Every neighborhood needs one: a great sushi bar and a place to get some spicy basil and other Thai favorites when the mood strikes. Throw in some hibachi grilled food along with the pyrotechnic entertainment and you have a fun place to eat with friends and family. Mizu does it all to satisfy your cravings for traditional Japanese fare: sushi (maki and nigiri), soups, appetizers, teriyaki and tempura, Chinese favorites like General Tso Chicken—a dish made with lightly battered chicken chunks and then stir-fried in a sweet and spicy sauce ($9.95), egg rolls, soups, noodles and fried rice dishes…

Cut into a row of commercial spaces on Main Street just before the intersection of Highway 92 is a little taste of Havana, Cuba. As you approach the entrance to La Rumba Cuban Café, you will immediately smell a spicy aroma — a mainstay of many Cuban kitchens; the ingredients of sofrito: sautéed onions, green peppers, garlic, oregano and ground black pepper, the base for many soups, stews, and cooked vegetables throughout the Caribbean, Cuba and Latin America. One whiff, and I was on familiar ground. You must go for the iconic Cuban sandwich, voted the best in the South. Thissandwich was the …

With a reputation as having The World’s Best Ham, the one and only honey-baked, spiral-cut beauty that people stand in line for their orders around Christmas and Easter, I am reminded that it is the same delicious porcine rump that one can expect to be served for lunch in a variety of succulent sandwiches at the retail locations for the rest of the year. I’m a creature of habit, but on those occasions that I break with my own conditioning, I am, once again pleased when I venture outside of “the box.” While Christmas has passed and Easter is not yet on the horizon, remembering that one doesn’t…

In Brooklyn, pizza is the quintessential fast food. People discuss and defend it as vehemently as they defend their favorite baseball team. One may ask where’s the best ‘za in Brooklyn? Oh, but is it worth waiting in line? Who makes the best crust? Whose sauce is the freshest? Is it coal-fired or brick oven pizza? And, Brooklynites claim world dominance over pizza and hero sandwiches despite the ever-changing culinary scene of the NBC—New Brooklyn Cuisine. Still pizza wizards with names like Carmine perform ancient pizza rituals and claim starry-eyed followers for generations. No matter where…

There’s nothing like a little entertainment while your lunch is being prepared. There’s fire, there’s egg juggling, and fancy slicing and dicing—it’s Hibachi style cooking at Okinawa. Aside from an aggressive menu starting with nearly a dozen appetizers like spring rolls, dumplings, tempuras and tatakis (lightly seared fish served with a citrus soy sauce) ranging in price from $3.25-7.95, Okinawa continues to entice diners with some unexpected pleasures as in the Ginger Salad: a combination of crisp lettuces, and cucumbers dressed with a mustard, lemon juice, rice wine vinegar and chopped …

When the sun goes down and you feel like hanging out with your friends, there’s a new restaurant concept in downtown Woodstock that may just be your ticket. Wink is the new place for a girls’ night out, a date night dinner, happy hour with classic cocktails and signature drinks, live music and a dance floor ready for you to showcase your moves. Ultramodern and oh, so chic, Wink’s crisp, clean lines, metallic bar tops and cool colors belie the warm and friendly atmosphere you will find there. Billed as a late-night dessert restaurant, it delivers much more than you would expect. The designer …

Unseasonably warm weather in the week leading up to Christmas dashed all hopes of seeing any of that white stuff. As the sun made its appearance periodically through the rain clouds, a chilly nip in the air was nowhere to be felt. I realized that I needed something cold, white and frosty to put me in the holiday mood. Enter Yoguri. There on the Chambers Street promenade is a frozen yogurt shop that, for a short time, sufficed as a conduit to a festive mood. It would satisfy my basic requirements: something very cold, something white, and definitely frosty. Yoguri is a pleasant little self-…

For family style service and Italian classic dishes, Provino’s has been satisfying appetites for over 30 years. Since 1977, this establishment has been a local favorite. If you have not dined there before, I am happy to tell you that they have become famous for their huge, multi-ingredient salad served in a communal bowl and the hot garlic and olive oil rolls. That’s just to get your appetite whetted. Beyond this, the down to earth classic dishes on the menu are exactly what you would expect in a great Italian restaurant. From the Antipasti: Mozzarella di Fritto—Cheese sticks with Marinara, …

Tucked behind Wendy’s and across from Kroger’s is this little bistro that serves breakfast all day, every day. This is important to remember because sometimes you may just want breakfast though it’s in the middle of the day. Hey, there are legitimate reasons for that kind of hunger—and I can truly relate. However, and more importantly, The Corner Bistro seems like the kind of place that you instantly add to your favorites and can’t wait to tell your friends about it. They have an irresistible approach: “If you don’t love it (your order), they will make you something else.” And to make sure …

Tucked behind Walgreen’s on Hickory Flat Highway you will find a fun neighborhood sports bar and full service restaurant, Bedoe’s Bar and Grille. This place is serious about getting you connected to your favorite sports programs with more than 36 TVs around the space and one in each booth. It’s a family friendly restaurant with the bar separated from the main dining area so that moms and dads can enjoy a meal with the kids in a more “home-like” atmosphere. I am told that the kids can tune in to the Cartoon Network at the booth while parents can check into their favorite sports on the big …

“You can’t step into the same river twice.” Same location, same exterior, but walk inside and brand new experiences await you. There, in the Woodstock train depot built in 1912 by the L&N Railroad, the familiar hometown icon, and until very recently the location of The Right Wing Tavern, a new team of culinary wizards has been working tirelessly to present the Freight Kitchen & Tap concept. Of course, I wasn’t present when the owners and executive chef developed and executed the restaurant’s concept; I’m just on the receiving end and happy to share my impressions. Let’s Start At The Tap Leave…

Located in front of Harmony at the Lakes, Iron Horse Restaurant is owned and operated by Chef John Griffin and has one of the most interesting and creative menus in these parts. Consider the lunch menu. As I did, you might find it difficult to choose from a list of very tempting appetizers like Roasted Mussels or Broiled Crab Cake or Baked Oysters in Aromatics or the “southern must”—Fried Green Tomatoes layered with bleu cheese and spiced pecans. I love it when the appetizer menu is as exciting as the entrees. Chef John has compiled a delightful assortment that has wide appeal. The appetizers…

Sammy’s is the new kid in town, and he brings the concept of “new southern” cuisine to Woodstock that utilizes traditional foodstuffs of the South in innovative ways. His menu is abounding with French twists and Cajun turns that melds and blends into something new and very interesting, indeed. Several examples of his innovative style are exhibited in the Fried Green Tomatoes Appetizer ($5.99) where he varies the French Remoulade by adding roasted red pepper and goat cheese. His use of one of Georgia’s icons—the pecan—is dotted generously throughout his menu. Other nice surprising uses of …

Sometimes, you just want breakfast even if it’s midday. Sitting there like a brightly lit jewel among the boutiques, shops and restaurants in Downtown Woodstock is J. Christopher’s where all you can order is either breakfast or lunch. But, that seems to be enough. The menu sports dishes for early risers with an emphasis on a few healthy ones like the Breakfast Parfait, a dish of low fat yogurt, honey almond granola, with strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream ($5.49) and a few disguised as breakfasts but are really desserts like the Chocolate Chipcakes, pancakes filled with chocolate …

Seafood lovers take heed to the hometown treasure we have at Goin' Coastal Sustainable Seafood Joint on Main Street in Canton. Besides the new menu, which should be enough to prompt you to visit, there are some good vibes that one can pick up on from the moment you walk through the door. The observation kitchen, for me, is always a gratifying aspect of any restaurant design—symbolically welcoming me into “the house” where all the fun happens. The chalkboards positioned at both ends of the main brick wall heralds the sustainable fish offerings for the day. It sends the message that the …

Overview: I like trying new things and I haven’t had much experience with Irish food, so I thought I would check out Donovan's Irish Cobbler in Woodstock. The Rose Creek Drive location has been occupied by many restaurants over the years, but Donovan's seems to be a popular choice. Jim Donovan and his family brought the idea from Chicago. They wanted to bring Irish tradition to the Georgia area. The horseshoe, a sandwich the family ate back in Illinois, is the main attraction. The restaurant offers traditional Irish pub food. Décor: The interior of the pub is very inviting. It is a great spot…

Overview: The Ippolito family's Northern Italian-style restaurants have been in the Atlanta area for more than 20 years. Ipp's Pastaria and Bar is a modern update on the same great Italian food and atmosphere. It's a great addition to Downtown Woodstock, which has flourished with the arrival of several restaurants and shops in the past few months. Décor: The look has been updated, but Ipp's Pastaria and Bar still has the charm of the 1904 house it calls home. There are booths, tables and a quaint outdoor patio with a view of Downtown Woodstock. The restaurant has a friendly atmosphere. It is …

There are several Mexican restaurants in the area that I frequent on a weekly basis. I decided to try Los Gavilanes Mexican Restaurant in Holly Springs. It was an OK experience, but I think I may stick with my usual spots. Overview: The restaurant has a nice atmosphere with booths and tables for seating and a full bar. It also has weekly food and drink specials. The location is in a shopping plaza strip mall. It's a bit of a drive if you live in Woodstock or Canton. The restaurant was full for a Wednesday night. Décor: The interior, which is decorated nicely with Mexican art and a bar, has …

Fire Stone Wood Fired Pizza & Grill is a new restaurant in downtown Woodstock. It serves pizza baked in an open stone fire oven. The concept is a modern but rustic style restaurant that won't break the bank. Overview: General manager Sean McEntegart runs the restaurant. Since opening on Aug. 18, the restaurant has been very busy. On a recent Sunday, they were out of several items, calamari among them. I was disappointed because I love calamari. I also realized my salad was missing some toppings. I think they have some kinks to work out. But all in all, the food was delicious. Décor: The …

Recently I took my twin girls to Olive Garden for lunch. I thought an endless bowl of soup and salad would hit the spot. It was such a wonderful treat—and a great change of pace from the usual hamburgers and tacos. Overview: Olive Garden is a franchise Italian restaurant. The food is good and it offers many options if you just want to go somewhere for a nice meal. The lunch menu has some great deals like endless soup and salad. The dinner menu has some nice choices, too. Décor: The décor is that of an Italian Tuscan village, very bright and colorful. The restaurant is very spacious with …