If you’re the type to make a night at the Fox Theatre a real event, you might consider adding small bites or dinner from one of two conveniently located eateries to your plans.
I recently joined members of the Atlanta Food Bloggers’ Society for a taste of both Publik Draft House, located just steps away from the theatre at Peachtree and Ponce de Leon Ave and Baraonda Ristorante & Bar which is a quick walk to the next block at Peachtree and 3rd. Our seating at Publik was upstairs in a loft like area. The décor was warm with semi-industrial touches including partially exposed brick walls and open ceilings showing off ductwork and rustic beams. Tables and chairs were a combination of wood & metal which really sets the tone. You can relax here and just have fun which is the point.
Our host at Publik was Eddie Johnson, a super cool and gracious host. You’ll love his energy and enthusiasm.
The items we tried that night were the Braised Short Rib Sliders, Bruschetta with Roasted Tomatoes and Bacon Jam and Scallop Ceviche Lettuce Wraps. The pulled short ribs were topped with a delicious combination of pickled cabbage and mustard mayo. Because bread fills me pretty quickly I could have eaten two or three of these and been perfectly content for the evening.
What I could barely resist was Publik’s Southern take on Bruschetta. Their version was a flavorsome combination of pimento cheese spread on lightly toasted bread, topped with roasted tomatoes and bacon jam. It was hard not to overdo it with these. They were Amazing!
I also enjoyed the lettuce wraps. They make for a nice appetizer on a hot day.
After those lovely bites at Publik, our group walked down to Baraonda. What we were expecting was dessert but to our surprise, there was a full dinner in store for us.
It started with this beautiful Gorgonzola Salad composed of mixed greens, apple slices, dried cranberries walnuts, gorgonzola cheese and lemon honey dressing. The salad was the kind I’d welcome for lunch and dinner.
Served alongside the salad was Fra Diavolo, a pizza that will surprise you with its spicy salami, mozzarella and calabrese peppers. While it started out a bit fiery for my taste buds, it grew on me pretty quickly.
The main courses included Gigli, a housemade pasta with wild boar sausage, rapini and Italian cherry tomatoes. It’s a delicious, hearty pasta made and served with pride as it is a family recipe. This dish was a favorite among our group. Also served were Veal Parmigiana, Mushroom Ravioli with Gorgonzola Cream Sauce and bowls of sauteed zucchini and squash.
To finish off our meal, we were treated to Homemade Tiramisu. This is one of my favorite desserts but it’s hard to find a restaurant here that does it well. Baraonda makes a nice one so when I have a craving for the coffee flavored dessert, I know where to go.
Overall, I think Publik and Baraonda are two great choices to consider for dinner before or after a show or for any other night in Atlanta.
Disclosure: While the meals at Publik and Baraonda were complimentary, I was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. You can view my full Disclosure Policy here.
