Clearly you can see from my past two reviews of Bookhouse that I love this place and it's always in our favorite bar/food place rotation. I hate only giving 3 stars and it's not for the service or the awesome beer selection, but for my meal. I ordered the tofu sandwich after having it recommended by the bartender and I was expecting thin-ish slices of tofu sauteed or baked with a yummy sriracha sauce inbetween bread- not so much the case here. The tofu is like 1/2 a block served whole, breaded but still mushy in the middle, and strangely shaped that it won't stay between the bun while eating but instead slides all over your plate- to say the least, it was an effing mess. I think it has potential but needs some serious help. Forgive me, Bookhouse for the 3 stars- but fix your sammie.
Review Source:This place has all the features of a good Atlanta bar - not too large, but not tiny either; nice, enclosed patio; huge alcohol selection; Tiki Tuesdays with wonderful fruity drinks; and of course, the whole homage to Twin Peaks (including a fuck ton of owls). But, I am still not sold on the menu. There are so many gastropubs in Atlanta now that have redefined what bar food really means and it's hard for me to give this place four stars, knowing the competition in the city as far as food goes. I guess a return visit is in order to try out the food some more. Oh and it gets too dark in the evenings - like so dark you can't read the menu clearly.
Review Source:Great find, I'm so glad we finally came here! I knew it was going to be good when we walked in and one of my friends was sitting at a table, dining with her friend. Obviously we were gonna love it here, too. And since I'm a self-proclaimed, bona fide book nerd, I love the theme of this place! The overall ambiance is so cozy, it makes me excited to dine here in the middle of winter on cold dark night, with a dark stout and the pot pie...
On this particular visit, we sampled some different beers -- of which they have an excellent selection -- and ordered the shrimp & grits (which was pretty good, but I wouldn't come back for it) and the duck (which was AWESOMELY delicious and I would absolutely come back here specifically to eat this dish again). Plus an app of the crab asparagus dip, which was uniquely tasty.
Will definitely be back. Loved walking right in on a Saturday night and sitting down at the bar without any wait. They offer indoor and outdoor seating (front and back) and have on-site parking (although it's a small lot).
I'm not the hugest pub person ever, but this is easily one of my favorite bars in the city. I've been here alone, in a pair and in larger groups (they will take reservations for a larger crowd). Â All have been a fun, woody-bookshelf-cozy-intelligent-hipster experiences where I feel the quality of the people are higher than, let's say, Neighbors Pub. Â It is like there is an anti-douchey charm on the place...and maybe Ponce scares some people off.
There is a back patio that has a tucked away city view when the weather allows, with trees overflowing into the space. Â And the front patio allows smoking. Â
Otherwise, my beer friends like the beer. Â I like the cocktails, and all the food I've had has been surprisingly good. Â Sometimes there is a bonus like random 90s music or old movies on the TV. Â The small parking lot is usually full on Friday/Saturday nights, so I always aim for the side streets first, and I suppose you can park in the Murder Kroger parking lot across the street at your own risk.
Wow, Hipster Central. Â I saw that it was supposedly a great place to get some craft brews, which it was ok, but I was expecting more local options. Â The only local option they had was Terrapin Hopzilla. Â While that's still a great beer, I was hoping for some Sweetwater, but nothing that jumped out at me, different from the norm. Â Service was good, music choice was interesting (NWA), but the Hipsters, oooooooh the Hipsters. Â Some flashy dude came strolling in with the half zip boots, super tight red skinny jeans, Â a button up long sleeve denim shirt, sunglasses (yes at midnight), and a Pompadour hair wave. Â I guess if you like people watching or clowns, it is a great place to go.
Review Source:I didn't eat here but I had a delicious IPA that I don't remember the name of. The service was good, the bartender even offered to call a bed and breakfast she knew about, if I did not find an affordable hotel. My favorite thing about this place is the atmosphere: it's dimly lit, but not so dark you cannot read the menu. It's cozy. Lots of wood accents everywhere. Next time I visit Atlanta I will pop in here again.
Review Source:I realllyyyyyyyy like it here. Driven past this spot a million times en route to get my corporate twist on at El Azteca...aka "El Diablo" the morning after. Great vibe, good people, NO SMOKING (except for the patio). Weird observation, but the indoor lighting is perfect. Maybe I was in the mood, but it was healthy, forgiving and lovely. I know...who comments on lighting? Um, y'all do when you need a flashlight to read a menu or your date's teeth appear blue.
Service, nice. Bring a can opener or drive your little brother's hooptie because your ride will get dinged, bent and twisted with the two foot clearance between parking spaces.
I'd give a five, but haven't eaten the food. Menu looks great, though.
My husband and I both really like Book House. The location is convenient, the food tends to be good, and they have his favorite beer, Weinstephaner, on draft. It's a cute atmosphere and we rarely have to wait for a seat.
It has a few hiccups: the service can be a little slow and sometimes unfriendly, and there are some "misses" with the food. For instance, the poutine in general is pretty good, but the meat they use with it is so fatty, it appears to be whatever they chopped off of something to make a decent sandwich. The fries are also regularly pretty burned.
But some "wins" are the tofu sandwich - fried to perfection and spicy from the sriracha - the blue cheese chips, and the salads (HUGE, and full of deliciousness). Even the side salads you can get instead of fries are decent portions and not your typical "iceberg and tomato" type.
It's a good, fun, relaxed place to knock back a few drinks, and we'll definitely be back.
I had been here to drink quite a few times in the past but have never eaten here (although I had heard the food menu is pretty damn good).
I decided to try it on a Tuesday after work since I had heard Tuesday is taco night.
The tacos here are not traditional or authentic Mexican ones but they are fantastic in their own unique gastropub-like way. Tiki bar cocktails, served in cool kitschy 60s era ceramic mugs, are also the popular bar item on Tuesdays.
The taco choices were fried oyster, pinto bean, and Korean Bulgogi chicken. I opted to try all three. They all were amazing with the fried oyster one being my favorite. I was able to wash them down with some great beers, notably Sierra Nevada Torpedo (extra, extra IPA) and Abita Jackamo IPA.
The atmosphere here is really, really spot on. Great music blaring on the stereo system (but not too loud), old cool movies playing on a large overhead large-screen, TV , cool bartenders / servers and great people watching all the way around. I should also mention there was a DJ spinning tunes.
This seems to definitely be the place to be on Tuesdays after work or later at night. I am a fan and will be back for more.
I normally don't run the gastropub circuit very aggressively; although the lighting is usually flattering, the food tends to be too heavy for my taste. Still, I came here with friends the other night for a beer and some dinner.
What they've done with the place is nothing short of astounding, especially when contrasted with its setting in a squat little strip mall across from Murder Kroger. There's a vaguely old-Scandinavia feel here, with beautiful wood paneling everywhere and gobs of custom-designed carpentry, including a bookshelf running the perimeter of the restaurant's ceiling and vaguely Viking-ship animal head carvings over the bar. The modern stained-glass windows are lovely. This is a sophisticated yet warm and friendly pub, and I can imagine couples/friends/families being equally comfortable here.
The beer list was small but well-edited, and the Twin Peaks-themed cocktails looked delicious. The food was mixed--the homemade potato chips with bacon, bleu cheese, chipotle sauce, tomatoes, and cilantro were superlative, but the house salad with steak was very average (a bare minimum of anything but shredded greens, and 5 pieces of flabby, funny-tasting, too-rare steak--ick). A friend's mac and cheese was very good, and I tasted some brussels sprouts that were really nicely prepared. The service was great--attentive but not disruptive, knowledgeable, and professional. (The steak didn't turn up on the bill.)
I'll be back for booze and company, and if I eat here again, I'll just go for the burger. Why fight it?
This place has a really cool atmosphere. Artsy, and it uses literature as a a really interesting motif. I can see myself coming here someone when it's not too busy to drink a beer or two to wind down, and sit in a quiet corner and read. But I am a bit of a nerd, and places like that appeal to me.
Been here a couple times, once on a weekend when it was busy, and again on a Monday when it was virtually empty. Haven't tried the food, so I can't attest to it's quality, but the beer and liquor selection is pretty good. Bathrooms are very clean, but there's only one per gender. It's a great location, within walking distance of a whole bunch of other bars such as "The Local", "The Drunken Unicorn", and also "The Clermont Lounge", so there are a lot of places to park, if you want to go to a couple of bars in one area.
This place, tucked in a little strip mall across the street from Murder Kroger, was an excellent just-prior-to-flight stop for dinner. After drinking considerably over the prior days I was in the mood for exclusively eats, which seemed to befuddle the waiter a ton.
I had the shrimp and grits, and also the roasted beets (for my health!) and both of them were delicious and created a nice itis base so that I could catch some necessary Z's on my flight back to New York. It also helps that the place itself is quite cool looking inside. "I am proud of the owner for this one." Seems like a very solid spot to frequently patron if I lived around there.
I will be back next time around.
Thank you for the review comment from the staff! Â Now I understand the decor. It's not a dark, uninviting atmosphere with a weird vibe and random Tiki stuff all over...... it's a themed bar nodding at an over 20 year old TV show that only lasted two seasons! Â I stand corrected. Â Now it's a dark, uninviting atmosphere with a deliberately weird vibe and purposefully placed Tiki stuff all over...... meant to be strange nostalgia. Â Glad we got that sorted out!
P.S. - I'll still be back in to give it another shot since I apparently missed over half the establishment in the back... and now I guess I'll have to Netflix a couple Twin Peaks episodes to help jog memories and increase my enjoyment! :P
Hmmm what to say, what to say. Oh Book House Pub, I've heard so many wonderful things about you. I'm so disappointed to be let down.
Atmosphere: Let me start with the decor. It has a homey, pub feel to it. Lots of wood everywhere. None of that flashy decor in this place, so don't arrive in a cocktail dress or anything. Personally, I really enjoyed the atmosphere. We chose to sit outside, which is a plus because of the outdoor heater (perfect for a cold evening). The con? They allow smoking so that was a definite negative for me.
Service: Our server was nice enough but didn't really impress. Rule number one---if you aren't writing down our orders, especially with a group of 6 people, I expect that you've got the whole memorization thing down. As a previous server myself, I totally get that some people function better with taking orders without the pen and pad. Our server totally sucked in this department. He messed up my order by giving me the wrong side item, messed up another order by putting the wrong cheese on the burger, and messed up another order by completely forgetting to punch it in the system. The pros? The order he forgot to punch in was "on the house" so our friend didn't have to pay for it...but had to wait until we finished all our burgers until hers finally came out. Disappointment.
Food: I actually enjoyed my burger for the most part. I ordered medium rare, but it was more rare than medium. Fries were alright. Salad was your typical salad, but I like how they shred the lettuce.
Pricing: Beers were around $6 on draft, even for high ABV ones. Burgers ranged from $9-$11, which I feel is right on par for the quality of it.
Overall, I won't suggest going back...too many mistakes and the burger wasn't that mindblowing or anything. I'm sticking to Porter Beer Bar for my extensive brew list and dining.
Came here for my birthday celebration per my boyfriend's recommendation after a night out with his friends.
Lovely experience!
Terrific selection of beers for a reasonable price, awesome appetizers.
We had a cheese plate, Â shrimp and grits, and the spicy blue cheese chips.
I'd say the shrimp and grits, and blue cheese chips were the shining stars. The cheese was good, but I am definitely an average cheese type of girl. :)
I don't remember our waiter's name, but he had perfect timing without being negligent or stalker-ish.
Can't wait to come back!!!
I made my first trip over to The Book House for a friend's casual birthday celebration. Â Originally the group was going to be 6 or 7 people and it turned into about 20. Â The staff seemed a little frazzled but a table opened up and everything went back to sunshine and daisies.
I love the atmosphere at Book House- seems small and intimate with lots of nooks and spaces but really there are tons of places to sit in the back, by the main bar, or on the patio.  Its cozy, delightful, and warm making for a splendid time. I also like that it is a pub atmosphere  that doesn't seemed cheesy or forced like a lot of the other ATL pubs.  Book House has some seriously great prices on your standard pub beers, lots of seasonal choices, and some unique mixed drinks if that's your thing.
Parking can be a tad tricky- Â They have a huge parking lot out front but sometimes its full and I really have no insight about where you can park once it reaches capacity. Â I tried to go to Book House about a month ago and we just could not figure out where to park. Oh, I should also mention they have EXCELLENT playlists here, so have your ears open for some good tunes at all times. Â Anywho- I loved this little place and foresee lots of future book reading and conversating taking place here.
Every time that I come here I wonder why I'm not here more often. This has always been one of my favorite places to grab a beer before MJQ or shows at the Masquerade (you can just walk through murder Kroger's parking lot if you have enough liquid courage).
The beer list is great. It's one of the only places other than Brick Store that I can count on being able to find a good Flemish sour (usually even on draught!) and the only place that I know of that has Mead on draught. They have a respectable bottle list as well and the pricing is great. If something costs $6 at the Porter it's probably $4.50-5 here. I get so caught up in the beer list that I never order the cocktails but they look great. They have certainly put a lot of thought into creating some interesting concoctions.
The menu is small-ish but also well thought out. It fits on the front side of one page. They have a few salads, a handful of soups and maybe 5 sandwiches/burgers and 6 entrees. My new favorite is the chorizo burger, which is a mixture of Spanish sausage and ground beef topped with lettuce, tomato, some type of mayo based sauce, pickled onions and for one dollar more: a fried egg. It will set you back 11 bucks. All of the bigger entrees are under about $15 and are mostly grilled meats: ribeye, duck breast, chicken etc. You can get boiled peanuts for $3 which is infinitely exciting to me.
The decor is nice. It's dimly lit with a ton of dark wood on the interior. Bathrooms are small but clean. They have a patio outside but it's just a few tables. Parking is good if you are here early but slammed if you come late because it shares a lot with so many other businesses. Definitely worth a stop.
I guess Book Home would have sounded weird, but that's what it feels like. Home.
I've been to Book House only a handful of times, but tonight my server already knew what I wanted when I sat down. Jessica is delightful. What I wanted was a veggie plate. First,  let me tell you about veggie plates. Generally, veggie options are : 1. Random Ass Sides. B. An option with a minuet  amount of anything remotely good for you.
Book House offers what you think of  when reading the words Vegetable Plate. Vegetables. On. A. Plate.  Tonight it had fresh black eyed peas (let that sink in), baby carrots, grilled eggplant, and squash. They rotate what they serve so that one is not always eating sweet potatoes and asparagus. I basically made out with it while attempting to keep rational conversation going. I'm still fantasizing about it.
Drinks are also good. and the DJ on Tuesdays has an affinity for The Breeders.
This House is Sold.
I met up with one of my friends at Book House Pub and honestly, I never heard of the place however I've passed by it numerous times on Ponce. The building is inconspicuous and the crowd diverse. I wouldn't imagine it being a place to go on a date all dressed up but there was a couple ready for the dressed to impress crowd. I wouldn't imagine seeing an elderly group walking out late on a week night, but they trotted out as I walked in. All that to say, the friendly service, various beers and chill atmosphere makes for a pretty good night out for anyone.
Regarding food, I tried the hot wings. I wouldn't get them again and venture for something else on the limited menu, but I did eat my entire 10 piece if that's worth mentioning. I'd definitely go back for drinks and just something different (isn't that what we yelp about, that "different vibe"? anyways...)
One side note: Parking is a witch that starts with a B. And beware of parking next door as they will boot your car as soon as you walk across the line of demarcation.
Came out here with some co-workers last Friday- 'twas my first time at this spot.
I was rather impressed with the blue cheese chips- a pretty cool idea which worked.
I went with the Chorizo Burger as my entree, accompanied with some fries.  The burger was hefty, and tasted good- but there was only a slight hint of chorizo flavor. I was trying to eat slowly so that I could pick up the flavor...but alas...it never hit me in the face.  Kind of a tease... :-p  It would've been nice to have some more than a handful of fries...
Perhaps I should've went with the pulled pork sandwich. Â Maybe next time...
Had a Victory Monkey American Tripel (has to be the cheapest Belgian style tripel available at $4/pop), and a Dogfish 90 minute IPA. Â The beer selection here isn't extensive, but it isn't bad either.
Worth a shot if you haven't been. Â (3.5)
Large liquor selection + two patios + nice servers/bartenders = no books here...
Came by to pregame... excellent time. Â The patio out back has these cool tables made out of raw wood. Â not sure where i'm going with this but yeah.
It was 10 on Friday night and not too packed. Â Conveniently located next to MJQ and the Local.
I will come back and try the food.
I still love this place for its beer selection and perfect interior design, but if it weren't for that, this might be a two-star review. I went to Book House last night for dinner with a friend, figuring it'd be a good place to catch up. It might have been, but for the food and service.
I had a burger with pimento cheese. The burger was so overcooked that it was hard on the outside and the cheese had browned. The fries were so salty that they burned my tongue a bit, and that means something coming from a girl whose ex-boyfriend accused her of using too much salt in her cooking IN A SONG HE RECORDED, but that's a tale for another day. The real kicker was that our server was, like, never around. We must've waited 10 minutes before she approached the table, and from that point forward it was an eternity between her visits.
The highlights for me: the folks in the kitchen and behind the bar were friendly and went out of their way to say hello. And they carry some truly great beers. And the inside is all dark wood and books and old movies. Too bad the food and our server were so lame.
Enjoyed a great date night thanks to Google Offers at Book House Pub. The beer menu is wonderful, with something for everyone. I had 3 different Hefeweizens and the boy had 3 different IPAs. The bartenders were very attentive and helpful as well. By about 10pm the place was packed on a Wednesday!
We only ate appetizers - bleu cheese chips and duck confit empanadas. Both were pretty good.
This place does a great job of transporting you to the Pacific Northwest, which we visited recently. I would return again, but probably just for drinks.
I like Book House. I've been in a couple of times for drinks. I would have really loved to eat here, but they stop serving food at midnight.
Most recently, I wound up here on a Wednesday night after MJQ closed due to a sewage leak. (Sick nasty, y'all.) I was feeling a little queasy after having a couple of drinks on a mostly-empty stomach, so I had to teetotal. Listen, your girl could have really used some fries at that moment. I know if the kitchen closes, the kitchen closes, but I really, really have a great appreciation for restaurants that at least serve a limited late night menu.
Book House has a very decent beer list--they don't have the breadth of selection of the Brick Store or the Porter, but what they do have is mostly good, and a reasonable mix of European brews and American craft microbrews. Their prices are some of the better I've seen for good draft beer in the A.
They've got a nice range of seating options, with two patios and plenty of tables and bar stools inside. I've had to jostle for a seat during prime hours before, but last night we were able to find a table without a problem.
Our servers were friendly and helpful. They've got a bookshelf lining the walls, but it's too high to actually peruse, at least not awkwardly. I'd give Book House an extra star if it were a take-a-book, leave-a-book. My heart beats for take-a-book, leave-a-books. Especially when paired with tasty beers.
Why am I just now discovering this?!?
Everyone knows I'm a sucker for gimmicks, so when you show me a Twin Peaks themed bar with drinks served in ceramic Tiki glasses and Twin Peaks episodes playing on loop in the background, you have me hook, line, and sinker. Yes, everything I just described might sound like a fever-induced dream, but a wonderful one at that.
I ordered a hurricane and it was delicious and not overly sweet. We ordered a couple of apps, but by far the highlight was the spicy blue cheese chips. It was so good that one of my tablemates and I did a silent fist bump of approval upon first bite. The drinks may be a little steep at $9 but I've paid that price many a time in Atlanta without a fun tiki glass to show for it. Parking is limited and a little tricky to navigate, but we got there around 7pm on a Tuesday and nagged a good spot and the last booth to boot.
Pretty sure I have found a new favorite bar as well as a new life's mission of collecting all of the different variations of ceramic tiki glasses.
I enjoyed this place despite being scared, alone, and confused, having never once set foot in Atlanta and thinking that somehow this was a terrible hybrid of Chicago and LA. Apparently it isn't.
Schmaltzy menu, seems pretty good. Despite the name of the place, no one was reading; lighting seems too dim to read or avoid grenades. Not overly pricey (just slightly pricey). Guinness mac and chi certainly sounds like $5 per ramekin. I got a sandwich with too many things on it and was still excessively meaty and tasty. I think it included pickled shallots, which, in part, due to their pink and glamorous nature, I enjoyed. Real deal beer selection. Authentic hipster waitstaff.
Everyone was nice.
+1 for the excessively hot heat lamps (think baby chickens)
-1 for the loud talkers (such loud talkers)
+1 for the babes (and their tattoos)
-1 for the wrong shirt
I was lured to The Book House Pub through a Scoutmob promotion. Based on past reviews, I was expecting a stellar experience. Unfortunately, my dining experience left much to be desired. Based on past reviews, perhaps I should have opted to drink dinner instead.
Food: On paper, the Book House Pub has a commendable drink and food menu; however, the drinks are the only thing that they're capable of successfully delivering. During my visit, I opted to start with the spicy bleu cheese chips for an appetizer and the grilled cheese sandwich for an entree. Although the homemade potato chips in the appetizer were quite flavorful and the serving of bleu cheese was ample, the additional ingredients that were alleged on the menu (tomatoes, bacon, cilantro, chipotle sauce) were nowhere to be seen or tasted. Similarly, the alleged havarti and gouda grilled cheese was all gouda. To add insult to injury, the sandwich was burnt to the point of being inedible; the kitchen even laughably plated the burnt side down as if it would prevent me from discovering the horror that lay beneath.
Service: Abysmal. Upon entry, we waited several minutes to be seated, despite the fact that the only patrons in the place were sitting at the bar and none of the dining tables were occupied. The staff seemed to wander around as if they had just been beamed there from some strange location. Throughout the meal, it also became readily apparent that the level of service rendered to patrons sitting at the bar was superior to those sitting at the dining tables.
Atmosphere: The atmosphere at Book House Pub is casual and welcoming, particularly due to the fact that they voluntarily prohibit smoking indoors. They also have two outdoor patios that are more than capable of accommodating large groups.
Cost: Inexpensive, which made the poor quality of the meal easier to digest. Appetizers cost $7-$9, while sandwiches cost $6-$11 and entrees cost less than $15.
Other: Parking is not an easy feat at Book House Pub, particularly considering the number of businesses with which it shares a parking lot. Unsuspecting drivers should also be skeptical about parking in nearby lots, as you may find yourself sporting a pearly new boot upon exit. However, ample street parking is typically available in the neighborhood behind the pub.
Been here two times and I'd come back for a 3rd. I haven't had much for food here only the blue cheese chips which were of high quality. This is a great watering hole for a casual night out with cronies. The person who designed the bar deserves major props. It feels like the bar you see in movies where ivy league students go to drink.
The beer selction is wonderful and different ranging in a variety of taste. They beer selection changes with the seasons and beers come in the makers glass which always resonates well with me. For the ladies one of the beers you need to try is the Lindemans Frabois. Its not a very masculine beer since I hinted for the ladies to try, but it has a very rasperry taste and color. Its actually pretty dern good.
The best part about bookhouse is their back patio draped by trees and stringed lights. Its very intinate and cozy feeling back there. A great place to grab a brew on a nice day.
Verdict: Can't give you a take on the food hence the four stars. But for grabbing drinks its easily a five star. Its usually a busy and young atmosphere.
Pros:
Beer Selction
Atmosphere and Decor
The amazing back porch
Cons:
Parking can sometimes be difficult and you could be solicited by a bum
Indifferent
Food
Service
Trolling for a place to grab a drink my first night in Atlanta, my friend suggested the Book House. Â I'd heard her talk about Brickstore before, so I got excited thinking of many, many varieties of beerz. Â Nope, not Brickstore, the Book House. Â And then she mentioned something about how it was based on a silly TV show called Twin Peaks. Â My expression roughly turned from :-) to :-O in .5 seconds flat. Â A Twin Peaks themed bar? Â Where do I sign up?!
If you're looking for a shrine to David Lynch, it's not here, but it's still fun all the same. Â There are touches here and there that say "Twin Peaks"--the dark wood paneling, the Pacific Northwest-themed accessories, and of course the ubiquitous books. Â Even though it's not Brickstore, the Book House boasts a pretty extensive beer list themselves, and after finding Fin du Monde on the menu I was one happy camper.
My friend and I decided to order an appetizer, and settled on the hummus trio. Â Can't go wrong with hummus, right? Â Apparently this is not true, since it was absolutely terrible. Â It tasted like wallpaper glue--absolutely no flavor and looked like it had come out of an industrial sized tub in the back. Â I don't think I've ever sent anything back to the kitchen in my life, but the waitress was nice enough to swap out an order of fries after we told her the hummus was no bueno. Â Fries were seriously tasty and even served with mayo when we asked for it. Â I'm beginning to come around to mayo + fries even though it's one of those "once every six months unless I want my doctor to have an aneurysm" things.
While we were there, two nearby fellows were playing a very involved board game (we tried to figure it out, since it looked like a Risk + D&D combo, but to no avail), and there were visually interesting Netflix movies streaming on one of the big screens. Â It isn't perfect. Â The parking lot is cray-cray thanks to the nearby underground club (or so I was told), but the Book House seems to be a great, low-key place to visit with your friends. Â Definitely worth a peek.
I've got bad timing. I met up with Tulie L. at the BookHouse Pub, arriving just after 7 to join her and two of her friends who had been there for a few minutes already. Ordered a beer, then started perusing the menu left on the table to order some food. When the server brought my beer, I told her I'd like to order some food as well, referring to the menu.
"Oh, you can't order from that menu now. It's after 7," she said. I then noticed that it was printed on the top that that particular list of items was only available to early guests -- after 7 pm the normal menu kicks in. She brought me a new one and I learned that all the dishes on the early bird menu were also on the full-blown menu -- at a 50-75% increase in price. Eg. Hangar Steak, $10 for early birds, $18.50 for late comers. Damn!
Glass is half empty -- What? 10 minutes after this "deadline" expires and I get bent over the table with significantly higher prices? Ouch!
Glass is half full -- people that get there early get a great discount on some normally pricier items.
I settled on a burger, which incidentally wasn't available to the blue hairs (aka early birders). It was just okay -- the meat wasn't seasoned very well and was on the bland side. It was also kind of tough, even with a medium-rare to medium temperature preparation. But the toppings were fresh and the bun was decent.
Meh. The beer was good though.
So three stars isn't bad, but it doesn't knock my socks off either... I almost rated it as a four or five simply for the atmosphere and the general balls it took to open a restaurant in this part of town, where only bars and liquor stores seem to survive. Â But I like to review on food, and I think it needs a little more work, like any new restaurant, so expect an update soon.
The kids from MJQ have certainly come a very long way, and surprise me with their concise business sense and ability to build an establishment from the ground up. Â The interiors are surprising and comfortable, and the place boasts a patio that I can wait to try once the season begins.
Juice: The drinks were good, but its left up to the patron to design ones own cocktail, since there is no mixology menu, just a wine, beer and hard liquor lists... but you might run into an issue trying to play bartender, we struck out three times on things out of stock, but when we got what we could get, it was not to shabby at all - maybe the transition from serving hipsters rum and cokes in plastic cups is gonna take a little longer, but they re on the right path.
Nosh: Â Chef Julia shocked me at first with a very pedestrian menu that seems to clash with her elitist resume... but bitting the bullet and diving in proved little disappointment. Â A few things to steer clean from are the odd 'fusion' offerings (i.e., collard spring rolls, etc), which obviously need some refining. Â Sticking to the basic and tradition stuff proves delightful... some of our favorites included fish sticks, turkey sandwich and soup f the day (which was cowboy chili).
The surprising show stopper? Â Funnel cakes, with cinnamon ice cream and served, as they should be, on a paper plate... so delicious we ordered seconds... okay, I lie, and thirds.
All in all, needs some refinement, but its not to say that continuing support from the community doesn't promote positive development, especially when you put up shop in such a rough neighborhood. Â Check it out.
Oh! It is love
From the first time I set my eyes upon you
Thinking, "Oh, is it love?"
After departing the very smokey Local, BookHouse was the perfect spot to have that one last drink of the night. As soon as I saw my very favorite precious pink elephants in Santa hats, I knew it was love. Delirium Noel, yes please.
Phenomenal beer selection, incredible perfectly-lit atmosphere due to the coolest light fixtures this side of the Mississippi, and the perfect size to roll in with a few close friends and while away the hours.
Yes, it is love.
The bibliophile in me was a little disappointed.
But the smoke-hating and wood-loving portions were elated. Â
The space is beautifully designed and entirely reminiscent of the days when people gave a damn about craftsmanship. Â The menu is interesting and likely a work in progress, as the chef tweaks selections and incorporates patron feedback. Â There are a lot of deeply fried items on it, but you can find less lard-laden selections if you're feeling heart-conscious. Â The sweet potato and spinach wrap was very good, according to my dining companion. The roasted chicken was wonderfully juicy. It was paired with sweet potato, kale, and a crepinette. Â I didn't know what a crepinette was beforehand and didn't bother to ask, guessing that it was perhaps a smaller, ladylike crepe*. Â It wasn't. Â It looked like a potato and tasted like lamb. Â
We shared a portion of "this is where pies go when they die" pie. Â It tasted like purgatory -- not quite heaven, not quite hell. Â We made our objection to the chosen nomenclature known. Â The staff was very responsive and nice.
Perhaps the greatest draw for me is the non-smoking aspect of the pub. I've only lived in cities with nonsmoking ordinances. I haven't had to deal with second smoke and stank for over 5 years. Â Since relocating to Atlanta, it has been quite the quest to uncover enjoyable, non-lame venues that don't insist upon raping & pillaging my bronchial arteries. BookHouse is on the short list of awesome places to breathe deeply & drink heavily.
* It was a good guess, though, right?
I wish I had something more clever to say, but really, I don't. But I promised an update after I had the food and, sho nuff, we ate here the other night. I had the pork chop. The girl had the roasted chicken. Both were fantastic. After I ate the chop, I gnawed on the bone (which is probably not the first time that's happened in the old Midtown Saloon spot.) Â My only complaint was that the server actually corrected me when I ordered a Smithwick's.
"I'll have a Smit'icks please."
"A Smithwicks?"
(Pregnant beer douche-induced pause.)
"Yeah. One of those."
Seriously guys, if you're going to be the home of whiskey and beer douche bags, you need to learn how to pronounce them all. One of the REAL beer douche bags may actually cut you for pronouncing it "Smithwick."
Just sayin'.
I knew my pal Murphy had been working on this place awhile, but when I walked in and saw how GORGEOUS the place was, I had to give him a weepy-eyed hug. Â Bravo my friend! Â I went on a Saturday night after a wedding and it was pretty packed, and happily with the old school regular MJQ kids (well, full-fledged adults that we are now, sigh) Â so it felt like the good old days of MJQ before everyone and their mother found out about it. Â
I have a feeling those days are numbered for the Bookhouse, because once word of how amazing this place is gets out, it will definitely contribute more cars to the usually packed MJQ parking lot. Â The drinks were good, the atmosphere cozy and beautiful, the two tiered outdoor patio is sooo cool! Â Definitely a unique layout for Atlanta! Â And there is no smoking inside (you wouldn't want to tar up the beautiful wood work and stained glass, now would you?) Â so the lovely patio is where you can puff your heart out.
And every Tuesday is Dr. Jacoby's Tiki Tuesday Therapy... a Polynesian inspired drink night. Â So if Trader Vic's is too far/expensive, there is a new night for you to get Tiki-fied!
The menu looks very good, but since I was already filled up from a wedding I just had fries and they were amazing! Â I am definitely going to be here a lot, so I can soak up the beauty, chat with my old friends, and enjoy the patio before it gets cold.....and everyone else in Atlanta starts filling the place up!
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