Hoof & Ale: Marietta’s Hidden Gem for Burgers, Brews, and More

Sometimes, eating out isn’t about dressing up, going on a date, celebrating an experience you normally wouldn’t empty your wallet for; sometimes, eating out is just about going out after a long day and enjoying a burger and booze. I love destination dining, but there is something to be said about exploring what exists in your own backyard.

My girlfriend lives in Marietta near the 120 loop, and about two stop lights and one turn around the corner sits a little joint that we had talked about dining at for the past 9 months. Of course, the fact that it took us 9 months to eat at place that is literally a stone’s throw from her apartment puts a little shame in my step, but sometimes it’s better late than never for such things. Hoof & Ale, described as a place “Where Craft Food Meets Craft Beer,” sounds like some offshoot of an Englishman’s favorite pastime, yet it might just be the best neighborhood tavern in Marietta and the surrounding area.

The Board

Situated in a Kroger shopping center, Hoof & Ale sits off in a corner, secluded from unoriginality and the day-to-day drummings of the rest of the world. The minute you step through the door, the first thing you notice is the giant chalk board on the wall that connects from the front of the restaurant all the way up to the bar. In brightly colored chalk, all of the craft beers available on draft and in bottle are listed based on style, as well as the food specials of the day. The bar looks in on the kitchen, which has enough space for around a half-dozen people or so. The entire restaurant has enough space for probably 30-35 patrons, which definitely works for the local feel of the space. It’s a nice setup that makes this place comfortable and personable. 

Vinings’ Canoe a Beacon of Fine Southern Cuisine

Along the banks of the Chattahoochee, situated somewhere between serenity and salutations, lies a restaurant that manages to take my breath away every time I step upon its pristine grounds. Canoe, located just off Paces Ferry Road behind the backdrop of Atlanta, is a restaurant that manages to represent both the old and the new in their approach to fine dining and Southern cuisine.

My girlfriend and I spent our first “big” (as we called it) date at Canoe back in 2012, and we saw it only fitting that we should return for our second anniversary this past Friday. The ambiance of Canoe is mesmerizing; the restaurant looks equal parts rustic and modern in its approach to an atmosphere that is uniquely elegant in a city that is constantly changing. As you step outside the rush of the restaurant, you come upon a beautiful landscape interwoven with trails, an outdoor bar, and an expansive garden that grows all of the vegetables used by the restaurant in their dedication towards sustainable sourcing. As the waters of the Chattahoochee flow by, you can feel all of your anxieties and worries float away with it as you take in what can only be described as “The Canoe Effect.”

The natural feeling of the restaurant translates effectively well towards the cuisine of the restaurant. While not entirely modern by today’s standards, Canoe never feels dull in their approach to food and drinks. The wine list, one of the best in Atlanta, is updated often with new and exciting labels from all over the world. The cocktails feel both classic and modern at the same time; the Ward Eight, a classic rye cocktail blended with lemon juice and orange juice, is updated with a house-made pomegranate molasses that takes the drink to another level, while the B & E sour reinvents the whiskey sour with shaken egg whites and a splash of ruby port. Neither cocktail is new by bar standards, but the simple tweaks make them feel as if you are tasting them for the first time.

Ward Eight

B & E Sour

Cranberry-Walnut & Sourdough Bread

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you wait for you meal to be served, freshly-made breads are never more than a basket away, as hosts glide from table to table to offer you a refresher before each course. The service and attention to detail is extraordinary, as you are never left with an empty plate by your side and your water glass can never be more than half-full before it is filled again without you even realizing it. While the service makes it a priority to make you feel welcome, it is sometimes a bit too grandiose a gesture when your waiter or waitress is trying their very best to explain every formality of the restaurant as you try to order your meal. If you hesitate for even a second in ordering, you may find yourself waiting longer than expected as the same routine is being described to five other tables.

When the food does arrive, detail and skill play off of each other as each course becomes a culinary triumph, yet there is still the occasional hit or miss. The grilled Australian octopus would be a delightful appetizer to start with, yet is was heavily weighed down by the horseradish tomato broth and broccoli rabe that came with it. The bitterness of the broth and broccoli was too much for the mildness of the octopus, and the chorizo that was mentioned on the menu was barely noticeable. It was nice to see that the dish was affectionately split for my girlfriend and I, which again goes to show how well Canoe takes care of their guests.

Shoya Izakaya offers a unique perspective on Japanese food, pub-style

Aside from the sea of sushi restaurants that have taken over the Atlanta Japanese food scene, there exists only two traditional “izakayas,” which are the Japanese equivalent to the tapas bar. These izakayas, which serve small plates of traditional Japanese fare, are a welcome addition to Atlanta. Shoya Izakaya, nestled in an unassuming shopping center right off Buford Highway, offers so many unique dishes and drinks it’ s hard to wrap your head around the expansive menu. That being said, this is one experience you don’t want to miss.

From the moment you walk through the unassuming front door, you are immediately transported to a traditional Japanese pub. The obligatory sushi bar is front and center and a large range of sake bottles are showcased to remind you that, yes, drinking is preferred. A very polite host takes you to your table, which is either situated above the main floor overlooking the sushi bar or around the corner from the kitchen in a larger dining room. Walking to your table, the place is lively; guests are busily washing down plate after plate of food with various beverages ranging from DIY orange shochu sours (where the orange is to be squeezed by hand) to ever flowing pitchers of Sapporo. Taking your seat, the host points out the mystifying big red button that is for you to press any time you want service, whether it be to order another plate of food or simply to ask if it is okay to pass out in the booth after your meal. From the moment the host walks away, the table is yours.

Sukiyaki Korokke

The menu, while vast and expansive, should not be confused with some other gargantuan menus you would find at a diner or chain restaurant. Each dish is prepared with care, representing the best of the Japanese food culture and their attention to detail. The pork gyoza, dumplings that are lightly fried and served with a soy dipping sauce, are slightly crisp on the outside and an airy medley of pork and vegetable on the inside. The dipping sauce adds perhaps too much saltiness to the whole affair, so it is not entirely needed to compliment this dish. The sukiyaki korokke, a Japanese-style croquette filled with stir-fried beef and potato, is crusted in panko bread crumbs and fried until golden brown. The texture is mesmerizing; the exterior is perfectly crunchy while the interior is a hot mash of potato and beef that is entirely complimented by the affectionate squeeze of lemon. The filling is not too flavorful, perhaps needed an extra influence of marinade, but the dish itself is filling and goes well with a glass of cold Sapporo.