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!
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!
Samantha’s Tap Room and Wood Grill
Oh my goodness!!!! This place is beyond AWESOME!The atmosphere is so inviting whether you want to sit inside, outside or at the bar. The staff was simply amazing and if you’ve read my reviews before you know I’m HUGE on customer service!
I sat down at the bar and like 3 bar tenders attacked me asking me what I wanted to drink and providing a menu. I really “FELT THE LOVE!” Since I had not dined here before, the bar tender took time to go over the menu and make his personal suggestions. I got an opportunity to sample a few types of beer and then made my selection.
Let me tell you, when an establishment is willing to make suggestions to ensure they get it right for you and to make sure you are satisfied, I will always return and won’t hesitate to spend my money here again!
Now on to my meal!!!!
Good Googly Moogly!!!!!!
I had the rib eye (my favorite cut of meat) with braised collards and and sautéed sugar snap peas! The collards were out of site and the snap peas while different I enjoyed them too. Oh and I had the grilled artichokes for an appetizer. I know I know ... I’m greedy!!! 🤷🏽♂️
Now let’s get to this here rib eye.
The chef... while I didn’t get to meet him/her I am making a personal trip back to this place to meet the person who’s hands prepared this dish (well I hope they will meet me). But my mom was a chef and I have always been biased to my moms ability to prepare, notice I didn’t say cook... a steak. It was like she was married to the meat, handling it with care, cutting the extra fat off that the butcher may have left on, just showing the meat some love ... well the chef at Samantha’s made me tear up because this one Rib Eye on this day reminded me so much of my moms style.
If you don’t have to add anything to a steak because it’s natural juices bring out the flavor, then that steak is the perfect steak to me. The seasons used on this steak sent my palate into overdrive. My mouth was like the finale of a fireworks on the Fourth of July. With every bite I didn’t know what to expect next. It took me so long to eat that steak because I didn’t want it to end and I was too embarrassed to order another one.
I will most certainly be back! This place is now my all time favorite. Way to go!
If you are ever in Little Rock and you are ready to eat lunch, dinner or just want to have drinks.... I’m telling you... STOP BY AND HAVE A MEAL. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! Oh and when you do, tell em Drew sent ya! @samstap
Be Easy!
Drew✌🏾
Slow’s BBQ
Soooo I just happened to be in Detroit and I kept hearing people talk about Slow’s BBQ so I said, “why not!?!” Plus I heard they were on a food show as well and got great reviews.
Trying to find the front door was just as embarrassing as me trying to find a parking spot (turned down a one way street but going the wrong way!) However, the locals quickly pointed me in the correct direction. When I entered I could hear the giggling and the comment, “He must not be from around here!” I was actually glad to hear that because that means they must frequent often which means that the food must be pretty good.
As I entered the establishment I was intrigued by the open area and of course the bar!
I was just after the lunch crowd so that made it more pleasurable as there was not a wait. I was seated immediately and the waitress came right over to see what I was interested in. Since it was my first time, I asked her what the most popular dish and she offered a three meat combo. While it wasn’t the most popular, it did give me an opportunity to sample chicken, brisket and pork.
The food came relatively quick which was good. Good because I was hungry and my stomach was eating on my backbone!!!
I ordered Mac and Cheese along with baked beans to accompany my three meat combo. I must admit it was pretty darn tasty but my favorite was the chicken.
I’m a big fan of not putting any type of sauces on meat because I truly believe that if a cut of meat is seasoned correctly then no condiment will do it any justice. With that being said, the strong temptation of sampling the sauces in the table got the best of me!
Of all of the sauces, sweet was my favorite. Judging by the picture I can say that I’m not alone!
The brisket was tender, the pork was scrumptious but that CHICKEN was my favorite.
I truly enjoyed myself and I certainly will be back. If you are ever in Detroit and feel the need to have some QUE!!!! Stop by Slow’s and if you do, tell’em Drew sent ya! @slowsbarbq
Yall Be Easy Now!
Drew✌🏾
White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails
I stopped in this place because I was hungry and tired of walking all over downtown on some business related ventures. When I walked in I thought I was a bit underdressed but the staff seated me with no problems and they were extremely pleasant. I sat down next to the window looking out at downtown Atlanta and had no clue on what I wanted to eat. As the waitress approached me I told her that I would love a nice beer but I have the slightest idea on what to order. She make an excellent choice for me regarding the beer and I was going to live on the wild side for food.
When she came back with my Adult beverage, I ordered the Octopus... YES! I said octopus and sautéed mushrooms. The food was fantastic and since this was my first time having octopus, I’m certainly glad I was here to have to because it was phenomenal. I wanted to order the entire meal all over again but as my mother used to say, “Don’t let your eye be bigger than your stomach! So I chose another adult beverage to wash it all down!
The staff was truly amazing. One of the things that I enjoyed was that the staff didn’t care what area of the restaurant you sit in because they all attack the table to keep it clean, ensure you are okay and to keep your drinks topped off should you need. I know I’m not the only one but I can’t stand when I need something and the waiter/waitress can’t be found! Not a problem at White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails. They certainly know how to treat you!
If you ever get a chance to hang out in Atlanta, you need to stop by and pay them a visit and when you do tell’em Drew sent ya!
Y’all be easy now!
Drew✌🏾