St. Patty's Deals for Saving o' the Green

Rumor is the whole world is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. Our radar finds truth in that statement as Atlanta restaurants have plenty o' parties and specials to keep Irish eyes smiling throughout the weekend and on St. Patrick's Day, March 17.

Bantam + Biddy locations at Ansley Mall and on Crescent Avenue are pouring a St. Pat's bargain worth crowing about on Monday, March 17. Fly by either place for $3 Guinness and $3 Jameson Irish whiskey pours. No blarney. A glass of either is just the thing to add a little Irish fling to Bantam + Biddy's meatloaf made with White Oak Pastures grass-fed beef, crispy chicken tenders, Southern fried chicken sandwich and other regional plates. Come to think of it, wasn't Scarlett an O'Hara? So fried chicken tenders count.

The Communitas Hospitality clan o' restaurants in Midtown is coming together this St. Patrick's Day to serve up Irish dish and drink specialties beginning Friday, March 14 and carrying on through Monday, March 17. 10th & Piedmont, G's Midtown and HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern are all serving green beer for $3 and Irish Car Bombs for $6. All three restaurants are preparing traditional corned beef and cabbage with sliced, slow-braised beef brisket with grain mustard and chopped cabbage served with golden potatoes and baby carrots, all roasted in Harp Irish Lager. And, it's still okay to order off the regular menu.

In Brookhaven, Kaleidoscope Bistro & Pub gets a jump on St. Patrick's Day and celebrates the anniversary of its patio opening by partying it up on Sunday, March 16. Irish food, a flood of Guinness and lively live music will keep Irish eyes smiling all day and into the night.

What luck! Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails in historic Crabapple is offering three specials over an extended St. Patrick's Day weekend of Friday, March 14 through Monday, March 17. Delve into beef, barley and Guinness soup; cornbread-crusted cod with buttermilk mashed potatoes and creamed bacon-braised cabbage; and brown ale-braised lamb shank with mushroom-barley risotto, roasted pearl onions and natural jus. Information and reservations: 770-817-0161.

LepRAchauns can celebrate St. Patty's Day all day long at RA Sushi Bar Restaurant in Midtown as beer, sake and cocktail specials will start at just $1 on Monday, March 17. Toast good luck with $1 green hot sake, $4 Jameson Irish whiskey shots, $5 melon margaritas and Kirin/Kirin Light or $6 Irish Car Bombs. Add a red dash -- RA Sushi's signature Sea Monkey martini, made with SKYY Raspberry vodka, Chambord and pineapple and cranberry juices, is only $6 all month long.

Sat-2-Day $2 Menu Hits Tin Lizzy's Cantina Midtown on March 15

Two dollars won't cover a gallon of gas or a MARTA ride, but it will buy a taco, Dos Equis lager or chips and salsa (regular or spicy) all day long on Saturday, March 15 at Tin Lizzy's Cantina in Midtown. Shoot. At these prices, a good sort through pockets, car seats or sofa cushions ought to haul in coinage and bills to fill up your tank with savory grilled, barbeque or Buffalo chicken tacos, veggie tacos or fried fish tacos. While you're at the Midtown Tin Lizzy's on March 15, be on the lookout for Grand Marnier promotions. The Crescent Avenue cantina opens at 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.

Dancing Around Making Prom Dinner Reservations?

Melissa Libby goes to prom!

Remember when...well, maybe your prom dinner wasn't that memorable. What was your date's name? These days, prom-goers are all about sharing a fun night out with friends and scoping out a place where everyone can dine together before the dance. We know of several Atlanta restaurants where this shoe fits quite comfortably!

Parties of up to 12 prom-goers can book the 12-foot-long Black Sheep's Table at No. 246 in Decatur for dinner before the dance. Family style dining and a progressive flow of courses translate to an enjoyable evening for guys and dolls. Priced at $45 per person, a sample menu includes a seasonal salad and meatball, antipasto, pasta, a protein course and house-made dessert. Call 678-399-8246 to reserve the Black Sheep's Table. Incidentally, the table itself was constructed by executive chef and co-owner Drew Belline's dad out of wood left over from the restaurant build.

Ray's on the River takes care of two prom decisions with one swoop: a gorgeous photo-shoot background and an elegant and reasonably priced dinner. For $45 per person, each guest starts with a mixed field greens salad and then chooses an entrée of pasta primavera with seasonal vegetables and a white wine sauce; oven-roasted chicken with natural pan gravy; an eight-ounce portion of slow-roasted prime rib au jus; grilled Atlantic salmon with lemon dill butter; or a filet medallion duo with red wine demi glaze. All entrées, except pasta primavera, are served with whipped potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Finish with either Key lime pie or chocolate raspberry mousse. Price includes beverage (soft drink, tea or coffee), tax and gratuity.

Willy's Mexicana Grill Rolls California-Style Burritos into Brookhaven's Cherokee Plaza on March 18

California dreaming? That west coast sun-and-fun vibe will resonate throughout Willy's Mexicana Grill when the Atlanta-based burrito joint opens its newest location in Brookhaven's Cherokee Plaza, 3883 Peachtree Road, on Tuesday, March 18. Guests can watch California-style burritos being made to order and hand rolled around their choice of more than 20 fresh toppings and mouthwatering proteins such as lean sirloin steak, chargrilled adobe or Sinaloa chicken, chipotle barbecue pork or marinated tofu. Guacs and salsas are made twice daily and partner up with thin, crispy tortilla chips. Every menu item is prepared from scratch, using locally sourced ingredients when available. Vegetarians have lots of burrito, taco and quesadilla options, and beans and rice are good to go as no animal products are used in their preparation. A tortilla bar, house-made specialty lemonades, flavored iced teas and horchata (similar in taste to a churro) round out the meal. Try a sweet sopapilla -- this location will be the first to serve the classic, southwestern dessert. Rain or shine, upbeat yellow and blue interiors guarantee a sunny California day inside. Come along for the ride from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Chocolate South Scouts out Girl Scouts for Freebie on Girl Scout Day, March 12

Chocolate South owner Amy Stankus 

Juliette Gordon Low organized the first Girl Scout troop 102 years ago on March 12, 1912 in Savannah. Selling cookies entered the scene in 1917 but didn't take off until the 1920s and 1930s when girls baked and sold their own cookies for 25-35 cents a dozen. Chocolate South, Atlanta's own sweet leader, is honoring Girl Scouts of all ages on Girl Scout Day, Wednesday, March 12. The first 20 current Girl Scouts (age 18 or younger) who come into the store that day wearing their Girl Scout uniform will receive a free Scout bonbon. The confection is a trail mix rival of milk chocolate, roasted almonds, orange zest and organic cranberries topped with candied almonds and is dubbed "Scout" as a tribute to the heroine of "To Kill a Mockingbird." The first 10 former Girl Scouts (over 18 years old) who bring in their badge sash or a photo of themselves in their Girl Scout uniform will receive both a free Scout bonbon AND a free cup of REV coffee. That's a promise.

STATS Tracks March Madness with Biggest Bracket in Town, Viewing and More

Let the hoopla begin! It's March Madness time (and we don't mean a March SnowJam). STATS, located in Atlanta's Luckie Marietta District, is your best bet for courtside views on multiple large screens and loads of good seats. Follow your picks as they progress through the largest bracket in the ATL. STATS champions the food and beverage lineup as well, stacking its menu with tried-and-true all-American classics backed by a high-scoring roster of brews, cocktails and wines. Groups, families, singles...there's a March Madness spot for everyone at STATS.

Spring for Milton's March 20 Spring & Vine Dinner

On Thursday, March 20 Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails signals the start of spring with a four course Spring & Vine dinner. Chef Derek Dollar's enticing new Southern cuisine pairs well with the wines of Educated Guess, an approachable line by Napa Valley's Roots Run Deep Winery. The $80-per-person dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. For reservations, call 678-431-8753 or email heather@miltonscuisine.com.

USA Today Nets Umi in Traveler's Table Feature

In the recent USA Today Traveler's Table feature "Raw fish around the world," traveling foodie Kate Parham does a swim-by of how 10 different cultures prepare raw fish as a delicacy and where to try a super version of each dish in the U.S.  Umi, in Buckhead, catches her eye for its masterful Japanese sashimi. Traditionally, the thinly sliced raw fish is eaten and appreciated before other flavors take over the palate. Parham notes that Umi executive chef Fuyuhiko Ito uses the usuzukiuri technique in preparing his razor-thin sashimi for artful plating before embellishing with scallion and daikon. Take your time and linger over every morsel.

Chefs Choose The Optimist's Adam Evans and Bantam + Biddy's Shaun Doty for "Best Chefs America Presents: The American South"

Chefs know best when it comes to identifying the best chefs in the U.S., according to Best Chefs America. So the compendium compilers asked the tough questions of more than 5,000 U.S. chefs. Who do they respect the most? Who's cooking the best food locally? Who influenced you? Chefs rising to the top of the peer proofing include Atlanta's own Adam Evans of The Optimist and Shaun Doty of Bantam + Biddy. These two guys made the cut for the 2014 edition of "Best Chefs America Presents: The American South." We can see why. Evans, executive chef at The Optimist and a 2012 Rising Star Chef, turned his youthful affinity for fishing into a culinary focus. Trendsetter Doty, Bantam + Biddy co-owner and executive chef, zeroes in on regional ingredients and flavors served up in a community-centric atmosphere. The 248-page travel-size guide covers 12 Southern states with essays, recipes, food facts, foodie trends and social media insights for following the best chefs and their restaurants.

#foodgram

Umi sits next to the St. Regis in Buckhead. Instagram page @umisushiatl captures yummy Umi views from sushi to interiorscapes and people shots. Kind of a mini-Umi experience to prime you for the pure pleasure of dining on executive chef Fuyuhiko Ito's sushi sensations.

Appetizing Aperture

Biscuits and sausage gravy ($6) is but one of the eye-openers on the weekend brunch menu at No. 246 in downtown Decatur. It's first on the list of Shares and Sweets, rubbing elbows with deviled farm eggs, crispy squid, baked grapefruit and bread pudding with salted caramel. Share a plate as a lead-in to a breakfast pizza, strozzapreti carbonara with crispy farm egg and bacon, Georgia white shrimp with creamy polenta and a poached egg, and more. To picture all would be sensory overload, so cut to the menu for a tasty read.

What's New on Pinterest

As spring bursts into bloom, so does the number of fun runs, 5Ks, 10Ks, half and full marathons around town. Let the carb-loading begin with our Nothing but Noodles Pinterest board. Comforting, easy-to-prepare dishes such as chicken lo mein and caprese pasta will help you run out the door in no time flat.