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| Red Chair Restaurant and Video Lounge: Food With a Twist by Brooke Myrick This hot-spot is well known in the midtown community and recognized by surrounding intown couples who gather for cocktails and mosey in for a work week dinner. I live in the Midtown neighborhood near Amsterdam Walk and was accustom to seeing diners striding down the hill to Red Chair for dinner or brunch. When I met my friend at Red Chair on an unassuming Wednesday night, I thought the evening would comprise merely of pleasant banter amongst two girlfriends. Although we met early in the evening, this hip midtown attraction offers more to us than just tapas and cocktails. Wednesday is “movie night” and tonight it’s Rocky Horror Picture Show for an added bonus as we fill our stomachs. This video lounge idea grew from Red Chair owner Brad Williams’ years in Ft. Lauderdale. He witnessed a club and restaurant evolution where food met entertainment. Red Chair is exactly that, a little of the Miami lounge scene swirled with a spacious Midtown Atlanta ethnic inspired tapas restaurant. We were greeted by friendly hosts and waiters and guided to a spot on the enclosed patio. I glance over to a full bar and know from past visits that they are efficient in the cocktail arena. Immediately, my girlfriend orders a pineapple martini, as this is the right place for exotic beverage concoctions. Red Chair has a competent bar staff that understands mixing balanced martinis and other haute drinks. After ordering cocktails, we peruse the new menu filled with tapas and burgers. The new menu still kept a few standbys like the orange glazed salmon and fried green tomatoes, probably two of my favorites of old. The fried green tomatoes have a twist; the batter is similar to a (fish-fry) cornmeal batter and is topped with melting goat cheese and red pepper aioli. My friend and I decide to branch out choosing several new menu items, all under the various tapas categories or “bites” including: Light, Veggie, Meaty and Seafood. To round out the menu there are also categories including: Sandwiches (this is where those beefy new burgers are housed) and Sweet Bites. This new menu makes sense to the Atlanta appetite as an increasing number of young people are striving to spend less money and have more variety in their dining experiences. Tapas restaurants are a long-term trend in Atlanta based on economics and diverse palates. Our tapas arrive promptly and one of the first out is a giant stuffed poblano pepper that is oozing with Monterey jack cheese and dozens of baked pita points. This is by far the highlight of the dinner. Aside from the cheesy pepper, we try the Vidalia onion pie. This sweet onion custard is baked in a croissant and topped with an onion sauce. A very unique and tastey dish indeed. Next we try Lobster Ravioli tossed in a rich champagne butter sauce. This is a nice dish with well bought (likely made locally) ravioli. Lastly, we tried the seared tuna, encrusted in pepper and sesame seeds. The tuna was fresh and served with a basil oil and wasabi cream sauce – simple and tasty. The new dessert menu is robust and improved with selections such as bittersweet chocolate (ok, I’m-a-sucker-for-anything-chocolate) torte, flan and pistachio gelato (for those who like salty with sweet.) Conscious of its core clientele’s pocketbooks, on Wednesdays Red Chair extends free dessert and salad with the purchase of two tapas which is a great weekday eating extra. All dishes are priced below $10 making this a place that will serve up good fare on a budget. I suggest sharing a few tapas such as the aforementioned fried green tomatoes, orange glazed salmon, stuffed pepper or calamari. Then top it off with a shared dessert. If you are looking for some good, promptly served appetizers along with great mixed cocktails, over 40 wine selections and an energetic atmosphere, Red Chair rolls out the red carpet for the Midtown diner. Also not to be missed is the “Royal Treatment” package for groups of ten or more. Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary or just a night on the town, guests can call in advance to have that special someone in their party treated to “VIP” status. The lucky individual will receive VIP-style service throughout the night including two free tapas or a free burger with fries and two free cocktails. It’s an experience like no other in town. Red Chair is located at 550-C Amsterdam Avenue. Call (404) 870-0532 for directions. Visit www.redchairatlanta.com for the full menu and dining specials. Red Chair’s kitchen is open 6:30 PM to 10 PM Wednesdays and until 11 PM Thursday through Sunday. The bar/lounge is open 6:30 PM to 3 AM Wednesday through Saturday and midnight on Sundays. |
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| From top: Lentil burger; Mussels; Shrimp tapas; Tart; Proprietor Brad Williams. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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