From the archives (10.20.2008)
Overall:[rating:2] (very good)
While my family eats at Blue Ridge like it’s their second kitchen, I have "only" eaten here about 10-15 times. I wanted to wait until I had a chance to try their Sunday brunch before adding my review here. Although I ordered two items that are always available, I was very pleased with the brunch dishes that I sampled.
I would not go so far as to call the décor simple; but, it is rather unassuming. The space is rustic and decorated with a log cabin motif. The upstairs is spacious with high ceilings. For brunch, we ate downstairs in the newly renovated private room(s). In addition to moveable partitions, there is a small seating area where you can plop down on a couch/chair.
The food at Blue Ridge is fairly consistent. Every now and then, I’ve encountered a dish that I felt was poorly prepared, but not egregiously so. For this past meal, there were about 18 of us split between two tables. I thought our servers were very nice and attentive, but the pacing of the meal was a bit off. This leads me to believe the kitchen was not doing their part. Both of our servers were friendly and informative. In fact, the wait staff here often is. They are a nice change from the maitre d and hostess, who have a tendency to come across a little hoity-toity.
I was feeling seafood so I went with the lobster bisque and lobster club sandwich. The flavor of both was fantastic; however, they were both lukewarm – a complaint several others in our party had. The ingredients were fresh and balanced while the presentation was excellent. Our sides were the three cheese macaroni, corn soufflé, and grilled asparagus. They were wonderful, though I have sporadically witnessed an over salted side.
I had the pleasure of tasting the Eggs Benedict and the corned beef hash. I was impressed with both, aside from the temperature issue. The Serrano ham and chipotle hollandaise sauce was a unique twist that I found delicious. I am not a huge fan of corned beef hash; but, the poached egg on top was a nice touch. Several people have identified Blue Ridges trout dish to be the best of its kind in the city. It is grilled and served with dill and arugula.
Overall, this is a very good restaurant with really solid service. If you are looking for classic American cuisine with subtle twists – this is a great spot to visit.
Food:[rating:2]
Service:[rating:1]
Vibe:[rating:2]
Overall:[rating:2]
Address: 1261 West Paces Ferry Rd Atlanta, GA 30327 // P: 404.233.5030 // Website // Menu
