Del Taco, Kennesaw GA

Meanwhile, back in Atlanta…

Earlier this month, Del Taco finally opened their second Atlanta-area store. Previously, you may recall, the chain, with something like 500 stores in twenty states – California home to about 320 of them – targeted Atlanta for a major expansion. They are still talking about a five-year plan that will bring sixty stores to our market, but right now that’s still a big flaming pie in the sky. They’re moving quite slowly, building on the success of their store in Snellville with a second up here in Cobb, across I-75 from Kennesaw State University. We visited on their grand opening day for my daughter to suck down helium from balloons, and to have some tacos, of course. Continue reading “Del Taco, Kennesaw GA” →

Tom’s Folly, Atlanta GA (CLOSED)

Wrapping up my recent trips to the eastern side of Howell Mill Road and the neighborhoods there, I stopped by Tom’s Folly after I noticed the restaurant, which is set up in an old bank building, and found the name charming. I didn’t know anything about the place when I opened the door, although my heart sank as I saw the “only 18 and over” sign, stepped in, nearly choked to death from the smell of old cigarettes, and made my way back outside to the front patio. Continue reading “Tom’s Folly, Atlanta GA (CLOSED)” →

Patrick’s Sub Shop, Atlanta GA

Asked what she would like to have for supper a couple of Saturdays back, Marie settled on cheesesteaks. Rather than going by our favorite place in the region – Roy’s – we decided to go hunting. It looked like there would be a good possibility at this new food truck park on Howell Mill and 75. Have you heard about this thing yet? Not having succumbed to the food truck hype, I remain skeptical. It sounds like the same thing as a mall food court to me. Continue reading “Patrick’s Sub Shop, Atlanta GA” →

Mustard Seed BBQ, Atlanta GA (CLOSED)

When a new user review at Urbanspoon reminded that Mustard Seed was one of many, many Atlanta barbecue joints still out there for me to visit, I put it on my to-do list right after a farewell trip to Harold’s, which was closing after sixty-five years. Then I decided, upon reflection, that it was really the stew that I liked most about Harold’s and elected to visit both the same afternoon. Then the staff at Harold’s, evidently choosing to let closing-time malaise infect their morning routine, unlocked the door at eleven without actually having any stew ready. I only visited that restaurant once – it was the last “new” barbecue place that I enjoyed together with my dad – and couldn’t contribute to the overwhelming community sense that the old place had been falling apart in disappointment and lost opportunities for many years, but it was hard to leave that place without shaking my head and thinking that the nay-sayers might have a point. Continue reading “Mustard Seed BBQ, Atlanta GA (CLOSED)” →

Hankook Taqueria, Atlanta GA

Oh, my. I finally made a lunchtime trip over to Hankook and I’m hopeful that it won’t be the last time. This is, honestly, getting ridiculous, trying to balance all the wonderful new places that we have found over the last couple of years that we would like to revisit while also looking for brand-new-to-us joints on which we may report. Continue reading “Hankook Taqueria, Atlanta GA” →

Cobb County Creole

2012 has actually been a pretty eventful year for Cajun and Creole cooking in Cobb County, with one new restaurant, one closure, and one reopening. Perhaps the first four months of every year are like this, and I only just happened to be paying attention this time out, but it seemed unusual to me. Continue reading “Cobb County Creole” →

The Starlight Cafe, Marietta GA (CLOSED)

Growing up, I remember a restaurant on the Marietta Square called Jimmy the Greek. At the time, I was aware that CBS Sports had a commentator who went by that name. It’s not like ten or eleven year-olds pay that much attention to who provides commentary and picks before the games or the fights, but Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder (born, according to Wikipedia, Dimetrios Georgios Synodinos in Steubenville, Ohio in 1918) was so well-known that, like his peer at ABC, Howard Cosell, he was parodied on many of the sitcoms, variety shows and Saturday morning programs that I watched as a kid. And, as a kid, using child-logic, I concluded that the real Jimmy the Greek must have not only owned the restaurant by that name in Marietta, but also greeted guests and cooked all the food. I vaguely recall being disappointed to learn that was not the case. I really wanted to meet another celebrity. By the age of eleven, I think the only celebrities that I had ever met were behind tables at car shows. Continue reading “The Starlight Cafe, Marietta GA (CLOSED)” →