2003 Back To Cover Story •blue olive Closed •Brooklyn Cafe Closed •Boom Boom Room Closed •Carlos McGee's 2003 Chianti Village Cafe Closed •Esposito's Tavern Meehan's Ale House Mike 'n Angelo's NewYorkPrime Olive's Waterside Closed •The Stage Twist    Home		JANUARY 2003 COVER INFO Chianti Village Cafe opens offering family-style Italian by toni m. lublin Well known in the Alpharetta and Sandy Springs community, Aldo's, Altobeli's Restaurant & Piano Bar and one-year-old Blue Stone steak house, each have a distinct atmosphere and cuisine. However, they do share in common the attention to interior details, quality service and good food. It's with these qualities which partners Al Basari, Ben Shahbazi and Saeid Sedghi have developed with their other restaurants since opening Altobeli's fifteen years ago and Aldo's seventeen years ago. The most recent venture for the three partners is opening a family-style restaurant called Chianti Village Cafe. Serving large portions of homemade pasta served with "mother's sauce." Chianti Village Cafe offers Italian classics such as angel hair marinara, fettuccini bolognese and fettuccini carbonara. In addition to a large selection of pastas, the menu offers pizza and calzones at lunch time (lunch and dinner for the bambinos). The dinner menu includes pasta, pollo (chicken), vitello & carne (veal and steak) and pesce (fish), all served with a house salad. Entrees range from $9.95 to $21.95 for dinner and from $5.95 to $11.95 for lunch. A separate Bambino menu for lunch and dinner is available for $5.95 and includes choices of pizza, spaghetti with sauce or cheese and chicken strips or Cheese Ravioli. Executive chef Glen Butler's experience includes holding the title of executive chef at 40th Street Market in Dunwoody, as well as managing his own restaurant. His specialties include alla Tuscany which is prepared with fresh chicken, sautéed garlic, tomato, onion, olives and pasta; alla marsala, which is veal medallions, sautéed with mushrooms and marsala sauce, served with pasta and salmon alla scarpariella sautéed in rosemary wine sauce and served with pasta and vegetables. "We want to reflect the atmosphere of being in an Old Italian village and create a comfortable, family dining experience," says partner Al Bashiri. The partners made improvements on the 3,000 square-foot interior including building out a sloped roof with clay shingles, adding hardwood floors, flower boxes to create a-room-within-a-room effect and mahogany table tops. A stone water fountain in the center of the restaurant is surrounded by a stone walkway, creating a setting reminiscent of an Italian village. There are two private rooms large enough to entertain 50 in one and 35 in the other. An extensive wine list includes Italian white wines, Chianti/ Tuscany, cabernet sauvignon, merlots and many other red and chardonnay selections. Most wines are available by-the-glass. The large bar area is secluded from the main dining room and features 14 bar stools and high-top tables. Chianti Village Cafe is located at 625 Crossville Road in Roswell. The phone number is 770.992.7811. Hours of operation are Monday - Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday is from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. and on Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Featured on this month's cover are (from left front) Saeid Sedghi, Ben Shahbazi, (from left back) manager David Angeloni, executive chef Glen Butler, Al Basari and Amir Karimi. FEBRUARY'S COVER INFO Catherall's newest creation now open at Phipps Plaza hud report staff Tom Catherall, a certified master chef and Atlanta institution for twenty years, owner of Prime at Lenox Square, Noche in Virginia Highlands and Goldfish at Perimeter Mall, all under the umbrella of the successful Here to Serve Restaurants group, has opened yet another "original" restaurant - Twist Restaurant & Tapas Bar. Twist has opened in its new home at Phipps Plaza on Peachtree Road under the culinary guidance of executive chef Peter Kaiser, a native of Liechtenstein and formerly at Goldfish at Perimeter Mall. Described as creative cuisine with an attitude, Kaiser's menu offers a heavy slant toward sushi and seafood, but also features creative satays, tapas and wraps. The tapas menu includes tuna pizza with tomatoes, red onions and wasabi mayo; and, shrimp and lemon grass sticks with a chilie dipping sauce. The appetizer menu offers crabmeat fritters rolled in crispy rice sticks with sweet and sour dipping sauces; a Saigon scallop with ponzu and crispy crab risotto balls with tomato fondue. An entree example is Lobster with curry ginger sauce and fried spinach leaves. Twist's rices range from $5.95 to $17.95. Twist also offers an assortment of fresh sushi served in both, the main dining room and a separate large sushi bar. Designed by Karel Pruner for Pruner Architects, Twist seats 300 in its 10,000 square foot space. The interior includes a spectacular, large, round bar positioned center stage in the dining room. Al fresco dining will also be available on the 75-seat patio and a private dining room seating 26 is available for special occasions. Happy hours will be hosted daily and additional highlights will include live music, $5 martinis nightly and late night dining. Twist, located at 3500 Peachtree Road in Phipps Plaza, will serve lunch, dinner and late night fare seven days a week and a dim sum Sunday brunch. For more information you can call 404.869.1191 or visitwww.heretoserverestaurants .com. Featured on this month's cover outside the Phipps Plaza location are (from left): Creator Tom Catherall, Executive Chef Peter Kaiser, General Manager David Smedlund, Director of Marketing Sari Bernstein and Director of Operations David Abes. MARCH'S COVER INFO Meehan's Ale House adds homestyle favorites in vinings by toni m. lublin Atlanta restaurant entrepreneurs Steve Burero, Chris Segal, Mark Stillman and Philip Roness owners of SoHo, Food 101, Mangia 101 and the recently debuting Meehan's Ale House, all have similar roots. The "boys" of Meehan's Ale House are connected one way or the other, but mostly by their Brooklyn backgrounds. Steve and Philip were bus boys in the same Brooklyn restaurant, the Greenhouse Cafe. Mark is originally from Brooklyn and Chris, Steve and Frank Smith (a partner in the other restaurants), all met while in college in New Rochelle, New York. The whole gang came together when they all worked at the Brooklyn Cafe. The rest as they say is "history." Their most recent venture, Meehan's Ale House has become a favorite of many of the Vinings neighborhood regulars and is also attracting those who appreciate an authentic New York-style Irish eatery. The interiors woodwork was milled on the premise and incorporates the handy work of a distressed bar with the appearance of being aged. "A lot of Scottish and Irish folks who come in here, say it is one of the most authentic Irish pubs in Atlanta. It's warm and intimate, not too big (seats 60) and has a real friendly upbeat atmosphere," says general manager and partner Philip Roness. A fireplace on the natural rock patio is also an optional area to dine in summer months and seats up to 25 people. This "four leaf clover" of a hangout has an authentic Irish pub menu with an upscale twist. Scott Crawford, formerly with Peasant Uptown in Atlanta and executive chef of Food 101 and Mangia 101, is responsible for the menu at Meehan's and has trained his protégé, Justin Keith to prepare some of the recipes from partner Steve Burero's grandmother, Catherine (Kitty) Meehan. "My grandmother cooked a lot. I remember her playing Irish music in her Brooklyn home which influenced me greatly," says Burero. "Meehan's is a gathering spot for all ages, offering good food, a Cheers-like atmosphere, and great value," says Burero. The casual Irish-charmed atmosphere includes such comfort food as Guinness beer-battered fish & chips, Irish stew and Food 101's well received meatloaf. Prices range from $7 - $12 for entrees. Also a very popular weekend event is the Saturday and Sunday Irish Breakfast, just like the Scottish would have it from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., serving Irish bacon, sausage, beans, tomatoes, sunny-side-up eggs and black and white pudding all for $11. In addition to a variety of burgers & sandwiches ($8) served on an English muffin the Meehan's menu includes as some of its starters: house made vinegar chips, pigs 'n blankets, skinflints NY chili, Irish smoked salmon, clam chowder and buttermilk chicken tenders ranging from $2 to $6. Weekly supper specials at market price are also offered. Monday is roasted chicken 'n trimmings; Tuesday is corned beef and cabbage; Wednesday is braised caraway ribs; Thursday is grilled filet; Friday is 101 lamb shank; Saturday is grilled bangers and Sunday is the old world pot roast. Desserts include a white chocolate Bailey's cheesecake and a Guiness ice cream brownie, both for $6. A recent menu update has made some of the specials offered available on a regular basis, due to demand. This includes a generous portion of Bangers and Mash, a traditional Irish dish of peas, gravy, mash potatoes and mash (imported sausage). Roness' personal favorites include the fish and chips, buffalo tenders and the cheesesteak sandwich. Pair any of these with the 11 varieties of draft beers, ales and lagers and a good time is bound to ensue. There is a traditional weathered storefront sign which gives the feeling that Meehan's has been around a long time. It seems likely that Meehan's has a long future too as a spot you frequent for an intimate, cozy atmosphere filled with familiar sights and smells. Meehan's is located at 2810 Paces Ferry Road in The Station at Vinings complex. The phone number is 770.433.1920. Ale House hours are Monday - Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., Friday & Saturday 11:30 a.m. - 3 a.m. and Sunday from noon to midnight. You can also visit Meehan's at www.meehansalehouse.com for more information and updates. Featured on this month's cover are restaurateurs (from left) Mark Stillman, Philip Roness, Scott Crawford, Chris Segal and Steve Burero. APRIL'S COVER INFO New 'Prime' Time arrives at Monarch Tower in Buckhead hud report staff In 1984 California Dreaming - The Restaurant and Bar at Union Station opened in Columbia, South Carolina. This began the family of 14 restaurants now operated by CentraArchy Restaurant Management Company, with two more currently on the drawing boards and gradual expansion planned thereafter. While each restaurant is separately owned and most are different concepts, CentraArchy manages each unit with one simple Mission Statement: "To operate unique restaurants where associates are empowered to create a dining experience that exceeds our guests' expectations and, in so doing, achieve the highest potential in their food service career." CentraArchy has added to its Atlanta lineup and introduced yet another location, a new upscale steakhouse in town, Donlan & Greenbaum New York Prime. Acting as managing partner, Bobby Donlan has taken a familiar role at the front of the house of New York Prime which opened on Saint Patrick's Day, March 17th, in the Monarch Tower on Peachtree Road. "The response has been terrific since we opened, especially from the people who work in the Tower," says Donlan. For over 23 years, Bostonian native Bobby Donlan had been a familiar friendly face at the front of the house at Bones, an upscale steakhouse in Buckhead, where Atlanta Business Chronicle named Donlan 'Maitre d' of the Year' for five years in a row. Now it's Donlan's turn to use his charm and personal touch at his own steakhouse. Greg Greenbaum, president of CentraArchy Management Company, is Donlan's partner along with Jerry Greenbaum and Larry Miller who is operating partner. Atlanta's landmark Tavern at Phipps and the perimeter area 's Joey D's are also part of the CentraArchy Management Company. Donlan & Greenbaum New York Prime is positioned as a destination for power lunches and intimate evening dining. "Atlanta is a meat-and-potatoes town and good food and service will always sell in this town," says Donlan. The menu and interior design are similar to the existing New York Prime locations in Myrtle Beach, SC and Boca Raton, FL using dark, rich woods in a cozy atmosphere. Appetizers include oysters (on the halfshell-$10.75, and Rockefeller-$13.50), lobster cocktail (market price) along with shrimp cocktail($13.75), a classic shellfish bisque ($9.50) and Louisiana seafood gumbo ($9.75) to name only a few. As a premier New York-style steakhouse the restaurant serves prime aged beef (including filets) and seafood. The steaks are aged a minimum of 4 weeks for extra flavor and cut to exact menu weights. Prime cuts include porterhouse for two (40 oz.) for $68 to center cut filet (barrel cut only - no gristle, no chains, no V-cut heads) and prime 12 and 16 oz. New York strips, ribeye, custom-aged and selected corn-fed beef. This is a serious steakhouse. Lamb (chops are loin cut and are a full 12 oz. each), veal (16 oz. center cut) and chicken are also available. Entrees range from $19.50 to $38.50. Seafood specialties include live Maine lobster (3 to 13 lbs. never frozen), stone crabs (May - October), shrimp appetizers (minimum of 1/3 lb.), crab meat cocktail (jumbo lump crab meat-only) and steak cuts of fresh fish (never frozen) including Sea Bass. An extensive side-dish selection, consisting of salads, vegetables and potatoes in portions suitable for two and prepared in various styles, range from $6 for a giant 1 lb. potato to $13 for the chopped Italian salad of onions, tomatoes, red, yellow, green peppers, hearts of palm, anchovies, almonds, olive oil and bleu cheese. European-style, hand-made breads are baked fresh daily and served with pure sweet creamed butter and an extensive wine list (including 3 oz. dessert wines) is available at modest prices to encourage experimentation. A selection of single-malt scotches and cigars are also available on the menu. Desserts, served in large portions suitable for two, range from French vanilla ice cream for $5, berries with cream, white chocolate banana cream pie with walnut shortbread crust, cinnamon walnut apple pie with ice cream, cheesecake to the gigantic chocolate cake for $18. Donlan & Greenbaum New York Prime is located at 3424 Peachtree Road. For further information visit you can visit www.newyorkprime.com or call 404.846.0644 for reservations. Hours of operation are 4 p.m. - 11 p.m. daily. Featured on this month's cover are (from left) partner Greg Greenbaum, operating partner Larry Miller, managing partner Bobby Donlan and CentraArchy founder Jerry Greenbaum. MAY'S COVER INFO Please note: This establishment is no longer in business Boom Boom Room joins Midtown mix hud report staff Out with sipping martinis and in with the 'Boom!' Metrotainment Cafes, the restaurant group who brought the martini craze to Atlanta in 1995 with Martini Club, leads the Atlanta nightlife pack again with a new tiki bar concept - The Boom Boom Room. Tapping into nostalgia, the retro Polynesian-style tiki bar opened in the old Martini Club location on Crescent Avenue in Midtown. (Martini Club closed in the beginning of December 2002.) On his decision to revamp Martini Club into The Boom Boom Room, Owner Jeff Landau explains, "It was time for change. Martini Club was the first of its kind in the Atlanta market, if not the entire southeast. Now, with tiki coming back, Metrotainment Cafes hopes to pave the way with The Boom Boom Room." Satisfying guests seeking a loose, no-frills, good time, The Boom Boom Room features decorative, fruit-laced drinks served up in outrageous vessels. Tropical drinks in the tropical atmosphere are offered in mild, medium and strong. Drink specials include Blue Hawaiian - served in a fresh pineapple, a festive blue concoction of rum, pineapple and coconut juice; Dark & Stormy - a forthright blend of black rum and ginger beer; Voodoo Juice - a potent mix of liqueurs; Shrunken Skulls and Zombies - a version of the world's favorite lethal libation with rum and fruit juices. All drinks are made with fresh juices and bedecked with real flowers and are priced at $7 - $10 with fishbowl's for sharing running $25. Boom Boom's version of the martini is also available in the form of 'Martikis' including Blue Seas, Sour Apple, Tahiti Tiki, Gumdrop, Waikii and Monkey Passion. In addition to the tiki-style cocktails, a full-service bar offers a wide array of libations, including frozen drinks, as well as beer and wine. With 'in your face' flair, The Boom Boom Room features a colorful atmosphere with extensive Polynesian style, ranging from bamboo walls to oversized flowers and palms. Patio seating consists of picnic tables, while an upstairs balcony area will eventually be transformed into a relaxing deck area. With a bar on each level, the tiki bar accommodates 200 people, both inside and out and a VIP area is available on the second floor. Live entertainment is offered weekly. Tracie Rosado maintains the position of managing partner and guests who want to sport The Boom Boom Room tiki style will be pleased to learn of the bar's retail section. T-shirts, baby tees, boxers and glassware are available for sale. Located at 1140 Crescent Avenue, The Boom Boom Room is open Monday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information, call 404.873.0794 or visit the website at www.metrocafes.com. Metrotainment Cafes' company owns The Boom Boom Room, as well as all three locations of Garrison's Broiler & Tap (Vinings, Duluth and Perimeter Mall), Einstein's, Joe's on Juniper, Cowtippers, Cheyenne Grille and Sports Bar and Metrotainment Bakery. Featured on this month's cover are (from left) Kenn Storr, Jeff Landau, Tracie Rosado and Thomas Dowling. JUNE'S COVER INFO Mild mannered by day, 'after 10' scene by night hud report staff When one thinks of a Tavern, images of beer & barstools come to mind. Esposito's Tavern on Medlock Bridge in Duluth changes that perception with upscale dining and atmosphere offered side-by-side with live entertainment, drinks and dancing. "This is what I know best and have already been doing it for 25 years," says Johnny Esposito, Jr. referring to the latest and largest venture he opened with partner Mark VanBuren. Esposito, Jr. (son of the legendary nightclub owner Johnny Esposito, Sr.) has obviously followed in his father's footsteps. He learned the role of club owner watching his father operate over 20 nightclubs while growing up in Coco Beach, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia. Johnny, Jr. recently sold his last venture, Esposito's Piano Bar which he opened on Peachtree Industrial three years ago, and moved up-the-street to Medlock Bridge. "In today's economy you need to go for less-pricey items on the menu and be in a heavy traffic area," says Esposito. "Esposito's Tavern becomes an 'after 10' nightclub scene with dancing, good food, drinks and music," says Esposito. Music direction is a mixture of Blues, Contemporary and Pop. Tuesday through Saturday features live entertainment. Wednesday is martini night (ladies night too) featuring $5 martinis. Esposito's also spotlights a complimentary buffet from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Late-night dancing with a DJ on Friday and Saturday is a major focus. The Continental cuisine is a combination of steaks, ribs, seafood and pasta. A sampling of the menu and prices includes Appetizers of Oysters on the half shell, $7; Hot wings in wine sauce, $6; Housemade potato chips with bleu cheese, $5; Toasted ravioli, $8 and Burgundy braised beef, $7. Sandwiches include various Po Boys at $9, Tavern burger for $8 a Medlock Club at $10 and an overstuffed vegetable grill, $8. Meat entrees of filet mignon, New York strip, rib eye and baby back ribs from $17 to $20. Seafood, chicken and veal entrees include sauteed red snapper, grouper, glazed salmon and herb roasted chicken from $11 - $16. Entrees are served with sides and include creamy mashed potatoes, sauteed mushrooms, baked potatoes, vegetable medley and pasta marinara. The Tavern's interior is a combination of exposed brick, mahogany and hardwoods. Glazed finished walls and art add to the upscale, finished-interior design. The main dining room area seats 80, an outside patio seats up to 50 with the bar area seating another 70. Featured on this month's cover are (from left) partner Mark VanBuren, Johnny Esposito, Sr. and Esposito, Jr. JULY'S COVER INFO Representing a Buckhead reminiscent of days-gone-by hud report staff The motto is the most famous and longest running in after-dark Atlanta: "I'll sleep when I'm dead." Funny thing though. Mike 'N Angelo's refuses to die. They're still having too much fun at the little "Cheers-like" bar on East Paces Ferry in Buckhead. While the sad plight of much of the surrounding East Village area in Buckhead has been well chronicled in recent years, Mike 'N Angelo's beat goes on. This month it celebrates its 15th birthday, an eternity for Atlanta watering holes. The celebration will be an all-day event on July 1. "We represent the old Buckhead," says partner Gary Tanner of the 15-year-old Mike 'N Angelo's on East Paces Ferry. Tanner is referring to the laid-back spirit of the neighborhood bar. Catering to familiar faces, comfortable surroundings and an unpretentious atmosphere, the tavern has become a place that everyone feels welcome since 1988. Partners Mike Duggan, David Laws and Gary Tanner have kept the original bar and tavern fare formula. "We don't go with the trends. You won't find a frozen drink or a martini night. What you see is what you get," says Tanner. The three partners "grew-up" working at another well-known Buckhead spot, Aunt Charley's, which created a template of good business practices for building their own business. For the last 15 years, Mike 'N Angelo's has tried to provide an environment that not only makes you feel like you're at the place you grew up, but also a place to meet and make new friends and a meaningful crossroads to lasting relationships. The interior of Mike 'N Angelo's is cozy with dark wood paneling running throughout the game room and bar area. Tavern bar fare such as chicken sandwiches, grilled shrimp along with Reuben's and turkey sandwiches are offered from $6.50 to $8.25. Burgers from Hell (full 7 oz. burgers cooked to order) will cost you $5.75 for the Genesis (plain burger from which all else evolved) to $6.50 for the varieties. There's also an 8 oz. grilled N. Y. Strip served on a hoagie roll for $8.25. Salads range from Southern Fried salad to Solomon's salad (crisp greens topped with mushrooms, onions and tomatoes) for $5.75 to $7.50. Appetizers include chicken fingers, potato skins, nachos, wings and quesadillas at $3.50 to $6.75 for the Heavenly nachos. As for entrees, you can get all-you-can-eat spaghetti with salad adn garlic bread for $5.95. Baby Back ribs are $8.95 for half or $13.95 for a whole slab with two sides, fried chicken with two sides is $7.25 and a N. Y. Strip & two sides will set you back $9.95. On Friday and Saturday nights, live music (no cover charge) from the seven-year-running Swami Gone Bananas group draws a big crowd to the theatre-type seating in the back of the pub. "These pickers who are in their 50's really can rock, playing late 1960s and 1970s rock and roll," says Tanner. In the 1,500 square foot bar area everyone hangs out for some serious/casual drinking. A popular house shooter is the Jager Meister (with at least 56 different herbs) that, according to Tanner, has classic appeal with the regulars. Mike 'N Angelo's is located at 312 East Paces Ferry. The phone number is 404.237.0949. Hours of operation are Monday - Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. and on Saturday from 11:30 to 3 a.m. Sunday hours are from 12:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. For more info visit www.mikenangelos.com. AUGUST'S COVER INFO Supper-club atmosphere in a panoramic setting by toni m. lublin Olive's Waterside restaurant is located in a panoramic setting complete with a view of a pond, woods and surrounded by wild life in the former Chart House location on Powers Ferry Road. This new seafood restaurant is owned and operated by David Orr (Bell Bottoms on Pharr Road) and Michael Kent. This is the second Olive's Waterside restaurant, the original in Providence, Rhode Island, opened two years ago. Orr says, "This is a great date place or couples gathering. The restaurant has a lot of character and is reminiscent of a ski chalet. There are two stone fireplaces and redwood, all set in a cozy, romantic setting." The Supper Club atmosphere of Olive's offers lunch, dinner, dancing and a late-night lounge in a rural, romantic setting inside the Perimeter. On Tuesdays Olive's offers "Swing and Twist Tuesdays" with Free Swing Dance Lessons starting at 8:30 p.m. There is also a deejay from 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. On Wednesdays, the Water Fires (fires in the pond) are lit and Olive's offers the 'Water Fire Duet Menu' for $29.95 for two. Diners can choose two martinis from the selection of 50, an appetizer for two and two entrees including Greek chicken salad, grilled chicken teriyaki, mussels carbonara, pan-blackened chicken or pesto pecan-encrusted salmon among the selections. Thursdays, Olive's "New Wine Tasting" from 6 p.m to 8 p.m. Appetizers and a glass each of a red and a white wine are included for a cost of $10 per person. The cuisine is a mix of 'eclectic' American fare featuring specialty sandwiches, fresh seafood and California-style grilled pizzas. Dinner appetizers range from $4.95 to $9.95 and are not limited to following few listed: shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, grilled bruschetta, calamari, mussels zuppa, Olive's fried California roll, crawfish in puff pastry with lobster sauce, crab & artichoke casserole and roasted garlic & goat cheese. The price range for dinner entrees is $11.95 - $19.95 and a sampling of the entrees include lobster fettuccine ($19.95), littlenecks and clam sauce ($14.95), mussels carbonara ($13.95), pesto pecan-encrusted salmon ($14.95), pan-blackened chicken ($11.95), roast Long Island duck ($19.95), Worcestershire rib-eye steak ($18.95), New York sirloin ($18.95), lamb chops ($19.95) and a blackened fish-of-the-day ($15.95) is also offered. This upscale, casual restaurant seats 215 and also features outdoor deck seating overlooking the pond for 12. There are three private dining rooms to accommodate parties of up to 20. Live entertainment from the 80's, 90's to current as well as jazz, is offered Wednesday, Friday & Saturday. A full bar featuring an extensive Martini list of 50 varieties ($6.75) and a well-rounded wine list is also available. Olives Waterside is located at 6450 Powers Ferry Road, 770.226.0201. Hours of operation are Sunday - Thursday 11 a.m. - 2 a.m., Friday 11 a.m. - 4 a.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. For more information visit www.oliveswaterside.com. PLEASE NOTE: THIS ESTABLISHMENT IS NO LONGER OPEN SEPTEMBER'S COVER INFO Revisiting 'A shady place for sunny people' in '03 by toni m. lublin During the late '70s and early '80s, the "it" place to hangout was at Carlos McGee's, a six-unit restaurant and live entertainment venue. The motto of the chain, "A sunny place for shady people" and so popular was Carlos McGee's, people were known to line up around the block to get inside. Take another trip down memory lane at the recently reopened Carlos McGee's in Roswell. A group of investors, which includes one of the original owners, have brought back some of those original bands for a 'blast from the past.' Those who remember Carlos McGee's recall the great live bands, such as Out of Hand, Yikes, Lou's Blues Review and Ben Dover and Tennessee Tucker, most of which are coming back. The vibe of Carlos McGee's is reflected in its name, a blend of St. Patrick's Day and Cinco de Mayo. A spokesperson for the restaurant explains, "We hope to recapture some of the magic that Carlos McGee's originated when it was 'the' place to be." Attracting all ages, Carlos McGee's is reaching those who never experienced the original and the good 'old-timers' who want to remember their past. A monthly reunion of former employees and patrons has also brought old friends together again. The last reunion drew 60 people together and the next one is planned for September 6, 2003. In addition to the former no-cover charge bands coming home, memorabilia adorns the walls with photos from the clubs heyday, along with vintage house t-shirts, aprons, and 'rib challenge' shirts from a 1983 event. Don't miss the famous plaque, which has the names of those who took the challenge to drink the last shot of the Mescal (tequila) with the worm at the bottom. The bands jam to '70s, '80s and '90s music while patrons dance in the isles. On stage, Old Blue, a life size leather horse has become a familiar sight, some opting to pose for souvenir pictures. A full game room with pool tables (4) and dartboards (3) also provides entertainment. The menu blends Tex-Mex with a Chilean flair. With Mexican tile floors throughout the restaurant and a dining area that is boarded by recessed bottles of Chilean wine, patrons dine on filet of snapper Vera Cruz which is lightly sauteed with onions, tomatoes, carrots celery, olives, capers, pimentos and herbs and served with rice and guacamole ($13.95). Another favorites brought back from the past are the spicy Ribs marinated and grilled (half rack $8.95 and full rack $17.95). Appetizers range from Quesadillas to Queso Fundido ($3.95 - 8.25) and on the Tex Mex side, hot wings ($4.95 - $8.95) to Poppers ($5.25) are offered. Carlos McGee's is located at 11235 Alpharetta Highway in Roswell, 770.664.5700. Lunch is served 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday - Saturday. The bands start at 8 p.m. and dinner is served Monday - Saturday. OCTOBER'S COVER INFO Nostalgic Park Place Cafe is reinvented as blue olive by toni m. lublin Three seasoned partners, Doug McKendrick, Boyd Barrow and Fred Lauff are bringing together their business savvy and 'know-how' to launch a new, hip, appetizer, wine & martini bar called blue olive. The new upscale, high-energy spot is scheduled to open Friday, October 3rd, followed by a grand opening on the 8th. General Manager Dan Donovan, an industry veteran formerly of East Andrews Cafe, says "This is such a simple concept that Atlanta has needed for a long time. You'll come for a casual night out but make sure you don't have an early meeting the next day." blue olive will be located in the former Park Place Cafe, the 17-year-old popular restaurant and nightclub, owned and operated by McKendrick in Park Place Shopping Center across from Perimeter Mall. blue olive will target the professional, neighborhood crowd. "It was time to give Park Place Cafe a revival. blue olive will draw in young professionals who enjoy an upscale, casual, high-energy environment," says McKendrick. Within the bi-level, 2,400 square-foot location, the interior has received a millennium makeover with lighter colors of yellow and blue replacing the dark interior. Lighter wood stains, comfortable sofas and other intimate seating, creates a contemporary, modern environment. The new concept will feature specialty appetizers, an extensive martini and wine selection, unique premium cocktails and both domestic and import beer. The cozy space is arranged so patrons can lounge about or sit at the bar and enjoy the light bites from the sushi menu, such as the super crunch spider roll, spicy tuna roll and various dips featuring hummus, spinach and artichoke ($8-$12). Specialty drinks include the blue olive martini, top shelf vodkas and single malt scotches, the extensive wine list ($28 - $88 per bottle & $5 - $12 per glass) featuring Cake Bread as well as top of the line champagne, including Veuve Clicquot (yellow label) and house-special featured cognac-Louis XIII. With Barrow and Lauff's previous experience operating one of the largest brew pubs (by volume), Atlanta BeerGarten in Buckhead (which they sold to Joe's Crab Shack last year), the time and location were right for partnering to launch blue olive with McKendrick. McKendrick's experience spans 25-plus years. He currently owns McKendrick's Steak House, voted one of the US's Top Ten steakhouses, and counts as his credits restaurants and nightclubs dating back to the '70 with the popular elan, Park Place Cafe, Mi Spia Ristorante, Sneakers and Club 21. McKendrick attributes his long-term success to having the right team. "We have employees who have been with us for 10 to 12 years. Without their loyalty, my restaurants would never have been a success," says McKendrick. Commenting on the future of blue olive, Barrow adds, "The blue olive will be a destination spot. We have a convenient location and (the right) presentation and execution (of service). You need to have at least two out of three (to be successful), and we have all three." blue olive is to located at 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road in the Park Place Shopping Center, 770.399.5990. Featured on October's cover are (from left) Doug McKendrick, Boyd Barrow, Fred Lauff and Dan Donovan. NOVEMBER'S COVER INFO Brooklyn Cafe expands into Gwinnett market by toni m. lublin Atlanta Restaurateurs, Paul Cooper and Greg Pyne are serious about providing their customers an enjoyable experience at their twelve-year-old (as of this month) Brooklyn Cafe in Sandy Springs. So serious in fact, that the New York Italian-style restaurant is gaining a sister restaurant of the same name that's to open mid November in Norcross. Commenting on the long run of the original restaurant, Pyne says, "We never lost our heartfelt approach to the business. We do whatever is going to make our customers happy." Designed as a Bistro, Brooklyn Cafe incorporates wood chairs, checkered floors and a tin backdrop -- open-display kitchen. The Cafe's simple design and neighborhood feel has made it extremely popular with the locals. The staff is friendly and courteous and the atmosphere at the Sandy Springs location is casual, cozy. Dodger's memorabilia along with a Brooklyn Bridge mural and other hometown effects, reflect the owner's roots. A red English-style phone booth has also been added outside, which has not only brought attention to the restaurant but provided cell phone users with privacy (and peace for accompanying diners). The Norcross location, designed by architect Tony Akley and Restaurant Consulting Group in Marietta, will have the feel of the first Brooklyn Cafe but a somewhat different look to reflect the difference in neighborhoods. Cooper & Pyne anticipate that the second location will implement the same neighborhood cafe formula that has made the first location successful and credits the success to the entire, combined Brooklyn Cafe staff. "With placing our staff, we have our talent positioned to do what they each do best," says Pyne. "We have a fantastic chef de cuisine going into our new location, John (a.k.a. Logan) Aiken who is an Art Institute Graduate and has worked under the tutelage of our executive chef Mark Pinsky (a Johnson and Wales University grad) in Sandy Springs for three years. Seth Hendricks, who was hired as general manager, also worked at the original location eight years ago as a line cook. The menu at the larger Norcross location will be similar to the original location with a few exceptions. Aiken plans to introduce some of his southern-upbringing inspired recipes. "I was born and raised in Louisiana so my style incorporates comfort food with a twist," says Aiken. An example is the 'grasshopper pie' served in a tumbler glass, it combines a crushed Oreos crust of creme de mint and creme de cocoa and inside it's layered with creamy chocolate raspberry coulis and topped with espresso whipped creme. That comfort food quality has been a trademark at the Sandy Springs location as well, as diners are treated to small saucers of olive oil with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and bread. The Cafe's starters include the caprese 'short stack' of ripe tomatoes with fresh pulled mozzarella sandwiched between, and drizzled with, balsamic vinegar ($7). Another tasty, crispy choice is the cornmeal-fried calamari ($9). Recommended entrees include flounder francese which is light and moist, served with roasted garlic potatoes, sauteed asparagus and a lemon-caper butter sauce ($18). Pasta entrees include scarparella: sauteed chicken, sausage, kalamata olives, pepperoncini and new potatoes in a rosemary-balsamic demiglace over spaghetti ($17). Entrees range from $10 -$21 and a strong wine list offers up to 79 wines, many of which are available by the glass. And along with the dessert selections there are 'one-bite desserts' which are small offerings of dessert that can be shared and paired with a small glass of Riesling for $2. Also being introduced this month is "Tailgating Gourmet Style," after partnering with outdoor recreation specialist High Country Outfitters Inc., who will help promote and take orders for the gourmet packages. The prepackaged, high-end foods can be prepared for two to four people and are ready to throw on the grill, "We provide everything you need, even the dry ice to keep it cool. What better way to impress your friends at a tailgating cookout than by having shrimp kabobs, fresh lobster and seasoned filets," says Pyne. Featured on this month's cover are (left back) owners Paul Cooper and Greg Pyne, (from left front) Paul Elvers, Stephanie Strenger, John (Logan) Aiken, Seth Hendricks and Jason Lovell. The original Brooklyn Cafe is located at 220 Sandy Springs Circle, 404.843.8377. The Norcross location will be at 5165 Peachtree Parkway at the Forum Shopping Center, 770.441.2666. Hours for lunch are 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner is served 5:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday - Thursday. On Friday & Saturday dinner is served from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. For more information on both locations you can visit www.brooklyncafe.com. DECEMBER'S COVER INFO The Stage is set for next level in Gwinnett by toni m. lublin With music and entertainment the focal point, who better to be part owners than people in the business. David Cole, Marcella Richardson and Michael Drennan, members of the cover band BandX, a familiar house band of Celebrity Rock Cafe and Kazoo's for the past several years, became partners with real estate mogul, Charlie Hendon, when they took over Gwinnett County's Kazoo's on Jimmy Carter Boulevard. Hendon, Founder of Hendon Properties and Hendon Entertainment, LLC, partnered with the BandX members to close the deal. According to Hendon, "I heard the nightclub was for sale and saw an opportunity to build a nightclub in Gwinnett comparable to Midtown starting with an existing infrastructure." The partners are anticipating the new concept, The Stage, to offer the next level of live music entertainment to the Atlanta scene. The renovation of the former Kazoo's club to The Stage took six-months. The final product is a hi-tech, modern media environment which will be 'The Stage' to host some of the best live, local cover bands and national acts. A New Years Eve party themed "The Rock and Roll Ball" will be the opening event. Although BandX played Kazoo's as regulars for the last three years, having a permanent home will make their following even stronger, according to Cole. BandX members have been together for 10 years and many of their fans know them as Celebrity BandX. Their five-year association at Celebrity Rock Cafe as a fun party band playing favorites from the 70s, 80s and 90s, helped make them a success. "It was a natural progression from being in the band to controlling the talent for all the bands that will come to this club," says Cole. His connections in the industry span over 25 years, some of which were spent on the road touring with such artists as visionary bandleader Sly Stone and Paul Davis. In addition to the makeover of the former club, a new adjoining club, called McClain's was also built. It is a funky pub-lounge where patrons can hang out, eat, and watch the bands through a glass window. The difference between The Stage and McClain's is like being in the front row of a concert or preferring to sit in the bleachers. There is also a large deck, which will hold up to 150 people. Plans are to have bands perform on the deck in the summer. The Stage venue will accommodate up to 1,000 people. With a large dance floor, sofas, chairs and tables, the atmosphere is lively. A VIP room was also added. The menu will include small plates and a late night breakfast. "The shows that we bring to The Stage will be big production, great light shows and range from rock, blues, jazz, funk jazz, to house. We are very excited about this opportunity. It's a dream come true," says Cole. The Stage is located at 5525 Jimmy Carter Blvd., 770.409.1112. Hours of operation for The Stage will be from 8 p.m.-2 p.m. Thursday - Saturday. Cover charge is $5 on Thursday night (ladies free) and $8 on Friday and Saturday nights. McClain's will be open at 5 p.m.- 2 p.m. Monday - Saturday (no cover) and parking is free.