SUN IN MY BELLY

He says:
I feel like I’ve been searching for a neighborhood café like Sun in my Belly ever since coming to Atlanta. With tall windows that face the College Avenue train tracks and abundant sunshine lighting up three handsome rooms (one area for on-the-go orders and two dining rooms), this former hardware store has cleaned up beautifully. It’s clean, well-mannered, and instantly homey. Joggers in running shoes dine next to funky young couples and families dressed in Brooks Brothers. Unlike the noisy, free-wheeling atmosphere found in other Atlanta brunch spots, Sun in my Belly exudes a certain reserve, a quiet confidence you might say, borne from its belief that high-quality, no frills organic food can prosper in Atlanta.

And you know what? They’re right. On my first visit, after hemming and hawing over the quiche of the day or the scrambled egg and cheddar Panini, I went with the quiche – a most fortuitous decision. It was remarkable. Large, generous strips of prosciutto and mushrooms were layered in custard so smooth and rich that both Uptown Girl and I swooned after our first bite. The crust was wonderful too, buttery and flaky and crisp.

My side of cheese grits tasted fine, but were slightly gummy. I should really stop ordering grits at restaurants. No one in town comes close to competing with the Flying Biscuits’ version.

She says:
I went with the other special of the day, an omelette with turkey, jalapenos, tomatoes, and cheddar. With this promising medley of ingredients I was expecting something spicy, but the omelette that came out was so bland the only kick associated with it was me kicking myself for not ordering the quiche! I should have known… tomatoes are way out of season and thus bound to be tasteless. The real disappointment was the jalapenos, which had as much heat as a green pepper.

I did enjoy my biscuit, though, which was vastly different from the biscuits you get at Flying Biscuit. Instead of being fat and airy, it was extremely dense and buttery, almost like a pastry crust. A sprinkling of rosemary added a touch of complexity.

He says:
On my second visit, I tried the Napoleon Complex, an excellent panini with brie, prosciutto, red onion, and fig jam on toasted focaccia. A little sweet, a little salty, a little creamy, and a little crunchy, it’s the perfect lunch time snack. And the curry carrot soup on the side was absolutely killer.

On the other hand, the ham sandwich with roasted red peppers and Dijon mustard was bland and floppy.

We say:
There are knockouts and letdowns at this quiet cafe, but with fresh ingredients and an ever-changing menu, we’ll definitely be back to stuff our bellies.

He says:



She says:



Sun in my Belly
2161 College Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30317
http://www.suninmybelly.com/index.html