Southern Influence recently held a couple of model calls at Sophia’s, a Marietta restaurant about a mile or so from the Square on Whitlock. I was inspired to return when I saw the Chicken Marsala plate that one of our guests had ordered and subsequently devoured.

On arrival, the first thing you will notice is the external color choice. The umbrellas and the awning are a light purple. I find it interesting that we definitely relate colors to restaurant types. Don’t let the purple fool you. This is Seafood, Steak and Chicken. I know. You expect color choices of the maroon or dark browns. Get over it.

The restaurant, like many others, is split three ways. An outdoor patio, a large dining room, and, in a completely separate room, a bona fide piano bar. There are the obligatory pair of television screens in the bar, but make no mistake, that room is made for socializing.

We started out with the Fried Calamari appetizer. This was served with a ginger/soy sauce and a cocktail sauce. The calamari, lightly battered and fried, was served with wasabi mayo, which was very good. Beth, my daughter, preferred the cocktail sauce.

The most popular lunch options are the $7 combos – soup and salad, soup and sandwich, sandwich and salad. The club sandwich was excellent. I am not a big mushroom soup guy, but this one was good. I especially liked the flaky pastry top.

We opened the dinner entrees with the Pecan Encrusted Chicken, also lightly battered. The chicken was very good, slightly sweet and not greasy. This is served with really good sweet potatoes, a very good cherry sauce and greens that are not overloaded with salt, like most places serve them. We really enjoyed this dish!

Next up was Chicken Carbonara, which was Beth’s favorite dish of the day. The sauce did not overwhelm the dish, and had a good balance, laced with english peas that popped and had a nice tomatoey zing.

Third plate to the table was the Grilled Salmon Oscar, a decent sized, moist, salmon steak, topped with crab meat and a healthy portion of bearnaise sauce. Add the asparagus spears, and this is a very good meal. I was very impressed with the texture, moistness and taste of the salmon.

Our server, Cheryl, convinced us to try Sophia’s Pasta Primevera as well, which is her favorite dish. I liked it too. I am partial to a good primavera, and this one was good. Angel hair pasta topped with a light cream sauce after being tossed with peppers, onions, mushrooms and topped with squash. Filling but not too heavy for a summer meal.

Sophia’s offers a variety of desserts. May I recommend the Chocolate Bundt Cake. We were nearly too full to eat this delicious finish, but we made it happen…

Check out Sophia’s on the web at http://sophiasbarandgrill.com/ if you like, and definitely check them out in person at 990 Whitlock Ave in Marietta.

by John Bickford

Recently, I stopped by Big Shanty Smokehouse on Cherokee Street in Kennesaw, hoping to do a restaurant review. It was 1:00 and the parking lot was full, but for the space I found. I tried to wait until the parking lot emptied to do this review. That never happened, so at 1:30 I went in anyway.

The smell from the smoker outside was getting to me. That fragrant “oh how I love the grill” smell was providing all the push I needed to go ahead in spite of what may be a crowded dining room. So, stomach growling and culinary anxiety growing, in I went.

Chic Dillard, equipped with his family and a very good BBQ resume, has been creating smokey goodness in Kennesaw for a few years now. The restaurant is a small house that has been recreated to hold two small dining rooms, a sun room, a prep area and a kitchen. Naturally, patrons who sit in the dining room feel right at home.

Let me cut to the chase.

Big Shanty has held the honor of being voted, on at least one site, “Best BBQ in Atlanta”. Nothing I tasted that day would deny that.

First up was a sampling of the Salmon Dip and Pimento and Cheese dips. The Salmon Dip is served with saltines and cukes. This tasty dip is great for a hot day when you crave seafood! The Pimento and Cheese was extremely flavorful. It was heavy enough, with a great, not too creamy texture, to be a meal by itself, and light enough for summer.

The Bleu Cheese Wedge salad was really good, and that is saying a lot, because I am NOT a fan of Bleu Cheese. Chic makes his own Bleu Cheese dressing, adding in tomatoes and a good portion of thick smoked bacon chunks to give the salad a balancing saltiness. I liked it. It was very sharp and tasty, salty and crisp!

As for the entrees, here are my recommendations and why:

Rib Tips: the large ribs  are hand-trimmed and smoked, so you get the juicy, tender goodness.

Smoked Wings: The chicken wings are served covered with a thick sweet sauce. Really good.

Smoked Sausage: This one will fool you. The first bite is sweet, but the follow-through is hot!

Surprise winner of the day – Turkey Rib. This is not on the menu, but available to those who know they should ask for it. A local favorite, the “rib” is actually the clavicle of the bird. Smoked and tender, there is a surprising amount of meat on the bone (which falls right off, btw). Get some of Chic’s nice, peppery sauce to dip it in. Thank me later.

Big Shanty has the traditional favorites as well. The pulled pork and the chopped pork, along with pork belly (twice smoked,soft and juicy), a very good brisket, and of course, the dry rubbed ribs. This rub was really good. Sweet with a kick. Combined with those ribs, well, I couldn’t get enough!

You HAVE to try the Turkey Rib!

On the side, try the Hoppin’ John, a rice, peas and peppers based dish that is sure to satisfy. Another option is the baked beans (three bean combination with a decent kick). Best side – the Chic Dillard Brunswick Stew. This stew has good chunks of meat and a sinus-clearing bite!

You can’t leave yet.

Flip a coin.

Berry Cobbler? ‘Nana Pudding? The Berry Cobbler is a sweet blend of blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries that is surprisingly NOT overflowing with seeds, and full of flavor. It isn’t dry, and not mush. Just right.

Winner – Banana Pudding. Most places I go, the banana pudding is not fresh. This place sells enough that it HAS to be fresh by default. When was the last time you had banana pudding and the vanilla wafer CRUNCHED? It will at Big Shanty.

So. Put a little gas in your car and come to Kennesaw. But if you come at 12 noon, be prepared to meet a BUNCH of locals.

Big Shanty Smokehouse can be found at 3393 Cherokee St Kennesaw, GA 30144

Call them: 770-499-PIGG (7444)

Visit their website here