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Food and More with John Kessler

Eating at the Bar

10:41 am February 9, 2010, by John Kessler

When I’m alone, I really love dining at the bar. This may sound kind of dorky, but when I’m at the bar I always find it easier to eat less and savor my food more. Usually I can get away with one or two small plates and a very carefully sipped glass of wine, and I feel like I got to experience a restaurant without the caloric overload so often associated with a full meal out.

Here are three bar meals I’ve really enjoyed lately:

photoAt Zen on Ten Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar I ate this really tasty plate of hamachi serrano ($10) — a riff on Nobu Matsuhisa’s recipe. The sauce on the bottom is a blend of soy, yuzu (Japanese citron) and olive oil. I got a bowl of wonderfully chewy brown rice still in its mahogany husks and a small house salad. After the fish was gone, I surreptitiously poured the sauce over the rice. (Hat tip to Jonathan Baker at Citysearch for the recommendation.)

This restaurant has a pretty typical Thai/sushi bar thing going on, but it’s a lot less busy than other Westside destinations. In other words, It’s good to know about if you can’t get in to Antico Pizza Napoletana or Miller Union.

photo 3Bocado, also on the Westside, has a serious looking bar — solid, thick, nearly the length of the restaurant — that you’d think would be a magnet for diners. But it’s open to the room and seems strangely mammoth in proportion, like the monolith in “2001: A Space Odyssey.” For that reason, people seem to stop by for a quick drink while they’re waiting on the their party and then beeline to a table. I think people who dine at bars like them to feel cozier. I was the only barfly dining that night.

Still, the small-plates heavy menu lends itself perfectly to dining at the bar. I loved this chicken thigh ($10, above) with hashed brussels sprouts, bacon, crispy polenta and a suave chicken jus. In fact, I think I’d like to take chicken-thigh cooking lessons from chef Todd Ginsberg who manages to get the skin as crisp as if it were breaded. The boneless meat has none of those gushy fat pockets, veins, or squiggly bits that can turn you off this most flavorful part of the chicken. With a bowl of kale, lentil and sausage soup ($6), I had an ideally satisfying meal.

photo 2

More of a snack than a full meal, I washed down this bowl of chickpea, dried cherry and aged provolone salad ($4) with a cold IPA at Leon’s Full Service in Decatur. I knew dinner wasn’t happening that evening until after 9 p.m., so I’d need something in my stomach. It’s a funny dish — sweet, funky, a little bizarre — that always makes me happy when I eat it.

Here are my top three places to eat at the bar:

  1. Cakes & Ale: A cocktail and the farro bowl always hits the spot.
  2. Fritti: The dark seclusion of this bar is perfect for that snarf-an-entire-pizza-alone mood.
  3. Bacchanalia: You can order à la carte from the evening menu, and the staff will outfit your dish with the day’s amuse bouche, pre dessert and fresh, warm bread. It’s a great deal. (Eat it Atlanta has a fine post on Bacchanalia’s bar.)

What are yours?

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40 comments Add your comment

Egger

February 9th, 2010
10:58 am

The Shed at Glenwood is a great place to eat at the bar, as is Legal Seafood.

Burp Bacharach

February 9th, 2010
11:12 am

You can never go wrong at the Waffle House counter….

Frat-Headed-Gel-Boy

February 9th, 2010
11:14 am

I love eating at the bar at Feast when I’m by myself. There’s always someone to converse with, whether they’re waiting for a table or doing the same thing I am. Their customers and staff are always super friendly. There’s also an unobtrusive flat screen TV to watch if there’s nothing better to do.

jimmy

February 9th, 2010
11:23 am

Thanks for the shout out John. I also enjoy the bar at Abattoir, La Pietra Cucina, Varasano’s, Muss & Turner, and Waffle House (less uptight at the WH bar).

Agree re Cakes & Ale 100%

jimmy

February 9th, 2010
11:24 am

Just noticed someone else mentioned WH too. Ha!

SW diner

February 9th, 2010
11:24 am

A good bartender can make or break bar dining. La Tavola, Sotto Sotto, DBA Bar B Que and for such a big restaurant, I still love the bar at Two.

Jason

February 9th, 2010
11:30 am

I always prefer sitting at the bar. I like the communal aspect, it’s lower pressure, and I can hear my girlfriend better because she’s sitting right next to me instead of across the table (years of playing in salsa bands has taken its toll on my hearing).

ATL4Real

February 9th, 2010
11:45 am

why do morons always come on these boards and discuss stupid stuff like waffle house? now we just need someone to claim that the best place in town is their house.

Gwendolynne

February 9th, 2010
11:49 am

The best bar in town is the bar my husband lovingly built with his own hands in our rec room. It’s always stocked, my favorite TV show is always on, and I can jsut walk upstairs and go to bed when I’ve had too much :)

Kristin

February 9th, 2010
11:50 am

Maybe my husband and I had a bad experience at Cakes & Ales, but the service was terrible!!!! We had a reservation at 8:00 and we were finally seated at 8:45. I am pregnant so I asked the server how certain dishes were prepared so I could better decide what to order and she simply could not answer the questions nor did she even offer to inquire any further. After the appetizer they removed my husband’s fork and never replaced it so when after an additional half hour wait between the appetizer and entree we had to interrupt our server’s conversation with the bartender so my husband could get a fork to eat his food. After bringing the fork and she kind of stood there like she wanted to engage in conversation. We had to kind of forcefully restate that we were fine for now to get her to leave.
The food was good however the service was frustrating. To be blunt the hostess and the server both seemed to be very confused individuals.

M. Johnson

February 9th, 2010
11:50 am

I ate at Wahoo’s bar last weekend and it was a cool scene. I also like The Glenwood.

Paige

February 9th, 2010
11:55 am

Burger bar at Flip and Fox Bros BBQ

Kristin

February 9th, 2010
11:55 am

I do love the bar at Wahoo

laxatl

February 9th, 2010
12:01 pm

love eating at the original 5 Seasons in Sandy Springs bar. Get the perfectly cooked mussels for $10 and a hand-crafted beer. Helles goes good with them.

Jim R.

February 9th, 2010
12:05 pm

May be a fine but important distinction but all of the above are bars at restaurants. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I suggest trying a bar at a bar. Call me old-fashioned but give me a stool at Manuel’s, Georges, Moe’s and Joes, or (sorry ATL4real)even non-bar Waffle House. Good food, great company and no ferns.

Dishing Donna

February 9th, 2010
12:07 pm

One of my favorite bar menus is at SAGE in Alpharetta as well as VILLAGE TAVERN. Sometimes the suburbs got it going on! Check out my picks at: http://www.dishingwithdonnashow.blogspot.com

Marc

February 9th, 2010
12:10 pm

Brockett Pub great food, good beer selection and great wait staff. Not trendy at all so it qualifies as a bar.

KEEP IT REAL

February 9th, 2010
12:42 pm

I realized this when I finally had dinner at Rusans Sushi Bar. Very good conversation plus some perks if you chat with the cooks. Sometime you can even get some leftover drinks at a regular bar. Sitting at a bar also invites converstation from other people.

Jenna

February 9th, 2010
12:46 pm

Pure Taqueria in Woodstock!! They have an amazing roof top bar with great food, good bartenders, and heat in the winter too!

Westside Resident

February 9th, 2010
12:48 pm

ATL4Real, I understand your irritation with the class warfare that always breaks out on these boards, but as someone who enjoys the many great restaurants that Atlanta has to offer, I still appreciate the counter at Waffle House. Its a great way to have an enjoyable meal in a very “real” setting. I hope I never reach a point where I’m “to good” to have a seat at the counter and order up some scattered, smothered, chunked and toppped.

30030

February 9th, 2010
12:49 pm

WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO in Decatur. Half Price apps at the bar EVERYDAY 5-7 and half price wine bottles Tues-Thursday. Get ya some half of Depot and it’s the best bargain in town.
Awesome bartender.

Dave

February 9th, 2010
1:08 pm

Let’s see…eating at the bar….looking at 140 different taps of beer, more TV’s than anywhere else and the best wings and sports bar food in Atlanta…TACO MAC !

East Lake Ira

February 9th, 2010
1:12 pm

We like the bar at the Porter (get that name right?) when it’s just us two… the one at Rathbun’s is nice as well…

Rollo Tomasi

February 9th, 2010
1:17 pm

There are no more real bars anymore. Sure, the literal definition still applies: A large wooden structure with stools at it that people can sit at and be waited on by the bartender. But as far as a BAR, it does not exist. I would just love a place that was an actual bar. You go in, have drinks, there are pool tables and dart boards, and this last comment will piss people off, there is smoking(insert evil music). I will admit that having a few simple appetizers would be nice, but not like a full menu. One day when I retire, I will open up a place like this. It is a dream I have.

Lisa

February 9th, 2010
1:37 pm

The bar at Vickery’s on Crescent is excellent! Also WH.

Buzz

February 9th, 2010
1:40 pm

Y-KNOTS in PTC!!! The best bar on the southside of town and I can drive my golf cart to the bar! Great hang out with really good food and GREAT wait staff!!!! LOVE THAT BAR!!

Amy

February 9th, 2010
2:10 pm

Love your topic! My husband and I always sit at the bar at C&S Seafood and Oyster Bar when we go there sans kids. We sit in the same spot each time and enjoy the chatter and people watching from that vantage point. We like a bartender there, Marshall. He takes great care of you and never lingers or hovers. By the way, C&S is doing a Thursday night Happy Hour. Just need to find the time and a babysitter to get over there on a weeknight.

John Kessler

February 9th, 2010
2:35 pm

Amy – I met some friends for dinner recently at C&S and got there early. Loved that bar. Tried to get everyone to stay but they wanted a table. Kristin — Hope they see your comments about service at Cakes & Ale. That sounds frustrating.

tomkat

February 9th, 2010
3:09 pm

Gus’s Disco in Tucker. When you have had too much fun you can just lie down on the picnic table.

sid

February 9th, 2010
3:55 pm

Did you notice the health dept. score for C@S?Take a look!

ATLdawg, ya dig?

February 9th, 2010
4:40 pm

Rollo Tomasi- Go to Elbow Room. it’s what you’re looking for.

HF bar, anyone? Drink your dinner and wash it down with salty-buttered bread.

Does Waffle House even count? We’re not talking counters, right?

Muffin

February 9th, 2010
4:52 pm

I’ve always felt you get more attention and more personalized service when you sit at a bar instead of a table. You get to know the bartender/server, while servers seem to come and go at a lot of restaurants. I like to eat lunch or dinner at the bar at Righteous Room. Granted, a lot of people don’t like the smoke, but there is no other place like it as far as the food, people and atmosphere. Twains is also a favorite “eat at the bar” destination especially for the Saturday/Sunday brunch. Everyone there is really nice as well.

FM Fats

February 9th, 2010
7:51 pm

Social Resto is a good joint for bar eating, and the Lovely Ginger and I like both the bar and the counter at The Shed. I wish Varasano’s bar was bigger; the bar at Vesuvius is nice, as is the pizza.

Ganners

February 10th, 2010
8:30 am

I love having dinner at the bar in Simpatico on the Square in Marietta. Draws a nice crowd. Great food. A perk for me is that it is walking distance. I love having a nice meal without the fuss of table service. Also, Keagan’s has something special going on—perhaps it is the bottomless mimosas? Irish brunch is a great thing when there is a fine line between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

ATLFoodie

February 10th, 2010
8:56 am

The Bar at The Mansion on Peachtree stepped up its game with a new menu – Sweetgrass Chevre Fondue (they recommend for two – but you might want to enjoy it all yourself!) and you can’t go wrong with the Crispy Pork Belly.

And I love to sit at the sushi bar at Nakato. The chefs have great recommendations and know just how much to chat and when to let you savor your sake & sushi. Definitely stop by when flying fish is a special…amazing.

Jere

February 10th, 2010
10:39 am

Hey Rollo, the Blue Ribbon in Tucker is a real bar and for a bonus there are several big hair lady waitresses that have been working there probably since the 70’s

Jason L. Greene

February 11th, 2010
11:15 am

Jonathan, thanks for the tip about Bacchanalia. Prefer eating at the bar, whenever I can.

John Kessler

February 11th, 2010
11:25 am

You’re welcome, Jasonathan.

ziza

February 11th, 2010
1:21 pm

ditto rathbun’s bar. best seat and service in town.

Courtney

February 12th, 2010
11:27 am

I adore the bar at Abattoir, but also have to add JCT Bar to the list. The menu is limited, but as long as I have access to the Angry Mussels, I’m a happy camper. The $10 pimento cheese burger and beer special during the week rounds out a great meal in a beautiful space with less pressure than eating downstairs.