A plate of yumminess from Serpas - voted one of America's best new restaurants.
I’m sitting here in the cold, cold days of January, trying to be good and all about eating and drinking. I’ve gone three days with no alcohol and was thinking of applying for sainthood but doing any sort of paperwork goes better with a glass of wine, so that’s going on the back burner.
Anyway, as I was reviewing my 2009 calendar trying to figure out the last time I had my hair cut, I was heartened to see all the new restaurants I had visited last year. 2009 wasn’t only about closings, chefs leaving town or an Atlanta chef not winning “Top Chef.” (We still love you all Kevin, Eli and Hector!)
Here’s a rundown of the new places I was lucky enough to visit, along with a great big thank-you to the people who didn’t let a little thing like a major economic meltdown prevent them from following their passion. Lots of people in Atlanta still have jobs. And we all still love to try new places.
The first restaurant I visited was Serpas, where Scott Serpas serves up his Louisiana, Asian and Southwestern-influenced menu in a converted cotton storage factory. This Auburn Ave. gem was named one of the 10 best new restaurants in America by GQ magazine.
Next up was Market restaurant in the new W Hotel in Buckhead. This second restaurant from the world-famous chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, serves cuisine as fresh and delightful as its thyme lemonade.
Those of us saddened by the closure of Taurus were thrilled when Gary
Meet at this gorgeous bar at Livingston before a night at the Fox. Or after. Or anytime really.
Mennie resurfaced in the gorgeous Livingston Restaurant and Bar. Serving up three meals a day, Livingston serves American classics in a two-story space directly across from the Fox and we enjoyed one of our most enjoyable meals of the year there.
My next visit was to another hotel restaurant – this time to Pacci, inside Hotel Palomar in Midtown, where I was happy to see a female chef. Georgia native Keira Moritz brings her Johnson & Wale training to this Northern Italian/steakhouse that has diners and critics raving.
Fried green tomatoes at 30 Tables
And it looks like the cursed location inside the downtown Glenn Hotel has found a winner in 30 Tables where Chef Daniel Chance, formerly of acclaimed Two Urban Licks, serves simple Southern flair with a twist – such as zucchini hush puppies with chile honey or pork belly spring rolls.
If I were ever to be adopted by a bar in a “Cheer” -esque fashion, it would be Ri Ra. This upscale authentic Midtown Irish pub also serves up yummy grub food and the lightest airiest potato cakes I’ve ever had.
French-food lovers should allez to Amusé restaurant. This is where you’ll find duck liver mousse and orange piglet served compliments of Arnaud Michel of Anis and Andy Alibaksh of the Café Diem family, in a bohemian Parisian atmostphere.
Duck liver mousse at Amusé
Shrimp and grits at Bocado
As a nearby resident, I’ve been thrilled by the development of a restaurant row on the Westside, alongside Howell Mill Road. We visited the starkly furnished Bocado one rainy night, and were I was instantly charmed by the abbreviated menu. I just get exhausted sometimes by “Anna Karenina” length menus. And the Chesapeake flounder won my heart.
And finally, my lone trip outside the perimeter took me to the new location of Uncle Julio’s where we gorged on fresh, fresh Mexican cuisine and I vowed to add the Buckhead location to our favorites list.
So let’s raise a toast – yes, a toast – it’s been THREE DAYS! – to the new restaurants of 2009 and hope for many more in 2010.
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