Briza – Midtown
Encouraging Atlantans to dine at hotel restaurants is difficult in a city filled with dozens of exceptional eateries located in cute, hip, fun and charming neighborhoods. However, several hotels get it right and the Renaissance Atlanta Midtown is among them. Briza, the hotel’s southern American restaurant, offers farm-to-table dishes paired with impressive cocktail and wine selections.
Armed with several friends looking to take advantage of Midtown restaurant week, we dined at Briza on a Wednesday evening. The atmosphere is cool – relaxed, yet elegant with a retro feel. Chef Falvo creates innovative combinations such as Coca-Cola Braised Kurabota Pork Belly (fried green tomatoes, sauce soubise) and Cucumber-melon Salad (living watercress, minted yogurt vinaigrette). The table raved about the Alaskan Halibut (wild mushrooms, sweet corn, tarragon, corn nage) with Organic Chicken Breast (Georgia peach-brioche dressing) also a favorite. The mozzarella 'egg' with heirloom tomatoes, black garlic vinaigrette, crispy kale, and dusted with bacon power sounded strange, but tastes amazing.
While we indulged from the wine list, several cocktails caught our attention for next time: Garden Fresh (Cuervo traditional reposado tequila, jalapeno simple syrup, peach jam, cilantro, cucumber, moscato) and Bon Appetito (10 cane rum, peach jam, lime juice, dash of balsamic). For dessert, the Flexible Ganache (bacon powder, cherries, brown butter streusel, sel gris ice cream) perfectly ended a tasteful meal.
Hotel or no hotel, Briza’s food and atmosphere gamely compete with famous Atlanta farm-to-table restaurants. Plus, after dinner, you and your date can escape to Rooftop 866 and lounge in style.
Go For: All dates.
What to know: Valet parking is complimentary except if you exceed three hours.
Price: $18+/entree
Contact: 866 W Peachtree Street, NW | 678-412-2402 | www.brizaatlanta.com
Photo by Lauren Rubinstein
