**
Orange Julius use to be the King of the Mall. Back before most malls even thought of something called a "Food Court", OJ was holding court and delivering tasty smoothie beverages to the shopping masses.
Times change and now it is rare to find an Orange Julius. Attacked on one side by the food courts full of alternatives and on the other side by the rise of the smoothie stand, it can be a bit exciting to find a surviving store.
Sadly this Orange Julius doesn't appear to be very ready for the fight. The smoothies are made with flavored syrup, which isn't at all uncommon but using real fruit would be a way to distinguish itself from the rest of the pack. The food isn't very good and the last time I ate there, the cashier took my money (make a note, cash is full of nastiness that gives pause even to non-germophobes like myself) and then prepared my food without so much as putting on a pair of gloves or washing up. While I find the excessive use of plastic gloves in fast food to be wasteful, at least the hands should be washed.
Orange Julius earns its second star both for the nostalgia factor and for the fact that their signature drink is quite tasty. Other than that, it is best to move on to other choices.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
KFC - Peachtree Center
* 1/2
The Colonel does chicken right... provided you like your chicken to be as anemic as Kate Moss and as greasy as Jerry Lewis' hair.
In general KFC isn't very good but this location is worse than average. The employees aren't at all friendly and the manager seems as unhappy to be there as anyone else. The service is slow, the food of poor quality, and kitchen and the rest of the area behind the counter doesn't look very clean. It's not at the level that they're likely to be closed down by the county health department but certainly isn't very appetizing.
Located in one of the two food courts at the Peachtree Center Mall, you're best off checking out just about any of the other alternatives for eating here.
The Colonel does chicken right... provided you like your chicken to be as anemic as Kate Moss and as greasy as Jerry Lewis' hair.
In general KFC isn't very good but this location is worse than average. The employees aren't at all friendly and the manager seems as unhappy to be there as anyone else. The service is slow, the food of poor quality, and kitchen and the rest of the area behind the counter doesn't look very clean. It's not at the level that they're likely to be closed down by the county health department but certainly isn't very appetizing.
Located in one of the two food courts at the Peachtree Center Mall, you're best off checking out just about any of the other alternatives for eating here.
Noodle Cafe
*** 1/2
A quaint little noodle place hidden in the Peachtree Center Mall, the Noodle Cafe appears to be one of those family run hole in the wall type establishments that proves that a book should not be judged by its cover.
The noodle bowls here are fantastic. Oh sure, they can't fully stand up to a fancy noodle restaurant with top chefs but for semi-fast food, the quality is way beyond what you would expect. After all, you're eating out of a plastic bowl, which typically isn't a sign of high quality. What goes into those plastic bowls however it pure heaven.
I wrote semi-fast food because it usually takes ten minutes from the time you order until you receive your food. I guess that's the trade off for better quality. During peak lunch time it might also take you five or more minutes just to get to the counter to order.
Both waiting in line and for your food after you order can be a less than pleasant experience because the cafe is crammed in a little space that it shares with what appears to be a freight elevator. Expect to have to move several times while waiting for janitors to make their way in and out of the elevator.
Despite the less than idea waiting experience, the price and quality makes this a worthwhile way to satisfy your noodle cravings when you don't have time (or money) to go to a top line noodle restaurant.
They also have the standard "rice plus two" offering but it is obvious this is just an add on. Go down the hall to Oriental Express if that's what you are looking for. The Noodle Cafe should be strictly for the noodles.
A quaint little noodle place hidden in the Peachtree Center Mall, the Noodle Cafe appears to be one of those family run hole in the wall type establishments that proves that a book should not be judged by its cover.
The noodle bowls here are fantastic. Oh sure, they can't fully stand up to a fancy noodle restaurant with top chefs but for semi-fast food, the quality is way beyond what you would expect. After all, you're eating out of a plastic bowl, which typically isn't a sign of high quality. What goes into those plastic bowls however it pure heaven.
I wrote semi-fast food because it usually takes ten minutes from the time you order until you receive your food. I guess that's the trade off for better quality. During peak lunch time it might also take you five or more minutes just to get to the counter to order.
Both waiting in line and for your food after you order can be a less than pleasant experience because the cafe is crammed in a little space that it shares with what appears to be a freight elevator. Expect to have to move several times while waiting for janitors to make their way in and out of the elevator.
Despite the less than idea waiting experience, the price and quality makes this a worthwhile way to satisfy your noodle cravings when you don't have time (or money) to go to a top line noodle restaurant.
They also have the standard "rice plus two" offering but it is obvious this is just an add on. Go down the hall to Oriental Express if that's what you are looking for. The Noodle Cafe should be strictly for the noodles.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Room
****
Room opened today and I had to be the first to review it! Ok, it was also because I've walked past the Twelve Centennial Park building every weekday for the past year and a half while it was being built and was anxious to finally get to see anything inside.
I dropped in at the bar at Room and had the cucumber martini because, well, I'd never had one before and knew it would either be really awful or really great. Luckily it was really great. Light and refreshing like the cucumbers you would get at a farmers' market (note: the cucumbers from the market at Piedmont Park are almost as sweet as watermelon but that's for another review) rather than those wax covered monstrosities sold at the large chain grocery stores.
The space is modern but refined at the same time. I suspect this is a reflection of the slightly more mature and serious vibe of Downtown/Centennial Hill compared to what you would get in Midtown or VaHi. I can see Room being a good third date location.
While I was sipping my martini and having a nice conversation with the friendly bartender, a large plate of sushi (well, there was no rice so I guess it technically wasn't sushi) and mixed greens was brought over for me to try. Since I've never had sushi before it is impossible for me to compare it to anything else but I really enjoyed it. Don't most people get sick on their first attempt with raw fish? I didn't so that must be a good sign. The greens were fresh though the vinaigrette dressing was a bit over powering. I guess that is why it was served on the bottom of the plate so the amount in each bite could be controlled.
This is a Concentrics restaurant and Bob Amick was sitting down the bar from me. Upon hearing that I was trying "sushi" for the first time, he lightheartedly remarked to get out the barf bag.
Overall I was impressed and am glad to have a new place in the neighborhood to enjoy. The prices look a bit on the high end but very far from the most expensive in town.
Being that it is on the ground floor of the Twelve Hotel, they serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch to give complete coverage to the hotel guests. The only reason why I'm not giving five stars is that I don't think one drink and a plate of "sushi" and greens is enough to fully review a restaurant that appears to have a very extensive repertoire. I'll have to go back and see how the rest of the service and food is like. For now, a solid four stars!
Room is located mere feet from the Civic Center MARTA station, making it a sure star in a future MARTA Pub Crawl.
The map included with the review is off by a couple of blocks. Don't get lost! Click on the link for a larger map to get it right.
Room opened today and I had to be the first to review it! Ok, it was also because I've walked past the Twelve Centennial Park building every weekday for the past year and a half while it was being built and was anxious to finally get to see anything inside.
I dropped in at the bar at Room and had the cucumber martini because, well, I'd never had one before and knew it would either be really awful or really great. Luckily it was really great. Light and refreshing like the cucumbers you would get at a farmers' market (note: the cucumbers from the market at Piedmont Park are almost as sweet as watermelon but that's for another review) rather than those wax covered monstrosities sold at the large chain grocery stores.
The space is modern but refined at the same time. I suspect this is a reflection of the slightly more mature and serious vibe of Downtown/Centennial Hill compared to what you would get in Midtown or VaHi. I can see Room being a good third date location.
While I was sipping my martini and having a nice conversation with the friendly bartender, a large plate of sushi (well, there was no rice so I guess it technically wasn't sushi) and mixed greens was brought over for me to try. Since I've never had sushi before it is impossible for me to compare it to anything else but I really enjoyed it. Don't most people get sick on their first attempt with raw fish? I didn't so that must be a good sign. The greens were fresh though the vinaigrette dressing was a bit over powering. I guess that is why it was served on the bottom of the plate so the amount in each bite could be controlled.
This is a Concentrics restaurant and Bob Amick was sitting down the bar from me. Upon hearing that I was trying "sushi" for the first time, he lightheartedly remarked to get out the barf bag.
Overall I was impressed and am glad to have a new place in the neighborhood to enjoy. The prices look a bit on the high end but very far from the most expensive in town.
Being that it is on the ground floor of the Twelve Hotel, they serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch to give complete coverage to the hotel guests. The only reason why I'm not giving five stars is that I don't think one drink and a plate of "sushi" and greens is enough to fully review a restaurant that appears to have a very extensive repertoire. I'll have to go back and see how the rest of the service and food is like. For now, a solid four stars!
Room is located mere feet from the Civic Center MARTA station, making it a sure star in a future MARTA Pub Crawl.
The map included with the review is off by a couple of blocks. Don't get lost! Click on the link for a larger map to get it right.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Pulse Bar
*** 1/2
THUMP-THUMP ... THUMP-THUMP ... THUMP-THUMP
At six o'clock a heartbeat sounds as Pulse comes to life. As a hotel lobby bar, Pulse doesn't have a huge seating area and unless there is a wild convention going on, is typically not in the middle of the action. But it has a great mellow lounge vibe that is hard to beat, especially after night has fallen.
Pulse is best for small groups. If you're on a date, the lighting and mellow tone are romantic but sitting in the heart of John Portman's greatest atrium hotel does not create anything close to a feeling of intimacy. For large groups, Pulse isn't right since it is too mellow and the layout of the seating isn't conductive for conversation amongst many. If your group is between four and ten people, it is perfect, especially as a place to take a breather between other high energy activities or to wind down the evening.
The drinks and service are good but nothing earth shattering. What does separate Pulse from every place else is the setting. Oh, they like to brag about the huge sail like structure over the bar that changes color but lets face it, color changing LEDs are everywhere now and are getting a bit played out. The use on them here is far superior to just about anywhere else in town as the colors don't change fast enough to be distracting (Georgia Aquarium Oceans Ballroom, I'm looking your way) and are limited to colors and intensity that set a mellow mood.
No, what makes the setting so different is the view upwards. Despite being a terribly ugly building on the outside, the atrium lobby of the Marriott Marquis set the standard for all other atrium hotels around the world. There may be something larger, brighter, and more spectacular in a city like Dubai, but only here do you feel like you're looking up through the belly of a whale. The redesigned lighting effects and the removal of Christo's now tired fabric sculptures work with Pulse's light sail to provide a feeling of being in a slightly different universe in which the new millennium has been fused with the 1970s.
Before leaving, be sure to hop on one of the glass elevators and press the highest floor number you can. After a few drinks, the view down through the atrium is even more pulse quickening than viewing it from Pulse.
Pulse, along with the Marriott Marquis, is located just over a block from the Peachtree Center MARTA station.
THUMP-THUMP ... THUMP-THUMP ... THUMP-THUMP
At six o'clock a heartbeat sounds as Pulse comes to life. As a hotel lobby bar, Pulse doesn't have a huge seating area and unless there is a wild convention going on, is typically not in the middle of the action. But it has a great mellow lounge vibe that is hard to beat, especially after night has fallen.
Pulse is best for small groups. If you're on a date, the lighting and mellow tone are romantic but sitting in the heart of John Portman's greatest atrium hotel does not create anything close to a feeling of intimacy. For large groups, Pulse isn't right since it is too mellow and the layout of the seating isn't conductive for conversation amongst many. If your group is between four and ten people, it is perfect, especially as a place to take a breather between other high energy activities or to wind down the evening.
The drinks and service are good but nothing earth shattering. What does separate Pulse from every place else is the setting. Oh, they like to brag about the huge sail like structure over the bar that changes color but lets face it, color changing LEDs are everywhere now and are getting a bit played out. The use on them here is far superior to just about anywhere else in town as the colors don't change fast enough to be distracting (Georgia Aquarium Oceans Ballroom, I'm looking your way) and are limited to colors and intensity that set a mellow mood.
No, what makes the setting so different is the view upwards. Despite being a terribly ugly building on the outside, the atrium lobby of the Marriott Marquis set the standard for all other atrium hotels around the world. There may be something larger, brighter, and more spectacular in a city like Dubai, but only here do you feel like you're looking up through the belly of a whale. The redesigned lighting effects and the removal of Christo's now tired fabric sculptures work with Pulse's light sail to provide a feeling of being in a slightly different universe in which the new millennium has been fused with the 1970s.
Before leaving, be sure to hop on one of the glass elevators and press the highest floor number you can. After a few drinks, the view down through the atrium is even more pulse quickening than viewing it from Pulse.
Pulse, along with the Marriott Marquis, is located just over a block from the Peachtree Center MARTA station.
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