Radial Cafe Deal

Radial Cafe in Candler Park has sustainable, organic cuisine such as fresh seafood, grass-fed beef, organic vegetables from local producers and is served in a reclaimed warehouse.  Groupon is featuring this deal as a "Best of Groupon" so is a good excuse to try it out.

Choose Between Two Options

$35 for a farm-to-table dinner for two (up to $62.96 value) $70 for a farm-to-table dinner for four (up to $125.92 value)

• One appetizer per couple (up to a $8.99 value)
• Two entrees per couple (up to a $15.99 value each)
• One dessert per couple (up to a $5.99 value)
• Two cocktail, beers, or wines per couple (up to a $8 value each)

Dinner options include Chorizo Fig Newtons ($9.99), Bacon-wrapped Dates & Pimiento Cheese Deviled Eggs ($8.29), Corn Fritters ($7.99), Mushrooms Risotto ($13.99), Sweet Tea Brined Pork Chop ($15.99), Georgia Trout ($14.99), Beef Brisket ($14.99), Caramel-Pecan Cake ($5.99) and Chocolate-Espresso Cake ($5.00).

Radial Café

It’s fitting that Radial Café, which is featured as a Best of Groupon for the third year in a row, is housed inside a reclaimed turn-of-the century dairy plant: the restaurant has been whipping up farm-to-table, sustainably-sourced meals since 1999. Under the guidance of owner and chef Frank Bragg, gourmet and frequently vegan-friendly and gluten-free dishes are made from local and sustainable ingredients. Walnut-lentil, jerk turkey, Brasstown beef, and black bean patties lay the foundation for build-your-own burgers that can be customized with toppings such as sunflower sprouts and pepper jack cheese. Breakfast specialties range from vegan hashes of marinated tofu and vegetables, to biscuits and rosemary gravy, a dish that earned praise from 10Best. Kids who can't overcome their suspicions about broccoli can order quesadillas, pancakes, and more from a menu lauded by Atlanta Parent.

Radial is critically-acclaimed and highly reviewed for its dedication to the local and sustainable efforts that extend beyond the kitchen. Bartenders craft organic cocktails and pour local beers and organic, biodynamic wines. And every month, the restaurant displays the work of local artists on their dining room's walls, rather than using them as untouchable placemats. Even the building itself maintains a small carbon footprint with strict recycling and composting practices.

View full deal here

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.

Happenings at Eclipse Di Luna

We popped by the Miami Circle in Buckhead location this weekend for lunch and learned a few great things:  1)  They allow dogs on the patio 2) They have painting classes on Sundays from 6-8 pm for $25 and 3) They have 1/2 off Tapas and Well Drinks Mondays-Thursdays from 4-6 pm.  I highly recommend these dishes we had for lunch:

• Estofado de col Rizada: Braised Kale with Sundried Tomatoes, White Beans, Manchego Cheese and Crispy Potato Shavings
• Ceviche de Pescado Blanco: Gulf Coast White Fish Ceviche in a Habañero and Orange Marinade with Cilantro and Avocado 
• Salmón a la Parrilla: Grilled Salmon with a Smoked Paprika Piquillo Pepper Relish and Kalamata Tapanade  

View menu here:  www.eclipsediluna.net

New Restaurant Opening in Inman Quarter- BeetleCat

BeetleCat, Ford Fry's long-planned "little sister to The Optimist," begins service on Monday, December 28, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Fry is behind The Optimist, Superica, Bar Margot and Marcel. Seafood and tiki drinks on the menu sounds like a good idea to me!

BeetleCat is situated at 299 Elizabeth Street, on the corner of North Highland Avenue. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 3 p.m. 10 p.m. Late-night dining will be offered Friday and Saturday from 11 p.m. until 2 a.m.

UPDATE:

I highly recommend:

MOQUECA SOUP day boat fish, coconut, plantains, yucca, sticky rice, jalapeño, cilantro, cashews

SALMON lightly smoked roe, yogurt cheese, rye bread crumbles, dill

TUNA Thai herb salsa verde, green papaya, peanuts, jalapeño, crispy shallots

Menu available here: http://www.beetlecatatl.com/

Oyster Happy Hours In Atlanta

                                   

Oysters are best in the "er" months so September, October, November and December are prime time oyster eating season.  This usually means they are bigger and more "juicy".  Some places like The Kimball House and One Eared Stag do not have saltines to go with them and prefer mignette sauce.  I guess saltines are passe' but I still find it much easier to load up my cocktail sauce and horseradish.   I am always a fan of a good deal so why not hit up an oyster happy hour around town.  Some of my favorites:

• One Eared Stag $1 oysters Monday-Friday 5-7 pm 
• The Pig and The Pearl $1 oysters 4-6 pm everyday!
• Steamhouse Lounge $7 for a dozen Wednesdays
• Fontaine's Oyster House $7 for a dozen on Tuesdays

Can you think of any others that we missed?  Let me know and I will add them!

Weekend Getaway: New York City Edition

We escaped the rainy Atlanta weekend for a quick NYC getaway and had some excellent dining adventures to share.  Check out these spots next time you are in The Big Apple:

The Whitney Museum:  Checked out the Frank Stella exhibit. and had a bite at the top floor restaurant.  They had a lot of toasts on the menu.  We loved the hummus and falafel toast with pickeled carrots

Balthazar:  This place in NoLita rocks.  We couldn't get reservations for lunch or dinner so stopped in there on a Friday around 3 pm.  They had a 1.5 hour wait!  That is how popular it is!  We were able to grab a spot at the bar.  I did notice a lot of places with a wait require you to check in with bartenders for a bar spot.  We lucked out.  We had the mussels frittes, ceviche and field greens salad.  Polished it off with a glass of Sancerre.  Excellent!

Cull & Pistol:  This is a place inside of Chelsea Market.  It reminds me of Ponce City Market and I believe the designer is one in the same.  Loved the decor (exposed brick wall, reclaimed wood booths, subway tile walls with beige grout).  We had AWESOME shrimp cocktail and some oysters. Great seafood.

The Standard Hotel:  This was a great spot on the bottom floor outside to have a drink, app and people watch.  We had wine and tuna tartar.  Highly recommend.  It is right on the HighLine in the Meatpacking District.

Freeman's:  This is a favorite spot in Bowery area.  Imagine dark, old timey, minimal taxidermy tucked away in an alleyway without a sign.  They do not take reservations but we were able to grab a a table.  We enjoyed the spicy sweet potato and pork belly appetizer and sea bass dinner special.

These were some of our favorites.  Next on the list in NYC and highly recommended:  Shuko, Carbone, ZZ Clam and Cosme.  Hope any of these rec's work out for you!

Freeman's