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Carroll Street Café
Categories: Nightlife Bars Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants American (New) Bars, Breakfast & Brunch, American (New) [Edit]
208 Carroll St SEAtlanta, GA 30312
Neighborhood: Cabbagetown
(404) 577-2700
- Nearest Transit:
-
King Memorial
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 8 am - 12 am
Fri-Sat 8 am - 1 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Brunch
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
143 reviews for Carroll Street Café
Review Highlights
"just like apres diem, the best time to go is during the mid..."
(in 15 reviews)
"Cute little spot, very cozy and laid back."
(in 11 reviews)
"Yummy wines, tapas, intimate seating, candlelight."
(in 22 reviews)
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143 reviews in English
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Review from Katie F.
Marietta, GA
1/19/2012
Never knew about this place until myself and a few coworkers went for lunch one day...and even then it was because we went to Doc Chey's first, but there fire alarm went off!
Anyway, super cute and a great menu. The day I was there, they had a mussels special and they were delightful. A big 'ol bowl was PLENTY for one person to have as their lunch and they were only $10! The sauce/broth was delicious and even more so when you sopped it up with the baguette they serve the mussels with.
The cafe is a little on the small side so it can feel a bit cramped, but nothing to detract from enjoying your eating experience. I also asked for extra bread to finish sopping up all the juices from my mussels and the warmed bread they brought me 10 minutes later was heated too long and thus too crispy to absorb anything. -
Review from Chinika T.
Lithonia, GA
After doing a quick Yelp search for the site of our team lunch, I discovered this place. Many good reviews and a fairly close drive to our office made this the right choice.
After having an indecisive moment reviewing the menu I settled on the Betty (turkey sandwich with bacon). I'm not a fan of cold sandwiches but the waiter had it heated for me. Its the small things that make for good service for me. My team mates opted for the salmon on ciabatta, chicken sandwiches, and basil noodle bowl. We all enjoyed our meals and will be making a return trip.
To think I've been driving within a block of this place for nearly six years and did not know it existed. -
Review from Angela F.
Marietta, GA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Tucked away in the city, this little gem made me sparkle with delight as my visit became more and more enchanted.
The very "Friends" and "Cheers" atmosphere made me feel right at home. The rough, but cheery, decorations made me feel tucked away in a privately owned bookstore. Lots of couches to get comfortable, tables lined along the wall with throw pillows across the booth. Love it!
I ordered something simple, French toast with fresh fruit, eggs, and bacon. I think they should have mentioned what kind of fruit they were putting on my toast because I'm allergic to bananas. No biggie...pushed the slivers off to the side before they settled in. Everything was fantastic! From the food (despite the poisonous peel) to the service to the ambience, everything was magical. Even my picky companion enjoyed his meal which I believe was a fretta? I'm not too sure since I was devouring my meal. Either way I can see myself coming back and making this place a part of my daily routine once I move back to the city. -
Review from Paul S.
12/27/2011
Gotta love me some Cabbagetown....
The quieter sister of Apres Diem sits on Carroll St (hence) in Cabbagetown. If you can navigate your way down the "two way" street that is Carroll St. you'll find this little cafe quite amazing.
I've been a few times for dinner and I've never been let down, but recently we've discovered their lunch/brunch menu. This is where it's at people!
Crab Cake Benedict for $9! NINE DOLLARS!
Most places in Atlanta are gonna charge you at least $12+... AND it's great! You can sub out smoked salmon or bacon as well for the same price. If you ask me, which if you're reading this I guess you are, I'd stick with the homemade crab cakes. Try the Egg Meurette also for more of an earthy and rich way to start your day. With a port bacon demi glaze and a fresh home made biscuit this dish was also quite stellar.
The mussels, pasta dishes, and desserts at night are also delicious. I want to come back and try the tapas. We've come a few times like I mentioned and never had a bad meal. They support local art, and have specials all the time. It's extremely cute and the restaurant's vibe is both relaxed and a little hipster chic. It gets a little dark and dare I say a tad romantic at night so it makes for a great date place. -
Review from Alicia M.
Atlanta, GA
1/9/2012
I was a little nervous about going to Carroll Street Cafe since I knew I had such a large party coming for brunch! I called ahead of time and they do not take reservations for parties during brunch but once I arrived Tim had us seated and we had enough space for my Brunch Club Gals! The food ::pause for a moment:: the food is superb x 2...I had the shrimp & grit with french toast and everything was amazing! The waitress was very attentive as well! Parking sucks but great brunch spot!
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Review from Sarah M.
Dudley, GA
Two words, eggs benedict.
This is by far my favorite place to eat in Atlanta. Sunday morning brunch, if I'm in town, you'll see me there. The service is always impeccable, and sitting outside is always a treat, but it's generally had to snag a seat. Their dinner menu is just as good as their breakfast/brunch.
Tucked away in Cabbage town, down a strangled (should be one way) road is this fine jewel of Atlanta.
Be on the lookout for Catlanta, he frequents the area. -
Review from Minerva M.
Asheville, NC
12/14/2011
Sweet street side spot in cozy neighborhood off the beaten path - great & yummy brunch & cabbage cappuccino's are a must after a late night - wonderful experience
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Review from Leah D.
Atlanta, GA
9/6/2011
Walking down the narrow street lined with cars on both sides you can feel the atmosphere that is this sweet area of Atlanta known as Edgewood. It is a long walk since Carol Street Cafe does not have a lot but on a nice night, you can peak into the windows of tattoo parlors and cute shops. Nestled between silk curtain and a window view we were happy to people watch the hipsters that passed smoking their American Signature cigarettes. Tom, the self proclaimed man that "ran the place" stood at the bar and carefully watched the scene all night and spoke only when spoken to. Death Cab for Cutie played in the background and local artists line the walls. The atmosphere of Carol Street Cafe has to be why it was chosen on our list because it certainly wasn't my entree.
We ordered our drinks, which were poured with a heavy hand and we quickly realized that this would be a single bottle of wine evening. Our appetizer was the baked brie, served with tart apple. After our stiff cocktails, the brie smelled and tasted delicious. The five of us ladies quickly ordered and enjoyed our conversations too loudly. My dish was a trout served with zucchini in a spicy caper tomato sauce. It was presented very well and the fish was a nice portion. The flavors just didn't match each other and left me with a weird after-taste. It was not hard to decide that I would not only be unable to finish the dish but would never order it again.
On the other hand, every other dish at the table seemed to be much tastier than mine. The server recommended the Basil Noodle Bowl and after tasting it, was so much more disappointed in my trout. Another lady in my group had the mussels and somehow I couldn't resist dipping the remainder of our Brie bread into her juice from the mussels. Out of the five entrees at our table, two were significantly better than the others.
All was right again in the world once we had the chocolate truffle cheesecake. It was devoured with five forks like it was fat free bacon. The inconsistency of the entrees really bothered me, along with the nonchalant manner of Tom. Maybe Edgewood just isn't my "scene". -
Review from Rob P.
Atlanta, GA
11/27/2011
Good location.
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Review from arlene d.
Atlanta, GA
8/13/2011
I went here when they first opened and thought it was pretty good liked the atmosphere better than the food decided to give it another try and did not like it as much. I had a really hard time deciding on an entree. Was not feeling like a sandwich which they have plenty of. Went with the noodle bowl it was just ok nothing special . Also had a greek salad which was good. The prices were very reasonable.
Sounds from others better choice for breakfast or brunch .
Parking can be pretty tricky too -
Review from Ashleigh P.
Atlanta, GA
6/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
On a whim (okay... because Thumb's Up dinner was stacked with people waiting) I went here with 2 friends on Saturday for Brunch.
Such a very awesome bit of providence...
Let me tell you the slightly not awesome part(s) first
Hipster Haven fo sho...
Parking is not the easiest.
My strawberries were cut on the same board the onions were... yep.
Awesome sauce follows
I got the French Toast.
Creme Anglaise and smothered in strawberries (slightly flavored with onion), bananas and blackberries (you read me right, BLACKBERRIES!!!)
So So SO SOOSOSOSOSOSOS nomnomnomMOMNOMNOMNOM
really
The coffee was better than good, our waitress was helpful, I have this friend who hates eggs, but loves eggs Benedict... for realsies. The waitress worked with her to get her the breakfast she wanted.
It was a little chilly in there as well.
We will be backListed in: my neighborhood omnoms
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Review from Sherry W.
6/9/2011
Carroll Street Cafe is a cute indie/hipster-decorated coffee shop that blends in with the rest of Cabbagetown's ambiance. It's located on a ridiculously narrow street with ample seating inside, and some seating outside.
Inside is peaceful and optimal for studying or chatting with friends. Can't comment on the food cause I've never gotten any, but the coffee drinks are good. -
Review from Elizabeth M.
Atlanta, GA
7/19/2011
Just met friends there for lunch for my first visit. Right away this place has great ambiance. We were there on a Tuesday afternoon and their special was half off the tapas menu. So, we tried almost everything: the lobster risotto, crab cakes, seared scallops, asparagus en croute (with goat cheese and wrapped in phillo dough, Yum!) and the portobello caprese. Very nice presentation and very tasty. Would definitely order the caprese and crab cakes again.
For dessert we browsed their pastry case and decided on the cannoli cheese cake and it was amazing. Our server was very attentive and kept our club sodas filled. He was very friendly with honest food suggestions.
Looking forward to going back and trying out their brunch menu! I am very happy to have discovered this little gem! -
Review from Stacey E.
5/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Carroll Street cafe is a little slice of heaven. From the fresh flowers to the carefully crafted coffee drinks, these guys pay special attention to detail.
I've dined here for dinner quite a few times and wasn't ever overly impressed. Don't get me wrong, it's always been good but I never found it to be anything to write home about. However, I decided to stop on in for lunch last week and was more satisfied with the service and food than I have ever been. Maybe it was the perfect weather, the window seat with the view of Carroll Street's colorful houses or maybe it was because the sun was gently warming my skin through the window...I'm not sure. Either way, I had a lovely experience.
I was greeted by the lovely hostess who happened to be doubling as a waitress for the lunch shift. While this typically isn't ideal, she was quick, friendly, calm and seemed to have everything under control. She was sweet and mild mannered while she went about clearing tables, filling orders and greeting diners. She was kind enough to point out the specials she thought I might enjoy and guide me along as I mulled over my options. She even stopped by to compliment my purse. Call me crazy but I like it when people in the service industry actually like people and conversing.
I started off with water and a cafe au lait. The cafe au lait was the perfect temperature for immediate consumption(which I am a sucker for) with its milky frothy goodness. Perfection.
I really appreciate the fact that they offer the tapas menu during lunch. It's so full of win and the perfect amount of food whether you are alone or want to share dishes with a companion.
I went on to order the crab cakes with fried basil and mango salsa. DELISH! Don't overlook this menu item on the tapas menu. The sauce alone is worth the order. I'd never had fried basil and wasn't sure what to expect. I was surprised at how the basil retained it's flavor and color. Fun!
I also ordered the veggie wrap(with added shrimp). Let me tell you..this wrap was full of fresh veggies(not pre-cut garbage or leftover veggies from the night before) and very satisfying. The shrimp was grilled to perfection and the vegetables were bright, crunchy and flavorful. The portion was perfect. I ate half and boxed the other half for dinner that evening. I LOVED this wrap so very much!
Overall, I'm more apt to venture here for lunch after that heavenly experience, but in the end It's all of these little things Carroll Street Cafe does that will keep me coming back. -
Review from Diana L.
4/25/2011
Went for brunch. Self-seating. Only ordered appetizers.
- hummus: came w/ crispy pita, tomato slices, and American cucumber slices. Don't recommend this, hummus was an ice cream scoop of dryness.
- tomato thing with goat cheese: came with a crisped baguette, but not so crispy that you scratch the roof of your mouth. Tomato sauce was slightly spicy. Very tasty dish. Would order this again.
- Greek salad: good-size bowl of salad. Some olives. Really tasty feta cheese. Would order this again.
- "iced" coffee: not on the menu. You mix in your own cream and sweetener syrup.
Slow service.
The kind of place you go to talk and talk and talk. -
Review from ATL n.
Atlanta, GA
11/26/2011
An awesome neighborhood spot. When I first moved here, my mom came to visit to set me up and such -- and we were looking for a local spot with some healthy lunch options (as great a southern food it, were just dying for salad that was close-by and fresh). Carroll Street was a great discovery. We split a tuna tartare which was an incredible surprise, quite gourmet really and looked around only to decide my move to Atlanta was a very, very good thing. Love this place and hope to return for a few hours of studying over several course snacks that end in wine, inshallah
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Review from jeremy g.
Atlanta, GA
8/24/2011
we enjoy going to carroll street for brunch and dinner. the options are excellent. tori always (ALWAYS) get the cheese plate, which is usually heaping with 4 or 5 different types of cheeses and a generous selection of berries. i like to mix it up a little. the french toast is my favorite, but their different varieties of poached egg plates, most notably the oso grande, are definitely close runners-up. the coffee is always incredibly robust, just how i like it.
we usually go with the tapas for dinner. their seared ahi tuna is good for the price and tori loves the lobster risotto. last time we visited, we shared the almond baked brie, which was wonderful. food presentation can vary, so if you're a gastro-snob, maybe this isn't the place for you. service has always been prompt and friendly and the staff does a wonderful job of making us feel welcome, even if we're not privileged enough to be included in their little gossip sessions that tend to spontaneously pop up at least once or twice each visit. far from being tacky or inconsiderate, as it would be considered at most establishments, it adds to the fun and quirky vibe that makes cabbagetown so unique -- it's appealing and appalling all at the same time. i love it! -
Review from Ginger W.
Atlanta, GA
5/24/2011
Order the Brie appetizer. It's amazing. Sevice can be hot and cold.
Parking is a problem sometimes. -
Review from Joe L.
Atlanta, GA
The breakfast here here is alright. The food is good, but priced just a tiny bit higher than other breakfast places I have been to.
I came here on a sleepy Saturday to get some brunch and take advantage of a groupon I got a while back. I got the Italian Sausage omelet with house potatoes and a biscuit, a slice of their midnight cake and a chai latte. And yes I ate ALL of it by myself.
Italian Sausage Omelet: Well made with real eggs and not the stuff in containers. It was light and fluffy, with no browning on the top (indicating to me that it was properly cooked). It was filled with Italian sausages and peppers. The peppers were diced, but I felt that they weren't sautéed enough. They still kind of had a crispness to them which made it hard to cut through them in the omelet.
House Potatoes: Really good. The potatoes are cut into thick slices and pan fried with strips of peppers. Delicious. properly seasoned too. I wish the peppers that came with this came with the omelet.
Biscuit: was alright. I usually judge a biscuit based on how good it tastes both by itself and with the accompanying jam. The biscuit here did not stand out.
The midnight cakes: moist, chocolaty, but a little too sweet. Also, 6 dollars for a slice of cake is a little outrageous. Ok, not just a little, very outrageous.
Chai Tea: very very good here. Don't really know what else to say. It wasn't overwhelmingly sweet like most other chai latte's that I have had.
Overall, the brunch dishes here are very decently priced for the portion size. But I felt that the cake was way overpriced.Listed in: Breakfast/Bunch Places
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Review from Kelly S.
3/25/2011
3 of us headed to Carroll Street Cafe for my friend's birthday last night (after trying 2 other places in the area and finding that the wait times were freakin' insane), and I really enjoyed it. I had never been there before but have certainly read plenty about it on Yelp.
We ordered booze first. They have $5 specialty cocktails on Thursdays - I got the Blackberry Leaf, and my friends got the Grace Kelly and some "Oranje . . ." drink. Mine was declared the winner . . . BIG TIME. The others were so bitter they were barely drinkable - the Oranje one because it had (presumably) too much bitters in it, and the Grace Kelly because it just tasted like club soda and DRUNK.
For our appetizer, we ordered the Portabello Caprese (tomatoes, mozz, and basil) from the tapas menu. It was very yummy, but I probably won't order it again unless I'm there on half-price tapas day (Mondays?). It was pretty small (duh, tapas) and I didn't quite feel it was worth the price.
When the server arrived to take our order, I still hadn't decided, because everything on the menu looked fantastic - so in a split-second decision, I chose the Panoramic Veggie sandwich. It was quite tasty, although I should learn that if I don't like something (in this case, olive tapenade), no matter how much I try to mind over matter it, that item is going to have a negative impact on the flavor of my food. But it was still good, with the hummus, cucumbers, pepperoncinis, tomatoes, etc. And the baguette it came on was PERFECT. BTW, the side salad they serve with the sandwiches (yay for health!) is AWESOME. It's basically just a little pile of weeds, but the dressing on it's DELICIOUS. It is very harsh (acidic), though, so if you prefer lighter-flavored/sweeter dressings, you might not enjoy it much.
For dessert, we had a piece of dark chocolate cake with white chocolate icing, and my 2 friends split the brie app. I really dislike brie, but they were making all kinds of orgasmic sounds, so I'd put my money on it not sucking. The cake was perfect - not fancy, but moist and delicious.
Service was friendly and attentive, if not quick. But I was enjoying soaking up the atmosphere, and chowing down like I just got released from prison, so I didn't mind waiting a bit. At least we didn't have to wait to sit down!
The decor is warm and inviting, and there's an AWESOME illuminated palm tree (real tree, just with lighting) across the street that looks so darn pretty at night, especially nestled between the delightful remodeled Cabbagetown duplexes.
Parking's a huge pain in the rear. That's all I can really say about that. -
Review from Mike M.
Atlanta, GA
7/21/2010
Three Positive Aspects:
1. Cabbagetown. Best hidden hood in ATL.
2. Full Bar.
3. Cool patrons.
The Bads:
They Do Not Care.
Shitty, irritated, slackjawed pimple of a waitress couldn't have been more dismissive and disinterested if she'd had that second transorbital lobotomy her coworkers were saving up for.
Insipid Food. Weak executions of modestly interesting items. I've gone back several times over a couple years to find my optimism smashed and mangled, kind of like the presentation of my meals.
Distracted, disdainful service is the hallmark of this trap.
Something stinks in Cabbagetown. -
Review from Lloyd B.
Atlanta, GA
9/11/2011
The place is really nice, but the food is OK. I've been there twice now and each time left thinking the food could've been better. Although the vegan chocolate raspberry cake was delicious!
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Review from Dru M.
2/5/2011
I love Cabbagetown and Carroll Street Cafe is a great addition.
My boyfriend and I went for brunch today and enjoyed it. He ordered the brie appetizer, which he loved. I'm no a huge brie fan, but thought it was good. The portion size was huge...great value.
I went with the turkey burger and he opted for pancakes. My meal came with a side salad and fruit...both very fresh and tasty. My burger was dry though. The meat was cut in half, which made me think that the cook was making sure it was cooked all the way, yet he overcooked it. The waitress didn't ask how I wanted it cooked either.
Overall...food was fair this time, but I've had better...so I'll be back. Service was great, as always. -
Review from Tamara S.
6/28/2010
Jen C. and I had a disastrous meal here the other evening. I don't tend to give one-star reviews but our experience was awful. I was really disappointed, the cafe is adorable and the menu seems decent, but the whole meal was a mess.
Our waitress was bizarre; at first it wasn't necessarily bad service, but just really weird. She seemed shocked when we asked for a recommendation, and couldn't really establish any kind of rapport. I'm not always much of a people person, but usually in a work situation I can fake it. This was not the case here.
I ordered the Panoramic Veggie sandwich and Jen ordered the turkey burger. Her burger had a strange piece in it which ended up being apparently connected tissue. Our waitress used my knife to scoop the offending piece off of Jen's plate to show the chef, and then set my knife back on the table. AWESOME. The waitress came back to explain that it was tissue and then walked away. We flagged down another employee who brought Jen a veggie burger and explained that he would take both off of the bill.
My veggie sandwich was only just okay. The veggies didn't taste particularly fresh or delicious, and there was nothing remarkable or even tasty about the sandwich. It was a really sad Friday night dinner.
Service here was heinous and the food was unremarkable. I really wanted to love Carroll Street Cafe because it's so adorable, but I won't be back. -
Review from Kevin L.
5/21/2010
Okay, really. How cute is Carroll Street Café? Pretty darn cute, I say. This seems to be a recurring theme with Cabbagetown businesses.
Considering the spate of beautiful weather I happened to bring into Atlanta during my brief few-day stint there, we figured we'd take advantage of it as much as possible by finding a pleasant patio to park ourselves on (and it seems like everyone else who lives ITP did, too). The special challenge with seating at CSC is that it's first-come-first-serve, so get there early, and/or apply our approach of hovering until someone leaves. Bwahaha.
After having had a burger for lunch, and prepping for a planned fried chicken feast the following day, it seemed reasonable to lean toward a slightly healthier dinner option here. Offering a varied assortment of stellar-sounding salads, I ended up being talked into the spinach and bacon one by our helpful server. Right up my alley! Fresh, broad, crunchy spinach leaves shared the bowl with savory bacon bits, shaved almonds, and bright, juicy cherry tomatoes that burst with goodness in my mouth.
Also, the bottled beer selection offered a few surprises, too. I was tempted to stick to a reliable Chimay, but when our server described the Erdinger as being light and refreshing like Blue Moon but better, I knew I had to have it. Reportedly, it's fermented in the bottle, but I didn't have the problem of sediment when I poured my crisp, golden brew into the provided glass.
I spoil myself by keeping frosted beer glasses in my freezer at all times - that would have been a nice added touch. Regardless, it's hard to find fault with spending a perfect evening outside, filling up on fresh foliage, and sipping a cold one... all in the presence of great company.Listed in: Heating up in Hotlanta!
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Review from Bobbin W.
Updated - 6/27/2010
After several recent Carroll Street Cafe experiences, I've decided that I loathe the dinner options but like the brunch fare. My sister and I rushed to to this Apres Diem offshoot in search of a dessert, disappointed by the Kroger-like quality of our turtle cheesecake. After the nausea set in, we decided to order some "real food," too: the portobello caprese and garlic button mushrooms. The portobellos were dry and overcooked; the tomatoes, pink and devoid of flavor; and the mozzarella, old. The garlic button mushrooms were better but overly oily.
Our waiter, Ben, was nice.
"Do you play in a band?" I asked him. "You look like the guy from Fleet Foxes."
"I'm not in a band, but people ask me that all the time," he nodded. "Someone told me once that I look like the lead singer from Band of Horses, so he calls me BEN of Horses."
I went back today for brunch, propelled by a Scoutmob coupon and my friend's claim that Carroll Street's breakfast offerings soar above the lackluster dinner. I had the Spicy Red Bean Chili, which came on a plate with a bowl of beans, sides of pico de gallo and fresh avocado, pita slices and another chosen side. My meal was supposed to come with two poached eggs, which the cook forgot to place on my bean bowl. When I asked about the situation, our waitress immediately brought me two hot, white globes. I would've preferred soft (not hard) pita slices, but I still enjoyed slathering them with beans. Plus, I attacked the top cheesy layer of my jalapeno grits.
I would never eat dinner at Carroll Street again, but the brunch saved this place's hide. After all, it's hard to mess up breakfast.Listed in: Over Medium, Please
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/2/2009
Wandered into the Carroll Street Cafe before catching a show at the Tabernacle. I agree with the… Read more »
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Review from Russell G.
Atlanta, GA
7/25/2010
Headed to a noon brunch at Carroll's St Cafe today - first time I've been able to make it out there. Driving down Carroll street, I'm immediately taken from the dusty heat of Glen Iris and Boulevard, blink, and then immersed in what looks like English influenced portions of central or south America. The streets are half as wide, there are twice the number of messy utility lines everywhere, the paint schemes are completely off the wall, and people sell hand-made wares and eat at small 2-tops right on the small sidewalk.
Brunch was simple, yet excellent. A shared order of French Toast was heaping and topped with fruit and liquefied confectioners sugar. Topped with real maple syrup and with thick toast, it was delicious. The recommended chicken sausage also had a little spice on it - a great addition. Solid potatoes with onions and peppers, nothing too fancy. Only small complaint were eggs a little over-done (had asked for over-lightly). Almost grassy/dirty coffee with a ton of flavor and refilled constantly - brunch is usually one of those "ok i'm full now let's handle the rest of the day" moments but Carroll's added an atmosphere and experience I really enjoyed along with solid fare.
A great experience, and at ~$13-15 per person for a quick, tasty brunch, definitely an excellent choice in a city which has locations serving brunch every 100 yards. Will definitely go back to try some tapas and a tasty beer at some point in the future. -
Review from Laura N.
Atlanta, GA
8/21/2011
This is my new favourite brunch stop! It's tucked into the neighborhood and almost seems forgotten by everyone except for those in the know, but still keeps a steady crowd.
For being owned by Apre Diem, the place has a surprisingly independent vibe about it. I have only ever been in the early afternoon and have never had a problem immediately snagging a table.
Service is good and the brunch menu has a large selection, if not slightly overwhelming with all the choices. -
Review from Tamera B.
Smyrna, GA
9/14/2010
We came here a couple of weeks ago for brunch.
Location/space is cool. Service left much to be desired. Waitress seemed uninterested.
Menu had some items that sounded delicious. My first order was the croissant sandwich but she came back to say they were out of croissants. OK. So I went with a basic breakfast plate - sausage, eggs, grits, etc. My boyfriend had the pancakes. I've made far better breakfasts many times. Nothing special at all. And like someone else previously mentioned, the eggs were a dirty yellow. wtf?
What really grabbed our attention - or who - was the girl at the bar area near the kitchen. I'm guessing she was making drinks...really not sure what she was doing besides being a walking No-No.
First, I caught her absentmindedly moving to wipe her nose but she caught herself and did the fake-out.
Then she dropped two small plates that made a lot of racket because they were doing wheelies before they landed (eating side down) on the filthy floor. She picked them up and put them on the counter. We looked at each other. And waited. I had my left eye on those plates....where would they end up? They should've never made it to the counter. After a few minutes, she put them both back on top of the pile of clean plates. Completely grossed out.
I highly doubt I'll be venturing back to this one, there are far too many great brunch places in Atlanta to spend my time and money on something so mediocre with servers who don't seem to now basic food safety skills. -
Review from Lori G.
Atlanta, GA
8/3/2011
First it's the ambiance that gets you, an easy bohemian vibe, with rotating art shows, but it doesn't end there. The food has always rated from above average to spectacular, when I tried their special of seared scallops. The hipster servers know their way around the menu and can answer any questions. The libations are refreshing and it's cozy hanging out in the lounge area. Great sidewalk seating too and perfect for people watching.
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Review from Jeff M.
6/26/2011
I wish I lived a little bit closer. Or I wish I could master teleportation. The name is perfectly descriptive. This is a lazy morning type of place. A neighborhood joint. But hip and alternative. The place is welcoming and warm. You stare out the window and you see houses in the neighborhood. I went for breakfast. I had the Croissant Sandwich (turkey, scrambled eggs, tomato, spinach, Swiss cheese & bechamel sauce); delicious, gargantuan, and filling. It's strange in that this sandwich energizes you and also makes you feel sleepy. For me, anyways. You can kick back here. Chill out here. I'm a fan. I should wish it were closer to home.
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Review from Katie C.
Atlanta, GA
8/18/2010
So my friend and I came here before that awesome Braves game against the Mets (13-1 baby!) to grab brunch with our scoutmob deal. We originally sat outside but the flies, the looming clouds, and the fact that we asked the waitress for coffee twice without getting it, made us ask to be moved inside.
Should have taken the hint that this quick brunch was going to take forever because of the slooooooow service.
It took a good 15 minutes to even be acknowledged, but once we got our giant mugs of coffee (which I appreciated) we just needed to make a decision on what to eat. Everything looked soooo good it was really hard to make a decision. We both ordered the turkey croissant sandwich, he got potatoes and I got jalapeño cheese grits.
I was really surprised that the coffee was so incredibly bitter. I don't like adding sugar to my coffee but I must have dumped a couple tablespoons in there to take the edge off. The grits were OK, nothing I couldn't make at home and not nearly as good as Flying Biscuit. The menu didn't specify that the eggs were on the side, I thought they would be on the sandwich (and now that I think of it, if the eggs weren't on the sandwich the waitress should have asked how we wanted them cooked- which didn't happen). Instead they were scrambled on the side, nice and dry and brown (/sarcasm). I couldn't take one bite because they were so overcooked and dry, they should have put them on the sandwich to cover up the poor cooking skills.
The sandwich itself was really messy and soaked in the bechamel sauce. I couldn't taste anything else the sauce was so overpowering.
Oh, and a wonderfully helpful tip I wish someone would have told me:
Don't sit under the A/C duct because the condensation drips and it was dripping all over me and the table and (hopefully not, but probably) the food.
I would recommend Wahoo! Grill for brunch instead of here- better food, better service, great price and no stray drops from the ceiling in your food. -
Review from Ed M.
Atlanta, GA
1/7/2011
Favorite bar/resto in Atlanta, bar none.
Great food, try the veggie burger with brie--
Beer special weekly--
Great staff-
friendly, warm vibe. Funky decor--
excellent tunes on the ipod. -
Review from Kathleen M.
Atlanta, GA
4/22/2009 1 Check-in Here
I've always been a bit enchanted with Cabbagetown. I came to the neighborhood once in high school and it was my first experience with a "true" slightly gritty intown neighborhood, having spent most of my youth in Buckhead and Virginia Highlands, with the occasional foray into Midtown or Little Five. I loved Cabbagetown at first sight, with it's mixed residential/commercial streets, graffiti, friendly people, and in-the-process-of-being-converted lofts.
It took me 10 years to return, sadly, but the wait was worth it. Bellied up to the bar at Carroll Street Cafe, I ordered a Chimay Blue from Anessa, the petite blonde behind the bar. As she poured my beer she recommended two of the new tapas dishes: artichoke bruschetta and the steak. We ordered both and I was blown away. Seriously, incredible and flavorful food that's not flashy or trying too hard: it was pretty much perfect, and I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. While my palate was sufficiently cared for and my stomach was perfectly full, upon mentioning that I had yet to experience the midnight express my dining companion made sure to order a slice. Rich chocolate cake, smooth white chocolate icing... heaven on a plate? Methinks yes. A slice worth returning for.
Carroll Street Cafe makes me want to move to Cabbagetown. It's the place I've been looking for since moving to Atlanta: a neighborhood bar that's equally perfect for a first date, the perfect spot to be a regular, where you can also bring your parents. I love it dearly, and will be sure to make the trek from Midtown a lot more often than once every 10 years. If for nothing else than the midnight express.Listed in: Little Plates., Date spots., Chimaaaaaaaaay.
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Review from Jenn D.
6/30/2010
I remembering going here for brunch a few years back and *really* enjoying myself.
I finally got a chance to go back and see if it was all a dream, or if it was truly awesome. This time I went with a group of friends and shared some drinks and tapas. It was the first night of a Scoutmob deal, so it did take some time to get a seat, but drinks from the bar helped the wait.
Service was awesome, really nice waitstaff. One person who helped us had only been there a week, but still was able to answer all of our questions. Also, I'm totally inspired by all the awesome clothing in the place...do your servers get/give fashion tips, too?
Excellent choices - Kobe Meatballs (stuffed w/goat cheese!) and escargot
Good choices - shrimp basil noodle bowl - pretty oily (gah, I think I need to start ordering stuff "easy on the oil", I feel like everything is drenched in it lately...), but still good flavors. One piece of shrimp still had the tail attached. My wine helped me ignore that non attention to detail.
Avoid it - Pizza Margherita, whoa, we were bummed about that. Boring little thing.
With the wine, atmosphere and great service it was a wonderful night out with friends, and we plan to do it again soon. -
Review from Carlos C.
Atlanta, GA
5/22/2008
I'm sorry to drag the average star rating down but brain-dead servers are just a real pet peeve of mine. It is too bad because there is so much going for this place. Cool neighborhood. Decent food. Strong drinks. The waitstaff are good looking. Local art on the walls..and so on. But that just doesn't do it for me anymore. Any question about the menu smokes the confuser mechanism of the staff. Water refills take an eternity. Food shows up before drinks. I can't take it any more.
Me: What types of muffins do you have today?
CSC. Cranberry and Apple.
Me: Great, I will have a cranberry muffin.
CSC: (30 minutes later) Here's your banana muffin.
Me: I ordered a cranberry muffin.
CSC: We don't have cranberry muffins.
Me: Oh, bummer - maybe next time.
CSC: Do you want me to wrap that for you?
Me: No, I don't care for banana muffins.
CSC: Then why did you order it?
Me: I didn't.
CSC: Yes you did, I wrote it here my pad..See "c. muff".
Me: Exactly
CSC: Exactly what?!
Me: Banana starts with a "B".
CSC: I am aware of that.
Me: Could you just remove it from my check please?
CSC: But I have already unwrapped it, are you sure you don't want it.
Me: So you unwrapped it, then walked over to ask me if I want it wrapped?
CSC: What's your point?
Me: Just the check please.
I'm getting too old for this crap. -
Review from Mark T.
Decatur, GA
2/28/2008
LIKE HALF-TURNED ZOMBIES WE WAKE UP on Sunday mornings and drive to the nearest spot that everyone else says is great. Always judging the food, the service and the diners in the next booth over, I fight the urge to take mental notes, trying not to distract myself from the experience at hand by writing the first draft of my yelp review in my head. I do it too often, ignoring my girlfriend or anyone else I'm with, as if I'm a stranger who happened to sit at the same table, lost in my own thoughts because habits are hard to break. This Sunday morning at Carroll Street is rare with barely another pair of diners filling in the entire cafe.
The shrimp and grits are good in an odd european attempt, even if the seafood is slightly over seasoned and the serving a bit smaller than I'd like. But that's my fault since gluttons always want more.The space, with its perfectly imperfect tables of dark woods and slightly-off-but-matching everything else, is better than most attempts and fits in elegantly with the close quarters of anything on the actual Carroll Street itself.
Like Sun in my Belly over in Kirkwood, any neighborhood would be made better with a spot like Carroll Street Cafe in Cabbagetown. With so many other breakfast locations, it's a great choice for two, not for families, not for you and your friends plus their friends all at once. Sitting there practically alone with my girlfriend, with the glass window between us and the street, and a table littered with breakfast plates that once had food... I am reminded of why I left Pheonix for Atlanta, to follow this girl and our endless stream of breakfast dates.
***1/33 -
Review from Ivan S.
5/4/2008 1 photo
Situated in a formerly shady neighborhood far from the things of man? Just off a hard-to-navigate two way street barely wide enough for a Segway? Hit by a damned tornado?! Nothing seems to stop Carroll Street Cafe and, let's face it, that's a good thing. I've said it previously but it still applies here, Carroll Street is a hipster, boheme eatery in the same vein as its siblings, the Diem twins. In other words, it's shabby chic with interiors distressed, wine drinkers possessed, and servers with great breasts.
The menu is sandwich driven with a selection of bistro-inspired entrees. The tapas fad took its liberties with the food long ago and still rears its ugly head, but mostly on the "specials"chalkboard. That said, mostly they're ok, but the mussels app is the standout. The food is much heartier than at Apres Diem and I, as a good eater, appreciate that. (No stinkin' $8 plates of tempeh and carrot sticks for me.) This all carries over to brunch which too often I forget they have but really ought to remember more. As with any hipster joint, Carroll Street has different themed music nights, DJs with cutesy pop culture-inspired names spinning their latest mashups. Sometimes this may interfere with a desire for intimate conversation, so just be aware.
One of the worst things about visiting Carroll Street isn't the fault of the cafe, but the actual street itself. It's a narrow little thing that inconceivably still all traffic both ways. Top that off with off-the-street parking and the get a taste for the Cafe's Euro-style of life before you even get out of the car. This ain't no SUV-friendly, convenient AMERICAN road, I tells ya and unless you're comfortable with parallel parking, you may need to practice some before that big date, Hot Shot.
Finally a star to Carroll Street Cafe alone for having a specialty drink named after the legendary Mr. Billy Ocean (see pic.) Oh Billy, what ever happened to you? Did you return to your Caribbean Queen? Is she an easy lover? Did you finally hear a sad song to make you cry? Or perhaps the going got tough, so you, as a tough person, got going? Billy, don't be a hero, come back and share one of your namesake drinks with us. Show us there's no better motion than Billy Ocean. So with that, 4 musical stars for the Carroll Street Cafe. That should be enough to prompt you to drive over to visit. That said Dear Yelper, get out of my dreams and into your car. -
Review from Leah T.
Atlanta, GA
2/25/2008
Breakfast at the Carroll Street Cafe on Saturday morning was a great start to the weekend, especially after a crazy week. The quirky buildings and random art along Carroll Street, coupled with the large, flower-box-lined windows, put me in a perfect bohemian mood.
The menu has some great choices and the food was super-yum! I had the croissant sandwich, sans turkey. It came with tomatoes, mushrooms, scrambled eggs, cheese, and bechamel. I had the polenta as a side (that was just so-so). Plenty of food to fill me up, and I also appreciate not having my coffee cup filled every two seconds. I hate having to guard my cup from the unwanted refills you get at some places... I finally get my cuppa joe doctored up JUST right, and the second I take a sip and look away...bam! It's filled up with hot coffee again, throwing the taste and temperature off kilter. Grrrr. Fortunately, this was NOT a problem at Carroll Street- we were quietly asked twice, and only twice if we'd like a refill. Perfect.
Carroll Street Cafe also gets bonus points for being open at 8:00 a.m. on the weekends! The mister and I tend to be early risers... it can be a tough stretch to wait until 9:00 or later for a decent breakfast.Listed in: Rise'n'Dine
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Review from Stephanie M.
Atlanta, GA
2/21/2008
The small bars and restaurants in Cabbage town are like finding little hidden treasures. Carroll Street Cafe is no exception.
Very laid back, casual atmosphere. Great place to have a quiet lunch or enjoy a glass of wine late evening. Service was casual and fun. My cheese tortellini lasted me til lunch the next day, and mimosa's come in large and small. (Do you have to ask if i got the big'un?)Listed in: My Neighborhood
