gravy

The waffles were really good but the highlight of the evening was my first introduction to Shrimp & Grits. Although this may sound like an awkward pairing, I can assure you that this is a perfect pairing. This blew my mind and made me a victim of the "Subculture Blues". I had never thought you could do so much with Grits, which is according to wikipedia, is a Native American corn-based food common in the Southern United States, consisting of coarsely ground corn. I have eaten grits many times before but never like this. It was excellent folks. Excellent, ausgezeichnet, eccellente, excelente, doskonałe, отличен, 優れた !!!!!!!!! They say you always remember and love your first. That is very true!!!!!! My grade for Food 101 is:

A+ - Great FOOD with the Introduction to Shrimp & Grits

Happy Eating,
Dario "THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

Taverna Plaka (NE Atlanta, GA) - Greek Tavern

Taverna Plaka
Greek Cuisine
(404) 636-2284
2196 Cheshire Bridge Rd
NEAtlanta, GA 30324-4274
http://www.tavernaplakaatlanta.com/


ANGELA "THE FOODIE" D'AMARIO:

Ah, Taverna Plaka, an Atlanta favorite for birthday parties, thanks to lively music, belly dancers, napkin throwing and dancing on tables. I wouldn't say it's the greatest Greek food in Atlanta, but it is delicious and worth eating. On the weekend nights, the restaurant turns into a dance party, with the DJ spinning international hits - Indian, Yugoslavian,etc. If you like a lively and loud atmosphere and Greek food, check it out. Come in large groups to maximize your fun. Be sure to get any of the appetizers, especially the Saganaki...I mean, what's better than cheese on fire?

DARIO "THE AVERAGE MAN" SAYS 7-29-2009:

Even I have to admit that the "cheese on fire" thing was pretty cool!!!!

This was one of many things that gave Taverna Plaka "a personality" as "The Foodie" would say. It had a real homely and close knit atmosphere. It was almost a feeling like we were attending a party with a huge group of friends. Everyone was really seated close together and it was really loud. There was a huge group of girls that apparently was having a birthday party and I felt like I was a part of that celebration considering that the birthday girl was dancing on the table right next to us. Yes, she was dancing on the table. After the dancing exhibition, the first thing that "The Foodie" and I did was order a few appetizers. The appetizers are located under the title "Traditional Meze" on their menu.

Meze or mezze in the Eastern Mediterranean is a selection of appetizers or small dishes often served with beverage, like anise-flavored liqueurs such as arak, ouzo, raki or different wines, similar to the tapas of Spain or finger food.

In Levantine cuisines and in the Caucasus region (especially in Armenia and Georgia), these dishes are served as appetizers, as a part of any large-scale meal. When not accompanied by alcohol, meze is known in the Arab world as muqabbilat (Arabic for "starters").

Here are some of the appetizers we ordered:

Keftedes

Fried Meatballs Fresh ground meat with basil, onion and Greek spices

Kefalograviera Saganaki

Aged Greek sheep's milk cheese flamed in ouzo

Spanakopitakia Spinach Pie

Fillo filled with spinach and feta cheese

All of the appetizers were great and a welcomed change for me as I had never had flaming cheese. I kind of wondered to myself if it was okay to eat. lol!!! Anyhow, my favorite of all the appetizers was the Fried Meatballs. After we finished up the appetizers, I was still hungry so I proceeded to order this for my entree:

Paidakia

Lamb Chops Grilled marinated lamb chops, served with lemon roasted potatoes and green beans.

My lamb chops were also pretty good. They were really tender and well seasoned like I would prefer. Even with the great food though, there was still something else that highlighted the night. It was this:

Yes, there were actual belly dancers prancing around while we were eating. It was fun and amazingly different at the same time. At one point, I actually gave "The Foodie" a dollar to tip the dancer and it looked quite interesting to see that. Amazingly different? Right? lol!!!

Anyhow, I would say Taverna Plaka was a great experience that combined good food with great personality.

A - Good Food with Great Personality

Happy Eating,

Dario "The Average Man" Mobley