BeetleCat Awards

BeetleCat Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: BeetleCat in Inman Park is named for a 12-foot wooden gaff-rigged sailboat made since 1920 in New England by the Beetle family. This two-level restaurant fields a sea-themed décor using rope-equipped light fixtures to create a nautical atmosphere. The quieter dining room is upstairs, while the downstairs bar/lounge can become vibe-dense when full.

Food & Drinks: Executive chef Andrew Isabella’s mostly small plates menu is designed for sharing. Oysters arrive daily from both coasts (but mostly the East coast). While it's easy to spend a good bit of money on them, they’re of pristine freshness and many show appealing salinity and minerality. Happy hour during the week (4 p.m.-10 p.m. Monday, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday) offers special prices on selected varieties. Try the ones from White Stone Oyster Company (Virginia), but don't bother with any adornments as even lemon interferes with their flavor. We enjoyed the head-off crisply fried smelts, but watch out for the unexpected wicked hot pepper. Corporate executive pastry chef Chrysta Poulos produces desserts. Coconut pie labored under a whipped cream cloud, but dig down under it for intense and satisfying coconut taste. Wines by the glass and the bottle include some good values, such as the Coppo Gavi "La Rocca" at $9 for a generous pour. At brunch, specialty savory donuts with unusual combinations star, although other choices are available.