Blog Post 2:(Revised)

SMART DINING:THE EINSTEIN FACTOR

Some restaurants possess the ability to attract crowds with their unique combinations of style, atmosphere and setting. Einstein’s located in northeast Atlanta, isn’t any other restaurant. This longtime Juniper Street standard is famous for its block-long patio and is outrageously acclaimed for its Sunday brunch. The restaurant-cum-bar is befitting of a late Friday night party or an early Saturday morning luncheon, accommodating guests in its spacious inner banquet room, not to forget the largely preferred outdoor seating along the patio. The restaurant has been nominated for 'best brunch', 'best outdoor dining' and 'best patio', according to national magazines. “Our passion is making a difference, we are the place that puts a smile on your face” described, the web page, when I first encountered Einstein’s on the World Wide Web. Particularly attracted by its strange name,I was directed to a welcome page, themed black ,that promoted the restaurant in an elegant manner, and effectively presented the menu, reservation information ,contact numbers and directions on getting there. I decided to chance the restaurant, setting out on a fine Friday evening along with friends, with reasonable expectations.

A neon sign reading Einstein’s in large red letters was immediately visible, as we walked down Juniper Street .Sounds of laughter and conversation, blended with ambient music on the patio, seemed to exude an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. The patio, sheltered by oak trees and interspersed with tables, under large green umbrellas, seemed an ideal getaway on a cool Friday evening. The usher greeted us and presented us with an eerily gigantic, laminated menu card on the patio, informing us that we would be seated shortly in the inner banquet hall, due to lack of space. After a short wait ,we were lead by our attendant into a small ,dimly lit room ,presumably the reception, decorated with a large illuminated alphabet 'e' against the backdrop of the wooden framework . The receptionist greeted us with a delightful smile and escorted us into a room that she referred to as the inner banquet hall. Spread over three 1920's bungalows, grey stonewalled and decked out with zebra-print booths and pearly mosaic accents, Einstein’s serves Southern-influenced comfort fare that eclectically melds with Mexican and Asian tinges .It did not take us time to adjust to the dimly lit banquet hall, to notice the widespread cocktail bar, prominent on the left. The massive flat screen television sets mounted on the framework along with the dim lights from the lantern, generate an impression of a restaurant in guise of a bar. Granite pillars crowd the centre of the hall, intercepted by leather sofa sets, as if forming a complete quadrangle .To the right of the quadrangle lies a mysterious curtain of beads, pendent from elaborately designed wooden framework ,leading to the restrooms. A fusion of classical Japanese woodwork and modern American themes, adds a distinct component to the elegant design and layout of the banquet hall .The soothing combination of classical and modern rock ambient music, adds an informal element to the semi -formal atmosphere .Each circular booth in the dining area, is illuminated by a traditional Japanese lantern or a uniquely fashioned overhead lamp, that creates the right mood for ‘conversation over drinks’. The entire ambient atmosphere radiates an aura of comfort and leisure, also complementing the food.

We finally proceeded towards a round table by the corner, illuminated by a Japanese lantern. The attendant immediately introduced himself, greeting us politely and formally. He cordially asked us whether we would have anything to drink, after presenting each of us with a menu. No, they were not ordinary menu cards but colossal sheets of laminated paper with fine print. The drinks menu had an extensive wine, coffee drinks and after dinner drinks selection, all methodically presented over three sheets of it. Most drinks can be served virgin upon request, but are usually preferred otherwise. One look at the attractive names on the drinks menu was enough to cause us indecision. However we finally settled on a virgin Blood Orange Cosmo each, which was a mixture of fresh lime juice and red cranberry juice along with orange purée. The drinks were moderately priced averaging $7, not too pricy in contrast to my expectations. After a short while, the attendant finally arrived with our drinks, carrying three glasses that glimmered against the dim lantern, crimson, each with a lime on the top. The attendant steadily set the drinks down and politely asked us how we were enjoying the evening. I felt that our server was extremely polite, efficient and affable. I took a sip ,instantly tasting a tangy ,fruity mixture that seemed a little watered down .I was a bit disappointed .I felt that the crimson ‘Blood Orange Cosmo’ lived up to its name, but I had better expectations of its taste. The intense red ‘solution’ was a bit artificial, but awkwardly tangy and built up my appetite for the forthcoming main course.

The menu for the main course was a replica of the drinks menu: Large in size and laminated .The sandwiches section seemed to compose of regular fare ,equally composing vegetarian and non-vegetarian items, ranging between $10 and $12. In contrast, the starters and salads sections constituted dishes with attractive names that were more expensive than the components of the sandwiches section. The menu card also had a unique 'bright ideas' section on the left that listed the specials for each day of the week, which I found enjoyable. But I found it peculiar that Einstein’s stresses extensively on the drinks section, and has lesser variety in its main course, as compared to its variety in drinks. I ordered a flatbread veggie sandwich while my friend ordered a chicken burger. Then came the manager, to enquire whether we were having a pleasant time. We were thoroughly enjoying the evening. The server arrived, two plates in his hands and a warm smile on his face.

I took one look at my order, which was enough to last me a lifetime. The Flatbread veggie sandwich was layered with pickled red onions and crunchy green spinach, topped off with luscious crimson tomatoes, complemented by balsamic vinaigrette and drooping garlic herb cream cheese all served with a side portion of glistening fries, that I could not wait to get my hands on. The chicken burger, served with a side of cucumber salad, was a refreshing change from the regular grilled chicken, very well done and flame broiled, slightly reminiscent of beef. The cucumber salad was a zesty mixture, creating a flavorful medley along with the tomatoes. A heavy main course always makes way for the best part of dinner: dessert.

Einstein’s is well renowned for its desserts .Desserts were listed in an elaborately decorated menu, each one more attractive than the next, all priced in the range between $6 and $8.I decided to try the white chocolate banana cream pie. The server arrived with an enormous portion of almond and vanilla wafer crust, white chocolate mousse, surrounded by white chocolate curls that I couldn’t wait to taste. One spoon of pie practically melted in my mouth and was completely enticing. The final bill was $19.44, extravagant but completely worth it. .We finally thanked the receptionist for the wonderful experience, and proceeded along Juniper Street with wide grins of satisfaction and contentment,hearing sounds of laughter and conversation blended with ambient music, chuckling over our day that had just been made.

Einstein’s, part of Metrotainment cafes justifies its reputation, and is a must try in midtown Atlanta. The ambiance is welcoming and appropriate for casual as well as formal dining, perfect for guests who wish to relax in outdoor environments. The music adds a distinct feel to the entire environment and complements the setting, especially when Einstein’s turns into a bar at night. Vegetarians are warmly welcomed, with plenty of side items to compose a plate .Additionally, the aesthetic ambience; prompt service and delectable food override the need for variety in the menu, and count for a purely exhilarating experience which deserves a four star rating.

Einstein’s, 12th and Juniper street,1077 Juniper Street ,Atlanta, GA

Overall Rating:

Service:

Ambiance:

Food: American

Hours of operation: Monday-Thursday:11am-11pm

Friday: 11am-midnight

Saturday: 10am-midnight

Sunday: 10am-11pm

Website: www.einsteinsatlanta.com

Price : $$

Price code: ($$$ means more than 30,$$means between 20 and 30 $means more than 10 and less than 20)