February 13- Valentine's Day at the Wrecking Bar

Love this spot in Little 5 Points!  Quaint brewpub underneath an event space.  During the summer it is nice to sit at a patio table but in winter the inside is warm and inviting with a fireplace and sometimes live music.  They are known not just for mixologist cocktails and beers but also for vegetarian night and really good fries.  They are having a special Valentine's day menu (on the day before) if you are so inclined:

You'll fall in love with the tempting menu Chef Jeremiah created for Valentine's Day. 

• Lobster bisque with Tarragon Creme Fraiche 
• Blood Orange Salad: local arugula, Anson Mills rye wheat berries, Decimal Place goat cheese, shaved fennel, pecans, grapefruit-champagne vinaigrette 
• Fried Whole Lobster with Celeriac and ricotta puree, Meyer lemon sabayon
• and for dessert, Jeremiah's chocolate and coconut pound cake

http://www.wreckingbarbrewpub.com/

Deal at Varuni Napoli

Varuni Napoli opened a few years back and is in Midtown at the corner of Piedmont and Monroe.  I had a wonderful summer dinner here with friends in which we were served outside on these white couches.  Yummy pizza, salad and wine.  The Italian kind of pizza and salad, not the American kind!  The food is excellent and the staff was very friendly and mostly Italian.  Seeing this deal on Scoutmob makes me want to go back soon!  Details:

• $43 (regularly $60)
• Dinner for two at Varuni Napoli
• Kick it off with a bottle of wine to share from the extensive selection of Italian varietals
• Share a family-style Varuni Salad
• An authentic Neapolitan pizza to share
• Serenade your date over a shared custom dark or white chocolate dessert

Click here for Scoutmob deal

Sweet Hut Bakery & Cafe Midtown

My friend and I were looking for a place to have lunch in Midtown and wandered into this spot.  We had planned on going to another place on the block but this was so cute it was pulling us in.  It is located between 10th and 8th street on Peachtree by Fado Irish Pub.  They have salads, sandwiches, apps, coffee drinks and of course baked goods.  There were some people "remote-officing" there as well.  We both had spicy chicken paninis with cucumber side salads and split the samosa appetizer, which comes with 8 tiny samosas.  We then decided we could not leave without trying a dessert and split the chocolate peanut butter doughnut.  YUM!  They apparently have 2 other spots in Doraville and Duluth.  Note:  Get your parking validated and you get 2 hours for free.  We will be back to try other goodies soon.  I can also see myself remote officing someday.  It is a cheery bright alternative to other coffee shops and a welcome Midtown addition.

Atlanta BeltLine Partnership seeks public help to light Beltline’s Eastside Trail

The Atlanta BeltLine is asking for the public's help in lighting the trail.  I saw this post from Ponce City Market yesterday to offer up support:

Ponce City Market is so proud to be a part of the Atlanta BeltLinePartnership's Light the Line campaign. We look forward to donating $100,000 from PCM parking proceeds toward the 1.1 million dollar goal to provide lighting on the trail.

Click Here for full Curbed Article

Specials at Wisteria Restaurant in Inman Park

This cozy Inman Park favorite has specials on certain nights, which makes it a great excuse to get out and about for a good meal:

Mussels Monday - all you care to eat mussels - $15 per person. Ryan will have special wines available each Monday night.

Tapas Tuesdays - Small plates of southern goodness - $5 per tapas. Andrew is shaking up a special cocktail for the holiday season each Tuesday.

Wine on Wednesdays - 1/2 price on bottles of wine from our wine book that is listed up to $70, when dining at the bar. Allow Clifford to help you find that wine to pair with your meal.

Click here for website

Atlanta's First BeltLine Hotel

Set to open Labor Day of 2017, Atlanta will have an 140 room boutique hotel in Old Fourth Ward.  No hotel brand has been associated with it yet and I am anxious to see what that will be to determine what type of restaurants will be placed inside.  The hotel will be modeled after hotels in the New York Meatpacking District.  The artist's rendering makes it look a little bland but you had me at "rooftop bar".  

Full article here

Bacon Doughnut Love- Revolution Donuts

I had a friend come visit from Denver and she found this gem for me on Yelp.  Located on West College Avenue with a super cool lit up sign, Revolution Donuts has "doughs, glazes & fillings are all natural, made from scratch, free of trans-fat, & made by people, not by machines".  In addition to regular doughnuts, they have doughnuts made for vegans and food sensitivities such as gluten, eggs and dairy.  All I know is I have woke up numerous times craving that bacon and maple syrup doughnut!

Here is their website to see more about their story and what types of doughnuts they have:  http://revolutiondoughnuts.com/

The Atlanta Intown Breakfast List

Trying to figure out some new spots for brunch or breakfast?  This is my go-to list (in no particular order).  Let me know if there are any that are missing:

• One Eared Stag (try the Chef's Breakfast completed with a beer and 1ES commemorable coozie)
• Petite Marche in Kirkwood
• Egg Harbor
• Java Jive
• West Egg Cafe
• Radial Cafe
• Thumbs Up Diner
• The Flying Biscuit
• Ria's Bluebird
• Folk Art
• Sun in My Belly

Poncey Highland made this Airbnb List:

Be the First to Uncover the Next Local Gem: Visit the Top 16 Trending Neighborhoods on Airbnb in 2016

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - January 7, 2016 - Airbnb, the leading community driven hospitality company, today names the 16 neighborhoods to travel to in 2016. Airbnb analyzed the travel patterns of more than 40 million people that stayed in homes on Airbnb in 2015 and selected neighborhoods in cities that have gained momentum in the past year. Neighborhoods in Asian countries took the top of the list, led by the far and away frontrunner, Chuo-ku in Osaka, Japan - a neighborhood famed for its historic castle and delicious street food vendors.

Airbnb travelers are more intrepid when it comes to trying new neighborhoods and in doing so they set travel trends to areas little visited before. Not only does this boost business to local coffee shops and small businesses that haven’t benefitted from tourism in the past, it also helps people to experience cities through a true local lens,” said Chip Conley, Head of Hospitality, Airbnb. “When an Airbnb traveler heads to Hammerbrook in Hamburg or Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur, with the help of hosts, they are able to see these places through eyes of a local, and embrace the culture in a completely new way.”

16 Neighborhoods to Visit in 2016*

Chūō-ku in Osaka, Japan - 7000% Growth

Banglampoo in Bangkok, Thailand - 1230% Growth

Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - 1200% Growth

Capucins in Bordeaux, France - 960% Growth

Koukaki in Athens, Greece - 800% growth

Triana in Seville, Spain - 770% growth

Hammerbrook in Hamburg, Germany - 415% growth

Kaneohe on Oahu, US - 320% Growth

Meireles in Fortaleza, Brazil - 285% Growth

Roma Sur in Mexico City, Mexico - 275% Growth

Oak Lawn in Dallas, US - 260% Growth

Poncey-Highland in Atlanta, GA - 240% Growth

District VII in Budapest, Hungary - 145% Growth

The Bukit Peninsula, Bali - 130% growth

Richmond in Melbourne, Australia - 126% Growth

Constitución in Buenos Aires, Argentina - 125% growth

* Percent growth of inbound guests staying in listings on Airbnb in these neighborhoods from 2014 to 2015, with a minimum of 50 guests in 2014

To unearth the vibrant pockets in towns and cities, Airbnb analyzed the travel to local communities that took place over 2015, across regions, countries, metros, and down to neighborhoods. The final list is composed of neighborhoods in some of the most popular cities around the globe, where bookings are growing particularly fast and give people a chance to not just be a temporary visitor, but feel like they can live as a local in a neighborhood.

74% of Airbnb listings are located outside of the traditional downtown districts and when guests stay in those listings they are looking to become immersed in the community and with its people. When guests stay in a home on Airbnb, they have local hosts that can share inside knowledge about a neighborhood and its go-to locations for the best cup of joe or local cuisine, where to take a jog, where to find local art, artisans, and more. Many hosts already share these insights in their listings and in the Guidebooks product on Airbnb.

Some consistent themes across the neighborhoods that made the list:

Art: Creativity is alive across the globe and modern interpretations vary. While museums remain popular, people are seeking neighborhoods known for street murals like Melbourne’s Richmond area, or interesting mixed galleries/performance spaces/shopping experiences like Vertigo Galleria in Roma Sur, Mexico City.

Food: Interest in food from around the world is growing both for upscale restaurants and for street vendors. From hawker market in Asia to food trucks in the US and street stalls in Latin America, everyone is clamoring for fast, cheap, and local food. On the flip side, travelers still love dining at the finest restaurants despite the hefty price tag and are flocking to Molecular Gastronomy-inspired restaurants in Constitución, Buenos Aires, or splurging on decadent french food in Capucins in Bordeaux. But no matter the neighborhood, one thing most people agree on is the need for coffee, and each Airbnb host has their own favorite cafe they encourage guests to go to.

Outdoor Experiences: People are travelling on foot to soak in the local culture, whether it’s to leisurely stroll down a secret alleyway or escape for a long hike. From jogging through Katy Trail in Oak Lawn in Dallas, Texas, to meandering through the alleyways of Chou-ku in Osaka, Japan or around the Waterfront of Calle Bettis in Traina, Seville, Spain, people are looking for the best routes to undiscovered gems in cities.

Shopping: While traditional malls attract visitors, more and more people are seeking out neighborhoods where local artisans congregate and sell their unique wares such as District VII in Budapest, Hungary or Poncey Highland in Atlanta, Georgia.

Find a comprehensive Travel Trends Report on the 16 Neighborhoods to Discover in 2016 here.

Article Here

Ticonderoga Club at Krog Street Market

Online it is billed as “Colonial era–inspired tavern serving seafood, sandwiches & craft cocktails at Krog Street Market”.  I found out Ticonderoga is a town and tourist attraction in upstate New York.  Inside the new Atlanta restaurant, I felt like I was in a bunker.  Not a fan of the décor.  Maybe they were trying to go with an exclusive members-only vibe.  I DO have to say the food and service were awesome though!  Our server was so attentive and nice.  We loved that we were able to have a yummy AND healthy meal.  It is located in the corner of the market between The Luminary and Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams.  Note:  They do not take reservations and are not open on Wednesdays.

My friend and I split:

Butternut Squash Salad (kinda like a Thai salad!)

Cured Salmon Spring Roll (kinda like sashimi!)

Vegan Noodle Bowl

Full menu here:  ticonderogaclub.com

Great Deal at Spice to Table

Spice to Table is a wonderful Indian restaurant in Old 4th Ward and they are featuring a great deal on Scout Mob ($26 for 2 people!).  Owner Asha Gomez is also a James Beard Award winner.  Here are more details:

Spice to Table Presents: An Indian Feast for Two by Chef Asha Gomez

We’d be hard-pressed to find a more exuberant culinary master than Chef Asha Gomez. With this feast for two at her very own spot, she plans to spread the love through every course – from your first sip of chai to your final bite of her signature fried chicken. (They don’t call it the joy of cooking for nothing, after all.)

WHAT TO EXPECT

• An Indian meal for two at Chef Asha Gomez's outpost in Old 4th Ward, Spice to Table
• Two chai teas to warm you up
• Two of Asha's famous samosas
• Two entrees of your choice from a menu of spicy, savory, and complex dishes

SCOUT NOTES

Ever since we had our first tastes of Asha Gomez’s cooking in a certain cozily clandestine supper club years ago, we’ve been hooked. Since then, we’ve followed her culinary climb like devotees – from her beloved underground Spice Route dinner parties, to their brick and mortar leap at Cardamom Hill, the opening of the Third Space, to their most recent evolution at Spice to Table. And we weren’t the only ones to become smitten with her passion for Kerala cuisine and the flavors of South India: her nomination from the James Beard Awards and a tip of the hat from Bon Appetit were proof in the pudding.

ScoutMob Deal here

The Wrecking Bar Brewpub Vegetarian Tuesday's

Even if you aren't a vegetarian I highly recommend Wrecking Bar Brewpub's weekly event.  Every Tuesday they have an awesome vegetarian menu and of course their award winning brews and cocktails.  It's a great place for groups or to belly up to the bar.  Sometimes their menu has vegan selections as well.  I have had the seitan wrap and that with fries is so yummy.  On a side note, it is a great date spot or catch up with friends spot around the bar.  

Check out their interesting building history here:  wreckingbarbrewpub.com

One Midtown Kitchen- Deal for Locals

If you live in the 30324, 30309 and 30306 zip codes One Midtown Kitchen (part of the Concentrics Restaurant Group) is now offering a 15% discount on your food tab.  Just show your ID to redeem.  Cheers!

Address: 559 Dutch Valley Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
Phone:(404) 892-4111
Hours: 

Open today · 5:30 – 
Reservations: opentable.com
Menu: onemidtownkitchen.com

Lobster Week 2016 at Lure

Lure on Crescent Avenue is promoting a Lobster Week next week with a special menu.   Lure has a great menu, very cool bar and a great bar manager (ask for Brent!). Not sure of prices for Lobster Week just yet but looks like a yummy menu:  

–appetizers–
RICOTTA GNOCCHI lobster knuckles, tarragon, bread crumbs
FARRO VERDE lobster, avocado, pickled carrots, fennel, Thai basil puree

–entrees–
LOBSTER “POUR” whole lobster, fingerling potatoes, corn, cippolini onions
LOBSTER RICE PORRIDGE crispy pork belly, scallions, crispy leeks
RISOTTO BIANCO celery leaf and fennel salad,
espelette pepper

For reservations, call 404.817.3650 or click here.

Sneak Peek Inside The Mercury's menu

                                         

The Mercury just opened at Ponce City Market and is the largest restaurant thus far. It is located on the 2nd floor. The Mercury was started by The Pinewood's Mike Blydenstein, Brooks Cloud, and Julian Goglia. Julian recently won an Atlanta Eater Bartender of the Year award so you know the cocktails are going to be good. I am generally too impatient for "Mixologist" cocktails but I sure do love the "Goonies Never Die" cocktail at The Pinewood. Interestingly enough, the menu consists of a large steak offering, something that InTown hasn't seen in a while. Porterhouse for 2 anyone?

"From the Sea Platter"
Menu Here:  http://themercuryatl.com/menu/

Lawrence's Cafe

Lawrence's Cafe is in Decatur/Kirkwood area on W College Ave, next to Revolution Doughnuts. They serve Lebanese (i.e. Mediterranean) food and I am in love with their hummus, falafel and schwarma! They have lots of vegetarian options and are great at accommodating dietary needs (like no sugar, gluten free, etc.) They're also great at accommodating large groups.  If you are craving healthy, yummy Mediterranean food at a reasonable cost you should check them out.  Other things to note:  The wine is pretty reasonable, they are closed on Mondays and they do a great takeout service.

See the Menu here:  www.lawrencescafe.com