There were several restaurant openings going on the other night and my sister and I were giddy to snag a last-minute, late, 9:30PM reservations to one of them: The Optimist. Located on the Westside on Howell Mill, let me just tell you it’s a beautiful space. The huge main dining room has a cool and hip vibe, it was expansive and airy, modern but comfortable. The adjacent bar, dubbed Oyster Bar at The Optimist, gigantic as it is, opens to a roomy patio. A pet project from Chef Ford Fry, The Optimist is helmed by Chef Adam Evans of JCT Kitchen.

Our dinner went without a hitch. Something usually unheard of among fancier restaurants on opening day. We had a celebrity sighting, too, (food critic) and even bumped into a fellow blogger (famous).

Our meal started with these yeasty, freshly-baked wheat rolls enveloped in butter and topped with sea salt. They were heavenly. I ate four.

We had a clam appetizer. Presentation was great– served in a small cast iron pan with two handles. Unfortunately, it was offensively salty that we couldn’t get past two clams. So unfortunate because the dish really looked good with lots of tender clams. The red wine fish bordelaise was just too reduced and the addition of pork belly pieces aggravated it more. Still, we had high hopes this wasn’t a preview of what’s more to come. On to the entrees.

I had the Crispy Day-Boat Flounder. It was delicious. It came with two filets of flounder that were lightly dusted in flour then fried lightly. I would have loved to see a crispier crust but it was negligible, nonetheless. I liked that the flavor of the fish was made to stand out. No heavy sauces, just a light touch of seasoning. A handful of small grape tomatoes and fresh rocket salad completed the dish.

My sister had the Alaskan Halibut that was grilled to perfection. Just like my flounder, it was seasoned perfectly. There was that offensively salty bordelaise that came with the dish but nothing that a good scraping off the plate can’t remedy. The grilled hen of the wood mushrooms were a good accompaniment as they gave a contrasting texture and an earthy flavor to the fish.

Remember that offensively salty red wine fish bordelaise with the clams and the halibut? That was seen again with the risotto. I really think the risotto didn’t need it at all, flavor-wise, except for presentation purposes. The risotto was passable: it was a bit too runny for me and although it looked like oatmeal, it tasted more like grits.

We loved the Corn Milk Hushpuppies. They tasted like cakey beignets complete with a dusting of powdered sugar. Although listed as a side item, dip them in the cane sugar butter and you’ve got a really good dessert.

I am looking forward to coming back and sampling more of the menu. There’s a pork loin dish that I’m really dying to try. Our dinner of one appetizer, two main entrees, two sides, a diet coke (mine), and a cocktail (sister’s) came to close to $100. Reasonable but definitely a place I can’t hit multiple times a week.

The Optimist
914 Howell Mill Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 477-6260

Technorati Tags: Westside, seafood, Ford Fry

First ones here!

Came in here the first day they opened for lunch (I think my good friend George and I were literally the very first lunch patrons). We were hoping to eat pasta that day but was told there wouldn’t be any for lunch. Bummer. In any case, we knew we’d find something good to eat. Besides, with names like Brian Lewis (Bocado), Chef Josh Hopkins (Abattoir), sous chef Adam Waller (Sotto Sotto), and very recently Bruce Logue (La Pietra), there’s bound to be greatness, right? RIGHT!

Photo courtesy of @GJAtlUSA

Pizza. There’s really not much to eat here for lunch. Pizzas, sandwiches, and salads are just about it. We went with the tomato, mozzarella, cappicola, basil, chili pizza. Verdict? This is my favorite pizza in Atlanta. No joke. No comparison. No ifs, ands, or buts. The sourdough crust is chewy and crispy that borders between thick and thin. Just the way I like it. It had that slight acidity that wasn’t obstrusive but you know it’s there in every bite. Of course, the toppings are top-notch. The cappicola is mild and not as salty as its counterparts in the city. The pizza sauce that tasted of fresh tomatoes wasn’t soupy at all and didn’t make the crust soggy even to the last slice. And yes, I did not have to use a knife and fork to eat it. The toppings held up fine. A beautiful, delicious pie, to say the least. Seriously my favorite pizza period.

Sandwich. I want substance when I eat so I’m sure you all know by now I can never be a vegetarian. Sandwiches are almost always on the the bottom of my list. Unless I eat it with another dish. And salads? I don’t even really bother at all. I don’t want to waste stomach space if I had other yummy things I can fill mine with. But there wasn’t anything else on the menu so we had to get a sandwich to go with our pizza. And guess what — I actually really, really liked the prosciutto sandwich. The bread did it for me. Grilled, homemade baguette that doubles as a pizza crust. It wasn’t that hard, jaw-breaking baguette with crispy exterior that you need to chew fifty times before you can swallow. The crispiness of the bread was just enough to give you texture and crunch. The prosciutto, fresh, creamy mozzarella, and roasted peppers were enough to give substance to the amazing bread. It was really yummy.

More bread. One of my weaknesses is bread. I just can’t say no to it. That bread in the sandwich? I made it my dessert. I asked for some bread, grilled and with butter slathered in them. It was heavenly.

Can’t wait to try the pastas and more of their pizzas. I’ve heard so many good things so far. By the way, it’s a little tricky to find the entrance door but just know it’s at the very end of the building.

STG Trattoria
102 West Paces Ferry
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 844-2879

Technorati Tags: Josh Hopkins, pizza, Italian, Buckhead

There are so many new Korean places in Duluth I can’t keep up. This one opened a week ago and I’m so happy to see they’re already busy everyday. First, let me tell you how to get there. Although the address says Pleasant Hill, the storefront faces North Berkeley Lake (across from Super H). So, to get there, take North Berkeley Lake Rd away from Super H Mart (if you go the other way you’ll hit Super H). It’s the free standing building in the Walmart plaza next to the gasoline station.

Best deal for $3.50

Now the food. I liken the quality and taste of food here with the fast casual concept. If you want a quick, no-frills meal then this is your spot. They’ve got different kinds of kimbap (maki rolls) that cost $3.50 an order and comes with 12 big slices. Served with a bowl of spicy soup and daikon kimchi, they make for a good snack or appetizer. I suggest the bulgogi kimbap so you get a little protein but the fish cake one is also good (if chewy is your thing). There’s also a cheese kind that was actually okay.

$7.99 and it’s not even full

I’m a huge fan of yukgaejang because it’s my favorite Korean soup. I can proudly say I’ve had it at almost all the Korean places in the metro that serve it. The version here is ordinary — no depth of flavors, just flat beef broth. There are a good amount of beef pieces in the spicy soup although they needed a few more hours in the pot to tenderize. I do like that it didn’t come piled high with bean sprouts (a turn-off and a no-no) and that it came with lots of fernbrake (or fiddleheads, a black, noodle-like veggie that’s a major component of this soup). It’s a good deal for $7.99 if you’re not particular with your yukgaejangs. Unfortunately, I am and I’d rather spend that money next door in either direction of Pleasant Hill for amazing yukgaejang that even comes with handmade noodles. But that’s just me.

They have two kinds of ramen: one with veggies and egg and another one with cheese. (Really, cheese?) The menu says “instant noodles soup” so I wouldn’t even dare order that if I were you. Besides, you have better use for your $5.99. They have quite a selection of rice cake dishes — tteokbokki — chewy rice cakes resembling solid tubes of pasta in spicy tomato-based broth. I am an equal opportunity tteokbokki eater so the ones here are okay to me (although a bit pricier than most places).

There’s one thing, however, that you must get here. The Chicken Juk (rice porridge) is really pretty good. Flavorful minced chicken swim in delicious porridge. It has the perfect balance of sticky and soupy. Comfort food, yes!

Overall, a pricey place. Nothing spectacular overall but hits the spot when you’re in the immediate area and craving for something quick.

Pepper Garden
2605 Pleasant Hill Rd.
Suite 600-A
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 497-9010

Technorati Tags: Korean, Duluth

Did I have you at dumpling? Thought so. This is another of those new establishments in Duluth. It opened about two months ago. It occupies the space vacated by my ultra favorite EERecipe Rice Crepe House (if you never went then too bad for you). Managed, operated, and staffed by a Korean family, everything is made in-house. Handmade, homemade noodles? Check. Handmade dumplings? Check. Korean mommy cooking just about everything from scratch? Check.

Korean dumpling and noodle shops pride themselves with handmade dumplings and noodles. This place is no exception. There are a handful of these in our city, each unique in its own way. But what I really love about this place is the noodles. They are thinner yet just as chewy. And I like that they aren’t as starchy. The soup broth still gets a fair amount of starch but not as much as all the other places. The dak kalguksu, a chicken noodle soup, has flavorful broth, lots of slippery noodles, chunks of white meat chicken, zuchini, and radishes. Unlike other places, it comes with a side of soy-based sauce for dipping or for mixing with the soup. I do both. It adds another dimension of flavor that doesn’t take away from the original taste of the soup. Lovely.

I love the simple banchan here, too. The flavors are bright and really fresh. The cucumber kimchi is phenomenal. Best anywhere. It has loads of thick-sliced celery — a veggie I never got to like because the taste overpowers everything else in a dish but surprised myself by eating lots of them here. There’s a slight sweetness in the background that plays with the spiciness of the brine. The cucumbers and celery are super crunchy, making it like a refreshing salad, really.

This special isn’t on the menu but posted on the wall instead. I don’t know what it’s called. It’s a pork rib kimchi stew with a mandoo in it. At $7.45, this is a steal since the regular menu price is $24.95 for two people. The stew has a very bold flavor with tons of kimchi in it. You get a big pork rib with meat that’s literally falling off the bone. There’s a huge mandoo (dumpling) in there, too, that has a minced meat filling that includes scallions and eggs. The dumpling wrapper has the perfect thinness that allows the filling to stay put even after you stir the stew vigorously, yet it breaks when you bite down. I really liked this delicious, hearty soup.

There are a few more noodle dishes that I can’t wait to try such as the bibimguksu (one of my favorite cold noodle dishes) and a special dish written on the wall. The menu will be expanded in the few weeks to come to include the usual bibimbap and bulgogi dishes. So if you’re not too familiar with the type of Korean dishes they have on the menu, don’t fret, there’s gonna be something there for you soon. In the meantime, live a little, explore, and try one of the best noodle/dumpling shops in the city.

Dumpling House
2645 N Berkeley Lake Rd
Ste 129
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 232-9600

Technorati Tags: noodles, dumplings, Duluth, Korean

This noodle house opened about a month ago, one of the newest additions to Duluth, specifically Pleasant Hill Rd. It sits on the same spot vacated by my beloved Mr. Tea House. I know of only 3 or 4 Korean noodle places in Atlanta that make their own noodles in house by hand. This is one of them. They specialize in kalguksu, a popular Korean noodle soup dish.

What’s amazing about this place, aside from the handmade noodles, is the prices. Humongous bowls of soups are either $6.99 or $7.99. Only. If soup isn’t what you’re craving for, they have really good rice dishes. I haven’t had a chance to try their tonkatsu or rice cake stews or soups as I’ve only been here twice but I will do so next week and will let you know about it.

This Ox Bone Broth noodle soup is a hearty, filling, and comforting soup. You’ve got slices of zucchini, radish, and slivers of carrots. There are lots of big pieces of tender oxtail meat, too. The broth, which is very mild and light, is perfect for the summer months. The handmade noodles, prepared al dente, are thick and have the perfect chewiness. Stir constantly and eat fast so that the noodles don’t make your broth starchy and thick. And even if they do, the soup is still good.

Bulgogi and rice. A ubiquitous, introductory dish to Korean cuisine, their version is one of the best in the city. There isn’t that icky, soapy taste that’s quite common at other places. The meat here is marinated well and stir fried with onions. It has a perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors. When this place first opened, they had Kimchi fried rice. It was good. But they stopped serving it.

So there. You owe it to yourself to try Korean handmade noodles. There is no excuse.

Located next to Suno in the Super H plaza in Duluth. Open early enough to have a late breakfast.

Kal Guk Si
2570 Pleasant Hill Rd.
Duluth, GA 30096
678-691-7361
Closed on Tuesdays
Open all other days 10:30AM-9:30AM

Technorati Tags: Korean, noodles, soup, Duluth