Outdoor the artistic Sambuca, complete with complimentary valet parking
The lovely stage and some of the seating inside SambucaSambuca
3102 Piedmont Rd. NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
404-237-5299
On a luke warm November night I psyched myself up for an evening of food and live jazz or maybe live jazz and food. I stepped into the classy Atlanta location of Sambuca (there are several including one in Houston, TX). As long as the sultry restaurant had been on the scene, I had never been and realized that several others hadn't either so I truly looked forward to matching the raved name with a unique experience.
I came, i saw, i listened, i grooved, i ate. The verdict?...S'aight man. Well let me break it down for you:
Ambiance: classy, great colors, dim and romantic atmosphere, live jazz with talented singers and bands, lots of space even for a bigger group set-up
Staff: stuffy & stiff but professional
Cool!: the band gives personal birthday shout outs, on Sunday evening's there is no cover charge or seating wait, also Sunday night features a half price wine special (log onto the website to see all weekday specials)
Food: s'ok...pricey...decent but coulda been better for the price.
Losers: The seafood martini (cocktail shrimp and crab stuffed into a martin glass with juices) was not worth its weight in gold, and the rhythm and blue's burger (angus beef stuffed with blue cheese crumbles) was reminiscent of yo momma's greasy house burgers that you used to have to eat when you were 7 years old. I'm not saying that mom's meat was bad but what I am saying is that i didn't come there for that and pay for hard bread, lettuce and a fat grease burger...
Bad for business: the food came out...GASP almost cold!
What I noticed: No one (at our table of 10) was really excited about their meals. It was more of a Hem and Haw as people mechanically ate and mused over the food instead of exciting rantings over how good the dishes were.
However you can try this: chessy potatoes au gratin, bourbon sweet potatoes, the creme brulee
Take Note: the menu does claim that in order to sit in the restaurant you MUST order and further more there is a $15 minimum. In the case of our party most followed and surpassed that disclaimer "rule" but some didn't and while they did order only ate dessert. All deserts are to the tune of $6-$8 dollars.
SamBOO BOO!: The staff neglected to write down our reservation so when we arrived they were not expecting us. This would have been a disaster on a Friday or Saturday night. Make sure when you call (if you call) that they take down everything and repeat it back to you.
That Night: Ah the whole evening ended up being accursed for me anyhow (long dumb story so I'll spare you) so the food being un-Wowing shouldn't have really daunted me but it did. Now i'm not blaming the food for my punk evening or the evening on the blasted food but since the evening was a MISS at least the food being magnificent (especially with the price) could have made the night salvageable or better. But alas to no avail it did not. I coulda had a V8. Or rathered it. No...I take that back I don't like that stuff but I would have been happier with a Burger King Whopper: you get what you pay for and it tastes like nice fast food.
If you are looking to be entertained with fantastic mood music, sit in a dark spot with your sweetie, be lulled to your romantic place by red and purple lights then go to Sambuca! You will be impressed. If you want to accompany that feeling and experience by average food then still go. But if you are looking for the total package of incredible environment matched with superb food (for that high price) then do not hit GO. Instead come to Sambuca for a sexy night out for drinks and dessert, it will still run up your tab. But get your main meals down the street at several of the other fine dining houses that line the popular Piedmont Rd.
I came, i saw, i listened, i grooved, i ate. The verdict?...S'aight man. Well let me break it down for you:
Ambiance: classy, great colors, dim and romantic atmosphere, live jazz with talented singers and bands, lots of space even for a bigger group set-up
Staff: stuffy & stiff but professional
Cool!: the band gives personal birthday shout outs, on Sunday evening's there is no cover charge or seating wait, also Sunday night features a half price wine special (log onto the website to see all weekday specials)
Food: s'ok...pricey...decent but coulda been better for the price.
Losers: The seafood martini (cocktail shrimp and crab stuffed into a martin glass with juices) was not worth its weight in gold, and the rhythm and blue's burger (angus beef stuffed with blue cheese crumbles) was reminiscent of yo momma's greasy house burgers that you used to have to eat when you were 7 years old. I'm not saying that mom's meat was bad but what I am saying is that i didn't come there for that and pay for hard bread, lettuce and a fat grease burger...
Bad for business: the food came out...GASP almost cold!
What I noticed: No one (at our table of 10) was really excited about their meals. It was more of a Hem and Haw as people mechanically ate and mused over the food instead of exciting rantings over how good the dishes were.
However you can try this: chessy potatoes au gratin, bourbon sweet potatoes, the creme brulee
Take Note: the menu does claim that in order to sit in the restaurant you MUST order and further more there is a $15 minimum. In the case of our party most followed and surpassed that disclaimer "rule" but some didn't and while they did order only ate dessert. All deserts are to the tune of $6-$8 dollars.
SamBOO BOO!: The staff neglected to write down our reservation so when we arrived they were not expecting us. This would have been a disaster on a Friday or Saturday night. Make sure when you call (if you call) that they take down everything and repeat it back to you.
That Night: Ah the whole evening ended up being accursed for me anyhow (long dumb story so I'll spare you) so the food being un-Wowing shouldn't have really daunted me but it did. Now i'm not blaming the food for my punk evening or the evening on the blasted food but since the evening was a MISS at least the food being magnificent (especially with the price) could have made the night salvageable or better. But alas to no avail it did not. I coulda had a V8. Or rathered it. No...I take that back I don't like that stuff but I would have been happier with a Burger King Whopper: you get what you pay for and it tastes like nice fast food.
If you are looking to be entertained with fantastic mood music, sit in a dark spot with your sweetie, be lulled to your romantic place by red and purple lights then go to Sambuca! You will be impressed. If you want to accompany that feeling and experience by average food then still go. But if you are looking for the total package of incredible environment matched with superb food (for that high price) then do not hit GO. Instead come to Sambuca for a sexy night out for drinks and dessert, it will still run up your tab. But get your main meals down the street at several of the other fine dining houses that line the popular Piedmont Rd.
Miesha
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