TROIS

She says:
Our first and only visit to Trois was back in August, during Midtown Restaurant Week. We’ve been meaning to go back to do a full fledged review, but alas, it hardly seems right to splurge on fine French food when the economy is in such dire straits. So this will have to do for now.

He says:
Like its sister restaurants One Midtown Kitchen and Two Urban Licks, much effort has gone into Trois’s interior design. However, in contrast to its older siblings’ love affair with thumping music, dim lighting, and ghetto fabulous décor, Trois takes a minimalist approach far more appropriate for a fine dining establishment. The main room is large and airy, with tall chiffon curtains that keep the room alive with light. And while the volume never dropped below 11 at Two, Trois actually seems to try to encourage conversation. The Concentrics group appears to be taking a new tact with this restaurant, which is to let the food – and not the setting – take center stage.

The prix fixe menu started with a beef hanger skewer that came with a salad of shredded green mango and papaya. The beef was delicious, juicy with slight notes of fennel.

She says:
The second appetizer was an upgrade of your typical Caprese salad. Heirloom tomatoes, which had a ton of flavor, were topped with basil, goat cheese, and aged balsamic vinegar. I loved the substitution of goat cheese for the usual mozzarella..

The star of the night was the Sole Parisian. The fish was amazing! Perfectly prepared, it had a slight crispness on the exterior and a delicate interior. Capers provided a nice contrast to the buttery flavor of the fish, although really, the fish could easily have stood on its own.

He says:
The roasted duck entrée was solid, though it suffered in comparison with the sole. The flesh was moist though it could have been fattier. The mini egg rolls stuffed with bok choy and duck confit were interesting, but they didn’t add much contrast to the dish.

She says:
Dessert was warm chocolate soufflé cake. Trois’ version is exactly what you expect and hope for from this popular dish … not overly sweet, with a delicious oozing interior and vanilla ice cream on the side. As a bonus, the cake was drizzled with a raspberry sauce, the tart fruitiness rounding out the cake’s overall richness.

Based on my experience at Restaurant Week...

He says:
While Trois hit on all cylinders for our abbreviated meal, it’s still a step behind Bacchanalia in my book. Nevertheless, that is quite an accomplishment!





Trois
1180 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309
http://www.trois3.com/home.html

DESI SPICE

She says:
We should have known that it would be too good to be true to have a fantastic Indian restaurant next door to the nearby Midtown Art Cinema. We’ve walked past Desi Spice dozens of times on the way to the movies without even noticing it, but we recently stopped by with my brother and his wife one night before a show. After all, you never know when there might be a hidden gem right in your own backyard. As it turns out, though, it couldn’t have been much worse.

He says:
Dinner got off to a shaky start when I ordered a mango lassi that was so sickeningly sweet that I couldn’t finish it. It was like drinking honey.

Our group split the vegetarian sampler for four, which includes samosas, fried onions, dal, saag paneer, two types of vegetable curry, naan, and rice. The samosas were solid though they left a bit to be desired. The outer pastry was nice and thick, but the potato and peas within didn’t stand out in any way.

The rest of the entrees in the sampler suffered from a fatal flaw – the complete absence of any spice. This is all the more peculiar since “spice” is in the name of the restaurant. It seems that Desi has so thoroughly Americanized its dishes that this “Indian” cuisine no longer tastes Indian. In fact, it doesn’t taste like anything at all.

She says:
Agreed. The dal was the only edible dish, probably because it’s the only dish you wouldn’t expect to be spicy. The other dishes – a vegetable curry, sag paneer, and some other forgettable dish with veggies – were completely bland. Coupled with the fact that most of the veggies (and the paneer) were overcooked, this meal could have been repackaged and sold as baby food.

As we were leaving, my sister-in-law took another look at the menu. At the bottom it read “If you like spice, please tell your waiter.” Wait a second… Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Isn’t Indian food supposed to have some kick?

We say:
Desi “Spice” is unfortunately lacking.




Desi Spice
931 Monroe Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
http://www.desispiceatl.com/

HIGHLAND BAKERY

She says:
Atlanta’s brunch scene never ceases to impress us. Our list of favorite brunch spots got a little longer this weekend after dining at Highland Bakery. Located in a newly developed strip on North Highland, the bakery occupies a bright, generous space decorated with funky local art. Highland Bakery’s capacity is a real perk… unlike most of our brunch experiences we didn’t have to wait for a seat, despite the steady stream of customers arriving.

He says:
A glass of fresh squeezed OJ and an endless cup of joe kicked off our recent Sunday brunch. For my main entrée, I was tempted by several selections on the expansive menu (ricotta pancakes with blueberry compote anyone?) before eventually settling for the Cowboy Benedict. A clever riff on eggs benedict, this dish features two perfectly poached eggs over quesadillas served with black beans and corn relish. The spiciness of the corn – amped up with just the right amount of chili pepper – disrupted the hollandaise sauce with pleasing results. I’d say it was one of the best brunch specials I’ve had in quite some time.

She says:
The sweet potato pancakes were a perfect fall treat. I was expecting sweet potato to make for a very dense cake, but in fact the cakes were light and fluffy. A slathering of carmelized brown sugar syrup added the necessary sweetness, and a sprinkling of toasted pecans provided a delicious textural contrast.

Our dining partner – a vegan – had several options to choose from and enjoyed the tofu scramble. The potatoes on the side were excellent, browned to a beautiful crisp and well-seasoned.

We say:
This place definitely gives the Flying Biscuit and Sweet Melissa’s a run for its money! For an affordable, delicious breakfast (and fresh cupcakes in the display case to boot) head to Highland Bakery.




Highland Bakery
655 Highland Avenue, #10, Atlanta, Georgia 30312
http://www.highlandbakery.com/