Well, at least according to me : )
If you follow me on social media, you know that I’ve had the privilege over the last month of producing all the imagery for Roswell Restaurant Week. This culinary extravaganza taking place about 20 miles north of downtown Atlanta encourages my favorite suburb’s best and brightest culinary talents to strut their stuff by offering special menus throughout the 9-day affair.
So what’s the best part of all of this? I got to see (and in some cases taste) every single dish offered by the 27 participating restaurants.
And no, they did not disappoint.
I believe that all of this may just make me the foremost expert on Roswell Restaurant Week at this point. And hey, if I’m going to be an expert on something, I certainly don’t mind it being this.
So in celebration of all things foodie, I thought I’d round up some of my favorite picks and top recommendations so you can make your way up to Roswell and dive into some of this deliciousness yourself.
Date Night
Roswell is an amazing place for a night out with your SO. Here you’ll find eateries that combine ambiance and awesome food. Here are my top picks for your date night in The Well:
Pastis Restaurant & Bar makes you feel like you just stepped off a bustling street in Paris. These Bison Short Ribs slow braised with, garlic mashed potatoes, ratatouille, and natural braising jus was making my mouth water during the entire shoot!
Bistro VG has a light and airy ambiance that makes you want to sit with your glass of wine and just soak it all in. Everything on their menu looked absolutely impeccable, including the Hanger Steak with caramelized cauliflower, chimichurri, seen here.
Vin25 is an adorable wine bar tucked away off the main drag of busy Canton Street downtown. Coop and his team were a delight to work with, and it’s very evident that they care a lot about their food. This one’s at the top of my list for our next date night. Braised Short Rib with horseradish mashed potatoes, braised cauliflower, au poivre pictured here. Ask for Coop, and he’ll help you find the perfect wine to pair it with. Definitely don’t forget to save room for the giant peanut butter cup dessert.
Amalfi is a Roswell institution and if you’re looking for real Italian food crafted by real Italian folks, this is the spot. My husband is a scallop lover and these Scallops with Tuscan Bean Salad were probably his favorite dish on the RRW docket.
Foundation Social Eatery gets two pics because their menu was just too good. Tucked away on the lesser-frequented east side of Roswell, this unconventional eatery is officially our new favorite neighborhood spot. Every dish they offer employs something unique that you may have never tried before, and the results are always impeccable. Pictured above are my two faves: the Seasonal Mushroom Ravioli and the House-Made Fettuccini with chicken bolognaise, herbed ricotta, arugula, parmesan. The good news is that the ravioli is an appetizer and the fettucini is a main, so you can indulge in both! Run don’t walk for that bolognaise, ya’ll, it’s something special.
Osteria Mattone is another Italian fave for the downtown Roswell scene. The Pernice brothers really know what they’re doing, and I’m always pumped to see what their team is coming up with next. Their bolognaise? Also out of this world. The Funghi Pizza with truffled cream also gets a major thumbs up from this girl.
Top Apps
Moe’s Original BBQ may not be the fanciest on the roster of Roswell Restaurant Week, but holy cow, their fried pickles! I don’t think I need to say anything else, get down there ASAP and try them for yourself.
Salt Factory is one of those warm and inviting spots and greets you with a hug and ensures you that anything you order is going to be sublime. I’ve had the privilege of noshing on this Crispy Shrimp with thai carrot slaw & charred lime, & sweet chili vinaigrette appetizer before, so I was excited to see it pop up on the RRW menu. Seriously, it’s the best.
Two words: GARLIC KNOTS. No further explanation required from Brick House Pizza.
The Mill Kitchen and Bar is offering Ahi Tuna Poke Nachos with fried wonton chips, sushi grade ahi tuna, wakame salad, onions, smoked soy vinaigrette, cilantro wasbai creme. I love seeing some of the more creative dishes come out to play, and this Asian twist on traditional nachos is sure to be a crowd fave.
Between Buns
Table & Main is known around these parts for their Fried Chicken, and their Shrimp & Grits… and their Puddin’ Dessert. Okay, they’re kind of known for everything, so would I expect anything less than one of the best hamburgers I’ve ever tasted from them? It’s topped with pimento cheese and bacon jam, of course. And the fries. OH MY the fries. I’m kind of a fry snob, and these. Wooh boy. So good. If you’re not a burger lover, good news, the Shrimp & Grits and Fried Chicken are both on the RRW menu as well!
The Big Ketch’s Hot Buttered Lobster Rol;l oh my. The buttered bread. The lobster. All of it. I was already sold, and then being a brussels sprout lover I took a bite of the sprouts served on the side. WOAH. I think I may have uncovered the best brussels in Atlanta, seriously. They’re that good.
Southern Staples
Metro Diner is a newbie to the Roswell scene, but I foresee this becoming a neighborhood fave very shortly. With lots of yummy traditional breakfast options and of course all your fave diner fare like Chicken Pot Pie and and Burgers, it’s got a little something for everyone. Can’t go wrong with Chicken and Waffles!
Is it okay that both of my Southern picks are fried chicken? I think so, it’s just that important. 1920 Tavern’s Southern Fried Chicken Dinner with garlic potato puree, sautéed southern green beans and finished with a rustic country white gravy puts a contemporary twist on a Southern classic.
Out With Friends
If you’re looking for a new Friday dining spot with friends, might I suggest Pizzeria Lucca? Their authentic Italian-style oven-fired pizzas remind me of the kind of pies I enjoyed in Italy. If you’re looking for something unique, their Fig Prosciutto Pizza had me all googly eyed during the shoot.
Roux is another Canton Street staple that’s perfect for lunch or dinner with friends. Roux’s extensive beer selection pairs perfectly with their casual, southern-influenced cuisine.
The Peach & The Porkchop offers options for every taste, and I was totally intrigued by their Organic Duck Marsala. The staff here is super friendly, and I can’t wait to go back!
Houck’s Grill sits in a huge space off Woodstock Road, and all that space means they get to have a lot of fun. Live music, comedy acts, and of course sports viewings are just a few of the things you might find going on at Houck’s on any given night. Their Surf & Turf was truly a work of art!
Crabapple Tavern is an unassuming sports bar in a small shopping center off Crabapple Road. I was blown away by the calibre and creativity of their dishes. House Cured Pork Belly, Coffee Rubbed Short Ribs, and Caramel Pot De Creme? Yeah, this is not just your ordinary neighborhood tavern.
South of the Border Faves
If this looks like a cauldron of meat, that’s exactly what it is. It’s actually called a Molcajete: grilled hanger steak, chicken, smoked sausage, shrimp, fried queso fresco, and cactus with a side of cheese quesadilla and charro beans. It’s one of HOLA’s signature dishes, and it is DELISH.
I will never turn down a good empanada, and PURE’s Chicken Empanadas are second to none. Rosemary dough turnovers, chicken, poblano peppers, corn, queso fundido cheese creamy mexicana salsa…now I’m craving a margarita just thinking about it!
Monterrey’s Street Taco Plate features 3 street tacos (steak, chicken, pastor, carnitas, tilapia, or chorizo), with grilled corn on the cobb, cotija cheese, and charro beans. It offers a little bit of everything, and it’s all exceptional.
Okay, so I know I’ve been hiding under a rock a little bit, but I’ve never had a churro before. So call me no churro expert, but I did THOROUGHLY enjoy the churros from both HOLA and Monterrey (same owner and same recipe). Cinnamony sugary goodness. YES PLEASE.
Best Desserts
Roswellites will find this pick to be no surprise. Adele’s has the best beignets ever. Period. Hands down. They’re light and fluffy and exploding with powdery sugar snow with every bite. Yes, I’m the one who took the bite out for the photo. I have no regrets, it had to be done.
Your Pie was a college fave of mine, and I’d actually never visited the Roswell location prior to the shoot. I didn’t realize that they offered gelato, but after this pic was snapped, of course I didn’t want it to go to waste. After spending a summer in Italy, I’d like to say that my gelato palette is very refined, and Your Pie’s gelato passed the test. This is some pretty legit gelato, and the Butterfinger Crunch flavor was a surprising fave of mine.
I know I’ve already mentioned Bistro VG. But their dessert was just too good not to mention here. Bistro VG offers a Brown Butter Tart with crème fraiche ice cream that is simply too divine to pass up. It’s buttery with a little bit of fruit and the ice cream brings it to a whole other level.
Conclusions
Now that you’re surely salivating and starving, I hope you’ll take some time to get out there and support these amazing local businesses during Roswell Restaurant Week, Monday, January 23 thru Wednesday, February 1. I have so greatly enjoyed the opportunity over the last month to get out and see what the exceptional food community of Roswell is accomplishing. I’m so proud of my city for being such a cool and fun place to be. A huge thank you goes out to Roswell Inc. and Nimble for allowing me to be a part of this project. Now it’s time to get out there and go eat. Bon appetit!