Oak and Embers Tavern

We stopped by on Saturday and they told us the wait to order food would be over an hour because they were very crowded. We asked a couple what they thought of the place and they raved about it so we made it a point to come back the next day.

The Next Day...
Jessica took care of us... and she is awesome. We explained that it was our first time visiting to she ran down the list of favorites, the items that she served the most and when she didn't know an answer to our questions, she didn't hesitate to go get the correct answer. I am a sucker for good customer service and Jessica was off to a good start.

We started with some appetizers, the crab cakes and the BLT Deviled Eggs.  The Crab Cakes were amazing and what really set it off was that corn salsa that came with it.  Now if you like deviled eggs then you ain't really had no devil eggs until you've tried these. Man and that dayum spicy bourbon bacon jam.... GOOD LAWD!

For our food, we had the Smoked Salmon Wraps, 1/2 Rack of Baby Back Ribs and Burnt Ends.

I didn't taste the Smoked Salmon so I can't honestly speak on that but the baby back ribs were on point. BUT DEM DERE  BURNT ENDS.... LAWD HAB MERCY!!!!! They were indescribable and they have to nerve to toss them bad boys in Bourbon BBQ Sauce. I wanted to lick that skillet so badly.

You all should certainly check them out and If you do, tell'em Drew sent ya!
Y'all be Easy!
Drew

Nacho Daddy

My girlfriend and I had been hearing about this place so we decided to stop in and grab a bite to eat. You know we went to my favorite spot in any establishment and that's the bar. There we met Victoria AWESOME doesn't even describe the service she provided.

When we sat down the area where we were seated was pretty dirty as I assume a patron had just gotten up. Victoria apologized and immediately started cleaning and making us feel welcomed. We told Victoria it was our first time visiting and she recommended a few items. My girlfriend started out with a White Peach Margarita and I got the Daddy's Margarita.

The White Peach Margarita is awesome but it tastes better with a shot of Hennessy. For our meals, my girlfriend got an enchilada with rice and beans. I went with the Supreme Tostada Nacho.

The enchilada was good but that Supreme Nacho will make you slap yo momma! If you like spice then go with the Supreme Nachos. I was also told that they have a scorpion shot so I will be back to try that for my birthday since that's my zodiac sign. Overall, this place is excellent. The staff was friendly. A great atmosphere and the food was excellent. You all should certainly stop by and see them. Ask for Victoria if you sit and the bar. And of course tell them Drew Sent ya! Y'all be Easy! Drew

Frankie’s The Steakhouse

So since I'm having withdrawals from dining out and enjoying the company of others I figured I would finally review some of my food photos and I came across these. It reminded me of the fantastic time my family and I came here for my birthday.  

Full disclosure I didn't know we were going here so when I got out of the car, I really wasn't paying attention to the sign because the front of the building looks like an office building... well it is an office building with Frankie's being upstairs.  
When we entered, I felt like royalty. Very clean, very established and great directional signs to get you to Frankie's.

Once we entered the establishment I was overwhelmed by ALL OF THE STAFF greeting us and welcoming us to the establishment.  
They immediately took us to our seats, explained how they do business and we were off.  
We got several appetizers, Fritto Misto, lollipop lamb chops, Jumbo lump crab cake and a Caprese

Salad. I apologize for not having pictures of the lamb chops and the fritto misto as we devoured it before I could get my camera out.  For the main dish I had the "Bone in Ribeye" and my girlfriend had "Jumbo Sea Scallops!"  

If you have read my post before you know I sampled everything. The scallops were amazing. They came over a bed of linguine, artichokes and lemon butter.  I had to control myself as I didn't want to eat all of my girlfriend's food.

As for my "Bone in Ribeye" GOOD GOOGLY MOOGLY! That thang there! It was cooked to perfection. Kudos to the chef.  The seasons were resonating from the plate and the Béarnaise Sauce complimented the meat and the asparagus.  

The experience was over the top and we are just itching to go back when this COVID-19 pandemic is over. It's one of the first places we can't wait to revisit.
You all should certainly stop by and if you do, tell'em Drew sent ya!
Y'all be Easy!
Drew

Urban Farmer

Had to travel to Cleveland for some family business and due to some frustrations and other issues we did not eat dinner the night before.  Add to that we were extremely tired so Urban Farmer was perfect because it is attached to the Westin Hotel which is where we are staying...(I may review that later...) and I certainly did not feel like driving!

The establishment is very nice and has a large open atmosphere. The staff was nice and very friendly. But I will admit I wasn't as talkative as I usually am due to the lack of rest and my "HANGRY" attitude!

There is a two team approach to the seating and service which is very nice. The waitress sat us down and took our drink orders and the waiter took our food order. The good thing about the two team approach was it sped up things especially when it was time to order another drink. The waitress kept the table clean and ensured we had enough drink refills and libations which was then brought out by the waiter.... a very nice touch !  I know I'm not the only person who was served by one person that is working multiple tables so not only do you have to wait for the waiter/waitress to take the order then the return to bring the food.

Now on to the food.....

We got the "Build your own Bloody Mary Bar," "Bubbly Bar," "Farm Eggs Any Style" and "Grilled Flat Iron Steak & Eggs!"  

Don't judge me but yes I tried everything and I was being greedy because I was hungry. EVERYTHING was excellent, YES EVERYTHING!  Don't think just because I'm was hungry that I'm not critical of my food. Being a son of a chef makes me very critical when it comes to food and I always speak my mind. But I'm the case of Urban Farmer, the service and food was excellent so compliments to the chef!

The Build your own Bloody Mary Bar was amazing. I'm sorry I don't have a picture of the final product of the Bloody Mary because I was so excited about the bar that I forgot to take picture before I indulged. The bubbly bar is amazing as well. In either case...the waiter brings your alcohol of choice in a small carafe and you make the drink yourself. This is awesome because you can make the drink as strong as you like.

The Farm Eggs were great but they serve this "Breakfast Sausage that you can choose as your protein and OH MY GOODNESS!!! This sausage will make you slap yo momma!  

The Flat Iron Steak was truly something else!  It was cooked medium, seasoned like you wouldn't believe and very tender. Not all chefs can get the temperature of a steak perfectly but this one was ON POINT!  Add to that the food came out very quickly, was hot and certainly enjoyable.

If you are ever in Cleveland I highly encourage you to patronize Urban Farmer!!! YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED!

If you do stop by... tell em Drew sent ya!
Y'all be Easy!

Goose & Gander

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I was initially frustrated when entering Goose & Gander. However, first impressions are lasting ones. My girlfriend and I entered this establishment right as they opened and when we walked in the manager (I think) told us they were not open but there were people already sitting down. Now it could have been a private party but I will say, we did not look like anybody else in the restaurant. So I am not sure if the manager or whomever greeted us was shocked that we were there, got caught off guard or what but when I said "excuse me" and pointed at other patrons sitting down with water at the tables, he then said oh did you have a reservation. I said I did not realize I had to make a reservation and started walking out of the establishment. He then offered seating at the bar downstairs.

We decided to not make a big deal out of the situation and took the offer because it was a highly recommended restaurant and we were starving.

Once we got downstairs the bartender (sorry I cannot remember her name) was phenomenal. We told her it was our first time in St. Helena and Goose and Gander. She immediately welcomed us and made several suggestions from the menu. She also made my girlfriend a special drink based on us describing what happened to us when we first arrived.

We went with the Martini House Mushroom Soup and the Pub Fish & Chips with Duck Fat Fries. Yes the fries were cooked in Duck Fat.

The food was amazing especially the fish and chips. I was skeptical about the duck fat fries but they were actually pretty good.

I cant get over how nice the bartender was to us and for that reason if we are every in St. Helena again we will possibly stop in again.

Vino Volo

If you are ever in Cleveland on the "B" Concourse adjacent to B2...this place is on point! You should certainly stop by and see them. It had been a long day and our flight was a little delayed due to the weather. We had not eaten all day and it was about 6:30 pm. While this is a TAPAS like place, the wine was really the only thing I was interested in getting but the food was an added plus. They have a slew of wines on display, for tasting and for purchasing. The great thing about this is you have already gone through security so no TSA agent throwing your goodies away.

We tried several wines, reds and whites my favorite was from New York with this honey suckle flavor to it... Not too sweet and not too dry. It's funny when I go there, I just say the honey suckle white and they usually know what I want.

The staff is very friendly and accommodating. They will recommend wines and food. I apologize for not getting the names of the staff, but they are outstanding so no matter who you get they will take care of you.

They even have an app for you to get points... who doesn't love points contributing to wine (don't judge me!).

I stop by here often so I thought I would finally say something about them. If you are ever in Cleveland at the airport, you should stop by and pay them a visit.

If you do, tell'em Drew sent ya!
Y'all be easy!
Drew

Chipper's Club

My mini me and I came across this place one night and decided to stop by and show them some love. When we walked in, it wasn't too crowded, and we were greeted immediately by the staff. They made us feel at home and offered us any seat in the house. We chose to sit near the back as there was live music being played in the front of the restaurant. Nicole took care of us once we were seated. Now Nicole and I had this love hate relationship. Why you ask... because she proceeds to tell us that she did not like sports, but she was a newfound New Orleans "AINTS" fan! I immediately asked to be moved to another section. I kid..I kid... It was all in good fun as Atlanta and New Orleans are big rivals.

Despite Nicole being a fan of that other team... she took very good care of us. She recommended the Southern Egg Rolls, The Swiss Bacon Mushroom Burger and the Shrimp and Grits. While I hate to give anybody, who roots for that team any credit... Nicole was spot on. The food was phenomenal.

The egg rolls where certainly something I had never had before... They had apple wood smoked pork as the meat with BBQ sauce and slaw on the side.

The burger while cooked to perfection and seasoned well... it didn't have anything on that Shrimp & Grits dish! Let me tell you... I'm a Fat A$$ and I love food and I will admit this without hesitation. This Shrimp & Grits was the best I've had so far. This DISH gave me LIFE. All the flavors were perfect and the HEAT (Spices that is) was on point. I certainly will go back to have this dish again. Compliments to the chef!

On my next visit I will also try the Rib Eye... that was my mom's favorite cut of meat and now its mines. I was eyeballing the Rib Eye on another plate.

I highly encourage you all to pay them a visit. If you are a Falcon's Fan... avoid Nicole's section! I'm just kidding. You all won't be disappointed in this establishment.

If you stop by... tell'em Drew sent ya!

Y'all Be Easy!

Drew

Arena Tavern

This was my first time here so to be honest I didnt have an expectation other than to get some food because my girlfriend and  were starving. We went a little early so the place wasn’t crowded at all. We picked our favorite spot... the bar and engaged with the bartenders as we reviewed the menu for drinks, appetizers and our meal. The selection is pretty good especially for a sports bar. We started off with the Smoked and Fried Ribs... yes you read correctly Fried Ribs. I’ve never had fried ribs so that was a must a must have for me. Surprisingly they were OUTSTANDING! 

For the main meals we had Shrimp Tacos and the Cleveland Chubb Burger. I went with that because my girlfriend is from Cleveland not really but it sounded good. The bartender said it was a local favorite so I went with it. 

The shrimp tacos were great but the Chubb Burger (I’m assuming names after a popular Bulldog) was off the dayum.m chain! Not only is it huge the mixture of beef and corn beef was a perfect combination.  I highly recommend it. 

I will certainly be back to enjoy live music and now that football season is about to start I will certainly be there to root on my Falcons. Speaking of.... my only “side eye” to this place is they they don’t have a Falcons flag flying. They say ya falcons fans don’t represent enough for them to fly a flag but the have a Bears and a Steelers Flag flying. My goal is to change that. NOT IN MY TOWN!  

City Barbeque

Ok so I have never eaten at a City Barbeque so I really didn’t have too many expectations. OTHER THAN everybody CANT BARBEQUE!  Not that I’m an overly picky but being from the south and having grown up with a mother that was a chef, a southern cook and a mastermind in the kitchen leads me to think my palate had been trained for some good food! Any who... here we go!

Now if you keep up with my reviews. You know I am big fan of customer service... but I’ll get to that in a minute. When I first walked in I was surprised because I honestly thought it was a sit and order restaurant and it turned out to be like a cafeteria where you stand in line order your food and then go back and pick it up. 

Ribs

The food was cooked pretty quickly which made me happy but also told me that it didn’t come hot off the grill.  The food was pretty good. I had a salad, brisket, ribs and Mac N Cheese (dont judge me!🤷🏽‍♂️) The Mac N Cheese could have been a little more cheesier but not too bad. The multiple sauces made the ribs savory. You can get creative with those. 

Salad

Mac N Cheese

Overall my experience was excellent! Doretha made my visit very pleasurable. The only thing I was disappointed in is that they didn’t have draft beer or any bourbon to compliment the selections of having Barbeque. 

Brisket

Even with that said, I’ll certainly be back. You all should stop by and see them. When you do, tell em Drew sent ya! 

Y’all be Easy!

Drew✌🏾

City Tap

Exterior

I was in Nashville on business and by the time we were done, I was starving. I asked the hotel staff members for a suggestion and all of them mentioned City Tap. With that many recommendations, I could not go wrong. The greatest thing about the recommendation was City Tap was right across the street.

The restaurant has a fantastic ambiance as it is very spacious, open and has a welcoming feeling. I was greeted by the bar tender and she was extremely friendly (Sorry I don’t remember her name). I asked for a food recommendation becuase it was my first time eating at City Tap and she rattled off several options.

The bar tender walked me to the bar, told me to grab a seat and handed me a menu to finish looking over the food options including the dishes she recommended. While I was reviewing the menu, she asked if I wanted some water or something else to drink. My tradition is to always try the local beer if there is a local brewery and the bar tender recommended Hap and Harry’s so that’s what I went with Larger… GOOD GOODNESS WHAT A BEER!

So after downing one beer and starting on my second beer, I decided to go with the SHORT RIB & KIMCHI BURGER GOOD LAWD! This burger was “ALL THAT” and more! I added avocado, egg and bacon. Now don’t get me wrong… the burger was awesome without the additions but I love egg, avocado and bacon so I add it to almost every burger I get if its an option. The short rib was so tender and seasoned very well. The mix of kimchi and BBQ aioli sauce made my palate crave for more.

I also had a side salad but it does not compare to the burger so I will say it was good but its a salad. If you are ever in Nashville, I highly recommend you stop by and give them a try. I promise you will not be disappointed. If you do stop by, tell them Drew sent ya!

Iron Hill Brewery

List of Different Beer

My girlfriend and I had the pleasure of visiting “Iron Hill Brewery” in Greenville, South Carolina. It certainly was a fantastic experience. Of course if you’ve read any of my blogs or reviews you know the bar is my favorite spot in any restaurant, bar, grill, pub… you name it. If there is a seat at the bar, I’m there! Especially if the bar tender is friendly and can work the bar area having multiple conversations with all of the patrons, drawing us all together as if we’ve known each other for years. Well this time was no different… when we walked in, we met “Jacquelyn” (Sorry if I am spelling it incorrectly.) She was very polite and immediately asked what she could get for us.

Reindeers Revenge and Basil and Tonic (don’t forget the shot of St. Germain

Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls

Since it was our first time here, we were clueless and especially since this was a brewery, I was overwhelmed by the choices of beer. Jacquelyn walked me through the different selections and I was sold on the Reindeers Revenge (American Tirpel). Now this beer was a little different but certainly refreshing. It had a hint of grapefruit, banana as and was filled with hops. Thats no surprise since it had an ABV (Alcohol by Volume) of 9%. I used to hate “hoppy” beer but as I get older, I can really appreciate the different and various amounts of hops as it defines the “character” of the beer of choice. I digress… my girlfriend had a “Basil and Tonic” with a shot of St. Germaine. I had a sip and it was certainly good but it was killing my vibe for the beer I selected so a sip is all I needed.

Of course when you partake in adult beverages, you also get hungry so we ordered appetizers… Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls, Salmon Spring Rolls,

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Hand-Cut Belgian Style Fries (I know its a lot of food… don’t judge me ;-) … If I had to choose my favorite appetizer, the Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls by far was my favorite. Don’t get me wrong… all of them were good but I’ll certainly order the Philly before I order anything else. YES!!!! They were that good.

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Now as far as the atmosphere, the bar was full of locals and/or regulars who did not waste any time speaking and being friendly. The conversation was so lively around the bar that one gentlemen (never got his name) purchased a round of drinks for everybody at the bar. What a way to start the

Year! Everybody we met that day was extremely nice. Im not sure if people were excited about the new year or that just a testament of how friendly people are in Greenville.

Salmon Spring Rolls

Any-who, I certainly will be back trying another beer, ordering my Philly Cheesesteak and enjoying the ambiance.

Hand-Cut Belgian Style Fries

I think you should stop by and see them. When you do, tell’em Drew sent ya! Ya’ll be easy!

Drew

View of dining area

Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse

Rib Eye, Asparagus & Goat Cheese

Beef Appetizer

So we stopped by this place since the traffic was bad and we were starving.After entering we found a place at the bar and met Shadrack, one of the coolest bar tenders I’ve met in a long time.I explained to him that this was our first visit and asked if he could recommend anything because everything on the menu sounded so delicious. Mind you now, I was hungry so my concentration was off. Shadrack recommenced the pork chop later to find out there was a Christmas party and the pork chops were all out. So I went with the rib eye (my moms favorite cut of meat) which I can

never go wrong with that! My date had scallops because she had the scallop appetizer (yes I said the scallop appetizer.) You only get one on the appetizer but it was so good she ordered the meal.I also had the beef for an appetizer and it was seasoned very well. We added the goat cheese balls and a side of asparagus.

Scallop Appetizer

Scallop Dinner

Let me say this, the food was absolutely phenomenal. The meat was seasoned to perfection and the scallops were cooked perfectly. 

The service is outstanding, the two ladies (sorry I forgot to get their names) at the front greeting everybody was extremely pleasant.

Rib Eye

Shadrack makes a hell of a drink and is very cordial making our dining experience one we will never forget. I will certainly be going back to get the pork chop. You all should certainly check them out and when you do, stop by and see Shadrack and tell’em Drew sent ya! Y’all be easy!

Drew✌🏾

Lemon Drop Martini & Bombay Saphire with Club Soda made by Shadrack (Bartender)

Uncle Jack's Meat House

So I finally go a chance to take the family here. Had been hearing about it and seeing pictures of the food on social media. I also was at a yelp event and had a few samples of their bacon and peanut butter so I was happy to finally be in the building.  

When we first got there, I was asked if we made reservations (hummm that's the second time in two visits to a new restaurant that I've been asked this questions... I'm guessing I better start making reservations. ) With that being said, they accommodated us and we chose to sit out on the patio. It was covered and had heat but fortunately it wasn't that cold. But the HEAT WORKS VERY WELL UMMM TOO WELL! 

Steven was a server and if you've read any of my reviews before you know I'm big in customer service. Steven knocked it out of the park.  He was very familiar with the menu and had awesome suggestions. 

He told us how he visited to have lunch and loved it so much that now he works there ... I mean the food is good! 

We ordered the Bacon and Peanut Butter, the Jack Pot, mini Taco's, Octopus,  burgers made how we want them and one Ooey Gooey Mooey burger. Let's just say this... if I didn't think I would have embarrassed my family I would have kept ordering and trying something new. The Food is absolutely amazing (well the choices we had). I certainly will be back. You should check them out and if you do, tell 'em Drew sent ya! Be Easy! 

Drew

Noona Steakhouse & Oyster Bar

The total experience of enjoying food comes with enjoying the atmosphere, the food, the staff and customer service. I was here for a birthday dinner and while we didn’t make reservations, the staff was happy to accommodate us @noona.... so things started out promising and looking up for the night.  We were seated very quickly and our server came over as soon as we sat down to fill our water glasses and asked what other drinks we wanted while we waited. This is where things got a little shaky. We ordered drinks and when they came somehow one spilled and got into my wife’s eye. So after about 20 minutes of eye drops and visits to the restroom her eye finally stopped burning.  Now with that being said, the staff was very accommodating, apologizing and offered to comp the drink but I was more concerned with my wife’s eye rather than a free drink. 

We finally got a chance to order our food so we started with Lobster Bisque then we ordered Oysters, Scallops, Octopus and Lamb Chops. Since it was my actual birthday we were given Tiramisu for dessert. 

The Lobster Bisque was descent but could have been a little thicker in consistency.  Maybe that’s the Korean way but overall it was tasty. 

The Octopus was tasty but was a little over cooked and burned at the end of the tentacle so that was a bummer but I ate it. 

The Oysters were very good but pricey. The Scallops and Lamb Chops were my two favorites of the night. 

Now that I have that out of way, here is why I’m torn with the rating. 

The food took forever to come out. We had to ask for our food several times and while the staff was very apologetic when it did come one of the dishes was burned and the overall meal experience was not really representative of the prices.  When the final bill came, the promise of a complimentary drink was certainly not reflected on the bill.  We asked about it and reminded them of the spill and they immediately adjusted the bill. 

While they suggest a reservation, the restaurant never seemed that busy and the food was very slow to come out. 

I’m certainly thinking about giving them another try but I’m not sure if I want to pay the high prices for the quality of the food. The jury is still out on that! However, it could have just been a bad night for the staff so go check them out and see what you think. It certainly has potential. Y’all be easy! 

Drew

Jus Cakin'

Meet Kimberly Elise... A Pastry Chef from Mississippi who has been converted to a Georgia Peach. Kimberly started baking with her mom and grandmother at the age of eight. Since then, baking has become her passion as it gives her peace and unthinkable joy. Kim is a single mother and her daughter, Kamiya is her inspiration and motivation to be great. Kim started baking cupcakes for her daughter's elementary school class in order to celebrate certain life events, e.g birthdays. 

One day while sitting at her desk at her full time Corporate job, Kim had a vision. That vision was to go into businss for herself and follow her passion for baking. 

In 2013, Kim lost her job which was the motivation she needed to give the passion for baking her undivided attention. She started selling her cupcakes in hair salons, barbershops, farmer's markets, corporate events and other places around Atlanta, eventually opening a Kiosk to sell her cupcakes. As her business grew, in addition to cupcakes she added celebration cakes (anniversary, birthday, bridal cakes etc.) sugar jars and wedding cakes.  

Adding wedding cakes was no easy task for Kim as potential clients would always ask if she would bake a wedding cake and her response would be "No." Kim's reason for not baking wedding cakes was out of fear of not meeting the needs of a couple during one of the most important and memorable moments in a couple's lives. As the years passed and her skills grew, Kim also wanted her business to grow so she decided to add wedding cakes to her repertoire and has become a successful wedding cake designer. 

Kim contributes her success as a baker to her late mother and her surviving grandmother. At the age of eight she baked a cake for her mother's birthday and although it was not level or "whop-sided," according to Kim, her mother praised her efforts and said the cake was beautiful. It's that moment in her life that drives Kim's success.

Kim prides herself and her company on making their desserts from scratch, using real butter, eggs from a local farmer in Georgia and making their own vanilla extract. Kim says when she is making a cake, she has no idea how the design will turn out but through the process and passion for baking, the cakes start taking a form and personality of their own. 

Kim and Jus Cakin' use Kitchen Aid Professional mixers. Her 88 year young grandmother just recently gave her a Kitchen Aid Mixer (Model K45SS) which she used as well. In fact, its one of the mixers that Kim used when she was a child. This mixer has been in Kim's family for over 40 years. Kim did mention that it was like "pulling teeth" and she had to really plead her case as to why she needed this momentous appliance in her arsenal of baking equipment.

Other products used by Kim and Jus Cakin' include her Chef's jacket made by Chef Works, cake scrapers made by GIR, Nordic Ware bundt pans, Pyrex measuring cups, Anchor Hocking measuring cups, Wilton piping bags, cake boards and decorating turntables, Carlo's Bakery decorating turntables, Home Goods cake stands, Ball Canning mason jars, Chef David Burke's cake pans and a host of other baking appliances and products.

You can visit Kim and Jus Cakin' at www.juscakin.com. It is her goal to be one of the leading bakers in the Atlanta area and eventually expanding her services in the future. You can also follow Jus Cakin' on Facebook  and Instagram @jus_cakin

Famous Toastery

So... I was out location scouting for a photoshoot, when the place I was headed too was shut down due to a gas leak. As I pondered over fighting traffic or having an early lunch, my mind was quickly made up for me when I stumbled across this place, "Famous Toastery.". Now that being said, I knew absolutely nothing about this restaurant except for the GINORMOUS entry and signage so I took a shot! 

When I entered, the establishment was extremely packed so I figured I had "DONE GOOD" on my selection for a location to eat. However, to my surprise I was immediately disappointed when I sat at the bar and the representative stated that it would be a minute due to staffing issues. I was upset but relieved at the same time becuase she was honest about the situation and considering how busy the restaurant was, she took time to acknowledge me sitting at the bar.

After about 20 minutes, I just could not delay any longer due to a previous commitment and it appeared that my order was not going to be taken anytime soon. The representative "Deborah" apologized 1000 times and she looked overwhelmed with the more than 15 credit cards in her hand. I told her that it was okay and to relax but she said the group of 35 that came in was unexpected. So I decided to give up but I did promise I would be back. Now in most cases, I would have probably never returned but Deborah did something to me that day. If you have read any of my other reviews, the ONE thing that turns me off about an establishment is LACK of CUSTOMER SERVICE. If I am there to spend my money, please acknowledge my presence and be honest when you have a service failure. I can handle that even if the food is spectacular, its the entire experience that matters.

I promised Deborah that I would be back!

Fast Forward Two Weeks..... 

As promised, I returned to give Famous Toastery another shot. I did not want to penalize them due to an unexpected large crowd. Even then they were handling the situation for all of the patron who were already seated but since I arrived after the large group I had to wait....

So this time the experience was COMPLETELY different. I approached the bar and happen to get my same seat, and the representative immediately asked me how I was doing and what would I like to drink. I asked for some water and immediately joked about the difference between my first visit and the subsequent visit. The representative asked me what happened and I explained a she said, "OH NO IM SORRY YOU HAD TO EXPERIENCE THAT!" I was handed a menu and about five minutes later the owner appeared. The owner went on to further apologize and was grateful that I returned.

Since it was my first time actually getting a chance to order something, I asked her what did she recommend. Of course she defaulted to a dish she created called the Georgia Bowl. It was created when she was stuck here in Atlanta during the snow storm and the ingredients were from the only items she had in house at the time.

Now on to this here "Georgia Bowl!" When it first arrived, I was skeptical becuase it looked like just a bunch of stuff put in a bowl with some sauce added to it! However!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it was so good I ate the entire bowl... (The employees said that most people could not eat the entire bowl).  Being a southern boy, this dish was right up my alley....

Breakfast potatoes, onion, peppers, topped with pepper jack cheese, smothered with sausage gravy, two eggs (cooked the way you like... mines were over medium) and chorizo. 

It was so delicious that I almost ordered a to-go plate but thought that would be over the top. There are several other dishes that I will certainly try in the future but I highly recommend you visit Famous Toastery. They have been open only since the beginning of the year but certainly can hold their own against some well known established restaurants. 

Go by and visit them and when you do, tell'em Drew sent ya!

Ya'll be Easy now!

Drew

Stockyard Burgers and Bones

Boy this Atlanta traffic will have you pulling your hair out. But instead of getting frustrated and aggravated, I decided to stop in at Stockyard Burgers and Bones. It was kind of early right before happy hour. The bartender “April” looked like she needed some company so I headed to the bar! Being that this was my first time visit the establishment I asked April what did she recommend.

However, I interrupted her because I needed and Adult beverage due to the traffic and trying to find this establishment as well. CAN YOU GET A BIGGER SIGN SHEEESH!!!!!

Add to that when I walked in the signage said Taqueria Tsunami and I’m like, WHAT THE WHAT???!!!???Apparently this is a co-owned or jointly located establishment but it was certainly confusing for a first timer to say the least. So with that being said April poured me the stronger beer they had and after about 4 seconds of drinking all of it and asking for another one, I was ready to listen to what April had to say. April mentioned several items in the menu but being a NATIVE of Atlanta I ordered the “Dirty South” burger with an order of Brussel Sprouts. I love me some Brussel Sprouts.Any who, the burger has an awesome tasting Mac and Cheese on top and Sprouts has BACON in them.

The burger was fantastic and so were the Sprouts. More importantly, April kept me entertained as she worked with the other patrons and like a excellent bar tender, she had several conversations going on a the same time. 

If I’m on Roswell road again, I certainly will be stopping by. Thanks for the awesome experience.  You all should stop by and if you do, tell’em Drew sent ya!

Y’all Be Easy!

Drew✌🏾

Jay’s Kitchen + Bar

I finally took the time and stopped in to pay Jay’s Kitchen and Bar a visit. I will admit that I have purposely avoided this place because every establishment before this one was terrible, hence the reason they are no longer there.

I went in for happy hour and the moment I walked in I was greeted with a smile and offered a seat. However since I was dining alone, I chose to sit at the bar. When I sat down, Javon (bartender) let me know he would be with me as soon as he could as

he was in the process of making a drink for a patron before me.  What I loved about this was he acknowledged me and came over as soon as he was done. We talked for a few seconds and he recommended what he thought was best.

I went with the buffalo chicken rolls and the steak. I ordered vegetables rather than the items that came with the steak. But the meals were very good. The sauce with the buffalo chicken wraps was on point and the steak was seasoned so well no steak sauce was even needed.

Later that evening, they had “Jazz at Jay’s!” Live music and dancing if you are so inclined. Overall, I really enjoyed myself, loved the atmosphere and I certainly will pay them a visit again.  If you are ever on that side of town and looking for something good to eat, drink and want to hear good music .. stop by Jays Kitchen and Bar. When you do... tell’ em Drew sent ya! Be Easy!

Jays_House_Band from Drew Fellers Studios on Vimeo.

Molly B's

I had the opportunity to attend a Molly B's membership dinner at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Full disclosure here... I had my Sony A6300 in my pocket because I wanted to take some simple pictures of the stadium and of the food but when I arrived the event was certainly more than I expected so I apologize for the stability issues and the shaking as I had no rig with me and everything was hand held.

The music you hear is from the Lauren Morrow and The Whiskey Gentry Band of Nashville/Atlanta. Special thanks to Mercedes Benz Stadium, Molly B's,  Concentrics Restaurant Group, Four Roses Bourbon, Comfort Farms, and New Realm Brewing, 

The evening started out fighting the Atlanta traffic downtown, but certainly turned into a relaxing evening with the hospitality from the staff hosting the event. I was greeted by the Molly B's staff; specifically Lauren Litwack (she's waving in the video) who was very pleasant and inviting. She insisted that I put all of the stress behind me and to focus on enjoying the evening.  Walking into the Mercedes Benz stadium, the Whiskey Gentry Band was certainly providing a calming atmosphere. While I had never heard of them before, I throughly enjoyed their music and I will be on the lookout for them in the future. 

Once the evening got started, we were wined and dined, with drinks and hors d'oeuvres. The drinks were made special by Four Roses Bourbon and New Realm Brewing... Two companies that I will certainly add to my list of adult beverages. 

Once dinner was served, I felt somewhat embarrassed as it appeared as if I had not eaten in days. The food was fantastic and I just couldn't get enough. The chef started the evening with Grilled Escarole. 

Followed by a Low Country Boil, Paella, Pork and Tres Leches Cake with Coffee Cream. The drinks were Ward 8, Cherry Julep, Peach Mule, Hoplandia IPA and a Southern Broque Irish Stout.

The highlight of my night was when I heard the chef said that some of his food came from Comfort Farms. If you don't know about comfort farms, you certainly should look them up. They are a non profit organization that helps veterans who are suffering with PTSD and other issues using a holistic approach to helping veterans transition back to a normal life within society. (Courtesy of Comfort Farms) ~TAG VETS INC created the nations first Acute Veterans Crisis Agriculture center named (Comfort Farms) named in Honor of Army Ranger Captain Kyle A. Comfort, (KIA, May 8, 2010). 

Our premier location currently prepares veterans and students for careers in sustainable food production that integrates economic profitability, environmental stewardship, and healing through the use of Agri-therapy and time-tested natural approaches. 

The facility will also serve veterans in acute situations where time and help are of the essence. Featuring a short-term stay lodge that can provide rooms for up to two veterans or one family Comfort Farms is building the resources to offer shelter and therapy that allows veterans to regain strength and re-boot for everyday life and a fulfilling future. 
 

Through a rapid deployment system, Comfort Farms provided crisis services for 20 veterans within the first 11-months of operations. As a Training Campus, Comfort Farms also educated and assisted well over 500* veterans within the first 9-months of operations.

After hearing that, I will certainly patronize the Concentric Restaurant Group as they truly are supportive of those who are in need. Thank you Molly B's for your dedication to your members and for being loyal to our veterans!

Molly B's Membership Dinner from Drew Fellers Studios on Vimeo.

Noble Fin

I was truly blown away by the place. The ambiance is amazing and the staff was great. I made reservations for two because of a special occasion and before I realized it the reservations were almost two hours later than I actually planned.I called in a panic and the hostess told me not to worry and that she would make sure we were taken care of and boy let me tell you we were!

When we walked through the front door the hostess, (I really wish I could remember name) called me by my name and said we’ve been waiting on you and immediately escorted us to our seats. What was very surprising is that the place was packed on a Tuesday night, people were waiting and we walked right in and took a seat. I actually felt important... having reservations ROCK! If you all have read my reviews before, you know I’m a HUGE fan of customer service and this first impression certainly created a memorable moment for me!

Now on to the food!!! Our waiter was Micheal (he told me to let you all know he’s the good looking Micheal since there are two of them working there) and he was OUTSTANDING! Nothing like a wait staff that knows the menu like the back of his hand, how the meals are prepared and able to share what’s popular on the menu.

                                                                      With that being said we had Scallops, Octopus, Brussels sprouts, Oysters and crab cakes (I know we were being greedy huh!) The food was simply amazing but those Scallops and Brussels Sprouts ... GOOD GOOGLY MOOGLY!!! I could eat that all day long.

Without even asking, Micheal brought dessert for the special occasion which convinced us to get a dessert to go!

I will certainly be back to patronize this establishment again. One of the best experiences for me in a very long time! KUDOS to this team! You all should certainly stop by and give them a try and when you do, tell ’em Drew sent ya!

Y’all be Easy!

Drew✌🏾