I'd long wanted to visit Watershed as a great admirer of the then chef, Scott Peacock.
2009 I had my chance, so visited three times in a four day stay in ATL, I went back this year in June and did the same again.
Watershed is a lovely neighbourhood restaurant, situated in the peaceful, trendy, up market suburb of Atlanta called Decatur.
Watershed is well worth the taxi or tube ride to try this wonderful example of true southern food.
In General the worlds view of American food is a cartoon one, badly done ribs and BBQ etc. None of that at Watershed, just simple, great ingredients treated simply and very very well. Watershed was being a farm to table place long before that was trendy.
The staff are also some of the most friendly and knowledgeable I have found anywhere. They are great even by American standards, which as a Londoner where wait staff are rude as a matter of course, it's a lovely refreshing change.
On Tuesday nights its fried chicken night and the queues often stretch way outside for a table, but it's worth it, book and go early, It's seriously the best fried Chicken you will taste in your life. Served up with mashed potatoes, green beans, and hot buttered biscuits its a slice of heaven.
I have to give Watershed the full five stars as in 9 visits I have not had a bad dish.
Brunch on a Sunday is particularly wonderful, I had the full on hit of ham with red eye gravy, grits, eggs and biscuits. If you've never tried hot American biscuits or grits then you should, but go to shed, at least then you'll be getting a good example, there are some very bad biscuits out there.
The wine list is extensive and well priced, I had an amazing red from California I remember particularly well, it was called Box Car, it was a 2007 Syrah and wonderful value. The cocktails are also great, I had a fresh strawberry one that was on as a special with my brunch.
The beer list is also good, showcasing some good local brews and the best of the european such as chimay and leffe.
If it's on the menu when you are there then you shouldn't leave without trying the really good chocolate cake, that's what it's called and lives up to its name.
Another not to miss is the shrimp grits with pullman plank (long slice of toasted bread) and I ate the best fried oysters I have ever had, so good I almost caved and ordered them again the second night but I figured if they weren't as good second time round i'd have spoiled the perfect memory, but honest you can't beat them. I even managed to squeeze in a visit on my last day of my trip ths year as I got delayed by 7 hours at Atlanta airport when doing a changeover from Indianapolis, instead of getting grumpy and moping aboutthe airport I just jumped on the tueb out to decatur, had myself a lovely truffle chicken salad sandwich and local beer for lunch at shed and went back to the airport. The truffle sandwich was great, too much truffle oil in a dish can taste awfully chemical like, but they had the balance right in the mayo of this one.
I'm sitting here now in my London home salivating for more of those oysters, or chicken, which is the mark of a great restaurant in my book, it being thousands of miles away still doesn't put you off wanting to go back. Days after my last visit and after Scott Peacock's departure, a new chef (Joe Truex) started, he is a well known local chef as he co-owns another restaurant with his wife. I've heard great things so far and I believe all the standards are still on the menu, with some new fresh ideas he has brought. A good excuse for me to find time for another trip!
The Bill: £35 Per Head
