Update: H. Harper Station
Last night was cold, and my parents were coming into town for dinner. I decided to take them to H. Harper Station for some warm comfort food, and because its only two streets over from my house!
I started dinner with a fabulous drink, by far the best one I have tried. It was called a Bufala Negra and was made with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, basil, brown sugar, balsamic, ginger beer. It was warming, but not heavy and had a wonderfully complex flavor.
My parents started with the relish plate, and I again couldn't resist the deviled eggs or pimento cheese. We also were tempted by the salads. I enjoyed a roasted root vegetable salad with roasted beet, shaved radish, petite lettuce, goat cheese, parsnip chip, and a roasted carrot vinaigrette. My parents loved the BLT salad which featured amazing blue cheese, pecans, cherry tomatoes and was served on a small half head of lettuce. We commented on how creative and beautiful the presentation was.
Our entrees were even better than my last dishes. My dad had the gumbo which was served in a smooth broth with sausage, mussels, crawfish and okra. The flavor was delicate, unlike most heavy gumbos I have tried. My mom had the Night Trains, mini pulled pork subs served with cole slaw and Zapps chips. I couldn't help myself, it was cold and I had heard how great the Bacon and Eggs Fettuccine was. When it arrived it had a poached egg on top, peas and mustard greens throughout, firm pasta, and great bits of smoky salty pork belly. Although I couldn't hold it all, I am looking forward to having this for lunch today.
Each time I have tried H. Harper Station, the food has been better. I can't wait for my next trip, I am thinking the pimento cheese grilled with tomato soup is sounding good! Sorry for the lack of pictures on this one. More to come.
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| Photo borrowed from Food &Wine |
I started dinner with a fabulous drink, by far the best one I have tried. It was called a Bufala Negra and was made with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, basil, brown sugar, balsamic, ginger beer. It was warming, but not heavy and had a wonderfully complex flavor.
My parents started with the relish plate, and I again couldn't resist the deviled eggs or pimento cheese. We also were tempted by the salads. I enjoyed a roasted root vegetable salad with roasted beet, shaved radish, petite lettuce, goat cheese, parsnip chip, and a roasted carrot vinaigrette. My parents loved the BLT salad which featured amazing blue cheese, pecans, cherry tomatoes and was served on a small half head of lettuce. We commented on how creative and beautiful the presentation was.
Our entrees were even better than my last dishes. My dad had the gumbo which was served in a smooth broth with sausage, mussels, crawfish and okra. The flavor was delicate, unlike most heavy gumbos I have tried. My mom had the Night Trains, mini pulled pork subs served with cole slaw and Zapps chips. I couldn't help myself, it was cold and I had heard how great the Bacon and Eggs Fettuccine was. When it arrived it had a poached egg on top, peas and mustard greens throughout, firm pasta, and great bits of smoky salty pork belly. Although I couldn't hold it all, I am looking forward to having this for lunch today.
Each time I have tried H. Harper Station, the food has been better. I can't wait for my next trip, I am thinking the pimento cheese grilled with tomato soup is sounding good! Sorry for the lack of pictures on this one. More to come.
Craving Cocktails at H. Harper Station
On a cold Friday night a few weeks ago, I ventured out to H. Harper Station. They had a soft opening the previous Sunday, and I was curious to see the next restaurant to fill the long vacant Atlanta & West Point rail station in Reynoldstown. Walking in the decor had changed some from the look of Depot, the previous tenant. New retro green milk glass chandeliers and trendy Edison style filament light bulbs hung over the tables and an entertaining small plate prep area was located at the end of the lengthy bar.
Surprisingly, we were seated immediately at 8 pm on a Friday night. I assume that there is much more of a wait now, but reservations are available online at Opentable. We perused the cocktail menu and were pleased to see many old fashioned drinks along side some inventive takes on the classics. The bar was well stocked with numerous choices for rye, gin, bourbon, wiskey, bitters, and housemade mixers. I chose the amulet, Hendricks gin with apricot brandy, dolin dry, grapefruit, and pernod. My date chose an old fashioned. My cocktail arrived in a cute old fashioned champagne style glass, a nice touch to the retro drinks.
The menu ranged from small bites to larger plates with a lean toward the southern. We started with the relish tray, for two. A nice plate arrived featuring pimento cheese, pickled veggies, and deviled eggs. This seems to be popular at restaurants today, but I can hapily say the pimento cheese stands out as one of my favorites, and the deviled eggs were delicous, different from many I have tried (in a good way).
Next we chose to diversify our order and had the parsnip and fennel soup along side the chicken salad sandwich, and the Springer Mountain chicken and mushrooms. The soup arrived thick and creamy. Much better texture than I expected from the ingrediants. This was so warm and flavorful. A perfect start to a comfort meal on a cold evening.
The chicken salad sandwich was fine, but nothing to write home about. We southern women are particular about our chicken salad. The chicken and mushrooms however was perfect. The chicken was roasted and served under a puree of rosemary infused pumpkin and over carmelized onions, carrots, mushrooms and toasted pumpkin seeds. The flavors were rich and distinct and the texture of the smooth onions with the pumpkin seeds was perfect. This was the confort dish I was seeking.
Overall H. Harper Station is somewhere I will return. Next time, I think I will plan to plant myself at the bar and enjoy a few more of ther great cocktails, while trying out a few more items on the menu.
Surprisingly, we were seated immediately at 8 pm on a Friday night. I assume that there is much more of a wait now, but reservations are available online at Opentable. We perused the cocktail menu and were pleased to see many old fashioned drinks along side some inventive takes on the classics. The bar was well stocked with numerous choices for rye, gin, bourbon, wiskey, bitters, and housemade mixers. I chose the amulet, Hendricks gin with apricot brandy, dolin dry, grapefruit, and pernod. My date chose an old fashioned. My cocktail arrived in a cute old fashioned champagne style glass, a nice touch to the retro drinks.
Overall H. Harper Station is somewhere I will return. Next time, I think I will plan to plant myself at the bar and enjoy a few more of ther great cocktails, while trying out a few more items on the menu.
Young Augustine's
I know I promised Paris postings, but apparently when you leave your job for over two weeks, things pile up a bit. I am ready to dive back into the blog and tell you all about Paris, but first I need to back track to my last meal in the states.
Young Augustine's has become my new favorite hangout. Its in the laid back neighborhood of Grant Park, features amazing food, fun bar games, an ever changing beer list, and its less than a mile from my house! I have been going there for a while now, but my last night before leaving for France, I finally took the initiative to take some photos.
The atmosphere here is casual and cool. They reopened in the space that was once The Standard, altering the menu and bringing in a more pub-like feel to the patio and interior.They have a great inside bar as well as a separate room for darts, but I am consistently drawn to the patio. There are patios on the back and side of the building giving views of downtown and Oakland Cemetery. In back they have two large size bocce ball courts.
The menu is an eclectic gourmet version of pub food. They offer small appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and heavier entree options. For starters I always begin with the homemade pimento cheese. It is served with a crusty baguette and a variety of house made pickles including pickled tomatoes, onions, and their amazing house made kimchi. This time I decided to try a new treat, pork belly sliders. These little bits of heaven were an small light buns with crispy yet moist slices of pork belly, just a little kimchi, and of course Duke's mayonnaise!
For entrees, its hard to go wrong with their fish and chips. The fish is lightly tempura battered and the chips are cooked in duck fat. Diets aside, everything tastes better in duck fat.I have to mention their tarter sauce which is I think the best I have eaten. For lunch I have requested this fish over a large salad. It was the perfect way to indulge in that amazing fish and still stay awake back at the office!
The carnita tacos are served with the kimchi. and sour cream. This is an interesting but delightful combination of salty sweet and sour flavors. In addition the steak (also served with the duck fries) was well marinated, tender and cooked to order.
The beer list rotates weekly to feature micro brews, some local names, as well as many national favorites. They have an excellent selection of IPAs and my favorite Belgian style beers.
I have heard they have dessert, but cant seem to stop myself from just ordering another beer and sitting back to watch the sunset over downtown. Young Augustine's is my new favorite hangout. I suggest you stop in and prepare to be impressed.
Young Augustine's has become my new favorite hangout. Its in the laid back neighborhood of Grant Park, features amazing food, fun bar games, an ever changing beer list, and its less than a mile from my house! I have been going there for a while now, but my last night before leaving for France, I finally took the initiative to take some photos.
The atmosphere here is casual and cool. They reopened in the space that was once The Standard, altering the menu and bringing in a more pub-like feel to the patio and interior.They have a great inside bar as well as a separate room for darts, but I am consistently drawn to the patio. There are patios on the back and side of the building giving views of downtown and Oakland Cemetery. In back they have two large size bocce ball courts.
The beer list rotates weekly to feature micro brews, some local names, as well as many national favorites. They have an excellent selection of IPAs and my favorite Belgian style beers.
I have heard they have dessert, but cant seem to stop myself from just ordering another beer and sitting back to watch the sunset over downtown. Young Augustine's is my new favorite hangout. I suggest you stop in and prepare to be impressed.
East Atlanta Beer Festival
This Saturday is the annual East Atlanta Beer Festival. While tickets just sold out, you can still come to the event to drink and experience one of Atlanta's most interesting neighborhoods. I have lived in East Atlanta since 2003 and have seen the shops and bars in the village change many times. Today there is an eclectic mix of food and drink. I hope you will all take the time to visit a great part of town and to support the local bars and shops in my neighborhood.