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…

As soon as I stepped out of my car and took a deep breath of the barbecue cooking at Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q, I knew I was going to enjoy whatever meat I decided to order. Little did I know I wouldn't be enjoying the rest of my food. The rustic, cabin setting of the restaurant is the perfect backdrop for some great barbecue. Soft country music, cushioned wooden booths and tables, and ranch-life decorations come together to provide a country dining atmosphere I'd love to go back and enjoy again and again. I'm not sure if this would be the best atmosphere for a first date, but it's great for …

Fine wood surfaces, soft lighting, a fresh polished appearance and soft instrumental music create a relaxed atmosphere at Thaicoon & Sushi Bar. This is not the fanciest restaurant on the square; however the reasonably priced lunch specials, which include sushi and dishes such as salmon teriyaki, pad see-u, panang curry and pad Thai, are a big draw. There are elegantly dressed tables for dining as well as seating at the counter where customers can watch sushi chefs at work. Service: The service is fast and friendly. My water was never below the halfway mark. However, I'd expect the service to …

Il Mee Korean Restaurant doesn't look like much from the outside. In fact, its isolated location is dark and frankly creepy to walk around at night. However, all those unsettling feelings disappear when you walk inside. The small cozy restaurant has traditional floor seating with mats as well as the dining chairs most of us are use to. The restaurant is quiet, and the staff is welcoming. Service: There is a language barrier. The servers seemed to have trouble understanding me, and I know I had trouble understanding them. However, they were patient, very willing to work through the …

Sugar Cakes Patisserie is known for its desserts for a reason. Sugar Cakes has a nice small intimate setting with a French flair. It is clean with smooth wood surfaces topped with white linen and finished off with artfully presented dishes. The restaurant is conveniently located on the square and makes a great stopping point for dessert and coffee or wine before or after taking in a show at the Strand or Theatre in the Square. Service: The wait at Sugar Cakes wasn't terrible. My food arrived fifteen minutes after I placed my order, and the server had a smile on her face. However, my coffee …

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, and I'm glad to say I went in. 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. …

Overview: Liking sushi is an acquired taste. The very first time I tasted it all I could think about was the raw fish part and was pretty sure I wouldn’t try it again. I did, though I can’t remember why. Long story short, I am now a sushi die-hard.  My all time favorite restaurant to eat sushi at is Ru San’s. With locations at both Barrett Parkway and Windy Hill Road, Ru San’s simply does it best. Sure there are more “authentic” sushi restaurants and certainly more expensive ones, but when you are craving sushi and actually want fill up on it without spending a fortune, Ru San’s is the place …

Overview: When I learned there was a new Brazilian restaurant in East Cobb, Botekim Brazilian Bistro on Terrell Mill Road, I wondered what was going on over there. Right next door is the Brazilian steakhouse Picanha, and less than two miles up Powers Ferry Road is Sal Grosso, yet another Brazilian steakhouse. But not to worry—Botekim is delightfully different from traditional Brazilian churrascarias. This is what it is not: a gorging experience where a green light at the table invites a never-ending selection of grilled meats on spits, sometimes served by guys in gauchos. Don’t get me wrong. …

Overview: Whitlock’s Bar and Grill in West Cobb is a fine dining restaurant with a contemporary edge, great food and affordable prices. Recently renovated, its décor boasts a new wood and stone design, large booths and the soft background music of a New York piano bar. If you are more familiar with this restaurant as the former Chicago’s, Whitlock's Bar and Grill's general manager Carlos Jiminez is eager to point out the updates and differences between the two. Along with the updated interior is a new menu. Angus beef and fresh seafood are still the most popular menu choices and Chicago fans …

Overview: If there’s one expertise most of us Southerners share, it’s the ability to find and appreciate a good country buffet. While there are many country buffets out there, there are few that pass some very critical tests necessary to be authentic. Located on Canton Road in Northeast Cobb, John Boy’s Home Cooking has loyal customers that come from far and wide to pile their plates with southern favorites. The restaurant itself is simple, almost plain—a perfect backdrop for its big attraction, the food. I have never been there when it was slow, a testament to its popularity. It isn’t a huge…

Attention Pasta Lovers: Have I got a restaurant for you. Mirko Pasta, located in Merchant’s Walk in East Cobb, takes pasta very seriously. Their mission statement is “Pasta is our Passion—Fresh Pasta is our Obsession” and they mean it. They offer 18 types of pasta made from scratch with 10 freshly made sauces to choose from. The pasta is so good that there’s just no other restaurant to compare it to. The food tastes like “fine dining” but in a contemporary café atmosphere. Most entrees average $10 and the portions are large. Customers are greeted with warm bread and a white bean dip seasoned …

Overview: It’s always a nice surprise to find a restaurant that’s really unique, creating a niche in the fast food world no one else has thought of yet. J. Gumbo’s is one of those restaurants. The food is Cajun inspired, is delicious, hearty, served in fast food time and cheap. The most expensive entrée on the menu is $7 and there are daily lunch specials. The decor is artsy and displays original artwork by Kennesaw artist Holly Jones. The Food: J. Gumbo’s offers a variety of gumbos, creole, etouffee and Po’Boys that will excite, not overpower the taste buds. As a result, J. Gumbos is quickly…

Overview: The next time you want to have a special weekend night out with good food, music—and maybe a scenic nighttime stroll afterwards, try La Famiglia Ristorante on Marietta Square. Here you may enjoy a glass of wine before dinner at a cozy separate bar. The front of the restaurant has large windows and beautiful views of Glover Park at dusk. We made reservations for a family birthday dinner on a Friday night. Our food was wonderful, service was excellent and live, soft music was played by a pianist (I learned later it was Nick, the owner). This restaurant gets an A+ for atmosphere. No …

Homes in and near East Cobb holding open houses this week range in price from a four-bedroom home on Brookview Drive for $255,000 to a five-bedroom home on Waterbury Lane for $550,000. Click through the image gallery below to preview each home. Times, prices and information are listed with each photograph.

Overview: It has taken me years to realize that the bakeries around the Marietta Square are a whole lot more than bakeries. Such is the case with the Australian Bakery Café on the Marietta Square. If I hadn’t been at the Taste of Marietta a few months ago, I would still be under the impression that they served Australian pastries, whatever those might be. In reality, it is also a charming little restaurant, serving breakfast and lunch 7 days a week. The signature dish is the Australian meat pie, a homemade dough filled with a variety of meats and vegetables, baked and served hot. There are 22…

Overview: Thinking I was going to Barnacles Restaurant near Town Center, I was disappointed at first that it had been replaced by a new restaurant, Pacific Sushi Buffet and Grill. I decided to go ahead and try it. Thinking it was going to be like all the other Asian buffets I’ve tried, I was surprised at how beautiful this restaurant was inside. Décor is elegant, the place is huge and laid out in an interesting way. Once inside, soft lighting and graceful waterfalls greet you on both sides as you walk over a bamboo bridge to the main restaurant. In fact, it’s the largest Asian buffet I’ve …