One Midtown Kitchen
Earlier in the year I went to Two Urban Licks and enjoyed a delicious meal at this trendy, happening, Atlanta spot. The owners of Two Urban Licks also run One Midtown Kitchen. Since I’d eaten a yummy meal at Two, I decided to give One Midtown Kitchen a try. Even though One and Two share ownership, the two restaurants have uniquely different vibes and culinary perspectives. It’s clear that Chef Drew VanLeuvan’s personality and creativeness shines through in One’s menu and the taste of each dish. There’s nothing ‘chainy’ about either of these restaurants and VanLeuvan’s ever-changing menu uses fresh, seasonal ingredients with a culinary flair.
We arrived a little early for our reservations with plans of ordering a drink at the bar. The atmosphere at the restaurant was more relaxed and a bit of an older crowd. While I liked the event of dining at Two Urban Licks, I quickly got the feeling that One was going to be more my type of dining experience, more of a laid back fine dining vibe as opposed to “see and be seen,” and maybe have some good food too. One Midtown Kitchen’s wine selection is anything but lacking as they offer you a huge selection of wines by the glasses. The wines are divided into price categories and you can choose from the different price categories. There’s also the option to select the ‘bottomless’ wine glass from one category and you can sample as much (or as little) of each of the wines in that price bracket. Seems a little dangerous to me, but I love the idea!
One of my favorite parts about One Midtown Kitchen’s cuisine were the flavor combinations they used. While there’s a lot of action on the plate, the components work and they work well. (Keep reading for more details.) When David and I sat down the waitress had been fully briefed by the chef about the naturally gluten-free items on the menu. I must first mention the plethora of appetizer options I found. Hands down, One Midtown Kitchen’s menu offers the most naturally gluten-free appetizers that I’ve ever found in a restaurant. Usually we gluten-free diners must stick to boring salads that I could easily make at home. Overwhelmed by the many choices, I ultimately went with my waiter’s advice and decided on the Georgia Shrimp. This dish is not just a plate of shrimp, but a beautiful mélange of ingredients displayed on the plate. It really looked like a piece of art. The components of the dish included marinated ruby beets, avocado, basil, and a mango gelatin, with a lobster vinaigrette. Sounds like a lot, maybe even too much, but I tell you, it was perfect. There’s no way I could recreate this in my kitchen, and the combination of complexity with great flavor is exactly what I’m looking for when I go to a restaurant.
For my entrée, I ordered the leg of lamb with cauliflower, lambs’ tongue and a parmesan cake. (Again, a lot of things going on, right?) I love lamb and it tends to be my splurge when going to a nice restaurant. This was my first time trying lambs’ tongue and I enjoyed the flavor and texture, mixed with the other components of the dish. Unfortunately, the lamb itself was very tough and I had trouble cutting it. I don’t think that I would order it again unless they changed their preparation of the lamb. I will say, though that the accompaniments, the polenta cake and cauliflower, went nicely with the dish and yet again, One did a great job combining flavors and ingredients. I also ordered a side of garlic mustard greens and kale and oh, how I love garlic and greens! The side dish did not disappoint and it was nice to add a little green to my plate, even if it couldn’t be Brussels sprouts.
David ordered the pork chop special and he said it was the best pork he’d ever eaten. (I believe this dish was gluten-free too.) This statement is quite a compliment because, in my opinion, David makes the best pork chops I’ve ever eaten.
On to dessert…just like the appetizers, the dessert menu held more GF options than most restaurants. David and I could not resist the caramelized peanut butter with toffee and chocolate. We’re suckers for peanut butter sweets. Amazing and fabulous. Very rich but oh so worth the richness. Just a few bites satisfied my sweet tooth.
David and I enjoyed a delicious, relaxing meal at One Midtown Kitchen and we didn’t feel rushed, which can be a rarity at restaurants on a Saturday night. If you go to One, make sure you check out their bathroom. Definitely the coolest restroom of any restaurant I’ve ever been to. There are televisions in ‘waiting lounge’ which was convenient since the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament being televised during our meal. It’s always nice to be able to check on the scores while you wait for the restroom, right?
Final verdict: One Midtown Kitchen’s menu offers many gluten-free options and the staff is eager to accommodate our GF needs. The menu changes so make sure to inquire and ask questions based on the most recent menu. One Midtown Kitchen’s a great spot for a Saturday night dinner date, or just a drink at the bar. If you’re looking for a more ruckus spot with live music, stick to Two Urban Licks, but for unique, delicious food and a laid back, yet trendy scene, give One Midtown Kitchen a try.
One Midtown Kitchen – 566 Dutch Valley Road Northeast – Atlanta, GA 30324-5331 – (404) 892-4111
