Monday, March 17, 2014

More Local Yummy Eats Under $10-15

To review, if a place is locally-owned, makes its food from scratch, uses whole/unprocessed ingredients, which are when at all possible locally grown - I am there!

Check out the first segment in Local Yummy Eats and then pop in to some of these other local jewels.

Multiple Locations
Farm Burger (Burgers, salads, fries, surprise!) - Farm Burger bases its menu on seasonal ingredients, sourcing grassfed beef and heritage pastured pork from its Athens farm. In keeping with its vision to support local farmers and ranchers, its vegetables and cheeses come from over a dozen Georgia farms. Where? Dunwoody, Buckhead, Decatur
Try...the #2 Veggie Quinoa Burger with marinated beets and garlic aioli, the #1 Farm Burger with aged cheddar, caramelized onions, FB sauce, the $10 Daily Combo which includes burger, fries and drink, the butternut squash tots
Brookhaven
Brookhaven Bistro (Vegetarian, Sandwich, Soup, Salad) - Yummy locally owned joint where the focus is on healthy eats, made from scratch. Where? 4274 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, 30319 (located behind Nuts 'N Berries)
Brookhaven Bistro's Takeout Section, credit Atlanta 365

Try...black beans and rice with chili-lime grilled chicken and the grilled eggplant salad (delicious!).
La Rumba 2 (Mexican/Brunch) - It surely does look like the wild nightclub it is, but it's worth overlooking the dark interior for the authentic Mexican dishes that are served during buffet lunch and brunch. Where? 4300 Buford Highway (inside Liberty Plaza), Atlanta, 30345 
Try...the cheese enchiladas, guacamole with a kick, freshly made quesadillas, soups over rice, and homemade juices from fruits like passionfruit and watermelon.

Buckhead (also see Farm Burger listed above)
Cafe Jonah (Soups, Salads, Sandwiches) - Thank goodness Souper Jenny's creative foodie energy just keeps growing. Around the corner from her first soup/salad/sandwich joint, she has opened this delicious morsel, with the same attention to freshly whipped up deliciousness, and a seasonal menu that changes daily. Where? 3188 Paces Ferry Place, Buckhead, 30305
Try...the "Pay What You Think It's Worth" Sunday Brunch, where you get a token to vote to which local charity 10% of daily sales should go. 

Chamblee
Oriental Pearl (Chinese/Dim Sum) - Considered by many dim sum aficionados to be one of the most authentic experiences in Atlanta. Where? 5399 New Peachtree Road, Chamblee, 30341
Try...the five mushroom with tofu (off the Chinese language menu), family size wonton soup, sauteed Chinese broccoli, various dim sum including the homemade tofu with sweet ginger sauce.

Decatur
(also see Farm Burger listed above)
Community BBQ  - The menu is cooked fresh here every day, and includes seasonal, locally-sourced sides, as well as locally grown produce available for purchase. Where? 1361 Clairmont Road, Decatur, 30033

Community BBQ as photographed by Creative Loafing
Try...the mac n cheese, the St. Louis Style ribs, sweet potato w/kale, and baked beans.
Nectar (Paninis/Salads/Soups/Smoothies) - This family-run cafe (and food truck) makes all-fruit smoothies and uses organic veggies in its paninis. Where? 1365 Clairmont Road, Decatur, 30033


Dunwoody (also see Farm Burger listed above)
Gyro Gyro (Greek) - Owner Pete grew up eating and cooking Greek cuisine, and now  serves up generous portions of tasty Greek dishes. The menu includes traditional gyros and Greek salads, but also stretches to include some American sandwich favorites. Where? 5000 Winters Chapel Road #6, Atlanta, 30360
Try...the Lunch plate specials for $7.95, homemade spanakopita, eggplant fries (YUM!), souvlaki (grilled pork loin), rice pilaf plates, and $.50 freshly made tzatziki.

Doraville
I Luv Phở #3 (Vietnamese) - According to their website, they emphasize organic and fresh ingredients. With a phở broth that is not greasy like some can be, those delicious straw mushrooms, and very generous portions (the extra large could serve four), this is our new go-to for Vietnamese. Where? 5145 Buford Highway, Doraville, 30340 

Try...the  Phở Tái (with Beef Filet Mignon) or Phở Chay (Vegetarian), hot tea.

Tempo Doeloe (Indonesian) - Family-owned, Temo Doeloe is an authentic Indonesian restaurant with a small, low frills dining area. Order off the menu, use the flipbook of pictures to find a dish that appeals to you, or choose from the chafing dishes with the day's meat and veggie choices. Where?  5090 Buford Highway, Doraville, 30340
Try...the $6.49 three-item combo (beef renang is a delicious slow-cooked brisket with a kick), which includes a generous helping of rice; for an extra $3, the coconut rice (fragrant!)

Woo Nam Jeong Stone Bowl House (Korean) - A traditional variety of tiny plates of cooked and pickled veggies -- called "banchan" -- come with the meal to make this a fun tasting experience. Their acclaimed rice bowls, called "bibimbap," are served in hot stone bowls to allow the rice to crisp around the edges. Where? 5953 Buford Highway, Atlanta, 30340

Try...the mushroom bibimbap, hot corn tea.

Grant Park/Reynoldstown
Home Grown (Southern, Brunch) - This yummy place with a veggie garden out back is on a mission to combine locally grown produce and healthy made-from-scratch cooking with low prices. And they succeed! Love the weekend music (what is that, an electric xylophone?) and thrift shop in the back of the store. Check their Facebook page for daily menu updates. Where? 968 Memorial Drive, Reynoldstown, 30316 
Try...the cheese grits, fried green tomatoes with horseradish sauce, "blue collar lunch plate” with a side, cornbread and a drink for $8.
The Little Tart Bakeshop (Soup, Salad, Sandwich, Pastries) - The Little Tart Bakeshop is a French-inspired pastry shop where they believe in making everything from scratch, by hand, sourced from local cheese mongers, butchers, and jam makers. After 11 am, savory items are sold with local salads for sides. Where? In addition to several farmers markets (see their website for details), they share space with Octane Coffee, 437 Memorial Drive, Grant Park, 30312 

(also see Caribbean Fiesta listed above)Ria's Bluebird Cafe (Brunch) - One of the freshest, made-from-scratch yummy brunch joints around, with a rightful claim to some of the best pancakes out there. Where?  421 Memorial Drive, Grant Park, 30312

Try...the weekend-only pancake special, the house-toasted-oats hot cereal, the Bionic Breakfast, and vegan frittata.

Sandy Springs 
Aladdin's Mediterranean Grill - This is quality, authentic Mediterranean food in a casual atmosphere at great prices. Where? 8725 Roswell Road, Atlanta, 30350
Try...the Vegetarian Delight which includes grape leaves, hummus, baba ghanouj, falafel and tabouleh for $11.95.