Besha Rodell Awards Stir It Up Two Stars

Besha Rodell, Dining editor and restaurant critic at Creative Loafing, reviewed the family-run Jamaican restaurant, Stir It Up, in Little Five Points, this week and was pleasantly surprised. Says Rodell:

Stir It Up bucks numerous trends, its location being one. But I also wasn’t expecting such a suave, comfortable room when I first walked through the doors, and certainly not the chandelier and grey velvet-clad alcove that makes up the main dining room. I wasn’t expecting the gracious, friendly service. And I definitely wasn’t expecting food this good. Run by husband-and-wife team Christopher and Vivian Williams (he is the chef, she provides the service), Stir It Up serves Jamaican food prepared in a way that’s rarely seen outside of Jamaica. That is to say, unless you have a Jamaican grandmother who refuses to cut corners and makes everything from scratch. And since most of us don’t, the majority of the Jamaican food we’ve had has come from steam tables, prepared with sauces and seasonings from a jar.

John Kessler, of The Atlanta Journal Constitution, posted a write-up of 5 Napkin Burger this week. The restaurant is not up for review, according to the title of the post. Perhaps it was just too bad to warrant return visits? Kessler is obviously unimpressed as he asks: "I’d love to hear from anyone who really likes this restaurant to explain why."

THE ELSEWHERE: Cliff Bostock, of Creative Loafing, takes a "First Look" at Richard Blais' HD1. Brad Kaplan does a "Cheap Eats" on Morelli's. Gene Lee, of The Atlanta Journal Constitution, explores Sushi Huku and learned a bit more about the long-standing restaurant's oshizushi (pressed sushi).

THE BLOGS: Fried Chicken Lips blogged up a storm the past week. The less than delicate author hit up Maki Fresh, Sapori di Napoli, and Tsunami Taqueria. Eat It, Atlanta did lunch at The One Eared Stag.