Dining Out
8 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sundays.
Egg dishes, $7-$13; waffles, $4.50-$7; soups, $6-$7; salads, $8-$14; burgers and sandwiches, $8-$13.
465 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta. 404-537-4490, www.facebook.com/folkartrestaurant.
Folk Art, the new breakfast, lunch and brunch spot from Wisteria chef/owner Jason Hill, serves up variations on all-day favorites, like waffles and eggs any style, plus soups, salads, burgers and sandwiches, in an atmosphere fitting of its name.
The look: A few doors down from Wisteria on Highland Avenue, a brick facade, tile roof, and row of old theatre seats mark the entrance to the corner storefront. Inside, brick walls covered in bric-a-brac, rough-hewn wood floors and reclaimed tables and chairs create a cozy Americana setting. A wall of vintage steel-framed windows divides the main dining room from a smaller sun room-like area.
The scene: Surprisingly, during service one recent Saturday morning, there wasn't a line or a long wait. But most of the tables were full, and many of the buzzing brunch bunch seemed pleased to have found another place to land. Those perched at the small counter that fronts the kitchen got a good glimpse of how busy the staff was.
The menu: Hill's offerings mix diner simplicity with Southern touches. Eggs come with grits studded with kernels of corn ($7) and additions like boudin sausage ($3) or fried chicken ($4). Eggs Benedict can be had with tasso ham ($8), smoked trout ($10) or crab meat ($12). Beef burgers come in double ($8), triple ($9.50) or quad ($11) patty sizes with a variety of toppings. There are also veggie, turkey, lamb and patty melt options ($10-$14). Sides include a fresh fruit cup ($2.50), hash browns ($3), hand-cut fries ($2/$4) cucumber salad ($2.50) and grilled "flat-top" mac-and-cheese ($1.50/$4).
The drinks: There's a full bar, with specialty cocktails, beer and wine available all day. Mr. Sunshine ($8) mixes gin, orange juice, lemon juice and ginger syrup, while the Vermont Sour Maple is a bourbon, maple syrup, and orange juice concoction. The all-American beer list is divided by state, with California's Lagunitas Dogtown Pale Ale ($6.50) and Georgia's Sweetwater 420 ($5.50) and Terrapin Rye ($5.50) on the current menu.
The extras: There are three separate food menus, with breakfast served 8-10:30 a.m. and lunch served 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Brunch is served all day Saturdays-Sundays. While many items overlap, don't expect a burger at breakfast or pancakes at lunch.
