While on assignment recently at the Woodruff Arts Center, Dish decided to pop into Table 1280 to observe the latest incarnation of the arts eatery.
Table 1280 is now being operated by Tony Conway‘s Legendary Partners of Atlanta. Among the first items on Conway’s To Do list this past summer? Entice popular Atlanta chef Gary Mennie away from the kitchen at Livingston inside the recently renovated gorgeous Georgian Terrace across from the Fox Theatre.
One carry-over chore from his previous gig? Mennie has created a pre-fixe theater-friendly three-course menu option for arts patrons looking to dine on the run before an 8 o’clock curtain. But by the looks of it, he hasn’t sacrificed creativity or quality in the name of speed.
Among the offerings on the $25 “Getting to the Show on Time” three-course menu on the night we were there: A 1st Course of either pickled Georgia shrimp with cucumbers, radish and pumpkin seed dressing or roasted African squash soup with peekytoe crab and pumpkin seed brittle. A 2nd Course featuring roasted Georgia trout, fennel crusted prime rib or coffee braised short ribs. Diners also get to choose from a selection of desserts for the very economical price point.
You also can’t go wrong doing what Dish did: Sit at the bar, chat up the knowledgeable bartender, order a cocktail and cherry pick menu items to split with a friend.
Along with a fellow theatre-minded foodie, we were unable to resist Mennie’s tantalizing house made Tater Tots in a homemade Thousand Island dressing dipping sauce. Technically, these pillows of fried potato bliss are shaped more like miniature Hostess Twinkies.
Keeping with the fun retro tone, we followed up with a butter Bibb lettuce salad with smoked bacon, Asher blue cheese and housemade Green Goddess dressing.
Table 1280 also had no problem with allowing us to split an entree of Springer Mountain chicken resting atop crispy potato gnocchi, fresh shelled peas and pancetta.
For Atlanta diners who have followed Mennie’s work through the years at Taurus and earlier still at Canoe, Table 1280 offers an opportunity to experience the chef’s creative hand once again at work in another high profile environment. We vowed to return soon to Table 1280. Even when we aren’t racing to catch an 8 p.m. performance at the Woodruff Arts Center.
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