Author: gatorgirl.outoftheswamp@gmail.com

Sweet Auburn Barbecue – Atlanta, GA

If you have read any food magazines lately they always seem to be talking about the food scene in Atlanta, Georgia. Sweet Auburn Barbecue is one of those hot spots to try.

It is located within a cute neighborhood of newly built apartments and older homes getting modern updates.

When I walked in the door I got an urban, hipster vibe with the décor and layout of the restaurant.

 

But the smell reminded me of a good, old Southern BBQ joint.

I started off with one of their creatively named cocktails. The “Hands Off My Tikis” sounded fun and delicious. It was a tropical drink made with Sailor Jerry Rum, Goslings Black, Rum Haven, Royal Combier, pineapple juice, orange juice, and lemon. The best part of this drink is it is actually served in a tiki glass.

It’s probably just my imagination but the drink tasted better because of the tiki glass. The drink was sweet and it was loaded with alcohol. One was plenty.

The table ordered a few starters because we were all really hungry from a long day of work. We got a plate of seasoned fries. They brought us a few dipping sauces on the side, which included their homemade ranch dressing. The fries were fresh cut potatoes that were slightly sweet.

The bucket of cornbread was next out. It actually did come in a galvanized bucket. The cornbread was made with jalapeños and cheddar. It came with a side of sorghum butter. it added a little sweetness to the bread. I recommend putting it on as soon as the bread comes out; this way it has time to melt. Although there are jalapeños in the bread, it was not very spicy.

The last starter was the pimento cheese wontons. These were my favorite as well as everyone at the table. The crispy wonton noodles were stuffed with a salty and creamy pimento cheese.

It had a sharp taste at first bite and as I chewed the creaminess took over. I also tasted a hint of bacon mixed in. At the end there was a richness to the overall dish.

It was accompanied by a bacon marmalade and sweet Thai chili sauce. When I took a bite of the wonton with these sauces, it added a different level of flavor. The bacon marmalade added a smoky taste, while the Thai sauce added a slight heat plus sweetness. It really complemented the robust taste of the cheese. I highly recommend this starter, you will not be disappointed.

For dinner I ordered the pulled pork bowl. This dish was unique to me. It was pulled pork on top of stone ground cheddar grits, pickles, and scallions. Their house made BBQ sauce was drizzled on top. On the side there were two pieces of buttery Texas toast.

Breaking down the components, the pork was thick and juicy. It had a slight smoky flavor and was extremely tender. The only thing I wish the pork had was a little more bark on the outside.

The cheddar grits were amazing. They were very creamy and soft. When the grits and pork were eaten together, they made perfect harmony. All the flavors worked together, even though one might not think creamy cheese and tangy BBQ sauce would work. While I liked the entire bowl, I felt the grits were the star of the dish.

If you want a side they need to be ordered separately. However, they are the perfect size for sharing. That is exactly what we did with the skillet green beans.

These were fresh garden green beads that kept their crunch. They had a smoky, grilled taste to them. They were cooked with red onions that added sweetness. This was a great, fresh side dish.

While there are tons of restaurants to choose from in Atlanta, perhaps I can help marrow down your search by suggesting Sweet Auburn Barbeque. Check out their menu at http://sweetauburnbbq.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

 

Bakers Square – Gurnee, IL

I normally do not write about chain restaurants. However, I am making an exception for Bakers Square. While they are a chain, they are only located in the Midwest. As someone who does not live near a location, I really enjoyed my visit and wanted to share it with everyone.

As soon as I walked in I was greeted with signs about their award winning pies.

They had two big cases filled with a variety of pies. It would be hard to make a choice. I figured I would worry about that after I finished my lunch.

  

They have a pretty big menu. Their breakfast menu is very extensive. I will need to remember that for the next time I am in town.

I went for a cheeseburger. They make them with fresh ground meat when ordered. I had my option of sides but I went for the French fries. That is the perfect pairing with a burger.

The cheeseburger was much larger than I was expecting. That seems to be a pattern with me lately. The bun they used was a nice size. It allowed me to pick it up and take a bite without any struggles. I hate it when burger buns are so high you cannot actually bite the burger.

The burger was cooked perfectly, the meat was extremely juicy and had a nice grilled taste. They used American cheese which added creaminess. The lettuce and tomato added crunch. I was very pleased with my lunch choice. When I crave a burger, it is this type of burger I think about.

Now I visited Bakers Square on a Wednesday and that is a special day. Why? Because it is Free Pie Day! I was able to get whatever slice I wanted.

So I was back to the dilemma I had when I first walked in. There were so many choices – cherry, strawberry, peanut butter, lemon meringue, etc. I finally landed on pumpkin pie. That may seem to be a weird choice considering it is not Thanksgiving or Christmas. I think that is why I went for it; it was the unexpected choice for the time of year.

The pie was exquisite. I could taste the fresh pumpkin they used because of the pies texture. They did not over use the spices. Sometime restaurants and stores can overuse pumpkin spices which takes away from the taste. These bakers used the right amount of cinnamon, cloves, and all other spices. I can definitely see why people order whole pies in advance for the holidays.

Bakers Square is a great place to go to for comfort food. In addition to burgers, they have classics like meatloaf, pot roast, and chicken pot pie. I would for sure come back.

Visit their website at http://www.bakerssquare.com/ to see where they are located throughout the Midwest.

Enjoy!

T

 

 

Salutos – Gurnee, IL

There is an Italian restaurant near my parents’ house that I have passed for almost 15 years when I visit. With each visit to see them I never made it over to Salutos. However, recently I got to try them because my sister had her rehearsal dinner there.

   

When I walked in I was greeted by a giant tree in the entryway. I was not expecting that.

I also noticed their large case of homemade desserts. After taking a glance I knew I would be in for a treat later.

We started dinner off with their homemade fresh garlic rolls. They were slightly sweet yeast rolls covered in garlic and butter.

Each table received a bowl of Salutos famous salad. What makes this salad so special is their “Secret Recipe” dressing. I completely understood why this salad is so popular. The dressing is green in color and is creamy with a slight tang. It was really addicting. I kept going back to the salad bowl for more. It turns out you can actually buy the dressing by itself so you can enjoy it at home.

Now since I was there with a large party our dinner was served buffet style. What I liked about this was that it allowed me to try several of their dishes. On the menu was:

  • Chicken Griglia
  • Shrimp Frankie
  • Spaghetti with meat sauce
  • Cheese Ravioli

It may not look pretty on my plate but each dish was delicious. The chicken was moist and seasoned really well. The shrimp came mixed with angel hair pasta. I could taste all the garlic it was sautéed in. The spaghetti with meat sauce was a staple. The flavor of the Italian seasonings in the sauce was a classic.

My favorite dish was the cheese ravioli. They make them homemade there. They were oversized. The pasta dough was light and they were stuffed with cheese. They had a sweet taste which was amazing. The sweetness balanced out the sourness from the tomatoes in the sauce. I would totally recommend this dish to everyone.

For dessert we had two choices:

  • Flourless chocolate cake
  • Carrot cake

I went for the carrot cake. The first thing I noticed was all the fresh carrots that they used in the batter. They really shined through. The cake itself was moist. The homemade cream cheese frosting was smooth, creamy, and not super sweet. On a side note, everyone who ordered the chocolate cake seemed to enjoy it. They all said it was rich.

Though my dining experience was set up differently than most customers I really felt I got to experience the best that Salutos had to offer. I would want to go back the next time I visited the area. Check out their menu at http://salutosofgurnee.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

Little Savannah – Birmingham, AL

I love Sunday brunch. Just when I thought I had been to all the brunch restaurants in Birmingham I found another one. Located in the historic Forest Park area, Little Savannah offers a limited menu for the few hours that they are open on Sundays.

I sat outside on their back patio since it was a nice day. It was great at first because I was sitting under a giant umbrella. However, by the end of brunch it was so hot I was regretting sitting outside. So a little tip, sit inside during the day. Leave the outside seating for after the sun go down – at least in the summer.

I did start brunch with a mimosa. It would not be brunch without one.

For food, I started off with the BLT salad. It was perfect for sharing. It was fresh Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, crunchy bacon, and a tarragon blue cheese dressing.

It looked beautiful when it came out. However, the Romaine lettuce needed to be chopped up in order to be eaten. The dressing was amazing. It had extra flavor compared to traditional blue cheese dressings. The salad was a refreshing start to the meal.

Another dish I ordered was the avocado and tomato caprese. This was a unique take on a traditional tomato and mozzarella caprese. The two avocado halves were baked and were extremely soft. The fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil were piled on top of the avocado. Then a garnacha vinegar was drizzled on top and around the plate.

I have never had avocado baked like this before. It was very creamy but it did not have a lot of flavor. It simply added extra creaminess to the mozzarella and tomatoes. The Garnacha vinegar was not very tart as I expected. It did add a subtle taste to the dish.

The final thing I ordered were the Brussels sprouts.

I love Brussels sprouts and I thought these were supposed to be somewhat crispy. Unfortunately these were not, they were just sautéed. There was no bacon cooked with these so they needed a little salt and pepper. Once I added some sea salt and crushed pepper they were pretty good. I still prefer Brussels sprouts to be crispier, I just think they taste better prepared this way.

If you are looking for some unique dishes then Little Savannah is a place to check out. If you are not into brunch you can visit them during the week for dinner. They serve everything from classic fried chicken to lamb shops and smoked duck. Plus they have some pretty good looking desserts. Visit their website at www.littlesavannah.com

Enjoy!

T

 

Melt – Birmingham, AL

I love food trucks. They are a symbol of entrepreneurship and creativity. Each truck has to stand out and have a hook. Melt is one of those food trucks and they specialize in grilled cheese.

What I also love seeing is when a food truck gets so popular and grows into a traditional brick and mortar location. That is exactly what happened to Melt. They opened a restaurant in the Avondale area.

Grilled cheese is my ultimate comfort food. I was excited to head over to Melt and get one. I ordered the classic grilled cheese, something simple.

It was a blend of three cheeses: cheddar, Monterey jack, and American. The use Texas toast for theirs, which is my favorite because it makes the sandwich thick. The combination of cheeses was amazing. It was ooey-gooey goodness.

Instead of getting French fries with my grilled cheese I got their cucumber salad. This was a great idea. It was refreshing. It was a combination of cucumbers and some cherry tomatoes in Greek salad dressing.

I also learned from my waitress that I could have added bacon to the sandwich for a little extra. I am thinking that I will have to try that on my next visit.

While I was there I also ordered a Moscow Mule. It surprisingly went well with the grilled cheese. They make their own ginger beer. It was so fresh it had pieces of ginger floating in the bottle. Having the freshness made the overall drink taste refreshing.

If you want grilled cheese then head over to Melt. You can visit their website at http://www.meltbham.com/. You can also follow them on Twitter @Meltbham to locate where the food truck will be.

   

Enjoy!

T

Slice – Birmingham, AL

Slice is one of my favorite restaurants to go to in Birmingham. I have written about them before in my blog but it has been a while. In honor of National Cheese Pizza Day, I figured that I should write about them again.

   

The restaurant smells wonderful when I walked in. The smell of pizza being cooked in the fire oven fills the air. I am greeted by the manager who always seems to be working when I visit. I took a seat at the bar because I think that is the best seat in the house.

If you like craft beer, Slice is perfect for you. They have a huge chalkboard filled with all the local beers they have on tap.

I love their sangrias so that is what I went for.

I chose the red because I think that goes best with pizza. This is one of my favorite sangrias because it is an equal blend of wine and fruit juices. It is neither too sweet not too dry.

What is also great about Slice is you can order pizza by the slice (except of Friday and Saturday nights). I got a classic slice of pepperoni.

They put it in the oven to warm up and get some crispy edges. The pepperoni they use is large in diameter but thin in thickness. Plus the pepperoni has a great flavor and it does not add a lot of extra grease to the pizza.

It was a great pairing and I enjoyed myself as usual. I am always recommending Slice to anyone visiting the area. Check them out at http://www.slicebirmingham.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

Hot Diggity Dogs – Birmingham, AL

There is something satisfying about a hot dog. It is a comfort food that brings back fond memories of cookouts with my family. When I learned of a fairly new hot dog hot spot in Birmingham I knew I needed to check it out. Located in the Avondale area is Hot Diggity Dogs.

It is located in the same building as Fancy’s on 5th. It is located on the second floor, looking at the building head on you may not notice the side door. I actually missed it the first time I walked by.

As I was walking up the stairs I could smell the hot dogs on the grill. I sat at the counter so I could watch everything being made.

  

I looked over their options. All the hot dogs are 100% Kosher beef. I wanted a simple, plain hot dog. Nothing on it. I wanted to be able to taste the beef flavor. I also got a side of tater tots.

The hot dog bun was not typical. It was more like big slices of bread. The hot dog did have great meaty flavor. It was satisfying. The tots also hit the spot.

While I was watching them cook, I noticed they were making homemade pork rinds. That was the coolest thing I have ever watched being made. They take slices of pig skin and just dump them in the hot frying oil. Then they puff up to be airy and crunchy.

The cook was super sweet and gave me a few to try. They were really good. The flavor was smoky tasting. Even though they were fried, they were not greasy. I would recommend ordering these because they taste great and it is not something you see on a menu very often.

There was another surprise in Hot Diggity Dogs that I was not expecting. In the corner of the restaurant was a blue phone booth (a Tardis for all those Doctor Who fans out there).

What I learned was this Tardis was the secret entrance to a speakeasy called The Marble Ring. You needed to call using the phone inside the booth to see if you would be allowed in.

If you are lucky enough another door will open to let you in. I was not lucky that night, so I could not go in. Looks like I have to try again.

If you are craving a hot dog, then head to Hot Diggity Dogs. Visit their website at http://hotdiggitydogsbham.com/

Enjoy!

T

The Floridian – Treasure Island, FL

There is a restaurant in Treasure Island, Florida, not far from Tampa, that has been serving up Cuban sandwiches since 1993. They have won several awards including being voted “Best Cuban Sandwich in Tampa Bay”. At the suggestion of some great friends, we went to The Floridian to see what they were all about.

It is a small place that has a few tables inside and a large patio so customers can eat outside. That is where we ended up sitting.

Ordering is simple, just go up to the counter and tell them what you want. They make everything right there in front of you.

  

I was lucky enough to get a picture with the guys making my sandwich.

The Cuban sandwich had all the necessary ingredients: sliced ham, spiced pork, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese, and pickles. It was served on a toasted roll with mustard and mayo. The bread was extremely fresh and toasted perfectly. It had great crunch when I took a bite. Since the sandwich was warm, the meat was warm and it slightly melted the cheese. The flavors of the meats worked extremely well together. The mustard and mayo was mixed together for a creamier texture. I am not a mustard fan but the way they prepared the mixture made me fall in love with mustard.

I have had several Cuban sandwiches in and out of Florida and I agree with all the reports – this was the best I ever had. And as you can see from the picture, my friend Hunter agrees with me.

The Floridian has several other things on their menu besides Cuban sandwiches. The black beans and rice looked really tasty. I tried an item called a stuffed potato. I was very curious what this was.

It was a simple item, mashed potatoes that were stuffed with spiced beef. It was then lightly breaded and fried. It reminded me of croquettes that I have had before but instead of ham and cheese it was the spiced beef.

  

I really enjoyed this dish. The taste of the meat was amazing and was not too spicy. It was simple but it pack a lot of flavor. An order only came with one potato ball but I could have eaten a few more. I would highly recommend this item.

The Floridian is a great place and I am so glad my friends took me here. I will definitely stop by again when I am in the area. Check them out at http://www.floridianrestaurant.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

 

Beverly’s Restaurant – St. Pete Beach, FL

Before spending the day at the beach it is important to start off with a good breakfast. Beverly’s has been serving up hearty breakfasts since 1989.

It is a simple place that had people lined up outside waiting for a table, including myself.

They serve all the classic diner dishes. I went for a simple breakfast, eggs, grits, bacon, and toast. I got my eggs scrambled and mixed in the crunchy bacon. The grits were ok but I needed to add butter to them to make them a little creamier and saltier.

I did not get the homefries but I heard they were pretty popular. I was able to try a few off of my friend’s plate. They had great flavor from the seasoning they used. It tasted like they used a little chili powder and paprika.

Watching what the other customers were ordering it appeared that the pancakes and waffles were pretty popular. The pancakes were huge, practically the size of the whole plate they arrived on. The waffles came with tons of whipped cream on top, plus you can add chocolate chips.

The menu also includes several deli sandwiches that sounded good. However, you have to get there early because they are only open till 2:00pm.

Check them out at http://beverlysotb.com/

Enjoy!

T