Name: Southern Art & Bourbon Bar

Menu: http://www.southernart.com/southern_art_dinner_menu2.html

As part of ATL Bite Life's Soul Food Month, I've been on a quest to discover some of the hidden soul food gems in the city.  Funny thing about looking for "hidden" restaurants though.  They're never actually hidden.  You just don't know about them.  Case and point, Southern Art & Bourbon Bar.

Interestingly enough, I'd been meaning to stop by this place for quite some time.  I've actually mentioned Southern Art on this site a couple times.  Once during Hotel Restaurant Week (it's attached to the Intercontinental Hotel) and once again back in February while it was one of the featured restaurants during Buckhead Restaurant Week.  It was really just a matter of time before we stopped in.  But then the perfect storm happened.  Soul Food Month met a 50% off deal from Scoutmob.  Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!!  And chicken is exactly what I had. 

Southern Art's main dining room

Let's take it from the top.  After parking in the main hotel deck and walking thru the gorgeous hotel lobby, I found my way over to the main entrance of the restaurant.  Situated approximately 10 feet from a seemingly out of place ham counter (yes, a deli counter with pig carcasses hanging from the ceiling) was a pleasant hostess waiting to seat me.  She pulled the curtain back to reveal a sprawling dining room and then guided me to my seat.

These paintings were hanging from the ceiling of the restaurant

The first thing that caught my eye was the kinda anitquey yet contemporary vibe of the restaurant.  It was an understated fancy if that makes any sense.  It wasn't overly impressed but it had an expensive "feel" that made me take notice.  Also, there were these huge, colorful paintings hanging from the ceiling.  There was one beautiful portrait of the Fox Theater that really caught my eye (see above).

Cheddar biscuits with pickled vegetables

But, I didn't come to see no art.  I came to eat.  Much to my surprise, my table was greeted with some hot cheddar biscuits.  My first thought - this is very Red Lobster-ish.  Lol.  However, the pickled vegetables in a jar that came with the biscuits fancied it right up.  Have you ever had cauliflower and carrots preserved in a jar of vinegar??  Yeah, me either.  It tasted exactly like you'd think.  Pass.  But, those biscuits were INCREDIBLE!!!

Buttermilk Fried Chicken over mashed potatoes - $22

Then came the main entrees.  First up - the Buttermilk Fried Chicken (half a chicken - a thigh, breast, and a wing).  It was served over mashed potatoes with green beans and a few other veggies mixed in.  Delicious!!!  Very well seasoned, very juicy, very sizable portion.  My African-American side came out as I attempted to ask my server for a breast and two wings like I was at Popeyes but I dialed it back to in accordance with where I was.  Lol.  This was extremely tasty though.  I even had some left over for the next day.  Super win!!!

Cornmeal Dusted Catfish - $21

Entree #2 - the Cornmeal Dusted Catfish.  Let me admit, first, I'm not a huge catfish eater.  I like it but it's rarely my first choice on a given day.  I got it purely to keep within our Soul Food theme.  But, I will say this - the Catfish was really good!!!  It was draped over a very similar mix of potatoes and veggies and topped with bacon.  Not bad at all.  I guess my only negative would be that it was only ONE piece of fish.  It wasn't filling to me but maybe, perhaps for a female, it would hit the spot.  I did like it though.

Overall, I really enjoyed Southern Art and I think you will too.  The food was good, the portions were decent, and the ambiance was perfect for date night.   The only downside that I see, in particular for my urban audience, is the price and the portions.  We all know that we could go get chicken and fish and vegetables from any soul food spot in the hood for $7 or $8.  And, while Southern Art does not promote itself as a "soul food" restaurant, the touting of its' southern cuisine makes the comparisons a little easier to make.

Either way, I say grab your girl and head on over and check it out.  If it's good enough for Oprah, it's probably good enough for you.

Til we eat again!

Name: Woody's Famous Philadelphia Cheesesteaks

Menu: N/A

After months of hearing about this place, riding by it, and then finally seeing it pop up on Scoutmob, I decided to pop into Woody's Famous Philadelphia Cheesesteaks yesterday and check it out.  SOOOOOOO glad I did.  The service was fast and courteous and that sandwich was was one of the best I'd ever had!!!

Places like these are what prompted us to create ATL Bite Life.  Small mom & pop shops nestled in cool metro neighborhoods serving incredible food.  Woody's has quite a few things working in its' favor.  First, it sits right on a busy Monroe Dr in between 9th and 10th St in full view of traffic.  Piedmont Park is a hop, skip, and a jump away as well as Midtown Art Cinema and Grady High School.  The other plus is that it stays open til midnight Sunday thru Thursday.  Then, on the weekend, the place is open until 4am.  All my Bite Lifers who are part of #TeamNoSleep or who just want to avoid Krystals or Waffle House after the club, THIS is the place to go!!!

The inside of Woody's is fairly small.  It almost puts in the mind of Ann's Snack Bar in terms of size.  But, have no fear.  There's a little more elbow room than Ann's with what I remember to be around 8 old-school vinyl booths.  There's also a decent sized covered patio that allows for more seating. The biggest plus is that there's no old lady fussing at you to step outside or to get off the phone.  Even with a reasonable line of people inside, the 3-person staff was cool, helpful, patient, and fast.  I may have waited about 7 minutes for my food to come out piping hot.

But, it's not the size of the building or the patio or even the service that's gonna bring me back to Woody's.  I'm coming back for the cheesesteaks!!!  Now, I usually get my cheesesteaks from Publix.  I think I've been very clear on my stance that Publix has the best sandwiches around.  However, I know that many people have pointed out that the bread there can be harder than you'd normally prefer.  THIS is what makes Woody's version my new hands down favorite. 

The bread for their cheesesteak is soft and fluffy like it was prepared in the finest bakery.  But, it didn't crumble or fall apart under the weight of the meat and toppings of the sandwich.  And, believe me, I tested it.  I asked that my sandwich be dressed down with EVERYTHING minus lettuce and tomato.  I had mushrooms, banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, light mayo, and it already came with a filling amount of meat and cheese.  INCREDIBLE!!!  It was so good without being ridiculously greasy as you know cheesesteaks tend to be. 

Honestly, the only downside that I could find with Woody's is that busy location.  The traffic getting over to Woody's, especially on a weekend, could potentially make you say "F it" and just grab something else perhaps on Ponce.  And, as with anything in the downtown/midtown area, the parking situation isn't great.  On my count, I only saw 8 spaces and 2 of those were marked for handicapped persons.

Either way, if you're willing to brave Atlanta's stop and go and then potentially park down the street, the Philly cheesesteak at Woody's is WELL WORTH IT!!!  Add some chips and a drink to it and then couple it with your Scoutmob discount and you'll REALLY feel like you got over.  I know I'll be back and I'm hoping I run into some of our Lifers too.

Til we eat again!

This almost too much!  2 articles in just a few days.  Had I known this would happen, I would have prepared a speech.  Lol.  

Those wonderful people over at my favorite Android app - Scoutmob - asked me to pair some of the music events that are coming to the ATL with some cool restaurants around town.  That was nothing!  I do that all the time.  I'm just still amazed at how far ATL Bite Life has come.  Thank you to all the Lifers out there who have told people about us, retweeted a link to a post, shared a food pic on Facebook, or come to one of our events!  Keep living the Bite Life with us!!!

Click here to check out the full write up.

Xtra special shouts out to Lilly for the look!

Happy Eating!

(the Authentic Cuban Sandwich)

Today's post is pretty cut and dry.  If you aren't subscribed to these 3 sites above, you're already losing (money, that is).  How do you think your boy gets out and eats good on a regular basis so he can report back to you??  I save 25-75% off of my meals because of these sites.  Go ahead and sign up now!!!

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Happy Eating