Landmark Diner

     Since we are leaving for NYC for a few days.........Brian has a business trip there and all his expenses will be paid, I can tag along with only a cost of a flight and meals.  Of course, being let loose in Manhattan by myself for 3 days will surely add some increased and  unnecessary balance to my credit card.  Oh well, I can justify this by telling myself that we're not putting out the normal $250 - $300 a night for a hotel room in Manhattan.
     Back to my thought.......we decided not to cook at home but instead try the Landmark diner in Buckhead.  I've driven by it almost everyday since we've moved here and I always tell myself " I need to stop in and try this place."
     The place is somewhat retro in design and spotless.  The whole interior just shines and looks immaculate.  This wasn't going to be your typical greasy spoon.
     The menu is extensive and filled with your normal comfort foods plus alot of Greek influenced items, pastas and seafood.  We noticed that the staff seemed to be predominantly Greek.  All the entrees are served with a choice of house, cesar or greek salads and a basket of nice soft and warm bread with softened butter.
     Brian ordered the seared sea scallops and I ordered a good old southern favorite ( but not the healthiest ) country fried steak smothered in a white gravy served with mashed potatoes and brown gravy and a side of green beans and carrot mix.  The steak was nice and tender and spiced just right but the chef was a bit heavy handed with the gravy.  No problem.....I just moved aside what I didn't want to eat.  The green beans tasted canned as well as the brown gravy.  Actually the brown gravy reminded me of those powdered gravy packets that you can whip up with just a pot of boiing water.  I made a mental note to pass on brown gravy items in the future.
     Brian's dinner was loaded with scallops.  All perfectly seared and served with tartar and cocktail sauce, a huge baked potato and the same disappointing green bean and carrot mixture.  There was a nice half of a lemon on the plate.  A nice touch, as most restaurants serve just a wedge of lemon which is never near enough (for me anyway) to evenly coat all my pieces of seafood.
     We began our meal with each of us getting a greek salad.  This was excellent.  It was massive as well.  A nice blend of chopped romaine, iceberg, fresh tomatoes, cucumber, whole kalamata olives (right on!) and red onion.  The dressing was the typical lemon and olive oil blend.......light and citrusy with a hint of sweetness.......very nice.
      I also ordered a crock of french onion soup.  The oniony beefy broth was ladeled onto cubes of toast squares and topped with a thick layer of mozzarella cheese that was melted and browned under a broiler.  I love that combination of ooey- gooey melted browned cheese and broth.......yummy!
    Needless to say we left feeling stuffed like a Christmas pig but very satisfied.  As we were leaving, we passed by a pastry counter where all their homemade desserts are displayed.  It was very tempting but we declined and made a promise to save room for dessert next time.  There was an interesting little morsel (which I forget the name) but it was described as a fried dough that's been soaked in a citrus honey syrup.  It looked very different and unique and kept calling out to me resembling decorative orange colored packing peanuts.  I wish now that I had brought a few home to sample.  I can't wait to go back.