Omnivore - Knife & Fork prints its best of 2011 list
It was a "lean year" for new restaurants, writes Christiane Lauterbach
- James Camp
- Barcelona Wine Bar makes Christiane's "best of" list
The latest issue of Knife & Fork is out. Owner Christiane Lauterbach is behind on issues, so this one is dated January 2012. That means it includes her annual "best of" list — for 2011. She notes that "in this exceedingly lean past year, we had to dig deep to find ten worthy candidates."
Those that made it include Barcelona, Cardamom Hill, Gu's Bistro, Heirloom Market BBQ, No. 246, Octopus Bar, One-Eared Stag, Seed Kitchen & Bar, Shami Kabab, and Viande Rouge.
The January issue also includes an article entitled "The Pizza Wars: Neo-traditionalist vs. Old-School." It begins with this statement:
Who likes soggy pizza? Not you, not us, and yet anyone who offers feedback that the top of a Caprese (basil, tomato, and mozzrella) shouldn't slide off the crust and lie on the plate like a wet blanket is considered a rank amateur by our local high-octane pizzailoli.
She then takes a look at Fuoco di Napoli, Avellino's, and Piola. In the end, she favors Tartufo, which she finds not too thick and not too thin, producing a "happy medium Goldilocks would settle for."
The November issue includes a positive "first impression" of Cardamom Hill, while the December issue awards a 2.5-star rating to Philippopolis. It also includes a a round-up of mainly newer burger joints, with a few older ones mentioned for the sake of comparison. There's not much she gives a really enthusiastic review, even writing that "the iconic burger at Holeman & Finch is a little too bloody for our taste."
She does enjoy the burger bar at Park 75. Every Wednesday, the restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel offers fascinating burgers — how about a tongue-and-cheek one? — for $12. The seating is limited, so make a reservation (404-881-9898).
To subscribe to Knife & Fork, call 404-378-2775.