Summer of Blove: Buckhead
Our Pick: Swanky Buckhead Date Night
Dolce Italian
Maybe two weeks was just enough to get drunk on the Buckhead kool-aid but there was something about entering the trés cool, bourgeois interior at Dolce that triggered the real upper-echelon mob wife in me. Found in the Shops of Buckhead, Dolce Italian sits pretty in the ultra luxe, pseudo-Rodeo Drive part of town. It’s a rich person’s interpretation of Italy in the 60's. If you’re lucky enough to meet him, the general manager comes clad in a vibrant and sharp blue suit with the humor and wit to match (warning: he has actual potential to outshine you on a date).
Date Type: Dinner & Drinks
What to Order: It’s weird to go to an Italian restaurant and enjoy the salad more than the pizza, but that being said, we recommend sharing the summer salad (move quickly, summer is almost over) and any of the pizzas.
Price for Two: $60–80
Atmosphere & Vibe: Pretty cozy and upscale vibe where the interior could lean towards a formal date night, but there is an air of liveliness that takes it down a notch. This would still make for a perfect date spot to meet over drinks at the bar.
Our Pick: Neighborhood Can’t Miss
Vine and Tap
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Run-of-the-mill suburban shopping center restaurant on the outside, incredibly good wine bar on the inside… and restaurant… and lobster shack… and cocktail bar. Don’t be confused by the strange Microsoft Publisher word art-esque font (we were too), Vine and Tap is like going to your cool aunt and uncle’s house for wine and oysters because they chose early retirement, not kids. Elegant in ambience but homey and familiar. The owner has the Ph. D. equivalent of certification in all things viticultural and alcoholic — not to mention the oysters were the best we’d had in our rounds of on-boarding yet.
Date Type: Dinner & Drinks
What to Order: Amongst the many dollar worthy weekly specials, we highly recommend coming for half-off wine flights Wednesdays combined with $1 oyster happy hour from 5–7pm.
Price for Two: $25–50
Atmosphere & Vibe: Maybe it’s the decor that creates that pleasantly “at home” feeling, maybe it’s the fact that you might run into your old soccer coach or someone you used to babysit for. It’s the kind of comfort only a restaurant remnisicent of a Rooms-to-Go sample room could provide.
Our Pick: “I Can’t Believe It’s In Buckhead!”
Storico Fresco
We left Storico Fresco running for the hills — and not in a bad way. I imagine this is how Jesus’ disciples must’ve felt on Easter. We wanted to tell our friends, parents, grandparents, distant cousins, old neighbors, ex’s, EVERYBODY about the gluten goodness that had recently landed a spot in Buckhead (and our hearts). Present were all the indications of a damn good Italian restaurant: a teeming exposed kitchen with every squash blossom-stuffing, prosciutto-slicing, pasta-slinging cook in sight; a symphonic dining room overflowing with raucous laughter, cleaned plates and eager patrons; an array of imported Italian goods (available for purchase) lining the perimeter of the restaurant; and tables sat elbow-to-elbow where even if you’re not ordering family style, you ought to be. Do your gut — I mean date — a favor and book a table at Storico Fresco now.
Date Type: Dinner & Drinks
What to Order: Everything. No really, everything. The litmus test of an Italian restaurant should be their tagliatelle alla bolognese; we tested and it ain’t basic.
Price for Two: $80–100 (we’re assuming you’re a baller, shot-caller, etc. but this can be worked down)
Atmosphere & Vibe: Similar to Antico Pizza in sheer crowd and loudness, which they’re fixing with soundboards soon, but authentic enough that we really can’t believe it’s in Buckhead.
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