Alpharetta Restaurant News – December 2011

December 16, 2011 in Foodie Friday with 9 Comments

Every Friday Roots in Alpharetta features an article on food and dining in a series called Foodie Friday.

Lots of changes coming to the restaurant scene, particularly in Johns Creek. Let’s get right to it.

China Inn – Johns Creek

Buford Highway comes to Johns Creek! Well, it’s not exactly Buford Highway but it’s close enough. China Inn has been an institution in Chamblee for thirty years. In October they closed their location on Peachtree Industrial due to disagreements with the landlord and increased rent.

Instead they inked a deal to lease the former Modavi restaurant at 11625 Medlock Bridge Road. This will move them out of an aging strip mall and into a free-standing building. They will have more space and exposure to an affluent and growing Asian population in Johns Creek – and they’re getting it all for less rent.

China Inn’s move to the burbs is significant and the story isn’t being told locally. This article in the Dunwoody Crier is about the only story on the move. It’s more of a lament on the loss of a local institution. Their loss is our gain!

Johns Creek is on the cusp of becoming a destination for authentic Asian dining in metro Atlanta. Welcome to the neighborhood, China Inn!

Tasca Latin Bistro – Closed

They had a talented chef and delicious food. I became worried when Tasca started hitting Groupon and Scoutmob all the time. It wasn’t enough to save this place as they closed a few weeks ago. A sign on the window suggests the next tenant might be…

Bassano’s – Johns Creek

I’m still a little unclear on this one. There used to be a Bassano’s Pizzeria on Jones Bridge where Rosa’s is now. I’m not familiar with that former restaurant and I’m not sure if this is the same restaurant. I do know that there is a Bassano’s Pizzeria in Loganville and these are they guys opening the new Bassano’s on State Bridge in the old Tasca space.

Bread Time – Alpharetta

Thanks to Travis Allen for info on this place. Bread Time will be a German bakery and will open on South Main Street where Mama’s Taqueria used to be. I still don’t know much more than that. I hear they will have German wine and beer. I’m a sucker for a good Bavarian hefeweizen.

Meat and Potatoes Kitchen & Bar – Johns Creek

This will be the name of a new restaurant to open at 5710 State Bridge Road. This outparcel has not been friendly to it’s past occupants  including Rio Bravo, Star Diner and others. I’m still researching this restaurant and the folks behind the concept. More to come.

Construct A Burger – Moving

They have closed their location on Post Road in the Midway community of south Forsyth. According to their Facebook page they are looking to re-open somewhere near exit 13 on GA-400. If you know where this will be, please let me know. Construct A Burger is an under-rated hamburger joint, and their french fries are amazing.

Coming Soon

Dulce Chocolat - Still no word on when they will open on Old Milton Parkway.
Saigon Café - Coming to Windward Parkway.
El Molcajete Mexican - Their sign went up this past week. They’ll be in Zola Bistro’s old space on Highway 9 in Milton.
Alfresco - Corner of Main and Old Milton. Look for an opening in mid-January.
Café Efendi - Relocating to the old Durty Kelly’s space on North Main Street in Alpharetta.

Alpharetta should approve Amana Academy’s plans

December 15, 2011 in NIMBY, Traffic with 13 Comments

I have a lot of readers in the Windward community, and many of you will probably disagree with me today. Please don’t take me off your Christmas card list!

Amana Academy's current location on South Main Street

Meet the Amana Academy, a charter school in Alpharetta. They teach kindergarten through 8th grade and have an enrollment of about 500 students. They were recently recognized as the 2011 Charter School of the Year for Georgia. We’re fortunate that an outstanding school like Amana calls Alpharetta home.

But Amana has a growth problem. Since their founding in 2005 they’ve operated out of leased space on South Main Street. Today it doesn’t meet their needs. They’ve identified a vacant office building on Windward Parkway near Edison Drive that would be perfect for their growing enrollment. However, moving into this space would require changing the Windward Master Plan which prohibits schools. Residents in the Windward neighborhood protested when this came up earlier in the Fall. Thankfully the parties involved agreed to postpone this issue until after the city elections in November. So here we are. The Alpharetta City Council will consider Amana’s case Monday night.

Windward residents object to Amana primarily because they don’t want to set a precedent of making changes to the Master Plan. They don’t see a compelling reason to change the plan. I disagree.

The compelling reason to change the plan is that an award-winning school wants to move near your neighborhood. This should be encouraged and celebrated! This is a highly desirable school for many parents. In the long run I think it’s proximity to Windward might be a boon to property values.

But what about traffic? The studies show that a school in this building would generate less traffic than an office filled with cubicle dwellers. On top of that, the peak traffic times for this school would be slightly offset to that of Windward’s rush hour.

While I don’t live in Windward, I drive the east portion of Windward Parkway as often as any resident. Creating a traffic problem on this road is nothing I’d support. Amana doesn’t create a traffic problem.

I respect the idea of wanting to preserve the Windward Master Plan. I don’t think fighting a school of this caliber is worth expending political capital. I agree with my friends in Windward on a lot of issues, but I think they need to pick their battles. This isn’t one worth fighting.

Home invasions in North Fulton are tough cases to solve

December 13, 2011 in Affluence, Crime in the Burbs with 1 Comment

Over the past three years cities in north Fulton have witenssed six home invasions. As of the time of this writing arrests have been made in only one case. It’s an unfortunate reality of this growing crime in the affluent burbs. Let’s review the six cases.

January 2009 – Roswell

The owner of a pawn shop and his family were the victims of a home invasion in the Horseshoe Bend neighborhood of Roswell. He was pistol whipped and tied up with the rest of his family. The criminals made off with cash but were apprehended a few days later.

January 2009 – Johns Creek

Father and son business owners were tied up at home and robbed. The perps didn’t let a fence and card-swipe gate keep them from getting to the home. They targeted the victims based on the possibility of cash being in the home and made off with over $13,000 and some jewelry. No arrests have been made.

January 2010 – Johns Creek

Five or six men wearing ski masks invade a home in the Colony Glen neighborhood of Johns Creek. They tie the family up and assault them before kidnapping one victim. They drive him to Dunwoody before releasing him, making off with his car.

The victims of this crime were believed to be themselves involved in illegal activities. They moved away from Johns Creek within weeks of this crime. And despite offering a cash reward, police have been unable to make arrests in this case.

March 2010 – Johns Creek

Criminals targeted a family running a business out of their home. The family was zip tied while criminals ransacked the home. No arrests have been made.

September 2011 – Alpharetta

Men with ski masks and semi-automatic handguns storm a home in the Glen Abbey neighborhood of Alpharetta. They tie up the family and threaten them, making off with jewelry.

November 2011 – Alpharetta

On the eve of Thanksgiving bandits raid a home in the Park Glenn neighborhood. The crime is similar to Alpharetta’s previous home invasion. The perps make off with jewelry, cash and other valuables. Police are still investigating.

Thanks to Rosemary Taylor in Johns Creek for providing updates on some of these cases.

Photo Credit: SieBot (creative commons)

Some ideas on the Highway 9 Corridor

December 12, 2011 in Suburban Life, Traffic with 5 Comments

This is the second of two articles on Milton’s Highway 9 LCI project.

Alpharetta and Milton recently received a $100,000 grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission under the Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) program.  The funds will study the Highway 9 corridor through the northern part of Alpharetta and Milton. On Friday I wrote about the survey being conducted as a part of this LCI grant.

Milton has a little problem – their tax base is largely residential. Only this highway 9 corridor and portions of the Crabapple area are considered business districts in the city. Compare this to Alpharetta or Johns Creek – cities who both have large retail and corporate office components to kick in tax dollars. In Milton a larger share of taxes are shouldered on residents. Most in Milton acknowledge the need to expand at least the Highway 9 area to help balance things out.

On the other hand, LCI projects and the consultants behind them have a history of pushing urban projects with high density residential housing components. Will Milton’s consultant, Urban Collage, suggest changing land use in this area to mixed-use and/or high density? If they do, it would run counter of the needs of this city. More than anything, I’m most curious to see if this happens.

So beyond the survey, here are some high-level thoughts on this corridor…

Westside Parkway

Before changing anything, it’s important to look upstream. Alpharetta should finally have a contiguous Westside Parkway by early 2012. The goal (or hope) is that commuters use this as a bypass around downtown Alpharetta. It’s a pivotal assumption in Alpharetta’s newly-approved downtown plans. It would behoove Milton to conduct studies on how this will effect traffic on Deerfield Parkway.

How will commuters use a completed Westside Parkway? Will they drive from Haynes Bridge, all the way up Westwide to Deerfield, then up to Highway 9? Or will they peel off at Windward and head west? Or will they ignore it completely and continue to use Highway 9 as they do now? After all, Highway 9 is a straight shot while Westside/Deerfield twists like a snake for a few miles.

All plans for this corridor hinge the Westside linchpin.

Deerfield/Morris Technology Park

This area is where you’ll find the largest parcels of undeveloped land. It’s also the only place in Milton with a high-tech, corporate campus setting. Please oh please don’t suggest mixed use here.

Financial payment processor Global Payments owns land here and keeps talking like they want to build on it one day. Land use in this particular area should remain the same.

Windward

Probably my favorite feature on this side of Windward is the road to the south. A small road runs parallel to Windward from Costco, behind the stripmalls and banks to the old Cingular campus. How about replicate this idea north of Windward? It’s possible to hop parking lots from Panera Bread to Walmart and Fry’s. Let’s connect them with an honest-to-goodness road. Creating interconnected backroads would alleviate a lot of traffic in Windward itself.

 


View Windward Idea in a larger map

Highway 9

I wouldn’t be opposed to slowing traffic on Highway 9, particularly south of Webb Road and Windward, if the traffic studies show that Westside diverts traffic. All bets are off otherwise. I’d trust someone like Urban Collage to work some magic here, provided that high residential density isn’t a factor in the equation.

Trail Connectivity

I’m surprised there wasn’t more on this in the survey. This are has a few streams and floodplains that might not be a bad place for a few walking trails. But let’s be realistic as these are not commute alternatives. However, trails are amazingly popular attractions. Connecting the residential components on the north end of Deerfield and Morris to places like North Park, Cogburn Road Park and the city’s new pocket parks would be a big win. The office parks (like Verizon’s campus) would probably love to provide connectivity (as some do to Alpharetta’s Big Creek Greenway).

Alpharetta’s Indian community is vitally important

December 10, 2011 in Cubicle Life, Suburban Life with 2 Comments

In 1998 I went to India. It was a crazy time as I was just out of college and new to my career. I lived for two months in Andheri, a suburb of Mumbai. We were in a free trade zone with a bunch of technology companies. In a lot of ways it was like working in the Alpharetta of Bombay.

That's me in India, 1998. I'm the fella on the left.

It was an amazing experience, especially for a young man in his early 20′s. I learned a lot about business, getting a valuable and early taste of offshore software development. I certainly learned a lot about myself in the process.

But more than anything, I developed a deep respect for Indians. I learned to appreciate their cuisine, even though it was difficult to overcome some picky eating habits I still clung to at that age. I enjoyed their unique festivals, celebrations and traditions.

I also experienced Indian hospitality in so many ways. I truly believe the spirit of hospitality ingrained in Indian culture rivals that of Southern hospitality. If you’ve ever been invited to dinner in an Indian family’s home then you’ll understand what I’m talking about.

Today there are over ten thousand Indians living in north Fulton county, drawn here by an abundance of information technology jobs. Surely anyone who’s wandered Alpharetta’s cubicles has worked with these guys. It has been my experience that Indians are intelligent and highly skilled technologists with a solid work ethic.

Outside of the office Alpharetta’s Indians have created vibrant local communities. It’s not hard to find observances of Indian holidays and festivals in this area. We’ve got Indian grocery stores, places to rent Bollywood movies, even dance clubs spinning Indian tunes. And let’s not forget their amazing cuisine. There are four Indian restaurants on Windward Parkway alone. We’ve got so many Indian restaurants that some specialize in individual regions of the sub-continent.

You don’t have to travel to Asia and brush your teeth with bottled water to gain an appreciation of Indian culture. I’ve developed some great friendships with Indian co-workers right here in Alpharetta. I even get invited to play cricket from time to time. It only took a few overs and a quick wicket for me to realize how terrible I am at India’s favorite pastime. It’s an awesome sport though.

I tell of my experience with Indians to hammer home one point – Alpharetta’s Indian community is vitally important. They are significant in number, perform important work for local industry and bring unique cultural diversity to this area. I wanted to take the time to lift them up today, especially in light of recent events in Alpharetta. I’m better and more rounded because of my past experiences with the Indian people. Alpharetta is too.

Take the Highway 9 LCI Survey

December 9, 2011 in Suburban Life, Traffic with 1 Comment

Alpharetta and Milton are conducting a study on the future of the Highway 9 corridor. The study is paid for by a $100,000 grant awarded to the cities by the Atlanta Regional Commission under their Livable Centers Initiative (LCI).

The area under study is Highway 9 from Mayfield Road north to Bethany Bend. It also includes Windward Parkway from Highway 9 to GA-400 as well as Deerfield/Morris/Webb Road areas.

A sample pic from the survey. Doesn't this place look familiar?

Part of the grant pays for a survey which was put together by the consulting firm Urban Collage. How does it work? The consultant is attempting to understand visual preferences for development in the area. First they divide the corridor into two “character areas” – Highway 9 and Windward/Deerfield. Next you’ll see pictures of stores, strip malls, office parks, and green space. You’ll be asked to rate each picture based on how appropriate you think it might be for the character area.

My biggest problem with the survey was lumping Windward together with Deerfield Parkway and Webb/Morris roads into one character area. These are three distinct areas with different characteristics. It was sometimes difficult for me to judge a building on appropriateness in this area. What is good for Windward may not be right for the north end of Deerfield Parkway.

Nevertheless, if you’re like me you spend a lot of time in this part of Alpharetta and Milton. The survey is worth a few minutes of your time. I encourage you to take it by going to this link:

http://collage.questionform.com/public/Milton-Hwy-9-LCI-Compass-Survey

On Monday I’ll write a followup to this article with thoughts on developing Milton’s business corridor.

 

Azul Agave – Alpharetta

December 9, 2011 in Foodie Friday, Reviews with 1 Comment

Every Friday Roots in Alpharetta features an article on food and dining in a series called Foodie Friday.

Before blogging I used to write reviews on yelp.com. And over on yelp they have an expression for a two-star review… “Meh. I’ve experienced better.” I keep coming back to this when I reflect on my dining experiences at Azul Agave. But let’s back up a moment.

Azul Agave opened on Old Milton Parkway a few months ago after a long buildout. I regret that I’ve never dined with this building’s past occupants. Had I done so I might have been prepared for the magnificent decor of this restaurant. Outside a small bridge spans a waterfall. Inside it’s spacious with beautiful stacked stone features and blue accents. I’m hard pressed to think of other Alpharetta-area restaurants that rival Azul Agave in looks and decor.

Unfortunately the same creativity and attention to detail that went into Azul’s decor didn’t go into their menu. It’s boringly divided into sections like fajitas, tacos and quesadillas. I meandered my way through its options, searching for something I couldn’t eat at El Azteca or La Parrilla. Nothing jumped out at me.

I settled on some fish tacos, which can be a good litmus test for a joint like this. The fish was a little dry and needed some help from a creamy sauce drizzled on top. The cole slaw was crisp and pretty good but no other toppings were available to provide a flavor boost. These tacos were, at best, a smidge past mediocre.

My wife ordered a steak quesadilla and found it to be on the greasy side. She wound up deconstructing it to salvage some morsels of meaty steak. Side items like black beans are just okay but lack depth or robustness.

In the end, I found the food at Azul Agave to be ordinary and lacking of creativity. They’ve got amazing decor and good service working in their favor. But even the hip and contemporary china can’t save the food resting upon it. Meh, I’ve experienced better.

 

Azul Agave Mexican Bar & Grill on Urbanspoon

Boga Taqueria – Milton

December 2, 2011 in Foodie Friday, Reviews with 2 Comments

Chef Alfonso Huerta, left, and Medardo Briceno

Every Friday Roots in Alpharetta features an article on food and dining in a series called Foodie Friday.

Medardo Briceno has paid his dues in the restaurant industry. This soft spoken man from Venezuela has worked nearly every job in the business. He started in kitchen prep before working his way into the managerial ranks of Frontera, a chain of Atlanta-area Mexican restaurants. Following that gig he worked for food service distributor Sysco. Boga Taqueria marks a big stepping out, his first venture into restaurant ownership.

“I wanted to offer something different to Alpharetta, an experience like you would find in midtown,” said Briceno. So don’t let his history with Frontera set any expectations you might have of Boga. This restaurant is a far cry from the ubiquitous Mexican joints that fill suburban stripmalls. Speedy Gonzalez is nowhere to be found on the menu. That alone makes Boga worth a visit.

Boga’s menu is a mix of Mexican cuisine with some South American influences. Portion sizes are generous, especially for the money. Most entrees are priced in the $8 to $10 range. Atop the menu is their taco selection. For $10 you mix and match three tacos. The Taco al Pastor stood out. This traditional Mexican favorite of pork, onion, pineapple and cilantro forms a harmony of flavors.

More pedestrian taco choices are available, such as ground beef and shredded chicken. Boga pokes a bit of fun at these choices, labeling them as “gringo”. This gringo passed on them.

El Macho

A best seller is the El Macho. They start with a bed of lettuce and add a generous helping of braised pork or pulled brisket. Next comes black beans and a few pieces of mango to tease with some sweetness. A delicious lime vinaigrette is drizzled above that. Finally a large plantain is sprawled across the top. The presentation is beautiful. And don’t let the lettuce and vinaigrette fool you as El Macho does indeed live up to its name.

The talent in the Boga kitchen comes from chef Alfonso Huerta. His most recent gig was at Rio Nuevo on North Point. Owner Medardo Briceno described Huerta as “a MacGyver in the kitchen,” but not for judicious use of duct tape and Swiss Army Knives.

Huerta pulled a MacGyver with his dessert. His flan cheesecake was dazzling and amazingly delicious. It was the perfect marriage of two desserts that didn’t neglect anyone’s taste. The custard flavor from the flan was still there but the cream cheese brought a dense richness. The caramel on the plate fanned out with flames on the edges covered by a layer of chocolate sauce. It almost looked like a total solar eclipse. It was as beautiful as it was culinarily resourceful.

Music like Sergio Mendes’ “Mas Que Nada” dances out of speakers at Boga. It’s cool, hip and – more than anything – helps to create a cool vibe to this place. The modern and minimalist decor doesn’t hurt either as it’s very well done. If this restaurant thing doesn’t work out, Briceno might consider a career in interior decorating. The work inside was all his effort, not contracted out.

But the decorating world will have to wait on Medardo Briceno. Boga Taqueria should be a serious contender for Mexican food in this area.

Photo Credit: Robyn Guy Photography

Disclosure: I received free food from this restaurant. You can read my disclosure policy on my about page.
Boga Taqueria on Urbanspoon

Number of the Month – Cash Registers at Fry’s

December 1, 2011 in Number of the Month with 8 Comments

Around the first of the month I publish the number of the month, a random bit of local trivia.

66

The number of cash registers at Fry’s Electronics in Milton. Compare that to only 28 at the Walmart supercenter next door.

Like any nerdy cubicle dweller, I enjoy strolling through Fry’s over a lunch break. But there is a lot about this retailer and their operations that leaves me scratching my head. Their staggering array of cash registers makes no sense. I doubt they use them all, even on Black Friday. Their cage security structure, large (yet still unhelpful) workforce and odd product pricing also puzzle me.

Photo Credit: MysteriousMystery (creative commons)

Home invasion suspects target Indian business owners

November 30, 2011 in Crime in the Burbs with 5 Comments

Roots in Alpharetta Exclusive

At least three recent home invasions in the northern suburbs of Atlanta have something in common – the victims were of south Asian/Indian heritage.

East Cobb – July 11, 2011 - An Indian family of four was tied up and forced into a bedroom while masked and armed bandits ransacked their home. Four men are wanted by police.

Alpharetta – September 15, 2011 - A group of three masked and armed robbers invaded a home in the Glen Abbey subdivision of Alpharetta. They bound and gagged the family and spent an hour stealing jewelry and cash. The victims were of Indian ancestry.

Alpharetta – November 23, 2011 - A group of five armed men rob a family living in the Park Glenn subdivision off Webb Bridge Road. Additional details have not been released at this time. The victims are believed to be Indians.

Alpharetta police are working to connect the city’s two recent home invasions with others in metro Atlanta involving Indian victims.

— Developing —

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