The Cafe at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead

Excellent place and experience. My wife and I came here 3 times over the weekend and really enjoyed it.
Our first visit was in the evening for dessert. The desserts were unimpressive. The service was angelic.
The next two times were for breakfast. They have an excellent variety of breads/​pastries, jams/​spreads/​preserves as well as cold cuts. The smoked salmon and accompaniments are fabulous. If u ask for them, there are shell eggs at the omelet bar (instead of liquid eggs).
The variety of cheeses they have today is absolutely delightful (10)! I was pleasantly shocked to find my current favorite cheese there.
And the service is everything Ritz-​Carlton is known for. Impeccable, top notch, detailed, etc. Looking forward to returning!

Sunday Brunch– $ 75 pp. We should not have to write a 3 star for a 5 star hotel.
Pros:
Service was good
Omelette station
Variety of different foods, eggs, Benedict, salads, fruit, bread station, sliced roast, shrimp, crab, sushi, dessert station, mimosa station ($ 15 extra).
Cons:
Price to quality, there was not one item on the food station line that justified a $ 75 per person price; value for money = poor.
Floor under our table was not clean
Old venue, needs a major refresh
We went there to celebrate birthdays. They did not ask us when we were seated if we were celebrating anything special.
Our expectations did not meet reality considering we were told this was the best ATL venue for amazing brunch. Maybe the other Ritz is better.
Not sure we would go back unless the price value was more inline. A reasonable price would be $ 35 – 45 per person for the current food offering.
To charge $ 75 per person and extra $ 15 pp for mimosa station, you need to step up your game and provide something spectacular Ritz brands. An experience people will rave about. Unfortunately, current status doesn’t justify it.
Best luck for improvement.

Pretty good, great service and of course the surroundings are impeccable! The food is okay. Nothing to scream about. They offer items you may not find at your average Ruby Tuesday, but the flavor is not much different than that. If you want to feel fancy every now and then, absolutely come here BUT only do he $ 20 – 3 course-​lunch. That’ll make it worth it! Oh and they validate your valet parking– even fancier!

We go here for Sunday brunch to celebrate sometimes.
Service was perfect as always, and the décor inside remains attractive even though that ugly building needs to be demolished and replaced with something not from the dark ages of the 1960/​70s. I asked to be re-​seated to a window table, and I was moved that very minute. My fresh-​pressed orange juice and coffee never ran half-​empty, nor my water. Every single employee, from lobby to restroom, was smiling, helpful, and gracious.
We tasted pretty much every food item at the buffet, and left extremely full and thankful for the complimentary valet parking (tip them regardless). We found that the food tended to be hit and miss in that while nothing was ever particularly bad, few items justified the $ 75 per person price.
For example, the salmon & mussels were delicious and incredibly fresh. On the other hand, the strawberries, despite the fact that they are in season (especially locally), were tasteless. Again, the crab was a too dry, but the scallops were perfect. Desserts were a high point– every dessert rocked the senses, and each pastry proved delectable. The croissant was the best I’ve had since Paris (at a local bakery down the road from me). Clearly the reviewers holding the pastry chef here in high esteem are onto something!
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I wasn’t blown away by brunch at the Ritz this time. For $ 75 a head, and in order to maintain the title of Atlanta’s première Sunday Brunch, the vast majority of foods on display need to blow the patrons away. Not one third of them. Not one half. And, just an afterthought– pianist needs to show up when brunch starts, instead of well into an hour after. But other than these complaints, which only stem from spending $ 200 on breakfast for two, I can say that the Ritz still provides a classy venue and first class service for brunch. But if you want cutting-​edge culinary successes, you might want to look elsewhere. This brunch cornerstone seems to be eroding.

Splendid restaurant with great atmosphere and service. My wife and I had a great dinner there with our two small children. They first had a lone pianist paying modern music and he was great. Then, they had a four piece band that added to the atmosphere.
The bread basket was huge with soft brioches and tasty french bread. A great beginning.
Our waitress was knowledgeable and friendly. With smalll kids, you are at times shunned at fancy restaurants, but not here. To start, we ordered hummus, pita, and almond appetizer, beet salad, and truffle fries. This was a great start. We all loved the fries and the hummus appetizer. Both were huge and favorable. The beet salad had spicy nuts and properly seasoned arugula. The beets were fresh and tasty. This would have been enough food for four adults, who would have left happy.
We then ordered scallops with yuca. The scallops were cooled to perfection, lightly toasted and fresh anf fluffy inside. We also ordered the saffron risotto, with grilled calamari. This was also delicious.
We were so full that we didn’t get to dessert. Next time. Great place for small our large groups.

The pastry chef needs a Nobel Prize! Just taste his/​her creations at Sunday brunch and you’ll know what I mean. Service is impeccable.

OVER PRICED HOTEL FOOD!!!
$ 65 for two people to eat eggs, bacon, toast and sausage… oh and we did get coffee and juice… NEVER AGAIN.

I have been here a handful of times and tonight was by far the best experience I’ve ever had. I would like to recognize Ivan our server/​server assistant. He made this dining experience the best I’ve ever had. He was so attentive but not intrusive. He was able to anticipate our every need. My pregnant friend starting tearing up and the table and he immediately brought her tissues but didn’t embarrass her about it. He then gave us roses at the end of the meal. Incredible! The food was wonderful as always.

I thought the service was superb and the buffet selection was great! HOWEVER, we felt a bit manipulated that the price of the buffet at the hostess stand said $ 31 dollars and we received a bill for $ 75! We returned to the hostess stand to re-​read the menu to see if we read it correctly and no where was a $ 75 buffet/​brunch mentioned. We had to rush off to the airport to catch our flight, so I called the general manager to explain my concern and I have yet to receive a call back. Very surprised by this franchise.

The Café is great. I prefer to eat here than many restaurants. The menu selection is simple but the results are excellent. Various sushi and sashimi items, a dinner menu of what I would call American fare and then some appetizer choices. The truffle fries are a classic here. And of course they have almost any beverage you could ask for. In the past, I have had some of the best wine ever at their wine bar in the back. Sorry. I can’t remember what it was exactly. Crab Beignets were one the highlights from a past dinner. You could really taste the freshness. No frozen food here. So, all in all, very good food and excellent service. Ritz Carlton is a super bet for any occasion.

I’ve always heard about this «amazing» Sunday brunch buffet at the Ritz Carlton but never got around to trying it. Finally, I made a booking last weekend. I’m sad to report it did not live up to my expectations.
Located in the heart of Buckhead (across the street from Lenox Square shopping mall). The Ritz Carlton could use some updating on the outside. The inside however, is beautiful and elegant. You can self-​park in the back of the property, or you can valet park (the Café will validate your ticket). We walked past the marble floored lobby, a nice lounge area and the Sunday Brunch is hosted at the Café in the back.
At first glance, the buffet looked promising: decent size salad bar, cold cuts, breakfast hot foods, cheese, an array of breakfast pastries (muffins, toasts, bagels, etc), sushi bar, omelet bar, cocktail shrimp, scallops, hot food (pastas, roast beef, salmon) and a large selection of deserts. This is probably the largest brunch buffet spread in Atlanta.
The service was fantastic. Our waiter was polite and made sure our glasses never falls below half-​full. Whenever I come back to the table I will find my napkin neatly folded on the table.
So if the place is nice, the selection is good and the service is great, why only 2 stars?
When it comes to food, the most important thing is quality, and that’s where the Sunday brunch at the Ritz Carlton seriously fell short. The sausage patties were hard, I couldn’t cut through the English Muffin with my Eggs Benedict, some of the salad greens were yellow, the pasta and fish were luke warm at best, etc etc. I can’t speak for everyone but I personally like my hot foods hot. I think it could be a matter of they do not get a lot of traffic for their brunch so they make enough for the entire brunch duration and does not switch things out.
This is a five-​star hotel we’re talking about. I expected them to switch out the hard sausage patties with freshly made ones; or make sure the pastas are freshly made (one particular pasta dish looked like no one had touched it and grease started to harden. Another patron had to asked the staff to make a batch of fresh one); or how about just keep the hot foods hot in general?
The brunch is $ 69 per adult, and if you want to add all-​you-​can-​drink champagne/​mimosa, it’s another $ 15. Had all the food been properly prepared and kept, I would say it’s worth the money; but going by the quality of food I had, I would not go back.

Good food, but quite overpriced. Definitely geared toward expense report crowd.

**This Review Is For The Breakfast Buffet Only**
One of the better hotel breakfasts I’ve had. While on business in Atlanta and staying at the hotel my colleague and I enjoyed the breakfast buffet. Not sure why you would go with anything else as the buffet had pancakes, bacon, made-​to-​order omelettes and waffles, biscuits and sausage gravy, and breakfast potatoes… all in addition to a wide array of bagels, muffins, danishes, cereals, etc, etc.
Everything was fresh and service was adequate. Not sure if I would make a special trip for breakfast here If I wasn’t staying at the hotel but if you are, no need to look any further.

We had breakfast and dinner there and both were delicious. The service was awesome.
The waiters and waitresses were very friendly. It’s a little pricy, but what else would you expect at the Ritz?

Forget the prices. If you are here, it’s not for a discounted meal.
Tonight, my friend and guest suggested to the staff that McDonalds chicken sandwich and fries was one of her favorite meals. So with her entrée — veal loin and cheek — came a Mickey D chicken sandwich and fries.
The staff was so eager and thrilled to make this a memorable event — they simply hit it out of the park.
Our oysters with mango coulis were flawless and served with a ½ botlle of the sommelier’s (Linda) choice, a 2001 Chablis — a perfect pairing.
My filet was done perfectly and was accompanied by a terrific 2007 Chateauneuf du Papes from the reserve wine list (and reasonably priced).
The waiter suggested a unique take on a lavender blueberry tart that rocked.
All in all, one of the most memorable culinary experiences, and a terrific meal with great company.

Though The Café at the Ritz-​Carlton is casual, you MAY want to dress up just a little more. When you pull up (easiest access is from Lenox Road going south towards Peachtree) and valet, you will hop inside and the first thought that crosses your mind is, «Wow, this is beautiful.» The second thought that QUICKLY follows is «Wow, I could never afford to stay one night here!»
Hence why you go to The Café instead.
Once you enter to the lobby, turn left, turn right, and you’ll see a hostess and she’ll take care of you. We were seated by a window. This feels like a fine-​dining experience but it is surprisingly casual. Despite the white cloths and servers who were looking better than we did, it is casual. I was looking for pretension. It was very, very absent.
The food is pretty darn good here. A Clam Chowder «Modern» with Steamed Clams, Potato, Pearl Onions, Bacon, and Oyster Crackers still remains the best clam chowder I’ve eaten in Atlanta. Chicken with «Dirty Rice» Risotto, Peas, Crispy Parmesan, Chicken Jus is fantastic. The chicken is to die for. (In fact, we decided to come to this place after being blown away by the chicken they presented at the Mother Clucker Chicken Festival in Virginia-​Highlands earlier this year.) The Crab Cakes with Local Zucchini Tasting, Tomato Preserves, Potato «Terrine,» were elegant, simple, and tasty. You wouldn’t think one of the better spots for anything seafood is tucked away in this Ritz-​Carlton. Dessert was a White Chocolate Cheesecake with Strawberries and Raspberry Sauce. Nothing mind-​blowing here, just a very nicely executed dessert.
Though it’s casual, it is a café. Corrected, it’s The Café. In a Ritz-​Carlton. This will be one of the more expensive lunches you’ll have. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

I went here on someone else’s dime, but the food is great. I can’t afford to eat here very often, but they do have a moderately priced lunch menu. For $ 20, you can sample a cup of soup, small salad and half a sandwich. It was more than enough food.
Everything is great, as it should be. Attentive, impeccable service. Beautiful and comfortable décor. Lots of well-​heeled blue hairs and bankers frequent this place. I was about 40 years too young to be a regular, but if mom is in town and you want to treat her to something a little nicer than Tavern at Phipps, this is the place. Honestly, it’s not much more expensive.

Unable to secure reservations at nearby Bone’s Steakhouse, we decided to check out the Café since we were staying here at the Ritz at Buckhead.
The first thing we noticed … it was quite dead (unlike the lounge area that was quite happening). Just one other table occupied. Still, we decided to give it a shot.
Service was very attentive (not surprising considering it is the Ritz and there were no other diners). The menu looked pretty good and being unable to decided, we went with the 5-​course «Today» tasting menu (we were informed that the chef had been featured on The Today Show), which was reasonably priced at $ 70.
First of all, the bread, especially the cheddar bacon version, was delicious. Besides the 5-​course, we also had a separate order of the foie gras with huckleberries and french toast. Loved the sweet/​savory combo as I’ve had this elsewhere and enjoyed it immensely. However, the foie gras portion was very small and rather disappointing, although tempered by the fact that it was well prepared.
The first course was choice of soup. The potato soup was rich and creamy and nicely topped with bacon and crispy leeks. In contrast, I found the butternut squash soup with cider reduction and bourbon crème was overly sweet.
Second course — diver scallop topped with slivers of chorizo and trout roe was delicious. Although just one scallop, it was rather large and filling and most importantly, perfectly cooked. Didn’t think the somewhat chewey chorizo added much but I appreciated the creativity.
Third course — «Farm to Table» fried quail. This was a beautifully presented dish with the delicately buttermilk-​fried quail presented in the middle. I don’t particularly enjoy quail but this preparation was really quite nice with its honey mustard sauce. Next to it were pickled quail eggs, which while impressive to look at with its purple tinge from the beet sauce, didn’t really have much in the way of taste to me. In contrast, the beets themselves served with delicate balls of goat cheese reminded me that this combination always works well.
Fourth course — NY strip served with broccoli prepared four ways (florets with cheese sauce, broccoli stem, purée and a nori-​like «chip.» Again, appreciated the creativity although in terms of taste, I don’t think the broccoli assembly was as exciting. The NY strip was delicious, however, and a generous portion at that, especially considering we were getting quite full by this time.
Fifth course — «Café at the Café» — chocolate cake with warm chocolate filling served in a cup and topped with marscapone and cocoa nibs and with a side serving of coffee ice cream and cookies. Thought I’d be too full to enjoy this … but turns out I had every last bite of this amazingly delicious dessert.
Along with an amuse bouche (salmon croquette), palatte cleanser (spritzer-​like shot) and choice of mignardise, it was overall a great bargain for the quality of the food.
Not sure why the restaurant was so empty (although by the time we left, several other tables were occupied). I’d definitely recommend the place to any of those in the Buckhead area.

After five years of living in Atlanta I had the pleasure of having a business thingy at the Ritz Café.
I was pleasantly surprised. The hotel on the outside is so shabby but the interior is beautiful. The café is really swanky too. They had a piano player and very comfortable seating. I had an awesome latte and excellent service.
I am glad to know of another cool place for business meetings. Also, if you valet they will validate your parking at the café. Note to self for next time. The parking was $ 8.00 for an hour.

Reservations for brunch are required, and well worth it. This brunch is immaculately prepared and presented. Where the very famous brunch (on the River) is delicious and plentiful, the brunch here at The Café is elegant, and precise. Portions are small, which mean you can sample more of a very wide variety of delicious things. Plus, it’s a Ritz, which means service is a priority. I’ll happily return to The Café.