yep, sorry! getting my cities mixed up!

for the hardcore gluten free zealot (like me!) SACS Gluten Free Cafe in Westbeth was a respite during a lengthy stay in Melbourne. Their battered fish and chips were delish! I got a huge piece of fish covered in crispy light batter... and I'd also grab a few sausage rolls for take-away lunch the next day. http://sacsglutenfree.com.au/ Granted the service was slow, but they provide such a specialized kind of cuisine, dishes I could never eat elsewhere, that I tried to let that slide.

I was curious, too and came across these two...

http://ashvegas.squarespace.com/journal/2008/8/11/whats-the-word-on-mo-daddys.html

http://www.mountainx.com/dining/2008/...

wow, no mention of Indian chow, specifically Mela? not exactly cheap, but delicious and sublime... and a must eat joint every time I'm in A-ville, so as far as I'm concerned, y'all have Indian all sewn up. I dream of their pistachio lamb curry special.. gah! yum!

I second! Cooks Warehouse is the local standard - pretty vast, probably more space for a bigger variety of pots and pans, but for a place that's easy get your arms around, I sure do like Sur la Table a lot... and I lust after their paella pans which come in several sizes.

Mama's Boy? I hate to rag on the neighborhood joint, but I so wanted to make them the reason for my daily amble down Carr's Hill, but their breakfast always makes me feel bloated and sick. I got an egg scramble that looked like barf. To be fair, I do like their poached eggs with salmon croquets as long as the egg yolk isn't chunky hard. It's like a flip a coin... heads and they'll be hard, tails - soft... but it got like the coin turned two-headed. As dodgy as is the Bluebird's la-de-da hippie kid service, I consistently get satisfaction from their avocado omelet with a side of salsa. yum!

Clocked is just unacceptable. Their problem is that their staff rotates from the front to the back... nobody on staff gets to really learn their job. food quality is inconsistent, service flighty... three times I walked in during the hour before closing and was turned away because they wouldn't be able to get my food to me before closing time. Uh, isn't it true that everywhere else in the eating out universe, doesn't a foot in the door before closing afford ya service??? I can see otherwise with high end dining, but at a diner joint? They sure struck out with me! I did tell them that I would not again be crossing their threshold. Instead I'll be ambling down Washington St. for a JB dog.

After two or three belly-stuffin' repasts at La Nacional in NYC, I tell ya, The National is a welcome addition to the Athens chow-scape. I had lunch at the National, and my roasted scallops were divine! ...blackened along the edges and yet very tender with a lovely sauce, creamy roasted pepper, I think... Eh, I've heard a few tales of mediocrity, but I figure they need a little time to grab that groove. Hate to say, but the atmosphere at The National really is a little staid.

A few days later, I swung by Casa Mia with friends. The place doesn't shoot as high as The National, feels more relaxed. Dug the food... of the eight or so tapas on the table, I wanted a second taste from each plate. None of us could get enough of the potatas bravas or of their cerviche either. Good white sangria, too. I liked the chunks of apple, added a nice twist.

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La Nacional
239 W 14th St, New York, NY 10011

Casa Mia
269 N Hull St, Athens, GA 30601

Siri is good, but watch out for the heat... medium ranges from a firestorm to nearly mild. Sometimes mild comes out pretty spicy as well. I like the joint tho... my choice when I wanna Thai one on.

tee hee

I agree on Farm... great idea without the culinary prowess to quite pull it off. I've found the food incredibly bland, but the space is beautiful and mojitos are made from scratch... what irks me is how obnoxious their outdoor music gets, saturating all of the west end of downtown. Those folks down on the patio at the Caledonia really get pummeled.

I wholeheartedly agree... Five & Ten's a great deal for what ya get. After a dozen or so meals, only once have I had a truly clinker night (found some tiny label in my entree) but they made it right, comping the entire bill. The server even offered us dessert after comping us. I walked out of there feeling even better about the place than had everything gone according to plan.

as for the noise issue in the main room, they've installed a dropped cork ceiling that muffles the volume... well, 12' x 12' squares of cork that don't touch so lots of noise clutter gets caught behind the panels.

Right on about the fresh oysters! ..the most scrumptious in Clarke County, bar none! (Sorry Harry Bs...) and last time I dined, I had a red grouper dish that made my mouth sing! laid over pureed sunchoke, wilted arugula.. a bowl of their anise flavored boiled peanuts made for a mighty tasty start.

except for the cost a ton part, there is the Tuscan Market on Baxter. I was overjoyed to find a bottle of Zapfiro that I've been nursing along... nice peppery finish.