After a busy few weeks of work, grad school, and wedding planning - topped off by the death of a grandparent and subsequent family circus - we were looking for some comfort food. Not mashed potatoes and mac & cheese (although nothing wrong with those fine concoctions), but the sort of globe-trotting gluttony that leaves us in a snuggly stupor. Drunk, full, and giddy are really what we're shooting for, here.
Somewhat against the spirit of our newly-conceived blog (literally dreamt up on the trip home from aforementioned funeral), we went for a pair of old friends. Divan, a Persian restaurant and hookah lounge near the intersection of Peachtree and Piedmont, and Cafe Intermezzo, an American take on a German kaffehaus at Peachtree and Collier.
At 6:30 on a Sunday evening, we were expecting to find Divan deserted. Au contraire, mon ami. Apparently Sunday is Persian party time. This Irish boy and Polack girl were the first to arrive, and therefore received a front-row seat for the evening's festivities.
We ordered our typical bottle of Malbec (Argentinean wine is always appropriate in my mind) and sank into the satiny pillows of the downstairs hookah lounge. Patrons slowly filled the lounge, bar area, and upstairs party room. It doesn't take long to fall under the spell of Divan's exotic atmosphere. The smells, the smoke, and the pillows make for a very romantic experience. We watched the couple directly across from us go from first date nerves to "going steady" cuddly comfort in one cocktail. I can't say that we were totally immune...well, let's get to the food.
The Mezze Platter was and always has been a hit. Hummus, dolmah(rice and beef in grape leaves), spanakopita (spinach pies), and kashke bademjaan (eggplant and onion dip) are served with slightly crispy pita. Everything on that plate is excellent. Well, B might disagree about the eggplant, but if you're an eggplant fan, it's for you. All of the flavors are strong, but none are overwhelming.
We also ordered the lamb kabob, which is chunks of grilled lamb served with saffron and burberry basmati rice and a creamy yogurt sauce. The lamb was tender. Not too gamy, not too charred. We found ourselves shoveling the rice into our mouths after the lamb was gone - this with all the other delicious options on the table. I think Divan gets better every time we visit. The service is consistently polite and unobtrusive, and the food is to die for.
OK, the cons. The place is a bit noisy. The need to speak directly into each other's ears in order to be heard added to the intimacy of our experience, but may not bode so well for larger parties. The music and the other patrons were definitely...enhanced by the "acoustics" of the older home in which Divan is situated. Also, the valets didn't open the lady's door first. Typical for Atlanta, and maybe a bit of a pet peeve here. Certainly not enough to keep us away.
Cafe Intermezzo is a frequent nightcap for us. We have been for lunch - sandwiches and salads - and were not impressed. The dessert and coffee are where this place shines. They present over 100 fresh cakes, tortes, pies, etc. daily, and there are always knowledgeable staff stationed around the dessert case to answer questions (they memorize all the desserts offered). Cafe Intermezzo also serves every coffee beverage imaginable - from Turkish coffee to Mexican hot chocolate. Everything I have tried has been tasty, but it's hard to go wrong with regular coffee as a compliment to their rich desserts. B sticks with rum and Coke. They do have a full bar as well, FYI.
Having been to a few kaffehausen, I will say the atmosphere is fairly accurate. Dark, rosy decor and a few gilded Baroque accents...all that's missing are the hoards of smokers. Can't say that I miss those. One non-sequitur is the French lessons that play in the restrooms. Interesting, but I wouldn't say authentic.
On this trip, B ordered Reese's cup cheesecake and I had chocolate mousse cake with fresh strawberries. B's cheesecake was spot-on creamy chocolate-peanut butter goodness. I am particular about the texture of cheesecake, and Cafe Intermezzo's is consistently moist without being runny. My mousse cake was less fluffy than I had anticipated, due to the cake layers being soaked in what I am guessing was a strawberry simple syrup. Not to say that it wasn't tasty. The fresh strawberries were plump and ripe, and who doesn't like chocolate mousse? It just wasn't what I was expecting.
The only con we have come across is the $3 parking fee for the Midtown location. Don't forget to bring cash.
