Anna’s BBQ Bussin!

Anna’s BBQ has put their footprint in Atlanta way before being Atlanta Magazine’s Best BBQ last year. Barbecue and Arnold Palmers are all you need. Let’s get into it

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• Boy oh boy! I needed to get that out before letting you know the versatility of Anna’s BBQ. They are family oriented, and they treat their customers as such. In the midst of the inauguration, I had a feeling that auntie Kamala would want me to treat myself to some souther style sides. Then, I landed on Anna’s BBQ, because they had fat portions and tasty drinks as well! Their menu has southern favorites like pulled chicken, ribs, brisket stew, and much more.
• I felt groovy, so I stepped with the pork ribs and pulled chicken combo with yams and mac! Lemme start with the ribs and say this… You won’t find ribs like this many places. They weren’t scrawny or little at all. PLUS, they were juicy and went crazy in the barbecue sauce. Pulled chicken is always good, but their sauce adds the perfect twang for sure. I fell in love with their sides. I could make love to their sides if we are being honest. The yams were straight from grandma’s kitchen. They were sweet and fresh. The mac and cheese did what I needed it to do. So cheesy with goodness, that I couldn’t put the plate down. I need more of it..

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Gus’ Goes Crazy!

Gus’ Fried Chicken was built from the idea of uniting communities with a special fried chicken recipe. Who doesn’t love fried chicken with a secret spice? Let’s get into it:

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• Gus; is located in downtown Atlanta, but my guy has locations all over the country! I appreciated the down to earth menu. It was one that left you with simple options, but you knew they would all be fire. You can find things like fried pickles, potato salad, mac and cheese. It’s like taking young uncle’s cookout and turning it into profit! I had to order their wings with baked beans and seasoned fries.
• The sides will be first on the chopping block. The baked beans were spot on what I was thinking. They were sweet but not too sweet. They had the onions and peppers mixed in for a nice bite. The fries are classic. Good crispiness like you’re at a ballpark then finished with seasoned salt and other flavors. However, these wings… I need to run it back! They were juicy, off the bone, and spicy at the same damn time. I was chowing through the chicken so fast and effortlessly that I forgot to touch my drink. If you dare see me eating this and ask me for a bite, I will just stare at you like…

Dulan’s Did It!

Dulan’s is Inglewood’s favorite soul food kitchen! They are known for generous portions and customer service. Sounds like a good combo to me! Let’s get into it:

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• Dulan’s is the perfect example of a Sunday at grandma’s house with thick aromas and lots of joy in the atmosphere. Dulan’s does not hide their secrets, because when you walk inside you can see the display of hot food ready to be served. From fried chicken to baked fish to smothered pork chops, your night was going to be made! And of course, they got sides for DAYS.
• I absolutely had to try the fried chicken along with mac, greens, and yams. A plate full of this for $15?! Let’s start with the sides. The yams were phenomenal. I almost changed my diet to all yams after eating these. They were sweet and ripe just how I wanted them. The greens were literally from my grandmother. They might give you high cholesterol, but you will devour these! The mac and cheese is always given a critical eye, but it was very good as well. I always appreciate the baked cheese on the mac. It’s chicken timeee. The chicken was extremely juicy. I don’t know what their trick was but it was packed with flavor. The skin delicious too. Real fried chicken eaters know the skin is important. I had a blast, but I woke up from the itis like..

Phew Pizza is Phire!

Phew Pies is an up and coming pizza joint in Atlanta. Phew Pies is easily the most creative pizza in the city right, and I am not talking about just presentation. Let’s get into it:

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• I discovered Phew Pies on Instagram (@PhewPies), and I was left in awe when I saw his different pizza creations. With him being located in West Atlanta, he decided to curate some pies that truly embody the culture. If you grew up here, then you know that lemon pepper wings were always at the function. However, only the real city folks know about lemon pepper wet. Imagine that on a pizza for a second.. Magical.
• PhewPies has original favorites such as cheese, pepperoni, and veggie pies. His specialties are the show stopper though with hot lemon pepper, oxtail, and po boy pies. I had to dive into the hot lemon pepper pie head first! No napkins in sight, just vibes. I loved the crust of the pie first off. That set the record straight that this was legit. The flavor was immaculate though. I was hot sauce on the pallet then lemon pepper sauce followed by gooey cheese. great combination that also included chicken bits in the mix. The pizza comes with 2 wings on top for when you want to step away from pizza and nibble on something else. I shared a slice with some friends, and we all ended up dancing like..

GBR Grille

GBR Grille sits in East point and emphasizes their quality of food rather than the overhead. Price point and satisfaction is their lane! That’s the lane I like to pull up in. Let’s get into it:

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• GBR Grille fits in as a fast casual dining place, but they cater to a variety of appetites. Have you ever been starving and can’t put your finger on what you want?? Tacos or burgers? Salad or Barbecue?? GBR Grille is the perfect place to have that mental breakdown! They have a beautiful range from spicy jerk burgers, blackened chicken tacos, shrimp grill mix, and many more. You literally win with whatever you impulse choice you make.
• I settled on the shrimp mix bowl and spicy teriyaki wings w/ fries. I’ll start with the more simple dish aka spicy teriyaki wings. They saucy, plump, and spicy. I was struck in awe of the quality of the wings. The spicy teriyaki was a great balance of heat and tanginess! The fries were a nice compliment to the wings. We all HATE when the fries suck. The shrimp bowl was made up grilled shrimp, yellow rice, loads of veggies, and a sauce of your choice. It was magnificent. Of course, I loved the portions and the freshness of every vegetable. You know it’s good when your bite is just rice, grilled onions, and spinach, and that excites you. The flavor was on every bite. I will be back soon and the day after. I will tell those who ask exactly where to go..

Sammy Cheezecake on My Plate!

Sammy Cheezecakes prides itself on making cakes with the finest ingredients that are the perfect size. I love a fat slice of cake, so their perfect slices fit my criteria! Let’s get into it:

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• Sammy Cheezecakes has struck the Atlanta scene by surprise, but it makes sense when you go and see their wide variety of slices. They keep the store simple with a countertop and lots and lots of cakes displayed. If you are someone who goes to the counter and freezes up on your order, then I recommend checking their options ahead of time. They are extremely friendly, so they making choosing the perfect slice easy! Some of their options consists of oreo cheesecake, german chocolate cake, red velvet cake, strawberry shortcake, and many others.
• I am a true sucker for anything Oreo. It could be an Oreo popcorn, and I’d have to try it! However, this Oreo cheesecake was magnificent and great size. The whipped cream and the crust complimented the cheesecake excellently. I could eat that slice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That’s how satisfied I am. I couldn’t go and just get one slice, so I walked out of there with a piece of strawberry cake also. Strawberry cake has a special place in my heart, because it is so balanced. Have you ever had a piece of cake that blew your mind? it was moist. It was rich. It left you speechless like..

Healthful Essence is Essential!

Healthful Essence is a spiritual creation to share nourishing and healthy Caribbean food with the world. Vegan food has now adopted some classics such as Jerk Chicken! Let’s get into it:

• Healthful Essence is all about taking care of you. They live and breathe the vegan lifestyle, and they have a surplus of items to bring positivity to your life. From sea moss drinks to banana nut bread to curried vegetables. They ensure everything is plant base then add their flavor to it! From their cooked menu, you will find items like macaroni and un-cheese, Jamaican patties, jerk un-chicken. It’s the options for me!!!
• I ordered a jerk plate with rice & peas along with cabbage. I’ll start with the cabbage. It was fresh, and they were seasoned perfectly. It was like they were made with a dash of spicy too. Even without bacon fat, this cabbage was still slapping! The rice and peas felt and tasted like the classic dish it is. It did need one more seasoning in that pan though to win my tastebuds fully over. The Jerk un-chicken was one of the best vegan meat substitutes I have had. If you have a jerk sauce that is fire, then I will love you and tell everyone to show love.

Local Green is the Dream!

Local Green Atlanta is a fast casual restaurant whose mission is to redefine healthy, affordable eating. I wholeheartedly support putting more healthy options in areas that need them! Let’s get into it:

• Local Green is exactly what it sounds like plus more! Not only are their colors and signage green, but just about all of their food options have green in them. If you’re a superstitious person, i’m sure you will make the case that it is indeed your lucky day around all of that green. Their menu contains a diverse selection that includes a power kale salad, monsta shrimp burger, vegan Oh Boy burger, and more. No chickens here for your basic butt!
• I ordered the Oh boy burger and Air fries. First off, this burger was monstrous. I got the “OH boy” feeling. This burger resembled no vegan burger i have had so far. It looked and was presented like a $24 burger from a steakhouse. That beauty was extremely juicy and topped with natural vegetables! The mock cheese gave me all of the feels of gooey real cheese. That burger was not backing down from me. I struggled to finish for real! The air fries were cajun seasoned and had a little heat. It was a great combination! If I had some wine, I might have passed out from joy…

Yaaas Cookies Can’t Be a No!

Yaaas Cookies was bound to be a business after the owner, Vaughn Hill, began baking ever since he was 11 or 12. They aim to provide a variety of tasty options. I love choices! Let’s get into it:

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• Yaaas Cookies name represents the personality of the company well! The shop is in a nice location and will be decorated nicely. It bright and welcoming, so I couldn’t wait to see what cookies I wanted. Their menu was filled with options but like they were fun amount of options unlike the huge Cheesecake factory menu that offers you everything. A few that I landed on was their chocolate chip, salted caramel, peanut butter chocolate chip, and two of their vegan oatmeal chocolate chip cookies! Don’t mind me ordering all of the variations of chocolate chip. Mind your business LOL.
• I dove right into the salted caramel after hearing it was the most popular one. It definitely delivered! I was worried it was either be too salty or too sweet, but it was a pleasant balance. Felt like I was at the beach being fed caramel. Maybe I have been in the house too long. From the peanut butter chocolate chip to the vegan oatmeal cookies, the fresh ingredients was evident in every bite. Nothing about these felt store bought! Even your grandmother would enjoy a bite. The chocolate chips may have been basic, but they were my favorite part. I shared them with my mom, and she loved them. We came together and celebrated like…

The Local Coco is Loco!

The Local Coco is a new Atlanta pop up spot focused on brining Latin food to the vegan space. Tacos always boost my mood! Let’s get into it:

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• The Local Coco popped up during my search for black owned vegan spots in Atlanta. I have never heard of the place, and I soon found out they were new to the game and here to stay. If I had three words to describe their brand, it would be: culture, authentic, and innovative. They are a pop up shop, but they surround their space with classic R&B records, fresh tortillas and chips, and lots of love in the air. Their menu changes but you can find their well battered cauliflower wings, street tacos, and loaded nachos most of the time. I could tell it was going to be good when they were eyeballing the seasonings and portions!
• I took on the loaded nachos and cauliflower biscuits since they had sold out of their normal supplies to make wings. Those housemade chips were to DIE FOR! Crunchy goodness with the freshest vegetables topping them along with their jackfruit al pastor. But seriously, their vegetables were top of the line. I feel like they had just come outside with this parsley LOL. The jackfruit al pastor was put together admirably and gave me the feel as pulled chicken on top of nachos! The cauliflower biscuits felt so innovative that I couldn’t do anything but respect it. They were fluffy and battered up excellently. However, that chipotle sauce was the best chipotle sauce I’ve had! It was tangy and also had a little kick of heat. You can debate your mom or whoever you want, because I said what I said! If I offer you a bite and you do not like it, I will look at you like…