Baci by Cafe at Pharr

Mussels of the day: today, served in a bacon cream sauce - we had to ask for more bread to sop up all the delicious sauce!

I was recently invited to check out Baci, a new restaurant by the owners of the famous Cafe at Pharr local chain. During lunch, Baci serves some of the same delicious salads and sandwiches offered at Cafe at Pharr (I'm partial to the curry and walnut chicken salad plates) but during dinner they have a totally different, delicious menu. The dinner menu is a combination of eclectic dishes that are both Mediterranean and Eastern (Asian) inspired. Since I adore all types of Asian food and really enjoy Mediterranean fare as well, this is a concept that makes me smile! The atmosphere at Baci is very inviting and once the liquor license comes through they expect to have an extensive wine list - all the better for enjoying at the bar. Service was excellent throughout our meal, which is always a good sign!

The lovely bar.



Japanese Ceviche - more like sashimi than ceviche!

We started with the delicious mussels, pictured up top, served with grilled bread. The chef's preparation, which changes regularly, included a bacon cream sauce which provided a tasty bath for the succulent, plump mussels - definitely a good choice. We saw other tables with the Mediterranean tasting plate, which looked like a good option for group sharing. The Japanese ceviche is more like sashimi with ponzu sauce and jalepeno slices. Although I enjoyed the raw salmon (I always love raw salmon) it was definitely not what we were expecting from "ceviche".

Baci burger - all Kobe beef served with homemade pickles and duck fat fries - yum!

The best entree we tried was the Chilean sea bass, served with perfect Japanese rice on the side and a bed of spinach over a Hong Kong soy broth; the flavor is light, delicate and fantastic. The burger (above) is unique in that only certified Kobe beef is used. This results in a juicy, extremely flavorful burger. Although I loved the idea of duck fat fries these did not taste much different from other fries I've enjoyed lately - I guess I expected a meatier flavor. But you don't need it when you have the Kobe beef. In order to try more from the menu, we also sampled the chef's risotto of the day: butternut squash.

Chilean sea bass with white rice (served on the side) and spinach. Favorite of the meal!



Butternut squash risotto - very tasty albeit a bit chewy.



Dessert sampler: red velvet cake, lemon fruit tart with raspberries, blueberries and kiwi and moon pie and salted caramel gelatos from Honeysuckle Gelato. All of the desserts were excellent, especially the unique gelato flavors which change on a weekly basis.



Nespresso selection and beautiful cafe latte.

Baci is a great new option in Brookhaven. I look forward to returning to try more from the menu, especially since the selections change frequently.

Disclosure: The meal described in this review was complimentary.

Alfredo's - An Atlanta Classic

Calamari.

Somehow I lived in Atlanta for more than four years before I dined at Alfredo's Italian Restaurant. I drive past it all the time and heard that it exemplified "old-school Italian" cooking so I'm not sure why I waited so long! One reason might be that the parking lot is always full and a reservation is a must on the weekend. Luckily when we had a friend visiting from out of town we reserved a table and had a lovely meal. It really is old-style Italian (and old-style Atlanta, having operated for more than 35 years), with wonderful, attentive service by men who appear to have been in the business for years and a head waiter/maitre'd who reminds me of some of the characters in stereotypical mafia films.

The signature sign on Cheshire Bridge Road.



Mussels appetizer.

For the amount of food you receive, the value is outstanding. Although I did not photograph the buttery garlic bread or the pickled vegetables that are brought out to every table, they were both delicious, the veggies very nostalgic and the bread great for sopping up all the delicious sauces presented throughout the meal - I think we ate four baskets! The above-pictured mussels are listed in the "Zuppe" section and do contain a delicious white wine/garlic broth that can be eaten as soup after consuming the delicious mollusks.

For entrees the three of us split two: the linguine pescattore and the veal three ways. Both were outstanding. More yummy sauce to eat with garlic bread!



Padrino (Godfather): veal three ways with spinach.

Tantra Restaurant & Lounge

Signature dish - seared ostrich with mushrooms and onions. This is one tasty steak, and healthier for you than beef too.

I was invited to try Tantra back in May. Located on Peachtree Road, next door to Imperial Fez, Tantra is a real treat. Calvin and I enjoyed a spectacular meal with great ambiance and service. The hummus with lamb and the scallops were my favorite dishes and the desserts were awesome too. They also offer an ostrich filet, which is very tender and delicious - something different is always fun too. This is a great special occasion place and with the lovely bar, also a nice place for drinks and appetizers or dessert!

Tasty, although a bit salty, flat bread provided at the beginning of the meal with a tasty herb butter - we liked the butter so much we had to ask for more!



Lamb tartar with shallot butter on matzah - very tasty and unique, but not as much lamb flavor as the hummus with lamb, below.



Hummus tahini with sauteed lamb - one of my favorite dishes of the evening. Absolutely delicious!



Mussels with red bell pepper coconut broth - also outstanding.



Basil Caramelized Scallops - another winner. I love this dish. Basil, scallops, whipped potatoes and greens. Yum.



Tantra has several inventive cocktails including the Tantric, left, which includes fresh thyme and Elderflower liquor.



Lemon scented Italian doughnuts + warm white chocolate cake with vanilla-lavender ice cream and berries. Both of these are wonderful and unique. I was already full when I got to the dessert course but I had to taste these anyway - so glad I did!



Espresso and Sambuca drink - great way to end the evening.



The dining room is dark, romantic and sensual - as it should be at a place called Tantra!



Nicely decorated bar area.

Alonzo's Oyster Bar - Key West's Famous Happy Hour

Fried calamari and mussels diablo. In the back - REAL fish sticks!

After hearing about it from the staff at our B&B, we had to try the famous happy hour at Alonzo's Oyster Bar. Great drink specials and all appetizers are 50% off. The conch chowder and mussels were definitely highlights. The fried food - not so much. I should have ordered the peel'n'eat shrimp, which I later heard is really their specialty and of course, it's hard to mess up steamed shrimp if they are really fresh. We got there just as the deal started and by the time we left there was a wait. This place is in the marina and huge fish (not sure what kind - anyone know the ones that hang out in the harbor?) prowl around right by the dock!

Conch Ceviche.

Outside Alonzo's. We saw some giant fish hanging out in the harbor.

Conch Chowder.

Tin Can Fish House & Oyster Bar

Platter of Calamari, ahi tuna ceviche and bang bang shrimp.

I was invited to come try Tin Can Fish House & Oyster Bar, a fairly new restaurant in Sandy Springs. As I don't get OTP very often, this was a bit of a trek , but still not too far all things considered. Although the restaurant sits in a shopping center, it does a good job of getting that neighborhood feel. I could see folks who live nearby coming here frequently and they also do a good job making it family-friendly. Kids can draw on huge chalkboards on the front side of the restaurant, providing a fun activity for the younger set.

We tried a variety of items from the menu, my favorite being the horseradish-crusted grouper. For my sides I chose cheese grits (yum) and very good steamed vegetables. On the appetizer platter we ordered, the calamari and bang bang shrimp were average although the ceviche a nice touch. The mussels were pretty good and I enjoyed the raw oysters despite the grit in a couple of them. Other than the grouper, the seafood was nothing special, but I do appreciate what Tin Can is trying to do - service was attentive and the neighborhood feel is something not to be taken for granted.

Menu.

Traditional White Mussels.

Bloody Mary Oysters.

Horseradish crusted grouper with veggies and cheese grits - my favorite dish of the night.

Shrimp and oyster po'boy.

Blonde brownie Sundae.

Lunch at Anis

Salade Nicoise.

I dined out for lunch with a friend recently at Anis Cafe & Bistro, located on Grandview Avenue in Buckhead. This adorable restaurant is owned and managed by native Frenchmen and we were delighted to hear French being spoken at several tables on the porch where we sat under an umbrella on a still hot September day. We started with the mussels (not pictured) which we inhaled before I thought of photographing them. As with good French mussels, they reeked of butter, white wine and especially garlic. The warm sliced bread served alongside made for perfect dipping, while the harder rolls went untouched. We opted to skip the fries, which are offered as an option to make a true "moules frites" - this would be a great entree choice, too.

The above Salade Nicoise was perfectly executed with generous slices of seared Ahi tuna, a very light, tasty olive salad dressing and the requisite potato, pepper and egg offerings. The below quiche of the day - tomato and spinach if I'm remembering correctly featured a light, flaky, delicious crust and a very classic quiche filling.

For dessert we enjoyed profiteroles - a classic, playfully spruced up by the juxtaposition of chocolate ice cream in one and vanilla in the other. A perfect ending to a weekday lunch treat.

Quiche of the day.



Profiteroles - one chocolate and one vanilla.

Buckhead Bottle Bar

Mussels & Fries - nice and garlicky - ask for more bread!

I was invited for a complimentary meal at the new Buckhead Bottle Bar in the heart of it's namesake neighborhood. The space is quite appealing, including two patios and three bars. I'd love to rent this place out for a private party! For the most part we enjoyed the food. The drinks didn't thrill us, but it's definitely a cool place for those looking for that trend factor. I did adore the black & tan cheesecake and I like that they offer creative milkshakes as well.

Inside the restaurant.

Drinks include the Arnold Palmer.

Cornmeal toasted oysters and cheese and crab fritters - tasty but a bit on the pricey side at $9 and $11.

Pasta with veal ragu - tasty but the pasta seemed a bit gummy.

Black and tan cheesecake with a beer-flavored granita definitely beat out the plum crumble with ice cream.

Upstairs patio - nice area to hang out.