Facebook Readers' Favorite Burgers

We asked our friends on Facebook about their favorite burgers as part of our June cover story. You can read the full burger round-up at www.AtlantaINtownPaper.com. Here's what they had to say:

John Shimer (student and former INtown intern): Universal Joint...the best in the area...atmosphere is superb.

Susan Kay Asher (public relations): It's been years since I've had a veggie burger, but Houston's had the best in town.

Lisa Dewberry Thrower (personal assistant ): Houston's veggie burger is fantastic. The Chubby Decker at Zesto's is amazing - very classic. The Lamburger at FLIP Burger Boutique is delicious - for something different. Atkins Park Cheeseburger mmmmmm - nice charred flavor.

Cal Gough (librarian): Best veggie burger I know of (at least, within striking distance of where I live and work) is Cafe di Sol's on Highland next to the Highland Inn. Runner up for best veggie burger: The Vortex (the one in Midtown on Peachtree - haven't tried the one in L5P).

If you're on Facebook and not a member of the Atlanta INtown group, please join us.

African Cuisine at The Ritz-Carlton

Yves Samake, executive chef at The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta, creates a four-course dinner menu of African dishes paired with South African wines in honor of Black History Month. The menu will be offered Friday and Saturday evenings in February, except February 13 and 14, in Atlanta Grill at The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta.

Chef Samake's repertoire of African recipes derives from his own family history. His father immigrated to France from Mali, South Africa, and his mother mother, an accomplished Parisian cook, learned to make a variety of African dishes. Young Yves began his lifelong interest in cooking and cuisines at her side.

The four-course dinner menu will showcase dishes from Senegal, and each course is paired with South African wines selected by Sommelier Silvio Garcia. The cost is $78 per person without paired wines, $108 per person with paired wines, exclusive of tax and gratuity. Reservations are required; please call (404) 221-6550 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/atlanta

BLT Steak Set To Open Jan. 27

With celebrated Chef Laurent Tourondel at the helm, BLT Steak will make its southern debut Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the new W Atlanta-Downtown Hotel & Residences in Allen Plaza. Located in the heart of Atlanta’s most sophisticated downtown area, BLT Steak will combine its signature rich warmth and texture with the energy and style of Atlanta. Using his French culinary training and passion for American culture and cuisine, Chef Tourondel will offer Atlantans regional blackboard specials and a full raw bar to accompany his signature modern American steakhouse menu. BLT Steak will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. The restaurant also will handle in-room dining and special events for the W Atlanta-Downtown Hotel & Residences.

BLT, or Bistro Laurent Tourondel, is the personal stamp of acclaimed chef and restaurateur Laurent Tourondel, named 2007 Restaurateur of the Year by Bon Appétit magazine. BLT Steak opened in Manhattan in 2004 as a revolutionary modern American steakhouse and was named one of Esquire magazine’s “best new restaurants in America” shortly after receiving a two-star review from The New York Times. At BLT Steak, Tourondel elevates the classic American steakhouse with his signature style, French training and all-around finesse.

“Laurent Tourondel’s restaurant was the obvious choice for the W Atlanta-Downtown,” said Chris Schoen, CEO of Barry Real Estate. “BLT Steak is a national brand that has received significant acclaim in seven distinguished cities, including New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. This modern American steakhouse will bring the finest culinary experience to Atlanta’s finest hotel.”

Chef Tourondel said, “Atlanta has been on my radar for quite some time. The renowned shopping, entertainment, historical sites and, of course, phenomenal dining options have drawn me to the city. I created BLT Steak with a focus on the best products and the most exact techniques. The Atlanta restaurant will be like no other restaurant of mine – although the menu will be comprised of the flavorful steakhouse fare we are known for, the overall design and ambiance will be genuinely unique to the city. We are striving to create a comfortable and stylish haven for downtown residents, visitors and business leaders alike to enjoy a great cut of meat.”

BLT Steak will offer a variety of cuts of USDA Prime, Certified Black Angus, American Wagyu and Japanese Kobe beef, each naturally aged for maximum tenderness and flavor and served finished with herb butter in a cast-iron pan. The menu will be organized by category and complements main courses with corresponding savory sauces such as peppercorn, horseradish or béarnaise – all of which exemplify Chef Tourondel’s classic French training and insistence on perfection. Chef Tourondel’s fish entrees, although delicate, will arrive in steakhouse-sized portions and are delivered in a similar manner.

The French inflections in Chef Tourondel’s signature style will be seen in his preparation of Tuna Tartare with Avocado and Soy-Lime Dressing and his signature giant popovers with bubbling gruyère. Sides will come nestled in petite cast-iron pans – Grilled Asparagus, Stuffed Mushroom Caps or Hash Browns are some that recall the great steakhouses of the past. American flair will emerge as Tourondel presents his version of steakhouse favorites such as Creamy Spinach, Onion Rings and Potatoes served eight ways. Desserts will include updated American classics such as Caramelized Cheesecake with Rhubarb Compote or Cassis Lemon Meringue Pie with Lemon Sorbet, and Chef Tourondel’s French pedigree again is reflected in the Crêpe Soufflé with Passion Fruit Sauce.

Designed by Cass Smith of CCS Architecture, BLT Steak will integrate traditional elements of the French bistro with an American steakhouse and combines its signature rich warmth and texture with the sophistication and style of Atlanta. The bustling walnut bar, banquette lounge and stand-alone fresh shellfish raw bar made from Calcutta marble will precede the relaxed dining room where Macassar ebony tables, caramel-colored banquettes and herringbone black walnut floors will create warmth amid modernity. At the rear of the 112-seat dining room, guests will be afforded a unique view into the open kitchen to observe a full rotisserie station. The restaurant will also accommodate up to 18 guests in the glass-walled private dining room.

BLT Steak is located at the new W Atlanta-Downtown Hotel & Residences in Allen Plaza at 45 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard. The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Breakfast will be served from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The restaurant also will handle in-room dining, offered 24 hours a day, as well as special events for the W Atlanta-Downtown Hotel & Residences. For reservations, call (404) 577-7601 or visit www.bltrestaurants.com.

SunDial Open Christmas Day, New Year's Eve

Let The Sun Dial’s Chef Christian Messier make the holidays brighter with special menus Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Eve. Also for the first time this year, in addition to the New Years Eve celebration on the Restaurant Level, The Sun Dial will open the Pods on the View Level for exclusive private dining for up to 12 guests.

Christmas Eve and all through Christmas Day, Chef Messier will create winter holiday specialties with a prix fixe menu for $65 and an additional $30 for exquisite wine pairings. Highlights from the appetizer menu include Sweet Potato Bisque with Ancho and Coriander Toasted Marshmallow as well as Smoked Salmon Salad with Caviar Crème Fraiche with Cranberry Walnut Vinaigrette. Entrees include classic Buttermilk Fried Duck Breast with Mustard Greens, Potato Gratinée and Duck Jus as well as Lamb Half Rack with Merguez Sausage Cassoulet and Mint Basil Pesto. Diners end on a sweet note with a holiday-inspired dessert. The Sun Dial will serve ala carte lunch on Christmas Eve from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and the special prix fixe menu for dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. and all through Christmas Day from 12 to 7 p.m.

The Sun Dial presents two options for New Years Eve – a prix fixe menu in the Restaurant or the opportunity to rent out one of eight Pods that guarantee the best view of Atlanta’s skyline and the night’s fireworks. The prix fixe menu is priced at $95 per person, with an additional $30 for wine pairings. Each Pod carries a food and beverage minimum of $1,000, which is easily met with 12 guests (not inclusive of tax or gratuity), and reservations are required.

Highlights from the New Year’s Eve prix fixe menu include Gruyere and Champagne Soup with Hen of the Woods, Chanterelle and Oyster Mushrooms as well as Lobster French Toast with Corn Toast, Butter Poached Lobster, Quail Egg and Bacon Hollandaise for appetizers. Chef Messier ‘s Bacon Seared Niman Ranch Pork Tenderloin with Maple Glazed Pork Belly, Braised Tuscan Kale, Sweet Potato Grits Cake and Red Eye Gravy as well as Pan Roasted Loup De Mer with Leeks and Wild Mushroom Cream, Lobster Tagliatelle Pasta, Truffle and Parmesan Cheese for entrees. And a special holiday-inspired dessert. The Sun Dial restaurant will be open from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View is Atlanta’s original tri-level complex with a revolving upscale restaurant, a rotating cocktail lounge, as well as an observatory view level. Situated atop the Westin Peachtree Plaza at 210 Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta, the Sun Dial offers breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views of Atlanta, live jazz, seasonally-influenced contemporary American cuisine and specialty desserts. The Sun Dial is the ultimate Atlanta dining experience, ideal for special occasions, corporate events, celebrations, and as a place to unwind. Visiting the Sun Dial is an Atlanta tradition and a must see and do for Atlanta visitors and residents alike.

For reservations call (404) 589-7506 or visit www.sundialrestaurant.com

JCT Kitchen New Year's Event

Click the image above to see the menu and details about JCT Kitchen's New Year's Eve dinner party.

Savor Now Open In New Location

Savor, Atlanta’s only specialty gourmet food store of its kind, has relocated to the Peachtree Battle Shopping Center in Buckhead Atlanta. Opening their doors in early August, Savor unwrapped a new location, updated interior style and expanded product list.

The new store, located at 2355 Peachtree Road, is just minutes from downtown Atlanta and a few blocks south of Paces Ferry Road. Savor brings Atlanta hand-selected fine foods that are often rare to find, prepared lunches and dinners, artisanal cheeses, table top accents and home furnishings from around the world.

Adding to the store’s already-large inventory, Savor has added a lunch menu to its offerings featuring sandwiches, soups, salads and prepared foods. The Riviera (creamy Chevre with black olive tapenade, oven dried tomatoes and local greens), The London (roast beef, horseradish, mayonnaise, English cheddar and arugula), The Sonoma (applewood smoked turkey, creamy gouda, local greens, mayonnaise and apple nut chutney) are some of the most popular sandwiches and can be devoured by dining in, take out or delivery.

“We wanted to share products from around the world that we loved so much and found while traveling. Savor is our personality, it is everything that we love and built the store around the concept of great food,” said January Hodgson, owner of Savor.

Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 12:00 p.m. till 5:00 p.m. To place orders or for more information call (404) 869-0070 or log onto www.savorgourmet.com.

Intown's Best Biscuits

In our October edition, our Fall Food Panel butters up their favorite biscuits from places like Pastries A Go Go in Decatur, Flying Biscuit and old favorite stand-by Chick-fil-A. We want to know which Intown eatery you think has the best biscuits. Post a comment below and join the discussion. 

Toulouse Serves Up New Menu

Toulouse American Bistro, the Atlanta eatery that overlooks Peachtree Creek, is rolling out a new end-of-summer menu. 

The new menu begins with an assortment of starters including cold strawberry soup ($6.75), shrimp bisque with Parmesan flat bread wedges ($7.95), and sautéed salmon over maché with creamy garlic dressing ($10.50).

The entrée portion of the menu includes seared scallops served with broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes in a rosemary-citrus reduction ($22.45); crab fritters drizzled with honey-dijon and tarragon sauce over bed of arugula in a white wine and lemon reduction ($19.95); and wild mushroom ravioli with Gorgonzola, arugula, cranberries and pistachios in a white balsamic reduction ($15.95).

For the wine lover’s convenience, the menu offers suggested wine pairings for each entrée. These recommendations, made by the Toulouse Wine Committee, are only a guide, so dinner guests should feel free to make their own selection from the vast wine list of over 80 varieties.

Toulouse serves dinner nightly beginning at 5:30 p.m. and is located at 2293 Peachtree Road NE. All major credit cards are accepted except Discover. To make reservations please call (404) 351-9533 or for more information visit www.toulouserestaurant.com.

Fall Beer Tasting @ City Grill

In the spirit of celebrating its 20th year in downtown Atlanta, City Grill will hold a Fall Beer Tasting on Thursday, September 25, at 6:30 p.m. Adriana Danley of Georgia Crown will be the guest speaker and has secured several seasonal libations that will allow guests to be some of the first to taste them this season in Atlanta. The restaurant will offer a sampling of Chef Shan Holler’s light appetizers to compliment these seasonal beers. The festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a social gathering for $25 per person to include the beer tasting and tapas. Reservations for this event may be made by calling the restaurant at (404) 524-2489 or at www.CityGrillAtlanta.com.

Cafe 458 To Offer Dinner

Cafe 458, the Samaritan House of Atlanta's restaurant where all proceeds go directly to support programs that help the city’s homeless men and women become self-sufficient, will expand its menu to serve dinner Thursday and Friday evenings. Traditionally, the restaurant has been a weekend brunch hot spot. Dinner service begins this Thursday, Sept. 4, and will be available from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Cafe will offer a three-course prefixed dinner as well as a la carte options. Highlights of the new menu include lobster ravioli, seared filet mignon, sunflower encrusted salmon and creamy polenta cake. Cafe 458 is located at 458 Edgewood Ave. For more details visit www.samhouse.org/cafe458.

Mellow Mushroom Opens Downtown

Mellow Mushroom is celebrating the grand opening of its first downtown location at TWELVE Centennial Park, 400 W. Peachtree St., Suite 1. Mellow Mushroom will offer pizza, calzones and salads for local office workers, downtown residents and visitors to attractions like Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia Aquarium and the new World of Coca-Cola. The new Mellow Mushroom will occupy a 6,500 square foot street level retail space of TWELVE Centennial Park. 

“We are very excited to have Mellow Mushroom bringing a casual and family friendly restaurant option to downtown Atlanta,” said George Mori, Novare Group’s Senior Vice President of Retail. “Mellow Mushroom is an Atlanta institution and a perfect fit for our residents and hotel guests at TWELVE Centennial Park, as well as for workers and visitors in this great neighborhood of our city.”

The restaurant will feature a 1,800-square-foot patio, complete with two fire pits, on the corner of Spring Street and Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard. About 30 new employees will be hired to staff the restaurant, which will feature bars downstairs and upstairs and a meeting facility with A/V equipment available upstairs. The restaurant’s contemporary design also offers a fun twist: Guests can eat comfortably while sitting under giant mushroom-shaped light fixtures that illuminate the large two-story dining space.

The location at TWELVE Centennial Park represents a return to Mellow Mushroom’s Spring Street roots. The Atlanta-based chain began with its first restaurant on Spring and 14th streets in 1974. Since then, Mellow Mushroom has expanded to 84 locations now open throughout the Southeast, with 40 locations in Georgia.

P'cheen Updates Menu & Music

P’cheen, Atlanta’s award winning international bistro and pub that strives to bring top quality food in a warm relaxed environment has upped the ante once more.  

Chef Alex Friedman has reinvented the menu to embrace the true feel of the restaurant.  “We wanted to bring back the all-star plates,” says Friedman, “the dishes that have been very successful for us and that our guests truly crave.”  Smoked mozzarella ravioli with tomato coulis and crispy Vidalia onions, for example, had previously been removed from the menu last fall.  “We had to put it back on the menu, people love it.”  In addition, new appetizers include Thai style beef satays with red cabbage slaw and ponzu sauce, roasted tomato and black beans samosas with mango salsa and the return of the delicious house cured gravlax.  New entrée selections include house smoked baby back ribs with jalapeno mac-n-cheese and collard greens, thyme and black pepper roasted half chicken and a classic steak frites with a choice of three different sauces.

Also, P’cheen has begun to offer all-you-can-eat jumbo Alaskan snow crab legs.  Every Wednesday, patrons pack the place out to feast on one of the best deals in town.  Accompanied by boiled potatoes, corn on the cob, drawn butter and crusty French bread, this idea is already a hit.  Tables are all full before 8pm.  “Make a reservation,” says bartender Tom Williams, a former Bostonian, “these legs are some of the best!”

The music program at P’cheen has also been upgraded.  Where previously the after dinner scene comprised just Djs, the sonic menu now includes live music every Thursday.  With the help of local indie rock afficianado and Tentonic band member, Steven Quinn, P’cheen has launched the newest addition to the local live music scene.  Every Thursday, the lounge area of the restaurant hosts “Hard Times,” a showcase of Atlanta’s best up and coming bands.  The participating musicians perform an acoustic “unplugged” show in an intimate living room style setting.  Music starts around 10.30pm and there is never a cover.

P’cheen is located at 701-5 Highland Ave. For more information visit www.pcheen.com or call (404) 529-8800.

Danneman's Opens in O4W

Danneman’s, a new coffee shop located in a two-story historic brick building in the Old Fourth Ward is now open for business.  Open daily and a WiFi hotspot, Danneman’s serves locally roasted coffee, freshly baked breads and breakfast foods, a selection of sandwiches and salads, and a variety of other tasty treats. With a spacious 1100 square-foot second floor that overlooks the corner of Boulevard and Edgewood Ave., Danneman’s also hosts an array of events and art openings, including Friday morning yoga classes, modern dance classes, Tango milonga’s, open-mic nights, DJs, live music and much more.

Opened by local residents Joe Stewardson and Kate Pedrick, the recently renovated spot is named after Danneman’s Super Market, the former long-term neighborhood grocery store dating back to the 1930’s.  Paying homage to the rich history of the area and the building, which was originally built in the early 1900s, the new neighborhood coffee shop has a retro-nostalgic feel complimented by an inviting and friendly atmosphere.  The playful décor infuses the original Danneman’s Super Market sign and features exposed brick walls, tall ceilings, wood floors, large vintage windows, seating vignettes for work and conversation, fresh flowers, and Mid Century accents and furnishings including lab tables and Navy chairs.

Ongoing events promise to be a large part of Danneman’s repertoire, including: 

Tango Milongas - Join tango enthusiasts the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Featuring live music by Osvaldo Barrios. Tango lessons at 8 p.m. and dancing begins at 9 p.m.  $10.00 cover charge / $5.00 students.  All proceeds go directly to the musician.  All levels are welcome!

Sunday Dinner – The first Sunday of each month legendary Atlanta DJs join forces and spin records for each other and anyone who wants to listen in.  4 to 8 p.m. Free. 

Odd Man Out Theater presents "The Hottest Ticket" nightly at Danneman’s on September 25, 26 and 27.  This is the first in a series of short and hilarious plays presented by Atlanta newcomer, Timothy Gray.  $10.00 cover charge. 

Modern Dance Class - 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday.  All levels welcome!  $12.00 per person.

Danneman’s is located on the corner of Boulevard and Edgewood Ave. in the Old Fourth Ward at 466 Edgewood Ave. Call (404) 380-1393 for more information, to book an event or to reserve tables.  Hours are Monday through Friday from 6:15 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays 7 a.m. to11 p.m.; and Sun. 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.  Visit Danneman’s online at www.dannemans.com.

Celebrate Vickery's 25th Anniversary, Aug. 23

Vickery's will celebrate its 25th anniversary with an afternoon and evening of events at the Midtown location, 1106 Crescent Avenue. For more details and to buy tickets, visit www.vickerys.com.

The Shed Hosts Mixology Classes

Want to make drinks like a pro? The Shed at Glenwood is holding Mixology 101 classes every Sunday from 2:00-3:00 taught by Caroline Mask. Learn everything from the basic tools necessary for a home bar to dazzling your friends with homemade infused syrups and delicious cocktails.

Check out the website at www.theshedatglenwood.com for detailed information on dates, times and topics. The class is $10 per session or $35 to sign up for a whole month. Please call ahead. Space is limited. Come for Brunch before class and receive 10 percent of your meal.

You can experience the drinks first hand by sitting at the bar and enjoying The Shed's Liquid Tapas menu. The cost is $12 and allows you to taste through a Margarita Flight, or try the Fresh Fruit Bellini Flight if you are in the mood to celebrate the day. Enjoy them with your meal or as a way to choose a favorite libation for the night.

The She is also hosting Wine Wednesday starting on August 27 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. The cost is $15 per person to taste through a theme of wines, get a glass of your favorite and enjoy Chef Daniel Atwood’s appetizers at the bar. The Shed is at 475 Bill Kennedy Way in Glenwood Park.

JOEL Offers Quick Lunch Option

Looking for light and tasty dishes with a quick turn-around time? Or perhaps a power lunch to close the deal? JOËL Restaurant solves the weekly lunch break dilemma of finding a restaurant with fresh gourmet cuisine that can fit into that ever-so typical one hour lunch break with the launch of the new Bistro Lunch Menu.

Executive Chef Cyrille Holota has created a quick-to-order menu that will tempt lunchers’ taste buds while on the corporate clock. The newly-launched Bistro Menu, served during regular lunch hours in conjunction with the standard lunch menu, features gourmet pastas, soups, salads, and sandwiches guaranteed to be at the table in 30 minutes or less. The menu features items such as Button Mushroom Soup, a traditional French Croque Monsier Sandwich (Country Bread, Béchamel Sauce, Swiss Cheese, Ham) served with French fries or mixed greens salad, Ditalini Pasta (Diced Salmon, Cucumber, Parmesan Cheese, Dill Sauce) and a variety of other selections. The Bistro Menu is served in conjunction with JOËL Restaurant’s regular lunch menu as an alternative option for those in a rush. 

 3290 Northside Parkway in the Piazza at Paces. (404) 233-3500 or www.joelrestaurant.com

Manuel's Tavern Anniversary, Aug. 5-7

Manuel’s Tavern, 602 N. Highland Ave., will celebrate its 52nd anniversary with a thank you to its customers and employees. The celebration runs from Tuesday, August 5, through Thursday, August 7. Specials will run each of those days.

Opened on August 6, 1956, by Manuel Maloof, then the future CEO of DeKalb County. It is common at Manuel’s to find a carpenter, a lawyer and an actor sitting together at the bar. But it is most well known for being a locus of political discussion and activity in Atlanta, a tradition that Manuel himself cultivated.

Manuel passed away in 2004 but the tavern is still run by the Maloof family. Brian Maloof, Manuel’s son, has been the general manager of the Tavern since 1999.

www.manuelstavern.com

Lamplighter Cafe Still Open

The owners of the Lamplighter Cafe near Grant Park want you to know they are still open for business. Many motorists have wrongly assumed the cafe closed because the usual sandwich board signs have disappeared. That's because the city made owner Erick Newman remove them for violations, and Newman said business has been off by 70 percent ever since. 

Lamplighter, 280 Connally St., serves up contemporary cuisine, with lots of deserts, pastries, wine and coffee. 

www.lamplighteratl.com

Cheerwine Available in ATL

Cheerwine, the unique, one-of-a-kind sparkling soft drink from North Carolina, launched in Atlanta this month and has received a strong wave of welcome from those who grew up with the beverage.

Created by L.D. Peeler in 1917, and still held privately by the Peeler family today, Cheerwine has a strong connection with those who grew up in the Carolinas, and who have longed to be able to buy the product in Atlanta.

Available in Publix, Kroger and a number of retail outlets throughout the metro-Atlanta area, the soft drink is already outperforming the Carolina Beverage Corporation’s projection for sales in the area.

www.cheerwine.com

Alon's Dinner Boxes

Alon's Bakery and Market is offering boxed dinners at its Morningside and Dunwoody locations. The customizable boxes are perfect for taking to concerts, picnics or just to bring home for a no hassle, delicious meal. 

The boxes range in price from $16.99 to $22.99 and can include lamb, beef tenderloin, salmon, chicken and a host of other entrees, sides and desserts. 

Orders can be placed (48 hours in advance) at www.alons.com or by calling (678) 397-1782.