The Café de Paris is a pleasant, relaxing find off the hustle and bustle of Johnson Ferry Road. Tucked away in the Woodlawn Commons Shopping Center, Café de Paris is attached to the European style home décor store C’est Moi. There is indoor and outdoor seating at this cafe, so I chose to sit outside since I had my dog Jasper with me. Service: The service was polite and fast. I was there for breakfast, and my meal came out about 10 minutes after I ordered. Once I had my meal, the staff didn't come back to my table to check on me, but it's a cafe so that's what I expected. Food: The Café de …

Unimposing and easily overlooked, The Starlight Cafe has made its home on Marietta Square for over a year. The cafe is located on Roswell Street, but you can see Glover Park from the restaurant. There is indoor and outdoor seating; though, I'd recommend staying indoors this time of year. I was at home the moment I walked inside. Quiet, clean, wood floors, classic dark reds and black, aged brick walls—I was comfortable. The walls are decorated with photos of famous singers and actors including The Three Stooges, Frank Sinatra, James Dean, Elvis Presley, Barbara Eden as Jeannie and more. I …

Marietta Diner is obviously a favorite for hundreds, maybe thousands, of residents in the area. No matter what time of day I drive by the establishment it always seems to be packed. The restaurant is a delight. It brings together the welcoming and homey vibe of a good old-fashioned diner and the tastiness of fine dining. Service: The portions are huge, the prices are great, and the service is friendly and fast. It took under five minutes for my food to come after I ordered; though the wait to sit down was a bit long. Food: The menu is huge with a little something for everyone. Breakfast is …

I spend so much time on the Marietta Square that I found it impossible not to wander into Taqueria Tsunami, the newest restaurant to make its home there. I have to admit that I was hooked on the atmosphere alone. Hip, welcoming and open describe this Latin-Asian kitchen. Service: Top notch. The service was very attentive and kind. The servers knew the menu from top to bottom and were very helpful selecting items that  left me hungry for more. I should mention that I was that annoying customer who asked questions about wifi (they have it), music and the Christmas tree, and they were all …

Jerk Kitchen is hidden away in the Walmart parking lot, unobtrusive and easy to overlook. The restaurant is very quiet and casual. There is outside and indoor seating; though it is limited. The atmosphere is reminiscent of a family diner, and the restaurant really appears to cater to takeout. Service: The service is very friendly and helpful. Never having eaten Jamaican food, my server had to explain almost every item on the menu to me, and she did so with a friendly smile. Entrees: The large portions left me unsatisfied and hungry; however, as I said, I've never had Jamaican food before so I…

Ege Sushi & Japanese Cuisine may be inconspicuous from the outside, but its dining experience is not one I will soon forget. The small casual restaurant is welcoming and friendly. It is conveniently located in the Kroger shopping center off Roswell Road. You can eat at a table or at the bar, where you can see your food prepared. Ege is clean and makes you feel like you're in a small eatery in Japan. It is a fabulous, authentic dining experience. Service: The server, who also happened to be the owner, made the dining experience like going to see a friend. The service is fast, polite and …

Shillings on the Square isn't the type of restaurant I would usually walk into due to the suspicion that the food is a little too upscale for my taste. However, after visiting almost every other establishment on the square, my curiosity got the best of me. The restaurant is divided into two floors with rather different ambiences. The Streetside Grill, which is located on the main floor, is more casual. The pub-like restaurant has a classic, woody look. Hanging stained glass lamps and an abbey-like feel make for an impressive yet comfortable setting to dine. However, it is a little hard on the…

Raymond Garcia moved to Marietta from Dominican Republic with the hope to expand his restaurant business. When Garcia brought ‘Derek’s Breakfast and Lunch’ to Marietta, traditional breakfast and fresh country food were the choices among loyal customers. Before long he revamped the diner, adding home-cooked recipes and authentic Spanish food. Now, the all-day breakfast specials at Derek’s Breakfast and Lunch include a variety of omelets and egg sandwiches served with grits, hash browns and choice of toast or biscuit. The lunch specials include salads, sandwiches, and fresh country food. The …

Joe and Tony Rosa who own Rosa’s Pizza on Broad Street in downtown Atlanta now have a second wood-fueled restaurant in Northeast Cobb. Rosa’s Pizza has an immense brick oven that bakes the best pizza and Italian dishes. The family took the simple premise of New York style pizza and added Italian dishes including: pastas, heroes, calzones, salads and desserts to their menu. The dining room is clean and organized with wood booths, tables and chairs. The atmosphere is casual and family-friendly. There are fun events on certain days. Many regulars participate in the Monday night Trivia. You order…

Paradise Grille and Paradise South of the Border are under one owner and offer a two-part cuisine. The two eateries meet in the middle of the building, joined together by a mini-arcade. Owners Jess Durham and Jeff Hunt opened Paradise Grille nine years ago. The Mexican restaurant next door closed in 2008. Durham and Hurt decided to purchase the Mexican restaurant. They tore down the wall dividing the two restaurants and kept the Mexican cuisine. There is an enormous patio where live music and special events take place. The restaurants offer food and drink specials throughout the week. …

Be sure to come with a big appetite and a desire to make new friends, as Hoboken Bread and Bagel Company owners George and Anne Suarez are friendly and conversational. Anne Suarez, who was taking orders from customers, greeted me as I entered the restaurant. She asked if this was my first visit. Confirming that it was, she pointed out the menu, which is located on the wall. There is much to choose from: bagel sandwiches, pastrami, soups, salads, pastries and sub sandwiches. Each item listed on the menu is accompanied by a small description.   The Hoboken sandwich ($6.25) is listed as a …

Winston's Food and Spirits tavern is a cheerful, high-energy tavern where people come from all over town. I walked in on Wednesday evening and found a swarm of poker-fanatics. The bar is in the center, while to the right and left there are game tables. The restaurant is divided into a smoking and nonsmoking section, and the smoking section is where the poker games were being played. Within in the crowd I found a server. I asked what the excitement was all about. She said that it was poker night and that most days of the week they have trivia, poker, live entertainment, and more. I asked her…

La Strada Restaurant occupies a building along Johnson Ferry Road between Lassiter Road and the Northeast Cobb YMCA. Night-time foot traffic near the restaurant is nil. La Strada is Italian for "the road." When John Lefkaditis first opened the restaurant years ago it was on a dirt road. The town developed in front of his eyes, he said. Having previously worked as manager for the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, Lefkaditis has an impressive resume of restaurant industry and hospitality experience. Lefkaditis has been the owner of the family-friendly restaurant La Strada for the past 21 years. …

Open since 1986, this authentic Texas roadhouse diner became a family-owned restaurant in 2006. The family owns Marietta Fish Market, Marietta Diner, Pasta Bella Family Grill and Cherokee Cattle Co. Cherokee Cattle Co. gives customers a "Texas feel" with the atmosphere and brings in mesquite wood from the Lone Star State for the steaks. Mesquite burns slowly, and the smoke from the wood adds a distinct flavor to the food. The friendly staff greeted me upon entrance and handed me a menu as I sat down. The server was very knowledgeable about the menu and how different menu items are prepared. …

Succulent, tender and a party on my taste buds. That pretty much describes the experience of eating a gluten-free meal at Shangrila Bistro. My goal was to find a restaurant that serves gluten-free dishes close to home. I usually eat at Asian restaurants that offer steamed chicken and vegetables.  No gluten is used in the cooking process.  My tummy is happy. Shangrila Bistro is in a busy shopping plaza next door to a Phillips 66 gas station.  Though the owners are Chinese, the restaurant is known for its mix of Chinese and Tibetan-style dishes.  Inside, the quaint seating area has only eight …