Every Friday Roots in Alpharetta features an article on food and dining in a series called Foodie Friday.

Tasca’s been on my to-try list for many months now. As my birthday approached this year, I began dropping hints to my wife. Tasca was my first choice for a birthday dinner date. I had high expectations given the chef’s background and some early reviews. I’d say those expectations were half met.

Before Tasca this spot was home to another Latin restaurant called Sazon Grill. They didn’t last long but I recall they put a lot of money into decor. Sazon’s loss was Tasca’s gain as the place looks very similar. It’s classy inside and somewhat casual at the same time. They’ve expanded the bar yet at the time of this writing still don’t serve liquor. They make up for it with a decent beer and wine list.

I don’t often drink beer, but when I do, I prefer $2 import specials on a Saturday night. Indeed it’s true and it took me by surprise. But on a Saturday night they had imported beer from Guatemala on tap for two bucks. That’s hard to pass up. Their sangria is also refreshing and competitively priced. Stay thirsty my friends.

Tasca’s menu is almost evenly divided between tapas and entrees. I started with the scallop ceviche. It’s the perfect summertime appetizer. The scallops, tender and succulent, were swimming in a cool but spicy jalapeno sauce. A bit of roasted corn rounded it out. I’d order it again and again.

My wife tried the tortilla crusted mahi. They use red tortillas which make for a beautiful presentation. I found the fish to be a little too firm for my liking. My wife thought the roasted garlic in the sauce overpowered the entire dish.

My entree, seafood paella, fell flat. They use long grain rice, which isn’t terribly bad but isn’t something I’m accustomed to with this dish. It also lacked that layer of toasted rice that makes paella delectable. The shrimp, scallops and mussels were cooked properly as were the veggies. But in the end, this was just saffron rice cooked in fish stock.

Other Tasca reviews I’ve read mention the young wait staff. Our waiter was a teenager which set me back at first. But I found him to be prompt when necessary, surprisingly knowledgeable of the menu and even a bit funny.

Would I go back to Tasca? Probably so. There’s enough on the menu to hold my interest for a few more visits. If you hurry you can take advantage of a Scout Mob deal for Tasca that’s worth $20 off… or put another way, that’s ten Guatemalan beers!

Tasca Latin Bistro is located at 10970 State Bridge Road in Johns Creek.

Every Friday Roots in Alpharetta features an article on food and dining in a series called Foodie Friday.

The day Flippin’ Out closed was a tough one for me. They’d long been my favorite burger joint in north Fulton. I soon learned that the same owner wanted to replace it with a burrito joint. How dare they! I was initially furious then sank into a deep burger depression. I lamented the loss of their delicious onion rings and charcoal grilled burgers. Even many months later, there still is no substitute.

Maybe that explains why it took me forever to try Burrito Gorilla after they finally opened. Yet it took only one bite of their delicious smoked pork to make me (almost) forget Flippin Out.

And it was the pork that I went right after. I love roast pork in Mexican and Spanish food. The fact that they smoked theirs on-site was a serious plus. I ordered my pork on a torta, a Latin style sandwich. Sure enough, this was some serious swine. It punched with a solid core of smoke and a slightly chewy bark. The chipotle barbecue sauce complemented it well and didn’t cover up the flavor. It was topped with a bit of cole slaw and fried onions. The bread was a little too hard for my liking but it didn’t detract from the overall sandwich. All in all, this was a superior bbq pork sandwich. It would win a head-to-head battle with nearly any of north Fulton’s barbecue restaurants. Forget the Mexican and burrito aspect of this place for a minute. If you like smoked pork, you need to try this place.

I also tried as an appetizer their loaded chips with steak. The slices of skirt steak were tender and delicious. The guacamole was fresh but mixed to the point of being smooth. Take note if you’re a fan of chunky guac. The black beans were pretty good but my lunch partner found bits of black olives mixed in. Neither of us cared for this addition.

I probably should have tried the burritos. Be careful not to lump this place into the ubiquitous franchise burrito joint category. Their careful and creative use of fresh ingredients make this place so much more. Nevertheless, they offer a lot of burritos in three different sizes.

The Gorilla has two distinct challenges to overcome. First is location. I recently wrote about poor restaurant locations in Alpharetta. This location could have easily made that list. Secondly, they employ a very young wait staff. Some of Gorilla’s early reviews point to service problems. I didn’t observe any on my visit, but it is clear that the kids working here lack experience. It was a theme I saw on many visits to Flippin Out. Management clearly handles the kitchen well but they may need to train the front of the house better.

I like that Burrito Gorilla has a hip little chalk board listing all their social media endeavors, or “nerd stuff” as they call it. They list Urbanspoon, City Search, Facebook, Twitter and even their blog. They seem a little new to twitter as they have yet to even tag another user, much less carry on a conversation. A lot of restaurants have social media accounts set up that they practically ignore. But if you’re going to tout your social media presence, at least use it! Sorry, just a little pet peeve.

But all in all, Burrito Gorilla made a very positive impression on me during my first visit. They could be a serious contender in these parts. Also keep an eye out for their sister restaurant next door. Dal Cuore will be their new Italian concept opening very soon.

Burrito Gorilla is located at 2100 Ray Moss Connector near the corner of Jones Bridge and State Bridge Roads in Johns Creek.

Every Friday Roots in Alpharetta features an article on food and dining in a series called Foodie Friday.

Today’s review comes in the form of a guest review from Chef Jason Meinhardt.

I am very picky when it comes to breakfast. Most people are. After all, it’s the one meal that most usually make for themselves and they have developed their own preferences when it comes to preparation. The majority don’t care that their version of “over medium” is miles different than a trained chef’s idea. They want it their way and their way only. Trust me, I speak from experience on this. That brings me to my long awaited experience at Egg Harbor in Johns Creek.

I will get my ONE negative out of the way first:

My wife and I arrived around 11:30 on a Sunday expecting to wait. We were quoted 20 minutes. I was shocked. A foyer packed with people and a front patio filled with eager and hungry guests and only 20 minutes. Complimentary coffee was offered which is always a great touch. However, I’m glad I did not partake because our 20 minute wait turned to 45 minutes and I was already jittery. Trust me, I understand this business, I’ve been in it for 13 or so years and you can’t help a little misquote. But 25 minutes is a bit long. Everyone was extremely friendly and apologetic and you don’t want to scare people away by over-quoting but you certainly don’t want people getting antsy and irritated from an under-quote.

As for the food: very comparable to J.Christopher’s with a few major differences. I am, admittedly, NOT a J.C. fan. I never have been. The main difference Egg Harbor has is that most everything is homemade and fresh. You would think that would be the “rule” but I promise you, it is the exception. No powdered hollandaise, the produce is fresh (including the OJ and special OJ of the day: strawberry) and most important: eggs are fresh and cooked accordingly. Again, this is the exception and not the rule…unfortunately. I stayed away from the omelets because I am not a fan of the over-fluffy eggy variety. I like delicate folded egg and well thought out ingredients. We had basic breakfasts (recommended: the skillets w/ fresh ingredients) and everything was very well done (meaning “tasty and good” not burnt).

Everyone is very friendly at Egg Harbor from the hostess to the server and to the young lady who offered us OJ at the start of our meal. Just get that quote a little more accurate and soon you’ll have to quote people an hour +. If its worth it, people will wait.

The décor looks hauntingly familiar to a certain local and now closed breakfast restaurant and I had to keep looking around to see if any of my personal hen statues were nabbed when I wasn’t looking. It’s tasteful and very comfortable and most of all, clean. Overall, Egg Harbor is a very nice place to spend your breakfasts out. Prices very comparable and tables are freed up a little quicker due to the fact that you pay a cashier rather than wait for your busy server to ring things through. From one who knows this business too intimately, I wish the folks at Egg Harbor a lot of luck in a very challenging concept/cuisine. They shine above most and I hear that a second location is already in the works (this is their 1^st in GA but they have a few in the Chicago area). I just hope they don’t fall into the J.C. trap as they grow and they will certainly keep my business.

Jason Meinhardt is a chef and restauranteur. He was the owner of The Red Hen, a breakfast/brunch eatery on Windward Parkway in Milton. Check out Jason’s blog Food-A-Long and follow him on twitter @ChefJMMeinhardt.

Every Friday Roots in Alpharetta features an article on food and dining in a series called Foodie Friday.

It’s always tough to review one of Rob Forest’s restaurants. The guy’s a hands-on entrepreneur and is always tweaking stuff. Case in point, my lunch at Poquito’s on Wednesday. By that afternoon Rob had changed a menu offering thus rendering a part of my review out of date before I’d even written it.

And of course he flipped this restaurant space almost overnight. As I mentioned last week in this column, Rob decided to close his gastropub concept called Tifosi and open a cantina in a blink of an eye. It was a bold move considering Alpharetta’s legendary Pure Taqueria is within walking distance of this joint. Nevertheless, now we have Poquito’s Cantina.

Let’s get the good stuff out of the way first. The menu at Poquito’s is refreshingly simple. Unlike Erwoods or Tifosi, I can take one look at this menu and know exactly what they’re trying to be. It’s a slightly higher end taco stand. You’ll find mostly tacos organized by protein, build your own quesadillas and hand made guacamole. Most everything on the menu is a-la carte, right down to the rice and beans.

Some of my fellow cubicle dwellers joined my wife and I to give Poquito’s a try. Between us all we sampled nearly every taco on the menu. We were disappointed in almost all of them. The pork, while tender, was dry. The blackened fish didn’t taste blackened. The chicken lacked flavor and was one-dimensional. The buffalo shrimp, ordered medium, packed way too much heat. I’m glad I ate this last.

All in all it was a complete miss on kitchen execution. A menu like this should feature powerful flavors and contrasting textures all in a small package. There are other joints in town doing this very well including Cheeky’s, the nicer Mexican joints like Tara Humata and Cinco’s, and of course the aforementioned Pure Taqueria.

In the meantime, the restaurant looks good with some minor changes to appearance over Tifosi. They’ve built out a nice little patio that might make a fun happy hour hangout. Just give their kitchen more time to get this concept put together. Come back in a few months.

Poquito’s Cantina is located at 102 South Main Street in downtown Alpharetta. Look for them where the old KCF Tifosi Gastropub used to be.

Every Friday, Roots in Alpharetta features an article on food and dining in a series I like to call Foodie Friday.

I had to use google for this review. Yeah, I didn’t know how to write in superscript in html. Now I do (it is the sup tag). That’s valuable information because now I can write thai² the way this restaurant owner intended. I suppose you could write “thai squared” as you would speak. Either way, the name is curious. Thai multiplied by itself? What’s that mean?

I guess it is just hip. This brand new restaurant certainly has a trendy, almost urban vibe to it. They built out the old Logan Farms location on Windward, next door to the Original Pancake House. They didn’t make dramatic changes except to give the space a feel of minimalist decor. It almost reminds me of…

Tin Drum

I’m afraid I’m going to have to make this comparison a few times. It’s a terrible thing to compare a new, non-chain restaurant to this metro Atlanta chain. But so much seems the same. The decor is certainly there. You also order at the counter, like so many fast casual chain restaurants. But unlike Tin Drum, the service at thai² is quick and very friendly. And also unlike Tin Drum, their menu is all Thai food.

So let’s get to the food. The menu features several different curries, noodle standards like pad thai and soups such as lemon grass and coconut milk. I settled on the panang curry. It lacked some spice (the menu showed one little pepper next to it) but the coconut milk flavor was terrific. It was far better than the same entree at Tin Drum (there I go again). I liked that it came with a spring roll.

I was amazed at how fast the food arrived. Is it possible for a kitchen to be too fast? Maybe these guys have some kind of amazing southeast Asian ESP and knew ahead of time what I would order. Or perhaps they ladled my curry goop and served it up lickety split. Either way, they need to chill out and let me think they are busy making my lunch.

So my first impression was overall positive. Thai food is something I always enjoy yet I don’t profess to be an expert on the cuisine. thai² has a close competitor, Nahm, less than a mile down Windward. How do they stack up? Nahm is by far a more elegant restaurant with similar prices. However I think you can get in and out of thai² quicker and they have the potential for cubicle dweller foot traffic. I believe it possible for both restaurants to thrive.

In the meantime, give them a shot! They are currently offering a buy one get one free promotion if you bring someone else. They call it “friends with benefits”. I also googled this term and came up with something completely different. Don’t get your hopes up!

thai² is located at 5530 Windward Parkway in suite 140A. Their website is www.thaisquared.net

Every Friday, Roots in Alpharetta features an article on food and dining in a series I like to call Foodie Friday.

Erwoods opened about a month ago in the former Little Azio’s space in Crabapple. They are the second concept from owner Rob Forrest and chef Trevor Moore, their first being Tifosi’s Gastropub in Alpharetta. Unlike Tifosi, Erwoods aims to be a higher end sportbar, but not quite what one would consider a gastropub. The decor lacks tacky sports nicknacks and college pennants which is refreshing. You’ll still find enough high definition TVs to have whatever game you’re looking for.

Erwoods is suffering from an identity problem. It’s easy to describe what they are not, as some staff are quick to do. They are not a Taco Mac or even a Hudson’s. I get that. I also understand exactly what sister restaurant Tifosi is trying to be (an Italian-inspired gastropub), I just haven’t figured out exactly what Erwoods is. The menu, while chef inspired, is all over the place. They’ve got flatbreads, sliders, sandwiches, barbecue, a steak, lamb lollipops and… a three-foot-long hot dog. They’re even doing breakfast.

A few weeks ago Erwoods management invited me and another food blogger over to discuss things and sample a few menu items. It was clear that Erwoods is still in a transition period. Big menu changes are probably in their future. In the meantime there are still some decent eats to be found.

Their shrimp and grits are above average. They make the grits with smoked gouda cheese, which is also available as a side. The shrimp and sauteed veggies are tasty and complement the smokey nature of the grits. My wife disagreed with me, finding the grits to be overcooked. She was also disappointed that the red peppers could not be removed from the sautee.

I also like the country fried steak sliders. The menu and its description doesn’t do these things justice. Chef Moore explained to me that they use ribeyes rather than a cube steak. On the side for dipping is a country gravy made with chorizo.

The chicken sandwiches don’t wow me, maybe because I’ve tried similar items at their sister restaurant. I know what they are capable of at Tifosi and Erwoods is missing the mark.

The bar at Erwoods features a nice selection of microbrews and imports sure to please any beer snob. They also have a terrific outdoor bar, something that’ll be a hit in Crabapple.

So Erwoods just needs more time. If you’re willing to explore the menu you’re likely to find a few gems. In the meantime, give these guys some time to figure it out, make a few adjustments and rewrite the menu. Rob Forrest seems to have quite an entrepreneurial spark and is putting a lot of attention into this endeavor. They’ve got potential, especially if they can build a more cohesive offering and communicate it better.

Disclosure: I received a few free samples from this restaurant.

Every Friday, Roots in Alpharetta features an article on food and dining in a series I like to call Foodie Friday.

File this review under “taking one for the team.” I was flying blind going into Zafraan for lunch this week. I knew this place had opened just from driving by, however there is absolutely nothing written about them at this point. Urbanspoon? Yelp? City Search? Nada. Sure, they have a website… two actually with slightly different spellings of the name (www.zafraan.us and www.zaffraan.com). As of right now both sites have nothing but a logo. To make matters worse, their address (on a side street of 141) makes finding them tough.

But the good little food grubber in me had to try this place. I nearly turned around when I noticed no one in the parking lot yet still proceeded in with a lot of trepidation. Inside you’ll find a no-frills restaurant. Absent is the buffet line, something I’m accustomed to seeing at Indian restaurants for lunch. Also gone is any sort of decor, save one television playing Bollywood music videos.

I got practically no welcome from the staff as I approached the counter to order. Friendly and inviting? Not here. I was handed a menu to look through and recognized a few familiar dishes. I ended up putting it down when I discovered a specials board. They have three lunch specials descriptively named … chicken lunch, veg lunch and mutton lunch. One of these was removed from contention immediately (can you guess?). I settled on the chicken lunch and paid my $9.

The lunch specials come out on a tray holding an array of paper plates. The first thing that catches your attention is an enormous piece of buttered naan. It was a little more crispy than I’m used to but it was still amazing. Fresh hot naan is something most Indian buffets don’t do well.

Also on the special is a big portion of biryani rice. I couldn’t come close to finishing it all. Next to it was a chicken dish that came fried. I don’t recall the name, perhaps it was chicken 65. I found it to be greasy. The rest of the tray was various appetizers and other unidentifiable gooey stuff that my unsophisticated Indian palate couldn’t make sense of. A lot of it served as a delicious dip for pieces of buttered naan. Very good stuff.

I could identify dessert. It was a single gulab jamun swimming in syrup. I wasn’t impressed with the texture of this dish, which is by far my favorite Indian sweet. But overall lunch at Zafraan exceeded my expectations. The portions were huge and the flavors and spice powerful.

It’s clear that Zafraan isn’t targeting the lunch cubicle crowd. I’m guessing their modus operandi is to serve the growing Indian community and spread by word of mouth. If you’re looking for a authentic Indian experience and don’t expect frills or friendly service, Zafraan is your place.

Every Friday, Roots in Alpharetta features an article on food and dining in a series I like to call Foodie Friday.

People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.

-Rogers Hornsby

The folks at Legends Deli peppered their Facebook page with sports quotes like this during their recent buildout. It was a neat way to use social media to build some anticipation for this new little restaurant. They’ve been open for about two weeks now in the old Bada Bing Wings location. They’re a bit tough to find if you don’t know this strip mall. Look for them on McGinnis Ferry Road east of Windward next to the big gymnastics place.

My first impression on decor was a bit of a letdown, especially after reading all these wonderful sports quotes. The walls are painted a dark red color with nothing on them at the moment. I guess I remember the cheesy Sopranos decor from the previous tenant too much and expected a lot of sports bling. I’d imagine decor is a work in progress.

But let’s talk food! The menu features manly sandwiches, a theme I’m seeing more and more of these days. You’ll find stuff like Philly cheesesteaks with provolone, burgers, a reuben, deli selections with Boar’s Head meats and even Italian-style sandwiches like chicken parm. They also serve breakfast all day. I enjoyed seeing a breakfast item called “The Doctor’s Visit.” It features two eggs, bacon, Taylor ham, sausage and cheese. My LDL level jumped 5 points just reading this.

I’ve tried the cheesesteak. The meat is tender and juicy, the bread fresh and the portion generous. I thought the peppers and onions lacked something and were on the bland side. I ended up adding salt and pepper… a lot actually.

As far as sides go… The french fries are fresh cut and thick but a little undercooked. I didn’t care for the potato salad at all. I suppose you might call it rustic, with large hunks of red potatoes and just a tiny bit of mayo holding it together. And like the fries, these spuds were also undercooked.

They have a handful of kids items that come with a large cookie. The two my kids took home were rock hard. That didn’t seem to phase my little cookie monsters though.

Overall I think Legend’s is a cool little family-run joint. There’s enough stuff on the menu to bring me back a time or two. I’d imagine they’ll work through a few more kinks before hitting their stride. They don’t seem to be hurting for business at this point. If you go, watch the hours of this place. They are open for breakfast and lunch but often close halfway through dinner time (about 6:00). That’s deep sixed a few attempts I’ve had to try this place.

Every Friday, Roots in Alpharetta features an article on food and dining in a series I like to call Foodie Friday.

Let’s talk college dive bars for a moment. No, I’m not a UGA grad. I went to Clemson and we had some killer college joints. I’m a big fan of this genre of eatery. Doesn’t matter really which college town you’re talking about, they all have character that is hard to capture.

However, God forbid if someone attempted to franchise one of my favorite college dive bars and plop a location down in the burbs. I’m sure I’d be critical of every aspect of the new location. There are probably many UGA grads who cringe at the thought of The Taco Stand being here. Then again, they’ve been in franchise mode for a few years now, with some locations crashing and burning. Will this Alpharetta location make it?

Strike one for The Taco Stand is location. They are on the corner of Mansell and the Old Alabama Connector. This spot has ruined a few restaurants over the years. I don’t get down this way much at all. Unless you happen to work on east Mansell, I doubt it is convenient to you either. It also isn’t easily seen from the road.

However, the layout inside is pretty cool. The bar is separated from the rest of the restaurant, almost like at Wild Wing on Windward. It helps to keep any rowdy boozers away from the families next door (not that I saw any rowdy types on my visit, but who knows). The decor is that of a UGA sportsbar. Shocker, right?

The menu sounds similar to what I’ve read about the original Athens location. You’ll find typical bar favorites like wings (baked and fried) and burgers but also some Americanized Mexican grub like tacos and burritos. Some of their food is locally sourced including the Angus hamburger meat. Otherwise it is a very simple menu, almost too much so. Nothing jumped out saying “try me!” The prices are very affordable for these parts except for the kids meals. At $4 a pop, they are expensive relative to the cheaper adult meals.

I’m not going to talk too much about my visit last week. They clearly have a lot of new restaurant jitters to work through. The front of the house executed well on my visit but the kitchen was way off. I’m giving them a pass on any additional criticism at this point considering how new they are. Nevertheless, I’d give them a few more weeks or months to get things ironed out.

The Taco Stand is located at 10595 Old Alabama Road Connector behind Spa Sydell.

It’s gonna be hard to shake the KFC vibe. The guys behind Tifosi knew this going into their new concept, which they built within Alpharetta’s abandoned KCF on South Main. I exchanged a few emails with the owners during their buildout way back in November and was assured the space would look nothing like its former self. For the most part they were right, although it would have been kind of funny to leave the life-sized Colonel Sanders statue. (yes, I’m ashamed to admit I dined at this KFC once or twice)

Tifosi Gastropub opened a little less than two weeks ago. They’ve done remarkable work inside this small space. The brickwork on the walls is beautiful and is framed by wood floors below and exposed rafters. I never knew an old fastfood joint could look so cool. The bar, near where the drive thru window used to be, is warm and inviting with a decent beer selection. Unfortunately they didn’t do much with the outside of the building, something they should consider in the future.

The menu is typical for gastropubs in the burbs but with a touch of Italian influence. You’ll find stuff like braised short ribs, fried mac and cheese, risotto fritters, ravioli (which I almost picked) and an array of sandwiches. Unfortunately most of the menu is priced outside of my typical lunch range, with the exception of sandwiches and salads. If you’re on an expense account or entertaining clients then no problemo.

My wife and I split two sandwiches. The first was the rosso chicken sandwich which was suggested by our waitress. The chicken breast was tender and juicy and brought a little bit of a spice kick. The thyme aioli cut the spice and the ciabatta was perfect. I might put this sammich in the same league as Wildflour. Tifosi’s side items stole the show. Parmesan risotto… amazing. The rice was cooked a perfect al dente and was wonderfully creamy. I could eat buckets of the stuff. Even the garlic mashed tatters were off the hook.

New restaurant jitters were something I didn’t observe at Tifosi for the most part. The staff were very attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. The kitchen missed execution on one sandwich which I didn’t bring up… but the manager took notice of it. He took care of it without any prompting whatsoever. All in all, it was very professional, especially for a joint opened for all of eight days.

How does Tifosi’s stack up? It’s a little too early to tell. I’d rank them ahead of River Tavern in Milton and behind Kozmo’s. They have the potential to rival Kozmo’s if they can be creative with the menu and execute. However I don’t think they will ever match the sexy atmosphere at Kozmo’s. In the meantime, I think Tifosi will be a hit; a welcomed addition to Alpharetta’s struggling downtown scene. It won’t be long before people know them as something other than “that new place where KFC used to be.”

Tifosi Gastropub is located… (where KFC used to be) at 102 South Main Street near downtown Alpharetta.

Disclosure: After I wrote this review I received a free tasting from Erwoods, Tifosi’s sister restaurant.