Dining Out
5 p.m. -midnight Mondays-Fridays. 11 a.m.-midnight Saturdays. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays.
Starters, charcuterie and cheese, $4-$12; salads and small plates, $6-$12; entrees, $14-$26; extras, $5-10; desserts, $5; kids menu, $3-$8.
130 Arizona Ave., Atlanta. 678-974-8380, rationanddram.com.
Ration and Dram, the new family-friendly neighborhood spot from former Holeman & Finch partner and star barkeep Andy Minchow, has a lot of things going on in a modern two story Arizona Lofts space with two patios, two bars and an assortment of food and drink.
The look: The downstairs area, which includes a spacious bar flanked by tall windows and cozy seating areas, makes for an inviting hangout. Upstairs, the look is upscale sport bar, with suspended TVs, and a roomy expanse of tables well-suited for large parties and families with children.
The scene: On a recent rainy Friday evening, the downstairs bar was fully occupied and Minchow and two more bartenders were busy mixing cocktails, taking food orders and chatting with guests. Upstairs, the Braves broadcast kept a convivial crowd of families and small groups content.
The food: The ever-changing menu is a quirky mix of bar food and fine dining entrees updated with an emphasis on sourcing local and seasonal ingredients and presenting healthy options. Local lion's mane mushrooms are fashioned into a "crabcake" ($12) and served with a pea shoot salad ($12). A breaded and fried pork chop sandwich ($12) is topped with beet greens, mayo and mustard ($12). A grain bowl ($14) is composed of quinoa, roasted broccoli, baby Vidalia onions, greens and carrots. A recent menu included sauteed duck breast ($32) with dirty rice and crispy kale.
The drinks: Not surprisingly, the cocktail menu shines with concoctions like The Shallow Grave ($12), a generously boozy blend of Chattanooga Whiskey, Antica Carpano, Bigallet China China and Cappelletti Aperitvo. There's also a well-curated list of draft and bottled craft and imported beers, wines by the glass and bottle, fresh juices and bottled sodas.
The extras: The kids menu includes the likes of a fried catfish sandwich ($7) with sweet potato wedges and a pastured pork, cabbage and carrot egg roll ($3). For dessert ($5), there's a Peychaud's Bitters milkshake and tres leches cake.
