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Categories: American (New), Southern [Edit]
Neighborhood: Inman ParkAccepting Reservations for Holiday & Special Occasion Dining Sure to please even the pickiest "Ba Hum Bug."Buy a $100 Gift Card Get $20 Free
Mon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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I went here with 7 other people and they seated us pretty much in the middle of the floor. It wasn't as awkward as it sounds. It was actually really well placed. I could talk to everyone at the table and still wasn't bothered by people moving throughout the place.
The wait staff was amazingly informative and the food was the best I've had since I don't even know when.
An added bonus: the lighting in the women's restroom makes anyone look just a bit better than as good as it gets.
OK, my husband & I decided to try Wisteria for dinner on our wedding anniversary. We made reservations and were seated right away. So, we're off to a good start. We ordered the calamari for an appetizer and I have to say we enjoyed that too. So, you're thinking why the 2 stars?
Well, here's where we go down hill. My husband ordered the 8 bone lamb chops. It passed the eyeball test, but failed miserably on the taste test. He didn't even eat it all and that's saying a lot for my husband because he loves lamb chops. I ordered the trout and it was very mediocre. I ordered this based our on waitress recommendation and let's just say that I've had better trout at Folks Restaurant.
To sum it, we won't be going back to Wisteria. Agave Restaurant is still on top!
I went back to Wisteria again. My experience was slightly better.
I had the same experiences as last time with cramped seating and the loudness of the restaurant so that's unfortunate. Service was good this time, but there was less of a need for it. I tried the black eyed pea hummus and it was pretty decent though not particularly memorable. I also tried the pork tenderloin with sweet potatoes - it's a good dish. I don't really understand all the lavish praise about it though as it didn't really strike me as anything special. One of those good but not great dishes.
All in all, my opinion hasn't really changed much. I'm still not a huge fan of the restaurant space itself for spacing and noise issues. And while the food was more consistent this time, nothing has really impressed me here aside from the soup. There's nothing that I would want to order again aside from the soup. If I'm going to be paying for a meal at this price range I want it to be a little more impressive and tasty than it has been. It's seems logical that I would go up to a 3 but it's still more of a "just OK" than an "A-OK" for me though so...
2.5
I used to drive by Wisteria everyday to work and somehow had never been until recently. It has… Read more »
I meant to write this a few days ago, well last week actually but just never got around to it. First, I have to say I've had better at this restaurant especially in regards to service from the staff. Let me break it down...
We arrive around 8:25 for an 8:45P reservation, party of 7. We end up being seated sometime past 9:30P. Problem #1.
I order a drink for my partner and I -- no space at the bar, so after putting my order in I went around to where there was standing room, but still in the general bar area. I asked the bartender to close my tab after those two drinks and run my card...which he does...but then proceeds to put the slip and my card down where I was standing, even though I had shifted slightly to the left...which meant I had to walk over, get it, sign it and give it back to him. Just a little ridiculous in my book...maybe I have unreasonable standards of service. This is what I viewed as Problem #2.
After the rest of our party arrived and ordered drinks -- the bartender proceeds to make them and versus handing them to us or serving us, he just sets them down, walks away, and never indicates those were our drinks. Odd. The bar wasn't even that busy...so by the time they tried to serve the drinks they were ridiculously watered down. This is Problem #3.
Positives from the evening -- our waitress and what I assume was either a floor manager or supervisor of the evening comped us several appetizers and a drink or two because of the earlier experiences. The food was pretty good -- although I do miss the burger with foie gras mayonnaise, which used to be a staple menu item. Perhaps Wisteria just had a bad night that evening and I'm willing to not break up with them just yet, but it will be a hot minute before I head back over there. If I wanted to be treated like crap I'd just go to Parish. Kidding...sort of.
Went to Wisteria for a birthday dinner with my parents. The atmosphere is great--one of the few places in town where you can actually hear the person across from you without shouting! I mean, I love Rathbun's, but come on--how 'bout some acoustic panels somewhere?
The mac & cheese is delicious with an awesome crispy topping. The service is wonderful and basically everything we had was good. All the tables around us were oohing and aaaahhhing too, so I think this place is just good all around.
My experience at Wisteria was solid, especially for the price. Based on my admittedly limited experiences, I prefer their "new Southern" food to South City Kitchen's execution of a similar concept.
When I went with my family, we tried a variety of things, and most were excellent. I started with a Caesar Salad, and it was good but the capers are pretty strong and they're not stingy with them. I also tried the Seared Sea Scallops appetizer over pork belly. The sauce had a nice kick to it, and the pork belly was awesome (it's good in so many forms), but the radicchio was quite bitter when you get a piece of it. I just avoided it.
For the entrees, we tried the Skate Wing, the Molasses-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin and the Burger. I got a side of the Mac and Cheese (and Greens) to try -- and to share. The Skate Wing was tasty and the grits and asparagus accompanying it were really good. I wish more places offered skate wing. The Pork Tenderloin was great -- I'm not likely to order pork as a main entree, but this was the most tender I've had. Also, it was accompanied with sweet potato souffle, and that was really great. I'm a sucker for sweet potatoes, though.
The burger was prepared well, but I wasn't wild about the foie gras mayo's flavor. I'm not big on mayo or foie gras, so no surprises there, but the person who ordered it like it a lot. And the Mac and Cheese, wow! It's done casserole style with a nice crust and has greens (spinach?) integrated into it. It was a heavy dish, but I love mac and cheese and this was among the best I've had.
For desserts we tried some of the mini desserts. The Coconut Cream Pie was light and refreshing. The Fudge Tart was extremely rich. In fact, I think it was too rich to follow the heavy meal I had. The orange and chocolate ice cream with it was interesting, though. I'd like to try it unaccompanied to get a more objective taste.
The service was great, too. We went on a weeknight, so it wasn't a full crowd, but I can see this place being relatively loud when full (due to the layout). All told, Wisteria is nice without being overtly fancy, and their prices are very reasonable. A few things had unbalanced flavors, in my opinion, but a vast majority of what I had was very good. With the price and casual atmosphere of the place, I can easily see myself wanting to come here semi-regularly.
I think this place is deserving of its four star rating, as it serves quality food at a very affordable price. Lets start with the positives.
1. Had the pork tenderloin, which was quite frankly, great. They asked how I wanted the pork done... a question I had never been asked, so I just went ahead and said medium-well. A friend got medium, and we both lived to tell the tale, so all in all, pretty great. Pork is a difficult dish to make, and after you pair it with sweet mashed potatoes, it is awesome.
2. Shrimp and grits were good. Shrimp could have been a bit better-- tasted a bit starchy to me, which probably means it wasn't the freshest. However, the grits were done well, and also had some vegetables in it.
3. Appetizers were not bad. Calamari was alright, but the deviled eggs were very tasty. I would recommend getting that. The crab bisque also looked good, but I didn't have any, so I can't say.
Negatives:
1. Very noisy. Definitely a very loud place, so be wary if you are looking for somewhere quiet.
2. Busy. Book your reservations early for the weekend. Other than that, service was great, and they definitely do a good job of accommodating large parties.
Wisteria is one of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta. When I arrived there on a bit of a whim, the place was packed, so the host sat my dining companion and me at the bar.
I began my evening with a green tea mojito on an empty stomach--already getting things off to a merry start.
For dinner, I melted into a beef tenderloin medallion served over macaroni and cheese and braised mixed greens. I lapped up every bite. Plus, the meal inspired me to start cooking macaroni and cheese again; when you don't cook it out of a box and use fresh ingredients, mac and cheese can be quite a prize.
I like being pampered. One birthday, a former love (dead to me now) fanned my robed girth with a grand ostrich plume while dunking grapes into my ready mouth. That feeling of superiority suits me, so when dining out, I'm keen on places that fall over themselves to please little ole me.
From the moment my friend and I arrived at Wisteria, we felt welcomed and special, two feelings I would've killed for my father to express. Katie, our fetching hostess, whooshed us to our table where we were greeted by our server, Julie, all southern charm and adorableness in sea foam green shirt.
The wine book is just a hair shorter than "The Iliad," a daunting tome full of alien terms. Though we peppered her with questions, Julie exhibited a prodigious knowledge of all the varietals, which bespeaks to either her studiousness or rank alcoholism. She guided us toward two stellar glasses of vino.
A delightful first course set the tone: fresh tuna and avocado mixed in a champagne vinaigrette over flat bread. Like Shia Lebouf, the dish was light and scrumptious. As we held between courses, I admired the unique coziness of the room. The tangerine colored walls and subtle lighting makes Wisteria a great place to ask for someone's hand in marriage, and an even better place to dump them cold.
At Julie's urging, my friend ordered the Skate Wing. Upon taking a first bite, my friend rejoiced with her decision. Lording over the creamiest, most delectable grits I've ever tasted, the skate wing was sweet, meaty and oh so delish. My entree, the Torchietti Pasta in Pesto with plump Georgia Shrimp, was fantastic, a dish brimming with flavor, tomatoes, bits of corn, a hodgepodge of delight.
And then DESSERT. People, hear me: You MUST order AT THE VERY LEAST three desserts. Fear not gut hawks: the desserts are on the small side, so wade deep. My favorite was the Fudge Tart (the nickname of an ex, by the way) crowned with Chocolate Orange Ice Cream. Diabetes, be damned!
A wonderful time was had at Wisteria. But while the food was divine, I can't stress enough about the marvelous care taken by their staff. The restaurant works as a well oiled machine aimed solely at pleasing its inhabitants. If only all restaurants behaved this way (I'm lookin' at you, Flip.)
The true definition of a fiercely independent restaurant! Great food with excellent attention to service. What a neighborhood gem!
The appetizers we had were beyond amazing: possibly the best mac n cheese I've ever had and great tempura fried okra!
The entrees were a skate wing with lemon butter and capers that came with grits and was delicious and a rack of lamb with a wonderful red wine reduction and luscious mashed potatoes!
The desserts were petite and we got 3: the vanilla creme brulee, the carrot cake, and the chocolate cake with chocolate orange ice cream!
Highly recommended!
OMNOMNOMNOM
I got a 75dollar gift cert. for here. Appetizer, main course, dessert and coffee - all fantastic!!! Would like to go back soon.
Had the green tomato fries, fried chicken, and dessert sampler with three. I can't remember what desserts but it was all gooooooooooood
We went for a quiet dinner for my birthday a month ago and it was fantastic. I love that it's a smaller restaurant with dim lighting and soft simple decor. It was a bit loud but not obnoxious at all. For appetizers we ordered the boar sausage and crab cakes. The boar sausage was delicious but tasted just like any other sausage, salty and tasty. The sauce served with it though was phenomenal. The crab cakes were moist and good but the corn relish was the best part- flavorful, crunchy and yummy. For dinner I ordered the rack of lamb, which i usually don't like to eat, but it just melted in my mouth. My husband ordered the fish (I can't for the life of me remember what type of fish it was). The fish was flaky and light but the bacon vinegraitte was very very oily and it left a funky vinegar taste on my tongue the entire night. I did not like that dish at all. We did not try any of the desserts but will certainly do so the next time we dine here.
So, I really wanted to give Wisteria 3 stars, but I prefer the Yelp description of 2 stars better: "Meh, I've experienced better."
Wisteria was one of those places that had kept popping up on my OpenTable, Citysearch, and Creative Loafing radars. It hadn't generated enough buzz for me, so I kept pushing it back onto my "Maybe Next Time" list.
Finally, on a random Sunday night my boyfriend and I were in the Highland area, and in the mood for Southern food, we popped in for an early dinner.
I loved the feel of this place. The cozy, neighborhood atmosphere, the warm colors and friendly service.
As for the food, I was not impressed. I ordered the pork tenderloin, which came with sweet potato souffle and an apple/walnut relish. Everything was too sweet. I ordered this expecting it to strike a good balance between sweet and savory but it disappointed. The server suggested that I order it medium rare -- pork medium rare?? Really?? I went with a medium, and it still came out a little undercooked for my liking. I didn't finish it. My boyfriend ordered the pasta, which came in a heaping portion full of fresh veggies. We also ordered sides of mashed potatoes and mac 'n' cheese. The mac was fantastic -- so rich and well-seasoned, and I loved how they added dark leafy greens (swiss chard? kale? I dunno) for added texture and flavor.
I wouldn't mind going back and trying something else, but quite frankly, this meal was so unmemorable and the prices were a bit high. It looks like Wisteria will have a pretty permanent place on my "Maybe Next Next Next Time" list.
What a find! For price, excellent food and service, you can't get any better than this. Chef Jason Hill keeps the standards high and is a great "front of the house" making all customers feel welcome. Our favorites are the fried chicken plate, but we always try something new at the table and are never disappointed.
Went to Wisteria July 3rd, 2009 with my boo to celebrate five years together and loved it.
I had the tenderloin everyone raves about and it was as good as everyone says. The service was spot on. Our wonderful waitron was attentive and friendly and even gave us a little candle on our dessert to make our anniversary even more special!
Yea, it's pricey and crowded-but well worth it. Highly recommended.
I've been wanting to try Wisteria for quite sometime. I finally got the chance last Friday. We made reservations on OpenTable, and I was happy when we were seating at a four-top. The two-top tables just don't have much room for bread, wine, apps, etc.
Our waitress was very good and made recommendations as we asked. We brought our own wine, a delicious ABC pinot which was very tasty. They charge the normal corkage fee of $15. We started our meal with the Ceasar and mixed greens salad with goat cheese and tomatoes. Good choices! My date had the skate wing. She was not terribly impressed, but responded that she just ordered wrong. I didn't try it, so I can't review. I can only say it was a darker fish that didn't look appetizing to me. My date mentioned that she did like the grits that accompanied her skate. I ordered the trout. It was very light, but not much taste. However, I did eat everything on my plate! Not too shabby!
All in all, the meal was worth the price. I give it four stars because of the intimate setting, great service, and, of course, great company.
I just moved to Atl a few month ago and recently ventured out for a dining expeirience I will not soon forget. At the suggestion of a co-worker I went to Wisteria Restaurant in Inman park. I was overwelmed by the staff and food. I sat at the bar where Hadde(?) took care of me. After some recomendations I ordered the calamari for and appetizer and beef tenderloin. Both by far were the best ive ever had!!! The wine list is amazing from what I remember thanks to Hadde(?) (hope im spelling it right!) His suggestions were the perfect compliment to the great food. If I could give 10 stars I would! I cant wait to return!.
I'm just not there.
This is the second time I've been (first review).
I searched on Yelp (my number one source for reviews!) for places to eat alone as I was, unfortunately, flying solo that night. Wisteria appeared to have lots of good feedback, so away I went.
Sauntering in, the place is attractive and inviting.
I chose to sit at the bar and it was comfortable but boring.
I had a nice glass of white wine (a Portuguese vinho verde) and two appetizers. The first was a calamari that was breaded with cornmeal and drizzled with wasabi. A sweetish dipping sauce was also available and the whole arrangement rested on some greens.
I liked it; I'm wondering if it was GF friendly as my much better half would've been very appreciative if so.
My second appetizer was the scallops with bacon (fancier names were used but my memory is spotty). It was good, but there was something in the sauce that was a little obnoxious.
So why a 3 star?
I don't know.
It's a feel, a certain je ne sais quoi; I was in and out in like 25 minutes - like an expensive fast food place. There was no real ambiance - I'd been once a while back and now realize that the reason I hadn't been back was because it wasn't a memorable experience.
Wisteria can be described as a "one trick pony".
I ordered the beef tenderloin. I like my beef medium rare. My meat came out a bloody mess. The beef was seared on the outside and the middle was cold. It was like cutting into a blood orange (not pleasant).
I asked for a second opinion from the server, they did not hesitate to take it back to the kitchen.
Second time... a swing and a miss. The chef butterflied the tenderloin and plopped it back on my plate which I had ate around the chalk outline of my beef tenderloin. Is it too much to ask for a new plate? A chinese buffet provides you with new clean plates!
Pass on the beef tenderloin and go for the fried chicken. I sampled my friends plate while waiting for the coroner to come back with the autopsy report.
Fried chicken had a golden crispy outside and tender and juicy on the inside. You can cut through the chicken with a fork.
It's a little cramped in here, but you can avoid the claustrophobia by either dining early or at the bar.
No matter what entree you order, ask for the sweet potato souffle as a side. A true knee-bender.
A true diamond in the rough with a welcoming atmosphere and unpretentious attention to detail.
I've been there twice and both times, the waitstaff was curteous and attentive. I've forgotten what I had the first tiem but the second time I had the Gerogia lake trout special which was exquisite. The dessert assortment the group ordered was excellent as well. I highly reccomend it.
I really love this place, 98% of the time. If you can go early, or late, the noise and the crowds aren't so bad and you can actually enjoy your meal & wine in peace and quiet. However, sometimes you can't escape the noise. I went Tuesday evening with the bf and although the majority of the restaurant was empty, we ended up being sat next to a gaggle of obnoxious girls who wouldn't shut the fuck up about "the regulators at work." I think I counted "the regulators" in the context of their conversation about 20 times in 5 minutes. Why was I counting? Because I couldn't even hear myself think and the girl's voice was so grating it was the only way I could distract myself long enough from turning around and smacking her. Or buying her dessert so she would stop talking.
As soon as that table left, our server approached us and asked if we were ok. The bf said we were much better now that the offending table was gone, and she replied that the whole restaurant was. Haha
Anyway, as far as food goes , I always get the shrimp and grits, and Chad always gets the pork tenderloin. Both really excellent dishes. We started with the fried green tomato fries this time, and holy shit. They're excellent. You have to get them! They taste like Christmas! All piny and sweet with a little kick and delicious crunch to them. Chad also had the beef carpaccio, which I took a bite of, and wow. Really, really, really good. I have yet to have a bad meal at this place. And really, if you don't order an expensive bottle of wine here, the prices are extremely reasonable.
Definitely go if you haven't been and are wanting southern comfort food. You won't be disappointed.
This place is adorable! Exposed brick, wood bar, and on a cute street to boot! It's a wonderful place to dine alone, as a couple, or a group.
During my brief stay in Atlanta, I popped into Wisteria for a meal. I was alone, so I sat at the bar. I must say, I had such a blast here. The wait staff is friendly, the regulars are talkative, and the bartender is knowledgeable.
I ordered the crab cakes [YES!] and the pecan-crusted Salmon. I adored the crab cakes, but thought the Salmon needed a tad bit more spice. It comes on top of a bed of sweet potato and spaghetti squash, and I thought those didn't exactly add to the flavor of a fish - plus they were really runny.
Warning: if you sit at the bar, be prepared to put your hand on top of the glass if you do not want a second glass of wine. Though I did not order a second glass, one was poured for me. Those kinds of things really irk me.
I've also been told - though I do not know for myself - that this place has the second best fried chicken in Atlanta [following watershed].
"""Spoiler alert****Went here for Inman Parks $25 prix fixe which might be why it was so great. I arrived with friends and since none of us got off our lazy asses to make reservations and the wait was going to be 3 hours we decided to sit at the bar. Had some wine, tasty, then checked out the prix fixe menu. That menu was stocked with tasty looking apps, entrees, and the DESSERT sampler. I went for the sweet corn chowda' with fried craw-daddy tails. It was mighty good grub. The corn in the soup tasted pretty fresh and the crawdads added a nice salty flavor to the dish. For my entree I ordered the shrimp and grits which, hurray, didn't contain any piggy. The portion was a good size for being part of a prix fixe. The shrimp was cooked well and the grits were so creamy. I would have preferred my dish to be spicier but then again I am a hothead. The deserts, especially the pumpkin cheesecake with praline crust were/was divine. My only complaint, okay 2 complaints, about the whole evening is that 1- the place is super loud. Its one open room and it was a bit hard to hear my friends. Then again, we were at the bar. 2- is that the bartender didn't do the best job of paying attention to our needs he spent more time paying attention to the 1 drink customers who wanted to get something while waiting for their "reserved" table. That was a bit annoying, but other wise i will be back to try the new menu.
Had my birthday dinner there this past Saturday night, and it was my first time there in many years....and it was still fantastic!
Seasonal tart for an appetizer - delish.
Calamari and beef carpaccio
Skate Wings and the beef tenderloin were fantastic. As was the tuna
(had a group of folks, so we had a lot to sample from)
Environment is just warm an comfortable. No better way to say it.
Crowded yes, but that mean the place is still doing it right.
Chef Jason: still kickin' ass with your food.
Excellent.
And thank you.
What I like about Wisteria is that it is a classy restaurant with dishes that burst with flavor, but they still give relatively generous portions. One of my pet peeves of dining at nice restaurants is spending a fortune, and leaving hungry. I'm also a king of all things leftover. So after dining at Wisteria once, and eating it twice, they are still awesome.
The decor is downplayed, earthy, and warm. It fit well with our waiter who was friendly and accommodating. Overall, we had a good experience here and I would recommend it to friends.
Over the weekend, my bf and I came here for dinner. We heard so many good things about this place. I already knew what I was going to order from reading all the reviews. I thought the restaurant was cozy because of the brick interior. It has such a great feel to it as you are there. It is also quite small so definitely make reservations. We were 30 minutes late due to traffic, but we were still seated very promptly and it was crowded. My hunger pains were kicking in and I was glad that we didn't have to wait since we were late.
For an app, we ordered the calamari. It was probably one of the best I've ever had. It was different from your usual calamari because it was mixed in with some greens and red bell peppers. I thought it was interesting. The apricot sauce accompanied the calamari very well. It was savory and sweet all in one!
As the entree I ordered the pork tenderloin since I heard so many good things about it. I'm not a big pork person, but I wanted to try it. I thought it was good, but I wished I ordered something different. However the sweet potatoes with the apple walnut mixture was a great combo. My bf ordered the salmon with the spaghetti squash. The salmon was your regular salmon. I thought it was a little bland.
Overall, I would definitely come here again. There were many dishes that looked tasty. We had a great waiter! We sat on the long booth against the wall. I thought the tables were too close together. You could hear everything the party sitting on both sides of you were talking about. This is not a place were you want to have intimate conversations unless you want everyone to know your business.
The food is 3.5- service 3.0- owners and bartenders 4.5
Wisteria is the exact example of what the average Atlanta transplant wants from a dinner in this price range.
It represents the comfort and southern influenced flavors very well and doesn't leave people disappointed in the portion size.
Now, from a foodie/ chef few point of view the food is very 90's in presentation and flavor combinations--kind of like watching old episodes of Friends. Like the rosemary garnishes should be left back 10 years ago with Phoebe and Rachel's haircuts. Just like the cast on Friends--you cannot go wrong with the catfish, skate wing, pork tenderloin, fried chicken, and shrimp dishes. It always seems like reruns for me because the menu never changes, this could be good for some folks, but even the Ugly Naked Guy gets boring.
The desserts are very Southern Living sweet and Betty Crocker presented (not my favorite place for dessert), but I think that Wisteria hits the spot for what the clientle wants, and thats why they are busy.Duh
SYSLCOR( support your small local chef owned resto)
Wisteria is exactly what you'd expect for American cuisine in this price range.
I would recommend the soups, the caesar salad, and especially the cherry tart for dessert. All were delicious.
They also have several nice selections of sparkling wine/champagne by the glass, which I always appreciate, because no one ever wants to drink a bottle with me.
Our server was attentive, but not invasive.
While the food was good, I thought the atmosphere was a bit stuffy. There was actually a woman wearing a fur coat at the next table over. And while some people like valet parking, I just find it weird and unnecessary.
I went to Wisteria after reading all the favorable reviews. It was one of the few instances in which I thought to myself at the conclusion of the meal: "Yelpers have led me astray, yo."
The atmosphere was lovely. The service was professional, considerate, and friendly. We talked extensively with our server regarding their best plates, what they are known for making especially well, etc. We examined the specials. We excitedly ordered a medley of appetizers and entrees, to give ourselves ample opportunity to experience various flavors and textures.
We had a beautiful time.
Until the food arrived.
It was very disappointing. It wasn't wretched or the worst thing I've ever had. It simply didn't live up to the hype. The focus was on presentation rather than substance. Sexy garnishes and little cool shapes protruding from my food don't make it taste any better.
I have definitely had much more satisfying and palette-pleasing meals for a lot less. Given its price point, it's overrated.
We really enjoyed Wisteria--the decor is great, particularly the exposed brick. The space is big enough to feel hip and happening, but it's not so big that it becomes deafeningly loud at full capacity. My fiance ordered a gimlet at the bar, and he said it was very well-made, but it harkened us back to DC with its $12 pricetag.
We asked our lovely server to bring us a dry white wine in the $30-$40 range, and she did just that-I just wish I could remember what it was! In any case, it played very well with the food and was reasonably priced.
For appetizers, I couldn't resist the Kumamoto oysters flown in from the Pacific coast, and they were as briny and delicious as I expected. They were served with some sort of cocktail/mignonette hybrid, but to be honest, I didn't use a drop of it because the oysters were so tasty. Fiance ordered the seared sea scallops over braised pork belly, radicchio, and a bourbon-molasses reduction. Yum! The scallops were just underdone, which is exactly how we like them, and the pork belly gave the dish some salty, slightly crispy contrast.
For entrees, fiance went with the pan-seared skate wing, which was served with lemon brown butter, stone-ground grits, and asparagus. The fish was delicious and perfectly cooked, and the accompaniments suited the dish very well (though the asparagus were a little scrawny, and I was surprised to see them on the plate out of season). I opted for the roasted half duck-and I probably shouldn't have. Don't get me wrong, the flavors were spot-on (it was glazed with an orange ginger sauce and served with a Napa cabbage and julienne pepper saute), and it was prepared exactly as it was described. However, I really prefer my duck cooked rare, and roasting forced the bird to be more like medium. The good news was, the skin was perfectly crispy, and it was a delicious treat.
Desserts are more like tastes, and the idea is to mix and match and try a number of them. We opted for three for $10, and we chose the carrot cake (which I don't like, but which Jason thought was very good), the pecan pie (a good, solid rendition), and the balsamic strawberry and mascarpone tart (stellar-I could have eaten three more). I like the concept of dessert "tapas," so you can sample a bunch without feeling totally bloated.
Service was excellent-friendly and attentive, but not annoying and overbearing. Our waitress really knew the menu, and she made excellent suggestions. With a bottle of wine, two apps, two entrees, three dessert "tastes," a glass of port, tax, our Open Table gift certificate, and tip (on the pre-discounted amount, of course), we walked out for less than $150. For what we received, we both felt that Wisteria was a good value-and certainly a wonderful neighborhood destination.
Dinner here was wonderful, from the prompt seating, to the excellent service, to the delicious food.
Our group of four first had appetizers: green tomato fries and ahi tuna and crispy flatbread. While the fries were good, I didn't feel compelled to eat more than one. The flatbread was great, although a tad messy. Might not want to brave this one on a first date.
Entrees: I had the skatewing, which was delicious. My date had the pork tenderloin, which he enjoyed as well. Our friends shared the skillet fried chicken with a salad. Having said that, the portion sizes are all reasonable -- not too big, not too small.
We finished off by having the carrot cake, which seems like it's more than four bites, like the menu suggests. But they are smaller than the average dessert, which I like. Sometimes the anticipated size of a dessert will deter you from ordering it.
The restaurant itself is cute. Small, well-lit, and comfortable. Very recommended!
When we first set foot in Wisteria, we were immediately impressed with the stylish way they'd opened up this old space from its former inhabitant Babette's Cafe. And from the first welcome, we felt like appreciated guests.
The menu is clever. Re-invention seems to be the theme here. For instance, this restaurant doesn't do fried green tomatoes - instead, Chef Jason Hill cuts the green tomato into batons, quick-frying so that the fruit stays firm. They're called *green tomato fries* - GET IT?
Another re-working is the typical bacon wrapped scallop. This chef instead pairs a perfectly seared, plump scallop with braised pork belly. Yummm...what's not to love?
We're light eaters, so we stuck with the appetizers. On our next trip, maybe we'll skip a meal and try the entrees - they looked and sounded well-designed and balanced.
Definitely worth a visit!
I have made many returns to Wisteria since my review and not a single visit made me regret giving them five stars.
The service is always friendly, professional, attentive, and helpful; the ambiance is cozy and warm; the food is absolutely delicious. I've recently tried the Kobe Beef Carpaccio, which was fresh and delightful - a great starter. But nothing beats the Calamari with wasabi creme fraiche. Such an unforgettable dish! I could seriously come here everyday just for the calamari. If you are a fan of calamari dish, you must give this one a try. As for the entree, I highly recommend the Molasses-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin. It is impossible to describe how amazing this dish is. You just have to try it.
I would recommend making a reservation because it can get pretty busy even on a week night. Also, if you are planning to valet park your car, remember to bring cash! Oh, and the most important thing. Remember this: Molasses-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin. You won't regret it.
Lately, I've been dining at these restaurants that are beyond my imagination and Wisteria is one of… Read more »
Had a fantastic experience here on Wednesday for restaurant week. We ordered exclusively off the special restaurant week menu and it was outstanding. We started with the Black-Eyed Pea Hummus with home made sweet potato chips,olives, and tomatoes and the Cornmeal Fried Calamari with sweet and sour apricot sauce and wasabi crème fraiche. You may think you've had hummus before, but I assure you: you have NEVER had hummus like this before. We scooped up every ounce on the plate. Calamari? I mean, how different could it be? It JUST was. The apricot sauce was SPOT ON and the wasabi creme fraiche was just the right amount. For our entrees we chose the Molasses-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin over sweet potato soufflé topped with a vidalia onion, apple and walnut relish and Georgia Coastal Shrimp and Grits over stone ground corn grits with sautéed peppers and onions in a spicy shrimp broth. Both were absolutely incredible. I honestly could not pick which one I loved more. For dessert, there was no deciding because they gave you small samples of all 3 choices: Granny's Carrot Cake with Bourbon Sauce,Warm Fudge Tart with Swiss Chocolate Orange Ice Cream, Pumpkin and Praline Cheese Cake with whipped cream. For me, the pumpkin cheese cake was the clear winner, but really only because I'm not a huge fan of that orange and chocolate combo. All three were yummy. Combine this amazing food with a uber cool vibe and the company of my bff, this was a perfect night! I will DEFINITELY be back.
WWGD... wait for over an hour at Pura Vida or 20 minzie at Wisteria? Aaah, yeah Gastro... that's a no brainer!!!
This neighborhood restaurant is often over looked because new restos are sprouting up everywhere like a Chia Pet. Unlike some of my ex-girlfriends, this place consistently puts out... puts out tasty grub. What else could it be?! You rowdy people are so dirty!
Crab Bisque - Chunky pieces of crab and velvety smooth with the calvados creme fraiche. Put away your CVS card, no treatment needed after getting these crabs.
Kobe Beef Carpaccio - A happy cow makes for a happy appetizer! Chick-fil-A ain't got nuthin' on this. Eat Mor Meat!
Seared Sea Scallops w/ Pork Belly - Surf n Turf... enuff said. The bourbon molasses reduction was too sweet and overwhelmed the main focus just a bit. Lighten up on the reduction and let the natural flavors of the pork do it's job and it's all good!
North Atlantic Skate Wing - I'd skate over thin ice for a taste of this meaty and tasty wing anytime. The Ice Road Twuckers never had it this good. Classic lemon brown butter sauce, asparagus and stone-ground corn grits were pillowy good.
Iron Skillet Fwied Chicken - Crispy, moist and tender...only an seasoned iron skillet can deliver. Bacon braised collard greens with roasted sweet corn pudding was pure southern home cooking. James Brown just called... he wants his soul back and a doggie bag.
Molly Dooker Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz - This genuine product of Sarah & Sparky Marquis was the perfect pairing for this tasty meal.
Jason Hill is not the little engine that thinks he can survive in the world of corporate restos anymore... with his tasty grub and packed house, I know he can.
Choo Choo.
So tonight I found my new favorite restaurant -- Wisteria. They wow'd me at hello -- service, food, everything was great.
I came in with high expectations after reading the reviews ... which can be a dangerous thing. And I already knew coming in, what I would be ordering -- pork tenderloin for dinner and calamari for appetizer. Verdict? Let's just say that if I were to go back in a few days, I would order the same thing. That's how good it was.
We came to celebrate a birthday so we had 10 ladies in our group. Which means a great opportunity to sample more dishes than just mine :) For appetizers, we shared the fried calamari, and the green tomato fries. Both were good but the calamari was one of the best decorated ever and therefore with more unique flavors than your usual calamari. It was sprinkled with scallions, black sesame seeds, wasabi creme fraiche, and a sweet-n-sour apricot sauce on the side.
I was curious about the salads so I ordered the "summer citrus salad of avocados, oranges, grapefruit, & cucumbers in cilantro cream" which our server highly recommended among the salads. (The "arugula & grilled apple salad with honey-roasted pecan dressing" was a close 2nd.) Nice & light, and refreshing. A 50/50 fruit/veggie salad. I'm thinking I like a salad more heavy on the veggies though.
Then the entrees arrived. I ordered the Yelp favorite "Molasses-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin over sweet potato souffle topped w/ Vidalia onions, apple & walnut relish." I asked for "medium-well" which was perfect, unbelieavably tender (I'm so used to pork being more on the dry side), and seriously tasted like prime rib. I enjoyed it so much it was hard to engage in conversation - I was too engrossed with something more important sitting on my plate. Others in our group ordered the Vegetable Platter, the Beef Tenderloin & Wild Mushroom Burger (with GI-NORMOUS onion rings), the Jumbo Shrimp & Grits, the Grilled Beef Tenderloin (with GI-NORMOUS serving of mac & cheese), & the Lobster Ravioli special. Everyone seemed happy with their dishes -- but among those of us who sampled each other's dishes (our birthday girl sampled EVERY dish, I think) ... the Pork Tenderloin was by far the winner.
And I'd be remiss if I didn't call out the wonderful service we received. Our server was great with recommendations, very attentive to our needs, and just a very pleasant person! We brought a cake from an outside bakery, and after we did the birthday song & blew out the candles, they graciously said they would cut the cake for us. They cut quite generous slices for each of us, later noticed that several of the ladies were too full to finish their cake, then volunteered to individually box each person's leftover cake slice. Our birthday girl said what great service considering the cake wasn't even from their restaurant.
Atmosphere was great -- felt like a neighborhood restaurant. Not really all that big so you definitely need reservations. Only issue was the ceiling fans right above us -- it was pretty chilly where we sat.
But overall, I loved this place a lot. You can bet I will be yelping & raving about this one.
An enjoyable experience (especially in light of a horrible experience the next night somewhere else). We started out with the crab cake appetizer. It had a good amount of crap and nice flavor (although not quite as amazing as the one at Shaun's).
For the main course, I heeded the advice of fellow Yelpers and had the molasses pork tenderloin. It was delicious - so tender it would melt in my mouth! My partner had the roasted chicken - I had a small taste and it was incredibly moist.
Service was very attentive. The wine (Campus Stella, Albarino) was rich & fruity. The only reason we didn't give Wisteria 5 stars was the dessert wasn't as exceptional as the rest of the meal. I had the black cherry cobbler & my partner had the strawberries & balsamic. The strawberries needed more balsamic & the cobbler could've used a bit more ice cream.
All in all, it was an evening well-spent and I recommend Wisteria without reservation.
What a disappointment the food was....
I was on a business trip from San Francisco and had two nights to experience Southern food but I also wanted something, modern with a twist. I wanted something with a ~$20 entree price range--nothing that would make my boss reject my expense report. Based on yelp reviews I thought Wisteria and Watershed were going to be my 2 restaurants for my first visit to Atlanta.
The hostess at Wisteria recognized my 415 area code and knew I was from San Francisco. Impressive. She let me know that she hoped Wisteria would live up to my high San Francisco standards. But the food totally missed the mark--both execution but importantly the balance of flavors within each dish.
The first dish I had were pan seared scallops over pork belly. The powerful, smoky sauce with the thick, salty pork belly totally overpowered the creaminess of the scallop. What I tasted was essentially smoky salt with none of the subtle brininess that I would expect to taste in a scallop. Quelle domage.... I wanted to rescue those poor puck sized scallops by rinsing them in my water glass and throwing them in a dish less with a lighter sauce where the scallops could truly sing.
My main dish was a braised *beef* short rib (they were out of veal) over what was a bed of cabbage and blue cheese with a massive onion ring on top. The onion ring was perfection. It was gigantic, crispy and served with homemade ketchup. This was the most memorable part of the meal unfortunately. Again, the balance of flavors was off. The braised beef came with a salty sauce that was exacerbated by more salt in the blue cheese. Salt and more salt...is this a Southern thing? The cabbage needed an acid or a dressing...it was truly just shredded cabbage with chunks of blue cheese. Then in the middle of one bite, I tasted what I can describe as an "off" flavor. It tasted like the blue cheese or the cabbage had mold on it! Truly unacceptable.
Perhaps I ordered wrong. Perhaps I should have come earlier in the evening when the food was more plentiful. Perhaps my San Francisco pallette is more sensitive than the kind folks from Atlanta that gave this restaurant 4-5 stars. But then, the night before, I did go to Watershed which was a totally different experience (of the positive kind...review forthcoming).
I found Wisteria to be disappointing. I read all the rave reviews about it and decided to give it a shot last night.
Here's the low down:
The service was excellent and attentive and albeit a small restaurant, we were seated right away (with reservation).
The food was the let down. I had heard and read so many great reviews about this place that I was really pumped to sink my teeth into something delectable. The food was good. BUT NOT GREAT! And when you're shelling out 20-30 bucks at a well respected restaurant your taste buds should be screaming for more.
To start off we got the waitress recommended tart of the day. It featured caramelized onions, cheese, and some other goodness. Again, good but not amazing.
I got the beef tenderloin, and while cooked to order, it lacked flavor. It was served with a giant (bigger than the piece of meat) baked macaroni and cheese cake (for lack of a better term). The mac and cheese was really quite good-almost had a fried, crispy texture to the exterior and warm and gooey on the inside.
The lady got the Pork Tenderloin. While having more flavor than my dish, I still felt it was missing something. It was served with sweet potato souffle which was pretty darn good.
So while everything was good, it just didn't knock my socks off, which is what I came in expecting.
*UPDATE* The two stars is for my overall impression of the restaurant. For all of the hype/reputation and the menu pricing, I expected more than just good. Compare this restaurant to Chilli's, it's no contest. But compare it to other places of this caliber and price range and I can name hundreds of other places that are better.
Neighborhood: Inman Park
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Inman Park
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Buckhead
Category: French
Neighborhood: Inman Park
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Virginia Highlands
Category: American (Traditional)
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