dining – Page 7 – tide & bloom

cafe jonah

There are so many adorable breakfast/brunch places up in the atl that I don’t even know where to start. This is just one of many reasons why I can’t see myself being able to live anywhere else but here.

Cafe Jonah is one of my most recent favorites and it resides in a little converted cottage in the heart of Buckhead. That right there already gets you, doesn’t it? Well, get ready for more.

On Sundays, Cafe Jonah has a “pay-what-you-like” brunch in which you literally pay whatever you want. There’s no catch whatsoever, just faith in the good of your heart. And whether you’re eating in or taking to go, there’s a plethora of delectable options to satisfy both your sweet and savory addictions…

skewers

There is a place on Buford Highway that Ben and I so lovingly nicknamed “skewers”. It sits in one of those random Asian-dominated commercial plazas, so conveniently next door to Quickly (where I get my regular taro milk bubble tea). At Bei Jing Kabobs, you can get a variety of clear-your-nose-water-your-eyes spicy kebabs.

Unfortunately my spice level tolerance is pretty much zero so I can’t enjoy about half the menu, but it sure does look attractive. You can get a variety of spiced meats and seafood on kebabs or submerged in this steaming and delicious-looking stew. I mean, look at it! Has broccoli and asparagus ever looked so delectably lethal?

yum bunz

When I saw the “dim sum fast: coming soon” sign over in West Midtown, you can bet I was already salivating. Dim sum in the heart of the city?! Imagine that. The mere thought of the convenience made me giddy like a schoolgirl. I dream of the day when Atlanta has its own Chinatown, but for now I have to settle for the 20-minute-minimum drive outside of town to get my Asian food fix. Enter in Yum Bunz.

After I finally managed to make a Yum Bunz date with my friends, we were all pretty darn excited. I mean, even just saying the name is fun, but I was seriously thrilled at the idea of how this place could possibly change my life. That’s how much I love dim sum. I arrived to the sleek location first and as per usual, couldn’t decide what to choose. The decor is contemporary and cute, as expected, and the menu was surprisingly streamlined. Thankfully they had some combo formulas that allowed me to try a variety of items! Which is exactly the way dim sum should be – easy, fulfilling, and quick.

west & mill

There are some places that I want so badly to be good, but no matter how hard I try to give them the benefit of the doubt, I just can’t deny my disappointment. I really don’t enjoy writing negatively, but keeping my writing voice honest is very important and in order to do that I also need to share my experiences that aren’t so perfect.

I’ve visited West & Mill twice now and both times were for a leisurely brunch, free of pressure or expectation. On Sunday mornings, I just want something that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Sometimes all it takes is a good coffee and a bagel and other times I need a tad bit more effort. West & Mill is at a great location in West Midtown, right across the street from Octane. It has a cute and quaint little dining room which is a slightly weird, but cool mixture of European bistro and contemporary industrial. By looks and looks alone, all signs point to a pleasant dining experience.

may daze

This month has gone by way too fast. The older I get the more convinced I am that time is speeding up. That being said, let me take some time to share these moments from some wonderful memories made in May.

Kirkwood Spring Fling

Free fun? Who can say no! This was one of my favorite festival-type events to date. Not for any singular reason, but just because it felt so perfectly simple. It was small yet held a lot of quality vendors and I enjoyed getting acquainted with the Kirkwood area. The food stars of the day were Nectar and Atomic Ice Cream Sandwiches. Again, who can say no?

Chai Pani

Finally got a chance to sample the Indian street food delight in Decatur. While I definitely enjoyed what I ordered (kale pakoras and a mango lassi), I walked away still feeling hungry. The menu is set up in a tapas style and so the best way to go is with a huge group. All in all, it was quick and easy, but not the best option for just two. Side note – I was completely enchanted by the vintage Bollywood movie posters on the walls.

Robert L. Staton Rose Garden

Nestled right next to Fernbank Museum of Natural History, I’ve driven past this garden for three years and only discovered it because my mom pointed it out from the road. Best of all is that it’s free and open to the public every day!

chocolate fixes everything

As you can probably tell, I’m a self-proclaimed lover of all things decadent. Fortunately Atlanta never fails to satisfy my cravings and one of my favorite spots to get a fix is Cacao in Virgina Highlands. Rain or shine in every season, this local chocolatier always has something deep and delicious to perk up my mood.

You can easily pop in and grab a truffle or two (a little pricey but totally worth it) from the flavor bar you see here. For our most recent visit, I chose Pecan Penuche and Ben got CAYENNE PASSION FRUIT.

If you ever make it to Atlanta, this little gem is definitely a must-visit.

instamadness

Yes, I finally joined Instagram @tideandbloom #latebloomer. Guess I just can’t resist yet another way to share my experiences! Here’s a little sample of where I’m beginning:

[instagram url=https://www.instagram.com/p/ZN6dNkn_yW/ width=325] [instagram url=https://www.instagram.com/p/ZdtKEpn_9f/ width=325][instagram url=https://www.instagram.com/p/ZdspvhH_8o/ width=325] [instagram url=https://www.instagram.com/p/ZdvJN3H_xG/ width=325] [instagram url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Zd05G_H_6M/ width=325] [instagram url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Zdfk_mn_1f/ width=325]

Are you addicted to Instagram? Are there any particularly interesting Instaphotographers I need to follow?

ode to roasters

Alright, alright. I don’t want you thinking I go to places like Sotto Sotto on the regular, so let me tell you about one of the ordinaries. Every now and then, you need something simple, uncomplicated, and satisfying. For Ben and me, one of these places is Roasters.

Besides being close-by,

good italian, pure and simple

Have you ever met someone who doesn’t like Italian food? Me neither. Because how does anyone not like bread, pasta, cheese, and tomato? That’s what we think of when we think Italian – spaghetti, bruschetta, garlic bread, and tiramisu (and Giada of course). These dishes have been popularized and Americanized in such a way that many people think of Italian as easy or simple. And to a certain degree, it is. But there’s a difference between so-easy-nothing-really-matters and so-easy-in-its-beautiful-simplicity. Thankfully, I had a divine experience of the latter at Sotto Sotto.

I had been waiting to sample this 12-year-old Atlanta mainstay ever since I moved here. You see, I’ve never considered myself a fan of Italian mostly because I never seem to find a truly exemplary Italian restaurant. It seems that the key to good Italian – and maybe just all good food in general – is great ingredients. Sotto Sotto wields this key with humble finesse and presents beautifully pared-back dishes that allow the ingredients to shine.

With everything cooked to perfection and a decadent creamy rum-infused dessert to finish, this was one of the top dining experiences I’ve had in the city. The only thing I was mildly annoyed by was how close the neighboring tables were, making me feel like I was in 3 conversations at once. But such is the small price when you’re a party of two.

Yes, I love innovative concept restaurants and new fusions of diverse flavors. But Sotto Sotto reminded me that

my day with the general

With Atlanta finally starting to thaw from what feels like the longest winter in history, my beloved boyfriend and I decided it was the perfect time to make another addition to our roster of favorite local eateries. At the top of our “must-try” list was The General Muir – a newcomer claiming to be a truly authentic Jewish NY-style deli slash cafe slash bakery. We had been salivating over the menu, complete with all of my boyfriend’s (he knows a thing or two about being Jewish) expectations of such a deli, and couldn’t wait to see if it could live up to our standards.

The General Muir sits at the end of Emory Point, a retail strip on a street not too dissimilar from the bigger and better-known Atlantic Station. The area has a handful of cute boutiques (yes, I made purchases) and is super convenient to, you guessed it, Emory and the CDC. Parking was easy with a first-2-hrs-free deck and everything was boding well as we walked into the restaurant.

The charming décor set a nostalgic tone without being in-your-face. The atmosphere was welcoming and we were happy to be seated and served promptly.

Without needing to see the menu,