Rise Sushi Lounge (Atlanta,GA) - Sushi Bar,Asian Fusion,Tapas Bar

Rise Sushi Lounge
Sushi Bar, Asian Fusion,Tapas Bar
Neighborhood: Downtown
300 Marietta St
Atlanta, GA 30313

(404) 477-0947

www.risesushilounge.com

ANGELA "THE FOODIE" SAYS:

Rise is a fairly new restaurant in Atlanta, and one of many that seem to have opened on Marietta Street over the last two years. I've passed it several times (since it's near work) but had never been interested in stopping to check it out. Not that it's not a decent-looking restaurant from the outside; it's just not that interesting looking, and comes across like many of the new sushi-serving restaurants that are popping up all over the city.

But Atlanta Restaurant Week always gives you a reason to stop into new places. If you're unfamiliar with the week, it's when several local restaurants offer three-courses-for-$25 menus. After checking out the special menus at the participating restaurants, "Average Man" chose Rise.

Once we entered, we noticed the lack of people in the nice, clean-looking interior that came across a little too cold for my taste. However, the staff was all very friendly and warm. After finding out they were out of plum wine (darn!) our waitress advised me to try a certain dessert wine because it tasted like Sprite. Curious as to how any wine could taste like Sprite yet cost that much, I took her recommendation. It, of course, did not taste like Sprite but was brilliant nonetheless. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the wine, but I'm sure this same waitress will be there to advise you.

I started off with some shrimp dumplings that were tasty and satisfying followed by the chef's recommended sushi platter. I definitely have no complaints about the food - I enjoyed both dishes - but neither was salivating-worthy enough for me to crave returning to Rise.

However, after seeing the variety and creativity of the restaurant's small plates, my arm could probably easily be twisted to return and test out a few.

Always hungry,

Angela

SteamHouse Lounge (Atlanta,GA)-Seafood, Dive Bar

Steamhouse Lounge
Seafood, Dive Bar
Neighborhood: Midtown
(404) 233-7980
1051 W Peachtree St NW
Atlanta, GA 30309

DARIO "THE AVERAGE MAN" MOBLEY 8-24-2009:

One of the most important things that I am learning from "The Foodie" is the power of the patio. She has a patio at her house and she hangs out on her patio like it is a world famous beach at least twice a week. In the beginning, I never got the loveliness of the patio but I am starting to get it. I am starting to understand. I am starting to become a believer in the power of the patio. I feel more and more relaxed as I continue to eat outside at restaurants. The reason I was not a huge fan of it before is because when I was growing up in the deep south of New Orleans, we never got excited to hang outside because it was always extremely hot and we were always was outside. Unlike northern states or colder climates in the world, it was just a normal thing so it never presented something different. I have officially overcome the curse of the New Orleans heat and humidity though. I am really warming up to THE POWER OF THE PATIO at restaurants. The major appeal of the The Steamhouse Lounge is not from a food standpoint. The appeal of The Steamhouse Lounge stretches way past food. In addition to the patio, the servers were really nice and attentive and that was the icing on the cake that made the atmosphere cozy enough to take that deep breath and proclaim, "Wow, this place is sort of nice". Also, I did not feel like the other customers were really close to me. Have you ever been somewhere where the tables were too close and you can kick the leg of a person at the table next to you? I hate that!!! The Steamhouse seating arrangement is definitely not cluttered like that and I tend to like that. The only issue with the patio was that it started raining. However, before that, "The Foodie" and I were kicking out our legs and drinking like tourists from another country. It was really cool. We even invited some of our friends the second night and they seemed to absorb the vibe like we did. My friend actually called me a few days later to ask me the name of the place we went to. It is something about the Steamhouse Lounge that draws people in. Anyhow, here is a picture of the patio:

Again, the food was not great but I do recommend the Broiled Oyster Sampler. I am from New Orleans so I know how great oysters are suppose to taste and I fully support the spice and flavor of the Oyster Sampler at The Steamhouse Lounge. Also, if you are a mixed drink type of person, I think the Rum Punch and the Gombay Smash is right up your alley. You ABSOLUTELY know that I had to taste both and I was not disappointed. Here is what we had to eat and drink in two visits to The Steamhouse Lounge:


BROILED OYSTER SAMPLER (2) - 10.00 (2nd time without Garlic Parmesan)

2 Rockefeller, 2 Monterey & 2 Garlic Parmesan

FRIED SHRIMP 10.00
served with french fries, hushpuppies, tartar or cocktail sauce

SHRIMP & SCALLOP QUESADILLA- 8.75
Shrimp, scallops & Monterey Jack in flour tortillas with a side of salsa

FROGMORE SKILLET "Best Single Dish Skillet"- Atlanta Magazine"- 12.50
"BEST SINGLE SKILLET DISH"- Atlanta Magazine Oysters, shrimp, corn, potatoes, & sausage in a spicy butter sauce

BARBADOS RUM PUNCH-7.00
Mount Gay, tropical juice and spices

GOOMBAY SMASH - 7.00

Cruzan coconut rum mixed with orange, pineapple, & lime juices topped with dark rum

B- Good Atmosphere and Nice Servers

Happy Eating,

Dario "THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley

Noche ( NE Atlanta, GA) - Tapas Bar

Noche
Tapas Bar
(404) 815-9155
Virgina Highlands
1000 Virgina Ave
NE Atlanta, GA 30306-3669
http://www.heretoserverestaurants.com/


Dario "THE AVERAGE MAN" Mobley 9-13-2009:

Noche was an interesting place to eat. I had never heard of the Tapas concept so when The Foodie suggested it to me, I was thinking, "Hmmm, do I want to eat here?"For those of you who don't know,Tapas is the name of a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or warm (such as puntillitas, which are battered, fried baby squid) We had to wait a while to be seated because it was $10 Tapas Monday. That place was crowded like a welfare line so that was not too much fun either.


















When we finally got our named called, they were throwing food at us like beads at Mardi Gras.














The small portions of food came out every 10 minutes or so. It was actually a lot better than I thought because I got to taste a lot of different things. After they brought all the portions out the first time, we got to choose which ones we wanted extra off. Here are the Tapas that were served:

Mushroom Risoto
Empanadas
Casear Salad
Three Breads With Different Spreads (Salmon, etc...)
Chicken and Rice
Spanish Fried Potatoes With Roasted Red Pepper Dipping Sauce
Grilled BBQ Salmon with Jicama Slaw

I really enjoyed the concept and the food was pretty good and it was a great price. I liked the Mushroom Risoto and the Empanadas the best. If you are ever in Atlanta, go and visit Noche in the cool Virginia Highlands neighborhood and I guarantee you will have a great time. Trust me.....I write a food blog read by.......ah.......I don't know who actually reads it but it is still cool to say I write a food blog. lol!!!!! Anyhow, my grade for Noche is below:

B - Good Fun and Great Concept

Happy Eating,
Dario "The Average Man" Mobley

Bauern-Stube (Orlando,FL) - Authentic German

Bauern-Stube
Authentic German
(407) 857-8404
8015 S Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32809
http://www.bauern-stube.com/

ANGELA "THE FOODIE" SAYS:

Living in a city as big as Atlanta, I'm amazed at the lack of German restaurants. Although I haven't ventured out to Kurt's and Vreny's in Duluth yet, I did go to the Village Corner German restaurant in Stone Mountain and it was not thrilled. Not only was the brotchen (German rolls) unlike any I had ever had in the country, the schnitzel with spätzle wasn't either. Not that the food was bad - it just didn't taste like what I had growing up in Germany.

When I went to see "Average Man," we decided to go to Bauern Stube, and I was a happy camper, to put it tamely. The food was great - definitely not high-end cuisine, but quality, authentic, German food at a reasonable price. I had spätzle with cheese as an appetizer and a wienerschnitzel with a potato dumpling for an entree. Although we sat outside, I loved the glimpse I got of the homey inside with long wooden tables and an accordion player.

The restaurant is small and on the outskirts of the city. It's definitely a place I imagine not many of the Orlando tourists happen upon, and it closes quite early.

But just like I fell in love with Baraonda in Atlanta because it was the first pizza I found in the U.S. that tasted like the ones I've had in NE Italy, I have the same feelings about Bauern Stube.

And sometimes food isn't about how amazing the chef is and the creativity behind it, but the memories attached to those foods. It's comfort food.

Just as I remember the great Italian pizzas I had almost every summer in Italy and the tasty meat and potato-based meals I've had in Germany for most of my life, being able to experience them again always takes me to my "happy place."

Kartoffelpfannkuchen Potato Pancake $2.25
Apple Sauce and Sour Cream

Kase Spatzle mit Butter & Gebratenen Zwiebeln $3.25
Cheese Spatzle with Butter and Browned Onions

Zigeunerschnitzel mit Paprika and Zwiebel Sosse (gut gewurtzt) $16.95
Gipsy Cutler with Paprika and Onion Gravy (spicy)

Sides Dumpling & Red Cabbage

Wienerschnitzel $14.95
Vienna Cutlet

Beer - Paulaner
Pepsi