You all know I’m not a big fan of sandwiches (or salads) because they make me hungry an hour or two later. In order to get satisfied, I’d have to eat a couple or have them as side items. If I were counting calories, that would be really bad. Anyways. I stopped by Victory one night after school. My class ends at 9:30 and finding a late night spot to eat a good meal has been a life long mission. Miso Izakaya, H+F, Steak&Shake (don’t hate), bars, have been favorite spots, as well as Chinese joints that are open past midnight on Cheshire Bridge and BuHi. I’m now adding Victory to that list.

These aren’t your normal, ho-hum deli sandwiches. They’re fancier. The bread is from Bakeshop. The fillings are from top-notch ingredients. They’re smallish so I usually have to eat 3. You’ll probably get full with two but one is definitely not enough. The $4 price tag might be steep on paper but definitely worth every penny once you see it live and in person. Like I said, the fillings and the bread are what make these sandwiches stand out.

Three of my favorites. The Castro with roast pork, ham, fontina cheese, & yellow mustard is a fun take on the Cuban sandwich. The pork is tender and very flavorful. Of course, love the pressed bread. Excellent.

Beast On Yeast. The pot roast with horseradish crème will remind you of roast beef. Very good.

Can’t remember what this is called. Ham and pimiento cheese. The pimiento cheese is pretty good.

There’s a huge wall where they project movies and my best friend/eating buddy swears by their Jack Daniel’s slush. I’m not a drinker so I’ll leave that all up to you. I just like that it’s cozy enough to whip up my laptop and hang out by the big glass walls.

Victory Sandwich Bar
280 Elizabeth Street
Atlanta, GA 30307
(770) 676-7287
Mon-Sat: 11:00am-2:30am
Sun: 11:00am-12:00am

Technorati Tags: Inman Park, sandwiches, bar, late night, tidal

You might think the hodge-podge of international dishes on the menu to be a bit sketchy at first glance. But, seriously, each one is carefully and properly executed. There’s one thing here that is actually on my death row meal — the Chinese Breakfast! I know, I know. Chinese dish in an Irish pub? Trust me. It’s amazing. I started eating this chalkboard special last winter. It was so elusive you could only have it during lunch. And not all the time. Guess what, it’s now on the regular menu. Yay for me!!! Just imagine. Fork tender, delicious, braised pork belly sitting on perfectly cooked, fragrant Jasmine rice and grilled fresh leeks that have been drizzled with a soy-sesame oil sauce then topped with a sunny side up egg. Wow. Wow. Wow.

I’ve loved everything I’ve eaten here. One other favorite is their Buttermilk Fried Chicken. It’s juicy and tasty. The creamy, stone-ground grits make a perfect background for the crispy chicken. And the sliced tomatoes just round up everything. Mmm, yum.

But there’s more. The House Burger will make you a believer. It’s perfectly cooked and seasoned. The Pimiento Cheese has a sharp cheddar yet creamy taste. Great with grilled bread and vinaigrette cucumbers. The fries are to-die-for.

I really love this place. A friendly, neighborhood bar with great food and great service nestled in a great city. What more can you ask for? Go. Now.

Thanks again to my good friend Troy for introducing me to my Chinese Breakfast addiction. You and the AC girls, are awesome!

Steinbeck’s Ale House
659 East Lake Drive, Suite B
Decatur, GA 30030
404.373.1116
Dinner 7 Days a Week (5PM – 11PM)
Lunch 7 Days a Week (11:30AM – 2PM)
Brunch on Sundays (11:30AM – 2:30PM)
Bar open late.

Technorati Tags: Decatur, pub, Oakhurst

The place is huge. The tables inside are regular Korean BBQ tables. But they’ve got a quirky patio (it used to be a Longhorn’s) that has been covered and converted into a dining room. The cute table bases are steel trash cans and the back-less seats are tiny. Do not, I repeat, do not make a mistake of leaning back. They’re stools without backs. I witnessed an older man keel over right in front of me and (almost) landed on my feet. So beware.

I’ve only had the Korean BBQ here. They use flame on box-type cooking trays. See how thick the slices of pork belly are? So far, everything’s pretty good.

Oh, and the tofu soup? Amazing.

Did you know? Can’t wait to try more of the food. Who’s coming with me?

Star Daepo
Near Mega Mart
3525 Mall Blvd., Ste 3
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 418-9810

[tags]Duluth, Korean, Korean bbq, bar[tags]

I present to you… the Chinese Breakfast*. Yes, at an Irish pub, no less. In Decatur (Oakhurst). Imagine two thick slices of the most delicious braised pork belly that was just exquisite. They had a nice crisp on the outside and a buttery, tender inside. These, plus grilled fresh leeks atop perfectly cooked, fragrant, white, Jasmine rice drizzled with a soy-sesame oil concoction. But it doesn’t stop there. A beautiful sunny side up egg completes the dish. It. Was. Dreamy. *swoon*

But wait. There was this other surprise… the House Burger. Delicious. Enough said. Go see for yourself.

**Props to Troy (via @AsianCajuns) for the inside info. Troy, you had me at pork You guys rock!!! ~C.

Insider tip:
*Chalkboard Specials rotate every week. Call or check website for availability.

The scoop:
Steinbeck’s
659 East Lake Dr.
Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 373-1116

Technorati Tags: Decatur, bar, gastropub

I was surprised by the pizzas which are actually pretty good — the crust is sweetish, thin, nicely charred. The pizza sauce is very good: fresh, not runny, not paste like. I had the Margherita (they use ricotta cheese but I prefer mozzarella), Pepperoni (I like that it wasn’t salty), and Cheese.

The Meatball Stomboli is also very good. I love its yeasty dough filled with lots of mozzarella cheese.

The Cheese Ravioli with its creamy sauce is also a good choice. The pasta is perfectly cooked, just the way I like it — right in the middle of al dente and mushy.

This is another good addition to the area.

Insider tip:
Valet parking and street parking.

The scoop:
Villa Vino
3188 Roswell Rd
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 228-3934

Technorati Tags: Italian, Buckhead, Fat Tire, bar

The Trios starter at $8.50 is a great way to sample the appetizers at Teela. It comes with a bowl of salsa, guacamole, and queso. I particularly loved the fresh, warm tortilla chips dusted with nacho seasoning that adds and extra oomph to an otherwise ho-hum chip and dip combo.

I sampled many tacos during my visit. The Brisket had chunks of fork-tender meat simmered in a blend of Mexican spices.  The Fajita Steak is quite possibly the best in the menu, with thick, juicy slices of flavorful steak. The Fried Chicken, Bang Bang Shrimp, Mushroom, and Pork Carnitas are all equally good. Tacos are smallish so 2-3 can make for a filling lunch (or dinner).

Enchiladas come two to an order but I requested two different kinds for mine. The Mole Chicken and and Fajita Steak were both good — tasty, with huge chunks of meat.

Overall a great place and fun place, complete with a funky patio — great for meeting people for drinks and a quick (and a cheap) bite to eat.

Insider tip:
Menu can be found here.

The scoop:
Teela Taqueria
227 Sandy Springs Pl NE
Atlanta, GA 30328
(404) 604-9893

Technorati Tags: Tacos, Sandy Springs, Mexican, Bar, Roswell

Included in the face lift is the beautiful Livingston restaurant and bar headed by Chef Gary Mennie. The stylish space includes snakeskin-covered furniture, chrome and leather seats, and floor-to-ceiling windows, among other things. A revolving door was retained from the original design and now stands as a stationary place to showcase wine bottles. It seems out of place, really.

On a recent visit with a regular lunch buddy, we decided to get items from three sections of the menu. We started off with the Wellfleet Oysters Gratin. Served on a bed of rock salt, whole peppercorns and star anise, the oysters are plump, fresh, and briny. The spinach, cheese, and bacon added just a tiny hint of flavor and texture. Great execution on this simple dish.

Next, we went with the Pick-3-for-$15 martini lunch: peeky toe crab salad, white truffle chicken salad, and grilled hangar steak. While the presentation was superb (using stemless martini glasses), the flavor of each item was lacking. As my friend, I also noticed a considerable amount of lettuce in each serving. The peeky toe crab was under-salted which focused on the taste of the mayo instead of the crab. Sad. And such a waste. The white truffle chicken salad tasted about the same. I did like the texture of the chicken which was grilled before being tossed in dressing. The hangar steak was cooked perfectly but sadly, I couldn’t discern any stand out flavor. Meh.

For our mains, we went with the Georgia White Shrimp and a good ol’ burger. First off, five medium pieces of steamed shrimp doesn’t justify $14 in my book. Especially if it’s devoid of any flavor. Although fresh, the shrimp’s simplicity couldn’t be saved by the bland fava bean puree. The bits of ham hock did add a tiny hint of flavor but not enough to elevate the dish. I was totally disappointed with it.

The burger was mediocre at best. I wasn’t too keen on the crumbly, flavorless, dryish bun. Honestly, I’ve had better fast food burgers. Worse, I bit several pieces of hard rock salt in the patty. This just didn’t do it for me.

Overall, a disappointing meal — both in taste and in value. I was hoping Chef Mennie would be more inventive with the food. I’m pretty sure his menu is a work-in-progress.

Insider tip:
Complimentary valet parking — however, you must have your ticket validated.

The scoop:
Livingston Restaurant + Bar
659 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 898-8316

Technorati Tags: Georgian Terrace, hotel restaurants, bar, Midtown, Atlanta

I am impressed by what looks like hole-in-a-wall places, especially when it does not look nor feel like so when you step in. Such is the case here at Kozmo — a new gastro pub deep in the heart of suburbia. It’s in a strip mall with tight parking many miles away from the nearest major highway.

The decor is suggestive of Buckhead and Midtown with its usual minimalist take — clean whites, contrasting dark booths, splashes of wood, open kitchen, shiny concrete floors, huge boards plastered on the wall. The focal point is a large wooden communal table complete with Starck’s Emeco bar stools. The clientele, however, is typical of the affluent area: the more matured, more polished, more reserved crowd.

Food wise, it’s top notch. The House Poutine is simply incredible and one of the best versions I’ve had in town. Theirs come layered to ensure the fries stay crisp. Au jus, fork-tender flaked short rib, cheese, and fries are arranged neatly from bottom to top. It is a gigantic portion good enough for sharing. I love the layering effect (as opposed to the “pile-on-high” results found in nachos) and more so that they don’t skimp on the flaked short rib which is so flavorful.

The burger is a great contender to the popular versions in town. It is hand-made with a brisket-sirloin mix that produces a tender, juicy, thick patty. The Alon’s brioche is buttery and soft and gives a sweetish hint to the fatty meat — a perfect combination. The sparse amount of lettuce and thinly sliced tomato guarantee the flavor of the meat to shine. Delicious. The side of macaroni-and-cheese is a grown-up take on the kiddie favorite. Twisty macaroni shells are drenched in creamy Parmesan, mozzarella, white cheddar, and bleu cheeses. This is definitely not what your momma used to make.

Tuesdays is Fried Chicken night. And it is in your best interest not to miss it. They do run out so do hurry. Three pieces of lightly battered yet crispy fried chicken are tender and moist with flavor all the way through. It’s not a massive portion but with two good-sized sides, this $8.99 dish is enough to get you filled. My chosen sides of garlic spinach and coleslaw are both fantastic. The spinach retains its crunch and the garlic lends a flavor. The coleslaw is crisp and creamy but not so that you feel like you’re eating mayo. You can tell they only use fresh and quality ingredients here.

The Short Rib Pappardelle is scrumptious. The stewed-for-hours short rib is fork tender and the flavor is bold and hefty. The house-made sheets of fresh pasta allows the meat to mellow, sopping up all the sauce for a great-tasting dish.

Dessert wise, everything’s made in house. The chocolate chip cookies with ice-cream is a simple choice but big on taste. The cookies are mounds of soft, chewy short-bread infused with chunks of chocolate. They were so good and fresh out of the oven that I didn’t want to waste a minute by photographing them.

Drink wise, well, I’m not much of a drinker. But even the non-drinker that I am found the White Sangria pretty weak. No kick, no taste of wine, and more like a watered-down fruit juice with wine-infused bits of fruits. But I am curious to try their Kozmojito and the Kozmorita on my future visits.

This is a real gastropub in the true sense of the word. Food is amazing, decor and ambiance are top notch, and prices are very reasonable. Although lunch and dinner have the same price points, the one most expensive item on the menu, the Flat Iron Steak and Fries will set you back a mere $14.99 while the burger weighs in at $8.99. Truly a great benefit to the folks who live in the area.

Insider tip:
Be sure to join their Lunch Club: buy 5 lunches and the 6th one is free.

The scoop:

Kozmo Gastro Pub
11890 Douglas Road
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(678) 526-6094

Technorati Tags: Kozmo, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, gastropub, bar