Two Stars for Ba Bellies, a Chip Off the Old Block

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Wyatt Williams reviews Ba Bellies, the recently opened Asian gastropub from the family behind Nam Phuong . Williams awards the Peachtree Corners restaurant two out of four stars and says David and Tina Nguyen are doing their mother proud:

Brother-sister team David and Tina Nguyen are the children of Tieng Nguyen, the owner and chef of Nam Phuong, a long-running string of Vietnamese restaurants that stretches from Philadelphia down to two locations in Atlanta. ... There is a youthful attitude in this menu, from silly entree names like Notorious P.I.G. to a beer list that would make any local craft brew geek happy. Most of all, there is that youthful disregard for the old boundaries. This is neither a Vietnamese restaurant nor an Asian fusion bistro nor a Southern gastropub, though it freely borrows from all of those styles. It reads like a few kids who grew up in the restaurant industry decided to cook whatever makes them happy. ... On the whole, Ba Bellies is a place that delivers the youthful pleasure that the menu promises.

THE ELSEWHERE AND THE BLOGS: The AJC’s Elizabeth Lenhard says Thai Star in Norcross is Atlanta’s best bet for authentic Thai cuisine. Creative Loafing’s Angela Hansberger finds food that’s a step up from typical bowling alley fare at The Comet Pub & Lanes. Friday Date Night isn’t wowed by the pizzas or noise levels at Roswell’s Pizzeria Lucca. Atlanta Food Critic says Henry’s Louisiana Grill in Acworth is worth the drive for ITPers. Burgers, Barbecue & Everything Else likes the Sublime Doughnut burger at Cypress Street Pint & Plate.

• All Week in Reviews [EATL]