FOODIE IN FLIP FLOPS

Crispina is a Neopolitan style restaurant that is located in an unassuming strip mall in Vinings. I had heard good things and had to check the place out for myself.  For an appetizer we ordered the octopus. I'm always a sucker for it when it's on a menu. This was one of the best ways I have had it. The octopus had a great flavor and was served on a bed of arugula and tomatoes then topped with a citronette dressing. All of the flavors complimented each other very well! The pizza dough is made in house. It was great pizza, perfect sauce to cheese ratio. It gives Antico a run for their money! Luke ordered the Calamarata. The homemade pasta was perfectly al dente and had great flavor with lots of clams, calamari, and shrimp. I think the pictures tell it all! I was so impressed with this sleepy restaurant in Vinings. The service was good, food totally delivered, and atmosphere was pleasant. I am looking forward to going back and trying more items

Luke and I love eating sushi rolls and are always up for trying new sushi spots. O-Ku just opened up in the new Westside Ironworks building on the west side of Atlanta. It is definitely not traditional Japanese, it leans more to the trendy side. I always get worried that these types of restaurants that look so polished and sexy will not deliver when it comes to food, however, O-ku delivered. Unfortunately, it was cold, rainy, and the rooftop was closed, so we sat at the bar and tried three rolls.  Baja Roll was great! It was spicy tuna in the center with cilantro, cucumber, topped with yellow tail, avocado, jalapeno and siracha. Above was the salmon symphony roll with spicy salmon, cucumber, and yellowtail topped with avocado. The over the rainbow roll was excellent. It was spicy tuna, cucumber, topped with avocado, tuna, salmon, shrimp, and yellow tail. You do get more than four rolls, but after a few glasses of wine I forgot to take the picture until

Beetlecat has been on my radar since it first opened back in November. We met up with our friends Brian and Katie for a couple of cocktails and nibbles. As always, it was fun hanging out and trying a new place with them!!  We sat at the bar in the cocktail lounge, props to the designers for coming up with a unique decor. Yes, it felt like being on a yacht ready to film 70's porn, but it was refreshing to be surrounded by something other than white subway tile and the usual steam punk furnishings.              The peel and eat shrimp were cooked perfectly. The shrimp were a nice size, plump, and seasoned well.  Beetlecat had a wide variety of oysters from the east and west coasts. We ordered four of each kind to compare the different tastes of each, they were fresh!! I would definitely go back to try more items on their menu, however I do think they are a little overpriced with both the drinks and food. I feel like I have been saying that more and more,

I had eaten at the Oyster Bar at The Optimist but never on the dining room side. I'm really glad after all these years I finally decided to try it, plus I got to catch up with my friend Gina.         We shared the Octopus appetizer and it was delicious, so far the best I've had in town. They charred the octopus and served it with a gochujang (fermented bean sauce), miso yogurt, green papaya, and topped with a lime vinaigrette. It was creative and extremely delicious. Gina wasn't all that hungry and ordered two sides, Brussels sprouts and Beets. Brussels were topped with toasted almond, cilantro, and feta then tossed in a Harissa vinaigrette = sooo good!! The beets were beautiful and a great combination of tastes with carrot cardamom yogurt, wheat berries, and mint.  The bartender recommended the Flounder. It was served with an almond meunière sauce over a cauliflower purée.  It was good, but next to everything else it