Zinburger

Zinburger
3393 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30326

Phone | 404-963-9611

Hours | 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. daily

I was invited to Zinburger to try the winner of their third annual Zinburger contest – The Honolulu Baby Burger. It’s priced at $12 and will be featured at all nine east coast Zinburger locations from September 15-21^st.

The Honolulu Baby Burger consists of a Certified Angus Beef patty with charred pineapple, volcanic fire roasted red peppers, swiss cheese, mayo and a Hawaiian favorite  – SPAM – all between two oven roasted bronzed buns.

All right, so let’s get this out of the way. The first time I heard about this I was slightly horrified due to the – you guessed it – SPAM!

I haven’t ever had SPAM. All I know about SPAM is that it’s creepy looking when it comes out of the tin with all the bright Mad Men type colors. But hey, if this burger beat out all the rest then I was willing to try it.

The burger came out and the first thing I noticed was that visually, the SPAM didn’t look anything like I thought it would. It just looked like Canadian bacon and it had a similar texture. The sweet from the pineapple and pepper combined with the salty of the SPAM and the savory from the burger patty?

ohmylifeshutthefrontdooritwassogood.

I ate SPAM and lived to tell the tale.

Of course, because Denise (of We Like 2 Cook) is a terrible influence she bullied me into ordering other menu items so we could get an idea of what the rest of the menu was like.

So, we ordered the Ahi Tuna sandwich ($10) which comes with coleslaw, avocado, tamari soy glaze & mayo, the Almost Famous Veggie Burger ($9) which comes with smoked mozzarella, avocado, pea shoots, tomato and mayo.

Both of these sandwiches were on point. The ahi was cooked rare, just like it should be and they definitely don’t skimp when it comes to the amount of tuna you get, which is always a nice change.

Side note: I hate, hate, hate when I spend like, $13 on an “Ahi Tuna App/Entrée/Whatever” and you get it and there’s like, two effin’ pieces on the plate the size of an return address label. So the fact they didn’t skimp is HUGE for me.

The veggie burger was “shut the front door” good. I really love vegetarian dishes but I tend to avoid veggie burgers when I go out. They’re usually paper-thin patties that you can still taste the freezer burn on. Not these! Thick, not at all dried out – these are made in house and fresh daily and you can tell.

Since the burgers are a la carte, we took it upon ourselves to get the truffle fries and zucchini fries. Both were outstanding.

By the end of the meal, we were stuffed…but our waitress convinced us to try one of their milkshakes.

Okay. If you insist.

We split the salted caramel milkshake and let me tell you, it made me blush. It was so good. Honestly – this is embarrassing to admit but I can see myself going back JUST to get a milkshake to go.

The whole experience there was top notch. From the atmosphere, the décor and most importantly the food.

I would highly suggest stopping in at Zinburger the next time you are in the neighborhood. Let us know what you think by tweeting us at @_GoodEats!

Disclaimer –I was invited as a member of the Atlanta Food Bloggers’ Society to enjoy a complimentary meal in exchange for an honest and transparent review. The above review is 100% my own opinion and is no way influenced by the restaurant. 

Improv Atlanta

Atlanta Improv | Comedy Club & Dinner Theater
56 E Andrews Dr NW
Atlanta, GA 30305

Ph: 678-244-3612
E-mail: info@theimprovatlanta.com

Hours: Depends on the show! Check out upcoming shows here.

I didn’t realize I loved comedy clubs until I moved to Hollywood and had my first experience at The Laugh Factory. Some of the comedians I saw that night had me in tears (in a good way) and some were just plain terrible. I loved the whole thing. So I absolutely jumped at the opportunity to check out Atlanta native Andy Sandford at Atlanta Improv as well as try some of their menu.

When you walk in you tell the host how many are in your party and they promptly bring you into a gorgeous dining room packed with beautiful mahogany (?) tables in front of a stage against a ‘brick’ background. There isn’t such a thing as a bad seat in the house, promise!

About the food:

Doors open an hour before the 8 p.m. show – so if you want to eat before the show you can. However every time I’ve gone I’ve ended up ordering a couple minutes before the show starts and eating through it.

From what I experienced tonight (and the last time I was there earlier this month) you need to keep an open mind when experiencing both the comedian and the food! As far as the food goes – you’re going to get everything you ordered but it’s not going to come out in any comprehensible order. Unfortunately I had the same server tonight that I did the last time – so I don’t know if this was him or the norm of the venue in general.

On our table:

• Wings – Medium
• Improv Nachos – Tortilla chips topped with ancho-chicken, roasted peppers, garlic lime grilled chicken, sweet corn, cheese sauce, cheddar cheese, sour cream, pico de gallo, jalapenos and scallions
• Spinach Dip – four cheese with tortilla chips
• Spicy Memphis Burger
• Buckhead Burger
• Grilled Lamb Pops – lamb chops, blackberry balsamic reduction, wild mushroom polenta

You can check out the rest of the menu here.

The wings were great – I like dry wings over ones that are sopping wet in sauce and the chicken was all white and not terrifying. And don’t act like you don’t know what a terrifying chicken wing looks like. You know.

The nachos are not for the faint of heart. You can split them between two people but you’re probably better off splitting them between four or more. They’re delicious but even our table of 6 couldn’t eat it all knowing we had so much more food coming.

I would pass on the spinach dip next time around. All I could taste was spinach and no cheese…it was kind of like eating cream of spinach with tortilla chips. I wasn’t too disappointed though…like I said, there were a TON of delicious nachos still available.

My burger was great – two pork patties topped with pulled pork, coleslaw and pickles. Excessive? Maybe. Delicious? Absolutely.

My friend said he liked his Buckhead Burger and I did manage to snag a bite of the lamb. It was cooked really well – it melted in my mouth and had a great flavor.  I was surprised to find lamb done that well there. I say that because let’s be real – at any venue like this you have to wonder, what do they consider themselves first and foremost? A comedy club or a restaurant? Thankfully, Atlanta Improv decided not to pick one over the other and just do BOTH things extremely well.

In addition to what I mentioned above there are salads, wraps, sushi and other dishes that I can’t wait to come back and try!

The show:

Andy Sandford was perfect. I really needed a laugh this week and he totally delivered. Of course, I can’t speak to any past or future performers but here are some rules of thumb for Improv Atlanta and you know, life:

When they say no phones – they mean it. Don’t be a tool. 

Andy didn’t call anyone out but I did watch Jeff Ross call a woman out three times before throwing her out of his show and calling her a not so nice word. It started with a C and ended in a “WHOAAAA!”

Stand-up comedy isn’t a concert. They deserve your attention and respect. So put down the damn phone. You’re not subtle. If I can see you, the comedian can see you. With that said:

That’s why I don’t have pictures of my food. Honestly if I’m telling you it’s good food I hope you trust me and go try it for yourself! Do you really need another picture of a plate of nachos?  If I can’t convince you without pictures I’m a shitty blogger.

I really hope I’m not a shitty blogger.

Be Flexible.

I say this because I’m an uptight mess – but I learned that at any comedy club (not just this one) you need to be able to go with the flow. No, you can’t move your seat. Yes, you might get apps and entrees at the same time. And yeah, waiters are moving around you during the show. Just chill. Have a drink (I suggest the Laugh Out Loud) and enjoy!

There is a two drink minimum.

If you have a problem with this I don’t know what you’re doing at a comedy club. Go home you wet blanket! Kidding! Sort of. If you really can’t or don’t drink I’m sure there are ways around this…and by ways around this I mean ask your server if two plates of nachos can count instead 😉

Both times I have really, really enjoyed my time at Atlanta Improv. Checking their line up has now become a part of my weekend routine for sure.

Honestly, I think this would be a great first date location…or any date. Or any time. I just really like Improv Atlanta. Kudos to them for doing the comedy club/dinner experience the right way. I can’t wait to come back!

Disclaimer: I was invited to attend today’s show and have my meal comped in exchange for an honest and transparent review of my experience tonight.

How do you know I’m being honest and transparent you ask?

I was too nice up there. What I should have said was: DO NOT ORDER THE SPINACH DIP FOR REAL.

Smokebelly

Smokebelly BBQ
128 East Andrews
Atlanta, GA 30305

Ph: 404-848-9100

Hours

Sunday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday – Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Before checking out Jeff Ross at Improv Atlanta, we headed to Smokebelly BBQ to grab a couple of drinks and some food.

I guess before I go into my long winded experience here, I’ll save some of you the trouble: it was meh. 

It was good. I mean, I ate everything. My drinks were good. But there was something so fundamentally blah about everything there that just weighed funny on me.

Maybe it’s because Smokebelly is attempting to bring this idea of BBQ to a notoriously uppity part of Atlanta (whattup Buckhead) to people who no matter how Southern they claim to be would probably eat ribs with a fork and knife.

The decor? Beautiful. The entire establishment is a well thought out design meant to evoke that ever so popular hipster/rustic/but chic feeling. Yeah, you have exposed brick and wooden tables, but the tables are so new the wood is shiny to the point where you can see your reflection in the top. All the patrons were in the same sundress and all the men bought their khaki shorts at the same store. Everything about it felt cookie cutter and forced.

I ended up getting the Chopped Brisket Sandwich and a side of the Sweet Corn and Edamame Succotash, my friend got the pulled pork sandwich with a side of mac’n’cheese.

The pulled pork sandwich was dry and although the menu boasts about the BBQ sauces on your table, ours had none. We asked our waiter but he seemed to forget and at that point we were already so disappointed we didn’t feel the need to fight it.

The mac’n’cheese was lukewarm, and nothing about it seemed creamy…or enticing. It reminded me of the left over mac’n’cheese on the stove that’s congealed but you eat it anyway because you’ve drank a half a bottle of wine by yourself and anything seems appealing (or is that just me?). When I pull up a bite of mac’n’cheese I want to see that ooey-gooey cheese trail follow my fork!

For a perfect example of this, check out my pictures of the mac’n’cheese at TAP.

The brisket sandwich was okay. I enjoyed the flavor but they betrayed the one consistent pattern I’ve seen at all phenomenal BBQ joints: the brisket was smothered in BBQ sauce. Was it tasty? Err, yeah. Salty, but good. But brisket should stand on its own. Then if you want to add the BBQ sauces that were supposed to be on our table, so be it.

My sweet corn and edamame succotash was good…the first bite wasn’t the same as the last. All the oil had seeped to the bottom of the bowl, so I ended up not finishing it. I mean, don’t get me wrong – I love edamame! And I know what they’re probably doing is trying to create fun and new exciting sides for BBQ…but if you can’t get that right, then stick to a classics and give me the option for some collard greens (there’s no option for that on the menu).

Instead they had “Smokey Braised Kale” – I mean really? Can you pick a trendier food than kale?!? Just…give me collard greens!

Service was slow and disorganized. We got our food and drinks without too much of a wait, but our conversation was constantly interrupted by no less than three different servers approaching our table asking if anyone had seen us yet, did we need anything? I guess +3 points for being attentive and -5 for not having an organized section system worked out for your servers!

Our waiter, although friendly, mumbled. We asked a few times for him to speak up (we couldn’t hear him!) and he just…didn’t. And the outdoor patio was not loud at all. Then when we decided we didn’t want any starters he asked us three more times “are you sure?” Listen man, I know you’re aiming for the ideal check here, but pestering us won’t change our minds!

All in all, it wasn’t the worst experience. If you go, you’ll enjoy your food, you’ll enjoy the drink and I’m sure you’ll enjoy the people watching as much as we did. I just expected more than “it’s okay” and was disappointed.

If you want REAL BBQ there are a thousand other places you should hit up first – and you’ll need to leave Buckhead to find them.

Horseradish Grill

Horseradish Grill
4320 Powers Ferry Road NW
Atlanta, GA

Ph: 404-255-7277

 Oh, dear loyal lovely readers. It has been too long. Between unexpected health complications and emergency trips home – this entry has been embarrassingly delayed. But I couldn’t not write about the amazing experience I had at Horseradish Grill on May 6^th.  My apologies that I couldn’t share this amazing experience sooner.

 When I pulled up to the restaurant, I was a bit surprised that my first impression wasn’t “this is a barn” (as the name hints). In fact it reminded me of my grandparents house in Jamestown, Rhode Island. Nothing about it screamed “restaurant!” it simply looked like a house. A house that was hidden by beautiful, blooming and well cared for gardens.

Once I went inside and all of the Altlanta Food Blogger Society members there settled in, we were greeted by owner Steve Alterman. He thanked us all for coming and then began to describe how he runs his business – which was the smartest and least “business like” model ever. I loved it.

He treats it like it’s his home and he’s having guests over for dinner. It’s that simple really. What do you do when you’re having a dinner party?

1. You clean your house.
2. You ask your guests what their favorite foods are…what they’d like to eat that night.
3. You take the time to prepare them a meal you know they’ll love.
4. When they arrive, you greet them warmly – offer them a seat and pour them a drink.

 At this point I knew I was in for a phenomenal night.

 The Menu for the Evening:

First Course

Pimento Cheese Grit Fritter, Country Ham Aioli, Homemade B&B Pickles (Uhm…)
Fish fry and Garlic Chips, Alabama White Sauce (Excuse you?)
Fried Green Tomato, Goat Cheese, Spiced Pecans, Remoulade (So done. But don’t stop.)

Second Course

Shrimp and Grits (OMFG)

Third Course

Braised pork belly, cornmeal pancake short stake, rhubarb red onion jam (You shut your mouth when you’re talking to me…)

Fourth Course

Pan seared scallop, Carolina gold rice middlins with skillet scallions, fried Savoy cabbage with barbecue vinaigrette, black eyed “peanuts” (Is it too soon to say I love you?)

Fifth Course

Wood grilled HRG dry rubbed rib eye, parmesan fries, smoked garlic corn sauce (I think I see the light…)

Dessert Tasting

At this point I blacked out.
No I kid.

Pecan pie, chocolate cake, sweet potato crème Brule

This blog entry could go on for fifteen years. I’m still dreaming about the shrimp and grits – a mildly spicy surprise that brought 10 rambunctious and slightly buzzed (I kid. Sort of.) food bloggers to silence.

I’m still in awe over the garden that they keep in the back of the restaurant, where they grow their own herbs and vegetables that are used daily in their meals. A garden that got me SUPER SUPER homesick. It reminded me so much of my grandparents garden it hurt. It’s the highest compliment I could pay a garden, really…

As a new comer to Atlanta, I knew that Horseradish Grill had a reputation; it was a “name”. Too many times reputations turn out to be just pieces of memories– and the reality is much less impressive. Not the case here.

They have the recipe down to a T. Phenomenal service, fresh ingredients and a passion for food made right.

I can’t wait to get back over there for brunch one of these days…those grits are just calling my name.