Floataway Cafe
Atlanta, GA 30306
Phone: (404) 892-1414
- Price:
- $$$
- Hours:
- Tue-Sat 6pm-10pm
Editorial Review for Floataway Cafe – by Michael Longshore
The Scene
Located in the far reaches of an industrial compound, this elegant modern cafe is no average rust-belt rehab. Cinder blocks and garage doors give way to animal-print fabrics, jute matting and blown-up photographs of vegetables. A long row of banquettes and a sleek, narrow bar face a series of intimate side rooms concealed by faintly stirring gossamer curtains.
The Food
Pedigreed local peas, briny-sweet Malpeque oysters, summer truffles from Oregon--Floataway is a hip culinarians dream come true; the menu moves gracefully between Italy, France and California. A fritto misto of delicately fried squid, red onions and preserved lemon is fragrant with aioli. A perfectly grilled Niman Farms strip steak arrives in a red wine-shallot butter sauce next to a heap of golden homemade French fries. Bouillabaisse is full of fresh red snapper, saffron orange and bold hints of rouille. For dessert, rich chocolate cake with chantilly cream is pure childhood fantasy.
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Insider Tips
Know Before You GoWhether you're coming from Emory or the Highlands look for the Briarcliff Animal Clinic: That's the start of Zonolite Road. Stay on the road by the railroad track to reach Floataway.
User Reviews for Floataway Cafe
08/16/2008 Posted by waemo
The first time I went several years ago I found it quirky. Now, years later, after many repeat visits, the quirks are comforting because it's like I'm in on a secret: this is one of Atlanta's finest. Far from trendy and focused on food, this place does not disappoint. Everything is fresh and quite often comes from the owners' farm. I can understand how a first-timer to Floataway might be put off; you have to ask what several things on the menu are, the waitstaff can seem more like NPR hosts vs hot servers, and things can be pricy. But I recommend giving it a try and having an open mind. The renovations to the place are a plus, and the new cocktail menus are interesting and delicious (lemonciello collins, for example). It's quiet, romantic, and a bargain for the fresh farm-to-table food (it's a more relaxed Bacchanalia). If you're looking for a scene, head to Rathbun's. For a high quality and memorable meal, this is one of the best in town.
Pros: Excellent, farm-to-table food; romantic scene
Cons: Uncomfortable chairs
04/05/2008 Posted by navinrjohnson
Mediocre best describes the experience at this restaurant. The setting is smart and interior is fresh and comfortable, but everything else is barely acceptable, especially the prices. On a Friday evening, we were promptly seated at a decent table near the windows (highly recommended as all the other tables are out in the open). Even though we weren't seated right along the windows, the room was cold (literally) and it was quickly apparent that the waitstaff was indifferent and even seemed inexperienced. To give you a sense of the prices at Floataway, the only starters under $10 were a plate of olives or an oyster. Nonetheless, we tried a salad w/artichokes which was good (albeit $12) and chicken livers ($10). My wife liked the chicken livers, but I distained them (AJC and CL make you believe anyone would love them; far from the case with me - if you don't like chicken livers, you won't like these). We were able to find a good bottle of wine for $28, which was very surprising. One of our entrees was the margarita pizza, which was nothing special. You can get a pizza equally good or better from Osteria on Highland for under $10 (this one was $15). The other entree was the hangar steak w/french fries, which was good but not excellent. We picked the rhubarb crisp as dessert ($8), which was not crisp and just seemed like a mess of rhubarb with a dollop of ice cream on top. Bottom line, this is an expensive restaurant that is not worth the price of entry, especially considering the mediocre food, service and atmosphere. There are FAR better choices in Atlanta -- places with much better food and a more interesting scene; Sotto Sotto, Ecco, Rathbun's, Trois, Two Urban Licks and Kevin Rathbun's Steakhouse come to mind.
