Here’s the Q+DD:

The Iberian Pig is pleased to announce a celebration for the restaurant’s second anniversary!  Residents and visitors are invited to join the festivities on Monday, September 26th starting at 5:00 p.m. 

happy 2nd, little piggy!

(us at the iberian pig - we LOVE.)

Happy, happy! 

xx, L

The Iberian Pig
121 Sycamore Street
Atlanta, GA  30030
404.371.8800
www.iberianpigatl.com

(currently trying to find this for my condo)

I’m pretty sure that the chandelier was my favorite Texas-inspired decoration, but it’s hard to say for sure…

After oogling the walls for about 15 minutes, we sat down and perused the extensive menu.

Without a second thought, I ordered up a Mexican Martini, which I am sure was inspired from my beloved Trudy’s in Austin.  It wasn’t nearly as good as Trudy’s world-famous MM, but it did the trick.

Elizabeth opted for the Texas Bloody Mary which arrived with an olive + a green bean.  She enjoyed it, but we both agreed that a Bloody Mary is an awkward dinner drink. 

My favorite item we ordered for dinner was a special we all saw on the chalkboard outside of the front door: the Bacon Taquitos.  They were absolutely mouthwateringly good!  No joke.  AMAZING.

Slick, Elizabeth + I all ordered tacos for dinner.  Each of our plates looked similar to Slick’s pictured below.  From left to right:

The Tex Taco: Chopped brisket with a spicy mustard sour cream, BBQ sauce, griddled jalapenos, diced onion + shredded lettuce.  (Very tasty + the house special.)

The Carinta Taco: Chopped pork, griddled jalapenos, diced onion + shredded lettuce.  (It was so incredibly salty, Slick + I couldn’t eat it.  I do not recommend.)

El Guapo Taco: A flour tortilla filled with refried beans, a crispy taco shell with house ground beef, lettuce, cheese + pico de gallo.  (My favorite!  It was like a fancy Cheesy Gordita Crunch from Taco Bell!  And, I’m pretty sure it weighed about three pounds.  Judge me.) 

Scott ordered the enormous Big Tex Chicken Chimichanga: a huge tortilla filled with pulled chicken, pinto beans, pico de gallo + cheese rolled and fried, topped with their signature Texas queso + pico de gallo.  Did I mention how enormous it was??!

It was a feast, to say the least.  (Rhyming!) 

scott + elizabeth

Are they a cute couple or what?! 

I can’t say that any of us actually finished our massive meals, but we truly put in some serious effort.  NO room for dessert, although the Red Velvet Cheesecake sounded tempting.  After we settled up with our server, we walked around the restaurant again and discovered a substantial party room in the very back complete with TVs, pool tables + skeeball!  This space is totally ideal for a birthday party or a fun night out with a group!

Big Tex Cantina was very enjoyable.  It’s priced well, the restaurant doesn’t accept reservations but it’s large enough that you wouldn’t have to wait forever, + they’ve done really well with the Texas-themed decor (at least in my book!).  The menu is extensive + I have faith that the restaurant will be successful.  Having the Fox Bros. name behind it, at the very least, means something.  If you are trying to satisfy a random Mexican food craving, I probably wouldn’t recommend making the trek to Decatur to test out Big Tex over heading to Taqueria del Sol.  BUT, if you are into trying out new spots, you love the Great State as much as I do, or you are seriously hungover (get the Chimichanga - trust me.), Big Tex will do the trick. 

YeeHAW, partner!

xx, L

Big Tex Cantina
308 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Decatur, GA  30030
404.377.3939
http://www.bigtexcantina.com/

leon's full service - decatur

It has been a serious while since I last stuffed my face dined at Leon’s + I decided to rectify that with colleagues yesterday evening.  SOOOO glad I did! 

Witness our gluttonous feast:

(the carnage)

We ate e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.gggggggg.  Bacon in a glass; peppdews stuffed with goat cheese; prince edward island mussels with witbier + lemongrass broth; the pig smorgas with melted gruyere grand cru, cherry jam + pineapple on toast (my personal fav.); cornmeal fried calamari; maroon-colored beet hummus with feta; charcuterie + cheese plates; sundried tomato grilled flatbread with smoked mozzarella; scallops; pork chops; a truly impressive amount of pub fries + delicious dipping sauces; etc, etc. etc… 

We weren’t messing around, y’all. 

The food was so mouth-wateringly amazing, and honestly, better than my last two experiences there – which were still great but not fabulously excellent.  Last night was fabulously excellent.

However, one of my favorite of our orders was actually not food at all, but rather it was part of their creative summer cocktail list.  Rosh selected The Wasp as her drink of choice for the evening.  (And, I almost finished it for her.)  This drink is spectacular, guys.

the wasp

The Wasp:  Redemption rye whisky, Georgia peach honey, lemon juice, salt + pepper w/ a big fancy ice cube in the middle.  Try it!  Try it!

And, PLEASE make a point to visit Decatur more often if you’re stuck in Midtown, Buckhead, Brookhaven, etc., like I’ve been.  It’s really not that far out of the way or difficult to get to.  Leon’s should be your first stop.  (But, again, this is v. old news…)

xx, L

Leon’s Full Service
131 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Decatur, GA  30030
404.687.0500
www.leonsfullservice.com

Here’s the Q+DD: Conveniently located at the intersection of Cool and Cooler (next door to Leon’s at Ponce and Church…on land plot #246 – go fig) No. 246 is the PERFECT addition to Decatur’s restaurant scene.  

Opened by Chef Ford Fry (JCT Kitchen) and Chef Drew Belline (Quinones at Bacchanalia and Floataway Café) this chic little 100-seater resto really hits the spot.

They don’t take reservations, so hauling my parents there (who were in from Birmingham this weekend) on the first Saturday they were open was a bit of a risk, but it definitely paid out in the end.   Plus, the lively bar scene definitely made the wait more fun:

LK + DK

Once we were seated, we were appropriately starving and ordered 3 “toasts” as an amuse-bouche and they were a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e. and delicious.

Pickled squash (I think?) and cannellini beans, figs, and ricotta “toasts”

We grazed on those a bit (even the bread was something special) and sort of laughed at the tiny salt dish on the table with like, 12 grains of sea salt: Greg thought the statement was, “Our food is seasoned perfectly – you won’t be needing this.”  If that was the case… they were right – our food was amazing.

We ordered the No. 246 meatball (I heard you HAD to)

Ken’s Wild Mushroom Pie

San marzano, mozzarella, parmesean, arugula

A half-order of the Garganelli pasta (with sofritto braised rabbit, plumped sultanas, broccoli rabe, pecorino), the chicken (roasted in their wood oven with sherry bacon vinaigrette, hen of the woods mushrooms, roasted baby carrots), a side of roasted beets, and my favorite…the Branzino:

Served whole, roasted, with shaved fennel, salsa verde, lemon, olive oil and sea salt...OMG.

Everything was spectacular – but this was the best.

For dessert, we went with the chocolate tart (with sea salt and olive oil) which was good… but we also ordered the buttermilk panna cotta with lemon ginger marmalade which rocked. my. world.   Plus, the presentation was SO cute.  Witness:Ok so listen – I’m suggesting you head over immediately if not sooner.

And take me with you.

No. 246…I love you.

Bacio di bacio,

L

No. 246
(678) 399-8246
129 E. Ponce de Leon
Decatur, GA 30030

hello!

Although Gtown J got a bit lost getting there, I thought Farm Burger’s Decatur location, right next to Watershed, was pretty straightforward + easy to find.

the bright orange sign was difficult to miss...

I read extensively about Farm Burger on Urbanspoon + other food blogs, and I was painfully aware that some folks think that it’s more hype than burger.  Did this deter me from trying my very own farm burger?  No.  Did I go into the experience with sky-high expectations?  No.  Was I impressed from the moment I stepped foot in the restaurant?  Yes!

i'm down with farm-to-table.

Although the farm-to-table AND the fancy hamburger joint concepts are both getting kind of old, I really enjoyed myself at Farm Burger.  I liked that when Slick and I arrived, the line was out of the door – and it remained so for the 1 1/2 hours we were at FB.  Not that this is their target market by any means, but Slick and I counted eight very-visibly pregnant women at Farm Burger over the course of the evening.  (Not really sure what you are supposed to do with that information, but I still felt it was noteworthy…)  I also liked the here’s-what-we’ve-got menu presentation.  It was simple + efficient enough for me to navigate on the last evening of a long, lazy three day weekend when my brain was functioning at a much slower pace than normal…

FB menu

I liked this picture at the restaurant. 

mooooooooooo

After a short while, we made it up to the front of the line and placed our orders. 

cattle call for farm burgers!

All I really wanted was a hamburger w/ cheddar + lettuce, but I felt like I needed to be a little more adventurous – so I swaped the cheddar for pimiento cheese.  Slick and Gtown J got slightly-altered versions of the house special – the original farm burger.  We sat down at an open table + bench and sipped on our wine (me) + beers (the boys) while we waited for our much anticipated FB beef + fried potatoes to arrive.

my wine

cow-stamped placemats were a hit w/ me.

(i'm a sucker for mason jars, too!)

Right before the delicious aroma of the restaurant finally won me over and I started to drool on my kitschy cow-stamped placemat, our food arrived.  The fries came in a cute little tin, and they were just how I like them: SSS = soft + soggy + lots of seasoning (in this case, garlic).

original fries

I started to quickly fill up on the fries, so I made the executive decision to concentrate on my burger.  The pimiento cheese was an excellent call.  It wasn’t too mayo-y and melted perfectly on my burger.  Growing up, my parents always made + ordered our burgers well or well done (no pink).  Over the years, I guess I’d gotten used to ordering them kinda over-cooked, and so my burgers never really taste like meat.  Although farm burgers come what to me looked like medium or medium rare, I didn’t feel like my (amazing – love you, mom!) Jewish mother was shaking her finger at me all the way from Texas when I quickly devoured the burger, because the beef came from v. happy grass-fed cows (e. coli risk free).  I will admit that this was actually one of my first, true on-the-rare-side hamburger experiences and that kind of blew my mind, but I also thought that the burger, itself, was pretty great – very juicy and flavorful.

my farm burger w/ pimiento cheese

Slick + Gtown J enjoyed their burgers, but they thought the sauce on the original farm burger was slightly too heavy.  Both of them thought I ordered the best of the group.  (I win!) 

the remains of slick's farm burger - it wasn't there for long...

Slick still likes the late-night Holeman + Finch hamburger the best, but I am torn between H+F and Farm Burger.  At the very least, I think Farm Burger gives H+F a run for it’s money – and I liked the fries better.  Will I go back?  Yes.  Do I think that I should buy into hype more often?  Definitely!!

xx, L

Farm Burger
4108 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Decatur, GA  30030
404.378.5077
www.farmburger.net

They assembled a small, but brave crew.

There were 4 of us and 14 of them.

We decided to divide and conquer and each chose two: Garlic aioli, goat cheese fondue, masaman curry, leon’s bbq, smoked tomato mayonnaise, fresh horseradish mayonnaise, cucumber-dill yogurt and spicy mango catsup.

We got sauce!

(Look out, peppercorn gravy, madras curry catsup, black pepper mayo, bacon + tarragon mayo, and straight-up mayo: we are coming for you.)

Our favorites? Let me break it down for you:
1. Masaman Curry
2. Horseradish Mayo
3. Goat Cheese Fondue
4. Cucumber-Dill yogurt.

We all agreed that the smoked tomato mayo and bbq were just ok and that the spicy mango catsup was kind of gross. Lindsay’s favorite, though? Straight up catsup.

She's a purist.

The bottom line is this: I LOVE CONDIMENTS. The other bottom line is this: I love fries. The other, OTHER bottom line is this: I love the dipping sauce schtick and there is just something about Leon’s that feels like an event.

Mission accomplished.

It’s Friday. Go on, get your sauce on. You can do it.

or french fry?

xx, L

Leon’s Full Service
(404) 687-0500
131 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030
www.leonsfullservice.com

Cake or Death?

I’ll take cake, please!

Anyway. I’ve been jonesing to try Cakes & Ale for a while now, it just LOOKS adorable from the outside.

Witness:

I was not disappointed!

Here’s the Q+DD on Cakes & Ale: Owned and operated by Decatur residents, their menu (displayed on 2 chalkboards in the front and back of the restaurant) changes daily to utilize the best seasonal produce and their food is made from fresh ingredients: local vegetables, humanely-raised meats and non-endangered fish, and freshly-milled grains. Located on the corner of West Ponce de Leon Avenue and Ponce de Leon Place, it is absolutely darling on the inside: quaint, cozy, and minimalist but still very chic.

Last night, the idea was to get there early and have a cocktail while we waited for L + O, but the restaurant is kind of tiny and the bar scene was so packed we couldn’t find a seat! (Which was fine, of course, because we were on Lauren Standard Time so we weren’t all that early anyway…)

So once they arrived, we shared two gorgeous bottles of wine and the house-marinated olives and fried okra. Now, I don’t know how fried okra could get any better. It was just pure cornmeal-y slightly salted deliciousness, I tell you.

For dinner, I ordered the stuffed peppers with butternut squash agrodolce, which was to. die. for. I seldom opt for the vegetarian selection but it looked too good to pass up…and it WAS. I also had the opportunity to try the striped bass with shell beans, kale, preserved tomatoes, sorrel, bacon, ham brood and savory (this dish was served served with NC Trout earlier in the evening, but they ran out and replaced it with the bass, but I don’t think anything could have been lost in translation, everyone LOVED it.)

Owen ordered the burger which, admittedly, I didn’t try, but it looked fantastic and he really enjoyed it. The Q+DD on the burg is that it’s made with brisket and pork belly and is usually served on a whole-wheat bun, but last night on an English muffin which Owen said was a really nice, light contrast to the heaviness of the patty. What I can tell you for sure is that the accompanying shoestring fries were fab.

We finished our meal off with a couple of ports (perfection) and the most amazing desserts…ever: an apple, oatmeal + pecan crisp with rum raisin ice cream and the salted cashew and caramel tart with crème fraîche. Y’all, we were in h.e.a.v.e.n. (The word “exquisite” may have been thrown around. Several times.) We resisted the “phatty cakes” but they looked adorable in their little glass cake stand on the bar on our way out the door. All-in-all, it was a really good time, I’d be back in a heartbeat.

Sometimes I feel like Decatur is the Bermuda Triangle of Atlanta: Its difficult to get there, and once you’re there, you feel like you need to make an evening of it. But with places as cool as Cakes & Ale, I wouldn’t mind getting sucked in from time to time…

darling LWood

As the Bard says, “Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?”

xx, L

P.S.  Eric was there, too.  (Happy?)

Cakes & Ale Restaurant
www.cakesandalerestaurant.com
254 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030
404.377.7994

"Yes, Lindsay. Excellent Idea!"

Slick and Lindsay wanted to share the fun with an equally-as-awesome couple, so they recruited John and Sarah.

Hello, Friends!

Only John and Lindsay had been to Twain’s before, so everyone checked out the cool interior as soon as they arrived.

Mark Twain Book on the Walls

Beer Tap Chandelier

Beer was ordered…

Brew for Heebs

Appetizers were shared…

Fried Green Beans

Dinner was eaten…

The Roadrunner

Good times were had by all!

See - good times!

Darts were thrown.

Evidence of Darts

Lindsay destroyed everyone at shuffleboard.

Come on! Just look at that form!

John & Slick tried to redeem themselves from shuffleboard embarrasment, but were unsuccessful.  Shame…

E for Effort...

…until they destroyed the girls at foosball.

Spins were NOT allowed - Lindsay & Sarah were no match

It was a great night - and Twain’s is an excellent location for a fun evening away from the Midtown-Buckhead usual.  (Note: Twain’s also has pool tables, Golden Tee and an in-house microbrewery.  Owned by the Brick Store folks.  Can’t get much better than that!)

The End.

xx, L

Twain’s Billiards & Tap
211 E. Trinity Pl.
Decatur, GA  30030
404.373.0063
www.twains.net