Sunday, June 29, 2008

Chipotle - South End or Cotswold

Mexican
<$7 for salad and chips I think

For a restaurant with 3 things on the menu (tacos, burritos, salads) this place is really good and different than all the others. They do a few things really well: 1. coke products, enough said. 2. everything is organic and farm-raised and good for you. The chicken has a kick but I really like it! You almost feel like you're eating healthy there. 3. Guac - they do this really well. It's almost sweet but definitely is fresher than most other places that I've been. 4. Chips are hardy, not wimpy. My only complaint is NO QUESO!!! What's the point in having mexican?? I haven't figured this out yet, but do know I like it and it's someplace I'll go back to on a regular basis. Ambiance is modern and cold. Sit outside.

Big Daddy's Burger Bar - Dilworth

Burgers
$13 - cantina burger, sweet potato fries and diet coke

The good news - the black bean burger was pretty good and the sweet potato fries were awesome! Not as good as the Penguin but that's hard to beat anyway. It's slightly overpriced in my opinion. You're paying for the "atmosphere" I think. It was $9 (with tax) for the basic burger which my friends all tell me was good. There was a great debate as to how it stacked up to Five Guys, the Penguin, South 21 and someplace else but no winner was declared although every one seems to love Five Guys (I haven't been there yet). The bar was pretty extensive so I'm thinking this is really a bar that serves good food rather than the other way around.

The better news - so when i originally ate here, our service experience wasn't that great. Our waitress messed up a few things and wasn't on top of it. I think she was new or just really inexperienced. However, the management response has been pretty extensive. I sent them an email through their website, and I received a call and email from the manager and a call from the owner, Frank Scibelli. They've gone above and beyond trying to rectify our bad service experience which I give them kudos for. It goes to show that individual owners are especially sensitive to a potentially bad experience whereas a chain usually doesn't care. Frank has definitely gone above what I expected with his response which I appreciate.

All this being said, I'll definitely go back now. When someone cares this much about one person's experience, you know good things are in store for this place. Until next time...

Misc Midwood/Dilworth Dining Ideas updated

So, the whole reason I started doing this is because people always ask me for ideas about where to go to dinner. For some reason we all get in a rut and end up at the same ol' same ol'. Here's a few suggestions for places near Uptown and a brief summary of what I can remember. I'll add other locations another time.

Midwood/Elizabeth:
Lulu - ecelectic, popular, good food, outdoor seating $$$
Portofino - Italian, home-style, supposedly great pizza, family friendly $$
Creation - Asian fusion, cool atmosphere, slightly overpriced $$$ or $$
Thomas Street - Red Oak, garden burger and fries with ranch, great bar food. Yummy! $$
Penguin - Smoky Diner, great food (esp onion rings), quirky wait staff $$ or $
Hawthorne - great neighborhood place, awesome salads and garlic knots, okay pizza $$
NoFo - girl parties, cool shop next door, avg food $$ or $$$
Carpe Diem - 1/2 priced apps before 6:30 (i think), yummy food, good wine, closer to $$$$
Anntony's - great marinade and side items, chicken's gone down hill $ - $$
DQ - it's all about the blizzards! $
Zada Jane's - great breakfast (organic or locally farmed), love the grits, they haven't figured out the opening hours yet (7-8 am depending on when you go), parking can be a pain $ - $$

Dilworth:
Kabob House - mid-eastern, great veggie plate and chicken kabob (strong flavors) - $$
Brixx - same as everywhere - $$
Cantina 1511 - Par-tay! Get the guac or Enchiladas de Dennis (not much else is good) - $$-$$$
300 East - good salads, lunch sandwiches and stuff, very metro $$-$$$
Pewter Rose - best brunch in town, love the scones, can't remember dinner - $$-$$$
Big Daddy's Burger Bar - $8 burgers which are pretty good. Great sweet potato fries. Avg. service - $$
Bonterra - cool, in old church, great wines, good food, pricey - $$$$
Mac's - awesome bbq, mac n chz, buckhead bettys w harley hogs, parking stinks - $ - $$
Frankie's - Italian, my parents love it, kinda heavy, good wines - $$ - $$$
Mama Ricotta's - Italian, weird location, okay wines, love the rolls, great waitstaff - $$ - $$$
Thai Taste - great Thai food, good for a beginner, they pack 'em in - $$
Copper - Indian, never been, no idea
i - pricey Japanese, never been
Owen's Bagel - steamed bagel sandwiches, cool owner, free wi-fi, coke products - $
Brueggers - love me some BEC on Rosemary Olive Oil for bfast - $
Just Fresh - just boring - $ - $$
Dunkin Donuts - it's all about the coffee - $
Orig Pancake House - yummy bfast food but smell like grease all day long - $ - $$
Fuel - pizza by the slice, interesting combinations, okay but not great, cheap - $

$$$$ - way pricey, bring mom and dad ($40 pp min)
$$$ - special occasion ($20 pp min)
$$ - good reason to go, not just because you don't want to cook ($10 pp min)
$ - just cuz ($5 pp min)