Atlanta Quarantine Eats Week 9
Welcome to Week 9 (8/11 - 8/16) of Quarantine Eats.
The goal of this take-out series is to hopefully inspire some of you to try a new spot, 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! If you would like to see something else or have any (constructive) feedback shoot me a DM on Instagram or head to the About page and send me a note.
Weekend Summary
Tap on the images to read more on the restaurants covered in Quarantine Eats Week 9!
tuesday, august 11th - Nizar’s Birthday
breakfast & coffee
Perc Coffee
UPDATE (10/28/20) - SARAH DODGE NO LONGER OVERSEES THE CULINARY PROGRAM AT PERC, SO I CAN’T VOUCH FOR THEIR FOOD UNTIL TASTING THE NEW MENU. THE COMMENTS ON THE PASTRIES BELOW MAY NO LONGER BE RELEVANT.
After casting our vote in the run-offs we drove over to the grand opening of Perc Coffee! If you’ve been following along then you may remember me talking about Perc’s pop-ups in Week 1 and Week 2 of Quarantine Eats, but don’t worry I’ll give you the run down again.
Perc Coffee, based out of Savannah, GA, and sold in many coffee shops / Whole Foods around Atlanta, has opened up their second location in East Lake. And to take things up a notch they partnered with Sarah Dodge of Bread is Good to spearhead their breakfast, lunch and pastry program. If you follow me on Instagram, then you know how much I love her bread and cinnamon rolls. I’ve been a cult follower since trying one of her first pop-ups in March of 2018. But now I can finally get my Sarah Dodge fix any day of the week!
Their indoor space looks amazing with the pastel color paints and looks like the perfect spot to work from - but of course, COVID-19 has destroyed any chance of that. Don’t worry they have outdoor seating and a giant parking lot! I went twice in one week, so you know I love it, go give them a try!
Dining: No indoor dining, but there are maybe ten outdoor patio tables, seating 2-3 people each.
Ordering: They plan to launch an online ordering system soon, but in the meantime, you walk-up to their take-out window and place your order via credit card (not accepting mobile pay right now) and then sign the electronic pad. Luckily they had a marked jar of pens/stylus that you can use to sign and then keep! Orders are picked up around the corner under the neon “open” sign.
ZdApproved Eats: The Good Times Latte (Lavender-Vanilla Syrup + Habanero Sugar), Bagel Sandwich, Biscuit, Cinnamon Rolls, Pan Au Levain, Cheddar Pan Au Levain.
dessert
COCO Cakehouse
Delivery
I ordered the most perfect quarantine birthday cake from COCO Cakehouse in Atlanta! Courtney Culver Colangelo is now focusing full time on her bespoke cake business after leaving her role as a General Manager & Baker of Little Tart Bakeshop in July of 2020.
She has over nine years of baking experience, so I wasn’t surprised that the cake not only looked beautiful but tasted amazing. Nizar and I both love cakes with minimal decor and an “unfinished” vibe. I don’t like it when the frosting looks too perfect and I strongly believe that flowers make the best decor, so Courtney’s style was perfect for us! Her website outlines the types of cakes, fillings, icing, etc. so check it out to see what works best for you! We loved our vanilla cake with salted caramel filling and buttercream!
In addition to custom cakes, Courtney also posts flash sales for mini cakes (around $20ish per cake) and cookies on Instagram, so pay attention! Cakes are only available for delivery, but mine was on time, in fact a few minutes early!
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. She won’t be available the first two-ish weeks of September, so get in touch for orders before or after that.
ZdApproved Eats: Vanilla Cake with Salted Caramel Filling & Buttercream
dinner
Ruby Chow’s
Don’t judge, we caved and dined outdoors for the first time in five months for Nizar’s birthday at Ruby Chow’s! Ruby Chow’s opened in February of this year and luckily we got to dine-in before the pandemic closures (see blog post from my February dine-in experience). A lot of people had positive things to say about their outdoor dining experience and Ruby Chow’s is also part of the O4W Business Association Pledge to Public Health which made a commitment to go above and beyond the State of Georgia’s requirements for COVID-19 safety procedures. Here is what to expect…
Valet parking
You can choose to park yourself but still have to pay via SMS Valet.
You receive your “ticket” via text and pay before getting back to your car.
Ruby Chow’s will provide you a discount code, so parking is $3 (instead of $5) + tip.
Table set-up
Two disposable menus
Two baggies to store our masks
A “call” button on the table
Utensils and disposable chopsticks were wrapped in a dinner napkin
Tables are spaced six feet apart and because we dined in early, it was 50% empty
Staff
Everyone was in masks and gloves (although I couldn’t tell how often the gloves were changed)
Our table wasn’t sanitized at any point during the meal, although I saw other guests get their tables sanitized between dinner and dessert.
Payment
You can scan the barcode on your receipt and pay on your phone (powered by Toast)
Overall, we were happy with our experience and felt mostly safe. In general, I would say Nizar and I are on the more paranoid side, so probably wouldn’t do it again. But their service was exceptional!
And last but not least, their food is amazing! Just as good as when we dined there in February. They no longer offer their dine-in menu for takeout (see “Ordering” below), which is why we wanted to dine-in versus take-out in the first place.
Dining: Make a reservation for indoor or patio dining via OpenTable. I would recommend dining early on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
Ordering: You can order a set menu for takeout via Toast. Each week they release a non-veg and veg tasting menu option ($55 total for two people). You pay in advance online and walk-in to the restaurant to grab your order. Back in late March, we were able to order the highly coveted Ramen Burger for takeout (see below).
ZdApproved Eats: Shoyu Tomago, Pow Pow Shrimp, Cacio e Pepe, Ramen Burger & Mango with Sticky Rice & Mochi (For more food pictures check out my post from February)
Friday, August 14th
Coffee
Muchacho
Muchacho is back! Pre-pandemic, Nizar and I were here every other week! It’s such a fun spot with reliable Counter Culture coffee drinks, breakfast toasts & breakfast tacos! We went on a weekday, so there wasn’t a line but I can imagine this place is packed on the weekends! Luckily, they removed a lot of tables so hopefully, that reduces the crowd levels.
And a special shoutout to Muchacho’s restaurant group - they have been closed the entire pandemic to focus all their efforts on Atlanta Family Meal, which is…
“a collection of restaurants, food service businesses, community leaders and creatives that have rallied together to provide food, jobs and resources for members of the hospitality community experiencing food insecurity and joblessness in Metro Atlanta.” Source - atlfamilymeal.org
Definitely an Atlanta staple everyone should go to at least once!
Dining: Outdoor dining with fewer tables spaced out.
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 below), making this one of the safest coffee shops I’ve been too.
ZdApproved Eats: Golden Latte, Blue Matcha, Ricotta Jam Toast & Migas Tacos
dinner
Delbar
Delbar opened in April and I’ve already been six times! If that doesn’t convince to go then I don’t know what will! I love Mediterranean food so was beyond excited that Delbar opened around the corner from my apartment. Their portions and pricing are very generous. In addition to a la carte items, they have family-style meals feeding 2 or 4 people. I’m not kidding when I say their meal for two lasted Nizar and I almost three meals!
And I officially prefer Delbar over Rumi’s Kitchen, which may come as a shocker! But it’s honestly that good. Every time Nizar and I order it we love it all over again. We haven’t gotten tired of it yet!
Dining: Open for both indoor and outdoor dining with social distancing measures in place.
Ordering: Order and pay Online via their website. 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. See more food pictures in Quarantine Eats Week 1.
saturday, august 15th
breakfast #1
Poco Loco
Candler Park
Round two of Poco Loco might have been better than the first (see Quarantine Eats Week 3)!
As I mentioned previously the chef at Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, Nick Melvin, furloughed himself to save the job of two of his employees. However, how can a chef really stay out of the kitchen for that long? Enter, Poco Loco. Each week Chef Melvin releases a menu of one ready-to-eat burrito and one frozen burrito along with other a-la-carte options such as fresh salsas, agua frescas, and the most amazing chocolate chip cookie sandwiches.
Last Saturday, we tried the Peacemaker, a vegetarian breakfast burrito with Tucker Farms heirloom tomatoes, basil escabeche, charred corn and poblanos, crushed tostadas, and quesadilla cheese served in their house-made tortilla. They served it with the perfect charred poblano and mint salsa verde. The flavors were exciting, unique, filling, and the definition of a perfect breakfast burrito.
And although we didn’t get it this time, the Poco Doozie, a malted chocolate chip cookie with dulce de leche buttercream is the perfect balance of salty and sweet and the buttercream paired so well with the chocolate chips. You have to try it for yourself to understand how good it was!
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
Breakfast #2
Gordita’s ATL
Candler Park
Are we crazy for getting a total of three breakfast burritos from two different pop-ups? I don’t think so because they both were worth it! Chef La Gorda (Yvette) of Gordita’s is the latest entrant into the breakfast burrito pop-up scene but is no stranger to the restaurant industry. We really enjoyed the traditional Mexican flavors and the hand made salsa.
She offers two different burrito options every week (one veg and one non-veg) for pick-up on Saturdays. We enjoyed the carne asada and nopales (cactus) tacos. I can’t choose a favorite between the two! All of the burritos come with eggs, black beans, crema, avocado & cilantro.
Ordering: I texted to place my order but they may have a Google Form now. Pay via Venmo upon confirmation. Pick-up is in the parking lot at Candler Park (by the pool) between 9:30 am - 10 am.
ZdApproved Eats: Burrito of the week
coffee
Two Clocks
I saw Dish Dive post about the Two Clocks pop-up on their page and decided to check it out! The pop-up takes place at Dish Dive on Saturday - Monday from 8 am - 1 pm (9 am on Sundays) until early September. I don’t know much else about it, but I enjoyed my latte and love the latte art as well! There aren’t any specialty drinks but Carrie can pretty much make whatever you want! Also, how cute is that blue La Marzocco?
Dining: No indoor seating, but they have some tables outdoors.
Ordering: Order in person, swipe a credit card, and sign on their iPhone.
ZdApproved Eats: Latte
Dessert
Cafe Mixx
Outside of ice cream/soft serve and cupcake shops, Atlanta’s dessert-only shops are limited. Cafe Mixx helps fill that void but for ITP-ers like us, you will have to make the drive to Suwanee to get it! They do have several savory items but most people come for the shaved ice desserts, tiramisu, and unique drinks. We love their Persimmon Bingsoo, but next time I want to try the mango!
Dining: Open for indoor dining.
Ordering: Online or in person. If you order online via Clover then you can pull your car up to the “Pick Up Order Here” sign and they will bring it out to you. If they don’t come out, just give them a call.
ZD’s Favorite Eats: Persimmon Bingsoo
sunday, August 16th
coffee
Momo Cafe
Momo Cafe is a great Japanese-American inspired cafe with unique drinks, desserts and more. While they have an extensive food menu at their sister restaurant, Momonoki, I’ve only explored their drinks and desserts. I’m a huge fan of their Okinawa Brown Sugar Latte and Matcha Strawberry Latte (make sure to stir both drinks). I’ve also had their Matcha and Hojicha soft serve in the past but I really want to go back for their Boba Tea Soft Serve as well as their Mochi Donuts!
P.S. - I would suggest coming on a Sunday to take advantage of free parallel parking.
Dining: Open for outdoor patio dining. No indoor dining.
Ordering: In-person or Online via BentoBox. But if you order online there is a $1 service fee + tip. It’s easier to just order in person. They accept mobile pay, but you do have to sign the touchpad. They installed a take-out window and plexiglass.
ZD’s Favorite Eats: Okinawa Brown Sugar Latte & Matcha Strawberry Latte
Bubble Tea
One Zo
One Zo might have the best bubble tea in Atlanta! Suprisingly, I’m not a huge boba person but Nizar is! I prefer the tea part over the boba part. I always ask them to put half or a quarter of the amount of boba that they would put in a normal drink but I really loved this one.
They make their boba in-house, which I hear is not the norm! Unfortunately, the wait time for their brown sugar boba was 25+ minutes (what they are known for) so we settled on the honey boba instead which was still amazing! I read to order their brown sugar milk tea and the real taro milk tea, which is exactly what we did. But I completely missed their “flaming series”, where they caramelize the brown sugar with a blow torch - next time! Also, the smell of the boba waffles was amazing. Nizar and I can’t wait to go back!
Dining: Open for indoor dining. No outdoor tables.
Ordering: In-person only indoors. Mobile pay is accepted, but you do have to sign the touchpad.
ZD’s Favorite Eats: Tataro Milk Tea (real taro root) & Brown Sugar Milk Tea
Dinner
Xiao’s Way
I love a good Chinese noodle dish and this was exactly that. Thank you to @christinewang for recommending Xiao’s Way Noodle House! The noodles were different than most stir-fried noodles that I’m used to having. I couldn’t put my finger on it but it was either their soy or black bean sauce that differentiated their noodles from a typical Chinese noodle dish. And you can definitely tell that they make their noodles in-house!
We got an order of the stir-fried vegetable noodles (not a menu item, just asked if they could make one) and vegetable dumplings. While the noodles were excellent, the dumplings needed some work. The wrapper was too thick and not paper-thin like I’m used to. They had a pretty extensive menu of other noodle dishes, so I would definitely go back to try more of their menu.
Dining: Not open for dine-in. Take-out only.
Ordering: Call 770-674-0980 and pay in person. No mobile pay but you can pay via credit card (no AMEX) or cash. Must sign the paper receipt with their pen (I couldn’t tell if it was being sanitized between use, so best to bring your own).
ZD’s Favorite Eats: Stir-Fried Vegetable Noodles
Have you tried any of these restaurants in Atlanta? Let me know in the comments below! And WEAR A MASK!
