Pork belly with peanut butter. It was one of those flavor pairings that I wasn’t too sure of when I read it on the ONE. midtown kitchen menu. But as soon as I took the first bite, I realized it was genius.
Recently, I headed to the Midtown dinner spot, which is tucked off of Dutch Avenue near the Atlanta Botanical Garden, to try the new menu. What I discovered was a wonderland of dishes composed of tastes I’d never think of trying together—and now can’t imagine eating any other way.
At the heart of this culinary creativity are co-executive Chefs Matt Weinstein (formerly of Woodfire Grill) and Chris Maher (4th and Swift and the Ritz Carlton Buckhead), who took over the cooktops in June.
“ONE. is an Atlanta institution,” Matt says. “It’s exciting to be a part of the restaurant and work toward a new menu and new look.”
Chris shares the enthusiasm and is also excited about what’s to come.
“Matt and I have been given carte blanche to cook the kind of food that inspires us and surpasses our guests’ expectations, each day challenging ourselves to make the restaurant even better,” he says.
As soon as I walked into the restaurant, I was charmed by the firefly-esque lighting dangling from the ceiling. It’s a hip space where the kitchen is open, and there’s a modern, but romantic, vibe (think exposed brick, modern, but cozy, furniture, brown paper table runners and a killer patio overlooking the green space in the ONE. backyard).
First, I enjoyed a gin and tonic made with an amazing boutique gin called Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin, which was just the sip I needed after a long day. If gin’s not really your thing, try a ONE. martini (vodka, rose champagne and frozen grapes), or pick a glass of vino from the extensive list.
OK, now on to the tastes you’re dying to know about. As far as smaller plates go, there’s the pork belly that I’ve already swooned over. The heirloom tomato salad, with watermelon, cucumber, shiso and lemon, gave me a taste of cool veggies that hit the spot. And if you’re a fan of tartare, ONE’s wagyu steak version is a pretty little creation not to be missed.
I also wanted to give one of the two pasta dishes a try (also on the smaller side) and went with the squid ink farfalle. It’s served up with shrimp, red bell pepper, scallion and bacon breadcrumbs—another one of those genius moments, courtesy of Chefs Matt and Chris.
For an entrée, you can choose from one of the pizza options, the Tastee Burger, which features caramelized onions, tomato jam, bacon and Gruyère, and a few other meat and seafood options. I treated myself to the confit duck leg served with farrow, fig and apricot chutney, and zucchini. The flavorful meat just melted in my mouth.
Last, but not least, there was dessert: caramelized bananas with milk chocolate and strawberries. And it made my mouth happy. So happy. But then again, so did everything that passed my lips during my meal at ONE. All I can say is this restaurant is a gem amid Midtown’s many nosh spot choices. You’ll leave eager to return—knowing that one visit just won’t be enough.
ONE. midtown kitchen is located at 559 Dutch Valley Road. Dinner is served Sunday to Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Thursday to Saturday. For more information, call (404) 892-4111 or visit onemidtownkitchen.com.
