OK, so we were in a hurry, as Johanna and I were on our way to dance lessons (long story, having to do with Groupon and an overly optimistic assumption as to my dancing skills). We were in John’s Creek, Ga., which used to be Duluth once, so I’m told. Anyway, we figured we’d find someplace to get a quick bite to eat and thought our best chance for finding a place was Medlock Bridge Road.

The shrimp and cheesy grits with a cucumber and tomato salad.

Well, lo and behold, right there on Medlock and Abbott’s Bridge Road, rising high from the parking lot on the corner, like a beacon, was Abbott’s Bar & Grill. We pulled in and found a party going on—a tropical luau-meets-south-of-the-boarder fiesta sort of event, as evidenced by the host, who was running around wearing a faux grass skirt and a coconut bikini top (over his polo shirt; this is a classy place) and the piped mariachi music.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to partake in the liquid refreshments, which looked refreshing, and quickly ordered a couple of items off the dinner menu: a chicken sandwich for her and the shrimp and cheesy grits for me.

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Vineyard Green Restaurant is located inside Mountain Creek Inn, across from Callaway Gardens

A popular Pine Mountain, Georgia attraction an hour from Atlanta, Callaway Gardens offers several on-site restaurants, including the retro 70’s Vineyard Green Restaurant & Spirits, located off the lobby of Mountain Creek Inn.

The Vineyard Green Restaurant & Spirits is open daily for lunch and dinner and is one of the few Callaway Garden’s restaurants that also offers a full bar.

The dining area reminds of the mountain lodge restaurant designs of Colorado – open beams and oversized windows, but then it’s all southern hospitality. Unwinding is easy when Will is your bartender at Vineyard Green. His friendly smile and southern drawl welcome dining guests and immediately put you at ease.

Retro dining room of Vineyard Green Restaurant & Spirits

The Vineyard Green’s menu is southern comfort food, ranging from sandwiches and pizza to New York Strip Steak and Alfredo. Surprisingly, considering the retro (in need of an upgrade), relaxed atmosphere, the kitchen turns out some tasty dishes.

The first time we dined at Vineyard Green, we chose the bar for a couple of adult beverages and an appetizer, the shrimp cocktail. The shrimp was plump and fresh, and the cocktail sauce was Georgia style slightly horseradish-spicy.

Plump, fresh shrimp cocktail at Vineyard Green

I admit – I returned for dinner because we wanted a cocktail, but again Will won us over. And the chef did too with perfectly cooked, medium rare, 12 oz. New York Strip Steak, marinated with just the right amount of garlic and a slight smoky flavor.

The best part of dining at Vineyard Green is the price. For a resort restaurant, the prices are good. Sandwiches cost under $10, a 12-inch pizza is $15, and the shareable, 12 oz. New York Strip is $27 and includes a salad, baked potato and vegetable.

Perfectly cooked New York Strip Steak, one of the entrees at the Vineyard Green near Callaway Gardens.

The Mountain Creek Inn serves a daily Southern breakfast buffet and an a la carte breakfast menu (6:30-10:30 a.m.), plus a popular Friday Night Surf and Turf and Saturday Night Southern Buffet (from 5 p.m.-9 p.m.).

While Vineyard Green might not win any fine dining awards, the Mountain Creek Inn restaurant is convenient to Callaway Gardens’ Robin Lake Beach, and it is family friendly and affordable, plus solid good southern hospitality.

Vineyard Green Restaurant & Spirits
at Mountain Creek Inn
17800 Us Highway 27
Pine Mountain, GA 31822
(706) 663-2281

Blog & Photos © Diana Rowe

Some trout at the Shelbourne.

If you appreciate Irish literature, you’ll have heard of the Shelbourne Hotel.  It’s an institution in Dublin, Ireland–a historic spot where the Irish Republic’s constitution was signed by Ireland’s most famous son Michael Collins.  And also a place that features in many Irish books by authors including James Joyce and Maeve Binchy.

And until recently, it was closed for renovations.  The promise of the so-called “Celtic Tiger” meant that investors hoped for an early and amazing re-opening of the hotel in the mid-2000′s.  But given the economy and the state of repairs necessary, it didn’t actually open its doors until a couple years ago.  But, as most things, it was more than worth the wait.

As I’ve written about before, hotel dining is coming back–Sophie’s Bistro in Munich, Germany comes to mind.  Dublin is no exception to this trend.  The major hotels around St. Stephen’s Green all have fantastic food options.  And the Shelbourne competes well.

At a lovely luncheon last June, I was served traditional Irish favorites at the Shelbourne.  Even if I wasn’t transfixed by the gorgeous and newly renovated ballroom, I couldn’t help but be charmed by a lovely piece of smoked trout to start my meal, followed by ham and colcannon as an entree.  It’s about as Irish of a meal you can get, really.  But served with a sophistication and magnificence that you’d expect among such grandeur.

For those who aren’t banqueting at the Shelbourne, tea and luncheon is available in the lobby.  The day of my visit, however, it was full.  A popular local cooking show was filming there, limiting access.  This shows the level of food you can find at the Shelbourne, whether you are looking for traditional Irish fare or something a little more modern.

But let’s face it–even if the food wasn’t magical, literature lovers would probably still make a pilgrimage to this incredible, historic hotel.  And I wouldn’t blame them one bit.

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The Shelbourne Hotel
27 St Stephen’s Green
Dublin, 2 Ireland
Tel.:  01 663 4500

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Photo courtesy of Kayt Sukel.

Chhaya in Philly for Breakfast

I was in Philadelphia last weekend for a wedding. I’d never been to Pennsylvania before, and was excited to get to know the lush eastern State. I saw some of Pennsylvania’s green, rolling hills in the countryside, and then spent a couple days in Philly with a friend who was born and raised in the city.

Wanting to show his visitors the best of his hometown, my friend led us to a number of hip bars, underground pubs and one truly delish breakfast joint. Chhaya looks like a cafe from the outside and the inside, and on the Monday morning we were there, not too many other tables were having breakfast. According to my friend Chhaya is packed on the weekends, so bear this in mind. Read More »