The holidays can really wreak havoc on getting out and trying some new restaurants. All those parties to go to and all that shopping to do, means little time to just go out and have fun tasting the latest on the scene. Well after several people were asking where my review was for Lime Taqueria in West Village, I decided to make it a priority.

Lime Taqueria has been open for almost two months now and clearly is not your typical Smyrna Vinings restaurant. Rene Diaz and Jesse Diaz wanted to create something that would stand out and picked West Village as the place to ply their trade.

When you think about Mexican food in Smyrna Vinings, you may think of Nuevo Laredo (awesome food without the pretence and with the red and white checked tablecloths) to other local establishments such as Mexico Lindo, Los Bravos, etc. What Lime is trying to create, however, is more of a Buckhead style restaurant with Mexican flair. It’s new-world Mexican.

The restaurant certainly has flair and creates a fun and festive setting, from the large dining room, the vivid greens, yellows and red and the huge lime wedges throughout.

I decided to enlist the help of  another couple on our taste sensation journey to Lime. We started out by sampling some of the many tapas and just kept trying more and more. We never made it to the entree side of the menu, which probably isn’t surprising. With such a large assortment of tapas to choose from, I’m sure it will be quite a popular way for many people to sample the fare at Lime the first time.

The tapas included a variety of tacos including the Taco Res, Taco Mole, Taco Chorizo, Taco Carne Asade, Taco Puntas de Puerco and Taco Pollo. In addition we tried out the Asado de Panela, the Ceviche del Dia and the Tamales Nortenos. And since we were in a Mexican restaurant, we did feel obligated to order chips and salsa, which comes in a dish with four completely different salsas from mild to spicy.

Without a doubt, I think everyone’s favorites included the ceviche, which is seafood marinated in lime juice with finely chopped onions, peppers, tomatoes and cilantro. It was very fresh and a nice medley of flavors. Our group also seemed to really enjoy the Asado de Panela, which is queso, but unlike anything you’ve had before. It’s actually a large slice of white cheese, smothered with a tomato and pepper sauce. Very tasty. Our final top pick would be the tamales.

Along with trying out the tapas, we decided that we would be remiss without trying some of Lime’s beverages. We opted for the Sofia Margarita, the El Cubano Lime Mojito and the Raspberry Mojito. By far, the lime Mojito was the table favorite. It was a perfect blend of tart flavors offset by the fresh mint.

To wrap things up, we opted for the Tequila Lime Cheesecake and the Chocolate Souffle to sample for dessert. The Tequila Lime Cheesecake was velvety smooth and creamy with the slightest hint of lime. The Chocolate Souffle’s final preparation occurs at your table. The server pushes through the top layer of the souffle and pours in a vanilla bean sauce. Can’t go wrong there.

I think everyone really enjoyed the food at Lime and were impressed with the restaurant. It certainly does not compare to other local Smyrna Vinings restaurants. The food was good and the presentation and the atmosphere were great. And we’ll definitely have to try the entrees next time.

Technorati Tags: Lime Taqueria, Smyrna Vinings Restaurants, West Village

Varners Restaurant and Tavern, located in the former home of Uncle Bud’s Catfish on Concord Road in Smyrna, has been up and running for awhile now and based upon how packed the parking lot is on a nightly basis, it has quickly become a local favorite.

Having been one of the last customers in Uncle Bud’s, I’m still having nightmares about the location. Varners, however, has done a great job of renovating the space and creating a great spot for locals to stop in to the restaurant or join in the fun in the bar.

I tried out Varners shortly after they opened and while I was impressed with the beer, the food was a big disappointment. Varners offers over 40 beers on draft and what appears to be over 100 bottled beers. I think they may hold the title for the largest beer selection in Smyrna Vinings, but what is undoubtedly the freshest.

Well, I decided it was time to give Varners another try. With over 30 high def plasmas, Varners definitely seems like the place to be during the college bowl season. So off we went to give it another try.

Once again, the beer was fabulous, the TVs were cranking out the latest in sporting events and I must say, the food has improved.

I went for the special of the night, which was a Salmon BLT with applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato and garlic mayo on sourdough bread with a side of sauteed spinach. My lovely wife selected the reuben with a side of fries, and the little chittlins opted for the fish and chips and grilled cheese and fries.

Everyone was very happy and felt the entrees were very tasty. I will warn you that while the fries are very good, there seems to be a lovefest at Varners for fries. Clearly, one entree’s worth of fries is enough for the whole family. With a large array of sandwiches, salads, pastas and creative entrees, you’re sure to find some good food to fit your needs.

Varners has filled a void in the local Smyrna Vinings restaurant market with good bar food in both a family friendly restaurant and a fun tavern with pool tables, video games and so many plasma TVs, you’re guaranteed not to miss out on your favorite sporting events. Varners offers an array of fun events if 35 plasma TVs are not enough, including trivia night, ladies night, Texas Hold’em and live music.

Technorati Tags: Varners Tavern, Smyrna Vinings Restaurants

“BRING ONE FOR THE CHIPPER”

As a part of a statewide effort to reuse Christmas trees, Keep Smyrna Beautiful is hosting Christmas Tree recycling at the Home Depot on Cumberland Parkway, where area residents can drop-off their trees on Saturday, January 5, 2008, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring One For the Chipper and pick up a sapling to take home and plant.

Recently visited Blackstone Cafe, which is located adjacent to the highly praised Blackstone restaurant, known for their excellent steaks and seafood and fine wines. Blackstone Cafe was opened this summer as an alternative for those that couldn’t handle the fact that Blackstone is not open for lunch.

Blackstone Cafe, is a quaint local deli market just off of Log Cabin Road and Atlanta Road. Blackstone Cafe offers a good selection of soups, sandwiches and salads for pickup and dining. They offer a variety of gourmet meats, cheese and other delicacies. And don’t forget about the gelato for dessert.

On my visit, I wasn’t sure what to get. Luckily, a fellow Hoosier working behind the counter was well versed in the best stuff at Blackstone Cafe and gave me her top picks. Based on her recommendations, I decided to check out one of their panini sandwiches with a side of cole slaw.

I went for the chicken panini, which was a hot-pressed sandwich with grilled chicken, swiss cheese, roasted red peppers and a pesto mayo. Absolute taste sensation. With so many sandwiches, salads and a variety of soups that change daily, I’ll definitely have to stop by again.

Blackstone is open daily from 11-7 for lunch and an early dinner.

Technorati Tags: Smyrna Vinings Restaurants, Blackstone, Blackstone Cafe

In our attempt to provide you with the latest information on the Smyrna Vinings area, we just wanted to give you an update on the latest on Santa and his progress on Christmas Eve.

We wanted to pass along this great service. So if you want to keep up to date on Santa’s progress, click here for the Santa Tracker.

Happy Holidays from the team here at Smyrna Vinings.com

The Atlanta Regional Commission and the Livable Communities Coalition recently selected West Village, a 60-acre mixed use community, the region’s Development of Excellence for 2007. West Village is developed by the Pacific Group and includes single-family homes and townhomes by Monte Hewett Homes as well as flats by Ashton Woods. West Village won because it exemplifies the policies and practices of ARC’s Regional Development Plan.

“We worked with the Atlanta Regional Commission during our planning process to make sure West Village would become the kind of community that would make metro Atlanta a better place to live,” said Woody Snell, President of the Pacific Group. “West Village has brought the Smyrna community together with a variety of places to shop, eat and live. We offer something for everyone in a classic neighborhood environment.”

“Our company is proud to partner with the Pacific Group in this one of a kind project,” said Monte Hewett, President of Monte Hewett Homes. “A village style neighborhood, where our homeowners can own beautiful homes within walking distance of their own downtown, creates an opportunity for the Smyrna community to grow and for our homeowners to enjoy a lifestyle that’s not available in many parts of the city.”

To reach the restaurants and retail of West Village, residents can stroll down brick paver sidewalks into a “downtown village.” When complete, the village will offer several restaurants, quaint boutiques, a neighborhood grocery and larger shops to attract community residents and visitors alike. The community’s residential component will include the 115 townhomes and 70 single-family homes by Monte Hewett Homes as well as apartments and condos. In all the community will boast some 1,100 residential and retail units.

Technorati Tags: West Village, Town Park at West Village, Gateway Park at West Village, West Village homes, West Village townhomes, West Village flats, Smyrna real estate, Vinings real estate

Recent article from the Marietta Daily Journal that may be of interest.

SMYRNA - The city of Smyrna is making progress on redevelopment projects like Jonquil Village, but not without many of the roadblocks being experienced across metro-Atlanta, including a slowdown in residential building, city officials say.

At a Wednesday breakfast sponsored by the Council for Quality Growth, Mayor Max Bacon; City Administrator Wayne Wright; Community Development Director Ken Suddreth; and Economic Development Manager Alan Durham gave a briefing on issues relating to growth and development in Smyrna.

Wright explained tax-allocation districts and why they are important to Smyrna’s redevelopment.

“They are a way to generate high-quality development in a location the market will not do it,” he said. “It serves as a catalyst to redevelopment.”

With a TAD project, Wright said, the government finances the building of private infrastructure and is repaid in taxes the project generates. The right TAD project, he said, can transform “blighted shopping centers that have outlived their day.”

The city says Jonquil Village, at the corner of Atlanta and Spring Roads, is one such project. The city, county and school board have agreed to a $26.2 million TAD subsidy for the 14-acre, mixed-use project. Approval from all three entities is required for all TAD projects.

The mixed-use project is to include a Publix grocery store, office space, an underground parking deck, and more than 300 condominiums. Tampa-based A. G. Armstrong Development is the developer.

Durham said the property is valued at $16 million. After redevelopment, it could be worth $190 million, city leaders say.

The condominium part of the project, though, may need extra help.

The real-estate slowdown, Durham said, is making banks hesitant to make loans for condominiums. Smyrna officials may allow the condominiums to be built in phases, or may allow the condos to be leased for a few years. The city currently has a moratorium on building apartments.

“Our council has realized we’re in a slowdown,” Bacon said. “We’re trying to work with developers in the city.”

In October, Suddreth said, residential-building permits brought the city $667,000. A year earlier, that figure was $6.5 million. Permits for commercial buildings brought in $950,000 in October. Those totaled $4 million in October 2006.

“Smyrna’s not immune from the housing market,” he said. A second TAD project being considered is Belmont Hills, a mixed-use plan for the corner of Atlanta and Windy Hill Roads.

Durham said the shopping center was known as the largest retail center in the Southeast when it opened in 1953. Now, he said, it’s a “horrible underutilization of land.”

The 50-acre site is zoned for general commercial use. Details on how many housing units would be built and how much of a TAD subsidy would be needed are still being worked out, leaders said.

But they’re optimistic.

“Jonquil Village will have an impact up and down Spring Road,” Wright said. “And Belmont Hills will transform the northern end of Smyrna … we’re extremely bullish on Smyrna’s future.”

By Ashley Hungerford
Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer

Click here to see the article in its entirety.

Technorati Tags: Jonquil Plaza, Jonquil Village, TAD Financing, Smyrna Real Estate

Nike Reuse-A-Shoe

Keep Smyrna Beautiful and Niketown Atlanta are working together to collect shoes for Niketown Atlanta’s latest Reuse-A-Shoe project to rebuild New Orleans playgrounds. They are trying to collect as many shoes as possible to help with this project.

Every year, millions of pairs of athletic shoes are thrown away, clogging landfills and wasting a lot of good material. So Nike has created a solution to allow you to recycle your old shoes! Reuse-A-Shoe, part of their Let Me Play campaign, is one of Nike’s longest-running environmental and community programs, where worn-out athletic shoes of any brand are collected, processed and recycled into material used in sports surfaces like basketball courts, tennis courts, athletic fields, running tracks and playgrounds for young people around the world.

You may take your old athletic shoes to the Smyrna Recycling Center at 645 Smyrna Hill Drive during working hours from now until February 17th. They will also be collecting shoes at the “Bring One for the Chipper” at the Vinings Home Depot on January 26th. If you have any questions, call 770-431-2863.

Thinking about buying a Smyrna home or perhaps a Vinings condominium? Then you’ll be excited about this.

SmyrnaVinings.com announces the launch of this unique and exciting program for new homebuyers in the Smyrna Vinings community. We have partnered with local Smyrna Vinings businesses to provide you with the Ultimate Welcoming Gift.

Smyrna Vinings business owners really love this community and want to make it an even better community. Each business has contributed their goods and services to this program as a way of welcoming you to the community. We want you to feel welcome in our community and want to give you an incentive to get out and try the local businesses.

This program applies to not only Smyrna Vinings homes, condos and townhomes for resale but also new homes. Upon closing, you will receive the Ultimate Welcoming Gift, which includes over $3,000 in gift cards to local businesses when you purchase a home in the Smyrna Vinings area. Certain restrictions due apply, so click here to learn more about this exciting Smyrna Vinings homebuyer program.

This program begins December 1, 2007 and quantities are limited. So don’t delay. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Technorati Tags: Smyrna Vinings Homebuyer Program, Smyrna Vinings Ultimate Welcoming Gift, Smyrna Homes, Smyrna Condos, Vinings Homes, Vinings Condos

The Aberdeen is next up on our tour of Vinings developments. Unlike Vinings Main and Avignon at Vinings, The Aberdeen has no homes or townhomes. But it will certainly have some amazing views. You see, The Aberdeen is a high-rise condominium that will tower over the other two developments and have wonderful views of the Atlanta skyline.

The location of the Aberdeen offers the ability to walk to the historic Vinings Village district, while also having convenient access to the interstate. There will be a total of 56 units, including 2 and 3 bedroom units and fourteen penthouse homes. Originally, the 12-story Vinings luxury condominium was to have 66 units and only seven penthouses, but demand for penthouses and larger units have resulted in the changes.

The Aberdeen will offer luxurious finishes and fabulous views of the Atlanta skyline. The development’s ground-breaking was on May 10, 2007, with completion set for mid- 2009. Amenities in the Aberdeen in the Vinings will include a pool and jacuzzi, clubroom, putting green, bocce court, fitness room, wine cellar, 24-hour security and concierge services and a gated entrance.

The Aberdeen condos for sale will range from $750,000 to over $2 million. And with the luxury high-condo One Vinings Mountain quickly selling, there is definitely a demand for this type of property in the Vinings Village.

If you have any further questions about the The Aberdeen project or any other Smyrna Vinings developments, feel free to contact us. Should you want to purchase real estate in the Smyrna Vinings community, we would be glad to assist you.

Technorati Tags: The Aberdeen, Smyrna Vinings, Vinings condominiums, Vinings townhomes, Vinings new construction, Historic Vinings, Smyrna Vinings Neighborhoods