S IM P LY D EL I C IOUS
featured restaurants A sampling of great eats in and around Buckhead By Rachelle Hicks n American Roadhouse 842 North Highland Avenue N.E. Atlanta 30306 404.872.2822 www.american-roadhouse.com This friendly diner is a staple breakfast spot along the North Highland strip. Waking up the Highlands since 1989, owners Martin Maslia and Ed Udoff have certainly mastered the art of starting the day off right. Anything with eggs is amazing, but our favorite breakfast meals are the smoked salmon scramble—made fresh with dill, melted cream cheese and chives—and the red flannel hash— a hearty dish made of corned beef, Idaho potatoes, red peppers and onions covered with two delicious eggs. Daily weekday specials include classic American dishes like Monday’s grilled rosemary pork chop or Friday’s pecan crusted trout, both served with potatoes and pan roasted green beans. Maslia and Udoff boast their diner as an excellent spot for a business meal, family gathering or quick morning meal for couples, and they cater as well. Oh yeah, about the fluffy, buttery biscuits … they’re heavenly.
n Black Bear Tavern 1931 Peachtree Road N.E. Atlanta 30309 404.355.9089 www.blackbeartavern.net This is a true Southern tavern, fit with the occasional live band, dart tournaments and saucy appetizers like nachos and mozzarella sticks. More inventive apps include dainty small-bite plates like the mini corn dogs basket—bite sized corn dogs and tater tots—and a platter of firecracker popcorn shrimp with a spicy cocktail sauce. They also serve wings, yakitori skewers, burgers, soups and salads. What we really love, however, are the specialty entrées like the apple chicken salad sandwich—a lighter dish of sweet apple chicken salad and Monterey Jack cheese—and the steak sandwich—an 8-ounce piece of meat topped with sautéed onions and melted Monterey Jack cheese, held together by a fluffy bun.
n BrickTop’s 3280 Peachtree Road N.E. Atlanta 30305 404.841.2212 www.bricktops.com
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BrickTop’s in Buckhead is known for its smorgasbord of menu options including a unique house specialty served any time of day—deviled eggs and sugar bacon. Order this rich starter plate to share before a Saturday or Sunday brunch of Eggs BrickTop’s—a delectable platter of fluffy yellow eggs, sausage and Parmesan and Fontina cheeses. For dinner, we love the roasted prime rib au jus with a twice-baked potato and the ahi tuna burger slathered with tangy ponzu slaw. Drink specials include a carafe of house sangria served during brunch as well as cocktails like the Old Fashioned—orange and cherry pulp, Wood Reserve bourbon, sweet vermouth and bitters.
n Cassis at the Grand Hyatt 3300 Peachtree Road N.E. Atlanta 30305 404.364.3933 www.grandatlanta.hyatt.com A morning or lunch feast at the Grand Hyatt’s Cassis in Buckhead should be enjoyed at least once in a lifetime. The impressive menu, put together by executive chef Thomas McKeown, includes a grand breakfast buffet or lunch à la carte. Morning options include orange French toast with a crispy vanillacornflake crust and orange zest butter, and others like the sweet potato and Yukon gold skillet made with crumbles of natural turkey sausage, sautéed spinach, roasted red peppers and cage-free eggs. What’s more, a full coffee menu offers drinks brewed with Torrefazione Italia. For lunch, there are sandwiches, salads and specialties like Merlot braised beef short ribs with Parmesan mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, roasted pearl onions and parsnip crisp. Also, mark your calendar for a special Easter brunch on April 8.
n Ocean Prime 3102 Piedmont Road N.E. Atlanta 30305 404.846.0505 www.oceanprimeatlanta.com It began as a group of chefs in Columbus, Ohio, determined to create the most inventive and opulent, yet personal dining experience where guests are known by name. Now it is championed as one of Buckhead’s most
March/April 2012 | Simply Buckhead
Spotlight n Basil’s Mediterranean Café 2985 Grandview Avenue N.E. Atlanta 30305 404.233.9755 www.basils.net
Photos: Rachelle Hicks
This quaint bungalow of an eatery serves up a plethora of Mediterranean delights for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. It’s an ideal spot for a romantic retreat, but can also accommodate families and large parties. Tapas are the menu’s main attraction, featuring small plates like flatbread with mushrooms— an earthy bed of tender cremini, portobello and oyster, melted Parmesan and Manchego cheeses, topped with drizzled truffle oil—and lamb ribs, which are slow-cooked to delicate ribbons and complemented by a sweet cilantro-lime sauce. There are also entrée options like a tempting New York strip grilled with caramelized onions, sweet rosemary needles and crumbly Gorgonzola. Basil’s also serves exotic cocktails like the Tres Leches martini—a tempting concoction of velvety Tres Leches Liqueur, vanilla vodka, Kahlúa and brandy—and a Lebanese martini made with traditional arak poured with water over crushed ice. While dining on Basil’s fine cuisine and specialty drinks, guests can enjoy a featured art display exhibited by The Atlanta Artists Center and Gallery. Exhibits rotate the first Friday of every month and work is available for purchase.
distinguished restaurants. A more elegant take on surf ’n’ turf, Ocean Prime serves up the most savory of land and sea plates, including signature dishes like the Chilean sea bass in champagne truffle sauce and the dry-aged, 16-ounce Kansas City strip steak. The restaurant also boasts an award-winning wine selection to pair with your favorite dish. If you want to sound like a real wine expert, order a crisp Waugh Cellars Chardonnay—a rare find for oenophiles—with the sea bass or a glass of the Quivira Zinfandel—fully ripe with flavors of bramble fruit, plum and a kick of black pepper—with the steak.
n Raja Indian Restaurant 2955 Peachtree Road N.E. Atlanta 30305 404.237.2661 www.grandraja.com Born and raised in Calcutta, India, owner and founder Ramen Saha opened Raja in 1979 after polishing his culinary skills in India, England, New York, and finally, Buckhead. Dishes range from diverse vegetarian options, like the saag paneer—a south Asian cheese and spinach dish—to a large selection of meat dishes like the lamb saag aloo, prepared with fried potatoes (aloo), spinach (saag) and spicy curry.