Great reason to try Amara in Inman Park

Scoutmob has a pretty decent meal for two at Inman's newest Indian restaurant Amara:

Spice Up Your Life with Amara's Dinner for Two

America and India meet each other on every plate at Amara, Sandeep Kothary’s latest Inman Park venture that offers the perfect mix of traditional Indian cuisine and spice-infused modern American dishes.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Dinner for 2 at Amara in Inman Park
• 1 small plate (from the Snacks, Bread, Appetizers, and Tandoori Appetizers menu) to share
• 2 entrees (from Curries, Biryana, or Main Courses)
• 2 beverages of your choice
• The perfect mix of Indian and American cuisine under one roof

click here for deal

SCOUT NOTES

In the world of modern Indian dining, Amara truly has the best of both worlds. The team of chefs at Amara, largely sourced from Sandeep’s Midtown Indian restaurant, Tabla, has expanded upon a menu of Indian classics with several unique American dishes that incorporate Indian ingredients. The result is an eclectic menu that caters equally to fans of Indian cuisine and to those who are less familiar. And our handpicked dinner for two gives you and a date the opportunity to sample the full range of Amara’s delicious Indian-American creations. Lovers of curry, tandoori, and biryana will be happy to find plenty of perfectly executed traditional Indian dishes to dive into. Small bites like the chef selected chutney tasting will awaken your palate to your favorite Indian flavors, and entrees like the popular Amara Chicken Curry – which combines spinach wrapped garlic chicken with a tomato curry sauce – provide a modern take on classic Indian cuisine.

However, if you have yet to dip your toes into the waters of Indian cooking, there are plenty of American dishes whose infusion of Indian spices serve as a perfect introduction for uninitiated diners. For example, Amara’s Brussel Sprouts ‘Bhel’ appetizer combines brussels sprouts and a sweet potato puree with tamarind and an Indian staple called boondi – made from fried chickpea flour – to create a dish that combines familiar American elements with a couple flavorful South Asian spices. When it’s time to move onto your main course, look no further than the jaggery marinated Hangar Steak, or the Salmon, which is marinated in turmeric and cooked in a traditional tandoor oven.

Even Amara’s bar program incorporates Indian ingredients in unique and delicious ways. Many popular drinks, like the signature Pear Necessities, use simple syrups made from jaggery or ginger instead of regular sugar, and a new spring cocktail menu, which will feature even more distinctive Indian infusions – is currently in the works. In addition to this Amara has wide selection of wines and local craft beers to choose from.

870 Inman Village Pkwy NE,

Atlanta, GA 30307

Ticonderoga Club is launching brunch service this weekend

The Krog Street Market restaurant will be serving from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.  The "Yoga Pants" is looking pretty tasty.

A peak at the menu:

Ticonderoga Club
99 Krog Street NE, Suite W, Atlanta, GA 30307

Establishment

Rumor has it  Establishment will be open this weekend at it's new location in Colony Square.  It will be on the 14th Street side of the property.  The parking deck is next to the W.  Establishment used to be in Buckhead and was decorated with a lot of reclaimed wood and EDM lovers.  Should be a fresh and welcome addition to the Midtown "scene", as it was lacking a good place to have an after dinner drink.   I've heard they will also be serving food as well.   Hopefully the music will be just as great as the last spot. 

Staplehouse Is About to be a Major Player in Atlanta's Brunch Game

This is great news for Intown Folks.  Check out this post from Eater:

Andrew Thomas Lee

Staplehouse.

The restaurant is adding brunch by popular demand

Old Fourth Ward's Staplehouse, the James Beard Award semifinalist for America's Best New Restaurant, is trading in Sunday dinner for brunch. An email blast sent out Thursday afternoon reads, "You asked for it, Atlanta, and we heard you! We are moving to Sunday Brunch starting in March."

Brunch reservations for the dining room and patio are already available online via Tock, and the first service is scheduled for March 6. The restaurant's brunch hours will be when "Staplehouse dishes meet Sunday morning vibes," according to a brief description on the Tock site.

Update: Staplehouse proprietor Jen Hidinger says the team tested brunch on Super Bowl Sunday and found it was a success. She shared details on what to expect:

"Brunch is a la carte," Hidinger said in an email to Eater Atlanta. "Think Staplehouse a la carte dishes meet Sunday morning eggs, all composed, maybe a shrimp and grits dish or smoked trout salad, or a quiche with salad dish.

"We are always working on new and inventive special cocktails and will offer a smaller sample cocktail list most likely on Sundays. This is new for us, so we are in development!"

Staplehouse's final Sunday dinner service is this week. After that, hours will shift from noon to 5 p.m.

In addition to the Best New Restaurant nod, chef Ryan Smith is a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef: Southeast award. Staplehouse has received rave reviews from local critics, garnering three stars from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and several picks for "best meal" in Eater Atlanta's 2015 year-end survey.

Staplehouse, located at 541 Edgewood Avenue, is the evolution of Hidinger's pop-up with her late husband and chef Ryan. Proceeds from the restaurant benefit The Giving Kitchen.

What do Ford Fry and Uber have in Common?

This could be a really good thing!  You had me at "Hot Tamales and Tortilla Soup".

THANK GOODNESS IT'S FRY-DAY UberEATS is excited to announce a new partnership with Ford Fry Restaurants. On select "Fry-days" throughout the month of February, we'll be serving up Uber-exclusive treats from popular Ford Fry eateries and delivering them to you curbside in 10 minutes or less.  New to UberEATS? Be sure to use promo codeEATSATLFRYDAY for $5 off your first two orders. More details and specific menu here:  UberEATS and Ford Fry

Tabla- Great Indian Food in Midtown

Can't say enough about the great meal we had here!  Modern, clean, nice new space, great bar.  We had a "thali" which allowed us a few sides for only $12 for lunch.  We asked out knowledgeable server for a substitute from the typical chicken Masala and we tried the Chicken Balti, which was delicious.  We were supposed to take the rest home but it was so yummy we had to stuff ourselves.  This spot is great for dinner and they also do 1/2 off bottles of wine on Tuesday's.  In the 77 12th Street area by Crescent Avenue intersection.

Menu Here:  http://tablaatlanta.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

Bao's at Ah-Ma’s Taiwanese Kitchen

Located In the Trader Joe's shopping center.  Had the Lu Rou Fan - rice with slow-cooked minced pork, black mushroom, egg & shallots $5.50 (yummy); Cup Sticky Rice - sticky/glutinous rice, dried baby shrimps, black mushroom (yummy) $5.50, the pork belly bao (super yummy) and the Dirty Bird Bao - fried chicken cutlet, daikon radish & carrot $4.50.  Chicken was not as good.  Maybe it was the cut I got.  Cute, small place with charm.  Will definitely be back for a bao!!  Would love to see more baos and salads too!