Sweet Apple Village in Roswell to Hold Inaugural Fall Festival

Welcome back!

Sweet Apple Village, Roswell’s new premiere shopping destination, is hosting a fall festival that will be full of fun activities for the whole family. Come enjoy hay rides, jump houses, crafts, face painting, a fire truck and balloon creations in addition to give-aways galore and a farmers’ market. Sample food from Tera Humata, the area’s hottest Mexican restaurant and tequila bar, and The Village Slice, serving exceptional pizza and pasta.

Sweet Apple Village is located at the corner of Etris Road and Crabapple Road in Roswell, GA.  View directions to Sweet Apple Village.

Saturday, Nov. 7 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Contact Joe Mediate for more information, 404-446-1225, joe@kookoobearkids.com

Coldbrew’s Sports Bar & Grill Review

I splurged a little this weekend and ate out quite a bit.  The last place I ate at was Coldbrew’s Sports Bar and Grill which is where Ray’s Brick Oven Pizza once resided.  First and foremost, I must confess that I was disappointed and quite surprised when I learned of Ray’s Brick Oven Pizza closing.  Being that I am from Chicago I think I have credentials as an expert pizza reviewer and I really felt that Ray’s offered some of the best pizza in all of Atlanta and most certainly the best in Roswell.  That being said, the place that took over in its place had a lot to live up to.

My friend and I arrived at Coldbrew’s just before Sunday’s NFL kickoffs began.  We were two out of about 15 people in the establishment…a small crowd for a sports bar for Sunday football.

The bartender greeted us and handed us our menus.  She appeared quite busy filling ice, chopping fruits, and doing a variety of other tasks.  When it came time to order food I took her recommendation and ordered the Diablo Burger which was her favorite…it was the burger I was eying…typically anything with the word Diablo in it peeks my interest.  I ordered it cooked medium rare.  In addition, I ordered some nachos for my friend and I.  I’m off the belief that you can judge a sports bar by the quality of their nachos.

While we waited for our food we ordered some alcoholic beverages.  Charlie ordered a Guiness which we were told they were out of so he ordered another beer instead (I don’t recall what).  I ordered a Bloody Mary.  She asked me if I liked my Bloody Mary’s spicy and I told her that I did and said Absolut Peppar is good.  Shortly after receiving the drinks I see a chalkboard on the wall that mentions “Everyday Drink Specials”.  I asked the bartender what the specials were and wouldn’t you know…a Bloody Mary was on special for $3…sweet!  Although, it wasn’t sweet, she informed me that is only for those that are made from “well vodka”.  Now, I understand that when she asked if I liked my Bloody Mary’s spicy I said that I did and suggested Absolut Peppar, but she should have countered back and informed me that if she used well vodka that Bloody Mary’s were on special for $3…instead I ended up paying $7 for my Bloody Mary.

Our food finally arrived.  After taking one bite I notice that my burger doesn’t seem to be cooked medium rare.  I take one more bite further into the beef patty to be sure that indeed I was not mistaken.  My burger was most certainly cooked “well done”.  I inform the bartender of this and she looks at it and agrees with me.  She informs the kitchen and a new burger is brought out to me 10-15 minutes later…by this time my friend had already finished his meal and I had finished the french fries that were originally served with the well done burger.

I bite into the medium rare burger, it’s cooked to perfection…great!  Unfortunately, the burger was nothing special whatsoever and I’m quite sure I’ve cooked tastier burgers myself.  This is a disappointment because a sports bar should be known for their burgers.  If they aren’t known for their burgers then they ought to be cheap…not priced near $10!

Finally, the end of the meal has come…20-30 minutes after my friend had already finished his meal.  I get the check and discover that the Absolut Peppar cost me an additional $4 and not that I expected it, but when similar situations have happened typically the burger would have been comped.  Rojo Taqueria didn’t do anything wrong and yet they acknowledged my unhappiness and turned an unhappy experience into a positive one.  All this being said, I don’t foresee myself setting foot inside of Coldbrew’s anytime in the near future.

880 Holcomb Bridge Rd
Roswell, GA 30076
(678) 639-7297
www.coldbrewsgrill.com

Rojo Taqueria Serving Gourmet Tacos

Although its address is technically Alpharetta, Rojo Taqueria is close enough to Roswell that I felt it was worth mentioning on this website.  Rojo Taqueria is located just off of Holcomb Bridge Road in Alpharetta near TJs Sports Bar and in the space that previously housed Johnny’s Pizza.  After being recommended by several friends to go to this restaurant and after meeting one of it’s waiters at the East Roswell Dog Park, I decided to give this place a try over the weekend.  Overall it was a positive experience and I will likely go back.

I went with a friend on a Friday night…he has been there several times.  My friend suggested that of anything I order I must have the BBQ Taco.  I followed my friend’s advice and ordered the BBQ Taco, the Bartender (we sat at the bar to watch baseball playoffs) suggested the Fish Taco as well.  I ordered these two tacos and also the Buffalo Shrimp.  I had just been to Hooters a few days earlier and I LOVE their Buffalo Shrimp, so I figured I’d give Rojo Taqueria’s shrimp a try.

While our food was being prepared the bartender engaged us in conversation.  He was a very pleasant individual which made our dining, well…aside from the children running around and screaming (it was early on a Friday night), a very nice experience.

The food arrived rather quickly and I tried the tacos first.  Gourmet tacos…I now understand what is meant by that.  The tacos were excellent!  The Buffalo Shrimp came with french fries…a good thing too because the shrimp were small (about half that of Hooters shrimp).  The shrimp had too much breading and the sauce was nothing unique.  The fries saved the dish.  The bartender asked how I liked the Buffalo Shrimp and I was honest with him.  He informed me it was a offering they were trying out…he also agreed with me that Hooters has some of the best Buffalo Shrimp around.  He told me not to worry, the Buffalo Shrimp would cost me only $3, more than half the price listed on the menu.

I will most certainly visit Rojo Taqueria again…it was a great experience and the service was exceptional.  I would highly recommend this Mexican restaurant to anyone.  Take a look at their menu…prices aren’t bad either!

2850 Holcomb Bridge Rd
Alpharetta, GA 30022-1660
(678) 277-9000
Get directions

Simply Delizioso: Amazing Italian Food in Roswell, GA

First opened in 1988, Ippolito’s family-style restaurant is a small, comfortable neighborhood restaurant with great service and wonderful authentic Italian food. Their famous garlic rolls are made from scratch daily. The original Ippolito’s location on Holcomb Bridge Road became one of Roswell’s most popular place to dine. This is the place to bring all of your family to and enjoy wonderful Italian food. Now with 4 locations throughout Atlanta, Ippolito’s has become my family’s favorite and you can definitely see us there at least once a week. Whether you order freshly made pizza or the classic lasagna, you will be satisfied with the taste. The most I love is their house salads, which come with every entrée. The salads are extremely fresh, the lettuce is crispy and the dressings are made right there at the restaurant. Their dinner menu features the famous Italian dishes such as Baked Lasagna, Chicken Parmigiana, and Manicotti. And in case you still have room for dessert, try their Ipp’s Homemade Chocolate Chip Cannolis.

It’s a great place to dine after a hard week of work. So bring your family and enjoy a delicious, fresh, Italian dinner.

Located:
2270 Holcomb Bridge Rd.
Roswell, GA 30076
Phone: (770) 992-0781
Website: http://www.ippolitos.net

Due the Fondue

Have you ever wanted to visit a restaurant and be able to cook your own dish? Sounds intriguing doesn’t it? Well, you can—at The Melting Pot. Fondue is a fun and interactive dining experience—and for more than three decades, The Melting Pot has defined the niche across the American dining scene. What to expect you wonder? When my husband and I first visited the restaurant for our Anniversary, we were very surprised at how “different” this restaurant really was. They give you a menu and you choose your meats, vegetables and sauces. Sounds easy, right? Well, then they bring out this big pot of stock (virtually boiling) to the table. The waiter goes over a few basics with you and then you’re on your own! You are now ready to dip, cook, and eat. We had a great time, and if only they gave us little chef hats, it would have made it even more fun. The atmosphere is enjoyable and relaxing. Either bring a group of friends or have a romantic dinner just for the two of you. This place is definitely different from your usual sit down restaurant. You will love it! On the weekends the place is usually packed, so reservations are highly recommended.

The Melting Pot is located at 1055 Mansell Road, Roswell, GA 30076. For reservations call (770) 518-4100 or visit them on the web at: http://www.meltingpot.com

Feeling a Little Blue?

Come dive into the world of Aqua Blue. Enjoy everything from steaks and chops to deliciously prepared seafood and premium sushi, your taste buds will thank you. The atmosphere is relaxing and you will enjoy the casually elegant setting. Bring a group of friends and dine in the Wine room, and enjoy their large selection of wines. And if you are really feeling ambitious, try their Penfold’s Grange, Shiraz, or Southern Australia ’98—a $310 per bottle wine. The sushi is fresh and their crisp salads are tasty. But if you are not into seafood, try their Rack of Lamb or Filet Mignon. And if you still have room for dessert, try their decadent Chocolate Tower—its Layers of dark chocolate cake and creamy chocolate mousse wrapped in a thin milk chocolate shell.

I was fortunate to meet Co-founder, Owner and Executive Chef John Metz. He was friendly and really made us feel welcome.

So next time you are feeling a bit blue, gather your friends and visit Aqua Blue for great food and a good time. They are located at 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, GA 30076. Phone: 770.643.8886

1564 Holcomb Bridge Road
Roswell, GA 30076
Phone: (770) 643-8886