International Cafe - Buford Highway in Druid Hills - Atlanta Georgia

You can find the International Cafe at 3066 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 in the same strip mall as one of my previous reviews for China Feng. Parking is out front and there's plenty so no worries, it was also not very busy during at 8:00 PM when our group paid a visit.

I had heard from friends that the International Cafe was a great place for wings so was eager to try it when John F announced it as the next stop for our Buford Highway Restaurant Crawl group. I arrived a bit early and grabbed a couple of tables and was joined shortly by others. International Cafe is a mom-and-pop place with a very limited menu and lots of beer options. The girl behind the counter took our orders and we waited about 10 minutes  for the food to arrive - since I got there early I ordered a Philly cheese steak because I wanted to try something different and figured I'd share it out. I also ordered a Sweetwater IPA.

Others arrived shortly 8:00 and we took a look at the menu to decide what to order for appetizers and meals. For apps we got the Potato Skins (bacon - Bacos? - and melted cheese) and Onion Rings. The skins were pretty marginal and I wouldn't recommend them. The onion rings were good but probably the pre-breaded frozen type you order from restaurant supply companies, filling but nothing special. The Philly was tasty but not a real Philly but that may just be me being a food-snob. 

For entrees we ordered a grilled cheese sandwich (for the vegetarian), a burger with steak fries (wasn't very good) and an assortment of wings spitting up one order between the teriyaki and lemon pepper and some extra spicy hot wings. The standout here are the wings - these are all deep fried well and remind me a bit of the wings you can get at American Cafe. The extra hot were hot but not terribly so and the texture was good if you like the extra-fried style - which I do. They are on the smallish side, typical of places like Cafe Hot Wing 2 on Chamblee-Tucker.

Our server, who also manned the counter, was very sweet and very accommodating keeping us full of beer and drinks. The owners are very lucky to have her. In general I can see why people like to come here - the beer and food is very cheap, the atmosphere very neutral and the dining room clean. The food is nothing special but I would stick with the wings and forego the appetizers and burgers. 

-- John

(also posted to Yelp)
 

Taco Mac at The Prado - Sandy Springs Atlanta Georgia

You can find this location of the Taco Mac (or T-Mac as they seem to be rebranding) at 5600 Roswell Rd, Ste 3, Sandy Springs Georgia 30342 at the Prado. Parking is along the streets or in the parking decks (parking is free at either).

Typical of the other Taco Mac locations, the interior is a fairly dark affair even with windows lining some walls and probably due to the lighting and black ceiling. But you don't come here to enjoy the sights outbound to the parking or street - instead you come for the many, many TVs showing any manner of current sports, the extensive beer selection and pretty much the wings.

My previous visits had me enthralled by the pour-count taps at many of the tables. Basically you sit where the taps have something agreeable to the table, set things up with the staff and get blistering drunk with non-stop beer guzzling action. Unfortunately those taps have been removed (or perhaps it's a good thing). Otherwise there isn't much distinctive to this location if you don't count the Fred (ask about it after you join Brewniversity). This night I ordered  Founders Double Trouble to start - quite good.

Speaking of Brewniversity, once you sign up you can show the server your card and the app keeps up with the varieties of beer you drink. There are thresholds that provide you with prizes (you usually get a shirt for signing up - of course I never got mine). This thing is cool when it works - or perhaps I should say it's cool except when your server forgets to run your card or even better, doesn't give your card back (happened to me at this location, first I didn't get my card and asked for a replacement online, waited and tried using it on my last visit and none of my drinks were registered).

And if that last seemed a bit of a jab at the servers, you got it. While the service at some of the locations is very good (the Ashford Crossing location, for instance), this location seems to be a bit off and very inconsistent for me. Better to sit at the bar as the bartenders have it together.

As usual my group went for the wings and from the last time I visited I got "the trick" - try the wings roasted instead of fried and get a side of the  Three-Mile-Island or even better, the Slow Burn sauce. That's a true winner and elevates the common wing to new heights. We also had both the sweet potato and regular fries which are hard to beat.

I ordered several different stouts or chocolate porters on this occasion - I tend to focus on the draft selections - all were exceptional. The Ob the Gubna was quite strong but well balanced with delicious accents; the Starr Hill Boxcar Pumpkin Porter - was better than I thought it would be (I really don't like flavored beers but this one worked).

In all the service was good (we sat at the bar) and the wings good and my expectations met. Otherwise this is a solid 3 of 5 stars.

(Also published to Yelp)