Jew here-
OK, OK, I see you are craving for some fooooood.
While traveling throughout Houston, I've been saving my dough for the big kahuna of ATL - Bachanalia. As many of you may already know, this is one of, if not the best restaurant in ATL. I believe most (if not all) of the food is organic and most of it comes from Clifford Harrison and Anne Quatrano's (executive chef's) personal farm.
A friend and I had reservations for 6:15 on a Saturday night (via Open Table-only 100 points, but still 100 points is a 100 points towards FREE food). I was fortunate enough to score a $100 gift certificate for a birthday gift which I quickly put to good use. We arrived shortly before reservation time and were brought to our table. Unfortunately, it was next to another table, which is a major pet peeve of mine. The restaurant half empty, seats you next to another. Fortunately, we were seated at a 4 top which left ample room between the tables. Phew...
We both started w/a Hanger One martini straight up w/olives. I love restaurants that serve Hanger One-great US vodka and perfect w/martinis. Precis (from Sweden) is another great vodka, but is slowly fading away from the ATL market. Red hooked me into Fris-another great vodka. We tasted the martinis-way too sweet. We noticed that the table next to us ordered a sweet martini and maybe the shaker wasn't cleaned out enough? Let us be the first to send top shelf martinis back at the top restaurant in ATL. The server didn't flinch-it was no big deal. The replacements were perfect.
Shortly after the arrival of the replacement martinis, we were presented "compliments of the kitchen" - a fried gruyere cheese puff-delicious and FREE.
The 4 course prix-fix menu is $72 or $115 including wine tasting. I chose the $115 wine tasting while my friend ordered an excellent 1/2 bottle of Syrah which I admit sipping from many times wishing we ordered a bottle of wine instead.
The 4 courses include appetizer, main course, salad/cheese, and dessert. Appetizer choices included oysters (no, not the kind you get from Barnacles-these were topped w/Oestra caviar), Quail, Gnocchi, Kobe Bresaola, Foie Gras (for Red), Sweetbreads (for John), etc. I opted for the Corn Risotto w/Sweet Butter Poached Lobster and Lobster Mushrooms. The wine pairing was Soave Classico from Veneto. I can't go into details on the risotto, since we are on a PG rated blog. Let's just say, I would've gone back for more and more. It was light w/lots of lobster and if you've never had lobster mushrooms-go try some. The wine was a nice pairing. My friend chose the Gulf Crab Fritter w/Thai Pepper Essence-another good start. I've had it before and obviously it's popular because it remains on the menu. No "filler" to be found.
Next up, another FREE intermezzo - a small cup of cream of cauliflower soup w/curried wild mushroom - another X-rated description which I can't mention. I could've had a bowl of that and been done. My friend doesn't even like cauliflower, nor curry and loved it. What a nice touch.
Time for the main course - even though there are 7 or 8 options, you can always find something. I couldn't make up my mind for the longest time. Finally, since I had the risotto, I chose something lighter (why I don't know-call me stupid). I chose the Florida Hog Snapper w/Hakurei Turnips and Greens, Warm Radish and Matsutake Mushrooms - nice, light, airy and delicious. I also wanted the Spaghetti Squash Ravioli w/Maple Braised Butternut Squash and the Lamb Loin w/ Japanese Eggplant and Spaghetti Squash. Obviously, squash is in season - one of my favorites! A sauvignon blanc from Loire Valley (Franch) was the pairing which was OK. My friend had the Wood Grilled Dry Aged Ribeye ($10 supplement) w/roasted potatoes, carmelized vidalia onion and marrow butter - it had a nice smoky flavor and was very delicious and tender, and a very BIG piece of meat.
After the main course, another FREE gift - an airy light orange piece of cake. It was a nice palate cleanser. Next up, was the "cheese and contrast". I chose the Sweet Grass Dairy Fresh Goat Milk cheese with roasted, macerated, raw and sorbet of local beets. The beets were stacked up like pancakes w/goat cheese in between. The beet sorbet was on the side-awesome! It cam w/a pinot noir rose which was pretty good. My friend chose the other dish that I wanted-Ossau Iraty, nickel filet beans, hazelnuts, house cured bacon w/hazelnut vinagrette - light and delicious w/lots of flavor. For a $10 supplement, you could order the Star Provisions cheese plate - you can never go wrong here.
Finally (I was stuffed by now)-dessert. We both had the long-running menu choice (it has been on the menu for quite some time) of Warm Valrhona Chocolate Cake w/mint ice cream. It melts in your mouth. We also ordered coffee-not ordinary coffee - Bratdorf and Bronson (check my spelling) coffee served in a french press - Starbucks who? Watch out, here comes some more FREE sweets on its way. A couple of marshmallow cubes, fudge w/nuts cubes and fig pastry cubes. Yummy!
We wallowed out feeling pleasantly plump. The food, service and everything else was well worth the cost. We NEVER felt rushed. So many of these up and coming, places to be seen restaurants would rather turn tables than provide you with a true dining experience. This is the perfect dining experience, one in which you will never forget and you won't resent spending the money-coming from a Jew-it's definately worth the value and experience. And, if you dine on Saturday night, you may also get another pleasant surprise - go and find out.
5 out of 5 menorahs (great service, great rebound for replacement martini, great food and the final surprise!).
Thanks for the excellent review. Very detailed. Can almost see what you're talking about. But, taking digital photos and posting them would be even better.
Now if your cohort will just get on the stick and post one ...
Posted by: Placated | October 08, 2007 at 12:35 PM
The food is always great there. I wish I could have joined you. I want to know what the suprise is on Saturday's!
Posted by: Red | October 08, 2007 at 07:34 PM
Red,
If you want me to tell you the Saturday surprise, you'll have to pay me. We all know that won't happen - go check it out!
Posted by: S | October 14, 2007 at 08:22 PM