Restaurant Review: Farm-to-Table Brunch at The Family Dog By Ruksana Hussain | Photos By Ale Sharpton “I dig eggs!” says Ron Eyester, The Family Dog’s Chef and Owner. Sure enough, the new brunch menu he has in store is proof – eggs with the hash brown casserole, shrimp and grits, and even the breakfast burrito. And he gets it right each time. Of course, 13 years of experience and a taste for culinary simplicities have a lot to do with it. Morningside’s own watering hole and cozy eatery offers up the perfect spot for a relaxed Sunday meal in the midst of the melee that is Virginia Highlands. Sit. Drink. Stay. Those three words are The Family Dog’s motto and are never easier to follow when you are brunching here. “Atlanta is a great brunch place. We are building a culture here. This is no gastropub,” remarks Eyester, as he describes his blue collar boutique experience offering creative farm-totable pub cuisine, and handcrafted beers and cocktails at this neighborhood haven.
50 TASTEMAKER | April/May 2013
If you haven’t visited The Family Dog yet, the space will be a breath of fresh air. Open, yet cozy spaces, a long bar area and even an open kitchen – everything is there for you to see and experience. The new brunch menu stars fresh, locally-sourced ingredients that are easy to share no matter what dish you pick. The pricing and portions are spot on, but even better are the flavors and textures that Eyester highlights with his innovative fare. Be it the waffle sliders or the homemade English muffins, Eyester’s mantra could not be simpler – keep it local. The breakfast burrito topped with a fried egg includes Georgia’s own Riverview Farms beef and sausage gravy while the crispy shrimp & grits topped with a soft poached egg and Old Bay crab gravy also have Riverview Farms grits – the flavor and