Toto, I've a feeling I'm back in Kansas!

As many of you know, my husband works in Kansas City and I work primarily out of Atlanta. Splitting our time between two cities has its advantages, but particularly when it comes to finding fine dining in Kansas City!

Here are three finds from the weekend:

Café Trio prides itself on offering "true urban sophistication." My husband and I visited this particular eatery for the second time since his move to Kansas City.

Positives: Location, Venue, Food, People

Negatives: No negatives to write home about

Overall: Paton and I enjoyed the great views of the Plaza from the terrace. Also, the menu featured fabulous mussels that we both loved. The eclectic crowd and vibrant showings of local artists was an interesting way to spend the evening.

Il Centro is an upscale casual Italian Bistro that takes its inspiration from Mediterranean neighborhood restaurants where people meet to sample the local wine. The restaurant doesn't take reservations, so thankfully Paton and I found an open table.

Positives: Food, atmosphere, Authenticity

Negatives: A little small and long wait (but worth the wait!)

Overall: Il Centro is located just off the Plaza in Brookside. Be prepared to wait as this place is tiny! The menu features great calamari with an exciting pesto dipping sauce. Also, Il Centro boasts the most authentic Italian pizza ever. This was a great find!

Grand Street Café is another must try in Kansas City. Although it was a little pricey, the experience with Paton was definitely worth it.

Positives: View of Plaza, Food

Negatives: A little expensive

Overall: From now on, we will go here on a Thursday night where the menu features half price bottles of wine under $75 which is an exceptional perk! Paton and I had the whole patio to ourselves which made for a great evening. We were particularly impressed with the great views of the Plaza. Menu favorites included the incredible ceviche and vibrant spring rolls. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

Overall, the experience in Kansas City was wonderful. Although, as Dorothy says, there really is "no place like home." I'm glad to be back in Atlanta!

Pricci

Pricci is another Atlanta Favorite that I hadn't visited in a while until I had a request from a friend and client who lives in Buckhead to join her for dinner and drinks.

Positives: Wine pairings, three course meals, deserts

Negatives: None to list.

Overall Review: For $25, we had a wonderful three course meal including Zuppa and Pork Saltimbocca finished off with some heavenly gelato with strawberry chips. The wine pairing was perfect. I would definitely recommend Pricci.

Bistro Niko. Yes Please.

Bistro Niko. Enough Said.

Positives: They got this one just right. Price point, service, decor and wine list.

Must have: mushroom tart.

Overall Experience: This is the newest addition to the Buckhead Life restaurant group. Everything I've had here is GREAT! I would highly recommend this restaurant.

Alfredo's: an old Atlanta favorite that feels a bit too old. . .

When picking your Friday night out, you might be tempted to visit Atlanta Staples like Blue Ridge Grill or Canoe. If you've been an Atlanta resident for your entire life, and haven't tried these staples, it's time to give them a whirl. In this effort, I wanted to try Alfredo's. The website claims that "For 35 Years, Alfredo's has created the sights, sounds, smells and particularly the tastes of Italy by offering patrons authentic Italian cuisine." Sounds pretty good, right?

Positives: The food is decent

Negatives: Atmosphere, Old building, feels musty, food is unhealthy..

My Review: Been around 35 years and feels like it. A classic old Italian eatery, don't expect to find any healthy food on the menu! The eggplant parmesan was good. The pickled carrots and cauliflower might surprise you! Although I won't be running back for a second try, there must be SOME reason the restaurant is 35 years old.

Joel: Best French Dining in Buckhead?

Having dinner with my clients is not a luxury I take for granted. A few months ago, along with said clients, I visited Joel in Buckhead. The website claims Joel features the "best French Dining in Buckhead. Great drinks, food and atmosphere. Private dining, patio dining and casual dining room." Did the claims measure up to the experience?

Positives: The atmosphere, dessert

Negatives: The food was just...ok...

My Review: Great New York atmosphere and a departure from the usual Friday Fare was exciting. Although I don't typically order dessert, the pablova is well worth the calories. The French Onion Soup is delicious, a bit sweet, but worth a try. I was more impressed with the company than the food. Certainly, in my opinion, not the BEST French food in Buckhead, but overall, not bad.

Here's how to order French food without blowing your diet:

Blue Ridge Grill

A few weeks ago, some friends and myself decided to revisit an old Atlanta favorite, Blue Ridge Grill. Good friends, great food, and tasty cocktails made this night perfect.

Positives: Charm, Atlanta Landmard, Menu, Service

Negatives: None.

My Overall Review: Loved having cocktails on the porch and enjoying this cozy and sophisticated restaurant. Great for drinks and dining in groups! The service is excellent. Will definitely be back.

Park's Edge

By now, you all know that I love Sunday Brunch with my husband. A few months ago, we ventured to the Park's Edge, for the only breakfast of the week where drinks are welcomed. :)

Positives: The cheeseburger was delicious. The atmosphere was perfect. Bottomless mimosas didn't hurt the experience either.

Negatives: Mediocre menu

My overall review: Park’s Edge is nestled in the beautiful Inman Park, and has a small neighborhood feel paired with an extensive menu and bottomless mimosas for brunch. The cheeseburger is fantastic, although the overall consensus of the food was just ok, I really enjoyed my dish. I would recommend visiting on a day nice enough to sit outside as the outdoor dining provides a great overall experience. I would visit again!

Paces 88

Paces 88 offers a truly elegant dining experience. The sophistication and experience of Paces 88 are unrivaled in Atlanta dining.

Positives:

Atmosphere, food, and service.

Negatives: None, to my knowledge: a truly decadent dining experience.

My Review: Love, love, love the St. Regis Hotel! Paces 88 certainly keeps "pace" with the grandeur of the hotel. Have a drink in the wine room before enjoying your meal. You must try the Foie Gras biscuits! They are delicious. Paces 88 provides for a very elegant dining experience.

Fine Southern Dining Done right

Dogwood has been on my list for quite some time and as my sister and I were in the area after a Friday night concert, I was finally able to give it a try.

Positives: Excellent Service and innovative dishes.

Negatives: The atmosphere was a little ill-planned. Drab gray carpet took away from the overall modern experience and could have easily been fixed with dark hardwood floors or the like. It reminded me more of a hotel. Beyond the questionable decor . . .

Overall: We had a fantastic experience. We started with Grits with Pimento Cheese which definitely got us off on the right foot! From there, we split a great arugula salad, fried green tomatoes and a couple of fantastic entrees including scallops and Wagyu Sirloin. As you can tell, this place definitely has southern roots but the chef manages to make everything taste new and modern.Service was outstanding- best I've had in quite some time. Definitely check it out!

Oldies but goodies...

There is nothing better than revisiting some familiar favorites with your husband :).

Paton and I've had lunch at Anis Bistro a couple of times recently. Because of the covered patio, you can sit outside even when it's really hot out. There's nothing better than a long, romantic weekend lunch including Mussels Frites and sharing a bottle of Rose with my husband!

Haven't had a meal at Bistro Niko in quite some time but have discovered happy hour on the terrace overlooking Peachtree. Lots of fun especially on a Friday when there is lots of great people watching to be had. They have a wonderful cheese plate and, yes, they have St. Germain!

Prickly Pear=Pretty Positive

A few friends and I were sitting by the pool in midtown when we got a craving for Mexican. . . typical, right? We were within walking distance of the Prickly Pear and decided to give it a try.

Positives: Great urban experience, tasty cuisine

Negatives: Overwhelming menu for simple fare.

Overall: It is well known that Atlanta is infamously NOT a walking city, so walking from a chic midtown pool to a great midtown restaurant was a treat! The menu was a bit overwhelming for a Mexican place but everything from the house margarita, trio of salsas (the roasted one was my fave), guacamole and chicken and shrimp fajitas was excellent. I would highly recommend stopping in for some fresh, authentic Mexican food and experiencing the joys of a "walking city" when you find yourself in Midtown.

F.A.B. . . ?

Some girlfriends and I ventured down to French American Brasserie, or FAB, for birthday dinner in June. We left wondering if it truly lived up to its name. . .

Positives: Delicious food, great French Martini, Decent Service

Negatives: Misleading service and the authenticity of the cuisine is questionable.

Overall: Our group decided to try FAB specifically to enjoy cocktails on the beautiful rooftop terrace. . .we quickly found out the restaurant closed the terrace for the evening, which coincidentally was a beautiful and warm summer night. . . Strike one.

So what did the girls do? Of Course, we went up anyway and found servers and bartenders working on the rooftop. Interesting. . .

We asked for a round of St. Germain cocktails which thoroughly confused them. In my opinion, an authentic French place should have St. Germain on hand. Strike two.

They did however make a great French martini and redeemed themselves with delicious food. Service wasn't great but we've definitely had worse. I'd go back, but there is only one strike till this restaurant is out of the question.