Italians, Celebrities, and Pizza - Antico

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Location: Midtown
Hours: Monday - Saturday - 11:30 a.m. - Until out of dough  (yes, their website really says that)
Price: $17-$20 per pizza
Food Type: Italian/Pizza

Antico has become a Midtown phenomenon. I had my first taste of it when a friend brought me a leftover slice. While the slice was not bad, I did not feel it was fair to judge the restaurant based on it. So, as part of an amazing day of going away celebration for this same friend, I decided to check it out. Located right in the middle of Homepark by Georgia Tech, Antico has no trouble keeping a steady flow of customers. In fact, the day I was there, the owner mentioned he had turned down a take-out order from a movie director as the restaurant would not have been able to accommodate its usual patrons and also fill the order.Antico is almost always packed with customers patiently waiting to share a long table with other patrons or choosing to stand in the back and eat standing up so their food does not go cold. That being said, if you feel uncomfortable eating around strangers or consider standing while eating to be improper, Antico does allow you to order their pizzas to-go.

Upon entering the building customers are greeted by the ordering counter which is cleverly lined with an array of Italian pastries and desserts anyone with a sweet tooth will have trouble just passing.

If the counter doesn't distract you, there is also the refrigerator filled with European style bottles of water to purchase with your meal and even more desserts.

Once you make your way past the desserts, you can pick-up a menu and order at the counter. The menu is very straight forward and when ordering, I highly recommend you split a pizza between 2-3 people as the slices are extremely large and each pizza has about 8 slices. 

At the restaurant our group of six people decided to split 2 different types of pizza. The first one we ordered was the Pomodorini, a pizza with fresh cherry tomatoes, bufala, garlic, and basil. The second pizza ordered was the Lasagna containing meatballs, ricotta, and romano. After ordering we went and stood in the large room where the chefs cook the pizza. We watched them hard at work preparing the pizzas to the tune of slightly corny Italian music as we waited for one of the long metal tables.

We were early enough to be able to secure a table before our pizza arrived on a giant metal tray with a pizza cutter.

Pomodorini

Lasagna

Out of the two pizzas, the Lasagna was the overall favorite. It had excellent flavor and we had no trouble demolishing it. The Pomodorini was well made, but not the best choice as the cherry tomatoes made it hard to eat and it did not have a distinct flavor.

Overall, I would highly recommend Antico, but be sure to go early in order to beat the dinner rush - unless you wish to take your order to-go...

Authentic Korean - Han Il Kwan

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Location: Chamblee
Price: $8 - $20
Food Type: Asian - Korean

Han Il Kwan is another treasure hidden along Buford Highway - the keeper of most authentic Asian cuisine. Housed in a traditional-looking Asian building, this Korean restaurant has a much nicer facade than many of its counterparts.

Upon entering the restaurant with a friend, we were quickly seated and served our drinks. There is a variety of tea or traditional Asian beer that can be ordered with your meal, but we opted to focus on the food. After ordering our main courses, we were greeted with a variety of free appetizers. These unique dishes ranged from traditional Kimchee to potatoes in a sweet sauce. 

Spicy Vegetable

 Sweet Potatoes

Lotus Root with a Sweet Sauce

Crunchy Green Vegetable

After munching on our appetizers for a bit, our main dishes arrived. The rice dish I had chosen came out on a sizzling platter while my friend's choice, a tofu hot pot, was served in a clay pot. 

The rice dish had a mixture of flavorful vegetables. The dish is also served with a runny fried egg. This allows the yolk to be broken and soak into the rice, adding flavor to the entire dish.

The hot pot was spicier than the dish I had chosen. It contained a mixture of tofu, vegetables, and meat. If you are looking for more flavor in your meal choice, I would definitely recommend the hot pot instead of the rice dish.

For those who enjoy Korean Barbecue, Han Il Kwan also serves it and while I did not try it myself, it smelled incredible! Barbecue can be ordered for one or for groups of people. It will also be served with an array of appetizers and side dishes.

All-in-all Han Il Kwan is an excellent experience all around. If you love Korean food or are feeling adventurous and want to try a new place this is where you need to go.