Keegan's Public House

I ran into Will Underwood at Cuppy's Coffee last Thursday. He informed me that he'd be playing guitar with Joe at Keegan's, and invited me to come visit. When I got there, I met Mike and Patrick Ford, the brothers who own and run Keegan's.

They have done this place up right. The pub was everything a neighborhood pub used to be, and more. No overkill with fancy decorations. No girlification. A place with a Larry Bird jersey and a few flat screens on the wall. The dark worn wood. The comfortable bar, a handful of tables and regular patrons. Booths align the wall that separates the bar from the second dining room.


The bar has a wide window behind it, that, when opened, reveals a patio bar. The patio runs the side of the building, providing a nice cafe style setting. There is no smoking inside the building, so the patio is a haven for smokers and non-smokers alike.



I enjoyed the music, and decided to bring my wife to Keegan's for dinner on Friday.


We showed up just after seven and the inner room was full, so we were seated in the outer dining room. Our waitress tonight was Erin, a very happy, very knowledgeable and appropriately red haired young lady.


Erin walked us through the menu, which is full of a blend of traditional Irish and Irish-American dishes. While we decided on that we got a sampler plate of appetizers, which included wings (the sauces are a bit more hot, compared to other places, i.e. mild=medium, etc.), Angus Beef Sliders, and Keegan's own Irish Spring Rolls. The Irish Spring Roll, Patrick's contribution to the food side of the business, was a Taste of Marietta First Place winner in 2009. It is a unique adaptation of a traditional spring roll, in that corned beef is added to the mix. Absolutely delicious!


For dinner, my wife ordered Pot Roast and Mashed Potatoes. The meal is a beef and gravy lover's delight. The roast beef was prepared the traditional way with extra celery, which added a nice veggie flavor. The mashed potatoes were just lumpy enough with a hint of garlic. The portion was large and satisfying.

I ordered the Finnegan's Fry. I received a huge piece of haddock nestled atop an ample supply of fries, with a side of slaw. The tartar sauce was delicious but unnecessary. The beer battered, lightly fried filet was meaty, tender and moist. The batter was just firm enough to not fall apart. Sprinkle some malt vinegar on the fries and I was transported to Maine, back to the piers of my youth, where you could buy fries in a cup, soaked with malt vinegar, topped by a piece of the catch of the day.


For dessert, we ordered the KrispyKreme Bread Pudding and the Bailey's Irish Cream Cheesecake. The KrispyKreme bread pudding is exactly that, Bread pudding made from KrispyKreme Doughnuts, a Keegan's original. The Bailey's Irish Cream Cheesecake is also self explanatory, a cheesecake with a nice chocolaty taste. Not too heavy and very sweet. Both were delicious!

Visit Keegan's (soon) at 1625 Ridenour Blvd, Suite 301 in Kennesaw. Tell them I sent you and you want the Finnegan's Fry. You will like it and you will come back for more. When you return, you can probably get your favorite waitress again. They have no turnover to speak of. Save one who moved and one on maternity leave, the staff is the same since day one.

The Boxcar - A Cheesecake Cafe

Sitting just around the corner from Wild Bill's, and a block or two from The General, The Boxcar is one of the most comfortable, friendly restaurants you'll find.


The cozy dining room lends itself to family conversation and a small town atmosphere. If the weather is agreeable, the deck is also an option. Here, a very friendly staff will serve to you food items that the menu cannot do justice. There is just no way to say how good the roast beef melt tastes, or how surprised you will be by the potato salad.


My family and I came by for lunch one day, and decided to return for dinner on another night. It was a good decision. It was a Thursday evening, and we got to try their house made pasta. My wife ordered the spaghetti with meat sauce. It was an ample dish of fine spaghetti, smothered by a thick marinara meat sauce, accompanied by two pieces of sourdough garlic bread (which was wonderful) and topped with parmesan cheese.














My daughter ordered rigatoni alfredo with sliced chicken breast. Adorned with diced tomatoes and broccoli, this dish was delicious.

Not to be outdone, I ordered the smothered chicken. I am here to tell you that this is a tasty entree! Chicken breast smothered in cheeses and peppers and onions, with broccoli and wild rice beside it made for a man-sized meal.

We all thoroughly enjoyed our dinner, and had leftovers to carry home.



But it doesn't end there. Read the name of the restaurant.






The strawberry banana cheesecake and the strawberry cheesecake were extremely good! The Boxcar offers a wide variety of cheesecakes worthy of a visit in their own right.

So visit downtown Kennesaw. Check out the interesting stores and the Civil War Museum. Say hello to Doc Eaton (get him to show you his trains). Without fail, make sure to save time for a good meal and a slice of heaven at The Boxcar.

Dreamland BBQ

As I recall, the word Dreamland would cause many a college student in Tuscaloosa, Al to salivate. A small shack sat out beyond Interstate 59, to the left off US 82 in an area known as Jerusalem Heights. There John "Big Daddy" Bishop created what became a staple in the life of Tuscaloosans.

We went in, and willingly sat elbow to elbow. The people at the next table might pull for the opponent of the day, but that didn't matter. Going to Dreamland was like going to church. You put differences aside at the door because of your mutual respect for those ribs and white bread. 'Nana Pudding was pretty good, too.


Last week, I had the good fortune of walking into a building and smelling the same smell that I had come to love those years ago. I sat in the open dining room (not even close to being elbow to elbow). I made sure I got a table near "the pit".


Before long, my combo plate sat before me, with Ribs, Chicken, Slaw and Beans. I got my chicken "off the bone" so that I could easily slap some on my Sunbeam bread. The hot barbeque sauce was just hot enough to make my sinuses active. My slaw and beans were just right, but the thing that made me pull into the driveway was that first rib. I bit into the sweet sauce-covered meat and was transported back to Big Daddy's shack.


No skimpy, try to find the meat ribs here. I was not hungry for some time after that meal.

The next time you are in Roswell, give this place a try. You'll be glad you did.

Okinawa Hibachi & Sushi

Eddie Yap has done something very right, and he did it in Cartersville, Ga.

Okinawa, a Japanese Steak and Sushi restaurant, is a not so well kept secret in Cartersville. A friend of mine told me that her mom works in the same business complex, and that the line for lunch starts well before Eddie's restaurant opens her doors.

Here is why.

First, the service is second to none. The drink glass never empties, and the attention, while never intrusive, never stops.


Second, Eddie Yap genuinely cares about every plate served, and every customer that comes in. He is a good businessman with a good grasp on where he is going and how to get there.

Third, the food.

A friend and I ordered a pretty good sampling of appetizers that included Steamed Gyoza (pork dumplings), Spring Rolls, Shrimp Tempura and Crab Rangoon. All were delicious, but my favorite was the Shrimp Tempura. The batter was just right, and the sauce was very good.

A small green salad then led the way into the main course. I ordered a Hibachi Combo Dinner of Ribeye and Chicken, cooked to order and seasoned just right, which came with mixed veggies and fried rice. The meal was perfectly prepared and was presented well.

It is no wonder the lines start early and end late.

Okinawa's menu covers the full range of sushi and hibachi treats. Almost every dinner entree is under $15, and the sushi ranges from $4.50 to $8.50. Eddie offers a variety of lunch specials, the vast majority of which are priced under $10.

Is there a negative to this restaurant? Only if you consider Cartersville to be too far from home. I assure you, it is worth the drive.

Di Gusto Italian Grille

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Di Gusto Italian Grille in Kennesaw. Located at 3150 Cobb Parkway NW. A family owned and operated restaurant, Di Gusto offers a family oriented setting with a touch of date-worthy romantic flair.

While owner Carlos McCoy handled the kitchen and staff, his wife and partner Rosaria Pecoraro McCoy keeps the recipes to her liking. Shown above is her adaptation of traditional Bruchetta. Instead of mincing the tomatoes, they are sliced, soaked in oil and served above mozzarella and beneath a drizzle of basil sauce. Sweet and tasty!Vince served us well, kept our glasses full, and warm bread on our table. I make it a habit to watch how well other tables are served, so as to balance things out in the event someone knows why I am there. I even watched the room a bit from the front foyer after all had assumed I had left.Without a doubt, service was consistent and complete.


Phyllis got the Vegetable Lasagna, which she really liked. It was a very large portion, with just the right amount of cheese and plenty of veggies. Just the way she likes it!




I ordered the Tour of Italy, a half order each of Lasagna, Fettuccine Alfredo and Chicken Parmigiana. More food than I could handle, and each item prepared to perfection.

I finished the meal with a Cannoli and the determination that we would return.

Di Gusto is open for lunch and dinner every day, and on Fridays offers Di Gusto after dark, an opportunity to include dancing with your dinner.

Check out their website, or call them at 770-529-4200.

Spudz Tavern

Spudz Tavern sits in Sandy Plains Village at 4651 Woodstock Rd. in Roswell, Ga. The result of the love and effort of Wade and Jolene Duckett, this place has a lot more to offer than meets the eye.

Spudz opened up on June 15, 2009, and hasn't slowed down since.

The menu offers a variety of starters (I like the fried pickles), salads, soups and wraps (the favorite being the Meat in a Sheet, Black Angus beef with all the trimmings!) and, as you might guess a large selection of baked potatoes. You can see the menu by clicking here.
I ordered the fried pickles and a huge Texas Spud. The Texas is a baked potato with a generous portion of your choice of chili, BBQ beef or pork with butter, green onion cheddar and sour cream. I chose BBQ pork. That was as good or better than any stuffed potato I've ever had.

The food at Spudz is very good, the service is friendly and quick, and the atmosphere is wonderful (dark wood, soft indirect lighting, pleasant angles). Those elements would seemingly be enough to carry the business. Wade and Jolene have taken things a step further.
Meet Sam. Sam is one of three servers that I met on my visit. Wade and Jolene are owners who "get it" when it comes to the hiring and treatment of staff members. It is very easy for us patrons to tell when an employee is unhappy. We become yet one more obstacle for them to hurdle in order to finish their shift.

Not so here. I spoke with Sam, Jamie and Lindsey, and got the same impression every time. These folks like their job. That translates into good service.

Give this place a try. Check out the events they offer on their web page. They offer live music, dancing, Open Mic Atlanta and Casino Night to name a few.

See you there!

Mary Mac's Tea Room

My daughter and I had just finished polishing off a fair amount of food at Spice Market, and we had decided to take advantage of being downtown,, so we drove around.

Before long, we were cruising down Ponce, and there it was. Sitting on the corner with a big sign, "Mary Mac's Tea Room". I had driven by, I had heard testimonials, I had read the legends, but I had never been inside.
Stuffed already, but with a "got to" feeling, we walked in. After we were seated, we told our waitress we were here for the first time, but only wanted dessert. "Oh, but first-timers get a complimentary cup of Pot Liquor. You have to try it!"
Soon, a divine cup of greens in a just salty enough broth appeared before us, accompanied by a piece of cornbread. Still full from our Spice Market adventure, we lifted our spoons. My spoon rested again only when the last drop was gone. I looked around the room and quickly stifled the urge to lift the cup to my mouth.

Now we were ready for dessert. Beth had ordered Strawberry Shortcake. With home made pound cake and fresh strawberries topped by a thick whipped cream, this dessert was delicious.
My order was Peach Cobbler. A heavenly combination of peaches, crust and sugar that will make you want to hug the cook.
So. Here is my advice. Park your car somewhere near 224 Ponce de Leon Ave. Walk inside Mary Mac's Tea Room. Check out the photos of dignitaries and celebrities. When you get a table, tell the server it's your first time. Order a meal (I can't imagine anything being a wrong choice) if you like, but definitely order dessert.

Thank me later.