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New Tastes, New Traditions
By Jennifer Zyman, The Blissful Glutton
  
From left to right: Shanghai dumplings at Chef Liu, Vietnamese noodle soup at Pho Dai Loi and Halim at Panhar. (Photos by Jennifer Zyman)
Editors Note: For more than a year, our Web site, www.AtlantaIntownPaper.com, has linked to the Blissful Glutton’s blog, an insider’s look at Atlanta restaurants and food news. Last month, the Blissful Glutton – also known as Jennifer Zyman – wrote the cover story on local produce markets. This month, she rounded up some unlikely suspects for holiday dinners.
The holidays can be a tough and tiring time. Shopping for and wrapping presents, decorating the house, and coordinating – even coddling – family members can leave you downright exhausted. The last thing you want to do is cook the same meal you make every year only to be left with mounds of dishes to tend to. For those who don’t celebrate or don’t have a home for holiday feasts, there aren’t a lot of options; many mainstream restaurants close. Maybe this is the year for new traditions. We’ve selected a variety of places, most of them a bit off the traditional holiday path. All are open Christmas; reservations are recommended.
Whisk yourself away to Paris in the bat of an eye. Au Pied De Cochon’s Atlanta outpost is a delightful getaway for these in search of a little French charm on Christmas Day. Noteworthy are the steak tartare, roast chicken or fresh seafood flown in every day. 3315 Peachtree Rd., (404) 946-9070. www.aupieddecochonatlanta.com. Open 24 hours day, 365 days a year.
One of my all-time favorite cold-weather foods has got to be Shanghai soup buns. Nothing compares to the sensation of eating those little soup-filled treasures. Chef Liu has my favorite version in Atlanta. I also love their lamb dumplings and leek pie. The place is a nondescript little shack in Pine Tree Plaza, but there are some serious good eats there. 5221 Buford Hwy., Doraville, (770) 936-0532. Open every day except Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Don’t be scared of this user-friendly Vietnamese spot on Buford Highway. Com Vietnamese Grill Restaurant has something for everyone. They’ve solved the ventilation issue and dining there is a delight. Try the grilled beef spring rolls, papaya salad or flat rice vermicelli. Avoid the Dunwoody location; it is just not the same as the original. 4005 Buford Hwy., (404) 320-0405. www.comgrill.com. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closing at 6 p.m. on Christmas day.
Any Atlanta foodie will tell you that no good dim sum chef stays anywhere for long. It is some sort of conspiracy, but you have to follow them to get the good stuff. My most recent good dim sum experiences have been at Happy Valley Seafood Restaurant on Buford Highway. You can call ahead and reserve a table and plan a full Chinese banquet. The owner is excellent at customer service and will be happy to help you create a menu if you are not feeling creative. 4166 Buford Hwy., 1051, (404) 633-9383. Open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight.
Maybe belly dancers and eating with your hands are more your speed? Lounge on colorful, silk pillows at The Imperial Fez Moroccan Restaurant and feast on some truly wonderful Moroccan food. You can’t go wrong with any lamb dish here. The bistella and Moroccan mint tea are also exceptional. 2285 Peachtree Rd., No. 102, (404) 351-0870. www.imperialfez.com. Open daily from 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Looking for something to warm you up? At Nakato Japanese Restaurant you can go sushi, Japanese home-style or teppanyaki grill. I personally go here for the shabu-shabu or sukiyaki (both Japanese hot pot dishes). There is nothing more soothing than shabu-shabu on a cold winter day. 1776 Cheshire Bridge Rd., (404) 873-6582. www.nakatorestaurant.com. Open Monday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Meat and potatoes more your taste? The Palm Restaurant will serve its normal menu for both lunch and dinner. Indulge yourself with one of its incredible steaks or lobsters. Don’t forget to add some famous sides like shaved onions or creamed spinach. 3391 Peachtree Rd., (404) 814-1955. www.thepalm.com. Breakfast is served from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday and from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sunday. Lunch and dinner are served from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon until 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Ask any Panahar devotee why they are loyal and they are bound to mention Mirza, the amiable owner who makes his guests happy. He will walk you through the menu. The halim (spicy vegetable and lentil soup), spicy onion chutney, chicken khorma, and lamb with mustard oil and green papaya are must-have dishes. Bring your own beer and wine; no corkage fee. 3375 Buford Hwy., (404) 633-6655. www.panahar.com. Open 365 days a year; lunch on Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m..
For something more elegant, Park 75 at the Four Seasons in Midtown will be serving a Christmas Day brunch for $72 per person. They will offer holiday favorites like roast turkey with cranberry sauce and giblet gravy, maple-glazed pork loin, and prime rib. 75 14th St., (404) 881-9898. www.fourseasons.com. They will be serving the buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. They will also be serving a brunch in the lounge area from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Soup can be a powerful thing, but many winter soups are heavy and laden with cream. Treat yourself to some light and fresh pho (Vietnamese noodle soup). Pho Dai Loi has a nice version and it comes in various sizes. Their bun dishes and tapioca drinks are also excellent. 4186 Buford Hwy., (404) 633-2111. Open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Want something spicy? Try out Rose of India, a new Indian restaurant just outside Buckhead. The owners were the previous owners of Himalayas. Their vegetarian lunch for two is only $10 and includes soup or salad, two different vegetable curries, rice and nan. Quite a bargain. They are also quite proud if their chicken tikka masala and mixed tandoori grill. 4847 Peachtree Rd., (678) 330-1525. Open every day except Sunday. Lunch from 11a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
There is not enough I can say about So Kong Dong. I probably eat here once a week. This Korean tofu house has a short menu but plenty of tasty options. Their tofu dolsot bibimbap and bubbling tofu soup will cure whatever ails you. They also have a good assortment of pan chan (side dishes) as well. 5280 Buford Hwy., Norcross; (678) 205-0555. Open 365 days a year from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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