Raving about Ramen Mondays at 5Church Atlanta

Ramen heads, prepare to be bowled over -- in a comforting, soul-warming way -- by the new Ramen Monday menu at 5Church Atlanta in Midtown. Chef Scotley Innis builds three different noodle bowl combinations with fresh, bright veggies and meats, poultry or vegetarian-pleasing proteins like tofu every Monday, in addition to the regular menu. Chopstick, spoon and slurp through offerings such as braised oxtail with scallions, bean sprouts, kimchi, napa cabbage, portobello mushrooms, pickled scotch bonnet peppers, soft-boiled egg and cilantro ($16); seared duck with scallions, bok choy, soft-boiled egg, shiitake mushrooms and edamame ($19) or tofu with bok choy, edamame, shiitake mushrooms, nori, Fresno chili peppers and carrots ($14). All combos top an umami-rich ramen and broth base layer. Kirin Ichiban and Kirin Ichiban Light ($6 each) add to the authenticity of the meal. Romance the ramen at lunch, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. or dinner, beginning at 5 p.m. Walk-ins and reservations accepted. 

Do Lunch at Livingston in The Georgian Terrace Hotel

Tell the office lunch bunch they can have it all -- signature specialties, efficient service, reasonable pricing, close proximity and an elegant Midtown setting – at Livingston Restaurant + Bar in the historic Georgian Terrace Hotel. Neighbors, you, too. Classic and contemporary Southern cuisine options grace executive chef Mark Breault’s fine-tuned menu at the sleek restaurant, enabling guests to quickly zero in on selections like a daily chef’s soup ($7) drawing upon locally sourced ingredients or work veggies into their day through enticing Bites & Greens of burrata roasted peppers, taproot salad or succotash salad ($10-$14); add chicken, shrimp for steak for $5.

Sandwiches of smoked trout salad with brie on ciabatta, the eight-ounce Mims burger with blue goat cheese and red wine balsamic-braised onions; veggie on French bâtard; grilled, local Cajun andouille with remoulade and pepper relish; or grilled, blackened chicken and pimento cheese on a buttermilk biscuit all come with a choice of fries, house salad, house chips or soup ($10-$12). Fried chicken paillard, butternut squash agnolotti, risotto cake shrimp, house-smoked BBQ pork shoulder with grits and greens and a seasonal vegetable plate handle hearty appetites ($12-$16).

Peppermint brittle candy sundae with mint and chocolate chip gelato, Fuji apple praline pecan bar pie and Nutella and Oreo Mississippi mud pie sweeten the afternoon ($7). Livingston serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sit a spell or eat and run as your day demands. Reservations accepted on the website or call 866-845-7551 for more information; walk-ins welcome. Street, parking lot and valet parking are available.

Babalu Morphs National Margarita Day into Baba-rita™ Week through Feb. 25

National Margarita Day, a holiday well worth its salt, is much too tasty to relegate to the official one-day status of Feb. 22. Babalu Tapas & Tacos expands on tradition, offering its signature Baba-Rita™ to guests for $7 — throughout the entire week! Si, Baba-Rita™ lovers can enjoy this potent sipper for just $7, now through Sunday, Feb. 25. The Baba-Rita™ is so smooth and desirable, Babalu trademarks the name for its perfect-o blend of Patron Silver tequila, agave nectar, fresh-squeezed sour mix, POM and triple sec. Guess you’ll have to experience one (or two) up close and personally at Babalu, in Midtown

“Huevos” Hello to Huevos Rancheros and More on Bulla Gastrobar’s New Brunch Menu starting Feb. 24

How do you keep that Valentine’s Day high? Take your sweet ones to Bulla Gastrobar for brunch and love life over the new brunch dishes. Tostada de aguacate (avocado toast) hits the comfort-food-and-good-for-you-too spot sporting avocado spread, heirloom tomato slices, grated smoky Idiazabal cheese and a drizzle of EVOO atop toasted multigrain bread ($8.50). Bocata de huevo (egg sandwich) cradles homemade sausage and eggs, tetilla cheese and tomato butter between slices of multigrain bread with a side of smoked paprika fries ($11). Lasso Bulla’s Spanish version of huevos rancheros made with two fried eggs, brava sauce, green and red peppers and served with a side of crispy bread ($12). Chorizo gravy spikes buttermilk-marinated, crisp-fried chicken breast in new chicken and waffles ($16). Share churro s’mores for dessert ($10). Churros, rolled in sugar and graham cracker crumbs, oust the crackers before the hot iron melds and melts the classic Hershey bar and marshmallow middle. Want a perfectly paired brunch experience? Order off their prix fixe menu ($27) and enjoy three courses of dishes that will make you say “boo-ya” to boring brunch. Bulla opens for brunch at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. It’s a given that you’ll find bubbly mimosas and other glorious brunch bevies calling out from the beverage menu at this bright spot of sunny Spain in Midtown. 

Come and Get It! Fried Chicken Night Sunday Suppers at HOBNOB

Can’t you hear that dinner bell ringing, smell the enticing aroma of chicken frying and anticipate the golden glow of crisp-tender bird flying hot from the kitchen to your place at the table? Sunday Night Supper at HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern harkens back to a much revered Southern tradition: Sunday fried chicken. HOBNOB buttermilk batters and fries 100 percent all-natural, hormone- and antibiotic-free Springer Mountain Farms chicken. The juicy bird comes flanked by Southern sides of mashed potatoes, gravy and a different vegetable each week. HOBNOB hosts Fried Chicken Night every Sunday from 5 p.m. until close. Yes, in grandma’s day, Sunday’s fried chicken feast flourished as a midday meal, and supper might have included some leftover wings and a prayer. Nudging the dinner staple to suppertime clears the day for appetite-building activities, warranting you’ll be a member of grandma’s “clean plate club.”

Whisk Away to Winter in Spain Savoring Bulla Gastrobar’s Seasonal Specialties

An epicurean vacation in sunny Spain is so close you can taste it. Jet to Bulla Gastrobar in Midtown, where the “Winter in Spain” menu simmers, stuffs and slow roasts a Spanish tapas bar excursion you won’t want to miss. Bring friends and share small plates of shishito peppers fashioned after the Spanish dish “padrones rellones,” stuffed with Mahón cheese, panko and spicy tomato ($8). Inspired by Caldo Gallego, warming Galician soup rewards those who spoon into its flavorful broth with mouthfuls of white beans, pork shank, chorizo and good-for-you kale ($9). Mull over tender morsels of slow-roasted pig with pork demi, Bulla’s take on lechon asado, along with its side of melt-in-your-mouth panadera potatoes ($23). Piquillo peppers Vizcaina-style, stuffed with ground beef and pork with béchamel and black currants ($11), and meaty lamb chops basking in honey beer reduction with kale and potato foam ($23) offer more incentive to leave baggage behind and head Spain-ward. To celebrate your mini vacation, enjoy an imaginative cocktail like the Mariposa Negra (made with Old Forester 100, butterfly pea powder syrup, lemon juice and St-Germain), housemade sangria, craft beer or glass of Spanish (or American) wine. Relaxation to the max.

5Church to Open in Midtown Atlanta Early 2016, Will Connect Three of the South's Tastiest Towns

5Church, which has an existing location in Charlotte and a second opening in Charleston, will open a Midtown Atlanta location in the first quarter of 2016. The newest venture from restaurateurs Patrick Whalen, Ayman Kamel, Alejandro Torio and Jamie Lynch will be located at 1197 Peachtree Street, NE and will serve lunch and dinner daily along with weekend brunch. Partner and executive chef Jamie Lynch boasts an impressive background -- Le Cirque, Aureole and Café Boulud as well as Blue and Barrington's in Charlotte. His menu will feature some 5Church favorites that have garnered him recognition as Charlotte Magazine's Best Chef for three consecutive years. Look for "60 second" NY strip steak, 5Church lamb burger with red onion marmalade and Gorgonzola fondue as well as locally sourced dishes original to the Atlanta location. A 200-bottle curated wine list and a selection of specialty cocktails and craft beers will complement Lynch's menu. What's in a name? 5Church derives its nomenclature from the location of the group's first restaurant on the corner of 5th and Church in Uptown Charlotte.

T.G.I.F.! Bantam + Biddy Pours Acoustic Cocktails on Crescent

Ease into the weekend with Bantam + Biddy’s Acoustic Cocktails on Crescent. On Fridays from 6-9 p.m., release workweek stress with live music and cocktail specials. Guest bartender Derrick Norris shakes up cocktails from Independent Distilling Co. including $4 Biddy Marys, mimosas and Jameson shots and pours $2 draft beers. Weekend, here we come!

Article 14 Docks Prices on Two Renowned Wines on Wine Wednesdays

Photo Credit: Dan Carmody

You be the judge, but we think this is a super deal for Midtown wine aficionados. Turning Wednesdays into Wine Wednesdays, Article 14 offers bottles of Jordan Vineyard & Winery cabernet for $35 (regularly $110 per bottle) and Cakebread Cellars cabernet for $65 (regularly $150 per bottle). Toast savings of 60-70 percent as you share a bottle or two with friends. Small plates and entrées on the Article 14 menu are delicious go-withs!

Happy Hour All Day at RA Sushi on January 19

There's no better place to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Day than Atlanta, and on Monday, January 19, there's no better place to eat than RA Sushi Bar Restaurant in Midtown. We suggest honoring our hometown hero by coming together for a day of service in the community. Afterwards, stop by RA Sushi to enjoy your favorite happy hour specials including Viva Las Vegas rolls and "RA"kin' shrimp along with creative cocktails such as the Lotus Blossom and Tokyo Peach at special happy hour prices all day long from 11 a.m.-midnight. RA Sushi guests can obtain two hours of validated parking in the 1010 Midtown parking garage off Crescent Avenue.

10th & Piedmont and G's Midtown's Birthday Celebration is TONIGHT!

10th & Piedmont and G's Midtown are celebrating their birthdays by gifting guests half off the price of any dinner food items today, December 10. G's Midtown is marking its first year, and 10th & Piedmont clocks in with year number two. Both restaurants are extending the half-price favor over the 5-10 p.m. dinner hours as a way of saying thank you to friends who have shared the year of meals, spirits and merrymaking in Midtown. G's Midtown karaoke night mic provides more entertainment from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. for those who want to keep the revelry going into the wee hours.

Article 14 Raises a Glass to Prohibition Repeal Day on December 5

Not pulling your bootleg, Prohibition was repealed on December 5, 1933, meaning after 13 years of Prohibition, Americans enjoyed the right to legally raise a glass of cheer for the holidays. The date became known as Repeal Day, a day to applaud the laws that guarantee our rights as Americans. That's reason enough for Article 14 in Midtown to offer celebratory specials on Friday, December 5, including an old-fashioned cocktail ($12), Waldorf salad ($10), and an entrée of filet en croute bouquetiere de legumes with Madeira sauce (served old school on a silver platter for $29). Celebrate this freedom, because you can!

Let the Good Times Roll Across Atlanta Today for Mardi Gras

Today is Fat Tuesday, and we're not about to miss out on the opportunity to live it up on one of the greatest days of the year for foodies. Honor the occasion with all of the food, frivolity, sweets and spirit(s) of a NOLA native. These Atlanta establishments are doing just that!

Call it Mardi Gras or call it Fat Tuesday. Either way, the annual day of decadence before Lent has "all you can eat and drink" written all over it. 10^th & Piedmont is more than happy to oblige on Tuesday, March 4, beginning at 6:30 p.m. They're coupling an all-you-can-eat low country boil and an all-you-can-drink deal on select premium beers. Local singer/songwriter James Patrick Morgan performs. Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door.  

The Fat Tuesday celebration at Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland promises a full day of beads, beers (including Abita Restoration), hurricanes, oysters, gumbo, king cake and po'boys. Go ahead, parade down Highland Avenue with your krewe.

Mardi Gras knows (almost) no time constraints at Marlow's Tavern locations, where Bayou 'n Bourbon emphasizes New Orleans tastes through March 31. Fill up on "Mo' Betta" specials such as roasted chicken and shrimp gumbo, fiery spice lump crab cake, Honey Jack chicken and andouille flatbread, N'awlins-style po'boy, a Bayou burger packing andouille sausage and crispy crawdads, deconstructed jambalaya and Sweet Bourbon St. rib-eye steak ($6.50-$26). Jack Daniel's Honey douses the honey bourbon bread pudding ($7). Marlow's upholds Bourbon Street's beverage traditions and spins its own twists: the (not Pat's) Marlow's hurricane jazzes up Pat O'Brien's recipe with Bacardi Light rum and a floater of 151, and Ramos gin fizz, Bourbon St. lemonade and a Cajun cosmo are just as heady ($8-$9.50). Louisiana "home brew" Abita Restoration and malty Abita Amber pair perfectly with all things Cajun ($5.50); Sokol Blosser Evolution from Oregon keeps wine lovers in the loop ($11/$44).

Are your feet on Bourbon Street, NOLA or in Ray's in the City on Peachtree Street, ATL? Ray's in the City plants Mardi Gras merrymaking right into the heart of downtown Atlanta on Tuesday, March 4. From 5-8 p.m., Ray's in the City rocks the Mardi Gras vibe with fun drink specials, live music and Cajun-inspired appetizers. Bust out your gold, purple and green beads! It's time to party hearty, and there's no cover charge.

If clamoring that Cajun-French expression "Laissez les bons temps rouler" or "let the good times roll" sends visions of rich and round bonbons twirling through your head, roll right into Chocolate South. The artisan chocolate shop on Atlanta's Westside is crafting Mardi Gras sweets. Key lime balls are as colorful as Mardi Gras beads, and Kona coffee with Gran Marnier beauties look a bit like the fleur de lis worn by the New Orleans Saints, don't you think? These tasty baubles are a steal at $3 each.

Get Happy With 50 Cent Wings and Tenders Weekdays at Bantam + Biddy

Photo by Angie Mosier

After being stuck inside for so long because of all this crazy Atlanta weather, we're ready to fly the coop in search of some delectable new deals. First stop? Bantam + Biddy for wings and tenders at 50 cents apiece Mondays through Fridays from 3-6 p.m. All of the chicken at Bantam + Biddy is all-natural and pasture-raised. Peck out a text or tweet friends to join you at either the original Ansley Mall location or the new Crescent Avenue venue. Make a toast to finally getting out of the house with a beer, cocktail, glass of wine or classic sweet tea, then chow down on some of the best wings and tenders in town.

Treat Your Valentine to Atlanta Food & Wine Festival Tickets Starting February 14

The perfect Valentine's Day gift for your favorite foodie is only a few clicks away. Tickets to the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival are available for purchase online starting February 14th. Plan ahead and mark the dates of May 29-June 1, 2014 on your calendar to sync with that lucky someone. Food & Wine magazine presents this four-day festival that fills Midtown with more than 90 learning experiences, big tasting tents full of tasting experiences from around the Southern half of the globe, and a bevy of special dinners and parties at restaurants and unique venues. We hope Cupid has a pair of tickets flying our way!

Coffee for Early Birds and Dinner for Night Owls at New Bantam + Biddy in Midtown

Early birds in Midtown Atlanta now have another reason to celebrate! Newly opened Bantam + Biddy is serving coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner and adult beverages seven days a week at Crescent Avenue and 12th Street. Meet up for business and a power breakfast of fried chicken and waffles or a pastured three-egg omelet. Need a caffeine boost to get the day started? Stop in for a refuel cuppa after a fast morning walk. As does its Ansley Mall sibling, the new eatery features local JB Farms eggs, organic Alabama milk and all-natural and pastured poultry on its menu ($5-$14). Lunch and dinner choices include "meat-and-two" options such as a quarter or half chicken or eco-friendly pork loin, meatloaf made with White Oak Pastures grass-fed beef along with other entrées ($12-$16). Sandwiches range from Southern fried chicken or California club to a falafel wrap. A mighty salad line-up features the "Power House" topped with egg, roasted broccoli, sprouts, organic almonds and other goodies, and an organic spinach salad with quinoa, apples and goat cheese, among others. Gluten-free seekers will find plenty to please. Sides and desserts make for even more satisfaction. Little Cluckers, 10 and under, enjoy a special $8 menu featuring fried chicken tenders, rotisserie chicken, whole wheat quesadilla and other kid favorites with organic juice or milk. Gotta go? Call in to the carry-out counter (404-835-6450), and with 30 minutes notice, your "Family Meal" ($45) for three to five people is ready to go, with rotisserie chicken, meatloaf or 24-ounce roasted pork loin, an organic green salad, jalapeño cornbread, choice of dressing, three sides and a half-gallon of freshly brewed tea.

Easy roosting -- enter Bantam + Biddy directly from the 1010 Midtown parking garage on Crescent Avenue; the first two hours of parking are free. Weekdays, the espresso bar pours Batdorf & Bronson coffee beginning at 6:30 a.m., and the restaurant begins serving breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Doors open at 8 a.m. weekends. The restaurant is open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday night, 10:30 p.m. on Friday and 10 p.m. on Saturday.

G's Midtown Celebrates American Classics with Ribs & Ryes Menu Through January 21

Two American legacies - rye whiskey and succulent ribs - come together for Ribs & Ryes at G's Midtown, January 8-21. Baby back ribs glazed in Georgia peach rye barbecue sauce come with sides of smoked baked beans, coleslaw and Parmesan truffle "chips." Bone-in beef short ribs are slow braised with red wine and whiskey and joined by roasted carrots, celery and onions over creamy whipped garlic mashed potatoes. Hearty pork ribs in a plum and rye glaze are accompanied by skillet mac and cheese and green beans. Rib dishes are priced from $10-$16. Menu loyalists, the regular menu is still in play. From the "Ryes" menu, tip back a Catcher in the Rye or honey rye old fashioned incorporating Doc Holiday Double Barrel rye, Diamondback with Doc Rittenhouse rye or try Bulleit rye whiskey in the Sazerac. All cocktails are priced at $9 or at $4 for rye shorties. Do the rye thing and reserve a table: 404-872-8012.

Pop In to HOBNOB for Holiday Favorite Pot Pies

This week's forecast calls for chilly temperatures, early sunsets and steaming hot pot pies to keep us warm. Just in time for the holidays, HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern is popping out their fan favorite pot pies featuring smoked chicken, bacon, lots of veggies and savory gravy wrapped inside a tender, flaky crust. It's our dining pick to heat things up after any wintry outdoor activities around Midtown. Hurry in, because these seasonal treats are only being served for a limited time!

No. 246 Visits Westside Provisions District for Pop Up Chef Series Lunch on September 25

This Wednesday is all about the Westside as Decatur's No. 246 brings lunch to the Pop Up Chef Series at Westside Provisions District on September 25. Make a pit stop at the ATM for this cash-only meal, then grab a boxed lunch and drink that will make the whole office jealous. Pop Up Chef serves from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. or until the victuals run out, so don't delay. Check Facebook on September 24 for menu specifics.

Appetizing Aperture: Back-to-School Bash at RA Sushi

School may have just started, but that doesn't mean it's too soon to pull an all-nighter at RA Sushi Bar Restaurant's back-to-school bash beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 29. Leave the lunch box and thermos at home, because the themed food and drink specials are all straight-"A" hits. With a guest DJ and gift card prizes, you'll have plenty to party about while you study up on Professor Pineapple's wontons, School House shrimp and Teacher's chicken or fish tacos ($4-$7). Sushi studies highlight the Dean's roll and the Honor roll ($6), and Chemistry class stirs up concoctions such as All-Nighter sangria, Brain Freeze cocktails and the Bookworm Bite ($5). Beer and sake specials include School Girl hot sake ($5), Sapporo/Sapporo Light ($5) or Kirin/Kirin Light ($6). No need to enroll to get your hands on these rolls!