Atlanta Quarantine Eats October Edition
Welcome to Quarantine Eats! After a two-month hiatus, I’m back! I was out of state visiting my parents in Texas for a bit but don’t worry I’m back to regularly scheduled programming.
Instead of my weekly posts, for the month of October, I’ve decided to summarize all my favorite bites and/or new eats in one post. To see every place I’ve grabbed “takeout” from during the pandemic check out the complete Atlanta Quarantine Eats Guide.
The goal of this take-out series is to hopefully inspire some of you to try a new spot, highlight Atlanta restaurants that are open, support an Atlanta restaurant impacted by COVID-19, support a black-owned business, or just try some darn good food! Atlanta take-out doesn’t have to be boring. Restaurants are going above and beyond to make your at-home dining experience amazing. If you’ve been following along, thank you!
October Summary
Tap on the images to read more on the restaurants covered in the October Edition of Quarantine Eats. For quick access, please also refer to the summary of the restaurants below. In October of 2020, I went to 32 spots, including 17 spots that I haven’t covered in any of the prior Quarantine Eats posts. Half of the 17 spots were completely new to me. Enjoy!
Breakfast & Pastries
Buteco feat. Chef Shay Lavi || COCO Bakehouse Pop-Up || Goodness Graceous (Pop-Up) || Little Tart Bakeshop || Osono Bread (Pop-Up) || Poco Loco (Pop-Up) || Redbird || Root Baking Co. || Star Provisions
Coffee
Brash Coffee || Chrome Yellow Trading Co || Con Leche || Muchacho
American-ish
Alon’s Bakery || Little Bear || Staplehouse || Vinetta (Pop-Up)
Latin-ish
8Arm || Arepa Mia || Buena Gente || Casa Cardoza (Pop-Up) || Estela’s Cocina (Pop-Up) || Lupe’s Eatery (Pop-Up)
mediterranean & Italian
Delbar || GiGi’s Italian Kitchen x Goodness Graceous (Pop-Up) || Glide Pizza
Thai, Laotian, Japanese & Vietnamese
Bún Mì || Chirori || Ry’s Table (Pop-Up) || Snackboxe Bistro || Talat Market || Tyde Tate Kitchen (Pop-Up)
Breakfast & Pastries
Buteco feat Chef Shay Lavi
Grant Park at The Beacon
Buteco’s weekend brunch just got a facelift with the kitchen takeover by pop-up chef Shay Lavi of Let’s Eat! Catering. I first attended one of Shay’s pop-ups back in August (see Quarantine Eats Week 8) where he made the most delicious Turkish pastries and burnt sugar mint tea. His catering business offers an assortment of Israeli, Turkish, and Egyptian cuisine; while his menu at Buteco is focused on highlighting local ingredients and elevating traditional brunch dishes.
Menu items include egg sandwiches, shakshuka sandwiches, sweet potato hash, and more! They open at 9 am on Sundays so you can place your order online, explore Grant Park Farmer’s Markets and get some beautiful flowers from Chattahoochee Queen, and then enjoy your order from Buteco! And also don’t forget to check out Shay’s offerings from his other business - Let’s Eat! Catering.
Dining: No indoor dining but outdoor seating is available.
Ordering: You can order ahead online or in person.
ZdApproved Eats: Egg Sandwich & Sweet Potato Hash
COCO Bakehouse
Delivery
Head over to Quarantine Eats Week 9 for my rave reviews on Courtney’s cakes of COCO Bakehouse!
Just one additional note. Back in August, I ordered a six-inch cake for Nizar’s birthday. For my mother-in-law’s birthday a few weeks ago, I decided to order some mini cakes so that we could have our own cakes.
Each mini cake is $20 and slightly larger than a big cupcake. On the other hand, a six-inch cake is $60 and is definitely bigger than three mini-cakes combines. So if you are debating on what to do then I would go with the six-inch cake. But on the other hand, the mini cakes come in handy when you are looking to have a socially-distanced event. It’s all up to you, either way, it’s all equally delicious and beautiful.
Ordering: Send an email to courtney@cococakehouse.com and detail the date, type of cake, decor inspiration, etc, and await confirmation. Payment is requested via Venmo.
ZdApproved Eats: Vanilla Cake with Salted Caramel Filling & Buttercream (I want to try the matcha buttercream next!)
Goodness Graceous
Little Five Points at Aurora Coffee
Goodness Graceous, round two of these pastries were just as phenomenal as the first time! Grace is the talented baker behind Goodness Graceous. She has been with Little Tart Bakeshop for almost three years but also sells her pastries at Aurora Coffee on Saturdays and for front porch delivery 2 - 4 times a month. These pastries are next-level good.
The pastry options change weekly and are inspired by seasonal ingredients. Grace mentioned that she uses the same all-butter crust for her hand pies but rotates the fruit seasonally. Last weekend we got a hand pie with pear, apple, and cardamom. Previously we had a peach and blueberry hand-pie. The hand-pie was flakey, not too sweet, and I loved the addition of the sugar crust. We also got a roasted squash, spinach, and goat cheese scone. Possibly the best scones in the business!
I’ve been seeing some amazing bagels and cinnamon rolls on her Instagram page, so I have my eyes on that next! And FYI, we got our pastries around 9 am, but apparently they sell out earlier than that sometimes! Grace loves baking the old-fashioned way - all from scratch and to quote her “The highest compliment I could receive would probably be one from someone’s grandma.” I’m no grandma, but it was definitely #zdapproved!
Dining: N/A
Ordering: Follow on Instagram to see what’s available at Aurora on Saturdays. You have to order inside but payment is contactless. You can ask the barista to touch the screen for you.
ZdApproved Eats: Hand Pie & Scone
Little Tart Bakeshop
Grant Park
We may not be traveling to Paris anytime soon but Little Tart Bakeshop will get you pretty close! Galettes, sables, croissants, quiches & the list goes on. The pastry possibilities are endless at this place. You really can’t go wrong with your pastry decision. I have never disliked anything I’ve ordered from them!
They have done an excellent job with implementing safe social distancing measures. All three locations are open for take-out only. Their indoor space is closed to the public but they recently opened up the patio seating at their Grant Park and Summerhill locations.
And when visiting their Summerhill store, walk 10 steps over to their sister restaurant, Big Softie, for the best soft serve, toppings & waffle cones ever!
Dining: No indoor dining but they recently opened up their patios to enjoy your takeout.
Ordering: Three possible ways of ordering: a) walk up and order at all of their locations; b) pre-order for same-day pick up through their website. This option is only available for pick up at Grant Park; or, c) pre-order pastry boxes (no modifications) and larder items through their catering store with 24 hours notice for pick-up at Grant Park and Peachtree Road Farmer's Market. Please note that even if you pre-order you still have to stand in line on the pink stars. There isn’t a separate line for pick-ups.
ZdApproved Eats: Everything - but most recently Cinnamon Croissant Toast, Vegan Ginger Oat Muffin, Bostock, Croissant, and Matcha Latte (+ marshmallow).
Osono Bread
Grant Park Farmer’s Market & Freewheel Farms
Osono Bread started her own bread business back in 2018 with the goal of using 100 percent regional grains and flours. In honor of Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Betty of Osono made specialty Pan de Muerto boxes which are mini loaves with different flavors and/or fillings. As recommended by Betty, they tasted best warmed up with a cup of coffee. We also added some local butter to the ones that weren’t as sweet. The flavors included:
Traditional — orange blossom, orange zest sugar (my favorite)
Chocolate — cocoa, clove, cinnamon, chocolate ganache filling, @beautifulbrinysea Mexican-chocolate sugar
Hibiscus — lemon cream filling, hibiscus syrup, hibiscus sugar
Sesame — local honey, toasted sesame seeds
Unfortunately, she only makes this specialty treat once a year, so you will have to wait but I still recommend trying her weekly bread creations. In the past, we have tried her Country Sourdough but there are so many other options that I’m looking forward to trying.
Ordering: You can preorder & pay for weekly bread pick-up at Grant Park Farmer’s Market or Freewheel Farms (alternating weekends) on her website. Some bread is also reserved for walk-ups but if you show up too late, it may be sold out.
ZdApproved Eats: Sesame Pan de Muerto & Country Sourdough
Poco Loco
Candler Park
This is now my third time writing about Poco Loco. For more on them refer to Quarantine Eats Week 9. As a brief preview, Poco Loco is a weekly burrito pop-up that also offers soup, salsas, agua frescas, and unique cookie sandwiches. Their new Poco Doozie (cookie sandwiches) was a snickerdoodle cookie with horchata buttercream. It was really delicious, especially if you are a fan of horchata. I personally preferred the chocolate chip one but I would still eat this one any day!
Ordering: Check Poco Loco’s Instagram account at 11 am on Wednesday for the weekly menu. Email your order and wait for confirmation. Once you’ve received confirmation you Venmo the money and pick-up on Saturday morning (between 8 am - 9:30 am). The pick-up address is provided in the email. Pro-tip: Sign up to be on their mailing list for early bird access (10 am)!
ZdApproved Eats: Vegetarian Burrito (when it’s available) & the Poco Doozie
Redbird
West Midtown
Redbird’s brunch (which I tried in December of 2019) has been on hiatus since the pandemic, but as of three weeks ago, they started Biscuit Saturdays! From 11 - 3 pm (or sold out) you can get plain biscuits or biscuit sandwiches. I don’t eat a lot of chicken anymore since my husband became a pescatarian but the “Little Birdy” was something I would go back for! The biscuit was crispy and buttery and paired well with the fried chicken and chili maple glaze. So good that a Yellowjacket wouldn’t leave us alone (true story)!
While most of the biscuit options have remained the same since opening they have been introducing weekly specials. There are plenty of options for both meat-eaters and vegetarians. They also set up a full bar outdoors, including drip coffee, to pair with your biscuits. Definitely add this to your weekend brunch rotation.
Dining: Outdoor patio seating available for Redbird customers. Plenty of space to spread out and be more than six feet from other people.
Ordering: Order in person at their take-out window. They don’t accept mobile pay but had a jar of “sanitized pens”.
ZdApproved Eats: Little Birdy & Plain Biscuit with Jam & Butter
Root Baking Co.
Old 4th Ward at Ponce City Market
Root Baking Co. is back in action. They were closed for most of the pandemic (with limited pastry and bread sales every week) but have now brought back a limited brunch menu for Saturdays & Sundays! We love their breakfast croissant with egg terrine, Comte cheese chervil & melted onions. The croissant was flaky, perfectly toasted, and warm! We also ordered the grain bowl which was a much-needed light meal after the croissant. And of course, we had to get some cookies too! Nizar’s favorite is the Chocolate Shortbread and mine is the Ginger Molasses.
I hope they bring back their sandwiches soon - the Harissa Chicken and their Seasonal Veggie Sandwiches are some of my favorite in Atlanta. And if you’ve been living under a rock, their sister concept Pizza Jeans has one of my favorite pizzas in Atlanta!
Dining: Only open for carryout on Saturdays & Sundays, but Ponce City Market has indoor and outdoor seating options.
Ordering: Order via Toast and pick-up inside or order in-person. They accept mobile pay but must complete transactions on a touchpad.
ZdApproved Eats: Egg & Cheese Croissant & Grain Bowl
Star Provisions
West Midtown
There was a point when I went to Star Provisions every month (most of 2019), primarily for the Chia Seed Pudding. Unfortunately, they started leaving the fruit off the chia seed pudding, even though the menu says seasonal fruit! But they consistently have a delicious menu of comforting favorites like Fried Chicken Biscuits, Shrimp Po Boys, Bagels & Lox, and more.
Their online ordering system is a little confusing, but just trust that it works. I called them when I got there and they brought out our order to us. FYI - gratuity is a menu item…you have to add it to your cart. I didn’t realize that and couldn’t figure it out until I went back to the menu again.
Dining: Outdoor seating is available. Indoor dining appears to be closed but the building is open for ordering indoors.
Ordering: Order online via their website for Curbside pick-up or order in person.
ZdApproved Eats: Chia Seed Pudding and Bagels & Lox | For a full gallery of pictures, please refer to an older brunch post of mine.
Coffee
Brash Coffee
West Midtown
Brash Coffee has been around for ages and for good reason. They now have a total of three locations including West Midtown, Buckhead & Midtown. After getting biscuits from Redbird we grabbed some coffee from Brash’s original location. My go-to is usually their matcha but it wasn’t mixed properly this time around. I’ll let it slide though.
In addition to coffee, more recently they teamed up with local chefs of Stop Think Chew & Iridescent Bakery to offer muffins and assorted pastries in addition to Emerald City Bagels. So Brash is now a one-stop-shop for your coffee and pastry needs!
Dining: Plenty of outdoor seating
Ordering: You have to go inside to order but they accept mobile pay (must complete the transaction on touchpad). You then pick up your drinks outside at their take-out window.
ZdApproved Eats: Matcha Latte with Oat Milk + Sweetener
Chrome Yellow Trading Co.
Edgewood Avenue
We probably go to Chrome once every other week, especially after one of our favorite coffee shops closed. Their drinks are always consistent and they always have a unique or seasonal drink on the menu. Most recently, they also added a matcha latte, which was a long time coming! But my favorite drink has to be the bottled Chocolate Oat Cold Brew. Make sure you drink it when it’s really cold or it doesn’t taste the same!
They also serve Five Daughters Doughnuts and pastries from Casa Cardoza / Staplehouse.
Dining: No indoor seating and a few outdoor picnic tables
Ordering: Order and pay in advance via their website or Odeko. Or order and pay in person via mobile pay/credit card. For advance orders, walk-in to the coffee bar side, give your name, and grab your order. Alternatively, you can request curbside.
ZdApproved Eats: Chocolate Oat Cold Brew, Latte with Simple Syrup & Matcha Latte
Con Leche
Reynoldstown
Meet the newest and cutest coffee shop serving up Radio Roasters in Reynoldstown - Con Leche. This coffee shop may only be 400 square feet but they knocked it out of the park when it comes to store design, coffee, pricing, and pastries! The first thing I would like to point out is the pricing. All coffee is $2.50 and all espresso-based drinks are $3.50. That’s a whole dollar cheaper than all the other coffee shops in the area and in Atlanta in general. On top of that, they started a membership program (100 people only) where you pay $10 a week for unlimited coffee + a dollar off espresso drinks. This seems to be the right direction when it comes to the coffee world.
To make it even better, they serve Root Baking Co. pastries and also offer toasts using Root Baking Co.’s bread, local jam and nut butter! In fact, almost everything they use (with the exception of Oatly) is all local!
Dining: No indoor seating and they have a few outdoor seats along with a gravel area with “benches”.
Ordering: You can order & pay ahead on their website or in-person (mobile pay is accepted but must complete the transaction on touchpad).
ZdApproved Eats: Latte and I need to go back to try their pastries & toasts.
Muchacho
Reynoldstown
See Quarantine Eats Week 9 for more on Muchacho. I would recommend going on a weekday to avoid the crowds. Their seating is generally spaced more than six feet apart but it can get crowded. And they now serve everything in takeout containers (including drinks)!
Dining: Outdoor dining with social distancing.
Ordering: You can order ahead online or in-person. In-person ordering is 100% contactless. They accept Mobile Pay and complete the touchpad transaction for you. Ordering and pick-up are done at separate windows (see pictures in Quarantine Eats Week 9), making this one of the safest coffee shops I’ve been to.
ZdApproved Eats: Golden Latte, Blue Matcha, Ricotta Jam Toast & Migas Tacos | See Quarantine Eats Week 9 for more pictures.
American-ish
Alon’s Bakery
Virginia Highlands
Alon’s Bakery has been an Atlanta staple for 20 years. I graduated from Emory 10 years ago but still remember all my trips to Alon’s for pastries, sandwiches & more. I go to Alon’s when I want something reliably good. The picture of the sandwich above is an older one, but most recently I picked up one of their daily soups, bread, and mini fruit tarts! Pro-Tip: The sandwiches come on a certain type of bread but you can always substitute for something else and ask for it toasted!
They also have another (and larger) location across from Perimeter Mall. Lastly, they just released an expansiveThanksgiving menu which means you don’t have to prepare a single thing!
Dining: Outdoor seating is available.
Ordering: You can order ahead and pay online or over the phone. I highly encourage this because they only allow six people in at a time (Highland location); however, if you order ahead you can enter from the “exit” door and collect your order!
ZdApproved Eats: Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies, Fruit Tart, Veggie Sandwich (sub wheat bread for ciabatta and ask for it toasted), Daily Soups & more!
Little Bear
Summerhill
Little Bear always offers an interesting and new menu every week. The good news is that in addition to their mini “tasting” menus they also offer a la carte options now, although the tasting menu is worth it! Check out Quarantine Eats Week 5 for more on my previous meals from Little Bear.
Dining: No indoor dining and two outdoor tables along with more picnic tables around Summerhill.
Ordering: Order and pay via Toast or in person. They offer Curbside!
ZdApproved Eats: Menu changes often but most recently the PSL (pictured) and the Pea Noodle Stew
Staplehouse
Edgewood Avenue
As of October 10th, Staplehouse now operates as a market serving upscale food and drink items for the home along with snacks, pastries, meals, and coffee that you can take to-go or enjoy on their patio. They are open Wednesday - Sunday from 11 am - 7 pm for walk-ins. We’ve already been three times!
When we ordered from them back in August, they were takeout only and offering smoked brisket, house-made tortillas, and a few “sides”. They still have their brisket on the menu but now also have an assortment of pastries, pasta, and a full menu to enjoy on their patio or at home. We have tried the eclair, some bonbon chocolates, the campanelle (made with chestnut, habanada & mimolette), & bucatini to make at home. The pasta is a collaboration between Staplehouse & Root Baking Co. and it’s delicious. We' have bought their bucatini for home on each visit. The pasta is also sold at Root Baking Co.!
Dining: Patio dining in to-go containers
Ordering: Order in person. They accept mobile pay and ask for a signature but they have a jar of labeled sanitized pens.
ZdApproved Eats: Bucatini, Everything Crackers & Caramel BonBon
Vinetta
Delivery or Pick-Up
If you are looking for an explosion of flavors, Vinetta will deliver just that! Vinetta is a pop-up run by a husband-wife couple out of their home in Adair Park. They offer a weekly menu of 3 - 4 items (referred to as the “Low Key V”) for either pick-up or delivery. They can also provide catering and intimate dinner parties (just ask)!
Luckily for me, they were in the neighborhood on Halloween at Freedom Farmer’s Market serving up one of the best things I’ve eaten in 2020 - Congee! And not just any boring plain Jane congee. The congee was made with locally sourced ingredients including delta blues rice grits, grilled sweet potato, pickled eggplant, oyster mushroom, bok choi, hakurei turnip kimchi, daikon, & peanut furikake. The flavors worked so well together and I loved that it had the right amount of heat and crunch.
My only regret is that I haven’t tried their food sooner. They’ve been on my radar for over a year so shame on me! Give them a follow so you can keep up to date with all of their happenings including an epic menu of Thanksgiving Sides (Mac & Kimcheese [mind-blown]).
Dining: N/A
Ordering: For weekly pop-ups, refer to their website, but it appears that orders must be placed by 3:30 pm on the day of. Your order is confirmed once you pay via Venmo. Delivery is $5 and pick-up times are from 5:15pm - 6:00pm.
ZdApproved Eats: Congee
latin-ish
8Arm
Midtown
Check out Quarantine Eats Week 8 for my complete thoughts on 8Arm, but it honestly has some of the most thoughtful food in Atlanta. The flavors are unexpected and I’m obsessed with everything that comes out of their kitchen. I love feeling like I’m not in Atlanta when I eat their food.
Dining: No indoor dining, but you can order and eat in your take-out counters at one of their outdoor seats. I couldn’t tell if tables were being sanitized between guests.
Ordering: You can pre-order and pay for pick-up or delivery via Chow Now or Uber Eats. There is a separate table for pick-up orders next to the ordering counter, but you still need to get in line to tell them you’ve arrived. Also, 20% gratuity is added to all orders - no exception. Lastly, they don’t allow modifications, additions, or removals to menu items - don’t even bother asking.
ZdApproved Eats: Menu changes daily but most recently - Pumpkin Soup, 3 Hermanas Tamale, Quesadillas, Vegetarian Tacos & Agua Fresca (Strawberry, Lime & Basil)
Arepa Mia
Avondale Estates
I haven’t had a lot of arepas, so I have nothing to compare it to, but in my opinion, Arepa Mia has the best! If you aren’t familiar with arepas, they are Venezuelan sandwiches made from cornmeal. They are stuffed with different meats, veggies, plantains, and beans, but can be customized. I would recommend that you add a few drops of habanero sauce and get a side of the guasacaca (cilantro-based) sauce for an extra layer of flavor.
Although it’s not on my favorites list below, in addition to arepas they also serve Cachapas, which are sweet/savory pancakes topped with cheese or meats/veggies. They are massive, so beware. Arepa Mia is also a perfect place for people with gluten allergies. Everything is 100% gluten-free and 100% tasty.
Dining: No indoor dining. Outdoor seating is limited to the patio for eating take-out orders (no service).
Ordering: Order and pay online via Chow Now or in person. Walk-in to the restaurant and pick-up your order from the table. Exit through a separate door.
ZdApproved Eats Sifrina / Pabellon or / Vegetarian Arepa (current favorite) & Arepitas Fritas | Please note most of the pictures below are before the pandemic.
Buena Gente
Decatur
The popular food truck, Buena Gente, now has its own Decatur storefront (next to The Po’Boy Shop) serving up Cuban pastries, sandwiches, coffee, milkshakes & more. The first time we went two months ago everything was sold out (minus their coffee) but luckily this time we were able to try some pastries and will have to go back to try their sandwiches and milkshakes!
The Guava & Cream Cheese Pastelito was exceptional. The pastry was flaky and the filling wasn’t overly sweet. Everything just worked. The Beef Empanada was also very flavorful. It was very unexpected! We also got the flan and tres leches but I preferred the pastries a lot more.
Also, there is plenty of parking which is a huge plus!
Dining: There are a few outdoor tables as well as some standing tables inside the restaurant but that’s only for when you wait for your order.
Ordering: Walk-in to order. They only allow 6 people inside at a time. Payment is contactless (mobile pay accepted) and they can complete the transaction on the touchpad for you.
ZdApproved Eats: Guava & Cream Cheese Pastelito, Beef Empanada & Cortadito
Casa Cardoza & Chico Loco Sauce
Edgewood Avenue & Delivery
So I actually had Casa Cardoza right before I left for Texas in late August for forgot to write about it, so here we are! Chef Zac Basto, formerly of Staplehouse, started an empanada delivery service during the pandemic and actually still uses the kitchen space at Staplehouse. He offers an assortment of empanadas (different doughs/fillings from different parts of Latin / South America). The menu changes weekly along with various sauce offerings. I loved the chimichurri and also got to sample some Chico Loco sauce (cilantro-lime-based sauce) which paired so well with the empanadas but was also a great dip for veggies and I’m sure would be a good marinade too.
The Yucca Empanada was my favorite but it’s not always on the menu since it’s difficult to work with. There are a handful of other flavors I still need to try! In addition to delivery, Casa Cardoza is also available in the pastry cases at Staplehouse and Chrome Yellow Trading Co. (flavors change daily).
Dining: N/A
Ordering: Order online for delivery or pick-up Monday - Saturday. There is a contact form on their website you can fill out and then pay via Venmo or Zelle. Or just head over to Staplehouse or Chrome Yellow Trading Co for the empanadas of the day.
ZdApproved Eats: Yucca Empanada, Caprese Empanada & Alfajores
Estela’s Cocina at 8Arm
Midtown
The best quesadilla in Atlanta award goes to Estela’s Cocina! I got a lot of DMs when I posted about this because people were confused by the shape of the quesadilla and although I’m no expert, they are in the shape of an empanada because they are fried. We had quesadillas like this in Mexico City too and we loved it!
Their pop-up was hosted at 8Arm which was very fitting since the masa used to make the quesadillas was in collaboration with 8Arm’s chef Maricela Vega. The quesadillas were flavorful and had the perfect amount of cheesiness. Perfect cheese pull material! The quesadillas paired well with the salsas and sour cream but they also tasted great on their own.
The most unique one was the potato quesadilla. I was expecting to bite into cubes of potatoes but they were mashed potatoes with some sort of seasoning I couldn’t put my finger on. Either way, it was delicious.
The next pop-up at 8Arm is scheduled for Sunday, November 15th at 11 am. Mark your calendars! But if you can’t wait they also take large catering orders and also have occasional pop-ups for pick-up in Tucker, GA.
Dining: Outdoor seating and limited indoor seating (with doors and windows open) were available at 8Arm. Highly encourage eating the quesadillas right away!
Ordering: Ordering in person only with the option to pay via Venmo, Exact Change, or Card. Their card machine wasn’t working when I went but I think they fixed it later.
ZdApproved Eats: Cheese Quesadilla, Potato Quesadilla, or Mushroom Quesadilla
Lupe’s Eatery
Summerhill - Little Tart Bakeshop
I love that so many bakers from Little Tart Bakeshop have their own pop-ups in addition to their day job at Little Tart. The latest pop-up taking place on weekend evenings at the Summerhill location is Lupe’s Eatery. I am personally not the biggest fan of the double tortilla, but I did like the flavor of the Rajas taco the best! We also enjoyed the flan but I definitely want to try the Tres Leches next time it is on the menu!
Dining: Little Tart has a few picnic tables outdoors. Summerhill has also set up picnic tables all over the property.
Ordering: Order and pay online or in person.
ZdApproved Eats: Rajas
mediterranean & Pizza
Delbar
Inman Park
Are you tired of me talking about Delbar yet? I hope not. Read more about them in Quarantine Eats Week 9. But one thing I do want to add is about their dessert! Out of the 6 or 7 times I’ve been this was the first time getting dessert and this Irani Ice Cream Sandwich was amazing. The rose and pistachio ice cream were sandwiched between two thin wafer cookies. It’s best to eat the dessert right away, otherwise, the wafers get soggy but the ice cream maintained its amazing flavor for several days after!
Dining: Open for both indoor and outdoor dining with social distancing measures in place.
Ordering: Order and pay online via their website. Please note they their pick-up times differ from their dine-in hours of operation. Pick-up and walk-in, just give your name to the hostess. Sometimes the door is open so you don’t have to walk-in but just depends on the day.
ZdApproved Eats: Whatever sounds good to you. You can’t go wrong. I’ve tried 10 menu items now. I’d say my least favorite is the salmon, but everything else is excellent.
GiGi’s Italian Kitchen x Goodness Graceous
Pop-Up
Summerhill
Monday’s Italian and Meatless feast was superb. Two pop-ups, GiGi’s Italian Kitchen & Goodness Graceous Baking, teamed up at Little Bear for an Italian feast. I’ve had Goodness Graceous pastries from Aurora coffee (see Breakfast & Pastries section above) before and wasn’t surprised that her desserts were out of this world. I don’t understand how she keeps outdoing herself. The mascarpone tart mimicked flavors of a cannoli and it was so spot on.
As for GiGi’s Italian Kitchen, their food should not be overlooked! The salad was simple, light, and complex. The radishes and toasted peanuts added the perfect crunch factor. The squash gnocchi was very flavorful. The texture of the gnocchi was very different than what I’m used to. It tasted more like polenta cakes to me but still very good. And last, but not least, was the personal pan pizza. You are all probably thinking of Pizza Hut but it was so much better. Their focaccia was the perfect texture and I’m sure it would even taste good on its own too! I didn’t get any add-ons but there were around six options to customize your pizza!
Follow them both to find out when they are popping up next.
Dining: Varies based on pop-up location
Ordering: For this specific pop-up ordering was done in advance via email and payment was accepted via online credit card payment or Venmo.
ZdApproved Eats: Pan Pizza & Mascarpone Tart
Glide Pizza
Inman Park
So glad to have Glide Pizza in the neighborhood. This was our second time trying it and we are still hooked.
Glide sells New York-style pizza out of Irwin Street Market. The menu focused around four flavors - Cheese, Pepperoni, Garlic, and the Home Grown - but there are also a few options to customize your pizza with other toppings! Just remember that the pizza slices are massive. Also, I’m a big fan of thin crust, so this was right up my alley.
Pizza is sold as whole pies or slices. We grabbed a few slices of the Garlic pizza which had the right balance of garlic flavors and cheese along with a slice of the Home Grown, which uses pimento cheese from Home Grown, mushroom, mozzarella, and scallions. Dipping it in ranch and topping it with pickled peppers took it to another level.
Dining: A few outdoor tables. No indoor dining.
Ordering: Order online via Toast (whole pies + sides only) or in-person. Orders for slices can only be placed in person. They have a take-out window. Payment is contactless but you complete the transaction on their touchpad, so bring a stylus.
ZdApproved Eats: Garlic slice or Home Grown slice with a side of ranch and pickled peppers
Thai, laotian, Japanese & Vietnamese
Bún Mì Vietnamese Grill
Buckhead
When Bún Mì first opened in 2018, Nizar and I went three times in one month just for this sugarcane juice! Very few places in Atlanta do it well! And after a 1.5-year hiatus, they fixed their machine and are consistently churning out the best sugarcane juice to order. Why is it different? They add a citrus twist (I believe orange and lime), which takes it to another level.
They make all their juices and bubble teas in house and also have a great selection of Banh Mi sandwiches, appetizers, and noodle bowls. Their Banh Mi sandwiches are bigger than most places and also have unique combinations that you don’t see in too many spots like short ribs. I hope they also bring back their Thursday Wagyu Pho specials for winter! Lastly, it’s not always available but I also love their Pandan flavored Madeleines.
Dining: They put out patio tables depending on the weather.
Ordering: You can order ahead for delivery or pick-up directly via their website or in person. They are also available through third-party delivery services, although ordering directly is highly encouraged during these times!
ZdApproved Eats: Mushroom Banh Mi, Eggrolls, Sugarcane Juice
Chirori
Midtown
I decided to go to Chirori after reading reviews of their sister restaurant Wagaya in the AJC (written by Wendell Brock). Chirori offers higher quality sushi, tempura, yakitori & assorted ramen options than its sister more casual concept Wagaya.
From Chirori, we ordered shrimp & eggplant tempura along with a ramen and udon noodle bowl and a spicy tuna roll. I’d like to preface this by saying after going to Tokyo in Japan tempura and udon no longer taste the same to me. Overall I thought the takeout was good and did the job but I think I would have benefitted from dining in there to get the full experience. So I don’t think I can provide a fair assessment, but if you are in the area, I think it’s worth trying! The spicy tuna roll was better than most casual sushi spots!
Wagaya also offers an assortment of Japanese & other Asian groceries if you don’t want to go all the way to Buford Highway!
Dining: Both indoor and outdoor dining is open. Indoors they have installed plexiglass between tables.
Ordering: Order on Tock (previously it was UberEats) for pick-up or delivery (Door Dash)
Ry’s Table
Grant Park Farmer’s Market
I’ve talked about Ryanne of Ry’s Table before and I’ll talk about her again because she just keeps on delivering all the good eats! Ryanne sources all her ingredients locally and spent some time in Thailand so truly knows how to develop the flavors like in the pictured Woon Sen Bowl.
Her homemade coconut yogurt and chia seed bowls are also something you should try. What makes her bowls unique is her superfoods granola, Supanola, which you can see featured in the Cacao Bowl below. My favorite flavor is Turmeric Ginger but I also love the Honey Coconut. If you are someone who loves a crunchy, toasted, salty-sweet combo, with all of the health benefits then this granola is for you!
Read more on her concept focused on seasonally driven cuisine with Thai & Ayurvedic influences here. Technically she could also be categorized under “Breakfast & Pastries” but since what I ordered was influenced by Thai flavors, I put it here.
Normally you can find her at the Green Market at Piedmont Park (Park Tavern) or the Grant Park Farmer’s Market but she is going on maternity leave. Don’t worry you can find her granola at certain retailers in Atlanta and can also add it to your Fresh Harvest orders! Also, stay tuned to her Instagram page for random flash sales!
Ordering: At Farmer’s Market (in person) and for granola (online) or at local retailers (see here)
ZdApproved Eats: Cacao Bowl, Coconut Yogurt, Turmeric Ginger Granola, Sweet Potato Noodle Bowl, Imperial Rolls & Woon Sen
Snackboxe Bistro
Doraville (Buford Highway)
Everyone’s favorite spot for Laotian food in Atlanta is Snackboxe Bistro and for good reason! We were in the area and stopped by for their Nam Khao - a crispy coconut rice salad with your choice of tofu or pork. It’s the perfect “salad” to enjoy as a full meal or a side. Their portions are very generous. One order was enough for Nizar and me to share and feel full. In the past, I’ve also enjoyed their Kua Mee (stir-fried noodles), Chicken Wings, Mango Sticky Rice (seasonal dish), and Nam Van (a dessert with jellies). But I want to go back to try their latest dessert, Khao Lod Song, which also happens to be a Burmese dish my in-laws like to make.
Dining: Indoor dining available. Mask policy enforced.
Ordering: Order online for curbside service (at least 30 minutes before pick-up).
ZdApproved Eats: Nam Khao with Tofu, Kua Mee (stir-fried noodles), Chicken Wings, Mango Sticky Rice (seasonal dish), and Nam Van (a dessert with jellies)
Talat Market
Summerhill
Our first meal back in Atlanta after six weeks was also the last meal we had before we left for Texas! Talat Market has some of the best Thai food in Atlanta. They have an upscale take on Thai with elevated and exciting flavors. For more pictures and to read more about them, check out Quarantine Eats Week 4.
Dates Visited: May 2020, July 2020, August 2020 & October 2020
Dining: On 10/31 they set-up some tables and bar seating outdoors to enjoy your take-out food. Not full-service dining - you must still order in advance.
Ordering: Order via Toast starting at 12pm and up to 30 minutes before pick-up. Pro-Tip - Sometimes they sell out of items, so you are better off ordering right when their system is open. They offer Curbside directly to your car.
ZdApproved Eats: Menu changes daily but favorites include Fruit Salad, Shrimp Crackers, Halibut, and the Coconut Cream Thai Tea.
TydeTate Kitchen
Pick-up in Lawrenceville or Delivery (Opening soon at The Works)
There are very few Thai restaurants in Atlanta that I actually like and TydeTate Kitchen is now one of them! A few weeks ago I ordered delivery for my mother-in-law’s birthday and their food, packaging, quantity, and ease of ordering/delivery were outstanding. They are opening a location at The Works in the Upper Westside but until then are offering catering/pick-up orders.
Every single dish we had was amazing and they let you customize the spice level. We went with a medium level spice and also asked for some hot sauce on the side - which was a smart move because their spicy oil/sauce was the best! I saved it and have been adding it to random dishes at home. My in-laws lived in Thailand for many years and they were very impressed with the entire meal. Some quick thoughts on the menu items…
The Curry Puffs (their most requested item) are truly amazing. The puff pastry had the perfect texture and the seasoning/flavor of the stuffing (chicken, sweet potatoes & onions) was truly unexpected and unique. It was like eating a Thai-Indian Samosa with a better crust.
The Panang Curry was my favorite dish. Unique and authentic flavors and it comes with rice.
The Pad Thai tasted just like the ones we had in Thailand five years ago.
The Coconut Pancakes (Kanom Krok) were more of an appetizer to me than dessert. The coconut pancakes are stuffed with scallions so a salty and sweet taste in each bite.
I’m only sad that I didn’t order the Mango Sticky Rice but there’s always next time!
Dining: N/A but they will be opening up at The Works soon on the Upper Westside.
Ordering: For catering, you must order 48 hours in advance but I would start sooner as there may be back and forth on your menu items. They deliver for orders above $50+ with a $5 fee or offer free pick-up from Lawrenceville. Delivery was contactless (dropped off at the front door and then sent an email saying it was delivered).
ZdApproved Eats: Curry Puffs, Fried Shrimp Rolls, Panang Curry (not pictured) & Pad Thai
Have you tried any of these restaurants in Atlanta? Let me know in the comments below! And WEAR A MASK!
