The Foodies of E3: SMART DINING: THE EINSTEIN FACTOR

Some restaurants possess the ability to attract crowds with their unique combination 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 1920s 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 center 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. The ‘drinks’ menu was orderly separated into the ‘wine and beer’,’ martini’ and’ cocktail’ selections. Most drinks can be served ’virgin’ upon request. The Pomegranate martini, Bleu goose martini, the Ginger brown, Radioactive iced Tea, Midtown Lumberjack, Mango mint mojito and Blood Orange Cosmo were few of the names on the ‘cocktails’ menu that were strikingly innovative. We finally settled for 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 pricey 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 main menu was divided into five sections: starters, salads, entrees, sandwiches and sides .T he sandwiches section seemed to compose of regular fare such as a Flatbread veggie sandwich, cheeseburger, turkey burger and grille 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. ‘Bistro Garden’, ‘Caesar’, ‘Midtown Cobb’ were some of the salads available. ‘Pecan Trout’, ‘Moroccan spiced salmon’ , ‘Frittata’ and ‘potato crusted grouper’ were some of the components of the entrée 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. The Flatbread veggie sandwich with pickled red onions, spinach, tomatoes, balsamic vinaigrette, garlic herb cream cheese and cucumber, all served with a side portion of glistening fries, seemed to be extremely appetizing and absolutely scrumptious .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 .It was completely enticing .The final bill was $19.44, extravagant but completely worth it. Einstein’s, part of Metrotainment cafes justifies its reputation, and is a must try in midtown Atlanta. Vegetarians are warmly welcomed, with plenty of side items to compose a plate .The aesthetic ambiance, prompt service and delectable food override the need for variety in the menu, and count for a purely exhilarating experience.

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

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