Why Two Urban Licks Is One of My Favorite Places

I really like Two Urban Licks. And I especially like it as a restaurant for out-of-town friends. Friday night, we went out with friends that were visiting from Kansas City and this place was a perfect destination. Why? Well for starters, there is something chic about a place that you can't find. With no signage on Ralph McGill, I drove by it once and almost a second time, and I have been there multiple times. But chicness oozes out of Two's every pore. The old warehouse location, the weird drive-thru valet, the jazz band in the bar, and the bonfire in the middle of the restaurant all help to let you know you may not be cool enough to eat here.

The barrels of wine are another unique aspect of the dining experience here. And with our friends being wine enthusiasts, we were able to experiment with several varietals. Now, most of this is lost on me, as I pretty much have been ordering Pinot Noirs exclusively ever since seeing the movie Sideways for the first time. So it was nice being with someone who knew what they were doing and assumed the wine ordering duties.

Places that rock in atmosphere often have trouble living up to that standard in the kitchen, but Two comes close. The menu is a lot like a Bruce Springsteen concert. The set list may change nightly, but the old standbys are always there. The calamari appetizer is served with a sweet honey glaze and are amongst the best in town. We also shared the crawfish and corn beignets and the fried green tomatoes. All very good. My main course, I had the seared tuna, served rare with a spicy dressing and edamame, which was outstanding. The wives ordered the Bronzed Scallops over gouda grits, which were also very good.

I have been a fan of Two Urban Licks from my first visit during an ice storm three years ago. Given the "fire" theme of this place, it was a somewhat ironic first experience. But the combination of food and atmosphere, and with prices that won't break the bank, it remains one of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta. And your out-of-town friends will be impressed!

Steakhead Recommends: Absolutely!
Prices: $$-$$$

Taste of Atlanta This Weekend!

In case you have forgotten, Taste of Atlanta is this weekend at Atlantic Station. Looks like the weather will cooperate for a second year in a row and provide us with two picture perfect days to sample all the great offerings from some of Atlanta's best dining destinations. If you are planning on going, get there early! I cannot stress this enough. The gates open at 11am and I plan to be there when they open.

Allegro Opens in Midtown Tonight

Tonight marks the Grand Opening of a new Italian restaurant in Midtown called Allegro. It is located on the ground floor of the Belvedere condominium on Dutch Valley Rd., and will feature the cuisine of Central Italy. Executive Chef Jose Rego comes from Sotto Sotto, so that bodes well. According to their press release, signature menu items will include tuna carpaccio, pheasant in cream, king crab cannelloni, veal Milanese, whole fish in cartoccio, pork shank braised in milk and porterhouse alla Fiorentina for two. Prices will range in the $20-30 range for entrees. For more information on Allegro, you can visit their website at http://www.allegroatlanta.com/

Here's to Your Health at Pacific Kitchen

Pacific Kitchen may well be one of the better date restaurants in town. It’s tucked away location off of Highland Ave. in Inman Park, along side the Freedom Park trails makes for a very serene setting. And with numerous tables outside on the patio, its definitely one of the more romantic settings I have been to in a while. Oh, and the food is pretty decent as well.

Pacific Kitchen specializes in “California cuisine”, which I suppose means healthy. That’s what makes me liking this place somewhat of a surprise. And, even though there was a peppercorn crusted New York Strip on the menu, I decided to keep with the healthy theme and avoid it. For starters, Lady Steakhead and I tried the Crab & Grilled Corn Fritters and the House Smoked Salmon Crostini. The fritters were served with a spicy aioli and for some reason, honey. And while the fritters were good, the salmon was definitely the winner. I wish I could find smoked salmon like that from a store somewhere.

For our entrées, I had the Hawaiian Moonfish, a fish I had never even heard of before. It’s a white fish, with a consistency like tuna. In fact, like tuna, it can be served medium rare. It was served over vegetable quesadillas with a rock shrimp cream sauce. I loved this dish- everything went together extremely well. Lady Steakhead was delighted to see a Cioppino on the menu- a sort of fish stew for those not familiar. This was good, but not as grandiose as others we have had in the past.

Pacific Kitchen is a restaurant that will be participating in Taste of Atlanta next week, so you should stop by their booth if you get the chance. If you like the food, chances are you will love the atmosphere. And for the single guys, keep this one in mind as an excellent 2nd or 3rd date place.

Steakhead Recommends: Yes
Price: $$$