Newspaper Page Text
SASHA SARENE MORGAN
ALL KINDS OF PIES
V WHEN THE SIGN HUS YOUR EYE like a big
pizza pie, that's Amid. Open at last, in the old
Rocky's space downtown on E. Clayton, Amid
Italian Cafe (353-0000) boasts a very similar
menu to that recently departed favorite, with a
wide selection of pastas, hot subs and cold sand
wiches, hot wings, many a fried appetizer and,
most crucial, a lovely range of gourmet pizzas. The
interior has been brightened up, with a fresh coat
of paint on most everything (including the mural,
which is no more), new ceiling tiles and higher-
wattage lighting, and the service is nothing if not
solicitous. Despite the huge glasses soda is served
in and though I barely made it close to the
bottom of the initial Diet Coke, my eager waitress
offered refills at least four times, undeterred by
continual rejection. The pizza is nationally award
winning and comes as a lunch special with two
toppings, salad and beverage for $5 and change.
The salad is nothing particularly exciting, a com
petent mix of iceberg, tomatoes and carrots, but
the pie is definitely worth your time. There is a
certain chemical reaction that seems to take place
when a slice is cooked just right; it's as though
was fab, but the crust had the sweet flakiness
that had to have come from using lard as short
ening. I enjoyed the 'cue, and I loved the atmos
phere (with Mr. Paul inquiring gruffly about our
satisfaction, a loaf of Bunny Bread on the table
and a sign advertising TFT—turkey-flavored tooth
paste—that I'm almost sure was a joke), but I
could eat that piecrust three meals a day and be
happy. Note that Paul's is only open Saturdays
and the 4th of July and customers are advised
that earlier is better if one wants to be assured of
a plate.
OPEN AND COMING SOON. Cafe Cuba, in the
Normaltown strip of Prince, has a big "Grand
Opening" banner up and looked to be buzzing
with activity when passed. Full review to come
soon. Rainbow Fish & Seafood, a fresh seafood
market, is open on Baxter St., near the intersec
tion with Evans St. Sterling Britches, tne bar at
120 E. Washington St., in the old Uptown Lounge
space, seems to have closed, and there are signs
in the window announcing the upcoming appear
ance of Chasers Tiki Bar & Lounge there.
John Doheny and Gretchen Voss chow down at Amici Italian Cafe
the milk sugars in the cheese caramelize under the
heat, giving it a beautiful browned look and the
flavor that makes one know the raw food converts
are nuts. An eggplant parmesan sub also showe J
good attention to detail, neatly enough packed
into its roll that one would hardly need a napkin
and making use of peeled eggplant, a necessity
that's often treated as a luxury. Most places
assume the tomato sauce will cover up the bitter
ness of the peel, but it never quite does. Things
are definitely still getting started at Amici, but
once everyone realizes it's open and the full liquor
license kicks in (beer and wine are currently avail
able), it should become a standard of downtown.
BBQ BEAT. Nearly eight years in Athens, and I'd
never made it out to Paul's (338-5099), in down
town Lexington. Well, that's been rectified, and I
can say it's worth the trip. The 'cue is tender and
more slow-cooked than specifically smoky fla
vored, while the ribs are large, surprisingly meaty
and deliciously gelatinous at the ends. This
column's philosophy is that ribs should be able to
stand on their own without sauce, but the ribs
sauce at Paul's is good enough not to need ribs.
I'd sip it from the bottle. The major highlight,
though, the one that's got me closing my eyes
still, trying to recapture the taste, was the lemon
chess pie, one of several desserts provided by the
ladies at the Methodist Church. Lordy! The filling
Carrabba's Italian Grill, a national chain/fran
chise owned by Outback Steakhouse, is looking
into building a freestanding location in the Ingles
shopping center on Atlanta Hwy. Infusia, on
Broad St. downtown, is closed for remodeling and
should open in about a month with a new,
entirely Asian-fusion concept and a full bar.
AROUND. Allgood Lounge, on E. Clayton St.
downtown, is now serving the full menu from both
Mellow Mushroom and Po'Boys during its happy
hour, Monday through Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m.,
enabling multitasking of a social sort. Peking
Restaurant on the East Side (Barnett Shoals Rd.)
has added Thai offerings to its menu. Espresso
Royale Caffe downtown now features a couple of
new items from Big City Bread, including vegan
peanut butter brownies and vegan chocolate chip
cookies, and hopes to add even more later in the
year. And my favorite barbecue place. Hometown
BBQ in Lawrenceville, is in the process of negoti
ating a move from a parking lot trailer to its own
actual building, unfortunately still several ZIP
codes away, but there is a chance the trailer may
migrate to Oconee County. Cross your fingers.
Hillary Brown
Send me your eating experiences, gossip, news,
etc. to food@flagpole.com.
BO#RfSj HEADjrl'OUNGE
atnnnw,
TUESDAY NIGHT
BEER PONG TOURNAMENT
Try to knock off the three week defending
champions for great Miller Lite prizes .
FRI 7/30
YARN ANIMALS
w/ BILLY BENNETT
ICE MACHINE Featuring
& THE PENGUIN CHASERS Tim Miller
SLIGHTLY OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Neal Anderson
Certified Rolfer
706-548-1484
rolfemeal@hotmail.com
ROLFING
Structural Integration
BEEN ROLFED YET?
Be The First On Your Block!
July 29-auqust 1
tax free holiday
this is the rime for
a new wardrobe
i n a
downtown (next to mia madonna) 548-3380
A Grand Opening...
THE
i
/ ''STUDIO
W Kathy Riederer - Director / Instructor
Offering
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS: Ages 2 through High School
ADULT PROGRAMS: Intermediate through Advanced
BALLET • TAP • JAZZ
Drot> In Classes Available
FORMAL REGISTRATION: August 5th Sc 6th - 4 to 7pm
August 7th - 12 to 5pm
Or Register Througlwut the Fall
For More Info Please Call:
404.384.5762
Tnicrodermabrasion • waxing
spa 1 ser.vicesiimassa:
smwm'immm
j salon /I
■ * s P a l/
\ jf/Ai
Now Accepting Resumes
/ for Apprenticeships
' y~r sr
196 alps rd. / 7
mon-sat 552-1515 /' '' '■ ’
(beechwood promenade) / X
check us out at: www.citysalonandspa.com
JULY 28, 2004 • FLAGPOLE.COM 11