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Decatur (North-South, Northeast-South, East-West, Proctor Creek)
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This is a cozy little spot in downtown Decatur. The thick curtains in the front helped a lot from letting the cold Atlanta breeze come through. Was pretty busy for a Saturday evening.
Started off with the BEEF TONGUE which was very tender, but the other sides that came with it didn't seem to compliment it. Cold beef and some sour potato salad, and arugula. Also had the ARANCINI, which is risotto balls. Talk about carbs! It was good and pretty filling for something so small.
Had TROUT baked in parchment paper. It was really good fish, and I liked the carrots and celery on it even more. So tender and full of flavor. But I liked the veggies more than the entree itself. Also had the BRAISED TURKEY which tasted nearly like pork. The poached egg made the dish very moist. It was the best moist turkey I ever had.
Dessert was the FIGGY TOFFEE PUDDING... also known as heaven in my mouth. The fresh dollop of whip cream made a huge different. Every bite was melting in my mouth. I could live off dessert, especially this one.
The turkey and pudding definitely made this review a 4 stars.
I don't know if we just came here at the wrong time or what. I'm truly amazed that this place has a 4-star rating. Our meal and service were so bad that I may never return. It would almost have to take an act of Congress for me to do so. The food is nowhere near the price tag. One yelper even wrote that the waiter acted as if he was on his first date and didn't know where to put his hand. I think we had that same waiter!
My friends and I arrived very early, knowing that this place generally gets packed. I tried to make a reservation earlier that day and only 9:30 or later was available. We were probably there around 5:30. Yes, early. The restaurant had maybe two other tables occupied.
We started off with the arancini. So bland and dry we couldn't even finish them. Not a good first sign. My friend had the squash soup, which she said was the best thing from her order. She got the hamburger for an entree, medium. It came out blood red with the bun soaked. She mentioned this to the waiter who shrugged and his eyes and took her plate back. Instead of adding a new bun, possibly everything on a new plate, the cooked burger came back on the same plate and, yes, same soaked bun, well done. Unbelievable.
My girlfriend ordered the halibut. I swear -- and I'm not lying -- a McDonald's fish filet would have been better. She is a foodie, and totally agreed. I had the hamburger as well. Mine was decent. The fries were hard, shoe string fries. They reminded me of being a child for some reason. Just wrong.
Overall, horrible, horrible experience. I would like to say it was due to their eclectic menu, but no. It was just awful.
I've been wanting to go for a while, was really excited and was pleased but underwhelmed.
The beer selection was surprisingly meager, but then I am used to the Porter and the Brickstore. Just thought since ale was in the restaurant's name it would be abundant on the menu. Not really. They have a Flemish Red that is delicious but that is about it.
The food was lovely, but again, it did not live up to the hype.
The best thing was my dinner companion's lamb. Perfectly medium rare tenderloin on a bed of savory lentils and escarole topped with some fresh tapenade. An impeccably wintry dish.
My beef tongue appetizer was tender but a bit overwhelmed by an abundant chimichurri style sauce.
Oh, the greek yogurt cheesecake was pleasant, superbly creamy and light but nothing I'll ever crave again.
Next time I'll just come in for the cozy atmosphere and have a couple of drinks and an appetizer at the bar.
Overall, price to satisfaction ratio is not favorable.
The decision to head over to Cakes & Ale came somewhat last minute, so when I called at 4:30 to get a reservation for that same night (the night before Xmas eve) I was told that 9 PM would be my first shot at getting a table. They did say that I could come down early and possibly get a spot at the bar or get seated ahead of schedule, so we went over around 8 PM. I won't be making that mistake again.
The space is warm and inviting, but definitely small. By the time we arrived there was a waiting list just to get a spot at the bar and all of the tables were packed. There isn't any seating other than the bar and there really isn't much room to stand around. So, even though we got a few drinks while we waited, we constantly felt like we were in the way of the servers and incoming guests. I don't really fault the restaurant for this because we knowingly showed up an hour before our reservation, but I would have rather been given realistic expectations of what the waiting experience was going to be like. But, we did manage to eventually worm our way onto a couple of bar stools for the last 15 minutes or so of our wait.
Because we (kind of) knew what we were getting ourselves into by showing up an hour early, and because we were actually seated at the time of our reservation (to the minute actually), I didn't really have a BAD experience with the service. But, my hour of awkwardly standing around did give me time to observe the front of house for a while, and I think that the combination of popularity and a small space proves to be overwhelming to the staff on a busy night.
We were instructed by the hostess to place our drink orders with her instead of at the bar, as the sole bartender seemed to be overloaded at the time. I had no problem with that, in theory. But the hostess was running around like a chicken with her head cut off, both trying to wait on us and manage the constant influx of patrons, and she was failing at both tasks miserably. This was really the only part of the night that pissed me off.
Look...I get it. Your bartender is overwhelmed and you are trying to pitch in to help her manage the workload. But if you want to volunteer yourself as my waitress, don't make me stand there waiting for my first drink for 15 minutes while you bounce around the room and ESPECIALLY don't give me a condescending eat-shit-and-die look when your bartender spots me and calls me over to ask for my drink order. She had a free moment and wanted to do her job. So don't come over and scold me for not "listening to you the first time."
There were a few positive notes about our wait. I hadn't expected the house cocktail list to be as good as it was. I'm surprised that Cakes & Ale doesn't get more attention for their impressive drinks menu, like an H&F or Leon's does.
The other upside to the wait was that it gave us the chance to drool over the giant chalkboard menu and to try the first of our apps for the evening, the Arancini.The Arancini are little balls of risotto with citrus acid wrapped around a chunk of Pecorino reggiono, deep fried, and then dusted with fennel. These were delightful. The fried exterior carries a lot of flavor, though it wasn't greasy, and the fennel and citrus acid gives each mouthful just the appropriate amount of bite. I would recommend getting these, especially if you go with a group.
Because I can't resist trying a dish that I have never eaten before, I couldn't stop myself from ordering the Beef Tongue appetizer as well. Having never had beef tongue, I fully expected to get a mouthful of shoe leather, albeit flavor-packed shoe leather. I couldn't have been more wrong. The first thing that I noticed was how tender the beef tongue was. It wasn't "melt in your mouth" tender, but my teeth met with very little resistance with each bite. The combination of the tongue, salsa verde, and sunchoke remoulade pair wonderfully. This was way more satisfying that I expected.
For our entrées, my date went for the Gnocchi and Braised Guinea Hen and I ordered the Red Wine and Tomato Braised Wild Striped Bass with carrots, olives, turnips, and a sunchoke and potato puree. While the flavor on the hen dish was good, and the Hen was well seasoned and prepared, I was a little less than thrilled with the gnocchi. Unfortunately, the texture was too mushy. But, overcooked gnocchi aside, the rest of the flavors were fresh, savory, and satisfying.
The bass was a nice, warming, comfort-food type dish. It didn't blow me away, but there were no disappointments either. I would order it again.
I really enjoyed the meal here and I definitely plan to return, though I will make a point to arrive much closer to my actual reservation time. I love the fact that the menu changes so frequently and I'm looking forward to seeing what Allin and Wong cook up next.
I feel like this was a case of right place at the wrong time. I went out to Cakes & Ale last night for a decent evening.
The atmosphere is great. The restaurant which looks like it seats about 50 is small, warm and inviting. Curtains adorn the entrance inviting you softly to a cozy little on the corner hideaway.
The menu scribbled down on dual sided chalkboards and brought to your table was a nice touch. The selection small but eclectic. The drink list large and interesting with a great selection of brew.
I had a vodka tonic which when brought to me the sever said... "I was told these are limes" as I look down to see yellow citrus crescents hanging off my glass. The drink was off and I think the tonic was without carbonation. Still not sure btw whether it was lime or lemon....
The service was awkward to say the least. It was like the server was on a first date and just didn't know where to put his hand. He seemed comfortable but at the same time a bit out of place. A water carafe was provided for self service refills but a server assistant kept returning to refill my glass. Odd...
The House Marinated Olives were delish. With pits still included my first bite was a bit surprising, but as far as flavor they were spot on.
For an entree I got the pan roasted Pork Chop with Sweet potato, hen of the woods mushrooms, kale and a fresh apple salad. The chop was a tad bit over done and I wasn't "Wowed" as promised by both the server and a recent yelper that had visited.
My date got the North Carolina stuffed trout. She definitely won tonight's food challenge. Her fish was perfectly cooked, perfectly portioned and the peanuts, bacon, potatoes, and raisins were a wonderful stuffing to accompany.
To culminate our evening we finished with a pumpkin and butter pecan ice cream cake with salted caramel and a crispy meringue. I'm not a lover of nuts... but other than the pecans the dessert was stellar.
I thought the meal was overpriced and the menu was limited. I felt like there could have been a few more entrees offered and that the restaurant didn't live up to the hype. Mixed reviews today from me...
I'm not sure if I'll return given my experience. I just can't justify paying that kind of money all the time for a decent evening.
I've been meaning to try Cakes and Ale for a long time, and finally got around to it last night. I rated five stars because I loved the food and had a good time, but I still think they could make a few improvements.
We showed up on time for our 7:30 reservation. The restaurant and bar were completely full on a rainy Tuesday night. There isn't anywhere to wait for your table, really, so we stood at the entrance and pondered the drink menu while the hostess checked on our table. We were seated a few minutes later and our server came by right away (although the small space is so packed with diners, he didn't have anywhere to stand that was visible to both me and my date -- I had to crane my neck and look behind me to talk to him).
Our server was quite knowledgeable about the food and drink menu, and was good enough to check with the kitchen about my food allergies to make sure there would be no problems with my order. He gave us the all-clear (although he did mention that sometimes their fryer oil is not changed for a few days, and that lots of dishes are fried in that oil -- meaning that if we'd come on a different night, I would have had to avoid anything fried for fear of my throat closing up).
The server brought us two small slices of bread and some butter. This minimalist take on the bread basket seemed kind of funny to me, but the bread was delicious. "Don't fill up on bread," I joked. I could have eaten an entire loaf, but was happy with this little taste. For an appetizer, we ordered arancini to share. These little rice balls were just amazing. They achieved a certain lightness with a deep-fried ball of carbs, which surprised me. The citrus and fennel pollen really brightened the flavor, and the texture wasn't too dense.
I ordered the pan-fried pork chop with fingerling sweet potatoes, kale, and apple salad. Dear god, that pork chop was delicious. The breading was crunchy and substantial. The balance of sweet potatoes, bitter kale, and crunchy apple slaw with tart vinaigrette on the side was also very nice. A wonderful dish for fall. I paired it with the Widmer Cherry Oak Doppelbock, which is a hell of a beer. I was initially concerned about the cherry flavor, but it's understated and blends nicely into the dark, toasty malts. I probably didn't need the full 22 oz. bottle, but I enjoyed it.
My date had the moussaka, which he said was good although not "transcendent." He loved the accompanying side salad with feta dressing, though, describing it as "the best thing I've tasted in months."
None of the desserts particularly caught our eye, so we skipped that course.
Overall, I had a very pleasant evening. The restaurant was pretty loud when we first arrived, making it hard to hear our server (and occasionally our dining partners), but as people began to trickle out the space felt cozier. If you can dine at an off-peak time, I'd recommend doing so. The food was excellent, and the staff were good about giving a fine dining experience that doesn't feel too stuffy (in some snooty restaurants I get a sense that I don't really belong there... not so at Cakes and Ale). Recommended!
Visited here again for a special occasion and same as before, everything was amazing!!!
I really have nothing to add to that last review, except I feel as though I ordered the veggie bowl for my entree and my date ordered the pork chop and they were not comparable in quantity. I had completed my entree much faster than he did and I was left a little bit hungry after dessert. This isn't to say that my meal was not incredible, because it was!!! But I think when giving one person a big piece of meat on top of a whole bunch of other goodies you need to make the vegetarian meal just as fulfilling.
But, nonetheless I will definitely be returning and my date and I actually discussed the fantasy of having the money to eat at Cakes and Ale every single day--and if we did...we would!
When's the last time you had a meal and wanted to literally lick the plate?? I had to do everything… Read more »
Cakes and Ale has quickly become my favorite restaurant in Decatur. I was predisposed to liking it because of the name (who doesn't love a Shakespeare reference?), and now I've been four times in the last few months. Each time I've eaten at the bar partly because I didn't call ahead for reservations, and partly because that's my preference especially when I'm alone or with one other person.
The food is wonderful. The menu is thoughtful and seasonal. And even though the menu isn't huge, it's both accessible (e.g., burgers) and interesting (e.g., head cheese). I especially loved the burger, which arrived a perfectly-cooked medium rare. And the moussaka has been haunting my dreams. I've also tried several of the cocktails; the fennel martini was great.
The wine list is excellent and the selection of beers on tap is small but perfect. Every time I've asked for a wine recommendation the bartender has made a thoughtful and well-chosen suggestion.
Finally, I can't say enough about the wonderful service I've had at Cakes & Ale. Every time I've been in the hostess, bartender and servers have been attentive and knowledgeable. So many times bad service can ruin a great meal, but Cakes and Ale has the whole package. And the space is beautiful too. The dining room is intimate and lively but not too loud or crowded.
I love eating here and it's now my go-to place for special occassions or when I just want to have a cocktail and relax after a long day.
Hands down, one of the top 10 restaurants in Atlanta!
Menu changes daily. Everything is well prepared and fresh. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the restaurant and menu.
Check out the monthly Sunday Supper for a set menu at a very affordable price.
All I can say is continue doing what you are doing Cakes and Ale.
I have mixed feelings about this place. The first time I went was with a group of about 8-10 people. We were easily accommodated, the staff was friendly, I tried a new apple cider which is now my favorite (J. K. Scrumpy's), the food was fresh and tasty, and the dessert-- phatty cakes-- were phenomenal. If I had based my review on this trip, I'd have given it 5 stars.
So, why am I giving it 2 stars?
After our first successful visit, I wanted to go back. I had about 5 other people with me, including my boyfriend. He and I went inside to ask for a table. Keep in mind, since the last time we patronized Cakes & Ale, he had shaved and dyed his hair into a highlighter-yellow mohawk. Also, we're both covered in tattoos, which were hidden by winter clothing when we went the first time in December. The hostess took one look at us and plastered on a fake smile. I said, "Table for 6 please!" And she paused, then said, "Sorry, we can't seat you."
...Really??
I knew it was not because they didn't have a table for 6, because we had more people than that last time. She didn't even offer to put us on a waiting list for when another large party left. Just "sorry, no" and gave me a look that said she wanted us to leave. NOW.
God forbid a person try to go to an upscale restaurant if they don't look like they fell out of a J. Crew catalog. Too bad, I spent my money elsewhere instead. And I probably won't be going back.
Cakes and FAIL.
Celebrated 9-9-99 anniversary here and it was a perfect choice. Sweet hostess snuck us in under the wire.
They brought a sparkling rose Gruet to help us with our cheer, and it went nicely with the cheesy rice balls and prosciutto and peaches ( nice twist on melon, but the fresh mint was overpowering).
Gnocchi were amazing with fresh corn and chanterelles, pork chop lovely, but not sure about the nearly raw black eyed peas and pickled eggplant accompaniment. Perfect bread.
Great service from Patrick-on point, not in your face but completely available when needed.
Only downside were two grumpies next to us sending back their fried okra because it was salty. They should go to Rathbun's. HAH! They even said no to complementary happy cakes. What the hell is wrong with people?!!! They would rather be miserable than joyful. A big buh bye...AHHH....
LOVE that I don't have to drive to Athens anymore to get food like Farm 255 or 5 and 10.
Mmmmm...very very happy....
Really, this deserves 4.5 stars (why can't we do half-stars, anyway?). Overall, a great experience.
We had to wait a bit for a table even with reservations, but the excellent margaritas at the bar and friendly staff more than made up for the wait.
When we were seated, we started with the smoked pork belly BLT and the arancini. Both were excellent. The fact that the restaurant is built around using fresh and local ingredients really comes through in the BLT. The amazing smoked pork belly, fresh tomatoes, and homemade mayo really make this simple dish amazing. I crave these BLTs all the time now. The fennel pollen and citrus really brighten up the arancini.
Entrees: Cakes and Ale Burger and the Pork loin chop. The server said the burger is made from brisket and bacon. I thought it could use a bit of sirloin, or something with a stronger beef flavor to round it out, but it was still very good, with an excellent bun. The pork loin is simply prepared, as it should be because the quality and flavor of the pork was outstanding.
Dessert: Bittersweet pot de creme, caramel panna cotta & brown sugar snap. Pretty good, but not incredibly memorable. Perhaps because I was still thinking about the amazing BLT.
I agree with Paul's assessment. The atmosphere of this place is very cool. I loved the chalkboard menus, and I like that there are only a handful of dishes to choose from. There is nothing wrong with a kitchen concentrating on a small selection of good items.
However, I felt like the food was very overpriced. I was not wowed by my entree, the gnocchi, and I definitely did not feel like it was worth $18. My boyfriend ordered the trout, and his was far and away better than mine. The chicken looked delicious, but $24??? Come on, chicken is one of the least expensive things a restaurant can get, even if it is local and organic. The wine selection was good, again overpriced but what wine in a restaurant isn't?
Our server was very nice, but a little over-eager to please and a tad bit awkward. She was knowledgeable about the menu, but her recommendations were not a hit with our table. Overall, the food was good, but not good enough for what they charge. My impression of this place is that they don't quite know what kind of restaurant they want to be. It is designed to be trendy with the yuppie crowd, the people who don't quite know what good food is but are lured in by atmosphere and fancy menu-speak. I have to admit though, that the phatty cakes were excellent.
This place had one cool menu and some incredibly high-quality food/drinks.
The burger was the best I have ever had. Waitress told me it is because they put some pork in it or something. Please try it, it is unreal.
I got some pepper/chipotle infused drink, which was the coolest, most unique drink I have ever had (lots of "ever hads" here). It was overwhelmingly neat and good.
It is a nice, cool atmosphere, though the place is kind of smallish.
It is a bit pricey, especially for drinks, but you're paying for quality. Not a place I will frequent, but I will be back on occasion.
Every time I put in Dickhater in my GPS, I get nothing except... "Are you sure you're in Georgia?" I'm wondering if it meant Georgia O'Keefe...
I kept putting off this place because of two reasons: 1) the distance 2) the menu (it just didn't wow'd me). I guess it was about time I got deflowered by this joint and see if they can make me moan.
I can never find a good way to get here from midtown and finding parking is tiresome. But once you do it ain't so bad since you can walk to most joints. It's a nice cozy little place, simple and clean... Kinda like the menu.
Rosemary roasted almonds - Who doesn't like nuts with a rosemary scent while they are boozing? I like to store them in my cheeks like a chipmunk in the winter.
Gougères - 3 cheezball pate a choux... Nothing more, nothing less. They just kinda sit there on a boring plate, it might be more fun to put them in a satchel and rub them... Gently.
Potato gnocchi with spicy Italian sausage, olives & tomato sauce - Gnocchi was perfect, bite after bite... The portion size for $17, not so much. C'mon, it's taters, last time I heard there wasn't a 'late blight' in ages or mebbe it's just in their kitchen?
Cakes & Ale burger with fries - Ok, the standard to judge all burgaz in Atlanta should be the 10PM H&F $10 burga/fwies. While the meat was tasty and cooked to temp, the English muffin-esque "bun" killed it. It was dry and mealy. The shoestwing fwies is not even in the same league as the duck fat fwies. Not terrible but just not worth $14.
Cardamom whipped sweet potatoes - Velvety and smooth... Just like my pouch. This was a tasty side dish.
Phatty Cakes - It is what it is... But if I'm gonna get fat eating stuff like this, I rather stuff my piehole with Ho-Ho's or Devil Dogs. They're brown and white as well.
I do like the place because it's locally owned and I hope they stick around for awhile but all I ask is that you give some spark to the creative juices on the menu, if you want me to come again.
Another dwink for the Shot Caller, pweez.
Gulp.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet! We've visited frequently over the past year or so and are never (ever!) disappointed. The menu changes regularly as produce comes in and out of season, and it's never anything short of wonderful. They grow much of the produce in their own garden, and the rest comes from small local growers.
There are usually four or five entree options, and there's always at least one that's vegetarian. The gnocchi is the best I've had - light and never pasty, and served with seasonal veggies and usually parmesan, often with a light cream sauce. It's amazing, and even if the current gnocchi offering isn't vegetarian, the chef is generally willing to throw together a veggie version.
The snacks and small plates are delightful too - the arancini are not to be missed, and when we were there on Valentine's Day they started us with roasted almonds with rosemary (and no small amount of butter) that were out of this world.
The beer and wine lists are fairly small, but well-chosen, with lots of interesting picks. The desserts are divine, and also always changing, but I can't help but only have eyes for the phatty cakes - ginger cookie sandwiches filled with buttercream. YUM.
Came here last night with two friends. The service was above average- the waiters didn't hover, and seemed genuinely happy to see guests.
Given the small space, it can get loud really quickly. But all in all, not a bad place to bring a few friends.
On to the food:
Appetizer: Fried oysters with tartar sauce- These oysters were on the small side (to be expected if they're fried), and they tasted good- though they seemed to be soaked in the fryer for a bit for too long. The breading did not have the crispness that I'd expect from fried seafood of any sort. Score: 3
1) Potato gnocchi with spicy Italian sausage, olives & tomato sauce - I only got a taste of this, and it was better than decent- the gnocchi had a perfect texture, and the flavor of the sauce had made its way into it. The portion however, was WAY TOO small. Score: 3.5
2) Chicken paillard with white beans, broccoli, arugula & lemon - this was my entree- the largest entree among the three of us by FAR. It's basically a flattened/tenderized, breaded breast of chicken that was pan fried until the breading was crisp, surrounded by large white beans, with the broccoli bathed in the juices hidden underneath the chicken. The combination works- but it didn't blow me away. Just decent. Score: 3.5
3) Green garlic pudding-souffle, roasted vegetables & mushrooms - Again...a tiny portion- I felt so bad for my buddy- it wasn't much larger than a side portion you'd get at a Meat 'n Three kind of place. Of course, Cakes & Ale is not a Southern Kitchen...but exquisite taste and generous portions do not necessarly have to be mutually exclusive....right? :-p The souffle was average, the vegetables were flavored rather nicely. Score: 3.5
Dessert: "Phatty Cakes"- These are basically made of marscapone cheese sandwiched between gingersnap cookies- Like a brownish oreo- but better. But yea, they're just cookies. Score: 3
They DO have St. Bernardus ABT 12 on tap...which is a plus for Belgian beer fans...though it's the only good beer they have.
Would I come here again? Yes, but only with friends who want to go. I can't frequent these kinds of places too often- can be a bit tough on the wallet if you want to leave with a satisfied stomach. Overall score: 3.5
I was a little disappointed with the limited menu when we first arrived and I thought the appetizers we ordered were just good but not great, but the Cakes & Ale burger and fries were awesome! One of the best burgers I've had in Atlanta! The drinks were on the expensive side for sure.
I love Decatur (very easy to get to from any part of town via Ponce de Leon- just go straight!) and parking around there is not too bad if you hit one of the side streets. I would take a night out in Decatur any day over Midtown, but maybe that's just me:)
Great atomsphere and set up. I got the trout it rocked and so did the succotash side...YUM. Apps were cantaloupe and prosciutto - very good. My boyfriend had the burger said it was very tasty. Orange chocolate dessert was just okay as were the phatty cakes (gingerbread). But all portions were perfect. wine list was great (sparkling rose!).
Although our reservations had mysteriously been erased from the book, they worked hard to get us seated by our reservation time.
The service was attentive and very knowledgeable. The bartender was very nice and quick with the drinks. Our waiter was able to answer all of our questions with great depth. We started with the marinated olives which were a nice citrusy departure from the usual salty ones. We then had the chicken and the gnocchi for entrees. Fabulous! Very light and flavorful! Followed up by the phatty cakes!! Fresh, moist and a perfect ending to a great meal!
This is my favorite restaurant in the city, and I've tried quite a few.
If you're expecting a big bustling social snotty scene, like many of the better restaurants flaunt - you'll be disappointed. C&A is low key, relaxed, comfortable and very cozy. It seats maybe 45. It's a great place to enjoy consistently remarkable food with people you care about.
Everything is prepared with care using only the freshest local ingredients. I've been several times, and have been surprised at how fantastic my meal is each time. The owners and staff are warm and very friendly.
They have a small menu, but everything is a gem. There are no "standard" boring dishes to fill out the offering. The desserts stand up to the meal and shouldn't be missed.
I don't think Cakes & Ale lived up to the hype the night we went. The selection was minimal, only about 5 different entres. One veggie, one fish, one chicken, one pork and something else. The appetizers were really good though, especially the Eggplant & Greek-style feta spreads. The burger was average and the lasagne wasn't anything special.
I just thought it was all a bit over the top. It took the waiter 3 minutes to explain each item.... "the bread tonight is freshly baked in a eco-friendly oven from flour extracted from the owners own corn field where he uses home-made compost"... "the eggplant was raised by loving parents in the chefs neighbors brothers sisters window box overlooking Decatur square carefully nourished by recycled rain water"
It got to be a bit of a joke so that when he came back to offer coffee we were waiting for the speil about how the coffee was handpicked by orphan students and walked here by peasant farmers to go with the goats milk that was only so freshly squeezed it was still warm!"
Overall it's a good place, just a bit pretencious.
Cakes and Ale has been at the top of my short list to try for a while. I had been here to have an app and sit at the bar...but last night was my first experience sitting down to a full meal there. I chose it as a spot for a dinner "date" thinking it would be cozy and low key - when I was there at the bar, it was still early in the evening/late afternoon so I hadn't seen the restaurant in full swing. While the space is cozy and laid back...it is also very LOUD when full on a weekend night. Not as intimate as I had hoped for.
We started with two apps - the fried okra and the pork belly. The fried okra is amazing. Its cut lengthwise and lightly fried - it remains crispy and no residual slimeyness. The ranch its served with is awesome. The pork belly was melt-in-your mouth and served on a bed of field peas and tomatoes.
For mains, my friend had the special - all locally sourced eggplant parmesan. It wasn't your usual eggplant parm. Nothing fried...just stacks of grilled eggplant with cheese and a great tomato sauce. My main was the gnocchi with okra (small thin slivers), corn, and heirloom tomatoes all topped with a dusting of Parmesan. The gnocchi were SO light and perfectly cooked with the veggies being al dente.
Desserts were a special gratin of figs and raspberries which was basically a yummy cobbler-without-the-crust...and a couple smalls cake in place of the Phatty Cakes, which were sold out. The little cakes were ok but nothing to write home about.
Service was wonderful - Greg took wonderful care of us. So much so that we let him really guide us as to what to order. Everything was paced well and attentive without being pushy. We were able to talk and linger over our coffee at the end and take our time finishing the meal. I'll definetely be back to try more of the menu...including a killer looking burger that was ordered by the table next to us.
Last weekend was the second time we've been back to Cakes & Ale since my initial review in April. Given the amount of inflation Yelp usually bestows on trendy new restaurants, I'm amazed this place is still sitting at 3.5 stars. It deserves better.
Cakes and Ale's menu nails the sort of standout simplicity everyone's striving for with "farm fresh" ingredients these days. The Boy claims we'd haunt it more regularly if it weren't for the small size of their menu (6 entrees, about half of which rotate). He's much more of a slave to carnivore cravings when eating out, so I can see how he feels limited by the selection even if I don't share his opinion.
Arancini are popping up everywhere these days (seriously, can we agree to call them by their real name instead of "risotto balls"?), but C&A's citrus and fennel pollen ones are some of the best, with a really unusual flavor combo to boot.
Non-food impressions: the space is awesome, the service efficient but unobtrusive, and at least to me, the noise isn't a bothersome sort, even when packed (which seems to be all the time, lately... although there are almost always a few seats at the bar). And the beer selection's short, but manages to be both top-notch and not cookie-cutter.
Minus one star because all three visits have at least one minor disappointment: a barely under-seasoned pork tenderloin, bar taps acting up, a poorly-poored glass of Delirium Tremens. Nonetheless, this place is awesome. Unless you can't live without huge entree portions, give it a shot.
I feel the need to do this one justice, because I'm 90% sure we were sitting next to Creative… Read more »
I really enjoyed my first visit this place. It's small and the bar is cozy, but it has the upscale effect going on as well. I only got dessert and a coffee here, but both were excellent. I chose the Figgy Toffee Pudding for dessert, which was rich and full of deep "fall" type flavors (cinnamon, apple/fig, nutmeg). It was served with creme fraiche which balanced out the richness of the fig pudding very well. Others at my table enjoyed the apple pie, fudge bar sundae and "phatty cakes" (looked like an oatmeal cream pie!) Everyone's coffee was served in the french press which made it feel a little more special.
I got a good vibe from the staff--out waitress was professional and kind.
I will definitely keep this place in mind when I'm in the Decatur area. The entree menu looks a bit pricey but hopefully it delivers like the dessert menu did!
The food was tasty and well prepared, the wine was good and the atmosphere was nice. I understand the concept of seasonal and locally grown ingredients.
I really wanted to like this restaurant more than the three stars but it didn't quite do it for me. The food was good. It just wasn't as outstanding as the hype or the prices would suggest. There was a good selection of wine and beers.
Overall, I can only give it three stars because I didn't think the food was anything that I could not have successfully executed at home. I will try it again, through.
We went here on the same night that we hit the Chocolate Bar (good night all around - and I planned the whole thing if I do say so myself, which I do, because I'm damn proud of it). I'd seen it whence it first opened, for I used to work in Decatur-ville, so I wanted to hit it up for some grub.
I had the wild Alaskan halibut with eggplant puree, squash, zucchini & herbed breadcrumb salsa (yes, I just copied and pasted that from their menu. I'm not that OCD), and my lovely and always-hungry boyfriend had their special (ratatouille). My meal was extremely good. I mean, I wanted to lick my plate after I had finished eating it, but I guess I was trained too well as a child or something lame like that. Anyway I think his meal was good, but perhaps not the most filling option, especially after we saw the burger walk by (okay not literally, that's just gross) and it looked pretty spectacular.
Their desserts looked excellent too, but I can't say that for a fact. Guess call it an educated guess. Fo sho.
Oh and the people who work there are super friendly. A+! 4 stars! Fine quality food! Rock.
Overall I enjoyed the experience. I wish Yelp! allowed half stars...Cakes & Ale is closer to a 3.5 than a 3.
Here is what I discovered: The location is fantastic...across from Cafe Lily on Ponce; the space is small, which I like, but very noisy. The host assured us that sound dampening material was to be installed soon. Reservations are strongly suggested...even on a week day!
I love the menu, somewhat limited but everything on it sounded great and it was supplemented by a host of daily specials. Fair warning: while the appetizers are priced faily, the entrees are rather pricey...more to the point...I expected larger portions for the money. Likewise with the wine...the shortest pour in Decatur so far. Dinner for two (two beers, a shared appetizer, two entrees, and two glasses of wine) was just shy of $100.00.
The food was quite good...I highly recommend the fried okra appetizer. Let me say that again...order the orka!!! The beer list at first glance looks limited as well; but again, every selection is a winner! I enjoyed a Langunitas Pils with the okra. The wine list is also very nice...I was served a glass of True Grit Petit Sirah to accompany my rare roast beef dinner...both were delicious...though the wine was such a short pour (3 to 3.5 oz., 4 oz. tops) I almost sent it back. The desserts looked wonderful...but again we had already spent a C note...
This would be a great stop for a light dinner before going to a play, etc. knowing that a trip to Cafe Intermezzo would follow some hours later. I would not recommend Cakes & Ale to anyone who is really hungry.
Summary:
Things I liked: The service was top notch! The space is fun. The menu was creative. The beer/wine list is stellar...all top shelf...no Bud, no Kendall Jackson!
Things that need improvement: The noise! Very hard to have a dinner conversation. Entrees are too expensive for the portion size. Bartender needs to learn what a proper wine serving looks like. No salt or pepper on the tables...and the gnocchi definitely needed salt! (This is a pet peeve of mine...I find it rather pretentious for a chef to assume the food he serves is perfect...bad memories of Paul Luna come to mind...those who know that ass will understand).
So, went to Cakes and Ale last night after hearing such rave reviews about it - and all the farm fresh meal/sustainable foods, etc. I will tell you that I was not so infatuatingly impressed and have had better organic/farm fresh food....(we did not get the burger which I will say looked amazing)
The place is very cool with excellent photography. And the bar is new to the space and it is a good looking bar. They offer specialty drinks along with the ale and wine they serve, and I guess we should not have gone for something so specialty, because it was obviously hard to make these supposed swanky drinks. The bartender was about to die behind the bar - and when you are called cakes and ALE, I would suggest you get two bartenders. The specialty drinks took at least 10 minutes to come out and one was too sour (supposed to be pineapple taste - but was more lemon) and the other one was very nice and fresh- a gin type mojito- but lord, it took less time to drink them than to get them.
As for the food- I felt it was good, but not damn good. The okra appetizer was by far my favorite and I opted for a greek salad with very fresh tomatoes and the mini-blt apps. Both were nice. Two in our group got the 16$ gnocchi and it was very fresh and had nice okra, tomatoes, and corn in it...a good summer-y meal. Another in our group got the half chicken with polenta. The chicken was extremely moist but then so was the polenta- in fact the polenta was almost soupy and tasted more like buttered grits. But that was it. A white dish with no color - chicken and grits. Could have put a raddish on there or something. And I know the chef hates me for this, but it looked boring as heck.
The beers we got were all very good and different (Allagash White, Highland Brew Porter and a Stout of some other name...)and of course, we were not hungry at the end to get a "cake" - so maybe we missed out on the true meaning of the place...the alcohol and the cakes. I hate to give it only two stars and will go back again certainly, but really, i can't justify 3 stars quite yet.
Cakes and Ale is very "Decatur," and that's a good thing when it comes to food. A group of six friends went to check out this place and see what all the buzz was about. I'd say we all came away happy and maybe a little more impressed than we expected to be.
You absolutely MUST start with the fried okra/ranch dip appetizer...it was so fresh and amazing. One person even said, "I don't even like okra, but that's good." For the main course, a few people tried to order the gnocchi dish and were told later they were out...but that didn't dampen spirits too much. The overall winner of the night was the Eggplant Cannelloni...wow, what a good meal. I also heard shout outs for the pork tenderloin...although the portion was a bit small for the price (I heard this for 2 of the meals).
For dessert make sure and get the "Phatty Cakes." They consist of two amazing ginger cookies with some kind of creamcheese filling...6 out of 6 people really enjoyed it.
Overall, they combine a solid drink list (more quality than quantity) and great seasonal food with a really well done space that had a nice vibe going for a Tuesday night. I can't wait to go back and try a few more dishes...once my wallet recovers (a tad overpriced in my opinion).
Cakes and Ale. Although it's most definitely a Shakespearean reference of the highest order, I can't shake (pun intended) being reminded of "Steak and Ale," that decidedly suburban temple to an '80s Saturday night out while the kids are with the sitter and wines didn't get anymore complicated than "red" or white." I know this is an unfair knock and no stars have been deducted because of it. It's just an observation that probably says more about the observer than the observed.
So how was it though? Having only been open briefly, kinks are still being worked out. Service, though attentive and sincere, was a still a bit slow. With time this, um, kinkiness should disappear posthaste. The liquor license hasn't appeared yet, so the complimentary glass of wine was a nice touch. The space was artfully arranged, consisting of blacks, whites and the muted grays of concrete almost as if Kenneth Cole stopped making clothes and took up interior design. The space was a far cry from the dark hard woods and Asian flair of the previous tenant, The Viet Chateau.
The minimalism of the space extends to plate presentation as nary a garnish was found. I'm not exactly a garnish person, but, like the sport of hockey and the entire state of Wisconsin, some color would've been nice. But taste overrules all and the little restaurant that could definitely does. Deviled eggs, moussed and creamy, was what I imagine you'd bring to the church picnic--if that particular church happened to be located on St. Peter's Square. I also had the roast pork shoulder special that I consumed quickly and without regret.
The following will mean nothing if you aren't Filipino, hung out with Filipinos, have never been to the Philippines or are taller than 5'7''; if you ain't brown, scroll on down. If you're still with me, the roasted pork tasted EXACTLY like lechon. Now believe me when I tell you that I've had pork in all shapes and sizes and, other than the traditional Filipino way of roasting a whole pig, I've never had pork actually taste like lechon. Even better, scattered throughout the mashed root vegetable side were pieces of chicharron (roasted pg skin.) You might imagine that being served, well, lechon, on anything other than a Styrofoam plate by some grinning auntie was a disconcerting experience for yours truly. Not an unwelcome one, mind you, just disconcerting.
I've given considerable thought to this dish over the past few days and I believe that I've come to a suitable explanation. Lechon is typically a whole pig roasted over a spit (or buried with charcoal.) Every pig I've ever seen this done to were smaller, raised naturally and unless they were associating with a spider friend gifted with preternatural spelling skills, Wilbur was always taken before he got too old. Cakes and Ale prides themselves on organic and locally sourced ingredients. I can only guess that the absence of commercially-grown pork is what led to the lechoniness of this specific dish. Either that or the chef has my dad locked away in the back. So, just for being able to replicate something that takes many hours, many beers, and many old, Filipino men to make, four stars.
Cake and Ale has been on my radar for a few months now; it has opened with much fanfare and a pretty flattering review from Meredith Ford of the AJC. I was hoping it would be a solid farm to table addition to the ATL dining scene, ala a more casual version of Woodfire Grill or something akin to Hugh Acheson's awesome Five and Ten or Farm 255 in Athens.
The Mrs and I live on the west side of ATL so we had high hopes trekking to this "destination" neighborhood restaurant near downtown Decatur. Our dining companions were another couple, food savvy too...
So first the plus!
-Love the corner lot location and fabulous building design. High ceilings, wine racks, an inviting bar and chalkboard specials menu
-Show up at 7pm reservation and was greeted and seated immediately, BIG plus!
-Great wine list and the carafes allow you to try wines easily; 3 glasses for the price of 2
-Service was attentive, knowledgeable, friendly and timely.
-The water glasses are tiny about 8 ozs; I think table had 6 refills during the night.
-Recommended dishes are the Arancini and Gnocchi with cabbage.
Now the misses
-The menu was too limited and simple, I know it changes often but it's not as creative and though provoking as you would like. Only a few dishes fit that all important criteria when you eat it; "The I can't make that at home very easily" question. They had a specials board but the mains were sold out (it was 7pm)
-They just got their full bar license but didn't stock anything but 3 bottles of liquor; non flavored.
-The portions are too small for the price point. If I wanted to diet, I would order less or split dishes. The 4 of us got 4 starters, 4 mains and 2 deserts and were barely satisfied.
-My main was really disappointing; soggy roasted chicken with no crispy skin, slightly undercooked inside and very underseasoned.
A decent experience all in all but not worthy of special events; would return if they either lowered the cost or was more realistic with the portions. A good neighborhood place if tuned a bit. I really wanted to be a fan but so far I'm just lukewarm about it. I'll be trying The Shed at Glenwood in a week or so, so we'll see how that new addition to the farm to table restaurant scene does...Enjoy
Cakes & Ale Restaurant is an awesome new restaurant in the heart of Decatur. The SO, a friend, and I ventured from East Atlanta to Decatur to check out this new establishment this evening....and we were amazed with the food, service, relaxed vibe of the space and the friendliness of the owners and staff.
Here's a run down of what we ate....
Appetizer: Deviled Eggs with Pickled Veggies. I'm not a fan of deviled eggs as I find the concept to be a bit gross, but these were great. I will definitely be ordering the deviled eggs again.
Entree 1: Cake & Ale Burger w/ Shoestring Fries. The SO is fond of simple, but well prepared burgers...and this totally hit the spot. (He ate half and took the other half home. I of course ate the other half as I was dying to try the burger...and loved it, even at room temperature.) The burger was made up of ground brisket and pork. It was wonderfully moist with a rich flavor. The bun was made in-house by the pastry chef. (Full disclosure...the pastry chef is a friend & neighbor....which by no means influences this review as I've sampled her cooking skills prior and she's an amazing cook.)
Entree 2 and 3: Flatiron steak. The friend and I both ordered the flatiron steak served with broccoli. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium; amazingly tender and flavorful. The broccoli was seasoned well and served as a nice accompaniment to the robust flavor of the steak.
Dessert: Phatty Cakes and Pistachio & Strawberry Baked Alaska...amazing. The Phatty Cakes look like Little Debbie oatmeal cream cookies, but taste so much better. Definitely a must if you're a fan of ginger snaps. The Pistachio & Strawberry Baked Alaska... made with homemade strawberry ice cream. Really...homemade strawberry ice cream- another awesome dessert.
One drawback to this dining experience was that they don't have their liquor license as of yet, so they couldn't sell alcohol. They hope to have their license in the next couple of days.
So....if you're looking to spend an evening with good friends and amazing food in a relaxed, non-hectic environment...check out Cakes and Ale.
I was really hoping to literally eat Cake and drink Ale, but selections on both of these items are pretty scarce. Also, you definitely need a reservation if you're going there on a weekend evening. We didn't make one and were seated at a group table for the non-planners. Food was good though, although I was confused as to who our server was, since 5 different people helped us. Had the marinated olives for an appetizer (delish), and the burger and fries. Definitely recommend the food, but if you're looking for actual Cake and Ale...maybe try another place.
I was excited about trying Cakes & Ale because I thought the locally grown food would blow me away, but I think the sticker shock and small portions (3 pieces of cheese for a $9 cheese plate?!) dampened the experience. I had the halibut, which was kind of bland. My dining companion had the roasted chicken. The chicken was well-seasoned., but the sides didn't leave much of an impression on either of us.
I really wanted to like this place, but can't say it was memorable (except for the prices).
I like that everything is local and fresh. I wish it were less expensive, so I could eat there more often!
Wow!! What a surprise
A friend of mine and me were planning to go to Sage in Decatur Square.. but unfortunately it has shut down...
So we started walking and somehow the menu display caught our eye.
And what a surprise...
Three things.. Food was great, Ambience was perfect and Portions just right.
I ordered the yogurt and cucumber cold soup..very different..I make this at home all the time and what surprised me was the flavor.. mint.
My friend ordered an appetizer which he loved .. beets and cheese (seems popular now).
And the main entree .. the Halibut (again popular now).. Very well cooked and flavors were just right well mixed in the mushrooms and veggies.
Desert was really good .. phatty cakes and friend ordered biscuit with ice cream and cherries.. very innovative.
All in all a two thumbs up (Mine and my friend's)
Good Job
If this review were based solely on the strength of the hamburger and the phatty cakes, it would be 5 stars, hands down. Perhaps the best burger I have had in my life. My boyfriend said the same thing and, y'all, he always orders the burger. Always.
Anyway, we went tonight sans reservations and, while we couldn't get a real table, were happy to sit at the counter at the window overlooking Ponce. The bar and communal table are also available for walk-ins. The staff were very professional and friendly and helpful -- no complaints there. I do wish the menu were a bit longer, though. The low point of the meal came early, which was the arancini with citrus and fennel pollen -- basically fried risotto balls with cheese in them. The citrus overwhelmed and was somewhat confused by a taste of licorice, from the fennel. We concluded that a) they were better eaten in one bite and b) the citrus needed to be toned way the hell down.
Beyond that one misstep in ordering, the meal was magical. The burger was probably about 8 ounces, roughly as tall as it was wide, which made for a vaguely unattractive eating experience. But it was so worth it. It didn't need any toppings at all, but the Vidalia onions were an especially complimentary touch. The waiter told us that of course all the ingredients are local, the buns fresh-baked in house, and the patty made from the restaurant's own special blend of beef brisket and pork belly, if I remember correctly.
The thing that first caught my attention as I read about Cakes & Ale was the "phatty cakes." Up North they call these whoopie pies, little soft cookie-cream sandwiches, and here they are made with soft ginger molasses cookies. They sell them in threes, for good reason. SO DELICIOUS.
I will definitely go back to Cakes & Ale, and I heartily recommend it to any lover of burgers or gingersnaps.
As longtime fan of both cakes and ale, I figured I'd give this little spot a go.
Upon approaching C & A, I was a little worried it was going to be too much of a "thing" to eat here by the look of the clientele and the large and important entryway curtains. I like my dining experiences understated and no stress and absolutely can't stand pretense.
However, my fears proved unfounded. I appreciated the friendly and unobtrusive staff who made great recommendations, as well as the warm comfortable glow.
My main course (parmesan pudding) was good. My dessert, a blood orange cake which used the entire blood orange, was really great. The wine recommended by our server was exactly what we said we wanted, and the yummy coffee came in an adorable mini french press.
Two things I wasn't so thrilled about were that it took a bit long for the food to come out, and we ended up dropping $100 for two people. I know that is pretty reasonable for fine dining, but I still didn't think it was *that* good.
All in all though, Cakes and Ale is a nice edition to the Decatur dining scene.
My thoughts would be that this would be a great place to go for a bottle of champagne and some sweet and/or savory shared plates with a couple friends or a particularly attractive person with whom you'd like to make it.
Just went to Cakes & Ale the other day and have only been once so this review isn't taking into account changes in food. First we had the aracini ( fried risotto balls) and fried okra as starters. Sounds healthy doesn't it? Actually while the okra and "balls" were great at the top of the dish, they got progressivley saltier as we got towwards the bottom. I wish restaurants would realize that less is more and if someone really loves salt they can add it themselves. Anyways the okra was whole, non-greasy, and yummy despite its salt content. For dinner I got the trout ( I think) that was stuffed with lemon and croutons. It was super fresh tasting which was great. Sometimes less is more and this defintley was true in this case. There was some greens tossed in a vinagrette on the side that was light and refreshing and went perfectly with the fish. For desert we ordered the phatty cakes which so many people recommend on here. They were very good and super light, almost like eating a ginger-flavored cloud. LOL
-Had an old chuub beer with dinner and it was good.
My end take on the restaurant was that it was good though pricey. This is not a place I would frequent often.
Decatur, GA
Category: American (New)
Decatur, GA
Category: Greek
Decatur, GA
Category: American (New)
Decatur, GA
Category: Pizza
Decatur, GA
Category: Restaurants
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