3/6/2010

5/5 stars

Ok, it's been around 5 years since I've been here… Why a review now? Because some acquaintances reminded me of my experiences here, and theirs were *today*.

Once you catch the attention of the staff (no mean feat if they're moderately busy or if they're some of the handful who aren't so great), they will be astoundingly helpful. Almost too helpful if you're in a hurry. This place carries basic canning supplies year-round. They have a good selection of wood and tools. Still. Even with CA's economy in the toilet. I suppose that makes some aspects easier for DIY/canning supplies, but still…

Yelp tags: Hardware Stores

3/9/2010

3/5 stars

Oooommmm… Trying to channel my inner khaki pants and light blue dress shirt-wearing inner sports bar person… hm. That person seems to busy insulting the rest of me. I hated high school & jr. high.

This isn't my type of place. Obviously. I promised myself I'd use various on-line deals to try places that *aren't* my type of place. That's how I ended up here a little while back.

I'm giving them a 3-star, good rating by averaging against what I *guess* their target market wants. I hesitated over reviewing them at all… I'm not planning on returning. It's not that it's *bad*, it's just not my thing. I kinda wish it weren't anyone's thing, but I'm not the oracle of all things good.

I had, of course, a hamburger. The cow was dead in both life and flavor. I don't hate harping on it; I've come to prefer grass-fed, aged beef. It has flavor. This? Um. Oh, that's bacon? hm. The fries were good, though. At this point, it should be very obvious that I'm downright snooty about certain types of food. Snotty? Other people mention healthier fare. Um. Sports bar. Healthy is not compatible.

Beer? They have it. Given other places nearby, well… Don't go here for a beer selection. It suffices and is OK.

Curling? During the winter Olympics (TM, R, and sue your butt off for using that word). Many TVs. Bright TVs. Mostly playing things about which I don't care. But they did have curling, which I've managed to find interesting. Pool + bocci. Like baseball, only novel and rare enough to maintain my interest for the 30s between commercials.

Service was great. I am *obviously* not someone who feels comfortable here, but they still tolerated my taking up a table as people accumulated at the door. I have to say that "average" service in Atlanta is a far step above good service in other places I've been So the service is "average" here only because the bar is much, much higher. Compared to, say, San Francisco in my experience, the service would be stunningly stellar. Everything was prompt and exactly as advertised. No hurrying and no pestering. Knowledgeable about the (meager) offerings.

If you want a standard sports bar for other peoples' sake, this is a good place. It's "local" yet generic, so your guests can say they've been somewhere different without actually experiencing anything different. And sometimes that's hugely important. (Hey, I need to get paid, too. Making the people with the money happy is hugely important.)

Yelp tags: American (Traditional) Venues & Event Spaces Bars

3/9/2010

4/5 stars

Ok, I tend towards giving 4-star reviews. Four stars means I find *something* I really like. At Papi's, I really like how the fried plantains remind me of Tampa. It's that simple. The food always has made me happy, reminding me of places and times that may exist only in my imagination. The plantains are exactly how I remember them (regardless of any connection between memory and reality). And the specials are a great deal.

I'm glad I work just far enough away to make Papi's a rare visit. If it were closer to work than home, I might just "accidentally" forget to bring my lunch…

I've always had prompt service, but I also have come here mostly around lunch. They seem to have a good business crowd, and that crowd runs on a schedule.

Yelp tags: Cuban

3/21/2010

5/5 stars

Ok, I've been back here a few too many times already. Wow. Can't really go out again this month…

The fried artichoke hearts: Um, yes. Um, yum. And what remains from the massive serving reheats quite well in an oven. The burgers, wraps, and other things are quite good, too. But the fried artichoke hearts far and away take the (extra-sweet after artichokes) cake.

Music: Still haven't made the Sunday music. I will. Soon. Otherwise, the background music suits me. And the karaoke… Let's just say that people who run karaoke nights elsewhere come here to perform. And then there's Heather. I didn't realize she's a hard-core musician (http://www.heatherlutt…), but I should have known given her impromptu performances. (David: Not sure you should come here. Two local celebs in the same place might cause an explosion of awesome.)

Booze: Yes. 'Nuff said, but not 'nuff drank. And great barkeeps.

Neighborhood: This is a great local watering hole. I'm not exactly social, and still I've met a few people so far. Good stuff.

3/9/2010

0/5 stars

Uh oh.

First impressions matter. Music is a major part for me. When I first entered Octane, they were playing Joy Division.

Corner Tavern? The Ramones. Next song was Bowie's Diamond Dogs.

I think I may end up spending too much time here. Bonus for the entrance being just a door and stairs. Walked right past it at first. I like that.

The black & blue burger was quite good given the standard beef. The blackening spices didn't overpower; nor did the blue cheese or bacon. (Overpower the taste buds. Arteries are another story.) Green beans were prepared how *I* like them: scared by the skillet. Others may prefer them more cooked. Too bad. I'm happy to encounter a place that makes them my way.

Service? Whoa. A discussion of different dark, malty beers, recommendations of what's good and when, and other things to endear me to Corner Tavern. The board lists live music on Sunday nights. I think I'll have to verify that soon.

And someone's open wi-fi is available. For "working from home."

(Hm. Now that I think about it, I had a draft from Tommyknocker Brewery. I don't know what's in their alcoholic beer, but their sodas contain certain happy-making ingredients (*cough* St. John's Wort *cough*). Might be affecting my outlook. Shucks.)

Yelp tags: Bars American (Traditional)

3/13/2010

5/5 stars

Free freshly made pasta, free booze, free spirits, free-wheeling conversation, free expression of art, free fun. Who says free isn't a good thing?

The venue was fantastic. I had no idea it was back there. The artwork was a great mix. Some pieces weren't up my alley, but others were, and all were thought-provoking. We only tried the pasta, but it was great. We ate ahead of time, so we weren't around the food enough to notice the duck. Vodka? Win. Wine? Win. And more than plenty of everything to go around.

Wish I were more social and more capable of running around and talking to everyone there. Also wish I knew street names and could give decent directions. Thanks to James H. for steering Nikki K. to the event.

Yelp tags: Local Flavor

3/15/2010

4/5 stars

Whoa. No fuss. Clean, fully functional U-Haul truck. Fully organized desk person. Actually *had* the truck. All this is a first for me. Previously, there has been unnecessary and unwanted drama every time I've gone the cheap route (aka U-Haul). This one was perfectly smooth and simple.

In other words, this *should* be a 3-star (a-ok, which is *good*), but it's so far beyond any other U-Haul location I've encountered that I'm bumping it up. Hopefully, I won't be needing a rental truck for quite some time, but I'll remember this place.

Yelp tags: Self Storage

3/15/2010

2/5 stars

I feel bad verbally trashing this place after its patrons have done such an incredible job physically trashing it. This place is a reflection of the transitional area. There is a security perimeter past the checkout area. They have the most organized restock system I've ever seen, implying that it's used frequently. The checkout lines are long, but there are many registers and all were staffed. The folks working them seemed to move as quickly as possible. I can't imagine working in such a depressing environment.

However, they do have real Coke and some damned good ginger beer available all the time, adding one star. If you feel safe enough (or are, like me, oblivious enough), head to the back left corner of the store and pick up yummies.

Everyday food? Nope. Worth a longer trip to go elsewhere. Everything's the cheapest, most mass-market and processed goo available, adding to that horrific cycle where labor and growers aren't paid enough and thus can afford only the junk they're told to produce. I'm not sure how to break out of that cycle, but I don't think buying here helps.

Yelp tags: Drugstores Grocery

3/24/2010

4/5 stars

This place needs Galaga. And Ms. Pac Man. And Centipede. And to have them playing just loudly enough that the beeps are heard throughout.

A 2010 pizza review in the Atlanta area must mention authenticity, right? Ok, then, this is authentically good. It's a neighborhood pizza joint. Their outdoor area makes me wish for nicer weather. The crust is firm and crispy, the pizzas are cooked and browned, and it's all tasty. I try to leave left-overs, and I end up eating so much that, well, there's not much point taking the rest home… chompchompchomp.

See, they need Pac-Man, too.

beepblurpbeepboopbeepbeep

Yelp tags: Pizza

3/24/2010

2/5 stars

One night at Corner Tavern, I heard someone exclaim that East Point doesn't have a coffee shop. I almost piped up mentioning Mocha Delites, just across the bridge. For once, however, I kept my mouth shut.

And now I agree. East Point doesn't have a coffee shop.

I'm out of coffee at home and thought it'd be a great excuse to check this place out. It's just a cookie-cutter office park lunch deli. My first warning was before I walked inside. The window has an offer for franchise opportunities painted along with the hours. In my experience, giving such prominence to franchise information means the company cares more about expansion than quality.

Second warning: The chairs are very, very quiet… Because they have tennis balls on each foot. While practical, this goes a long way to eliminating any possible atmosphere.

Walking up to the counter and seeing the equipment, I reconsider asking for a macchiato. It's not on the menu, anyways. I also reconsider any espresso drink. I'm a snob. So I just order a house coffee for here. And I'm given a styrofoam, to-go cup. That's all they have, hint hint. I fill it with, well, it's supposed to be coffee. People who dislike coffee sometimes joke about it being brown muddy water. This was just brown water. And it cost nearly what Octane charges.

East Point needs a coffee shop.

Yelp tags: Coffee & Tea

3/27/2010

3/5 stars

My first reaction after walking in from visiting the furry convention: "Um, this is weird." Yes, *after* the furries. Loud. Tacky. And open.

The food is exactly what you expect in that time between "oh, we should head out" and "OH, when's the *LAST* MARTA train?" Service was sufficient to deliver us out towards MARTA before the second-to-last train, even. The food took a while to arrive, but they were packed. The waitress even asked about splitting the check before we could tell her. They had sufficiently gluten-free dishes for those of us who needed them.

Karaoke was buzzing along downstairs. The diner was filled with a huge variety of people, and they looked like they were having fun. We were on our separately homeward bound, slightly stumbly legs of fun. If I were single and downtown often or lived nearby, I think I'd be back for more than a late-night snack. As it is, I might end up here again, but I'm not setting out with Metro Café Diner as a destination.

Yelp tags: Diners

3/28/2010

3/5 stars

They revved me up for my encounter with a certain major appliance outlet nearby. The coffee tasted great; makes sense that it's Intelligentsia (regular winner of various awards). If I were up here often, this would become a regular stop. However, they cannot move past a 3-star rating right now (good but not great). They failed the macchiato test. A macchiato is espresso topped with a dollop of foam. It is not a small latte.

A bit of barista training, and this place will go far.

Yelp tags: Coffee & Tea Desserts Sandwiches