Restaurant experiment: Bagel Palace

Bagel Palace

2869 North Druid Hill Road NE at Lavista Road

Atlanta, GA 30329

404-315-9016

http://www.bagelpalaceatl.com/

Dave and I decided to try Bagel Palace, as we were nostalgic for New York deli experiences.  As it turns out, there are plenty of bagel joints in Atlanta, maybe for all the New York transplants.  Bagel Palace is tucked away in the mammoth Toco Hills Shopping Center, kind of between Kroger and Publix, on a little island with a couple of other stores.

It was later in the day on a weekend, so the place wasn’t very crowded.  There were some people picking up stuff to go but no one sitting at the tables.  A girl said we could seat ourselves, and the waiter who was supposed to serve us took his sweet time to come over.  Dave later said that the girl had given the guy a talking-to about his dilly-dallying.  Guess they’re a little more prompt usually.

The menu is huge.  It took me a very long time to decide what I wanted.  Bagels?  Sandwiches?  Pancakes?  No Eggs Benedict so I couldn’t order that.  I ended up with the pastrami sandwich on rye ($8.65), and Dave went with the Reuben.  I couldn’t resist and added a side of fried okra to the order, not very New York, but I am a fried okra fiend.

The food came out promptly.  Immediately I thought to myself, “This sandwich isn’t as huge as the one at Katz’s,” but looks can be deceiving, as I anticipated that I wouldn’t be full, but the amount present was actually just right.  Good pastrami.  I am by no means a pastrami expert but I liked what I consumed.   The fried okra was hot and not too battery.  Nicely done.

I thought about trying a King of Pops popsicle, but they looked like they had melted and then were refrozen so I steered clear.  Instead, Dave and I got an everything bagel with green onions to go and a couple of sweet baked treats (hamantashen and Linzer tarts) as well.  Yum!  Bagel Palace is not Manhattan, but I knew that the second I was able to find a parking space right in front of the establishment, ha!

Restaurant experiment: Cafe 640

Cafe 640

640 North Highland Avenue between North Avenue and Blue Ridge Avenue NE

Atlanta, GA 30306

404-724-0711

http://cafe640.com/

Two facts led me to suggest Cafe 640 as a brunch destination:

1. They serve eggs Benedict.
2. A Scoutmob deal was available (up to $10 off).
3. Bonus: It’s not too far away.

Dave and I headed over to Cafe 640 one pleasant Saturday early afternoon.  There’s a parking lot for patrons of the restaurant just north of the establishment and the adjacent Highland Inn.  We lucked out and slipped into a space, definitely a tight lot.  There was no wait at the restaurant; we had our pick of seating spaces: patio, enclosed patio between first patio and inside, and inside.  We elected to sit inside which maybe was the least populated.  The man who greeted us was warmly welcoming, so color us dismayed when our server was not.  He could have taken a cue from practically all the other employees in the joint.  I hate it when you get stuck with the Aloof Waiter (trademark Dave) and everyone else seems to have nice, friendly servers.  Sigh.

For drinks, I went with a freshly squeezed grapefruit juice ($3.25 for a small glass which wasn’t too small), and Dave opted for a bloody Mary which was on the costly side ($8) but worth raving about.  You can’t go wrong with freshly squeezed citrus, really.  Mmm.

Dave ordered the Buttermilk Biscuit ($9.50), but the Aloof Waiter misheard him and gave him the Southern Fried Chicken Biscuits ($12).  Luckily for Aloof Waiter, Dave loved the chicken and biscuits.

I at least got what I ordered, the Eggs Benedict which the menu described as having “Applewood smoked ham, English muffin, and hollandaise.  You were able to select for your side: either grits or potatoes.  I went with cheesy grits ($1) extra which I wish were not extra, but they were damn delicious.  So yeah, get the cheesy grits.

Cafe 640 sure does love chives, as evidenced by the picture above.  Maybe not the most stellar hollandaise sauce in the Milky Way Galaxy, but very pleasing.  Even though I mentioned the Scoutmob deal while ordering, Aloof Waiter neglected to put the discount onto the bill, but a quick mention got him to fix it without any fuss.  Saving money and eggs Benedict, what could be better?!?!

Restaurant experiment: Carroll Street Cafe

Carroll Street Cafe

208 Carroll Street SE between Pickett Street SE and Reinhardt Street SE

Atlanta, GA 30312

404-577-2700

http://www.apresdiem.com/carroll_street/

I came across Carroll Street Cafe when I was looking on Yelp for new (to me) brunch spots that served eggs Benedict.  Carroll Street Cafe came up, and I was eager to make my very first venture into Cabbagetown.  Cabbagetown is a charming neighborhood, a little more low-key that some other areas in Atlanta.  The major downside is the tiny streets.  At first you think they are one-way streets, but nope, they’re two-way streets.  No fun to drive there.

Dave and I thought there might be a wait, so he called ahead and an employee said there was no wait.  When we got there, the place was pretty empty, though it was kind of on the late side for brunch.  We sat inside, and there were a couple of occupied tables outside.  True to the name Cafe, it did have a artsy coffeehouse vibe on the inside.  It’s seat yourself, so Dave and I elected to plop ourselves into a corner spot.

Dave drank coffee; he approved.  We both ended up getting the eggs Benedict with bacon (around $8-9).  I should say that I perused Carroll Street Cafe’s menu online, and it said there was just one type of eggs Benedict but this wasn’t the case, as there were a couple of options to choose from.  I don’t remember them all offhand, but I think one was a crab cake Benedict.  For your side, you could get grits or potatoes.  I got potatoes, and there’s also a fruit salad that comes with the meal.  No complimentary bread/pasty while waiting, but the fruit made up for that.

It was delightful to be able to stare out of the window and look at old pastel houses, cars squeaking by each other, and people out walking their pooches.  I wished the potatoes were a little softer; they were slightly on the hard side.  The flavor was there, just needed a little more tenderness.  The oranges in the fruit salad were bursting with juiciness.  As for the eggs Benedict, the bacon was terrific because it was thick and crunchy.  My only complaint was that the hollandaise was scanty and a tad weak.  Usually when you get Benedict, the English muffins are drenched in the yellow sauce, but here there was only a dribble.  But the bacon made up for it all, mmmmmmmm bacon.

Restaurant experiment: Parish

Parish

240 North Highland Avenue at Inman Village Parkway NE

Atlanta, GA 30307

404-681-4434

http://www.parishatl.com/home.php#restauranat_text

Ah Sunday, the day of Sunday brunch.  And where were Dave and I to go?  I had no idea, so of course I started investigating possible eateries on Yelp, and I also checked OpenTable because I love me some OpenTable points.  Yelp and OpenTable converged when I came across a place named Parish.  Lo and behold, there were times available.  I penciled us in for a 1 PM reservation, and we were on our way.

There’s valet parking if you so desire, but I desired to park on a side street.  The Yelp reviews weren’t kidding; Parish is in a beautiful old building.  It’s a two-level; Parish has a little market (offering sandwiches, fruits, and candy, among other things) and coffeehouse downstairs.  When we popped into the foyer, there were a few other parties waiting, so I was pleased with myself for making a reservation, though I’m sure you wouldn’t have a problem snagging a table if you hadn’t told them you were coming.  No Murphy’s-esque waits here, friends.  Other diners were families and couples (both gay & straight) and even an elderly man dining alone.

Dave and I were seated by a brick wall, next to a door leading to the patio.  Due to the oppressive sun, the patio was on the empty side.  We had just paid Murphy’s a visit the preceding weekend, so I’m having a tendency to compare Parish to Murphy’s.  Our server at Murphy’s was so bubbly and on point and enhanced our meal, but however, this gal at Parish was efficient and polite but lacked warmth.  She barely made eye contact with me.  Awkward.

The two of us both ordered the Parish Benedict: “buttermilk biscuit, poached eggs, slow cooked beef, garlic braised spinach, mustard bernaise [sic], hash browns” ($12).  The menu is not huge but has brunch favorites suitable for all.  While we waited, we were treated to two miniscule madeleines.  I guess there were small to be cutesy (and free), but bigger is always better, well usually.

And now, the Benedicts.  I liked it, I did.  The slow cooked beef could have used a little more flavor, though Dave thought it was fine.  The biscuit was top notch.  The hash browns were on the salty side but piping hot, crunchy, and well-crafted.  Benedicts always seem small to me before I dig in, but by the end, I’m full.  Must be those tricky French sauces.  Parish makes a bearnaise, but it’s pretty close to a hollandaise.  Wikipedia informs me that the chief difference between the two is that a hollandaise uses lemon for flavoring while a bearnaise uses herbs.  And there you have it.

Post-brunch, Dave and I strolled downstairs to check out the market, and then we were off to enjoy the rest of the Sunday.  In summary, Parish is a solid choice for your weekend brunch needs, especially if you don’t feel like waiting ages.

Restaurant experiment: Rosebud

Rosebud

1397 Highland Avenue between Lanier Place NE and University Drive NE

Atlanta, GA 30306

404-347-9747

http://www.rosebudatlanta.com

The brunch was already off to a promising start even before we were seated, as the chef/owner himself, Ron Eyester, seated myself and Dave.  I just found that supercool.  He was wearing chef attire (white top, navy pinstripe pants) and I would have just thought he was a kitchen worker, but I noticed there was a framed photo of him on the wall by the entry, and then later Dave asked the hostess, and she confirmed what we already suspected.

Rosebud is a hopping spot for brunch, but we arrived pretty late, so there wasn’t a wait.  Dave and I elected to sit outside even though this may not have been the wisest decision since we both ended up with mild sunburns.  Rosebud, maybe get some umbrellas?  Skin problems aside, the brunch went well overall.  Our waitress was a nice gal with a pleasant attitude.  There were all sorts of tasty-sounding options, and I was tempted by the Benedicts, but in the end, I opted for something a little different, the Smoked Springer Mountain Chicken Succotash ($13).  The description reeled me in: gigante beans, house ham, roasted mushrooms, celery, grain mustard hollandaise, and a poached egg.  So kind of like an eggs Benedict, but not?

I’m slightly ashamed that I do not know what a succotash is despite having heard the name before (thanks, Looney Tunes).  Wikipedia tells me that it’s basically a shelled bean and corn dish.  Okay, so there you go.  I seriously loved it at first bite.  Anything with Hollandaise has my vote.  The chicken may have been the weak point as it was a pinch dry, but everything else rocked so hard that it really didn’t matter.  Gigante beans are fun to look at and eat since they’re so large.  Dave’s stuffed pancake was also warmly received by him.

It might have helped to have a few slices of toast or something, but that’s okay.  Rosebud, you are on point, and I look forward to coming back again soon!

Restaurant experiment: Highland Bakery

Highland Bakery

655 Highland Avenue NE between Corley Street NE & Sampson Street NE

Atlanta, GA 30312

404-586-0772

http://highlandbakery.com/index.html

I was in change of deciding where Dave and I should dine for a Sunday brunch, and after extensive Yelp searching, I settled on Highland Bakery.  They have a couple of locations, but this one on Highland Avenue in Old Fourth Ward is the original one.  Highland Bakery has a microscopic lot; street parking wasn’t too much of a hassle though.

Don’t be confused like we were; go through the bakery entrance to put your name down.  A tween-aged girl was taking names.  At least the wait was short, though I wasn’t expecting a wait since it was near 3PM.  The place was still hoppin’ even though the closing time is 4PM.  The service staff was very diverse, and like at Leon’s, it was a waitress/waiter tattoo party for sure.  We were seated at some highboys against a wall and next to some lovely glass artwork.

As Dave and I were famished, we elected to have a few pastries to munch on while waiting for our mains.  I, naturally, had selected the eggs Benedict ($8.99) as my main, and Dave had followed suit.  There were two scone options ($2.99 each).  I forgot what the other one was (currant maybe?) and the one we ended up getting was pistachio and white chocolate.  I actually do not like white chocolate all that much, but I’d never had a pistachio scone before and wanted to try it.  Yum!  Divine.  Love the dusting of sugar on top.  Heated up too.  The chocolate croissant ($2.19) was fine though but I could have used a little more flakiness.  I love warmed pastries, especially when gooey chocolate is involved.

For my fellow Benedict lovers, there are some other varieties like the Country Fried Steak Benedict, the Fried Chicken Benedict, and the Cowboy Benedict, but I just got the Classic.  The eggs Benedict was too paprika-y for me.  See below.  Dave complained that the eggs Benedict wasn’t that hot, and I assured him that this seems to be an accepted practice, judging from the EBs I’ve consumed during other brunches.  Have I ever received piping hot EB?  I don’t think so.  I remembered liking the potatoes, though some chunks had more flavor that others.  I was actually getting really full and had to bring home the leftover spuds in a container.  If you don’t like tubers, never fear, as grits are also available.

Our server was polite, cheery, and helpful.  I’m not sure if Highland Bakery is the best brunch in all of Atlanta and I wouldn’t wait forever for a table, but it’s really good, and the scones are totally killer!

Restaurant experiment: Another Broken Egg Cafe

Another Broken Egg Cafe

2418 Montevallo Road at Culver Road

Mountain Brook, AL 35223

205-871-7849

http://www.anotherbrokenegg.com

[A] poached egg isn’t a poached egg unless it’s been stolen from the woods in the dead of night!

–Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Birmingham is not a Sunday brunch dining destination, or at least in the vein of NYC.  If you can find a restaurant that’s actually open on Sunday, that’s pretty much the whole scene.  We were going to Rojo but it opened too late because we were hungry and we couldn’t wait.  Laura offered Another Broken Egg Cafe, and that sounded reasonable to both Joni and I.  It’s a chain based out of Louisiana but is concentrated in the southeast.

There’s no private lot, so you’ll either have to deal with the street outside of the restaurant or park in the lot by the Western Supermarket.

No wait at 9AM but when we were leaving around 10AM, throngs of potential eaters were waiting in the vestibule, pouring over menus.

From my seat, I stared at a giant Christmas tree, complete with wrapped presents underneath, which Laura and I decided were likely empty boxes.  The other patrons varied but were mostly families and older people.  One old man at a table nearby asked Joni if she were from New England from her accent.  Um, okay.  Random.  I adored the sconces with images of cracked eggs, and Joni was charmed by the stoneware mugs featuring the cafe’s logo.  You could also buy these for $18 if you so desired.  Our waitress was soft-spoken and quietly and stealthily appeared at my side, initially almost spookily.  She was very attentive; I don’t think Joni’s mug was ever devoid of coffee.

The giant menu will have something you’ll dig.  My heart was torn between my steadfast familiar companion eggs Benedict and the flashy, charming bananas Foster.  Hmm, it seems as though I’m partial to dishes with the format: [food] [Person's name].  Very interesting.  The PDF of the menu isn’t working on the website, but there were lots of different options for Benedicts, and the bananas Foster came in waffle, pancake, and French toast forms.  Most entrees were around $10-13.  Asking for decision advice from Laura, she stated that the Foster might be too sugary, and since I love eggs B so much, I should just go for them.  Selection selected!  I also tried a generous glass of the freshly-squeezed orange juice (~$4), yum.  And there were a couple of dishes incorporating lobster(!!!), can’t say I’ve seen that before for brunch.

I did like the eggs Benedict and ate every last bite.  Nice Hollandaise.  I just wished temperature-wise, they were a little warmer, but that often seems to be the case with this particular dish.  The home fries appear quite unassuming, but they were actually little cubes of delightfulness.  Not incredibly deep flavors, but just maybe light seasoning, some garlic salt?  Anyway, we all agreed they were positive things.

Another Broken Egg Cafe is a very solid brunch option in Mountain Brook.  No hungover hipsters here, but good food.  Go early.

Restaurant experiment: Trattoria Centrale

Trattoria Centrale

207A 20th Street North between 2nd Avenue North and 3rd Avenue North

Birmingham, AL 35203

205-202-5612

http://trattoriacentrale.com

When I punched in “brunch” into Yelp, Trattoria Centrale was one of the top hits that was spit out.  So I ended up going here with Virginia and Elena on a sprinkly Sunday to this popular spot, helmed by a CIA graduate.  Thankfully street parking isn’t hard at all at this time.  But what is hard is snagging a table at the happenin’ Trattoria Centrale.  The inside dining room was filled to the gills with families and hipster-types.  We grabbed a table outside under the awning; good thing too since it rained a tad.  There isn’t traditional waiter service; you order at the counter and then your meal is brought to your table.  Is it just me, or is this a popular dining method here in Birmingham?  I seem to have encountered it a noticeable amount.

Sadly, no eggs Benedict was on the menu.  I decided to order the orecchiette, which the gal at the register taking orders told me was Italian for “little ears.”  Virginia ordered the frittata and Elena the French toast.  The French toast was an impressive tower with bacon strip accents.  Virginia’s platter had bacon, and so did mine.  They sure do love the bacon here.  While in line, Elena and I noticed the baker’s rack full of bacon strips and ogled it endlessly.  Mmm.  The food took its time making an appearance; luckily it was worth the wait.  Sitting outside, there’s fun people watching: clientele going in and coming out, seeing folks stroll by, often with dog leash in hand.

The little ears were quite tasty.  I’ve only dabbled in Brussels sprouts [I even had to look up how to spell the name] a wee bit and was not too enthralled, but I really liked how they were prepared at Trattoria Centrale.  It appears as though they were roasted a bit.  So the mini cabbages were flavorful and tender.  I realize that I shouldn’t write off the B. sprouts totally.  Crispy bacon is my deal, so I was super duper happy that my bacon bits were crunchy.  The cream sauce wasn’t bland at all, and the cubits of butternut squash added a hint of sweetness and softness and a fall flavor.  And topped off with shredded cheese…how can you resist?  The strip of bacon was a gift from Virginia.

The only downside was that I was still a little hungry after.  I wish Trattoria Centrale had served some complimentary biscuits or something extra.  Oh well, what can you do?  The answer is to go get frozen yogurt across the street at Paramount.

Cool facts about Brussels sprouts from Wikipedia:

• Are thought to have originated from Rome, not from Brussels
• Were grown by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello
• Are a type of cabbage
• California produces the most in the US
• The Netherlands produces the most in Europe
• Thought to contain anti-cancer compounds such as sinigrin and sulforaphane

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Restaurant experiment: Rye

Rye

247 South 1st Street between Roebling and Havemeyer Streets

Brooklyn, NY 11211

718-218-8047

http://www.ryerestaurant.com

The Sunday was not off to a particularly sweet start.  Drizzle combined with a skinned knee (please do not throw your watermelon rinds onto the sidewalk) did not a merry morning make.  Anyway, for a proper introduction to Williamsburg, I took Joni to Rye which with over 200 positive Yelp reviews, seemed like a safe bet.  No menu outside or anything; we weren’t sure if it was even open, but I gave the door handle a tug, and it revealed Rye.

Since it was still on the early side, there were a handful of patrons in the dining area.  We were offered a choice between the occupied front area and the silent back area.  The back it was.  The two of us agreed that Rye is a beautiful restaurant, with tile floors, chandeliers, and warm wood.  The bathrooms are worth a peek, even if you do not have to pee.  As Joni says, you think the lights aren’t on, but oh, they are.

Joni was giddy to see challah French toast on the menu.  She ended up getting the Rye Slam ($12) which had the toasts, eggs, salad, and bacon or sausage (I made her go with bacon).

My choice was the Rye Benedict ($12) because you know I just can’t pass up eggs Benedict at a brunch.  The menu reads “grilled pork belly, hollandaise, buttermilk biscuit, potato & mixed greens.”  The potato was a hash brown ball, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.  The Benedicts themselves were a tad small and I would have preferred the hollandaise to be richer and stronger, but overall, I was very satisfied.  The bacon which Joni kindly shared with me, was fatty but sweetly bacon-riffic.  Mmm, pork product.

I am never sure if standard NYC brunch protocol includes dessert or not.  Seems like no, so I was surprised when our waiter offered us the option to purchase sugar treats.  We were both full and declined, but if I weren’t full…

A comment on service: our waiter was nice, and all the other employees were ready with smiles and were attitude-free.  You never know about hospitality with ol’ Billyburg!

Restaurant experiment: Clinton Street Baking Company

Clinton Street Baking Company

4 Clinton Street between Houston and Stanton Streets

New York, NY 10002

646-602-6263

http://clintonstreetbaking.com/

Clinton St. Baking Company is one of the biggest names in the Manhattan brunch scene, hands down.  With 1000+ Yelp reviews and 1+ hourlong waits, and zillions of reviews and mentions in magazines and guidebooks, the stats speak for themselves.  Lily and I decided to brave a wait to have a delightful pre-film brunch; we planned on seeing Jane Eyre after at the nearby Landmark Sunshine.

I was a tad late (darn you, F train) but no matter, Lily had put our names down and was waiting outside.  The hostess told her 30-40 minutes, but we quickly concluded that the times given were probably random and arbitrary.  I’ll spare you the boring details of our wait.  At least the weather was helping us in this regard, with sunshine and milder temperatures (50s) making it easy to wait outside.  Plus it was amusing to stare at the diners by the big windows, spying on their brunches; I spotted a bloody mary in the hands of one such patron. 

Finally the hostess popped her head out the door and asked “Lily?” and we zipped inside.  We maneuvered into our two top near the bathroom, toward the back of the small space.  It was actually a good spot, with only one side of people as the other side was the wall, easy access to the facilities, and a peek into the bustling kitchen.

Even though I had reviewed the menu outside, I was still on the fence about what to order.  Chocolate chunk pancakes (there were also blueberry and banana walnut), a waffle special, eggs Benedict?  Lily couldn’t resist her lifesaving Maine blueberry pancakes ($13), and I couldn’t stay away from eggs Benedict ($15).  Even though I was tempted to go the pancake route because Clinton Street is famous for the cakes in a pan, Lily suggested I get the eggs B and agreed to let me sample the pancakes.  I was satisfied with this compromise.  We paired up our entrees with glasses of freshly squeezed citrus ($3.50 each): her orange and me grapefruit.

Lily kindly cut me a sliver from her short stack. 

Eggs Benedict.  The hollandaise here is quite mayo-y, so if that isn’t your bag, then steer clear.  The breakout star of this production is the biscuit which is crumbly and  buttery and way amazing.  Yum, so delightful.  I will have to dock a point for the yolk being more solid than runny, but not a huge deal.

There’s certainly pressure to get you up and out as soon as possible.  A busboy whisked Lily’s plate away as soon as she ate the last airy morsel, and a check was dropped off immediately after.  When I wrapped up, the waitress came by and asked “Do you need change?” before we had even cracked open the black pleather.  Somewhat irritating, along with the face that Clinton Street is cash only.  We can take a hint though.

Due to its fame, there are a fair share of tourists here.  At the next table over, five women were stuffed into a table seating four people.  They were definitely tourists as one woman was wearing a necklace with a large cross on it, and they were asking themselves if LES was pronounced “Les” or L.E.S.

P.S.  The movie was not as impressive as the brunch!