One of the things I love about Atlanta are the number of restaurants that offer terrific atmospheres for winding down after work. Last Monday I joined members of the Atlanta Food Bloggers’ Society for appetizers and cocktails at Sweet Auburn Barbecue and found it to be just the right kind of laid back for an After 5 gathering.
While waiting for everyone to arrive I ordered a nice Strawberry Lemonade which really hit the spot considering how hot it had been outside earlier. After going over the beverage menu a few times, I finally settled on The Walking Red cocktail next. It’s a pleasant yet mild blend of St. George Botanivore Gin, Byrrh, Grapefruit, Lime and Leopold Brothers Absinthe.
Between sips, I was able to soak in a bit of the charm in the restaurant’s decor. The space was semi-rustic with an eclectic assortment of lighting fixtures, wood furnishings and wall decor. I adore spaces like this.
The cocktail above is called Don’t Burn the House Down and was ordered by a hard working young lady who blogs at Happily Eating. It was mixed at our table and I have to say that it’s the coolest (yes I said cool) drink I’ve ever seen being put together. To start, a plank of hickory was burned with a torched, then a glass was placed upside down over the smoldering wood in order to impart a hint of Hickory Smoke flavor to it. After a few minutes, a mixture of Bulleit Bourbon, Maple Syrup, Black Walnut & Creole Bitters and Orange Peel was poured inside. How inventive is that?!
As far as the appetizers go, we shared a Sweet Auburn Country Picnic Plate which included Shaved Benton’s Country Ham, Homemade Pickles, Homemade Pimento Cheese, Candied Bacon and Crostinis. The ham was not my favorite thing but I totally enjoyed everything else; especially the candied bacon. The pimento cheese was unlike any other version I’ve tried which is nice considering the current trend to include this homemade spread as an item on many restaurant menus around town.
Speaking of which, these Pimento Cheese Wontons are also on the menu at Sweet Auburn Barbecue and they are amazing. Inside the crispy bites you’ll find the cheese mixed with Bacon Marmalade and on the side, a Sweet Thai Chili Sauce for dipping. Try them but be careful not to burn your mouth on the hot filling.
Finally, we also passed around some Smoked Wings tossed in Wu Tang Sauce. They’ll make you lick your fingers. Nuff said.
I concluded my unwinding with a serving of Bourbon Pecan Pie served with High Road’s Bourbon Burnt Sugar Ice Cream and all kinds of whipped cream. I’ve been trying to do better by controlling my sweet tooth, but desserts like this make it pretty difficult. I know it’s hard to see it in there but there’s a wonderful slab of pecan pie under that topping. If you’ve ever tried it then you must understand. If you haven’t, well, you’re kinda missing something special.
I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that despite going on about the food at Sweet Auburn Barbecue that I haven’t mentioned anything about…well…barbecue. That’s because on this particular occasion I didn’t try any. We call that a very good reason to return. For now, I’m calling this a great place to relax and enjoy good drinks, apps and conversations with friends. After getting my hands on a rib, I’ll come back and add good barbecue to that list.
Disclosure: While the food and beverages at Sweet Auburn Barbecue 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.
