Decatur Restaurant Week October 4-8

It's started people!  My favorites are Iberian Pig, The Pinewood and 246.  There's a few new ones I want to check out too.  See the full list, along with their special menu here.  Click the link below each restaurant icon:

http://www.decaturrestaurantweek.com/

Princi Italia

This new spot in Midtown has only been open a month or two but I have already hit it up A LOT for lunches.  The address reads 77 12th street but it is really facing Crescent Avenue across from Ri Ra the Irish pub.  Quaint little bar, really bright and airy, great decor.  Apparently they are affiliated with another Princi out of Texas.  I have tried numerous items on the menu and these are my favs through trial and error:

• Bucatini Arrabbiata spicy tomato sauce, pancetta, parmesan, basil & chilies
• Spaghetti Bolognese classic bolognese sauce, reggiano parmesan, basil 
• Lemon Sole Piccata (special) crab meat, stewed tomato & zucchini 
• Wood Oven Shrimp baby greens, avocado, heirloom tomatoes, balsamic
• 3 Cheese Flatbread goat cheese, gorgonzola, reggiano  (not too cheezy)

Never tried this for dinner but I can see it being a hit with it's location.   Good service, parking validated (bring in ticket, the garage is attached and is on 12th).

Good news at Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall

As an "Intowner" I love anything on The Beltline.  I was so excited to see this place open because you can bike there, it's close and they allow dogs on the patio.  It's located on John Wesley Dobbs which is a side street off of Sampson.  It's walking distance from Krog Street Market.  The service and food needed some kinks worked out.  Well I am happy to report I finally had a yummy meal here!   Check these out sometime (highlighted straight from the menu):  
smoked bbq wings / served with blue cheese
spinach & crispy ham / pine street ham, candied nuts, imperial blue, white balsamic
roasted cauliflower / artichoke heart, marcona almonds, beet puree
patatas bravas / smashed potatoes, cayenne, smoked paprika, creme fraiche

BTW Large TV at the bar for football fans

Miso Izakaya

Love this place!  Located in Old Fourth Ward (O4W) this sushi restaurant is probably my favorite in town.  It's usually hard to get in and that's a great sign.  Don't confuse it with Craft Izakaya close by.  "Izakaya" is a Japanese name meaning "a type of informal Japanese drinking establishment that serves food to accompany the drinks." Located at 619 Edgewood Avenue close to the Beltline and Ammaza Pizza.  There is a parking lot next to it that usually has spots.  No valet too.  Absolute favorite things on the menu:  Soft shell crab BLT buns, Shoyu Tamago (soy marinated soft boiled egg over crispy rice) and the salmon sashimi.  Another fun thing to do is to try the Strong Guy sake.  It comes in a glass that is overfilled with a cute little blue and white china bowl underneath.  If you are a sushi lover you will not be sorry!

Best Dirty Martini in a while

The Bookhouse Pub.  That martini.  It was shaken so that there were tiny ice shards in the glass.  Yummy.  Their veggie burger, salad and vegetable plate are all amazing.  Very dark and lodge like.  It's usually crowded and seems to attract a lot of Hollywood types.  After living in LA I can spot the film crew a mile away.

1 Kept

This is been on my list for a while so I was excited to try it. Located on Peachtree Road by Peachtree Battle going north.  Parking was very easy in the back of the restaurant and they have their own lot, no valet.  Surprised at how big the restaurant was too.  Great lighting, great decor.  We had the Warm Kale Salad and the Steamed PI Mussels.  Both were phenomenal.  The salad had house made sausage, butternut squash, garlic confit and waldorf-style apples.  Mussels were with leeks, white wine broth, garlic, shallots, herb butter and grilled sourdough  So tasty!  We sat up at the bar and the bartenders were very easy on the eyes.  Not a requirement, but always nice.  Looking forward to going here again and I might get the exact same thing.  

Poor Calvin’s

Went here for the first time recently.  Located downtown at 510 Piedmont Avenue.  I had the best lobster roll I have ever had hands down.  It was on a water chestnut bread that was sweet flaky and chewy.  It was accompanied by yummy curried Mac n cheese.  This was so good!  I gave a friend the recommendation and they had the lobster stir fry.  They said it was also phenomenal.