Atlanta | Join Me At Kimball House
Armada Grog | Charanda Blanco + Mezcal + Grapefruit +Vanilla +Lime + Allspice Dram
Whenever I travel, there’s nothing I love more than seeking out the local establishments that exude the character and charm of the city.
For my fellow Nashvillians, this was Arnolds’s Country Kitchen. It was not simply a meat and three, but rather a restaurant rich with tradition, incredible hospitality, and some of the best damn food I’ve ever eaten. RIP Arnold’s! So naturally, when I travel, I am looking for that quintessential restaurant in each city I visit. From fine dining beacons to fast food favorites, there’s usually no shortage of fantastic food wherever you go, but you must do your research.
When I discovered I would spend a few days in Atlanta for work, I immediately texted a fellow food enthusiast and dear friend, Shamane, from All The Nash Things. She shared with me the rundown of restaurants she had frequented a few months prior but was adamant that I visit the Kimball House. Coming from a girl who loves food as much as I do, I knew she wouldn’t steer me wrong.
Despite three canceled Uber rides, we made our way through Atlanta gridlock and arrived just in time for our reservation. That’s right- no one likes driving in Atlanta, including me.
Entering the Kimball House was like traveling back in time. Located on the former site of an old train depot, the Kimball House is the brainchild of four friends who worked together in a former life and were passionate about the restaurant business. The name Kimball House was inspired by the historical Atlanta landmark Kimball House Hotel, which was initially built in 1870 and covered an entire city block on the south side of Five Points in downtown Decatur. As these friends were eyeball deep in research, they stumbled across several old menus from one of the dining rooms at the Kimball House Hotel. Even in the 1890s, they knew great food pairings as the first course from the menu was Blue Point Oysters served with a Manhattan cocktail.
That menu, coupled with the desire to serve oysters and have an incredible cocktail program, became the foundation for the restaurant concept, and the team has never looked back.
These days, it’s rare to find a restaurant where the cocktails are as enjoyable as the entrees, but Kimball House hits the mark. The cocktail offerings include classics like the French 75 and a Sazerac, but if you’re more adventurous, I’d recommend the Armada Grog (featured above) or maybe even dealer’s choice.
Enough with the restaurant history; let’s jump into the delicious details, shall we?
Blue Crab Claws | Fresno-Maple Butter
There were so many great things on the menu it was hard to choose. When in doubt, I always turn to the bartender or servers for advice, and they have yet to lead me astray. Knowing that we had a long evening ahead of us and a 10:45 p.m. flight, we didn’t want to overindulge, so we decided to stick to small bites and cocktails.
We started with two dishes that evening: the Blue Crab Claws (featured above) and the Beef Tartare (featured below). Both dishes were absolutely divine. The Blue Crab Claws were served in the most flavorful Fresno butter sauce. They were like Lay’s potato chips- you couldn’t just eat one. Needless to say, they disappeared in a matter of minutes, and we pondered placing a second order.
I’ve had my fair share of Beef Tartare, but this happened to be one of the most beautiful presentations I’ve seen. While it lasted long enough for me to snap a photo, we immediately mixed it up and devoured it. The Sweet Onion Jalapeno Chips were the perfect compliment to the beef tartare, as once we got everything mixed up, it was almost like eating a cheeseburger. This dish is an absolute must when you visit the Kimball House.
Beef Tartare | Sweet Onion Jalapeno Chips + Chili Mayo + Capers + Green Olive + Crispy Garlic + Cured Egg Yolk
As of late, I’ve been on a Chartreuse kick, and when I saw that they had a Chartreuse Tonic on the menu, I had to try it. Given how difficult it is these days to get your hands on a bottle of Chartreuse, the bartender didn’t let me hesitate long on this one, and I’m glad she didn’t—such a refreshing and flavorful cocktail.
Chartreuse Tonic | Chartreuse + Lime Gin + Genepy + Tonic
Call me crazy, but when I see bread listed on a menu as a starter, I am a little skeptical. Back in the day ( and by day, I mean 10ish years ago), many restaurant dinners started with complimentary bread to welcome patrons. However, year after year, this has continued to change. Restaurants want to avoid waste, reduce costs, and entice patrons to order appetizers or small plates. So, in all fairness, I saw the Hawaiian Rolls on the menu and looked right past them. The last thing I planned on was wasting calories on bread, but I stand corrected. It took a bit of convincing, but the bartender insisted that it was a can’t miss. Admittedly, I saw a few orders arrive at other tables, and I was intrigued, so why not, right? HOLY SHIT! This may have been one of the best rolls I’ve had in my life, no exaggeration. Not only is it served with a side of whipped butter, but also strawberry rhubarb preserves. I was in absolute heaven.
In addition to this solid recommendation, the bartender let us in on one of her favorite secrets- pairing the Salt and Pepper Rock Shrimp with the Hawaiian Rolls and making a little slider sandwich. Y’all, it was out of this world—the perfect bite to end the evening.
Hawaiian Roll | Whipped Butter + Strawberry Rhubarb Preserves
Salt & Pepper Rock Shrimp | Spring Onion + Herb Remoulade
As we wrapped up our meal and asked for our check, I wanted to squeeze in one last cocktail, the Basil Smash. Herbaceous, refreshing, and exactly what this girl needed to tackle the madness known as Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Basil Smash | Murrell’s Row Tulsi Gin + Genovese Basil + Cloosterbitter + Lemon + Salt
Next time you find yourself in Atlanta, I highly recommend you check out Kimball House. They have an outstanding cocktail program, incredible food, and wonderful hospitality.
Tariff: Cocktails range from $14.00-$19.00, with large format cocktails upwards of $44.00. Hors d’oeuvres start at $3.00 and reach $35.00, with entrees pricing starting at $30.00.
Can’t Miss: Next time I visit Kimball House, I won’t miss the Beef Tartare, and I’ll show self-restraint any only place one order of rolls and rock shrimp so I can experience other things on the menu.
Potential Pass: I absolutely loved the small plates that we ordered. Wouldn’t pass on a thing!
Until Next Time!