Top 10 Atlanta Restaurants "By the Numbers" - 10th & Piedmont

This month Nikki and I visited 10th & Piedmont in the heart of Midtown. We'd both been before, which contributed to our wanting it to be the 10th and final stop on our "By the Numbers" series. It was our grand finale...for this series, at least. 

Welcome back to our Top 10 Atlanta Restaurants "By the Numbers", a monthly series by wanderlust ATLANTA and super-popular food Instagramer atlantafoodie! Our tenth stop on this 10 restaurant tour was a neighborhood favorite, 10th & Piedmont. 

What we believe is a unique spin on 'Top 10' lists, we haven't counted down, but instead, we've showcased some of Atlanta's restaurants with numbers in their names! Some we've been to before and others were a first-time experience. We've made all of them FUN!

"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: atlantafoodie

Nikki arrived a few minutes before I did and she got a window street-side table facing Piedmont Avenue. One of the things that I love about this restaurant is that the windows are open to the street, ledge to ceiling. We got chat with some friends we saw walking by as we enjoyed our dinner. Gotta love that! And it's at the intersection with the new rainbow crosswalks...festive!

She started with a Lemon Basil Fiz, which she said was easy on the sugar—just the way she likes it. It's made with Absolute Citron, hand-crafted ginger syrup, and fresh lemon.  

Later she had a Midtown Mash, one of the restaurant's freshly muddled artisan cocktails! You get a choice of style: Mojito | Margarita | Martini | Long Island | Rum Punch, and a choice of fresh flavors (ask your server what's being featured). 

Nikki had the Mango Mojito!

"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: atlantafoodie

Nikki indulges my love of calamari..."Thank you, Nikki!" We ordered the Calamares Fritos. And yes, I double-checked with our server, Aalayah, that there were in fact no Fritos snacks in it before ordering. I'm all for creative and I like Fritos fine, but...  

10th & Piedmont is primarily a tapas restaurant, thus the spellings on the menu. Although tapas is traditionally Spanish appetizers, the menu here crosses borders, and is influenced by regional and local cuisine.

The calamari is served with roasted tomato cumin sauce and charred lemon. Our lemon wasn't charred, but fresh lemon is fine, too. They were quite good, nice and crispy. The sauce was excellent!

"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

I started with a 10P Martini, a classic choice, and a favorite. This one is made with Absolute Vodka, Dolin Vermouth (which I asked not be added), and Blue Cheese Truffle Olives...Yum!

Later, I had their Moscow Mule. 10th & Piedmont's is made with Old Fourth Vodka (that's what pulled me in!), ginger beer, and fresh lime. One of our stops for Nikki's birthday celebration this year, in January, was Old Fourth Distillery. GREAT time there!

"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

There's a separate bar area adjacent to the main dining room. It's a modest space, but plenty spacious for a group of friends to gather for happy hour during the week. Some of the decor in the bar—including the bar itself—was crafted by DEX Industries. I learned about them on a Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) Field Trip in 2013. Fascinating process! The shape you see in the above photo, the one that looks akin to an upside-down tooth, is actually a martini glass from the restaurant!

Our server, Aalayah, was great...super friendly, answered all of our questions, and wasn't overly intrusive, but also did't let our drinks sit empty.

"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: atlantafoodie

The Mollotes is refreshing! Perfect for two, you get fried white beans and manchego on toasted baguette topped with red peppers. Apparently we got the toppings for the Tomato & Garlic Pan Catalan. It was delicious all the same.

"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

The Diablo Pimento Mousse is just a fancy name, I think, for one of the best pimento cheese dishes I've ever had. It's made with chipotle, roasted peppers and served with giant wonton crisps. Honestly, I could make dinner out of this dish and a glass of dry Sauvignon Blanc or a Malbec...maybe both.

Nikki found the chipotle to have a modest amount of spiciness and I agree. It's spice level is for the typical pre-Millennials American palette. Pre-Millennials, as so I, typically enjoy a greater degree of spice. I love spice...the hotter, more flavorful, the better!

"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: atlantafoodie

The 10P Signature Chicken & Waffles is an award-winning dish! In June 2014, this dish won "Hotlanta's Best Fried Chicken" on Chow Masters, a former Travel Channel show. The prize was $10,000 and the "Golden Skillet"!

What makes this dish award-worthy? It's skewered chicken wrapped in applewood smoked bacon, dipped in house-made waffle batter and then deep fried! How's that for a unique spin on fried chicken? It's served with a condiment trio of powdered sugar, hot sauce, and Georgia sorghum syrup! Nikki called this dish, "a dream come true!" You can order 1, 2, or 3 skewers...as many as you'd like!

I didn't know about the Travel Channel award, but I've had their Chicken & Waffles on multiple prior occasions, primarily at brunch. Nikki had never had them, so she was excited to experience what all the buzz was about and I was excited to see her try them for the first time.

"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: atlantafoodie

The menu is primarily tapas, which Nikki and I both love, but we wanted to try an entree, too. We opted for the Seafood Black Paella. Its squid ink makes it black, and Wow, it's chocked full of seafood! You'll find sea scallops, calamari, chicken, gulf shrimp, and spring peas. Seriously, the seafood in this dish is incredibly plentiful! 

"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

I mentioned earlier that DEX Industries did some of the decor in the bar area at 10th & Piedmont. The back wall in the bar is polished concrete! I think it's stunning and was totally surprised to learn that it's concrete! The entire restaurant is beautifully appointed.

[DEX Industries MODA Field Trip]

"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

In addition to having some delicious dishes on its menu, one of 10th & Piedmont's most sought out features is its location on the corner of one of Midtown's busiest intersections—with lots of pedestrians! The people-watching is awesome and the atmosphere is totally magnificent, especially on a mild spring or fall day, or evening.

THINGS TO KNOW before going to 10th & Piedmont:

• There's a small parking lot on the Piedmont Avenue side of the restaurant. Keep an eye out for signs indicating that valet is in operation. There's street parking, but not always a lot.
• Brunch is a festive time to go to 10th & Piedmont! If you go to brunch, be sure to order the award-winning Chicken & Waffles!
• 10th & Piedmont is walkable to or from Piedmont Park and a short distance from the Atlanta Botanical Garden and other tourist destinations in Midtown.

OF NOTE: 10th & Piedmont opened in the former space of Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeeshop. It was such a popular destination that the store sign from Outwrite was included in last year's "Atlanta in 50 Objects" exhibition at the Atlanta History Center.

Outwrite was Atlanta's largest independent bookstore located in the center of Atlanta's LGBT Community from 1993 until 2012. The store also hosted an outstanding series of author events, including one when I met Roseanne Barr. She's AWESOME!!! 

Here's our visited Top 10 Atlanta Restaurants "By the Numbers", one per month for the first 10 months in 2017:

ONE midtown kitchen
599 Dutch Valley Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

TWO urban licks
820 Ralph McGill Boulevard, NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Local Three Kitchen & Bar
3290 Northside Parkway, NW, Atlanta, GA 30327

Bar Margot at Four Seasons
75 14th Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

5Church Atlanta
1197 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30361

Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House
437 Memorial Drive, SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

Seven Lamps
3400 Around Lenox Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30326

Eight Sushi Lounge
930 Howell Mill Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Nine Mile Station
675 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

10th & Piedmont
991 Piedmont Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

Disclaimer: If you live in Atlanta or visit on a regular basis, you know how quickly the Atlanta restaurant scene can change. Our lineup was subject to change based on the Atlanta restaurant landscape over the first 10 months of 2017. Also, all opinions are our own and not at all influenced by the restaurant owners, staff or PR firms, whether we treated ourselves or were hosted by the said restaurant.

If you've enjoyed this series, please follow us on:

atlantafoodie on Instagram
wanderlust ATLANTA on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Thank you so much for coming along on what we think has been a FUN food journey over the first 10 months in 2017. Our selection of restaurants was a subjective choice of what we thought was an exciting new way to experience Atlanta restaurants: "By the Numbers". Please, tell your friends and family what we've done and invite them to have a look back at our super fun taste tour!

Top 10 Atlanta Restaurants "By the Numbers" - Nine Mile Station

This month Nikki and I visited Nine Mile Station on the rooftop of Ponce City Market. I'd been before, but it was Nikki's first time—to Nine Mile Station, not Ponce City Market—and Nikki's husband Dan joined us. It was a gorgeous day with a splendid breeze...perfect for a rooftop brunch!

Welcome back to our Top 10 Atlanta Restaurants "By the Numbers", a monthly series by wanderlust ATLANTA and super-popular food Instagramer atlantafoodie! Our ninth stop on this 10 restaurant tour was Nine Mile Station. 

What we believe is a unique spin on 'Top 10' lists, we're not counting down, but instead, we're showcasing some of Atlanta's restaurants with numbers in their names! Some we've been to before and others will be a first-time experience. We're going to make all of them FUN!

By the Numbers | Nine Mile Station | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Let's get right to the delicious food! 

We knew without even saying that the three of us would have different entrees so that we'd have more photographs, but we verbalized that we were willing to share. I had the Eggs Benedict—two poached eggs, an incredible pretzel croissant, Benton's bacon, spinach, and hollandaise! This hollandaise is creamy, smooth...absolutely sublime!

I offered to share a bite before I dug in...and secretly rejoiced a little bit when the others said, "No, thanks." I'd had this dish before and had been looking forward to enjoying it again. Eggs Benedict is my go-to brunch dish, and now, especially at Nine Mile Station! 

The sauce, the combination of flavors, the pretzel bagel...simply said, it's flavor combination perfection.

By the Numbers | Nine Mile Station | Photo: atlantafoodie

Nikki said, eyes wide, that the gravy  is the star in the Egg-in-a-Hole dish, made with brioche and truffle oil. The chunks of sausage are huge and Nikki says the truffle was excellent. She ate all of it. Actually, we all demolished our main dishes!

Dan had a small bite of the accompanying shoestring potatoes and went back for another bite (or two)...they must have been really good! If you like your eggs sunny side up, this is the dish for you.

Our server, Iesha, was excellent! She's charming, funny, attentive, kept a close eye on our table and made sure our every need and desire was met. 

Iesha has been with Nine Mile Station since it opened 10 months ago. When I asked her why she's stayed so long—relatively uncommon in the restaurant industry—she said, without hesitation, "The views!"

The views are indeed spectacular! From Nine Mile Station and Skyline Park you practically have a 360° vista of the Atlanta horizon.

Skyline Park is a nod to the early 1900s Ponce de Leon Amusement Park—dubbed "the Coney Island of Atlanta"—and features mini-golf, carnival games, and Skyline Slide!  

By the Numbers | Nine Mile Station | Photo: atlantafoodie

Dan had the Merguez Sausage Hash, with crispy potatoes, caramelized onions, and harissa agrodolche. He gave it high marks, and I agree—I'd had this dish before, too. Nikki gave it a third "thumbs up", particularly noting the amazing flavor of sausage.

The poached eggs temper the richness of this totally satisfying dish, especially when they're perfectly poached!

By the Numbers | Nine Mile Station | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

I had the Banana-Stuffed French Toast, with Grand Marnier syrup and candied pecans, on a previous visit. We didn't have it this time—just not enough room in our already topped off bellies—but I wanted to share it in this post because it's so remarkable.

By the Numbers | Nine Mile Station | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Some of the dishes are served on their own, and are plenty for most appetites, and some come with sides. I, going for a full-on brunch experience, ordered a side of the House Potatoes. Wow! I could make an entree of these potatoes! They're a potato-lover's dream-come-true and will make converts of anyone on the fence about potatoes!

Ask your server if the dish you want to order comes with a side and decide if you'd like one, or another one, from there. I do highly recommend the House Potatoes! 

By the Numbers | Nine Mile Station | Photo: atlantafoodie

Nine Mile Station endeavors to give its diners a unique experience, and their menus—food and drink—reflect that. They do not serve iced tea—you can get that anywhere, right?—but they do have LOTS of other amazing beverage options.

Nikki had the Sunday Smash, made with a choice of gin, vodka, tequila, rum or bourbon—Nikki had gin—and lemon, jalapeno maple, and seasonal fruit, in this case a plump blackberry. Nikki said it has a nice, light spicy aftertaste. Blackberries are my favorite food, so I was oggling the garnish the whole time.

By the Numbers | Nine Mile Station | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Dan mentioned that he's not a fan of tomato juice and I'm right there with him, BUT I do love a good Bloody Mary.

The 9 Mile Bloody Mary isn't good...it's fantastic! Its house-made mix is generous on spice and flavor and the garnish is over the top...literally! I've had this classic brunch cocktail at Nine Mile Station before and it's still just as amazing as the first time. 

By the Numbers | Nine Mile Station | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Nine Mile Station is dubbed, "An Elevated Beer Garden"...it's that and more!

There are many other dining options on the first two floors of Ponce City Market, some wonderful dining destinations, and most of their beverage menus are generously peppered with local beers—which is awesome—so, to distinguish itself, Nine Mile Station offers a few local beers, but goes mostly out-of-town/state/country for the majority of its brews.

Rob Merrick, one of the Managers, is a beer aficionado. Nikki and I typically begin our "By the Numbers" outings with a cocktail and then I'll often switch to wine. But, when Rob told us about his beer expertise, we all three went the beer route.

I was still working on my Eggs Benedict, so Rob made a few beer pairing recommendations for that dish, and while I typically would have gone for the sour, I went for the perfectly light Bavik Super Pils. 

By the Numbers | Nine Mile Station | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

So, to get to Nine Mile Station you take a dedicated elevator. You have two options. (1) Make a reservation at Nine Mile Station—your $20 per/diner deposit goes toward your tab, which can't be applied toward tax or gratuity (please tip based on your full tab, including the credited deposit amount), and it's non-refundable. (2) Walk-in from Skyline Park and be seated based on availability. There is an admission fee for Skyline Park.

Either option you choose, I think you're going to have an awesome time!

On your ride up, you'll be given a very brief history lesson about Ponce City Market and some of the inspiration for the rooftop experiences. Our "guide" spoke incredibly fast—it's a short ride—so listen closely!

By the Numbers | Nine Mile Station | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

When you get to the top, you're on top of the city! Well, you're at the peak of, and the intersection of the four Atlanta neighborhoods of Old Fourth Ward, Midtown, Virginia-Highland, and Poncey-Highland, with many other neighborhoods within spectacular view.

Do plan some extra time to play in Skyline Park! There's putt-putt, skee-ball, food and drink, Heege Tower—it's a "ride" with a view—and be sure to climb to the top of the Skyline Slide and grab a slide blanket before going up if you want to ride back down! When you're up there, you're exactly behind the huge PONCE CITY MARKET letters on the North Avenue side.

THINGS TO KNOW before going to Nine Mile Station:

• You need to make a reservation. A popular destination for tourists and locals, tables are in high demand. Reservations require a $20 deposit per diner, but that amount goes toward your dining tab. Walk-ins are permitted from Skyline Park when seats are available.
• There's seating indoors, covered outdoors, outdoors (with some umbrella shade), and there are a few seats at the bar. Every seat is an excellent seat.
• The food menu is relatively limited, but its flavors are expansive. The beverage menu offers a considerable number of options, though, and includes specialty cocktails, wines, and beer.
• If you're a history buff, check out the history of Ponce City Market dating back to the 1860s! As a fellow history enthusiast, I think it'll enrich your visit.
• Immediately behind Ponce City Market is Historic Fourth Ward Park. You can't see it from ground level, but it's definitely worth a walk across the street to check it out!
• Nine MIle Station and Skyline Park are 21+ after 5:00 p.m.
• Parking at Ponce City Market is easy and relatively inexpensive. If using one of the pay-on-foot stations, know your license plate before you get there (I usually make a photo of it before I leave the car), or, even better, use the Parkmobile app.

OF NOTE: In early 2014, Travel + Leisure Magazine ranked Ponce City Market, which includes Nine Mile Station, as one of the 25 in its list of "The World's Coolest New Tourist Attractions." 

Here's our visited and planned Top 10 Atlanta Restaurants "By the Numbers", one per month in 2017:

ONE midtown kitchen
599 Dutch Valley Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

TWO urban licks
820 Ralph McGill Boulevard, NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Local Three Kitchen & Bar
3290 Northside Parkway, NW, Atlanta, GA 30327

Bar Margot at Four Seasons
75 14th Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

5Church Atlanta
1197 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30361

Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House
437 Memorial Drive, SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

Seven Lamps
3400 Around Lenox Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30326

Eight Sushi Lounge
930 Howell Mill Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Nine Mile Station
675 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

10th & Piedmont
991 Piedmont Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

Disclaimer: If you live in Atlanta or visit on a regular basis, you know how quickly the Atlanta restaurant scene can change. Our lineup is subject to change based on the Atlanta restaurant landscape over the first 10 months of 2017. Also, all opinions are our own and not at all influenced by the restaurant owners, staff or PR firms, whether we treated ourselves or were hosted by the said restaurant.

If you're enjoying this series, please follow:

atlantafoodie on Instagram
wanderlust ATLANTA on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Thank you for coming along on what we think will be a FUN food journey over 10 months in 2017. Our selection of restaurants is a subjective choice of what we think will be an exciting new way to experience Atlanta restaurants: "By the Numbers". Please, tell your friends and family what we're doing and invite them to also come along for the taste tour!

Top 10 Atlanta Restaurants "By the Numbers" - Eight Sushi Lounge

This month Nikki and I visited Eight Sushi Lounge. I'd never been and Nikki had been before only once. Both sushi lovers, we were anxious and highly anticipating this experience. And an experience it was!

Around the corner from many other top Atlanta restaurants, Eight Sushi Lounge is located in the booming, restaurant-rich West Midtown area in Atlanta.

Welcome back to our Top 10 Atlanta Restaurants "By the Numbers", a monthly series by wanderlust ATLANTA and super-popular food Instagramer atlantafoodie! Our eighth stop on this 10 restaurant tour was Eight Sushi Lounge. 

What we believe is a unique spin on 'Top 10' lists, we're not counting down, but instead, we're showcasing some of Atlanta's restaurants with numbers in their names! Some we've been to before and others will be a first-time experience. We're going to make all of them FUN!

Eight Sushi Lounge | "By the Numbers" | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

This was such an incredible dining experience, and we've only experienced the tip of the iceberg! We'll be back for more and more and more! 

Allow us to share with you first what was one of our mutually favorite dishes from this visit. The "Windmill Roll" is as delicious as it is beautiful! It gets its name from the lotus chip (the best lotus chip I've ever had!) that's nestled between this two-story experience.

Our server, Ivy—more about her coming up—explained that most diners enjoy this in two, simultaneous bites...picking up the Cajun-spiced lotus chip topped with spicy tuna and crab salad and immediately following with the roll of spicy yellow tail and tempura crunch. Perfectly enjoyable individually, I recommend trying all of these flavors together.  

"Experience an Evolution in Sushi" is the motto of Eight Sushi Lounge. Very fitting indeed. Nikki and I both are already eager to return, knowing full well that every visit will be an evolution of our previous sushi experience here. Indeed, it's a revolution in Japanese cuisine.

Eight Sushi Lounge | "By the Numbers" | Photo: atlantafoodie

I started with the Sake Flight, a sample of three of the restaurant's premium sakes. Nikki enjoyed the same a little later in the meal. Each sake was different, not drastically, but notably. If you're a sake enthusiast, I think you'll very much enjoy this. If you're new to sake, do try it. These are far superior to what you might haphazardly find in your local liquor store.

Eight Sushi Lounge | "By the Numbers" | Photo: atlantafoodie

We'd planned our visit to Eight Sushi Lounge without much research. We knew that their sushi presentations are often quite spectacular and I'd learned that it's a second generation family-owned business, but otherwise, we were hopeful for a lovely experience.

Unaware they had happy hour specials, we were delighted to find that those specials included a 3 for $10 "Miso Happy Before Dark" special, which features some totally amazing bites!

We, of course, wanted to sample as much as we could so that we'd be amply prepared to share with you what is amazing about the menu. Wow! What a great start!

Our first 3-bite sampler included the "Sunday Morning" roll (top). With an excellent flavor and gorgeous presentation, this one has spicy tuna, spicy salmon, and avocado, that's flash-fried in nori and topped with Eight's house sauce.

Also in this round was the Pork Belly Lettuce Wrap (lower left). Personally, I didn't think I was a fan of pork belly, but this is absolutely amazing!

The meat-to-fat ratio is heavier on the meat—not that I have to have a ton of meat, but I don't like a mouthful of fat either. I found the flavor to be mild, yet rich at the same time. It's composed of braised pork belly and green mango salad with a spicy almond butter sauce! Sounds amazing, right?  

Eight Sushi Lounge | "By the Numbers" | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

The third dish on our first sampler plate was the Langoustine—a crispy spicy tuna and crunchy baked scampi! The sauce is amazing and just a little bit spicy. I love spicy—flavor and heat! Nikki particularly liked the sauce in this bite. Don't pass this one up.

Eight Sushi Lounge | "By the Numbers" | Photo: atlantafoodie

The Yummy Roll is exactly that...yummy! 

It's milder on flavor and wholly delicious. A basic roll presented beautifully, this one has tuna, salmon, cream cheese, and asparagus. It's lightly fried in nori and served with Eight's house sauce. Their house sauce totally rocks!

Eight Sushi Lounge has something for every level of sushi diner. If you're brand new to raw fish, I think the Yummy Roll is a great roll to start with. 

I personally started with the—now cliche—California Roll and then quickly graduated to much more adventurous options, which are infinite! Tuna is my go-to, whether tartare, seared, or sashimi...I love tuna! Nikki's been enjoying sushi for years, so I very often defer to her menu choices. I'm so lucky to have a 'sushi expert' friend!

Eight Sushi Lounge | "By the Numbers" | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

We both enjoyed a libation, of course. I had the Strawberry Popscile! I love berries, but this was special. It's fruity, fun, bubbly, not too sweet and by the time you're done, the berries have dissolved to practically the same consistency of your cocktail, so you're able to enjoy your drink without having to fish out the berry goodness.  

Nikki had the Purple Heart cocktail, made of Shochu, vodka, blueberries, thyme, lemon, and soda. She particularly enjoyed the unique thyme flavor.

Eight Sushi Lounge | "By the Numbers" | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

The dishes kept getting better and better...and it wasn't the sake talking.

Nikki and I, the enthusiastic eaters we are, ordered another 3-for-10 sampler. The variation of offerings is absolutely wonderful! There's everything from an elevated vegetable, such as the Green Bean Fries offered with a Truffle Aioli, to their Kushiage Fish Cake offered with a soy reduction and serrano sauce. We didn't have the latter, but definitely trying that one next time!

Eight Sushi Lounge | "By the Numbers" | Photo: atlantafoodie

The "Eggs Benedict", one of Nikki's choices, is a nod to breakfast and totally "delish" (Yes, @atlantafoodie uses "delish" as a descriptor, as do I.). Nikki really likes quail egg, whereas it's not the first thing to grab my attention. But, THIS quail egg is amazing. I don't know if it's the source of the eggs or the preparation—my guess is the latter—but this dish leaves you with a delightful sensory experience that you'll want to have again and again.

This bite is composed of a bed or rice, spicy tuna, shiso leaf and a sunny side up quail egg! Again, "delish!"

Eight Sushi Lounge | "By the Numbers" | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Surprise, surprise...the "Canolis" is a savory roll! 

The roll is stuffed with hamachi or king crab and the "whipped cream" is an avocado mousse. Absolutely delicious! I'd forego sweetness and have this for dessert, too, it's so good!

Eight Sushi Lounge | "By the Numbers" | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

The "Tuna Crisps" was a favorite of mine and Nikki's...beautifully presented, too!

I love that there are no forks or spoons on the table. You get chopsticks. I'm sure they have forks and spoons in the back, but what's the fun in that?!

I like to think that I'm pretty good with chopsticks, but I have to say that I hope no one was watching me attempting to enjoy this dish with grace and style. I looked like such a rookie! But I persevered. Didn't have a choice...it's so delicious and I wasn't waiting for a fork to enjoy it!

Not that I would ever ask for a fork in a Japanese restaurant. When in Rome, people. When in Rome! If you're new to chopsticks, "Just do it." You'll get better with practice and no one is going to judge you for good effort. Promise!

Eight Sushi Lounge | "By the Numbers" | Photo: Travis S. Taylor & atlantafoodie

New on the menu, I had to have "The Alchemist" even before I knew what it was. The name alone is super cool! After we heard the description—being the fun-loving diners we are—there was no other choice but to order it!

This dessert is delicious, but the "experience" is what it's all about!

The "Experiment": everything for this dessert is served all at once, but the diner has the awesome experience of conducting the "experiment" in multiple stages. 

Components: 1) A HUGE scoop of exquisite vanilla ice cream; 2) A rack of four test tubes containing: puffed rice crunchies, blueberries, and peach pearls and green apple pearls; and 3) A vial of plum liqueur. Plum liqueur, people! NOTE: The toppings change from time to time, so please do tell us what yours were!

Instructions: 1) Take photos; 2) Pour the contents of each test tube onto your ice cream, with childish delight; 3) Pour the plum liqueur over the top of everything!; 4) Put the mint back on top of your ice cream; 5) Take another photo of the fully composed "experiment"; 6) Dig in and enjoy this delicious, wholly fun and totally delicious dessert!; and 7) Tell all your friends how much fun this is!

I want to do that again, right now!

Nikki, @atlantafoodie on Instagram and "By the Numbers" partner, is great about giving a "preview" of our upcoming posts. This time, the comments on the sushi photos she posted prior to publishing this post, have received multiple comments, all saying, "Best Sushi in Atlanta!" We see why!

Ivy is AWESOME! We could not have asked for better service. By the time we left, Ivy seemed more like a friend having us over for dinner than a restaurant server. She enthusiastically shared with us the inside scoop about new dishes and how they're most enjoyed, and her enthusiasm for Eight Sushi Lounge's food and menu development shined like a beacon! "Thank you, Ivy!"

THINGS TO KNOW before going to Eight Sushi Lounge:

• Dining options include the main dining room, an more intimate corner of the restaurant, dining alfresco on the patio, or sitting at the sushi bar watching the masters at work!
• The beverage and food menus are extensive! Take a moment to peruse them for something that piques your interest, and be ready to do so again and again! The menus and/or your server will tell you what's new on the menu.
• Eight Sushi Lounge is an excellent pre-theatre dining option, especially if you're going to nearby Actor's Exress or Out Front Theatre.
• During dinner, parking is available in the adjacent parking deck for a $3 fee. The restaurant does not own or operate the deck, however they have worked it out so that you can add your valet parking fee to your dinner tab. Just take your dining receipt to retrieve your car and be sure to bring cash so you can tip your valet attendant.

OF NOTE: Eight Sushi Lounge opened its doors in 2015, but the owners are not new to the restaurant scene. In fact, this is a new endeavor of multi-generational ownership. I've not yet met the family that owns the restaurant, but hope to have that opportunity during another visit very soon. I want to share with them just how AWESOME our experience was!

"Compliments to the Chef!" and, again, "Thank you, Ivy!" for a wonderful dining experience at Eight Sushi Lounge. We'll see you again soon, and we're bringing friends!

Here's our planned Top 10 Atlanta Restaurants "By the Numbers", one per month in 2017:

ONE midtown kitchen
599 Dutch Valley Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

TWO urban licks
820 Ralph McGill Boulevard, NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Local Three Kitchen & Bar
3290 Northside Parkway, NW, Atlanta, GA 30327

Bar Margot at Four Seasons
75 14th Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

5Church Atlanta
1197 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30361

Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House
437 Memorial Drive, SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

Seven Lamps
3400 Around Lenox Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30326

Eight Sushi Lounge
930 Howell Mill Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Nine Mile Station
675 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

10th & Piedmont
991 Piedmont Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

Disclaimer: If you live in Atlanta or visit on a regular basis, you know how quickly the Atlanta restaurant scene can change. Our lineup is subject to change based on the Atlanta restaurant landscape over the first 10 months of 2017. Also, all opinions are our own and not at all influenced by the restaurant owners, staff or PR firms, whether we treated ourselves or were hosted by the said restaurant.

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Thank you for coming along on what we think will be a FUN food journey over 10 months in 2017. Our selection of restaurants is a subjective choice of what we think will be an exciting new way to experience Atlanta restaurants: "By the Numbers". Please, tell your friends and family what we're doing and invite them to also come along for the taste tour!