I really have always loved Loca Luna. In fact, Alison and I had our Celebration (unlawful wedding) there when it was located on [tag]Juniper Street[/tag]. That [tag]Loca Luna[/tag] was great with dark colors – as in “starry night” colors. Paintings across the walls of the bar area depicted a moonlit evening over some Latin American country. There was a pond and beautiful fountain on the massive porch area and it all seemed to fit together perfectly.

Well, things have changed at the new Loca Luna. This Loca Luna represents Miami circa 1982. Located at [tag]Amsterdam Walk[/tag] where the Red Chair used to be, the space has undergone some serious changes. Gone are the dark colors. In are the pastel pinks, oranges, and yellows-as well as a baby blue ceiling. It is a really bright even with the lights dimmed low. And for some reason, they went crazy with the mirrors – mirrors on the walls, hanging circular mirrors over the bar, and – well, I could go on and on.

The food, of course, is just as good and it seems to always be packed with gorgeous people – especially single people gathered to drink a “Brasilian Pearl Necklace” or “Lane’s Penis” (yes, those are drink names.) I went with our friends, Alley, Kristen, and Michael, and we enjoyed the live Latin music and as for the food, I think the Golden Beet Lollipops, the Macaroni and Mahon, and the Beef Short Ribs with Balsamic reduction were the best. But, I don’t think I need to go often. I hate to say it, but it is just no longer (for me) the place I want to go to have a Mojito and some tapas. It is quite frankly, just too many things-in pastel colors.

Michael enjoying his Lava Flow frozen drink amongst the mirrors at Loca Luna.

Brutus gives it only 2 paws up because of the look they have gone for.

Alison and I have a few favorite [tag]restaurants in Atlanta[/tag] -but the one that we truly never tire of is [tag]Wisteria[/tag]. In fact, it is like our home away from home. Nestled in the Virginia Highlands (near the Freedom Parkway), the intimate atmosphere draws you in. We love the wait staff, especially Vivian who could possibly win an award for being such a great and very fun server, and then there is Katie, the amazing manager who lets nothing slip by her. Last night, a couple of friends and I made reservations at Wisteria, and to my sadness, Katie nor Vivian were on the schedule – but alas we had a great waitress, Patricia, who made our evening wonderful.

Alley, Michelle, and I got the 3 glasses of wine each (level 2) which price at $15.00 for the 3 nicely filled half glasses. I like to think of myself as a wine snob even though I rarely know how to pronounce the name of most, so we got a glass of champagne to start with, then two reds (then a 4th full glass…) We started our meal with the great black-eyed pea hummus which was delicious, then moved on to soups. I had the famous crab bisque and they had the tuscan bean something something soup which reminded me of a french onion but with tuscan beans. They both loved it. Alley got the pumpkin filled ravioli dinner ($14.95) and Michelle got the delicious seasonal tart – which consisted of wild mushrooms and gruyere cheese last night. Yum Yum… I got a Caesar salad – which is boring I know, but I was holding out for dessert.

For dessert, we got 3 different ones for $10.00 and it was plenty. Included in our selection was the traditional vanilla creme brulee, the apple turnover (holy schmooly), and the carrot cake. All three were excellent and I licked the plate clean.

Michelle had never been here (shame on her!) and she said it was fantabulous (well, I put that made up word in her mouth.) You must go if you have never been, it will not disappoint you, and if it does, talk to Katie and she will kick some butt. (Below is a photo of Patricia serving the desserts to Alley and Michelle!)

Brutus gives it 4 paws up!

 The Hot Brown

Have you ever been to a [tag]Dwarf House[/tag]?  I only know of two, but I am sure there are many more.  The original one is in Hapeville, but the Dwarf Houses are Chic-fil-A’s with an attitude.  Meaning, they are small restaurants with some food that regular old Chic-fil-A’s just don’t have and I must admit that I have never really looked over the whole menu until today.  Ashley, a friend of mine, and I headed on over to the Chic-fil-A Dwarf House in Woodstock, GA  (hello Knox) for lunch. 

I chose the hot chicken noodle soup because I have a bit of a cold and Ashley was piddling trying to decide what she wanted.  Ashley looks up and sees something on the board called the [tag]Hot Brown[/tag].  Up comes Karen, a Supervisor at the Dwarf House, who happily tells us it is something you can only get at a Dwarf House (not at a regular old Chic-fil-A) and it consists of…you ready for this? - the fried chicken they are famous for, cut up in pieces, with a buttery chicken gravy, loaded with slices of cheese, and with two pieces of bacon on top.  AND, it comes with two slices of bread so you can slop it all together.  CORONARY!  But guess what? Ashley got it and she loved it although she thought it should be a breakfast item with a biscuit. Good Lord.  Her quote was, “Girl, this is good” 

Now, along with this so called Hot Brown, they have homemade Pot Pies, new vegetables, and even though cows love for you to eat chicken at the Chic-fil-A, they indeed do serve a darn good hamburger.  Amazingly, the mom and daughter behind us were from Hapeville and she talked about getting the Hot Browns at that Dwarf House years ago.  Ah, the joys that Truett Cathy has brought to us. So, visit a Dwarf House and discover the food you just never thought you would need…

Brutus gives the Hot Brown 3 paws up. 

Brian, one of the owners, really did not want to pose behind the counter, but I made him.

I have often wondered why we don’t have more hole-in-the-wall snotty sandwich shops in this town, and finally there is one close by in Decatur that I love. [tag]5th Earl Market[/tag] is on College Avenue and serves some great soups, salads, and sandwiches – not to mention they make their own pasta salads, dips, have amazing cheeses for sale, and the desserts are scrumptious.

I decided to take my mom who was here from South Carolina (Go Cocks!) to the 5th Earl and I could not have picked a better place. Mom got this amazing soup – some thick bean soup with a tomato base – I am not making this sound good because I should have written what was actually in this soup – but mom said it was “the best soup she had ever had.” Now, just so you know, my mom tends to exaggerate a tad, but I will agree with her on this one – that it was really delicious soup. I got a panini with grilled chicken, avocado, cheese, and other stuff mixed in and it was great. We got a piece of the caramel cake to go, but mom could not make it home before she was eating it all with her fingers.

So, if you are in the Decatur area, go by and check it out. They serve beer and wine, have a really cute bar, great seating, and a great atmosphere. Problem is, their website is not up and running so I can’t link you to it. Would be great for Internet viewers to check out the entire menu and see more pictures, but in the meantime, head over to 309 East College Avenue and enjoy some very fresh food. (All menu items under $10)

Brutus gives this 3 paws up.

Bonjour!  Alright, I have now expired my full recollection of high school French.  Whatever.  You do not need to speak Fench to enjoy an evening at Atmosphere- a French Bistro in [tag]midtown ATL[/tag].  Ashley and I celebrated the 2nd Year Anniversary of our non-legally sanctioned Commitment Ceremony by having two nice glasses of champagne followed by an excellent ahi tuna appetizer special.  Ashley thoroughly enjoyed the duck special except for that nagging feeling that wild game is so 1999 and maybe one day soon she should go veggie.  I had no guilt as I enjoyed my ravioli filled with goat cheese and some other non-meatstuff.  Very nice.  The portions are just enough to save room for the MOLTEN CHOCOLATE dessert which is also nice and small so you can feel good about having the Atmosphere coffee drink with a touch of Baileys.  Yum. 

But the real joy was not staring into Ashley’s eyes, but ease-dropping on our fellow dinner guests.  The”corner table” arrived with our entrees.  She was clearly loaded on Peachitinis or some other random girlie cocktail.  Her poor date- who had no doubt met her acquaintance on eHarmony – was a nice gentlemen approximately one foot shorter than she.  He politely listened as she busted up with such stimulating one-liners as “This sure isn’t Kroger Sushi” and ”How many times have you ever been head over heels in love?” – not to mention her excellent demonstration of druken-slurred French – “c’essst biieeennn!”  Sexy!  Speaking of sexy, we loved our waiter Julien- with an “e” – from Cannes.   And the other waiter – a Hugh Grant look-alike named Daniel was full of all the smooth moves you might expect from a career server.  Excellent service and yes – a nice “atmosphere.” 

Brutus would give this 3 and a half paws up.