Weekend Brunch at Ormsby's in West Midtown

Hey readers,

Two beautiful Sunday afternoons ago, my guest & I were invited to check out the new brunch menu at Ormsby's located in the heart of West Midtown in the Westside Provisions District (a HUGE thank you & shout out to Morgan & ML+A and Ormsby's teams). For those of you that are unfamiliar with the Atlanta area, Ormsby's is a classic neighborhood tavern and stylish speakeasy known for its incredible pub fare, extensive craft beer and cocktail selection and assortment of games including shuffleboard, backgammon, darts, pool and bocce ball. A popular hot spot amongst the Atlanta nightlife community and surrounding residents, this unique gem is secretly tucked away underneath a nondescript stairwell and is only noticeable by its light wooden door marked with a cursive "O." If you aren't looking for the location specifically, it's pretty easy for it to go undetected. On the other hand, if you've been to Ormsby's in the past, then you'll know that this is the place EVERYONE goes to, especially on the weekends. With their cult-like following of customers waiting in long lines just to enter this trendy establishment, you'll meet some of the coolest folks, both young and old, from around the city gathered in one central location, including Steven Yeun who plays Glenn from the The Walking Dead. Despite being a regular patron of Ormsby's already, I have to regretfully admit that I'd never had an actual meal here until this very visit. Seriously though, shame on me because Ormsby's executive chef Scotley Innis Jr. is crushing the pub food game, especially with the wide variety of international dishes featured on their menu including a lamb gyro burger and Guinness-braised bratwurst to name a few. Having been born and raised in Bronx, New York and a graduate of the notable Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts of Atlanta, executive chef Innis Jr. has certainly incorporated his culinary skills and love of using fresh, seasonal ingredients as evident of Ormsby's menu and specials. And with the new weekend brunch service that Ormsby's now offers, you no longer have to wait until they open for dinner to get a bite of what Chef Innis Jr. and his crew are cooking up in the kitchen. Seeing that it normally takes a miracle for this food blogger to wake up earlier than she has to on her day off, I was too darn excited to sleep in, especially having glanced at their brunch menu beforehand. So I got dressed in my Sunday best and made my way over to the west side with my guest, as the two of us were ready to partake in all that this riveting tavern had to offer us for the day.

Let's get started:

☆Front Door

☆Westside Provisions

☆Interior

☆Dining Room

☆New Brunch Menu

☆Monkey Mosa and Blackberry Ginger Bourbon Cocktails

☆Hand-cut Fries with Pimento Cheese Fondue, Lemon Aioli and Creamy Blue Cheese: Perfectly seasoned french fries with some of the tastiest dipping sauces I've ever had! The pimento cheese fondue was my absolute favorite of the bunch with its warm, zesty flavors, followed by the creamy blue cheese and delightful lemon aioli. There's over 10+ homemade sauces here, you can't go wrong with any of them!

☆Chicken & Waffles (Southern-fried chicken strips, Belgian waffles, chipotle syrup, whipped butter, 2 eggs): Talk about the perfect dish for brunch! 4 crispy & flavorful chicken tenders followed by 4 Belgian waffle scores topped with powdered sugar and sliced strawberries, then followed up with whipped butter, a spicy chipotle syrup and 2 eggs cooked any way you like--it's the BEST deal you'll find in Atlanta for ONLY $10! Seriously though, I've had chicken & waffles plenty of times from the West Coast to the East Coast, but I've never had them as good as the one they serve here! The chicken tenders are moist and have the perfect breading to meat ratio, the waffles aren't at all soggy or watered down and the combination of the sweet butter and chipotle maple syrup just take it to the next level! 

☆Salmon Croquette Benedict (Poached eggs, salmon croquette, wilted spinach, English muffin, hollandaise, chipotle cheddar grits): If you like eggs benedict and salmon, then you'll fall head over heels in love with this dish!  The main focus here is of course the salmon croquette, which you'll be incredibly surprised to find out that it's essentially 99% salmon and 1% bread crumb/cornmeal mix. Unlike other restaurants where I've had a similar dish, they pack in the croquettes here with plenty of fresh, flaky salmon, just how I like them and cook it to perfection. The English muffin is nicely buttered and toasted, followed by the soft spinach and topped with a salmon croquette patty. Next comes the tasty poached egg with its slightly runny yolk and generous dollop of hollandaise sauce around each half-so good! Served with a bowl of cheesy and spicy chipotle cheddar grits, you'll want to savor each and every single bite because it'll be gone before you realize it!

As you can probably tell, both my sister & I had an amazing brunch experience at Ormsby's. Coming from someone who typically never wakes up in time to grab weekend brunch no matter how much she tries, I now have a reason to get myself out of bed, especially with the fantastic brunch options that Ormsby's offers. Although the menu is somewhat small, the quality of the food here surpasses everything else. Upon entering through the elusive door that takes you inside, you'll immediately notice the main dining area to the left of the entrance, followed by the extensive bar area to the right. Additionally, there's a lower level (not pictured) where all of the action takes place-a secluded bar, bocce ball court and a plethora of other fun games that liven the place up, especially on a Friday or Saturday night. We were immediately greeted by the hostess and were seated at one of the booths. Our server, who's name I didn't get a chance to catch, immediately came by our table, welcomed us and took down our drink order. From the moment we sat down up until the moment we left, she was very helpful and attentive. With her recommendations, we decided to order the two most popular brunch dishes according to her, the chicken & waffles and salmon croquette benedict, which ended up being fabulous choices seeing how much we truly enjoyed them both. In regards the decor, the interior reminded me of the classic TV show "Cheers," a place where you can eat and drink and feel like you're at home, a place where everybody knows your name. Unlike the vibe you get at other establishments, Ormsby's is a place where you can temporarily travel back in time, escape your troubles and just remember the simpler days, with an alcoholic drink or two in one or both hands of course. With their gorgeous combination of black and oak furniture, vintage light fixtures, black and white photographs adorning the walls and their fully-stocked bar, you can't help but appreciate the simplistic, yet chic design of it all in such an open space. Additionally, the easy, laid-back feeling you get here is one that makes you want to come back time and again. So whether you're stopping by to grab a few drinks or wanting to relax and enjoy a meal here and possibly run into a few celebrities here and there, head on over to the west side or the "best side" as they say and be sure to check out the new brunch menu! Trust me when I tell you that it's DEFINITELY worth waking up for! Just before wrapping up, I want to thank Morgan & the ML+A and Ormsby's teams again for such a pleasurable experience, I'm already waiting for the weekend to be here because I can't stop thinking about the chicken and waffles!

Have a fantastic day,

-Sandy

FTC: Although this was a media event and my meal was comped, I will always provide an honest review & experience of the restaurant.

If you'd like to invite Bella Vivere to cover & share your restaurant's media events, tastings or parties, feel free to shoot me an email at bellavivere {at} gmail {dot} com-Thanks!