cakes & ale restaurant
155 sycamore street
decatur, ga 30030
404.377.7994

www.cakesandalerestaurant.com

the menu for march 19. it changes daily according to availability of foods.

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cakes & ale chef billy allin was nominated this year for a james beard foundation award, honoring excellence in the food and beverage industry. best chef in the southeast. and in the world of food, that's about as amazing as you can get. it's an oscar. a tony. a grammy.

according to their website, he and his wife, kristin, speaks this philosophy: "cook unassuming food using the highest quality ingredients and serve it in a comfortable and welcoming setting."

they have succeeded with each element.

a visit on a tuesday evening saw a vibrant restaurant with every bar seat filled and most booths and tables filled as well. if the locals are here, it is always a good sign. their menu is updated daily according to local specialties and food availabilities.

the bar offers the perfect cocktail for the day's end. from a 'look sharp' to a 'hook or crook', the mixtures of liquors and bitters touched with fruits and syrups invite you in. the one that intrigued me was 'barely enough' - scotch, cider, honey, lemon, bitters and laphroaig 10. the blending of all that's good.

they also offer wine - including french, greek, italian, spanish and californian - by the glass and carafe. other drink selections include a variety of beers, including 'home-town' favorite, golden ale by athens' terrapin brewery.

to get us started we had (top row, right)fennel and pear with rhubarb vinaigrette; and (center, left), burrato and proscuitto.

opting for a light fare, (center, right) gnocchi with pancetta with broccoli, lemon and grana. the grana cheese added the perfect complementing texture. two sides included cardamom whipped potatoes and buttered polenta (my favorite of the evening).

and for the grand finale, pb trifle featuring peanut butter ice cream, bananas and strawberry jam. and, in a mason jar.

this farm-to-table concept is the belle of decatur's ball, treating visitors to the best of what is available from the farms of decatur and surrounding areas.

they do accept reservations which are a good idea. traffic remained constant the entire evening. a wonderful addition to the unique town of decatur.