NM Cafe at Neiman Marcus

My mother and I visited the remodeled NM Cafe at Neiman Marcus, Lenox Square Mall for lunch on 12/22/2007. It's a tradition for us to lunch at Neiman Marcus, so we have been dying to try the updated cafe. I prayed that they hadn't changed our favorite touches.

Well, they kept the best of the old and changed many things for the better. A cup of broth is still served with delicious popovers and strawberry butter - so melt in your mouth. The location is also the same, on the bottom floor of Neiman's. The decor is totally different, though. It used to be very traditional, but now it's cheerfully modern - a welcome change.

We selected four cheese fondue for our appetizer - served with croutons and vegetables for dipping. The fondue was rich and scrumptious, resembling the flavor of cheddar cheese toast. My entree was the crab cake sandwich, and my mom had the spare rib plate. We enjoyed both dishes, and my favorite part were the tiny shoestring fries served Belgian-style.

Service was excellent, everything was posh yet casual. I recommend it to anyone. Next time I would like to try some of their special drinks, including Mint Julep Tea and Peach Tea, or dozens of specialty cocktails. Fabulous! 10 out of 10 for best casual lunch.

- Rebecca

Nan Thai Fine Dining - Review

Nan Thai Fine Dining

1350 Spring St.

Atlanta, GA 30309

404-870-9933

http://www.nanfinedining.com/

(at 17th Street)

Chris and Rachel visited Nan for dinner on 12/4/2007.

What did you order? How was your food?

Chau Moung appetizer – Minced Chicken dumplings - Good
Tom Kha Kung – Coconut Chicken and Shrimp soup - Good
Panang Chicken Curry - Awesome. Top 2 in Atlanta


Describe your impressions of the service. Was anything exceptionally good (or bad) about the quality of service you received?

Service was impeccable.

What do you think of the décor and atmosphere?


Décor was great. Very contemporary, but warm. Waitresses are stylishly dressed yet in theme.

Do you consider this a good value for the money you spent? If no, why not?

It’s pricey…but you pay for the service and atmosphere.


On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best), how would you rate this restaurant compared to the other restaurants you visit on a regular basis.
This restaurant is best for (Choose all that apply)

• Good food 9 • Quick bite • Family-friendly

• Outdoor • Romantic • Special occasion

I still prefer Aunt Annie's Thai Castle in Buckhead, but maybe that’s because it’s where I first tried both coconut chicken soup and Panang Chicken. You get a large serving at both restaurants, though.

Foodies Update

My cat, Nibbler, in the Christmas tree.












Dessert display at Taste of Atlanta




Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to explain my temporary absence. I have two more weeks in this semester at USF Online (three huge projects left), and then I will finish my Taste of Atlanta post and add more Foodies Reviews. I hate neglecting this blog, but my GPA is my priority. The good news is that I will graduate with my MLS in May! Hooray!

Meanwhile, my chef husband is cooking almost every day at the country club where he is employed, and he still loves it. He tells me that cooking is a profession you really have to love since it's so labor-intensive. Luckily, my dad made a southern-style Thanksgiving feast for our family, complete with yams and cornbread. Hope you had a fantastic Atlanta Thanksgiving!

Taste of Atlanta - 2007

I attended Taste of Atlanta on October 14, 2007 with my mom. Here are some photos from our culinary adventure. We had a wonderful time - an amazing food festival!

The Cafe at the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead

The Cafe at the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead
(By Lenox Mall)
3434 Peachtree Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-237-2700

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Buckhead/Dining/Default.htm


Rebecca M. ate a late lunch at The Cafe with her husband and parents.

What did you order? How was your food?

All had an excellent Merlot. My mom had Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho, Dan, Dad and I had Lobster Bisques. 2 Steaks au Poivre, 2 Steaks with Hollandaise. A la carte sides. Everything was delicious - steaks cooked perfectly. Ketchup and mayonnaise were presented in small, personal bottles.

I brought my wedding cake with me, and for a $25 fee , they cut it and plated it beautifully.


Describe your impressions of the service. Was anything exceptionally good (or bad) about the quality of service you received?

Service was impeccable. Multiple servers made sure our drinks were always full and we had everything we needed.


What do you think of the décor and atmosphere?

The Café is lovely – very elegant with paneled wood and pretty upholstered chairs. The carpet is a dark pattern. Water is served in blue goblets.


Do you consider this a good value for the money you spent? If no, why not?

Yes. If you are going to dine at a fine restaurant, why not go to the Ritz? It matches or surpasses other comparable restaurants, and it has added cachet. Also at this location - The Dining Room - arguably the best restaurant in Atlanta.


On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best), how would you rate this restaurant compared to the other restaurants you visit on a regular basis.
This restaurant is best for (Choose all that apply)

• Good food 10 • Family-friendly 8
• Romantic 9 • Special occasion 10

Review of Daddy D'z BBQ Joint

Daddy D’z BBQ Joint
264 Memorial Dr.
Atlanta, GA 30312
In Historic Grant Park
404-222-0206
http://daddydz.com/
Live Blues Music on Weekends

Chris R. ate breakfast at Daddy D'z on 8/11/2007.


What did you order? How was your food?

½ Ribs plate, with Mac and Cheese, Broccoli Casserole, Cornbread and spicy BBQ Sauce.

Ribs were pretty good. A little on the fatty side, and they tasted almost like dark meat… which I’ve never experienced with ribs. I liked the BBQ sauce, sweet and spicy. Cornbread was dry and stale.


Describe your impressions of the service. Was anything exceptionally good (or bad) about the quality of service you received?

Service was good. Owner was very attentive and helpful.

What do you think of the décor and atmosphere?

Décor was good. Exactly what you want out of a BBQ joint.


Do you consider this a good value for the money you spent? If no, why not?

I ended up spending about $17 with drink…so it was a little pricey…

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best), how would you rate this restaurant compared to the other restaurants you visit on a regular basis.
This restaurant is best for (Choose all that apply).

• Good food 7.5 • Quick bite • Family-friendly

• Outdoor • Romantic • Special occasion

Summarize your experience in this restaurant.

Yes, I had ribs for breakfast. I will definitely be back, though, to try the pork plate.

Review of KC Pit BBQ

KC Pit BBQ
234 Hilderbrand Dr.
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
404-459-6497
http://www.kkcpitbbq.com/
(Cool Website!)

Chris R. ate lunch with three co-workers at KC Pit BBQ on 7/12/2007.


What did you order? How was your food?

Ribs – just ok. Very, very sweet, as was the coleslaw, and baked beans. I'm not sure if it’s a KC thing, but I'm not a huge fan.

What did your companions order? How was their food?

Beef BBQ Plate. OK.

Do you consider this a good value for the money you spent? If no, why not?

Average.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best), how would you rate this restaurant compared to the other restaurants you visit on a regular basis.
This restaurant is best for (Choose all that apply).

• Good food 7 • Quick bite • Family-friendly

• Outdoor • Romantic • Special occasion

Summarize your experience in this restaurant.

Wasn’t impressed. I tried it because it was on the BBQ Quest: Kissed by Fire show, but to be fair I didn’t have the pulled pork which I’ve been having everywhere else so I’ll prob have to go back to truly compare…right now Williamson's Bros. is on top of the list.