The low lighting, loft-like space, modern Oriental decor, house music blaring through the speakers along with the varied menu secures this spot’s reputation as the go-to for modern Asian cuisine in Atlanta.

Aja has more than one dollar signs to represent the price point, but there are some great bargains on the menu. The $5 noodle bowl is a great way to dine on the cheap. A small order of chicken fried rice to-go may or may not have saved my life when i was in a pinch last year. And the Vietnamese summer roll can hit the spot for a midday nosh as well.

But never forget that you are in Buckhead, so ordering more than one thing can definitely add up. Especially when you throw in cocktails. The drink menu doesn’t excite me, but the bartenders are pretty good. So a cocktail is usually in order when i dine there.

A reservation is likely only needed for dinner during peak hours. But the bar area is much bigger than most places, so you can easily relax there while you wait. I hope to see you there soon. Let me know what you loved.

Crab Macaroni and collards

I’ve been here a several times. In each visit, I’ve had something good and something bad. So I guess that’s what has shaped my opinion of P’Cheen: Hit or Miss. There are some AMAZING dishes, but there are some that I was angry for trying.

There are two things that P’Cheen offers that must be tried: (1) The moonshine. I’m a southern girl, so moonshine was a fairly frequent topic amongst certain family members. I tried a homemade batch many moons ago and nearly cried. But today, they are smoother with the same strength and better flavors. The Apple Pie does not disappoint. (2) The crab mac n cheese. Yup, if you read this blog, you already know how serious I am about my macaroni! And here, P’cheen’s Chef Alex Friedman delivers.

Just as a side note: the specials can be a bit sketchy or maybe they are just never my thing. So I stick with what I believe in now: The wings, macaroni, brussel sprouts and moonshine.

The spot is pretty small so make a reservation for Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as for Sunday brunch. I’ve never checked out the lounge evenings with the DJ or live music, but I imagine its pretty cool. I enjoy the atmosphere. So even if you aren’t there for a meal, you can enjoy yourself.

I know you think I love everything (and in truth I probably do love a lot of restaurants). So, okay, maybe I really like Pollo Tropical. Grilled chicken, black beans, rice and plantains…Who’s not down for that? This caribbean-latin spot has some popular caribbean dishes  and a few originals like the “tropi-chop”, a bowl of rice, beans, meat, tomatoes and more.

If you’re ever in the cumberland mall area and looking for something fast, tasty and inexpensive, stop by the Pollo. You might be pleasantly surprised by fast food. They also cater!

For years, I’d passed this place until a fellow lusophone asked me to meet her there for lunch, mad men style. After tasting my first Iberian Old Fashioned, I was intrigued. And then I discovered the best charcuterie in Atlanta, hooked. Spanish potatoes, pork cheek, calamari, scallops, etc. My mouth waters just thinking about it. Minha Tia Rosana tells me that all the meat, cheese and wine will make me “a gordinha“, but it doesn’t cross my mind in the moment. It all tastes so good.

Of everything I’ve eaten there, my favorite things would have to be the lamb ribs and the churros. The lamb ribs have a sticky, sweet and savory sauce that has me scraping the plate and licking my fingers on the sly. No matter what I start with, the ribs call my name! DINEWITHDANI SAYS they are the BEST LAMB RIBS IN ATLANTA. And the churros are so light and sweet, they melt in your mouth! They are the perfect way to end a meal.

Be sure to make a reservation if you’re going during peak hours. Thursday through Saturday dinner hours are crazy. Without one you could be in for an hour plus wait. The bar area is teeny tiny so you shouldn’t expect to hang out there during that time. During warm weather, there is limited outdoor seating.

I heart Iberian Pig. I hope you will too. I’m there probably every two months at least. I like to mix it up!

BF’s first fried green tomato!

I have been to South City Kitchen more times than I can count, but I hadn’t thought to blog about it until I realized how many people I know had NOT been.  South City Kitchen is exactly what the name implies. You can expect southern dishes with an urban edge. Nothing is exactly the way your grandmother makes it: the fried green tomatoes are stuffed with goat cheese and the crab cakes are served with a blood orange cream.

Entrees start at $17 and are usually worth it. I don’t mean to imply that the portions are huge, only that the food is good.

My most recent visit was for bff’s birthday. The food was fantastic, but the drinks were super small. We had a few chuckles about the half-empty martini glasses. Other than than, we spent the entire meal tasting each other’s food. On one visit, I was particularly jealous of my friend’s scallops. This time I didn’t make the mistake of not ordering them. My scallop dish was modified for the winter with seasonal ingredients, but it was JUST as good as the summer version. I also ordered the crab and mushroom macaroni and cheese as well– YUMMY.

The menu is usually updated with seasonal ingredients– so the chef’s special is usually a good look. But there are a few regular dishes that I recommend.

1. She-Crab Soup– its a great way to start any meal at South City Kitchen (PS– DineWithDani declares it the BEST SHE-CRAB SOUP in Atlanta),
2. Fried Green Tomatoes– this a great starter to share with a party,
3. Buttermilk Fried Chicken– you’ll see why it is their most popular dish,
4. Shrimp & Grits– a tasty southern classic that not everyone gets right– they do(!),
5. Veg-o-Matic (sauteed collards, crab macaroni, baby yams)– you can’t go wrong!

Check-in on foursquare or mention them on Twitter and you’ll likely get a shout out from @Fifthgrouper

Whatever your reason for hanging out in a coffee shop, Dancing Goats Decatur can accommodate. With comfy sofas at the front for relaxation and reading (great natural light), large tables at the back for working and meeting (free wi-fi), and even outdoor seating for quick stops when walking the kids and dog (there’s a water bowl).

I not only love the environment, but of course the java! I had the pleasure of visiting their roastery in West Midtown off Chattahoochee Ave. I could pretend to be an expert on coffee roasting now, but instead I’ll just tell you that flavor comes from roasting. And this spot gets it right. Of course you can buy the beans and the grinds at the coffee shop. (PS- the decaf is created through the Swiss Water Process).

Anything you can get at your local starbucks (who i also adore and where I hold a gold card membership) can be made at Dancing Goats and most of them are better (sorry starbucks). My favorites include:

1. Evergreen Orange– espresso infused with orange, rosemary and thyme (BEYOND YUMMY),
2. Iced Hazelnut Latte– iced lattes come in one size
3. cafe au lait– i don’t know what they do differently, but it tastes AMAZING!

There are other locations (mostly in Washington), which I intend to visit. Check out which ever is closest to you!

“Happy Birthday to ME” — a lovely birthday surprise from my awesome team at the 9-5.

There is a lot of hype surrounding the Camicake. I was so pleased when I was surprised by my team with an assorted box. Camicakes is the perfect choice for childrens’ parties, holidays, birthdays, babyshowers and more.

I never really thought of myself as a cupcake person, but how can you not be? Handheld cake decorate so beautifully can only do one thing: make you smile. Mind, they probably have a days caloric intake per bite, but its totally worth it!

Okay, on to the favorites:

My senior colleagues RAVE about the red velvet cake. I’m rarely a champion for anything red velvet– and this is no exception. While it is moist (unlike most restaurant versions) it doesn’t make me do a happy dance.

The Lemon Meringue is a tasty option if you like a light lemon poundcake. The Bananas Foster is a delicious choice for anyone who loves banana cream– I wasn’t quite sold that it was bananas foster. The Raspberry Chocolate is a delight; the almonds add so much to such a simple flavor. I think I love anything strawberry- so I’m not even going to get into how much I gravitate toward it. The Cotton Candy flavor was a pleasant surprise that took me back to a carnival or theme park; the sugar on top is just perfection. The Salted Caramel was fantastic. Not as pretty as the others, but there again I probably should rate anything that is caramel flavored because it will get a rave.

I have to say that the best thing about Camicakes is the icing. Its pretty and colorful and full of flavor. I’m not quite sold that the cake in the cupcakes are the greatest thing since cake, but how can you complain when they are moist, sweet and perfectly topped. There is another purveyor of cupcakes that I may have to write about, but for now: If this is your cupcake provider of choice- you aren’t doing too bad.

I’m looking forward to visiting for an after-work meal! Something that good should not be rushed.

Shout out to @AleSharpton who appears in the video below courtesy of ATLeats.

I thought I took a picture… sad face for my absent mindedness… next time!

What I haven’t mentioned is that I used to work in the building that is NOW the site of the restaurant. I can’t wait to visit and see how different it looks and feels for myself.  Of course more pictures will be taken.