The Setting: This old school cafeteria is located in an unassuming strip mall in downtown Tucker. Glass doors open directly to the stainless steel and glass counters holding an array of tasty looking pies, cobblers and strawberry shortcakes.
The Staff: Very friendly and helpful
The Food: The old fashioned cafeteria food consists of a menu that changes daily. The highlights on Monday were the roast pork loin, bbq ribs, and fried chicken livers. And, while I might not be a fan of liver, in general, the chicken livers were fried crisp until just-barely-done leaving the interior rich and creamy. Not a hint of bitterness could be found in these tender bites, giving these humble chicken livers the taste of something far more grand. Never in a million years, did I think that I would utter this phrase. But, it’s true. I’ll be returning to Matthew’s Cafeteria for the fried chicken livers!
We had the chance to taste two types of pies. A very rich and tasty pecan pie and an OUT OF THIS WORLD baked custard pie with pecans and chocolate chips. Sadly, my delicious squash casserole and potato gratin got sidelined by my desire to eat every last morsel of my custard pie.
The Stars of the Day: Fried chicken livers!! And, for dessert, the baked custard pie with pecans and chocolate chips.
Matthew’s Cafeteria
2229 Main St.
Tucker, GA 30084
770 939 2357
Open Mon-Fri
Hours: Breakfast 5:00am-10:00am, Lunch 10:30am-3:00pm, Dinner 4:30pm-8:00pm
Decatur’s 8th Annual BBQ, Blues, & Bluegrass Festival
Founded by the Decatur Preservation Alliance, Decatur’s Blues & Bluegrass Festival is a product of the Community Center of South Decatur, the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association and the Decatur Recreation Department. All proceeds of the festival will be invested directly into the Decatur community. Please, come out and support the community of Decatur. And, enjoy some great BBQ, Blues and Bluegrass while you’re at it!!
When: Saturday, August 16: 4pm-10pm — The gates open at 4pm and there will be live music until 10pm
Where: Harmony Park in Oakhurst, south of downtown Decatur at the intersection of East Lake Dr. and Oakview Rd.
The food : Barbeque with all the fixin’s provided by OB’s in McDonough, Georgia
The Beer: Peroni, Sierra Nevada, and Miller Lite
The Entry Fee: Adults $5, children under 10 admitted FREE!
The Parking: Parking is available on the street in surrounding neighborhoods. Please do not block driveways!
And, last but not least…
The Music:
4:00pm – Flat Rock Bluegrass Band
5:00pm – Well Strung (bluegrass)
6:00pm – Porch Bottom Boys (bluegrass)
7:00pm – Stonehouse Posse (blues)
8:00pm – Albert White and Beverly “Guitar” Watkins (blues)
No Coolers Allowed!
The Setting: An amusement park attraction conveniently located in the Discover Mills Mall
The Staff: The stock costumed staff make a half hearted attempt to set the stage, but, it’s difficult when they’re trying to transport you to the medieval era in one breath and offering diet coke in the next.
The Food: Edible
The Show: Guests are divided into color coded sections that correspond with one of the performers. You then proceed to root for your own knight as they progress through a series of medievalesque type events. This is a bit silly, a bit hokey, and yet… fun.
Yes, you feel like an idiot being shuffled into a cattle call line, then offered the option of a “memorable photo”. But, after you file into your color coded seating section and you see the horses run by you just a few inches away it makes you smile. The horses are beautiful and amazing and talented. And, the show itself is great fun. It takes you back to Walt Disney World and the memory of seeing the show for the first time as a kid. How can you not love that?
Stars of the Day: The gorgeous quater horses, Andalusians, Friesians, and Menorcans that the cast of characters have the privilege of riding.
Medieval Times
5900 Sugarloaf Pkwy
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
1-888-WE-JOUST
The Setting: Brick walled BBQ restaurant with full bar, bar seating, and an outdoor patio
The Staff: VERY friendly and attentive
The Food: Wow! What an assortment of BBQ! There is something for every BBQ lover on this menu. They offer 2 types of pork spare ribs (Kansas City Style or Memphis Dry Rub), chicken, brisket, burnt ends, beef ribs, pulled pork and smoked ribeye. We sampled everything but the chicken and ribeye steak. Each and every bit of our meal was phenomenal. From the bread basket of fresh biscuits and cornbread to hot napkin with lemon to clean up our sticky fingers, we were happy. The Kansas City style ribs were sweet, spicy and perfectly charred. The Memphis City style dry rubbed ribs were hot and spicy. The sweet smoky paprika and chilesbrought out the smoke flavor to perfection. And, both were perfectly tender. The mammoth beef rib was GI-NORMOUS. I am not exaggerating. They don’t call it the “Yabba Dabba Q” for nothing. This is one seriously large beef rib. And, unlike every other beef rib that I’ve ever tried, this one was tender, pleasingly charred and yet… still moist.
We also sampled an amazingly light and fluffy corn pudding, mac & cheese, mashed sweet potatoes and southern style greens. The southern style greens are best described as collard greens that are almost pickled. The sweet-tart contrast was the perfect accompaniment to the meat overload we were experiencing. The greens were very refreshing and mildly addictive. We left with two to-go boxes literally bursting at the seams.
What’s for dessert? I have no idea. Someone much bigger and stronger will have to attempt a dessert after a meal here!
The Stars of the Day: Kansas City Style and Memphis Dry Rub Style ribs, burnt ends, and Yabba Dabba Dabba Do Q. Why choose one? Order them all and eat for days on the leftovers!
Smokejack
29 South Main Street
Alpharetta, GA 30004
770 410 7611
The Setting: Busy cafe with boothes, tables and bakery with a wide assortment of breads and pastries
The Staff: Very friendly
The Food: One of the best breakfast and brunch cafes in the city. I’ve tried almost their entire menu and just about every choice is a WINNER. Traditional, lump crab cake, and fried green tomato Benedicts are on a rotating schedule with our visits. The hot pressed breakfast sandwich follows the lead, but, deserves equal time. The remaining entrees make a cameo from time to time when we’re in the mood for something new. And, time after time, we are never disappointed.
The bakery deserves equal attention. With so many options, it is hard to choose. Our eyes are always bigger than our stomach. We leave with a huge shopping bag full of bread every time.
Breads to try: Baguettes, Challah, Walnut Raisin, Chocolate Cherry, Ciabatta, Farm Bread, Rosemary Cheddar, Momma’s Bread, Brioche, Honey Wheat, Rye, Vidalia Onion, Apple Walnut, Ficelle, and PRETZELS!! And, that’s not all. There are more to choose from… including seasonal specials.
Stars of the Day: Any one of their three Eggs Benedict, cappuccino, and PRETZEL ROLLS!! YUM!!
Buckhead Bread Company & Corner Cafe
3070 Piedmont Road
Atlanta, GA 30305
404 240 1978
The Setting: Aging retro dinner car styled diner
The Staff: Abrupt
The Food: Hit and Miss — In my experience, the food has been hit and miss for years. One day the potato chips are crisped to perfection… the next they ooze with grease. I understand that the location and constant crowds can be a strain on the kitchen. But, the level of random quality is downright unacceptable.
On our last visit the potato chips with maytag blue cheese sauce were literally swimming in grease. And, I was regretting my choice of the fried grouper sandwich. Suprisingly the fried grouper was not greasy, but, it was terribly bland. The breading had absolutely no flavor. I am not a fan of salt. But, the complete absence of salt makes a fried fish fillet on a humdrum roll nearly inedible.
The meal ended sadly with the “James Beard award winning white chocolate banana cream pie”. This is an item that I’d never gotten around to trying. So, in an attempt to wash away the bland, we ended with the blandest of the bland. This dessert consisted of an ordinary pie crust filled with whipped cream and diced bananas topped with the tiniest flecks of white chocolate that they were almost overlooked. Am I wrong to expect a banana cream in a banana cream pie? Has this dessert always consisted of whipped cream and bananas exclusively? Exactly what year did this “award winner” win??
We left seriously missing their monkey bread from years ago… You can never go home. But, you can shop across the street. (Buckhead Bread Company is still dishing up great pretzel rolls across the street. Another Buckhead Life Group restaurant that gets it right every time… never fear!)
Star of the Day: None! Go to Buckhead Bread Company instead.
Buckhead Bread Company & Corner Cafe
3070 Piedmont Road
Atlanta, GA 30305
404 240 1978
Buckhead Diner
3073 Piedmont Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
404 262 3336
The Setting: This strip mall restaurant has been expanded to double it’s original size in the past year or so.
The Staff: Very friendly
The Food: After years of patronage, we’ve always found their food to be incredibly reliable. Every item on the menu is worth trying, but, my personal favorites include the shrimp quesadilla, beef and shrimp fajitas, chicken burrito in cream sauce, carnitas tacos and fish tacos. Their fish tacos consist of tasty bits of deep fried fish topped off with a spicy tartar sauce that is chock full of banana peppers. The banana peppers give this sauce just the right dose of tang and spice. The chicken burrito with mildly spiced cream sauce also deserves a mention. The burrito is liberally doused with this yummy cream sauce. Strips of sweet pepper and crumbled mexican cheese not only decorate this burrito but also add the perfect foil of sweet and sharp to the mild cream sauce.
Their tres leches and flan both make a perfect end to any meal. Their tres leches is a yellow cake drizzled with a blend of three milks (condensed, evaporated and whole milk or cream) iced with a sweet whipped cream icing and topped with a fine dice of fruit. The tart bits of fruit help to keep this rich cake from being cloyingly sweet and overwhelming. And, their flan is dense, rich and creamy. Both of these desserts are quite generous and best if shared.
The Star of the Day: The comfort of knowing that our meal will be just as good as every other visit. And, when you don’t have time for home-made comfort food, this is the next best thing… The comfort of a meal you know and love.
Taqueria Los Hermanos
4418 Hugh Howell Rd
Tucker, GA 30084
678 937 0660
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