review: hudson north, atlantic station

There's a new pop-up at Atlantic Station.




Filling in the spot that was once the be-seen place for the tackiest people of Atlanta (read: Real Housewives of Atlanta), Hudson North is a restaurant backed by the same people who run Cypress Pint and Plates and an inventive menu unlike that of any tavern/restaurant I've ever seen in this rather unadventurous town.



The interior is impressive. I mean really impressive. I wish my interior designer friend had come with us to this dinner, because she would have flipped and then spent the rest of the night uploading photos onto Facebook. Running with a nautical theme, there are anchors, rope, and natural wood everywhere. Latitude graffiti dot the table and walls, and simple mason jars with floating candles hang from the ceiling. Romantic, understated, and casual.





The drink menu is good. I felt like there could be a few additions to the wine list, but the wines that were available were a fine line-up. The Malbec was stunning. The champagne cocktail was delicious. It was perfect for taking the edge off a crazy Friday.

While the food menu could add a few more options for vegetarians (who are currently relegated to appetizers), it provides a number of options for all taste buds. We began the meal with the figs, which were mindblowingly delicious. I love the idea of sweet and salty, and adding bacon really gave the dish another dimension. But adding the spicy flavor was really a stroke of genius.



As for mains, we ordered the seared tuna, scallops, and the steak. All three were good, each with their own blend of flavors that melted nicely. I would've preferred a rawer tuna, but I know Americans have very different views on raw seafood than I do. One thing we all loved was that everything tasted really fresh, especially the vegetables. But one complaint that we all had was that the food was salty. Extremely salty. The only thing that wasn't salty was the hanger steak, which ended up being the envy of the table.

One thing that worries me is that I know a kitchen needs time to really perfect the menu, and I wonder if 3 months is long enough to get the flavoring, cooking, and everything else just right before Hudson North goes away forever.

Scallops

Seared Tuna

Hanger Steak

The ambiance and services gets an A Plus. I feel like there really isn't a rival to Hudson North when it comes to maximizing the restaurant space, and really sticking with a theme. (Although I was slightly confused by the hostess who was dressed as a flapper. I couldn't decide if it was a Halloween costume or part of the restaurant decor. God, I would've flipped out if all the wait staff was dressed in striped Breton shirts and had a red kerchief tied around their necks.) The food needs a little tweaking, but I see a lot of potential.

If you do end up going, don't forget to add your name to the wall to show that you've dined there! Also, could you look for my name while you're there?

Hudson North
Atlantic Station (across from the theater)
264 19th St., Ste. 2140
Atlanta, GA 30363
(404) 747-2297

review: wahoo grill, decatur

I've been to Wahoo previously for dinner, but I returned over the weekend for brunch. Despite being a relatively leafy, green city, Atlanta doesn't have that many spots for outdoor dining that don't incorporate battling a ton of mosquitos in a relatively climate controlled environment. (I like to pretend that I'm engaging with nature without getting rural about it.) Wahoo's "patio" pretty much sums up my ideal outdoor dining experience. With shuttered windows and large glass doors with an open layout decorated with green nature things, it's the perfect place to drink your way through the weekend.

I'd be remiss if I didn't say a few words about their menu, which is pretty incredible. It's got all the southern comforts you'd ever want with great options for your vegetarian friends. I'm also in love with their drink menu. Be prepared to get a slight kick with your brunch because these libations don't disappoint. Let's get tipsy!

Breakfast burrito with hash

Tofu scramble

Wahoo Grill
1042 West College Ave.
Decatur, Ga. 30030
(404) 373-3331

review: lure, midtown

I'm one of those ridiculously superstitious people who believe in all kinds of omens, including the ones that they make up, and so when I heard that Lure (of the Fifth Group) was opening on my birthday, I knew it was going to be a good sign. I feel like the two key components of a good birthday are good drinks and really good food, and Lure really didn't disappoint.

They're one of the few places in Atlanta (and the only true Western restaurant) to feature shochu prominently in their drink list. For those unfamiliar with the Japanese distilled beverage, it's the most similar to vodka. I have a few personal issues with shochu (being Korean and all - soju was first!), but that's all for another day.

I decided not to opt for a cocktail and instead went with a prosecco they had on tap. (What? Prosecco on tap? It's a recipe for disaster, a beautiful disaster.) 

As for the menu, I feel like one of Lure's strong points is the shared plate menu. Though I'm aware that plate sharing isn't something that's necessarily embraced by American (or much of the western hemisphere), it's straight up my alley. I love the opportunity to taste all points of the menu without having to consume the contents of each plate. With items like shrimp scampi and scallops (both items ordered), this menu is truly ideal for groups who are comfortable enough to share.

Clam Chowder

Shrimp Scampi

Seared Scallops

But hands down, my favorite dish of the night was the Georgia rainbow trout (with head attached). The only times I've ever been served a fish with head in tact is at a Korean restaurant in which my family members and I have to fight over who gets the head. For those of you who have been so blissfully unaware, the fish head is the tastiest part of the fish. (This is not up for debate. Seriously. I will have to duel you if you disagree. And the fish head is going to give me the virility to beat you.) It's so easy to oversalt a fish like this at restaurants, and I was so happy to discover that Lure didn't go overboard.

Instructions for first timers

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout, perfectly cooked

The only part of the menu that I felt was a bit bland was the dessert menu. The offerings were quite traditional (brownie sundae, various types of ice cream, cheese plate, etc.) and nothing really stood out to me. While the blueberry cream pie was good, I was more impressed with the meal itself, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. 

Blueberry cream pie

Lure

1106 Crescent Ave.

(404) 817-3650
5:30pm - 10:00pm (dinner only, for the time being)

review: southern art, buckhead

Continuing in my tradition of mastering the art of blog food, I recently had brunch at Southern Art, located in the Intercontinental Hotel in Buckhead. Technically, I ate breakfast, but I'm beginning to see the merits of enjoying a hotel breakfast when you're not staying in a hotel. There are a few guarantees: the service, decor, and the lack of an atmosphere where you wonder if you're eating breakfast or trying to have a conversation at a baseball game.




Run by Art Smith of Oprah fame, one of the restaurant's greatest features is the Bourbon Bar. I normally have no problems with morning libations, but hard liquor felt a bit excessive before noon. Another night, perhaps?




All in all, a solid brunch choice and a great place to dress up for a gab session with your girlfriends. It's also probably the only place in Atlanta where you could delude yourself into playing out a scene from "Sex and the City." (I call Carrie.)

Healthy Start Breakfast

Eggs Benedict 

review: the optimist, westside

I'm a huge fan of seafood. I actually prefer it to any other form of meat, but thus far, Atlanta's really been lacking in providing a really good seafood restaurant. (But don't hate on Red Lobster. Those cheddar biscuits are worth every single of those 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, and 350 mg of sodium.) Words cannot describe the elation I had when I heard that The Optimist was opening on the Westside.




Opened by Chef Ford Fry of JCT Kitchen (another delicious Atlanta must), the interior is impeccable. Clean, white walls. Wooden dining accents. Open kitchen. And the most perfect oval shaped bar.





I went there for lunch, which has a good smattering of items from the dinner menu. We ordered the lobster roll and the blackened redfish sandwich. There were definitely bahn mi influences in the redfish sandwich with its use of coleslaw and cilantro. (Thanks, L.) And the flavors were excellent in the lobster roll (possibly the best lobster roll I've had), but I do wish there was more of it.

Lobster roll with fries

Blackened redfish sandwich with fries

I'd definitely like to go back for dinner, if only to check out their extensive drink list. And of course, to grab some of their raw oysters.


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