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| The Continental – Casual Fine Dining ***1/2 19 Jones Street Historic Norcross, GA 30071 (770) 242-1880 www.royalnorcross.com Lunch: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Mon. – Fri. Dinner: 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Mon. – Sat. Menu *** 1/2 The restaurant offers nutritious American cuisine with a European influence. The menu contains traditional fare, such as steak and salmon, with a range of unique sauces. The wine list isn’t extensive, but is reasonably priced. Food Quality *** 1/2 The fish and meat have good flavor and taste fresh. All desserts, except the truffle quartet, prepared by a nearby candy store, are prepared in-house. Side dishes could be a bit more imaginative. Food Presentation *** 1/2 The presentation is simple, yet appealing. The food takes center stage on the plate and is accented by attractive assemblages of herbs, sprigs and swirls. The decoration does a good job of not dominating what you are about to eat. Atmosphere *** 1/2 The restaurant’s atmosphere is charming, comforting and unpretentious and fits in well with the rest of historic Norcross. Sidewalks lined with light-strung trees lead the way to the restaurant’s entrance, which is accented by a green-and-white-striped awning. The interior is art deco influenced, with walls adorned by paintings from neighboring gallery, the Royal. Low lighting, candles and bud vases create the feeling of a small, out-of-the-way European restaurant. Cleanliness **** 1/2 The owners take pride in their establishment, and it shows. Floors, tables and restrooms are clean and everything is in its place. Service **** Servers are pleasant, attentive and willing to help undecided diners with their selections. You won’t have to ask for refills or look at your empty plate for more than a couple of minutes. Menu Recommendations The baby crab cakes and deep fried brie wedges are a great way to set the stage for the rest of the meal. Sure, plenty of restaurants serve crab cakes, but the ones here aren’t overwhelmed by bread crumbs or other fillers and are well complimented by a tasty green aioli. The brie, served with raspberry sauce, is a unique (and much more sophisticated) take on fried cheese sticks. For a main course, consider the beef tenderloin with cherry sauce. They aren’t afraid to serve it rare and the tangy sauce adds to the dish, without overtaking it. The key lime pie is a perfect example of how the dessert should be prepared: tart, not overly sweet, with hints of lime pulp. The black sesame seed-encrusted salmon with strawberry balsamic reduction and crab and shrimp mornay are also popular choices. Overall Rating *** 1/2 For a reasonable price, diners can enjoy an appetizing, generously portioned meal. The cozy, down-to-earth feel of the restaurant makes it an ideal place for the beginning to a quiet and relaxed evening. When you need a break from Atlanta’s uber-trendy hot spots, this is the place to go. review by Jennifer Grzeskowiak |
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| Above: Petite crab cakes; Shrimp Morney risotto. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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