Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Graft, the new farm-to-table restaurant in Grayson, is finally open and being well received in the community.
After more than eight months of preparation, Graft, the new farm-to-table restaurant in Grayson, opened its doors on Wednesday for a soft opening. It has been going strong ever since. "We were going to have a grand opening, but really don't think we will have to," said Ashley Clemence, who co-owns Graft with her husband, Seth. "We might have an official ribbon cutting, but I don't think we will have a big grand opening. We have been doing well with just word of mouth. We already have our regulars." For Clemence and her husband, restoring the old Grayson House to its original historical splendor has been a labor of love. As they labored on gutting and restoring the inside of the 100 year-old building, the herbs and vegetables were planted …
Sunday, June 17, 2012
This week, it's all about cupcakes.
Judging from the steady stream of customers coming into Sweet Dee's every day, it's safe to say this new bakeshop on Main Street in Tucker is already a hit. It's a simple, clever concept. Cupcakes, freshly made, and lots of them. Just looking at the things in the display cabinet is a joy in itself. Employee Sheila Adams kindly wrote down the list of flavors for me - Red Velvet, Lemon, Lemon Strawberry, Chocolate Butter Cream, Vanilla Salted Caramel, Midnight Chocolate - you get the idea. There's a cupcake of the day too. Today's is Blueberry Ricotta and a coffee one thrown in for good measure. Besides all these tempting desserts, Sweet Dee's has coconut or carrot cake, cookies, brownies, and ice cream, as well as espresso and regular …
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Each week Patch picks a local restaurant worth checking out.
How about some breakfast? Fat Headz Diner, a new restaurant in Stone Mountain Village, serves up pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage and other typical morning fare - but on a whole new level -- all day long. You can also get sandwiches, soups and salads. I had the Yard Bird and Eggs ($7.65). The eggs were light in color and texture, and as far I could tell, were very flavorful without the need for much seasoning. It came with a generous chicken sausage link (or you can get it with turkey bacon). My oldest had the sweet potato pancakes with pecans, cinnamon and brown sugar butter ($8.79), my son had the Egg-Celent Omelette ($8.25), and my little one had The Flap Jack from the "Lil Fat Headz" menu. We all shared an extra side of bacon. I had a …
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Looking for a late night dinner, we found our way to Joe's.
With just a few instuctions and encouragement from a few fellow Patch editors, the Mister and I headed out to try something different... at 10:00 p.m.! Some days, dinner just can't be done on an Ozzie and Harriet schedule. Pulling in to Joe's Crab Shack at 4300 Stone Mountain Highway in Lilburn, we were first struck with the full parking lot. It would seem that others with hectic schedules were finding their way out for a little seafood vacation, too. We were seated promptly and served our sweet tea right away. The menu selection was impressive. Sure. You can get buckets of crabs, crab drip and crab stuffed anything (we didn't see any crabby wait staff or customers), but there's a wide variety of other offerings. Getting into the spirit, …
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Each week Patch picks a local restaurant worth checking out, and this week's choice is Five Spot Frozen Yogurt.
I ran into Five Spot Frozen Yogurt the other day, and decided to write something on the relatively new dessert location in Snellville. Well, actually they've been around for a year, having opened on May 22, 2011. A year? It's been that long? Can't believe it. Most of the time I avoid places like this. There's only one reason: They cater to people who can have dairy products. I can't, so I hardly see the reason for going into yogurt places. I end up only being able to eat one thing on the entire menu. Such was the case here. Of the 16 flavors, only one -- kiwi strawberry -- was dairy free. So, that's what I had. It was actually pretty tasty. But, for those people who eat dairy, there's a nice array of flavors, including red velvet cupcake, …
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Award-winning Thai food right in our back yard.
Yum Yum Thai (great name, that) has been in the same spot for the last 16 years, on Lawrenceville Highway near the junction of Fellowship Road. It has developed a solid reputation and a bunch of regulars who keep coming back. "Some families grow up with Thai food," Nuchanat Goonsantiviboon, the charming owner, told me. She pointed to a couple of elderly patrons sitting a few tables away who have been coming for lunch every single Friday since 2005. I resisted the temptation to go over and ask them the reason. They seemed so content, sharing nary a word, reading their papers and consuming some obviously tasty food. About that food. I had the Drunken Noodles ($6.95) which was hot in more ways than one. You can, of course, request mild or …
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Each week Patch picks a local restaurant worth checking out, and this week's choice is American-Jamaican restaurant The Banana Tree.
I love the hidden gem restaurants tucked throughout unincorporated Stone Mountain. The Banana Tree is one of them. This restaurant has been around for several years, but this was my first trip there (I've lived in Stone Mountain since 1998). I've had a taste for Caribbean food since a recent visit to Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill , but Snellville Patch editor Joy Woodson already did that story. So, The Banana Tree it was. You can smell the food grilling as you approach the restaurant. It beckons you in. The restaurant was busy but not crowded during this particular lunchtime visit. There was some enticing fare on the menu, such as curry goat, Ackee and saltfish, and the like. But to start, I ordered the "mannish water." I'd never …
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Each week Patch picks a local restaurant worth checking out, and this week's choice is a Japanese restaurant on Stone Mountain Highway.
Nagano is located in an almost deserted strip mall on Stone Mountain Highway, but that sinking feeling you have when you first see the empty storefronts disappears as soon as you open the door. Inside, the decor is pleasantly restrained in wood and brick, and the restaurant is clean and with just the right lighting, with a neighborhood neighborhood restaurant feel to it, on the sushi bar side, at least. While I was there on a recent Thursday night, waitstaff welcomed customers who were obviously regulars. The bar offers 15 different types of sushi ($5.95 to $7.95), including one called the Stone Mountain roll (deep-fried shrimp, avocado, fresh salmon with a spicy sauce and fish eggs). There's a helpful card on the table explaining the …
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Every week Patch picks a local restaurant worth checking out, and this week we go Mexican.
WARNING: This review is not raving. I'd like to write a positive review about Little Mexico Bar & Grill because I'd heard good things about the food and because the eatery won a Readers' Choice poll in Snellville for the best outside dining, but this isn't going to be a stellar review. It's my experience. And, I didn't think it was a great one. First off, it was gloomy weather, so I did not get the advantage of the outside dining. That's not their fault. But, what is their fault is the lack of windows in the place and equally dim lighting. I couldn't see anything at first. My eyes had to adjust. And, with it already being cloudy outside what little light came through the few windows was struggling big time. However, the place was very …
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Our weekly look at a restaurant close by that's worth checking out.
There aren't too many Indian restaurants around here, unfortunately, and even fewer Nepalese ones. Kathmandu Kitchen & Grill serves both kinds of food, so I was anxious to try it. The first time I had for lunch there, I went for the Indian buffet. At only $7.99, it's quite a bargain and has everything you would expect; Tandoori chicken, curries, vegetables, goat meat, dahl, naan, Chicken Tikka, pakoras and other sundry goodies. All very promising. The buffet is available every single day from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. It gets really interesting, though, when you try the Nepali menu, which is what some friends and I did at lunchtime today. It just so happens that April 13 is the Nepali New Year - 2069 - so the staff were in celebratory mood. …
TOWG
9:29 am on Sunday, June 10, 2012
Been at this location twice and the one on Pleasant Hill twice. Frankly, I don't understand their appeal. They are no better than Red Lobster. Whoever rated them a 4 was being kind. more ›