Ryan and I decided to visit Woodfire Grill after reading amazing reviews online and receiving multiple recommendations from you guys, telling me it was a “must try” restaurant in Atlanta.
The restaurant had everything… phenomenal food, a warm and romantic ambiance and friendly, knowledgeable wait staff.
Anyone recognize this stud?
Kevin Gillespe!
Kevin placed in the top three on the sixth season of Top Chef and was voted “fan favorite” by viewers of the show. And I can see why! Ryan and I had the pleasure of chatting with Kevin after our meal and he was so kind and gracious. He knew patrons by name and took the time to tell us more about our meal and talk about his passion for Woodfire Grill.
After reading more about him when I got home, I learned that Kevin also worked as sous chef at Two Urban Licks, the restaurant we visited on Friday night!
When we arrived at Woodfire Grill we were led to a corner open-booth table that felt extra cozy thanks to some free-standing plush pillows that we were both decorative and comfortable.
Upon seating, our waitress, Cate, took our drink orders. I opted for a glass of Riesling while Ryan ordered a Bitter End, a specialty cocktail containing Goslings rum, Aperol, Cocchi Americano, maple syrup, ginger, lemon and Peychaud’s Bitters.
My wine was perfect and Ryan’s drink was so, so good. I kept sneaking sips! Though we laughed because the glass of Ryan’s cocktail tested his masculinity a bit, the drink itself was fantastic. The kick from the ginger added so much flavor.
While we sipped on our drinks we also enjoyed house made bread with herbed butter.
I ate multiple pieces of the bread with butter over the course of the evening because it was perfectly doughy and incredibly fresh.
After discussing our entrée options with our waitress, Cate advised us to take advantage of the five course tasting menu and we were sold.
Though the tasting menu was technically five courses, our meal also included an amuse bouche and another “taste” course, so we felt like we actually had seven courses!
Ryan and I were both very impressed with the amuse bouche and the flavors of cucumber, parsley and red onion were fresh and vibrant.
Ryan ordered the chef’s five course tasting menu while I opted for the pescatarian tasting menu so we could sample a little bit of everything. Our meals were the same except for two courses.
For our first course, we were served American bluefin toro (fatty belly of a tuna) with crisp tuna rice and a lime-soy emulsion, sriracha mayonnaise, young vegetables and herbs.
Ryan and I are both big-time tuna lovers, so we were in heaven with this course. The lime-soy emulsion was a fantastic addition and I did my best to make sure every vegetable soaked up the goodness!
Course number two included… catfish.
As you may know, catfish is the one food that totally creeps me out. I ate everything around the catfish while Ryan “mmmmed” over his catfish. He told me that if I was ever going to try catfish, I had to try this catfish because it really was that good. I put on a brave face and dug in.
And you know what? It was fantastic. I’m not saying I’m a catfish convert, but at Woodfire Grill, apparently I’m a catfish lover.
In between our courses, we refreshed our drinks a couple of times. I ordered another glass of wine while Ryan opted for the “Bartender’s Choice” cocktail.
It ended up being a drink our waitress called a “gin fizz” and let me just tell you it went down smooth. Ryan and I went into our date night at Woodfire Grill expecting good food, but we had no idea the cocktails would be so impressive.
We also shared a Tom Collins (pictured above) toward the end of the evening that was delicious.
Next up, Ryan and I were served different dishes. I enjoyed crispy fried local green beans with Austrian crescent potatoes, marinated padron peppers and salsa brava.
I think I could’ve easily eaten a whole plateful of the fried green beans.
Ryan’s course included wood grilled honey lacquered local quail with bacon gremolata, pole beans and cheddar rice casserole.
The quail was right up my alley. It tasted like gourmet home cookin’ that a (very talented) grandmother would pour her heart into in the kitchen all day. It was tender enough to cut with a fork and Ryan and I both loved it.
Next up I tried – and fell in love with – something brand new! Morel mushrooms.
Oh baby! The morel mushrooms were sautéed and served with fork-tender butter baked Alaskan sablefish with a brown butter emulsion and garlic and lemon. I definitely used my bread to soak up every last drop of the sauce on this dish!
Ryan’s main dish included wood smoked Berkshire pork loin and slow roasted pork belly with skilled roasted cabbage, Vidalia onions and sweet and sour tomatoes.
In reading reviews from past Woodfire Grill patrons, everyone seemed to rave about the pork belly… and with good reason. Ryan and I “mmm-ed” our way through that dish! Kevin told us that they took it off the menu once and got cussed out for removing it! Apparently it is very loved!
And then it was time for dessert.
My dessert was a key lime pie frozen mousse with toasted ginger meringue (incredible!), rose-raspberry anglaise and gingersnap cookie.
It was paired with a delicious dessert wine (2008 Quady Black Muscat, California).
Loved that wine!
Ryan’s dessert was off the charts.
Chocolate mousse, with almond bavarian, cherry chanilly, almond tuile and almond cherry puree.
The chocolate lover in both of us just about jumped for joy over this dessert. It was rich without being overly decadent. We practically licked our plates clean!
Our entire experience at Woodfire Grill was absolutely wonderful. A perfect date night.
(Yes, we thoroughly enjoyed our drinks. 
)
If you’re ever in Atlanta, I highly recommend visiting Woodfire Grill for the innovative and delicious food and the romantic, welcoming atmosphere.
And Kevin’s totally cool about taking pictures with visitors, too. 
P.S. The Fashion page was updated!
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Wow it looks like you had a fabulous night. What does catfish taste like? Their faces creep me out!
I saw a lot of tasting menus while we were in San Francisco – but everything seemed to expensive for me… like 150$ per person.. something I wasn’t looking on spending.
Everything you guys had looks delicious, though!
I just licked my screen. Was that inappropriate?
Those meals look absolutely fantastic. What a romantic evening!
Wow! That restaurant sounds soo great! Next time im in Atlanta im taking my parents to check it out with me =D Every dish looks great!
Glad you had a great date night! =)
Love the dress you wore 🙂 looks like the perfect place!! I really loved the food presentation and pics
Kevin was my FAVORITE! So jealous!
Everything sounds wonderful! I love morels, especially in risotto!
What a fabulous evening!
Wow. The Woodfire Grill does look fabulous! I can’t believe you got to meet Kevin! I remember rooting for him when he was on Top Chef!
Now that looks like my kind of meal. I love restaurants that combine great service and presentation and great tasting food too! It looks like you’re enjoying yourself.
OMG!! We LOVE Kevin in our house. We totally think he should have won Top Chef. I can only imagine hoe good the pork belly was – pig is his thing 🙂 I have to add Woodfire Grill to my list of must-eat restaurants for whenever we travel to Atlanta. With Kevin there, I bet I could get my husband on a plane tonight 😉
He is such a nice guy! Definitely deserving of the win, in my opinion. 🙂
Ahhh isn’t the best thing when the Top Chefs take pictures?! I had dinner cooked by Chef Ludo from Top Chef Masters a while back and, even though he wasn’t my FAVORITE contestant, I still felt ritzy trying his foods!!
Sometimes, the best thing to do is let the chef’s menu speak for itself, and it looks like yours did! Every bite looks phenom!
I live in Atlanta and I absolutely love Chef Kevin and Woodfire Grill! I am glad you guys chose that as your date night restaurant. Now i am absolutely starving 🙂
Looks incredible! Everything looks so delicious, I am definitely going there if I’m ever in Atlanta. I love trying all of the Top Chef star’s restaurants.
I am loving your restaurant reviews!!
I’m kind of loving doing them! It’s been really fun and easy b/c the food in Atlanta is unreal!
This is hands down my favorite restaurant in ATL. You went to all of the great places! Glad you liked your trip.
It was fantastic!!
Awesome!! I’m so glad you finally tried catfish!!! It is a staple around here–the South!! We love it–now you must try cooking it! My hubs likes fried. I prefer grilled or blackened. It reminds me of tilapia only with kicked up flavor! Hugs–e
Maybe we can convince them to open a Woodfire Grill in Orlando? That place looks AMAZING.
We need to! If not for the food, for the drinks, too!
WOW! That was a dinner and a half, it looked amazing and intricate and beautifully prepared 🙂 Loved seeing such special unique dishes…and that’s amazing that you got to hang with a real live celebrity as well…sweet-as! The pescetarian menu sounded out of the charts delicious, especially the baked alaskan sablefish….Mmmm… So glad you had such a lovely night – one to remember, for sure! 🙂 xyx
Such a cool restaurant! Everything looks so fantastic!
That looks like an amazing dinner! I laughed at Ryan’s first drink b/c my husband hates beer and wine. He literally only drinks “girly” drinks and every time we’re out they always place his in front of me assuming I ordered that he ordered the beer.
Hahaha I love it. I think girly drinks are the best!
Oh my word. That restaurant looks incredible!! So glad ya’ll are having fun in Atlanta!
Mmmm I have been wanting to go there since I saw him on Top Chef! Any guy that loves pork is a friend of mine. 🙂
Definitely on my short list the next time we go up to Atlanta.
You will love it and Kevin is so nice!
Yumm! I will definitely have to make my way to Atlanta now. Looks like you two had a great date night!
Oh my gosh, that meal looked like it was a serious event! Yay for date nights and yummy celebrations.. glad you had a great time! PS am I the only one who’s never had pork belly?! The name weirds me out!
Oh my gosh, I need to get me to Atlanta! That looks so good! What a great date night!!
I loved Kevin from Top Chef!! I’ve been to one or two restaurants from former contestants, but have never actually seen them, haha. I bet that pork was indeed unreal, he was the one with a pig tattoo, no?
Oh my gosh! Your whole meal looks to die for. Not only does the food look good, but how cool is it that you got to meet Kevin!!!! 😀 That is awesome!
The atmosphere looks really nice too.
What a great way to wrap up your Atlanta trip- sounds like such a fun day you both had- swimming with sharks & then this amazing meal. Such a cool weekend 😀
Have a safe trip back home!!
Date night looks lovely! 🙂 You need to already mark your calendars for the next one and stick to it…. you’ll have something to look forward to!
Wow, the food looks great! The drinks look better! lol
What an incredible meal! Props to Ryan for ordering a “girlie” drink…that’s how I distinguish the REAL men from the boys. 😉
Enjoy the rest of your time in Atlanta!
That meal looks AMAZING! I have relatives in Atlanta so definitely a must on my next trip there!
PS- On my run yesterday I saw a vizsla running with a BRIGHT orange collar and immediately thought of Sadie! Then I was like wow I don’t even know this girl and that’s the first thing that comes to mind! So funny!
Looove it.
Y-U-M! Love Kevin & Top Chef… I’m actually going to the restaurant Jen Carroll (same season) works at next Saturday! 🙂
Wow! That looks like such an amazing dinner. How cool that the chef was one of the people on Top Chef! I love that show so much! 🙂
wow what a menu! Good choice for the Riesling wine, especially when it’s fresh! All the meals look good, and th portions aren’t too big so that you can have a taste of everything!
oh WOW! That all looks amazing, girlfriend! I bet you all had a great night 🙂
Ryan’s dessert looks absolutely wonderful! I may have to take a trip to Atlanta to check it out. 😉
I absolutely LOVE Woodfire Grill. I am so jealous that you got to meet Kevin. His food is outstanding. Glad you are enjoying your visit to Atlanta. It really is a great city. 🙂
What great food presentation! Glad you had a nice date night out 🙂
oh my goodness everything looks so unbelievable! The presentation of it is unreal! Haha and I have yet to convince my boyfriend to go for the girly drinks…I know he secretly wants to lol
UH-MAZING!! That’s all I can say. It looked like an amazing evening together and your meals looked to die for. Your dessert looked wonderful!! I’m so glad y’all had fun.
everything looks so good! all those drinks….makes me want to go out and have a few cocktails now!
Wow! I’m so jealous! I’ve been a huge fan of Kevin Gillespie since he was on Top Chef! I’ve been lucky enough to have quite a few Top Chef celebrity sightings and have eaten at some amazing restaurants in Chicago that other Top Chefs own! I guess it’s about time to move Atlanta up on my list so I can go to Woodfire Grill 🙂
Ryan always seems to pick out the best thing on any menu! Props to him. All the food looks totally amazing, though! Totally mouthwatering..
What a great looking dinner! You guys must have had a fun little buzz going on after dinner with all those drinks! Always a good time! 🙂
awww I love that place – so glad you had such a great experience. All of the pics look awesome!
Looks like you had an amazing time, next time I am in Atlanta I will have to check those places out!!!
This looks amazing! I’m so glad you liked it!
Wow that looks like such an amazing dinner- and experience! The food presentation is soooo pretty too! You look gorgeous in that dress :).