RIVERMILL CAFÉ
RiverMill Event Centre, 3715 First Ave., 706-653-9398
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday Atmosphere: Quiet, with a stunning view of the Chattahoochee River.
Beverages: Soft drinks, bottled water, iced tea, coffee
Starters: Chef Jamie Keating calls the appetizers "small plates." They include fried green tomatoes with pickled red onions, pimento coulis and buttermilk dressing ($3.75); pan-seared crab cake over baby greens with remoulade and ancho chili sauces ($5.75); Soups include tomato gazpacho with grilled garden vegetables and warm tortillas ($5.75), New England clam chowder topped with grilled salmon ($5.25).
Main dishes: Portobello mushroom and grilled vegetable melt ($6.75); Grilled or fried tilapia sandwich with lemon caper remoulade ($8.75). There are salads like the shrimp-filled avocado with grilled vegetable gazpacho ($8.95) and the trio salad of tuna, chicken and egg salads with cucumbers and tomatoes ($8.95). Try the hot plates like the BBQ salmon on spinach with black-eyed pea ragout ($9.50), vegetarian lasagna filled with broccoli, sundried tomatoes and garden vegetables ($8.50) or the grilled chicken and vegetable penne pasta sautéed with basil pesto and garlic ($9.25).
Side items: Choice of house fries, sweet potato fries and baked potato salad or fresh fruit with all of the sandwiches. If you want extra, it's $1.25 each.
Specialty diets: The chef can accommodate vegetarians and even vegans. Just make sure you ask the server what's available that day.
What to wear: It's a little dressier than a fast-food restaurant, but we've seen people who have come from playing golf or tennis.
Who to take: Anyone who wants a little more luxurious lunch than usual.
Of note: The fried green tomatoes and the crab cakes. They are very good.
The bottom line: It's a little pricier than most places for lunch, but the quality is there.
Desserts: You've gotta try the fried strawberries ($3.95). Fresh strawberries are dipped in a donut-like dough, deep-fried, rolled in cinnamon sugar and plated with vanilla cream, chocolate and raspberry sauces. If you want the Warm Chocolate Torte ($4.50), make sure you put in the order when you decide what to have for lunch. It takes a full 20 minutes to prepare this one. It's served with whipped cream, powdered sugar and fresh berries.
Crowds and waiting: Word of mouth has people coming to the RiverMill Café. The wait isn't long and there's plenty of room.
This story was originally published June 17, 2008 at 10:20 AM with the headline "RIVERMILL CAFÉ."