Atlanta's Article 14 Restaurant Is Going Gourmet
In Atlanta, 14th and Peachtree, in the midtown section of the city is considered "Main at Main." Half a block west, on 14th Street, is Article 14, where the short and simple words that best describe the American cuisine created under the direction of Legacy Restaurant Partners' highly regarded corporate chef Christopher Blobaum are "fresh," "simple," and "pure." However, with each dish, the one word that comes to mind over and over again is "insatiable."
Getting Started: Cocktails, Starters, and Small plates
A quick trip to Paris, by way of an $11 Champs-Élysées cocktail of Aylesbury Duck Vodka, St Germain, lemon, and rosé champagne, is the way to wet your whistle with a bubbly taste that's crisp and refreshing.
Next up, grilled local peaches ($7) are a great way to enjoy the end of the summer season. Balsamic vinegar adds the perfect balance to crispy, meaty, slightly charred grilled peaches. A dish so simple, yet so delicious.
On the menu for $11, the tuna and beet tartar resembles a quaint, cute, and colorful summer salad of watermelon and beets. But with bits of pickled daikon (a mild flavored radish from East Asia), in a drizzle of soy, chives, and olive oil, the infusion of flavors is further confirmation that the kitchen staff is full of culinary skill. As if the palate were not already awakened, the accompaniment of French breakfast radishes, cucumbers, cilantro, and spring greens to the $12 kampachi crudo doused in olive oil and salted to perfection will blow your mind.
While some may despise okra for its sometimes slimy consistency inside, at Article 14 okra chips ($5) are fried to a crunch and served with a smoked tomato aioli sauce for dipping. Sit these in front of anyone with some wings and a beer and the one who thought he or she hated okra the most will be the one to order the next round!
Two more definite highlights are the honey-glazed ribs ($10) and the $17 lobster roll. Ribs can be tricky. Whether the flavor will have been washed away or not is often a toss-up when ordering out. That's not the case at all here, where they're perfectly spiced and falling off the bone. And the luscious, buttery, moist, and sweet clumps of lobster that get lifted by lemon mayonnaise and a pairing of house-made, kettle-style seasoned potato chips are even more euphoric with a glass of house reisling to sip.
The Main at Main
Of the many entrée dishes from the lunch, brunch, and dinner menus, the $16 grilled trout is a masterpiece of simplicity. The combination of lemon butter and the caramelization that occurs on the grill produces an oh-so Mediterranean feeling, as if on the majestic island of Sorrento or Capri or Sorrento, where food is simple, pure, and delicious.
For a sweet ending, try the totally unforgettable crisp and flaky fried peach pie, served à la mode, while there's still time.
Just as the food is simple and elegant, so is the ambiance at Article 14. So whether you're from an office nearby, on a hot date, or a weekend outing, chances are, you'll find comfort amid the modern décor and the very gracious staff. But if you're still a little stressed out from a long work day, master mixologist Arianne Fielder can take care of that.