Douse Thirst, Devour Big Green Egg Goodies by Ormsby’s at SweetWater Brewing Smokeout March 4

Egg hunting season is rolling in, and here’s one BIG egg sighting that’s a must find: smoking hot Big Green Eggs at the SweetWater Brewing Company Smokeout on Sunday afternoon, March 4. Count Ormsby’s in among seven local restaurants sending chefs to this 1-4 p.m. Big Green Egg grilling bash. Naturally, SweetWater brews will flow to temper the heat. Crack open your wallet and enter a raffle for prizes including a medium BGE, YETI Tundra cooler, Woodlands Circle membership and other goodies that adults will find much more enticing than candy-filled eggs. Raffle and event proceeds benefit The Giving Kitchen. Tickets, available on Xorbia, are $20 each and include one “hitter-sized” treat from each restaurant and your first SweetWater brew. It’s okay to leave the Easter basket at home for this brew and eggs-travaganza.

Taste and See -- Tyler See is Ormsby’s New Executive Chef

Tyler See is already at home at Ormsby’s and not solely due to his being an Atlanta native. See knows the Westside neighborhood tavern and its customers well, having served as sous chef before moving into Ormsby’s executive chef spot last month. His greatest culinary tip: simple, high-quality ingredients and uncomplicated recipes speak for themselves (perhaps that’s why he enjoys tending his veggie garden, foraging mushrooms, and camping and fishing). He sees staff training as key, especially identifying gifts and directing staff to make the most of their talents. Prior to embracing Ormsby’s, the Le Cordon Bleu-Atlanta graduate honed skills as sous chef at Bartaco, as BLT Steak’s event chef at W Atlanta-Downtown and while transforming Cosmo LavaLounge into Foxtrot Liquor Bar. Whether you’re an Ormsby’s regular or newcomer, stop by and find out what See’s up to in the kitchen. We guarantee it will go with that cold craft beer or handcrafted cocktail!

Feast on Chefs’ Best Fried Chicken at Family Friendly Mother Clucker Festival in Midtown April 30

Sunday afternoon’s Mother Clucker Chicken Festival competes with baseball for weekend “fowl” ball territory. Fried chicken fans can field chef-driven chicken feed, a.k.a. delectable classic and creative chicken dishes, from Chicken and the Egg, FEED Fried Chicken + Such, 5Church, Midtown Takorea, Ormsby’s and other Atlanta restaurants at The Stave Room (American Spirit Works Distillery), April 30 from 2-5 p.m. Fried chicken-inspired tastings prepared from all-natural Springer Mountain Farms chicken share the party with live music, beer, wine and specialty cocktails featuring American Spirit Whiskey. General admission is $40 for adults and $15 for children ages 5-12. Wee chicks are welcome, and kids under age 5 get in free. Buy tickets online (small service fee). A portion of the day’s proceeds benefits Songs for Kids and its musical mission to enrich the lives of children battling illnesses. Peck through pics from previous Mother Clucker Festivals here.

$5 Burgers Storm Atlanta during ATL Burger Week, April 23-29

Fathom chomping into 50+ burgers in one week? Hard to show restraint when a meaty multitude of juicy, beefy burgers are $5 each at more than 50 Atlanta restaurants during ATL Burger Week, April 23-29. HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern, Ormsby’s, Sublime Doughnuts and the rest of the herd are fervently perfecting their ATL Burger Week recipes before carnivores set to savoring and voting their favorites into bun-derful glory and bragging rights. Ormsby’s has leaked that they’re grilling a brat burger with kraut and spicy mustard. Sublime Doughnuts plans to lick the competition by featuring all of its ice cream burger flavors, and HOBNOB promises a juicy, flavorful burger for all ATL Burger Week-goers. Since burgers are only $5 a bun full, spring for a beer, some sides…and remember to tip your server. The whole week of meat-sweatin’ and flippin’ is presented by Georgia Beef Board, Creative Loafing and Red Brick Brewing Company.

Ride the Atkins Park Party Bus to/from Braves Home Opener April 14

Braves fans, field this hometown advantage -- a Braves home opener bus trip -- pitched by Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland. Score a home run drive from Atkins Park Va-Hi (bus leaves at 5 p.m.), round the bases to pick up fans at Ormsby’s, then slide into new SunTrust Park stadium for the Atlanta Braves vs. the San Diego Padres evening game on Friday, April 14. This gig includes all the gear: ticket, commemorative T-shirt, pre-game chow and beer and round-trip transportation. Atkins Park Va-Hi, teammate Ormsby’s and beer sponsors Miller Lite and Terrapin Beer Company back this spirited party and stress-less game transportation. $75 per person. All you have to do is leave your dugout and stop by Atkins Park Va-Hi to buy your bus trip ticket. Call 404-876-7249 for more info.

Easter is April 16! Find All Your Easter Eats Eggs in One Basket – The Dish

Easter arrives later than usual this year, giving us “eggs-tra” time to make plans and rejoice that it will probably be warm enough to NOT wear a coat over those new springy duds. Hightail it to these Atlanta restaurants on April 16 for Easter dining, drinks and fun, inside and out.

Rabbit trail it to Midtown where 5Church Atlanta at 14^th and Peachtree plans Easter specials and bottomless mimosas to go along with à la carte menu offerings. Deciding whether to dine out after sunrise service, high noon or capping the day? Peruse the brunch menu, served from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and the dinner menu, available at 5 p.m. Celebratory cocktails and spirits play out all day.

Sail over to East Cobb for a Sunday brunch at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar. Enjoy Easter specials in addition to the regular menu like Maine lobster omelette with chevre and smoked tomato butter; jumbo lump crab cake benedict with brown butter hollandaise, brioche and a poached egg; and seared scallops and maple-glazed pork belly with Vidalia onion soubise, asparagus, oyster mushrooms and a poached egg.

No need to rush the Easter fun. Sit down and stay a while for brunch and dinner at Food 101 from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Feast on regular brunch and dinner favorites like the fried chicken biscuit; crab cake BLT; scallop salad; and three meat meatloaf. Easter specials include smoked lamb carpaccio with spring peas, shallot mousse, cured yolk, arugula on a lemon crostini; hickory-smoked, sorghum-glazed ham with Gayla’s Grits, roasted carrots and leaks with ham jus; and pan-roasted halibut with English peas and asparagus, spring vegetable consommé and fresh herbs.

Hop into HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern in Midtown from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. for their beloved “Bubbly Brunch” with bottomless mimosas ($17) as well as brunch specialties “everybunny” loves and live music from 1-4 p.m. Consider the Wake and Bake pizza ($13), tiramisu French toast ($11), healthy Million Dollar Feeling plate ($13), The BASE salad ($11) or BYOB (Build Your Own Breakfast, $3.50-$12.50). The Hangover Helper ($13) cures whatever ails those who stayed up too late looking for the bunny, and a whole list of bloody marys, “mosas” and brunch cocktails are ready when you are. Fly back in for half-price wings from 4-11 p.m.

Ormsby’s shells out adult-style Easter egg fun! Each guest receives a plastic egg filled with either a piece of candy, a ticket for a free drink or some other prize. The Westside restaurant and pub is open from noon until midnight, and it’s menu specials are eggs-actly right for the day with additions of bourbon-glazed ham, smashed peas, roasted carrots and mashed potatoes. Besides, thirsty bunnies need a good watering hole, and Ormsby’s spirit list is lush with craft beer, craft cocktails and wines.

Easter Sunday, tip your bonnet and a bourbon, brunch punch or seasonal mimosa while choosing selections from The Southern Gentleman’s à la carte brunch menu, offered from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Hold off on jelly beans and Peeps to save room for smoked trout rillettes ($9), ricotta and lemon pancakes ($12), pimento cheese and bacon or Hang Town Fry omelet ($15), a traditional Monte Cristo ($15), New Orleans shrimp and grits ($16) and other new South favorites. The Easter Bunny pops into The Shops Buckhead Atlanta gastropub for a special appearance -- and maybe to bunny hop to live music from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Three-hour free deck parking. Make reservations on OpenTable; call 404-939-9845 for information. 

Head home to Revival for a truly farm-fresh Southern Easter brunch or dinner at Kevin Gillespie’s Decatur cottage-turned-restaurant. Enjoy brunch from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. served from the regular à la carte menu. The dinner menu takes over from 5-9 p.m. Executive chef Andreas Müller plans to toss some Easter-themed specials into the basket along with the regular menu offerings.

For an enticing prix fixe Easter meal and a lovely garden setting, take the family to Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails in historic Crabapple. Enjoy an elegant $32 prix fixe menu alongside such brunch staples as Charleston crab bisque, blackened salmon, Southern-fried chicken breast and French toast.

Honor Easter over sumptuous Easter Sunday buffets at Ray’s Restaurants. Ray’s in the City spreads its Easter buffet from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; $39.95/adult, $19.95/ages 5-10. Feast on boneless leg of lamb and Virginia ham at the carving station; made-to-order omelets and waffles at the breakfast station; seafood gumbo, ham and eggs Benedict, prime rib, deep-fried Southern chicken tenders, roasted chicken with herbs, seafood alfredo pasta, salmon croquettes, beef Burgundy, broiled grouper medallions and sides galore. Fill in display and dessert options – from fruit, cheese, charcuterie, seafood and salads to coconut cake, eclairs, banana pudding and pecan pie. Those preferring to celebrate over dinner can order from the à la carte dinner menu from 5-8 p.m. that evening. Reservations: 404-524-9224. Ray’s on the River in Sandy Springs comes through with a beautiful riverside view for Easter pictures as well as a bountiful brunch buffet offered from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. for $45.95/adult, $22.95 ages 5-10. Buffet offerings include morning options through early afternoon then segue more toward afternoon and evening fare as the day progresses. All day, guests can enjoy seafood and salad bars, a build-your-own waffle station, an array of house-made desserts and a meaty carving station featuring herb-roasted prime rib, Virginia ham, salmon in puff pastry, Cheshire baby back ribs and sweet tea fried chicken. Reservations: 770-955-1187. In Alpharetta, Ray’s at Killer Creek is ready to please from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., offering a mouthwatering Easter Sunday buffet featuring traditional brunch favorites and sides, a made-to-order omelet station, build-your-own salad and pasta bars, house-smoked salmon, and specialties including rosemary roasted leg of lamb, BBQ smoked brisket, prime rib, lamb sliders with tzatziki, butterfly shrimp and stuffed flounder. A crepe station, cheese blintzes with berry compote, chocolate mousse, panna cotta cups, red velvet cake and other riches call out from the dessert bar. $39.95/adult, $19.95/ages 5-10. Reservations: 770-649-0064.

Keep checking our blog for more specials and festive menus from Atlanta’s best restaurants.

Ormsby’s Chef Nick Anderson Sticks to His Buns for Little Trouble Bunday Mar. 20

Bunday, Bunday, so good to be at Little Trouble for Monday Bunday on Mar. 20. Nick Anderson of neighboring Ormsby’s masters the bun-filling challenge as visiting chef at the weekly bun-derful evening. How many delicious buns can you hold? Find out from 8 p.m. until midnight. Drink specials abound to wash them down.

Brunch with the Best of ‘em -- Including Ormsby’s, Marlow’s Tavern and More -- at Atlanta Brunch Festival in Atlantic Station Mar. 11

Let the brunch toasting begin -- with bloody marys, mimosas or beer and wine if you prefer -- to the holy grail of weekend meals, brunch. Our city’s best brunch spots come together like sweet pancakes and syrup and savory shrimp and grits at the Atlanta Brunch Festival waffling through Atlantic Station Saturday, Mar. 11 from 12-5 p.m. Live music and DJ tunes turn the mega-brunch bunch into a party zone as fest-goers enjoy classic brunch beverages and sample brunch dishes from Marlow’s Tavern (an event sponsor), Ormsby’s and many other eateries. Buy tickets online in advance: $20 general admission includes entry and one food ticket; $75 VIP admission includes 11 a.m. early entry, unlimited drinks, VIP food tent and three food tickets. General admission tickets will be available on festival day for $25 each. Buy additional food tastes from vendors for $3 each; drinks will be available at the cash bar. Atlanta Beer Festivals and Atlanta Wine Party are producing the ages 21-and-up event (no under-21 exceptions; leave the kids, babies and pets at home)

Lean In to Lent with Seafood and Vegetarian Specialties

When Mardi Gras’ excess and fast times roll out, Lenten simplicity and fasting wash in. Atlanta restaurants have their ways with seafood and vegetarian dishes to help Lenten diners stay dedicated all the way to Easter dinner (but that’s another story).
 In Town5Church Atlanta pleases with Midtown lunch and dinner options such as appetizers of ahi tuna poke, charred octopus or butternut squash agnolotti. Lenten lunchers can bite into a crispy beet burger while the dinner crowd can savor a hearth-roasted whole fish. For dessert, save room for the Triple Scoop. Those forgoing meat for Lent can indulge on an elegant dinner of butter-braised lobster with truffle potatoes and broccoli mousseline presented with impeccable service at Aria in Buckhead. At Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland, catch cornbread-crusted Georgia trout, mashed potatoes, green beans and bourbon brown butter apples on the lunch and dinner menus. Weekend brunch throws in fried green tomato Benedict and a vegetarian skillet. Bank on The Federal in Midtown for a satiating lunch or dinner appetizer of chopped chicken liver, toast and cornichons. Midday, make the main thing a veggie grilled sandwich. Come dinnertime, latch onto whole loup de mer with chickpea pancake, fennel, olives, saffron yogurt and bee pollen. Mom would be proud of the HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern Super Food Plate, assembling a very veggie family of Mother Nature salad, fried green tomatoes and sautéed seasonal vegetables for a Midtown dinner. Jefe’s Tacos & Tequila heats up lots of Lenten “Ole!” in Brookhaven with seafood tacos filled with crispy calamari or “Baja fish” with slaw, pico de gallo, guac and serrano tartar sauce; Margarita shrimp tacos with green chili grits, cotija and picante and more. Order a couple of the same or go crazy and order a basket of several varieties.
On Atlanta’s Westside, harvest a veggie bowl at Ormsby's for the garden goodness of butternut squash risotto, asparagus, roasted red peppers and beurre blanc. Lenten diners can stay the course at Revival in Decatur where they’ll find dinner dishes such as local kale salad with apples, charred onion, artisan cheese and boiled dressing and savory Sunday brunch specialties such as cornmeal fried catfish served with smoked cheddar grits, milk gravy and hot sauce or a French-style omelette with soft herb cheese and roasted mushroom jus. OTPIn East Cobb, a stop at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar at the Avenue East Cobb nets oysters from North American waters and at the Raw Bar, wood-roasted octopus as a starter and those luscious lobster rolls. Stop in for lunch or dinner or a relaxing Sunday brunch. At Seed Kitchen & Bar, white corn grit fritters with jalapeño pepper jelly and Thomasville tome spice up Lenten lunches and dinners. Bay of Fundy salmon with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, melted leeks and truffle vinaigrette fills the bill come dinnertime. At neighboring Stem Wine Bar, choose non-meat small plates like Gulf shrimp al ajillo with garlic, chili, parsley, lemon and extra virgin olive oil and Spanish octopus braised in red wine with fava beans, Fresno chili and spring onion vinaigrette. Multiple LocationsMarlow’s Tavern offers seafood selections to please any appetite including “AB Style” Firecracker Shrimp with Tempura Fried Shrimp, Red Bell Peppers, Pepperoncini, Sweet Chili and Cracklin’ Spicy Sauce and Crispy Pan Roasted Rainbow Trout, with Sauteed Farro, Tiny Green Beans, Parsnip, Buerre Blanc and Apple Shallot Gastrique. Items available at all locations.
Willy’s Mexicana Grill wraps up burritos to please, and tofu steps in perfectly when meat is off your list for Lent. Or, ask for Willy’s salad topped with black beans, pico de gallo, black olives, cucumbers, roasted red peppers and jack cheese. All locations. While fish fries are popular on Fridays during Lent, Taco Mac locations turn out beer-battered fish tacos daily that are plump with SweetWater 420 beer-battered North Atlantic cod, ancho chili aioli, house-made slaw and mango pico de gallo. Is that much fun allowed in a meal?

Rise Up! Catch the NFC Championship at These Atlanta Restaurants

The early bird may get the worm but our Dirty Birds have a thing for cheese. The Atlanta Falcons take on the Green Bay Packers in this Sunday’s NFC Champion Game and these Atlanta restaurants are the perfect place for gameday watching. Even better perk? No dish washing after. Rise up!

• Atkins Park Virginia-Highland

• Hand in Hand

• HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern

• Marlow’s Tavern

• Ormsby’s

• Smokebelly BBQ

• Taco Mac

• Tin Lizzy’s Cantina

Buy a BOTE SUP “Save the Hooch” Raffle Ticket at Ormsby’s through July 30 or Your Chances of Winning are Sunk

Truthfully, you don’t stand a chance of standing up on that BOTE SUP if you fail to buy a raffle ticket at Ormsby’s before the July 30 drawing. Furthermore, all raffle proceeds go to the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, which needs your support to protect and preserve the Chattahoochee River Basin. How to? Through July 30, buy $5 raffle tickets for chances to win a high-quality BOTE standup paddle board. Additionally, Ormsby’s is donating $1 from every SweetWater brew sold, June through July, to the environmentally conscious organization. Cold brews, hip board, friendly bar. Summer doesn’t get much sweeter.

Aria, Ormsby’s, Gunshow and Milton’s Ambush Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival July 17

The stockpile is deep and ripe. Chefs, mixologists and farmers exchange code words like “Green Zebra,” “Mr. Stripey” and “Cherokee Purple” and strategies such as juice, dice, slice and fry. It’s time to roll. The Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival is going down Sunday, July 17, at Park Tavern in Piedmont Park, and chefs from Aria, Ormsby’s,Gunshow and Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails are elbow deep in the action. Who will contrive the tastiest tomato dishes and the best adult elixirs during the 1-5 p.m. battle backed by live music? One way to find out: Buy tickets to this eighth annual bombardment benefiting Georgia Organics. General admission tickets are $45 each; Georgia Organics members pay $40 per person; Garnish & Gather AKTF package is $70 per person. Buy tickets at Xorbia through July 16 (small service charge added at checkout).

What’SUP, Man? Ormsby’s SweetWater BOTE Board Raffle for Chattahoochee Riverkeeper – Buy Tickets Through July 30

Because it’s the rad and right thing to do to help Chattahoochee Riverkeeper efforts to protect and preserve the Chattahoochee River Basin. Through July 30, Ormsby’sand SweetWater Brewing Company are peddling $5 raffle tickets for a hip BOTE standup paddle board – ask an Ormsby’s server or bartender for details. Ormsby’s adds more liquid assets to the cause by donating $1 from every SweetWater brew sold in June and July to the environmentally conscious organization. Sweet beer, sweet board and a sweet, cool place to hang out on Atlanta’s Westside. Navigate the social stream at @sweetwaterbrewand @boteboards; tag along at #dontfloatthemainstream#crkeeper #atl #ormsbys #westside #coolatlanta #outdoors.

Scotley Innis of Ormsby’s Hits Westside Farmers Market Demo Stage at High Noon May 15

Glean tips and recipe ideas from Ormsby’s executive chef Scotley Innis at the Westside Farmers Market (WFM) on Sunday, May 15. Innis will pop over to his neighborhood market to do the noon chef demo, then it’s back to Ormsby’s for the Sunday brunch crowd. Keep Ormsby’s in mind for brunch after shopping the 10 a.m.-2 p.m. market at 14^thStreet and Howell Mill Road. Purchase Community Farmers Markets' new spring seasonal cookbook ($12) at WFM for brunch-time reading and planning the week’s menus.

Go Sunny-side Up Over Ormsby’s New Weekend Brunch Plates and Cocktail Menus

Ormsby’s weekend brunch is the Westside place to hash out upcoming plans over a plate of corned beef and hash with a sunny-side up egg ($12) and Ormsby’s yellow bloody Mary ($10). Rough week? Seek comfort in shrimp and grits resplendent with roasted red peppers, caramelized onions and a nip of cream sherry ($12 small, $16 regular) chased by blackberry ginger bourbon iced tea ($9). Tilt a Monkey Mosa ($8) in the left hand while the right hoists a jalapeño cheddar biscuit balancing fried chicken, scrambled eggs and cheddar not to mention sides of bacon, grits or potato hash ($10). Come again for a classic champagne cocktail ($9) and Southern-fried chicken and Belgian or red velvet waffles with chipotle syrup and two eggs ($10), salmon croquette Benedict ($14) or raisin challah French toast with applewood-smoked bacon ($10). Ormsby’s respects night owls by waiting until noon to serve brunch each Saturday and Sunday and keeping the plates coming until 3 p.m.  

Get Juiced for the Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival July 19

Tomatoes take over Atlanta’s Westside on Sunday, July 19 for the 7th annual Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival. Flee to Westside Provisions District from 1-5 p.m. as restaurateur Ford Fry brings together dozens of chefs and mixologists – including Aria’s Gerry Klaskala, Gunshow’s Mercedes O'Brien, Derek Dollar from Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails, Tom Gray from Moxie Kitchen & Cocktails in Jacksonville and Scotley Innis from Ormsby’s -- to concoct tomato-based food and drinks all for two worthy causes. Last year’s event squeezed out $120,000 for beneficiaries The Giving Kitchen and Georgia Organics, and this year’s festival looks to squeeze even more. In addition to tomato-ey concoctions, guests also will rock to live music from Ill Communication and Fry’s all-chef band Five Bone Rack. Purchase tickets online before they sell out.

Ride On! Annual Warren Bruno Summerfest Celebration Ride is the Wheel Thing on June 7

Did you heed the call? A couple of weeks ago, we mapped out the details for the annual Warren Bruno Summerfest Celebration Ride coming up this Sunday, June 7. Time for the rubber to hit the road to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and to remember Warren Bruno, owner of the flagship Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Bruno’s beloved “VA-HI” and Ormsby’s founder. Consider the family friendly cruise a warm up for the day’s Virginia-Highland Summerfest activities. Get a handle on all the info on our Atlanta Dish blog. 

Atkins Park and Ormsby’s Tap into Atlanta Sport & Social Club

Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland andOrmsby’s are both sending crews off-site to party and provide spirited sips and sustenance at the Atlanta Sport & Social Club’s Uncorked Atlanta wine and craft beer tasting experience at the Westside Cultural Arts Center on Friday, February 27. Now in its second year, Uncorked Atlanta pops the top on unlimited tastings of wine, craft beer and premium spirits plus light food pairings and the artsy vibe of live acoustic music and viewing gallery installations. The tasting experience runs from 6-9:30 p.m. After that, a cash bar opens for drink purchases, and a DJ commands the music and the party for the remainder of the night’s festivities.Atlanta magazine lists Uncorked Atlanta as one of four February Atlanta event picks not to miss! Tickets are $50 per person through February 27 and include a commemorative sampling glass, all the wine and craft beer one can safely consume during the 6-9:30 p.m. tasting and enables the ticket holder to stay on for the 9:30 p.m. post-tasting party