Atlanta's Finest Dining



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The Inman Park Patio
by Ann Lovett

The Inman Park Patio, located in the heart of Atlanta’s Inman Park community, is shaping up to be one of the area’s finest eateries and perhaps one of the best-kept secrets on the Atlanta restaurant scene.

Owned and operated by Rusty Umphenour and Kimberly Reaves, The Patio boasts great food at great prices in a comfortable, no-fuss setting. After years of working in marketing and software sales (respectively), Umphenour and Reaves opened the restaurant in October of 2002.

Umphenour had recently moved into the neighborhood and found it in need of a restaurant with reasonably-priced consistently good food. Reaves, who like Umphenour, didn’t have any restaurant experience, was keen on a career change; thus, she came on board to help with the business logistics. Perhaps their rookie enthusiasm and collective naiveté to the restaurant business was a blessing, for Reaves and Umphenour have created a first-rate establishment. Great food, great prices, great wine list, great outdoor and indoor settings, great service, great bar… the whole nine yards.

Located next door to the Moving Spirits Art Gallery and in walking distance from the historic Trolley Barn, The Patio serves Mediterranean, Italian and eclectic American cuisine. Designed to emit an old-fashioned European vibe, the interior’s dim lighting, hardwood floors and candle-lit dark hardwood tables do much to enhance the décor, as does a hand-painted leaf motif that runs up and down the restaurant’s walls. The exposed red brick walls don the artwork of regional artists and photographers.
Be it for a pre-dinner cocktail or post-dinner cordial, the bar is not to be missed. Backed by a perforated wine wall, it holds 242 bottles of various spirits. Couches and cozy chairs face the bar, enabling you to soak in the scene as you sip. Last, but not least, the expansive outside patio is also a must-see. Filled with teak furniture and lit by twinkle lights and wrought iron candelabras, it’s an inviting spot to unwind and enjoy a leisurely meal. All scenes considered – the bar, the outdoor patio or the inside tables – the overall atmosphere is a balanced combination of antique charm and modern-day pizzazz. In the same vein, the staff welcomes you with laid-back, warm hospitality, going out of their way to make you feel at home during your meal.

My dining partner and I enjoy a glass of the house pinot noir while we dip flatbread into an olive oil, herb and grated Parmesan cheese sauce. We choose the mussels, served in a spicy marinara sauce, as our appetizer. An everyday appetizer gone delectably fancy, it’s nearly impossible not to finish the entire serving. We decide to share the pear and gorgonzola salad, which comes with mixed greens, carrots, celery and a lemon herb dressing. Flavorful and light, it is a tasty rendition of a familiar salad.

For entrees, we choose the Australian lamb chops and the grilled salmon, both of which are nicely presented. The lamb, one of The Patio’s most popular dishes, is a fine example of chef Terry Bigelow’s culinary panache. Grilled with rosemary and sprinkled with cracked black pepper, it’s served with garlic sautéed spinach (unbelievably good!) and mashed, brown sugar-flavored sweet potatoes. The tender salmon (just one of the many seafood dishes available) is nicely complimented by a generous portion of steamed asparagus and mashed sweet potatoes. Both the lamb and the salmon pair well with a glass of Sangiovese. Other entrée choices include R&B pizza, Italian sausage ravioli and the garlic stuffed filet. Save room for dessert, as the Patio’s dessert menu is choc-full of tempting sweets. Treat yourself to the amaretto fudge cheesecake or a cup of Paolo’s gelato.

Can’t get your fill of The Patio over dinner? No worries. In addition to their dinner menu, The Patio offers a “new-classic” Sunday brunch menu. Brunch patrons can build their own omelets, nibble on seafood crepes or choose from one of chef Bigelow’s innovative dishes, such as eggs Venedict with prosciutto and spicy marinara sauce, or the amazing bruschetta on fresh Tuscan toast. Thursday Martini Nights, a hit with the local single crowd, blends up specialty martinis, such as the Berry Cosmosis, Bone Dry or Manhattan Transit.

No matter how you choose to sit and sup at The Patio, you can expect friendly service, a relaxed setting, inventive menu choices and a satisfied appetite. Avant-garde without pretense and comfortable without languor, The Patio is a welcome addition to the Atlanta dining scene.

The Inman Park Patio is located at 1029 Edgewood Avenue. The restaurant is open Monday through Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Sunday brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The average entrée ranges from $11 to $21; the attire is business casual. For reservations, directions or more information, call (404) 659-5757 or visit them online at www.inmanparkpatio.com.

From top:
Field greens, spinach, goat cheese, blueberries, cucumber and red pepper, ginger dressing; Tomato basil mozzarella salad; Pork loin medallions in tangerine ginger sauce, mashed potato and haricots verts; Chef Terry Bigelow;