Plan Ahead, Reserve Seats for Dinner at 5Church during Midtown Restaurant Week September 10-18

Midtown Restaurant Week (MRW) serves a week of prix fixe dining deals beginning Saturday, September 10, through Sunday, September 18. 5Church, which opened this summer at the corner of 14^th and Peachtree streets, jumps right into the Midtown neighborhood’s delicious week – and they’re taking reservations now. Executive chef RJ Cooper presents a $35 dinner menu well-endowed with appetizer, entrée and dessert choices as well as a special three-course wine pairing priced at $18. Among first-course options are charred romaine, avocado, Cotija cheese and roasted lime-jalapeño dressing; warm burrata, heirloom tomatoes, pickled watermelon rind and Georgia olive oil; Carolina shrimp ceviche with pan de anis; Point Judith calamari with chorizo, Sea Isle red peas, garlic and migas; and sweet corn soup, hot and cold foie gras and corn nuts. For an additional $8, choose the hearth-roasted octopus with red pea hummus, lemon and pea vines. Making choices only becomes more difficult: hearth-braised chicken thighs with prunes and Vidalia onion bread pudding; goose egg pappardelle with duck confit and black truffle butter; wasabi-crusted salmon roulade with seaweed salad; hearth-roasted whole fish with broccoli rabe and fingerling potatoes; Filipino adobo beef bavette; squid ink tagliatelle with calamari, crab, chilies and tomatoes; or hearth-roasted farm vegetables with farro verde and arugula pesto. Steak lovers, for an additional $15, choose the 5Church signature “60 second” NY strip steak or C.A.B. filet mignon. Save room for dessert and cheese choices – the amazing PBJ peanut butter mousse; frozen pineapple parfait with coconut cake, lime-jalapeno sorbet and macadamia nuts; twisted s’more ATL!; ice cream sandwich tasting; or three ripened cheeses. Shareable sides may be ordered à la carte for an additional charge. Tax and gratuity not included.

Net Best of Land and Sea with Ray’s Restaurants’ Summer Prix Fixe

Sea or shore? Ray’s Restaurants straddles both options on a two-course menu available at Ray's in the City, Ray’s on the River and Ray's at Killer Creek through early August. The “Land & Sea” menu dives right into a choice of artisan field greens or Caesar salad. For an entrée, choose Ray’s Surf & Turf featuring a six-ounce filet mignon, four-ounce lobster tail and Yukon Gold whipped potatoes ($29.95) or a six-ounce cut of wild salmon with asparagus risotto and red wine butter ($24.95). Call it a meal or add on a dessert course of New York cheesecake or chocolate mousse cake for an additional $5. Priced per person; price excludes beverage, tax and gratuity. Sorry, no splitting the menu.

Roam to Ted's Montana Grill for Your Thanksgiving Feast

Gather 'round the table at Ted's Montana Grill and share Ted's Thanksgiving Roast Turkey Feast with friends and family this Thanksgiving Day. Whether you take your meal midday, afternoon or evening, Ted's prix fixe Thanksgiving menu runs $25 per person. The all-American meal begins with a first-course choice of side salad, cup of soup or Karen's "Flying D" bison chili. Out next, whole-roasted turkey and gravy with garlic mashed potatoes, herb dressing, buttered carrots, "Aunt Fannie's" squash casserole and cranberry sauce. And there's more to be thankful for -- Ted's famous apple pecan crisp featuring Granny Smith apples drizzled with caramel then baked with a crispy oatmeal-pecan crust and topped with Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream. Children get dibs on a half-sized version of the menu with turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, dressing, buttered carrots, cranberry sauce and a "scratch" cookie for $12. Tuckered out on turkey? Other classics available include bison meatloaf, cedar plank salmon and Delmonico rib-eye. Fill wine glasses with Kendall Jackson chardonnay Vintner's Reserve or Gascon malbec at $30 a bottle. See the full Thanksgiving Day menu online. All Atlanta Ted's restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving Day except for Luckie Street. Call your favorite location for hours and reservations.

Prom Dinner Menus Around the City

Melissa Libby on her way to her prom

Take the drama out of planning the pre-dance dinner this prom season with this helpful guide. Two of Atlanta’s hottest restaurants are the perfect scene for a delicious meal at the perfect price point for everyone. 

The Black Sheep’s Table at No. 246 seats up to 12 people, and prom-goers can enjoy family style dining for $45 per person. A sample menu includes a seasonal salad and meatball, antipasto, pasta, protein course and house-made dessert. Call 678-399-8246 to reserve. 

For an elegant dinner and a gorgeous backdrop for your prom photo-shoot, reserve a table at Ray’s on the River. For $45 per person, each guest receives a mixed field greens salad, and a choice of entrée, such as a filet medallion duo, oven-roasted chicken, or grilled Atlantic salmon. Entrees include a side of potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Finish with Key lime pie or chocolate raspberry mousse. The price includes a beverage, tax and gratuity.

Prix Fixe Deals at Ray's on the Creek During Alpharetta Restaurant Week, November 2-9

We know it's easy to fill up on Halloween candy this week, but you'll want to save some room for the amazing prix fixe menus hitting restaurants this weekend for Alpharetta Restaurant Week. Don't miss out on the three-course dinner menu for $25 per guest at Ray's on the Creek. Choose from three appetizers including fried green tomatoes; mixed greens with dried fruit, apples, walnuts and pecorino; or butternut squash ravioli with spiced pecans. Then explore the entrée options, which include hazelnut-rolled pork tenderloin with port cherry sauce; petite swordfish; and roasted duck breast with Brussels sprouts, butternut squash and a bacon finish. Dessert choices couldn't be sweeter: smoked chili chocolate bread pudding, white chocolate and pumpkin crème brûlée or gooey toffee cake. Prices exclude beverages, tax and gratuity. 

Two Nights of Top-Shelf Tequila Experiences at Alma Cocina on October 10 and 11

Leave those well drinks at the bottom of the shelf where they belong. Next week, Alma Cocina is going top shelf with two separate tequila appreciation events. On Thursday, October 10, "A Night of Tequila" will fill the atrium of 191 Peachtree Tower from 7-10 p.m. Herradura and other tequila favorites will be used to create "Latin-," "American-,: and "Alternative-" themed cocktails which will accompany the delectable food pairings from executive chef Chad Clevenger and team. Butternut squash and mushroom sopes, charred octopus al pastor, pork cheek mondongo tostadas and more are all making much appreciated appearances. $50 per person and you must purchase tickets in advance online. But wait, the tequila love doesn't stop there! On Friday, October 11 from 7-10 p.m., it's a "Dinner of the Seven Barrels" -- a four-course dinner and tequila tasting commemorating the seven custom barrels of Herradura tequila that were personally tasted, approved and brought back to Atlanta by Fifth Group Restaurants solely for Alma Cocina, and using a few bottles reserved especially for this one-of-a-kind event. Herradura's global brand ambassador, Ruben Aceves, will be there to talk tequila with guests during the tasting. Clevenger's  menu reveals a Latin and Mexican culinary heritage, right down to the decadent tres leches and pumpkin churros dessert. $65 per person and advance purchase online is a must.

Downtown Restaurant Week Serves Up Delicious Deals in the "A"

Put away the big bucks, build up an appetite and experience how delicious ATL can be on a budget. Downtown Restaurant Week is Saturday, July 27 - Sunday, August 4, and this year's participants are some of Atlanta's best. Alma Cocina, Max's Coal Oven Pizzeria and Ray's in the City are just three of the many delicious restaurants that are serving $15, $25 and/or $35 three-course, prix fixe menus all week. Eat away and enjoy the nightlife that the week brings, like Game-X's $15 menu that includes a $20 play card. Don't fret, with all that's going on it won't be hard to stay in the loop with the city's happenings, like sports action and concerts, with the stay-and-play link. There's even more to check out this week, be sure to get all the details in our Downtown Restaurant Week Atlanta Dish post! 

Marlow's Tavern in Dunwoody Dishes Out Deals for Restaurant Week

 

Marlow's Tavern in Dunwoody going above and beyond during Dunwoody Restaurant Week to ensure that no diner goes hungry - or broke! From Saturday, June 22 to Saturday, June 29, lunch goers can enjoy a prix fixe menu offering an appetizer and entree course for $10. Having trouble deciding between the firecracker shrimp and Peking duck sliders? Stop by later for dinner and choose dishes from Marlow's three course prix fixe menu for $20. The only thing better would be nutella and oreo cheesecake - and that's on the menu, too! 

Happy Anniversary, Aqua blue!

The decade plus a year celebration is already underway at Aqua blue. You have until Sunday, September 16 to take advantage of the Roswell restaurant's three-course prix fixe menu at a celebratory price of only $20.11 or the special small plates and drink anniversary menu offering two items for $10. 

It's not a party without favors and games. All guests take home a special prize, and those who order an anniversary special are entered to win free dinners for a year. For complimentary champagne, cake and live music, too, come to the party on Wednesday, September 12!

The 3 S's at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: Summer, Steak & Sangria

The only thing better than a grilled steak paired with a refreshing pitcher of sangria on a summer night is a grilled steak paired with a refreshing pitcher of sangria on a summer night that you don’t have to prepare yourself. Allow Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Summer Lovin' Steak & Sangria prix fixe dinners to do the work for you with the prime New York Strip steak and optional sangria pairings offered every night. The menu and sangria blend changes every two weeks, so you’ll never fall into a rut. Each three-course menu is packed with seasonal flavors that offer a global taste. The current menu, for example, is offered through July 15 and includes a fresh summer green salad with sliced strawberries, Danish blue cheese crumbles and candied walnuts with a red wine vinaigrette, a prime New York Strip with Jamaican jerk rub, chimichurri sauce, roasted pineapple salsa and farm-fresh corn salad; and chilled white chocolate almond soufflé with blueberry sauce and house-made caramel for $39.95 per person. Add a hand-crafted sangria pairing for $7.95, such as the current Silver Sun Sangria featuring Red Diamond Merlot infused with fresh seasonal fruit and topped with Milagro Silver Tequila, a touch of Crème de Cassis, muddled blackberries and fresh lemon juice. Menu and drink prices do not include tax or gratuity.

Those leaning toward ordering a bottle of fine wine will want to try Fleming's new Icon Wine. Fleming's Wine Maeven, Maeve Pesquera, has chosen JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery's signature Isosceles 2009 and is making it available at an exceptional $75 per bottle for a limited time. The world-class Bordeaux blend from Paso Robles, Calif. was recently ranked sixth in Wine Spectator's "Top Ten Most Exciting Wines." When it's gone, it's gone. Don’t miss out!

Make Your Way To Dunwoody Restaurant Week With Prix Fixe Meals At Alon's Bakery And Market, June 23 - 30

Ready for an amazing OTP dining adventure? Dunwoody Restaurant Week 2012 will be here June 23- 30! Be sure to head to Alon's Bakery and Market for special restaurant week prix fixe lunch and dinner menus. Alon's $10 lunch starts with a garden or Caesar salad or your choice of soup. Next, select an entrée of Margherita pizza, spicy Tunisian tuna sandwich or a roasted chicken with pesto sandwich. 

For $25, dinner includes three courses: your choice of seared tuna chips, Israeli hummus or a Greco, garden or Caesar salad as an appetizer accompanied by your entrée choice of house-ground Meyer beef burger and fries, any of Alon's signature pizzas or grilled salmon with truffle-crispy mashed potatoes and wilted spinach. Lucky you! Choose any one of Alon's individual desserts as your dinner finale. 

Price excludes beverage, tax and gratuity. Alon's has a wide variety of wines, beers and other beverages available to purchase to complement your meal. Don't forget that Alon's is celebrating its 20^thanniversary so look for anniversary specials throughout the year!

New Season, New Reason to Visit Ray’s

Spring is so close we can practically taste it! The chefs at Ray's Restaurants are giving us a chance to enjoy spring flavors with their new three-course menus, by pulling from this season’s freshest market offerings. Guests can choose one selection for each course; wine selections, tax and gratuity are not included in the menu prices. These prix fixe menus are available every day and vary by restaurant:

• At Ray's at Killer Creek, Executive Chef Tracey Bloom's $30 menu boasts entrée choices of roasted chicken breast with bacon risotto and porcini mushroom sauce, Atlantic salmon with herb butter sauce and hand-cut pasta with grilled shrimp and garlic butter.
• A few miles south on the Chattahoochee, Ray's on the River Executive Chef Josh Warner's menu includes entrée choices of goat cheese- and fennel-stuffed airline chicken breast with celery root purée and watercress salad or Moroccan spiced hangar steak joined by Lyonnaise potatoes and Vidalia spring onion. Cost is $39.99 per person.
• Downtown, Executive Chef Ugo Okpareke at Ray's in the City offers entrée choices of mango grilled salmon with a mango BBQ glaze, sesame sautéed spinach and crispy Asian noodles or flat iron steak with blue cheese whipped potatoes, grilled asparagus and wild mushroom demi glaze. Cost is $35 per person.

To round out your dining experience, sommeliers are ready to help you choose complementing wines, and each restaurant has appetizer and dessert selections that are guaranteed to be as delicious as the entrées. 

Ray's at Killer Creek is also offering new Sunday lunch options. Customers can embark on their lunch journey by indulging in a $5 Bloody Mary from Sunday's available-all-day Bloody Mary list. Menu offerings include: 

• Classic French onion soup, crab bisque or soup du jour ($5-$7)
• Meal-worthy salads such as tuna niçoise salad and Chinese chicken salad ($15-$17)
• A soup and salad combo ($12)
• Soy flounder sandwich with spicy Sriracha aioli ($13)
• Jumbo lump crab cake with roasted corn salsa, mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus ($17)
• Shrimp and grits prepared with bacon, mushrooms, red peppers and Gouda and Asiago cheeses ($15).

Guests who want to keep their lunch short and sweet can try Ray's $10 lunch menu. Selections include a cheddar burger, hickory burger, vegetarian pasta, chicken sandwich, Caesar salad with calamari or grilled chopped Black Angus beef steak. Iced tea, coffee or sodas are included in the set price.

Aqua blue Toasts to Ten Years at Anniversary Party on Wednesday

Tomorrow marks the end of the 10-day anniversary celebration at Aqua blue in Roswell, and the restaurant has saved the best for last. The finale features groovy tunes from Atlanta's own FunkyStuf 70s band and complimentary cake and champagne in addition to the $20.01 prix fixe menu and $5 small plates and drink specials. Guests can also register to win a free meal a week for a year! Ten percent of the night's sales will be donated to Special Olympics Georgia, so you can have your cake and help out a good cause, too. Visit Aqua blue on Facebook for more details.

Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell; 770-643-8886.

Save a few dollars and eat at Dogwood!

Monday through Friday after 8 p.m. Dogwood is offering an appetizing deal that all guests will enjoy! Guests can relish a three-course dinner for only $35 per person (excluding tax and gratuity). This three course meal consists of an appetizer, salad or soup, entrée and any dessert. The only exclusions are the grits bar, soup flight and cheese offering. For such a good deal sharing and substitutions are not allowed, but who needs them! For the perfect drink to accompany that food, grab a Smirnoff martini or cosmopolitan for only $5. Just want to grab a drink? Come in Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to check out the half-price wines by the glass or $5 John Daly’s Firefly served from 5:30-7p.m.

A Mouthful To Pronounce, But Worth Every Bite: Abbondanza at La Tavola Trattoria

Beginning today, Virginia-Highland neighborhood favorite La Tavola Trattoria is making it abundantly clear that you and your friends must hurry in to celebrate the bountiful cultural and culinary wealth of Italy’s heartland. The restauant's $39.95 prix fixe Abbondanza menu is available through October 18. Or, if you're craving a particular dish, the special menu is also available à la carte. Watch Executive Chef Craig Richards making the baked ricotta salad from the menu here. Vajra Stratigos, Fifth Group Restaurants’ beverage director, recommends completing your Abbondanza menu selections with Italian wines from La Tavola’s abundant list: Zenato, Valpolicella, Veneto 2006; Avanta, Pinot Grigio, Veneto 2007; Antonio Coscia, Arneis, Piedmont 2005; and Coltibuono, Chianti Classico 2006, are a few to try. For reservations, click here. La Tavola Trattoria: 992 Virginia Avenue, NE; 404-873-5430.

Get Your Food Studio Fix Before July 19!

Fifth Group Restaurants'® Food Studio has reigned as one of Atlanta’s top choices for honoring special occasions for the past 12 years, but it's time for a new chapter. On July 19, Fifth Group Restaurants’ Partners Robby Kukler, Steve Simon and Kris Reinhard are taking Food Studio to permanent “occasion” status as a full-time event space managed by the company’s award-winning catering division, Bold American® Catering. The stunning space with flexible seating within the historic King Plow Arts Center will be the place to hold corporate and social events from rehearsal dinners and wedding receptions to business meetings and parties. Bold American Catering Executive Chef Todd Annis will meet with guests to customize menus specifically for their special events. While we're going to miss Food Studio's fare and yummy cocktails dearly, we're looking forward to upcoming events in the restaurant's unique space. Those who are interested in obtaining details and booking the space can call 404-815-1178.

Food Studio patrons: Perhaps you became engaged or marked a special occasion at the Food Studio. Come mark the occasion one more time before the restaurant converts to event space on July 19. From July 7 through July 19, Food Studio, along with all other Fifth Group Restaurants, will offer a special summer three-course prix fixe menu for $26.95 in addition to the regular menus. Make dinner reservations at Food Studio through July 19 by calling 404-815-6677 or visiting www.fifthgroup.com. Food Studio is located at 887 West Marietta Street, NW in the King Plow Arts Center.