JCT Kitchen - Atlanta, GA
Sundays are usually reserved for special feasts. There's brunch, that lovely in between breakfast and lunch meal that can meet almost anyone's appetite. It's a time when I can have eggs benedict and The Prof can have a burger. The one Sunday meal I overlook is supper. Depending on where you grew up you might say supper or dinner. However, thanks to the Sunday Supper JCT Kitchen I know what supper is and I won't overlook this meal again.
I was excited about trying Sunday Supper at JCT. It was on my never ending bucket list on my phone so the origin of it escapes me. But, like with all great foodie finds, how it ended up on my list is rarely important. It's that Evil Bee Slayer and I made reservations and had a fabulous meal that we've been talking about since. She also can't wait to take more out of town guests try it.
The starters are the same for the entire table. Warm biscuits with a seasonal jam is brought to your table along with deviled eggs. What a great way to start off what would be a great meal! The biscuit was warm, flakey and fluffy. Everything a biscuit should be. The seasonal jam was delicious. I can't remember if it was blueberry or blackberry - it could have been both. It had a sweet flavor that had a balanced berry flavor. I'm usually not a fan of either blue or black berries, same goes for my friend, so we were both pleasantly surprised. The deviled eggs were my favorite. It had a smooth texture and flavor with a drizzle of oil and fresh chives. I could have had more, but knew I there was more to come.
For next course you get to choose your meat. However, you'll likely end up sharing a bite here and there so everyone can get a taste. I was feeling adventurous and ordered the oxtail and gravy. Evil Bee Slayer got the Fried Chicken, both dishes apparently quite popular. I can see why. The oxtail was fork tender, more so than I expected. It had a rich meaty flavor that went well with cheddar grits underneath. My friend LOVED the fried chicken. It was perfectly crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The drizzle of honey boosted the flavor and was balanced by these pickled veggies. I would order both of these dishes again.
Sometimes when you have a meal it's all about the sides. Sunday Supper wasn't quite just a side show, but the sides were pretty spectacular and could have stolen the show. You can order three for the whole table and there are currently seven to choose from. It was fairly easy to narrow it down between the two of us.
The mac and cheese. Period. One of the best mac and cheese I have ever had. Period. I could have eaten all this and just this for days and days. It was creamy and cheesy. The pasta was al dente and the fresh chives added some brightness. I could have also eaten the mashed potatoes for days and days if I'm being honest. It was silky smooth and creamy. The gravy was light and refreshing - for a gravy that's not really was comes to mind. But it really did balance every bite I took of this side. I loved it. The squash was simple and delicious. They were crisp tender with a good bite to then. It was a good veggie option to balance out the other two. Overall, the sides were fantastic.
As if the meal couldn't get better, it did exactly that. Dessert. I will say that Evil Bee Slayer is the first to admit that certain foods aren't exactly her cup of tea. But again, she was being adventurous and pushing past her comfort zone. We're both glad she did because this was quite a delicious treat. It was a lemon ricotta cake with a glaze using the same berries that came with our biscuit. It was balanced between the tart lemon and the sweet ricotta cheese. You could taste both flavors without one taking over the other. The berry glaze was added a touch of sweetness and the shaved almonds added a nice crunchy texture. All of it was fantastic.
JCT Kitchen is big on using local and seasonal and the berries is just one example of using the same ingredient throughout your meal. Sunday Supper was truly a delight and an epicurean adventure that will go down in Good Nom history as one of the best meals all around. The food was fabulous from beginning and we had excellent service on top of all that. Our waiter was so attentive and friendly and answered all of the many questions we threw at him. We loved him almost as much as we loved the food. You have to find your way to JCT for Sunday Supper. Make reservations or get there early and be prepared to walk away with a full and happy belly.