Comments on: Review: Craft

By: Charles Cole

Charles Cole — Sun, 24 May 2009 21:53:15 +0000

I just ate at Craft Atlanta three weeks ago. To say I was unimpressed would be a complete understatement. My dining companion and I shared appetizers and entrees so I had the opportunity to taste five dishes. Here is the rundown:

Sweetbreads and kumquat: The only acceptable dish of the evening. The citrus wonderfully complemented the perfectly cooked sweetbreads. I would give this appetizer an “A”.

Pork Belly: I was so excited to try the pork belly, as it had been recommended. It was the single most disppointing dish of the evening. We were served five rectangular strips of “pork belly”. From the outside they looked perfect: perfectly bronzed and carmelized. Unfortunately, they were inedible because there was no trace of pork. We were served five rectangles of nicely browned fat. There was not a trace of pork. I understand that pork belly by definition is mostly fat. It can’t be ALL fat.

Caesar salad: Not much to say here except that it was totally unremarkable and unseasoned. I’ve had better at the past 30 restaurants where I have ordered a caesar salad.

Diver scallops: Not bad, but again, what happened to nicely seasoned, Tom?

Beef short ribs: OK, so I get the concept that this is sort of comfort food, so I wasn’t expecting some glorious piece of beef here. But it tasted like beef stew you’d get at a covered dish supper. It wasn’t awful, but it was far from extraordinary.

Our meal was almost $300 for two (granted we had a $130 bottle of wine) but please. $14 for a Caesar salad with anchovies that tasted so devoid of flavor it was almost as if they had rinsed the anchovies in water just to make sure the salad was ultra bland. $16 for strips of pure fat with absolutely NO pork? No way I would return to this restaurant. I will say that our service was fabulous and we were treated perfectly.

By: lee

lee — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:30:38 +0000

I was not happy to hear that Colicchio dismissed Laurend Abraham as the GM after they used him to set up the restaurant until they brought someone in from NY. Laurend was the only personality going for CRAFT. He will now be where he will be most appreciated as the GM at resaurant and bar opening at The St Regis in April. Other than seeing Laurend at CRAFT I wa not impressed. Too much hype not enough comfort.

By: Foodgeek

Foodgeek — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:31:05 +0000

Speaking as someone who spent $500 for 2 people for a tasting menu with Bruno Menard at The Dining Room, I honestly don’t think that this place sounds like it’s worth a $200 meal, under most people’s current budgets.

From what I’ve heard, service can be downright rude and inhospitable, and the food is certainly not what I’d expect at this price range. I’d rather spend my money on a local chef like Linton Hopkins and know that I’ll get a good meal.

By: Broderick

Broderick — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:02:19 +0000

What a great review, I’m not sure if it fits in my budget right now but I’m definitely looking forward to checking this place out someday

By: Besha Rodell

Besha Rodell — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:58:24 +0000

Yeah, $200 is about right for two people, before tip, if you buy a bottle of wine and get things like sides and desserts.
I don’t think it’s on par with Bacchanalia or the Dining Room. But to be fair, it’s quite a bit cheaper than the Dining Room (I’ve never made it out of there for less than $350). Like I said, it’s not exactly a special occasion place, which is strange for the price point, but a lovely experience nonetheless.

By: She's crafty

She's crafty — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:31:18 +0000

$200. That’s with the cheapest bottle of wine in the joint @ $45. 2 drinks; 1 app; 2 entrees; 2 sides; comped dessert. Not cheap, but also not as good as Baccanalia.

By: JIm

JIm — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:24:50 +0000

We all know it’s expensive. But can you provide an example of how a night at Craft might be for two – cocktails, an average bottle of wine, app, main, side(s), dessert? For the money you spent, does it rank with/above Bacchanalia, Dining Room, etc. You may not think about meals this way as its your job to review all the top newcomers, but regular folks must apply this approach, esp. in “these times.” Thanks, great review.