atl bucketlist

God bless Atlanta snow days. Snow is so regular where I’m moving (spoiler alert) that I’m sure I won’t be taking advantage of any snow days which consist of barely any more than some flurries and an inch of rain. I will miss it for sure. Kate and I took full advantage of the most recent snow day by listening to our schools orders to go home early. We then trekked the two blocks from our place to Bantam Pub for some midday drankin’.

Glorious Bantam. Our server (Caitlyn? Kaitlyn? Kaitlin?) is one of my favorites. She is usually behind the bar and I’m always fascinated by her fiery red hair and tatts. I wish I could be so cool. We kindly suggested that they have some sort of “snow day” drink specials like some of the surrounding restaurants were advertising. She said she’d “see what [she] could do.” Next thing you know, the manager (Wes? Russ? Ross? Sam? Ron? Ren? Ben? DAMN! I’d had a few drinks) was sitting at our table, wearing my coat, and asking us about our favorite liquors. He condoned my food choice -- which I’ll get to in a bit -- and then brought out some sort of whiskey shot concoction that was warm and strong. This facilitated conversation that quickly took a turn for the serious, with discussion of hospice, cancer, and dealing with the dying elderly population in America. We should have made friends with him months ago. 

As you can tell, this was not nearly my first time at Bantam. It is our go to answer to the question “where should we go?” whether it be for dinner, lunch, brunch or just drinks. It’s walking distance, friendly and usually the perfect amount of crowded. It feels like a true neighborhood pub. I’m usually a fan of the food (the Stewnami is award winning) even though it’s not always really within my budget for a random meal out. This particular time, I ordered the Italian Mac and Cheese, a special for the day. HOLY GOUDA. (I think). Multiple types of cheeses, multiple types of charcuterie. One of the best meals I’ve ever had. I don’t care how many calories I consumed, it was worth every single one.

FOOD: 4 out of 5. I’m gonna be real, sometimes I have to ask for salt. THAT MAC AND CHEESE, THO.

DRINKS: 4.5 out of 5. The tall, thin, blonde server that once tried to convince me that the only good wines were $80 a bottle.... she’s not my favorite. Caitlyn (Katherine? shit.) made me a fantastic, warm whiskey/honey cocktail that made me feel all warm and fuzzy amid the wintry mix outside. Love her.

I’ve been to Krog Street Market a few times over the past month or two, but I don’t think I’ve written anything about any particular spot yet. Prior to my dinner at Superica, the only food I’d had from Krog Street was something delicious from Fred’s Meat and Bread. It was fantastic, but it was awhile ago and I don’t actually remember what I ate. Anyway, I’ve been wanting to actually go to one of the restaurants over there and I finally did with my good friend, or as she likes to say “dime piece,” Kelley Wiedman.

Superica is the second Ford Fry restaurant I’ve made it to since being in Atlanta, although many of them are on my ATL Bucket List. He’s the chef/owner for the likes of The Optimist, Kind and Duke, St. Cecilia, No. 246, and his original, JCT Kitchen. Most recently he opened Superica -- a Mex Tex restaurant with an unmatchable atmosphere, and The El Felix -- in Alpharetta so I most likely won’t be going there. 

Long story short -- I was impressed. I ordered the Pork Belly Tacos, which to be honest weren’t my favorite, but that’s my own fault; the only pork belly I’ve ever been a huge fan of was from 4th and Swift. It’s usually quite rich and not necessarily something of which you can eat three gargantuan tacos. That being said, THERE WERE THREE GARGANTUAN TACOS. And rice and beans! For like $12. I had a leftover taco so the server offered to box it up for me -- with fresh rice and beans! WHAT? That is something so simple that really made a difference. I got two full meals out of my dinner. Additionally, THERE WERE MULTIPLE TYPES OF FREE SALSA. Superica actually provides complimentary chips and salsa, something that has been quickly disappearing from many Mexican restaurants lately. All of this was accompanied by an exhaustive list of tequilas, margaritas, and cocktail choices. I opted for a grapefruit margarita while Kelley went for what was basically a mezcal old fashioned. She won the drink ordering contest, although mine would have seemed perfect had I not tasted hers.

FOOD: 4.5 out of 5. Well-crafted plates for reasonable prices. I can’t wait to go back and try another option. Also, did I mention the salsa?

DRINKS: 5 out of 5. I wish I knew more about tequila to really appreciate the expansive list offered at Superica. I can appreciate a good Margarita, though, and I was in no way disappointed.

ATMOSPHERE: 5 out of 5. Hell, I’d give it a 6 out of 5 if I could. While I myself am in no way an artist or designer or anything of the sort, I feel as though I truly can appreciate impressive, aesthetically satisfying design when I see it. (I could be totally off base, but I’m going to let myself believe this.) This restaurant has it all down, even to the small details. Two of the pictures above were taken in the freaking bathroom because I was so impressed with it! I love everything about Ford Fry’s designers. Take a look at his website to see what I’m talking about. http://www.fordfry.com/#hello Just, yes. Shot out to Green Olive Media, the design team behind much of Superica.

ooh look I found the pictures! And his name was Roman!

Good ol' Augusta convinced me to go to a show at the earl and get out of my apartment Saturday Night. Can't say that I was necessarily familiar with Apache Relay, but I'd at least heard the name before? Turned out to be a fun show. While some of the songs kind of ran together for me, I fully enjoyed their sound and their energy on stage. Mike the guitarist straight killed it, y'all. I think I bowed to him at one point. As always, The Earl allows for an enjoyable live music experience. People don't really push and crowd to the front, so if you do prefer to be closer to the stage it's nice; you don't have to body check 25 people in order to go get a drink from the bar. Good music, good drinks, good company. And I was still in bed by midnight.

There are a few different options when it comes to breweries in Atlanta, but Monday Night consistently wins out for me. Obviously this was not one of the unchecked items on the bucket list -- I've lost count of all the times I've been there at this point. Still, it deserves a post. Like I said before, Monday Night wins in pretty much every category when it comes to breweries in Atlanta. The beer = delicious and strong. The atmosphere = trendy and pleasing without being overdone. The clientele = diverse and enjoyable. The staff and bartenders = friendly and approachable. I gush love for this place in so many ways. I can only think of one true complaint: it gets crowded. As much as you want these craft breweries to succeed, you also kind of wish you could keep them a secret. The set up at Monday Night is conducive for accommodating big crowds just so long as no one actually wants to drink any beer. :/ This most recent trip was fantastic because I went on a rainy week night -- I didn't have to do the whole cyclic fill-up-get-back-in-line-and-drink-your-beer-while-waiting thing. (see the Three Taverns post from a while back.) Turns out threats of freezing rain and snow keeps some people at home around here.

Beer: 4.9 out of 5 -- Love the Drafty Kilt and the Eye Patch. The pilsner is a pilsner. The bourbon barrel version of the Drafty Kilt is phenomenal. The .1 away from perfect comes from the lack of true Serrano taste in the Serrano Eye Patch. (It's still good though.)

Atmosphere: 4.5 out of 5 -- Its just beautiful. There is a smattering of seating both indoors and outdoors. There are twinkle lights. There is exposed brick. And most importantly, there is a wall of ties.

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 -- You will not go wrong here. My only suggestion is go when it's still a little bit cold and gross outside for your first foray into Monday Night. That way you'll be able to taste as many beers as possible without an intense crowd.

Finally.... just, finally. I've heard/read/seen so many things about Ria's since moving to Atlanta after college. I've heard about the food as well as Ria herself so many times that I've lost count - most recently, the beautiful article that CL wrote about Ria after she passed away. I was inspired by what The Bluebird meant to Ria as well as so many other people in Grant Park/Atlanta. I am so glad to have finally experienced a small piece of that this morning.

I met up with two friends from high school, Bonnie and Adrienne for a president's day brunch. We sat at the counter and decided to order a smattering of things and just kind of pick off of each others plates. This tactic ended up not being the one I would choose in the future; we all loved our food so much that it was inhaled before we could really share with each other. I went with the huevos, Bonnie had the omelet of the day (something with dill and cheese and tomatoes) and Adrienne had the burrito. Multiple sides were ordered as well as a short stack of the famous pancakes to split between the three of us. Phew. That was four hours ago and I'm still stuffed. Highlights include the pancakes (obviously), the huevos (basically breakfast nachos), and the dill omelet thing.

Food: 5 out of 5 -- the pancakes. Just do it. Also, look at the huevos; art on a plate, y'all.

Atmosphere: 5 out of 5 -- I didn't really get the full experience this time since I sat at the counter, but it just feels like a neighborhood staple. 

Augusta and I checked this one off awhile ago, but for some reason I completely forgot about it. Which doesn't make any sense considering how ridiculously delicious our food was.

Varuni Napoli was opened in 2014 by the old head chef of Antico and you can tell. The food was fantastic. Augusta and I ordered the Mamma, one of their specialty white pizzas featuring buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto, arugula, cherry tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil. We devoured it with no shame. I would have loved to have tried an antipasti as well, but we were too stuffed from the pizza. I had 2 glasses of pinot noir which is worth mentioning because the wine is only $5 a glass. What? Cheap booze? Have I died and gone to Athens?

Now, I'd been to Antico a few times in the past and enjoyed it for the most part. While the pizza at Antico is pretty much perfect, the atmosphere is always a bit hectic. Always having to figure out how to split the check, then somebody has to bring the booze, then you stalk someone to get a table, but then you're basically in the kitchen so you sweat your ass off while waiting for and eating your pizza. Don't get me wrong, there is a novelty to Antico that can be enjoyable. You really feel like you are in someone's kitchen and while inside I could be anywhere -- just as soon in Italy as in West Midtown. Varuni doesn't quite have the same old-fashioned family style atmosphere, although most of the tables are communal. Varuni boasts a modern aesthetic that is both beautiful and comforting. I didn't feel as crowded or flustered as I often feel at Antico, however I think Augusta and I got lucky; we sat at the bar with no wait.

The best part of the night was probably the adorable guy behind the drink/dessert counter. He kept photobombing my attempts to get a picture of Augusta. SO BUMMED because these are some of the only pictures I lost in transitioning to a new phone. (that's another story...someone tell me how to increase space in my cloud? technology is hard). You'll just have to imagine it -- cute Italian guy with rolled-up sleeves, suspenders and an ivy cap. I imagined him breaking out into a number from Newsies at any moment. Or you can just go there and meet him yourself.

Picture below is borrowed from Varuni Napoli's website:

Food: 5 out of 5 -- perfectly finished crust, well balanced flavors. I cannot wait to go back and try another pie.

Atmosphere: 4 out 5 --  I love the design in this place, but I'm afraid the order-at-the-counter and communal table thing might be a bit hectic if you have any more than 2 people in your party.

So, obviously my posts are out of order. I went to Twain's with friends after Three Taverns a few weeks ago and didn't post about it because I was pretty much drunk when I ate there forgot to post about it.

This was the second time I'd been to Twain's and I have to say I enjoyed it more this time. The first time I went was for trivia on a weeknight with a guy I'd been dating for only a few weeks. It was fun, but I only saw the very back side of the restaurant. We'd also already eaten so I didn't venture to try one of their burgers. This time, however, I was post beer "tasting" at Three Taverns and prepped to chow down on something deliciously bad for me. Cue the burger and Mac.

I apologize for the horrible picture. Let's be real: it was awhile ago and I'd been drinking. I don't remember exactly which burger I got, but it appears there was bacon and I'm pretty sure pimento was involved in some way. The mac and cheese I do, in fact, remember as being on the creamier side of mouthwatering. I scarfed this entire thing down with absolutely zero regrets. #yolo

FOOD: 5 out of 5. MEAT AND CHEESE. Maybe I should review all of these places after brewery tastings? Also, I think Twain's brews their own beer? maybe? if so I'm sure I tried it. ugh. fail.

ATMOSPHERE: 3.5 out of 5. MUCH nicer in the front. The back feels like a dive bar in the burbs. Don't get me wrong, I love my dive bars, but it has the bright-potentially-flourescent-light feel of a suburban sports bar that makes me uncomfortable.

First off -- again I apologize for the lack of posts. Now that I say that it sounds as if I there are actually people waiting for me to post. So never mind; I'm not sorry. Deal with my procrastination, interwebz!

I truly cannot believe it took me THIS LONG to get to Gato Bizco. I've heard so many phenomenal reviews from friends and it has been on my list of places to try since well before I ever really had a list. Geez, I even dated a guy for a while that lived a 5 minute walk away! This meal was a long time coming and well worth the 2 year buildup.

My friend and I were lucky enough to find two adjacent, open seats at the bar so we didn't even have to wait for a table. This is basically a miracle in the world of Gato Bizco, I'm told. We order pretty quickly and our food arrives only after about a mug and a half of coffee, which is how I judge time on lazy weekend mornings. I ordered the huevos rancheros which came highly recommended. It did not disappoint. I don't know if the salsa verde at Gato is homemade or from a jar, but either way it was delicious, both flavorful and a little spicy. The service was friendly and the atmosphere was hipster diverse. I suspect I will be back at least once before I leave the A, at the very least for Eat Me Speak Me.

FOOD: 4.5 out of 5. The only reason it doesn't get a full 5 out of 5 is really due to my sensitive stomach. While I fully enjoyed my food while eating, the huevos rancheros sought revenge on my GI system the rest of the day. Oof.

ATMOSPHERE: 4 out of 5. Kitschy in a good way, cat artwork everywhere. My kind of place. Only drawback is the fact that there are only 4 tables so be prepared to wait or just go by yourself and sit at the bar.

Three Taverns Brewery on January 10th

Some PA school friends and I decided to try out Three Taverns Brewery in Decatur, GA last weekend. I'd had their beer before at Leon's with dinner. It was likable but not altogether very memorable. I figured we'd give the brewery a shot.

First impression: small and cozy. When we first arrived there weren't many people there at all. Someone brought up that most ATL breweries are so crowded that it's often necessary to participate in a perpetual circle of fill glass, get in line, drink beer while in line, fill glass, etc., or else you will never use all of your tickets. A comment was made of how nice this place was -- we didn't have to do the perpetual line charade! Oh how wrong we were. By on our second taster glass, the entire place was packed. And HOT. SO. EFFING. HOT. I was shedding layer after layer and eventually debating how inappropriate it would be if I just walked around in my bra and called it a cropped top. It became increasingly clear that we may die of heat stroke and/or claustrophobia before getting another beer, so we spent most of our time outside playing corn hole. Thankfully, it was a beautiful day.

Beer: 3 out of 5 -- The Fest Noel was delicious -- flavorful and rich without being too heavy. The IPA had an odd bite -- not a hoppy bite but a bitter, almost sour bite. The others that I tried weren't very memorable. Kate said the Pilsner tasted like water, but it was a Pilsner so...

Ambiance: 2 out of 5 -- Okay, okay, I'm probably being harsh here, but I'm pretty over the reclaimed wood thing. I mean it was way overdone. Every surface was covered in it. Just...too much. The picture above of the window was the only wall not covered in wood. I did like that there was a loft area with some seating, but it was too hot and crowded to make use of it. The bartenders were nice and dressed in the trendy hipster fashion we've all come to expect. I made a joke to one of them asking if the vest was part of the dress code.... turns out it is. WHAT. He told me they are required to wear plaid and that the vests actually belong to the brewery. That is so stupid it hurts a little. I'm pretty sure I laughed in his cute, bearded face. Whoops. Come to think of it, I'll up the score to 3 out of 5 solely for the cute bearded face.

Functionality: 2 out of 5 -- There is only one bar with two bartenders and one tap of each beer. It just doesn't work. I'm hoping that in the warmer months they will open a bar outside. Also, Three Taverns uses tasting glasses rather than full pint glasses... so you won't get nearly as much use out of them at home, unless using it as a snifter. OH! I almost died because we sat at a picnic table that backed up to a stairwell. I wavered and almost fell down before I'd even had that much to drink. Three Taverns needs to fix this or I guarantee someone will eventually get hurt. Cement stairs + alcohol is a lawsuit waiting to happen. 

This particular event was not originally on the list, solely due to the fact that I was unaware of its existence. What is Ladyfest, you ask? Good question. Rather than try to less-than-eloquently explain the awesomeness that is Ladyfest, I will leave you with a link. This particular event, Dream Warriors, was a fundraiser for the main Ladyfest occurring in late March. Held at The Big House on Ponce, the event consisted of a series of performances from fantastic ladies of Atlanta, including readings, a live podcast called #Cliteracy, performance art, stand up comedy, a musical performance and even a dance party. The Cliteracy podcast was especially relevant considering my OBGYN start tomorrow morning. I felt empowered and inspired by the end of the evening. There are some truly talented women in our city, folks. I highly suggest you make Ladyfest a priority in March!! 

Pictured below: Madeline -- One Lady Folk Band

Grant Park Octane

Following a friend's suggestion, I spent Thursday afternoon at the Grant Park location of Octane. I'm starting my OBGYN rotation tomorrow, so I needed a few hours to sit down and review women's health, specifically labor and delivery. Studying and bucket list, two birds one stone. My first impression of Octane was positive -- awesome location, trendy atmosphere without trying too hard. Ordering my coffee ended up being a bit awkward as some guy that "called ahead" to reserve some pastry discovered that it had been sold before he got there. I've never seen somebody so indignant about or seemingly entitled to a pastry. Chill out, man.

Anyway, finally got my coffee and sat down at the bar to review where babies come from. I immediately noticed Megan Trainor was playing....really? I mean I, too, am all about that bass, however it seemed like the wrong genre for that particular setting. The next song I noticed was No Diggity and eventually there was some alt-J so my music complaints were quickly forgotten. No matter how hard I tried to focus, I proceeded to overhear the conversations of the tattooed, bearded, plaid-clad man seated next to me as he talked about such riveting topics as the "hottie in the dark clothing at the front, dude get me her digits" and "I forgot her name, the french girl, friends with Kelly that has a really nice ass." (I'm pretty sure this guy works there, so beware the seemingly charming, bearded, potential womanizer.) Eventually he turned his attention towards me and seemed pretty harmless, asking what I was so furiously studying. We joked about polar vortex babies and he embarrassingly thought alt-J was from Atlanta (um, no.) What he said after I left, who knows, but I'm hoping it was not about the state of my ass.

Overall a positive experience. I'm sure I'll make it back here at some point in my quest to prepare for Boards in May.

Coffee: 5 out of 5, Strong, dark, delicious.

Ambience: 4 out of 5. The entire back of this place is windows. I was there as the sun was starting to go down, creating a sauna in contrast to the tundra outside. I had to shed another layer every 10 minutes. 

Here is my sad attempt to get a picture without being "that girl:"