The Pinewood

I love this place! Goonies Never Say Die is delicious and dangerous. We only had drinks (Whiskey Wednesday!) and some hush puppies and tots but they were great and totally surpassed bar snacks standards. The dinner menu looked wonderful but we weren’t in the market for dinner. The bartenders are really nice and I heard from my manager that they have whiskey tastings and different kinds of Pappy’s! We’re definitely planning to frequent this place.

Came here on a Wednesday for half priced whisky cocktails. Awesome spot with great mixologists. Can you beat $ 5 cocktails? Add some AMAZING hushpuppies and an order of tater tots and your happy hour is complete. This place is going to be my new Wendesday go-​to.
Also, if you’re into airline mile rewards, this place is registered on
(you can get 3 miles per dollar spent here on Delta!)

Finally found the time to try The Pinewood last night after months of wishing for a Whiskey Wednesday. The whiskey cocktails are indeed delicious, we had the Curse Your Branches, Knifey Moloko #2, and the Goonies Never Say Die. It’s a great deal to get those drinks 50% off, but I would also love to return on another night of the week to try other liquor concoctions!
We also ordered the grit tots and the brussel sprouts. Both appetizers were amazing and so were the accompanying sauces. But this is where our 5 star experience took a turn. We then ordered the brisket biscuit and the rabbit and dumplings. I was expecting the brisket to be shredded, but it was basically just a slab of tough fat. The biscuit seemed like a frozen one. The rabbit dish had good flavor, but the carrots and turnips were basically uncooked. I mistakenly thought one of the root veggies was a dumpling, and I couldn’t even get my fork in it because it was so hard. The dumplings disintegrated into the broth – there were definitely no gnocchi in our bowl as the menu indicated. There is braised rabbit in the sauce and then two pieces of fried rabbit on top, and we enjoyed that part of the dish.
Parking was hard to find, their lot behind was full and as typical Decatur lots go, tow signs everywhere. Taco Mac has a lot at the end of the plaza that was basically empty! Service was attentive and friendly, and the bartender, server and hostess all thanked us on the way out.
Overall, a decent experience and I’ll be back to order cocktails and the items I know are good.

The Pinewood is an outstanding cocktail bar serving Southern-​inspired libations and grub. If Bourbon whiskey is to your liking, as it is for me, you’re really going to enjoy yourself.
Free Brussels Sprouts appetizer with Unilocal Check-​In? Awesome. Brussels Sprouts are hard to make just right to tame the bitterness. Here, The Pinewood handles them deftly. Crispy, but not overly so. Accompanied by a ranch-​like dipping sauce. Also sampled: Smoked Brisket Biscuit (say that three times fast). Buttery biscuit, tender brisket, tangy BBQ sauce, slaw, and pickles… Yum! A Southerner’s delight.
The wife opted for the Crispy Chicken & Waffles, a new favorite of hers. I favored the house Cheeseburger. As always, we shared. To my delight, the rumors about the Pinewood’s burger had merit. Very good. Definitely a top-​10 burger in the Metro-​ATL area. I was happy about the inclusion of remoulade. Oh, and tater tots. Why not? The Chicken & Waffles were also on point. I could go into greater detail about these delicious dishes, but I’ll let the attached pictures do the talking. Let the salivating commence!
The finely crafted cocktails highlighted a superior bar program. The bartenders themselves were a part of the fun experience. We watched their coordinated movements behind the bar, cranking out spirituous beverages, like precision clockwork. Try one of their signature whiskey cocktails — «The Quadrophenia» or the «Goonies Never Say Die!», or if you’re a purist ask for a straight pour of one of their many whiskey selections. Can’t go wrong.
My kind of place.

Unilocal: «What keeps you coming back?»
The burger and the free Brussels sprouts!
I wasn’t completely sold on the Pinewood cheeseburger ($ 14) the first time I had it, but it grew on me the second time I consumed it. That time, I added the fried egg for a buck more which I thought didn’t add anything but maybe it secretly did? You are not asked how you want the patties cooked because the two of them are on the skinny side but definitely not dry side. The remoulade and American cheese get a little lost (add more cheese please); the bacon adds texture and the awesome power of bacon. Lots of red onions, yum. The soft bun is not toasted and manages to hold the whole shebang together. Unlike Napoleon Dynamite, I’m not a fan of tater tots so I would prefer fries as the accompaniment but I’ll admit they were crispy and fresh.
The Brussels sprouts ($ 7, $ 0 with Unilocal check-​in) are notable. They come in a tall cylinder and three skewers which starts off fine but then is not very efficient with the loose leaves. Expect greater saltiness towards the bottom of the can. I love the crunchy salty exterior and the buttermilk dipping sauce, a perfect complement.
My biggest complaint would be the sardine feeling of the restaurant, with the tables packed together rather snugly. This is Decatur, not Manhattan! I hate when people walk behind you and brush the back of your chair. And the employees range from friendly to indifferent. The last waitress was nice on the surface but gave off a vague vibe like she wasn’t too into us.
Book on OpenTable for points and so you can secure a table (availability is good). It always seems hoppin’ when I go.
If you like whiskey cocktails, go on Wednesdays since they are half off. Nice deal. The mixed drinks are definitely the pride and joy of The Pinewood so give them a shot if you like libations. The bartenders sport an impressive display of facial hair.
Street parking usually isn’t an issue, though with condos being built every second in downtown Decatur, parking may grow scarcer.

New job, new lunch spots and downtown Decatur has a bunch.
I got the black bean burger with a side of the couscous salad. The black bean burger was stellar, not my favorite in the A, but pretty high up there. It helps that black bean based burgers are my favorite veggie burgers. This guy was loaded up with melted swiss, wild mushrooms, and fried onions bits. Large and in charge and the mushroom flavor was in full effect. Delicious! The couscous side was ultrabland. It has some pieces of asparagus and roasted tomatoes, but has no real standout flavors. If I were the chef I would hit it with some lemon and parsley. It really had very little flavor. Next time I’d get a different side.
Lunchtime in the Pinewood the day I went was super quiet. Not a lot of tables filled which meant quick service. Kind of nice compared to some of the packed out places in Decatur.

Interesting cocktails. The stuff they call food however is an entirely different story. Disgusting. I had to eat everything since they aren’t cheap but it was gross. Can’t describe it any better than that. Do not eat here!

If you think you’ll enjoy a high-​quality spin on home-​spun, Southern creativity, you’re going to enjoy The Pinewood. I’m very glad to have finally had the chance to visit. This Decatur eatery is well equipped to serve up some stellar cocktail creations. It’s a wonder I haven’t yet explored that part of their offerings, because it looks like someone behind that counter can perform some real alcoholic alchemy. I see a variety of bitters, homemade syrups, tinctures, and some top shelf liquor.
The meals I’ve had there have been really good. The food here is an inventive take on southern comfort foods. And you guessed it, The Pinewood tries to source everything locally. Among the things I’ve tasted:
The «Grit Tots» are nuggets of deep-​fried grit-​cheese cakes served with a sweet chili aioli. A small plate meant for sharing, these are a hit. You may want one just for yourself.
The Brussels Sprouts are crispy fried and served with a buttermilk dipping sauce. Also meant for sharing. Very tasty.
The Roasted Beets, served with candied pecans and a soft (goat?) cheese. These beets were a little vinegary for my taste, but they started to grow on me a bit.
The Chicken & Andouille Gumbo is another winner. Tasty and hit the spot. (Though I thought it could use a little afterburn.) The gumbo counts as a small plate, but this plus the sprouts could conceivably be lunch.
The Fire Roasted Chile-​Chicken Sandwich is another crowd-​pleaser. Served with roasted Anaheim peppers, onion, lettuce, tomato, cheddar, and a tasty rémoulade, it says «chili» but it won’t blow your socks off. I hear this is The Pinewood’s best selling sandwich. I can see why.
I’m also tempted to try the Fried Bologna Sandwich. Don’t judge me. Plus, the burger looks like a winner. And I’ve heard the oyster roll (a dinner-​time thing) is a must-​have.
The Pinewood is comfortable. Casual yet a little polished. And service has always been spot-​on attentive and friendly. I’ll happily look forward to my next visit. Holler if you’re coming with.

The Pinewood strikes me as a place you go to get delicious cocktails and drink with friends but not so much for the food.
Our group ordered a bunch of small plates and drinks at the bar: hush puppies, brussel sprouts, grit tots, chicken and waffles, and a couple of drinks.
I usually forget I have a sensitivity to overly fried and greasy foods until I’m around overly fried and greasy foods. Typically, while these items are fried, I get that — there is a line of over-​saturation that shouldn’t be crossed. Fry in the flavor or fry it out. They fried it out.
The Cheddar Hush Puppy experience: Decent, but they had definitely been over cooked in the fryer. The sauce that came with was pretty much butter (not a complaint, just stating it was butter with some herbs), and while the side was better with the butter sauce… it honestly shouldn’t have been. I don’t get covering your food in sauce to mask the flavor of the item. Probably not the point of the hush pup and butter combo, but wow were they greasy and made me feel sick quickly. I slowly finished off two before resigning and only because this was the item I had ordered for myself. The dish came with roughly 6 hush puppies though.
Grit Tots– Best thing besides the drinks. Sweet chili mayo-​y sauce served aside hearty little deep fried grit balls. Wasn’t as overly cooked as the hush puppies but could only eat so many before feeling it. Rather good though if you’re looking to casually snack.
Brussel Sprouts — Got these with the Unilocal check-​in and was actually rather excited to try them. This could have been good, but they were super charred and super salty. Was better with the ranch dipping sauce, but once again… sauces are fun, but at least let the food stand on its own too. Without the sauce, the sprouts were a challenge to eat.
For drinks, I tried the Porch Punch which was pretty good. The sweetness at the beginning was kinda like Splenda sweet, but at the end with the lemon slice mixed in more, it tasted like a lightly boozy Arnold Palmer. So yeah, no complaints.
The whole experience was decent. Wouldn’t be opposed to coming back for drinks but wouldn’t go out of my way for the food here or maybe even the drinks. Just all neutral with nice ambiance.

We took advantage of a scout mob deal for a whisky tasting. I was skeptical about the event but I was really surprised by the level of service and the extent that the manager went to to present and educate us. The food was a nice touch. It was an early Saturday and they closed the location for our event (which they hold periodically). As the event ended the place became extremely crowded which is a testament to their food. We stayed at the bar drinking these «goonie» drinks that were really good. I can’t tell you how the food really is. They made this pork biscuit appetizer that was incredible. We had two servings of the fried Brussel sprouts if that’s any indication of the taste. I will be back! Nice atmosphere and friendly staff is a plus.

Stopped by for a cocktail at the bar. The service was mostly friendly and the drinks were made well. I had the roots radical ($ 11) and it was well balanced. A very cute space too.

Overnight in ATL for work, again. I decided to venture to Decatur (on all my previous trips I dined in Buckhead). Based on Unilocal reviews, general concentration of restaurants on this street, and my cravings this particular Monday evening, I wisely chose The Pinewood.
The restaurant is cozy and rustic. I posted myself up at the bar and was immediately helped by the bartender. The cocktail list is strong (and I’m somewhat judgy). I ordered the Goonies Never Say Die! which the bartender informed me is the most popular drink on the menu. I really liked it. Also, note, the bartender knows his stuff as he was whipping up custom concoctions to the southern gents next to me.
For dinner I went with the brussel sprouts as appetizer and the salmon for entrée. The brussels wee great, particularly the buttermilk dipping sauce. The salmon with canellini beans, pork belly cassoulet, and rainbow chard was very tasty, but just a bit too salty.
The desserts and other cocktails sounded great, but I restrained. Definitely a place I recommend and would return.

I got to catch up with two of my favorite gal pals here over a nice dinner with a «night out» on «the town». One friend was coming from Midtown and the other from Dunwoody so this seemed to be fairly central. While it isn’t exactly the closest to Johns Creek, I’d succumbed to the fact that anywhere worth going to is going to be at minimum a 30-​minute drive. That and there is no price tag for the quality time that I get with my friends. Things that we ordered here that night included:
— pro bono brussel sprouts (courtesy of Unilocal check-​in!)
–cheesy grit tots
–chicken and waffles
–cheeseburger, fully dressed with remoulade and tater tots
–burrata cheese raviolis
— — –
Brussel Sprouts
PROS
–great to share, I’d say there were at least 20 pieces of sprouts at least. We had enough to snack on even after the entrees came out as well.
–Good flavors, even balance on the seasoning
–nice char: I happen to like my brussels sprouts a little on the burnt end.
CONS
–got a little bit soggy towards the end of the meal. I think this was our fault for not finishing them faster.
— — –
Cheesy Grit Tots
PROS
–amazing flavor: it’s way better than tater tots! Grits themselves have a bit more liquid consistency so that will retain the cheese flavor since it has less «space» compared to the mini potato squares of a tater tot.
–crispy on the outside, soft and hot on the inside!
–chili aoli dipping sauce went really well with the cheese flavor
CONS
–none: I do have a recommendation to eat these fast though. We had a lot of pieces left to munch on throughout the meal, but they got a little bit soft and cold at the end.
— — -
Cheeseburger, fully dressed
PROS
–vegetables. I know this sounds like blasphemy to all you meat lovers out there (mostly boys) but I like some vegetables in my burger. It doesn’t make it feel so greasy and unhealthy. That makes it sit better and longer in my stomach.
–bun was not sopping in grease like most burgers
CONS
–more cheese! Especially hot cheese!
— — –
Burrata cheese raviolis
PROS
–good filling as in, there was filling. I also really love burrata cheese — it’s creamier than ricotta.
–the cheese shavings of pecorino went really well with the milder flavor of the burrata
CONS
–barely shareable: definitely smaller sized for an entrée
–very simple, almost too clean due to minimal sauce. Some prefer it, I tend to like a little bit more coating the pasta, especially if it’s white wine butter sauce.
— — –
Chicken and Waffles
PROS
–AMAZING quantity: one of the biggest pieces of chicken that I’ve seen on a chicken & waffles plate
–waffle was nice and fluffy but had a little crisp on the outside
–savory: I happen to be more of a savory person than a sweet person. There is chicken gravy people. GRAVY. I really liked it a lot better than the typical maple syrup truthfully. What might have made the dish better would be to sweeten up the waffle a tad bit more to get that awesome salty-​sweet combo.
CONS
–none really. I liked it!
…man I could totally go back and order a few other things off the menu. They have a few interesting appetizers that I could go for to try as well. Not to mention all those unique ice-​cream parlors around the corner. Can’t wait to hit more of these places in the spring when the weather gets a little warmer, The Pinewood included.

We found The Pinewood pleasant enough but not quite a match for all the hype.
Grits tots were delicious, a hard act for hush puppies to follow. Tasty dipping sauce.
The brussels sprouts ($ 7) were quite al dente, and too salty for me but just right for others. Also, the stems were left on — why? We do these better at home.
All the above served in cute galvanized pails with wooden skewers to spear them.
The beet salad ($ 7) was overwhelmed by too much vinegar, balsamic or otherwise.
Entrée portions were too small for the prices ($ 22 burrata cheese ravioli was about 5 – 6 small ravioli, little evidence of the «asparagus confetti»; $ 22 trout also skimpy).
Can’t speak to the libations except that the Jackie O was too sweet for my taste and the member of our party drinking old-​fashioneds confirmed that they were indeed old-​fashioneds.
Service desultory, on a slow Monday night. Long wait times between visits by server, no pleasantries. Server wanted to clear plates with food still on them but left empty plates throughout the meal. Party of five, we ran out of water twice (they leave it on the table, in old liquor bottles that don’t hold much).

I love Decatur and I love brunch. So where else would I go on a Sunday afternoon than the Pinewood?
Parking has always been my friend in Decatur. Street parking is free on weekends and after 6pm, I believe. There is also a small private lot behind the Pinewood.
The restaurant is small, so seating for groups larger than 4 aren’t exactly the easiest. Luckily, we had 8 in our party so we just split our group down the middle and had some good bonding time. Since we arrived pretty close to the 2:30 pm closing time on Sunday, we called ahead to make sure our orders were in (with our friends who had already arrived at the restaurant around 1:30).
My friend and I decided to split the chicken and waffles (also referred to as the Chicken Cordon Bly on the menu) and the infamous Pinewood burger. We were also able to snag a free order of the fried Brussels sprouts with our check in on Unilocal.
The chicken and waffles were disappointing. I don’t know what I was expecting but one, the syrup should come with the entrée, we shouldn’t have to ask for it. And two, what is that chicken gravy? It was rich but a little bland and kind of disappointing, to be honest. The waffle was super dense and a little soggy. The fried chicken reminded of me a deep fried chicken patty, and wasn’t the usual whole piece of chicken or at least the classic chicken tenders you see at Gladys Knight. Best I’ve had so far in Atlanta has gotta be Pijiu Belly, give them a try.
The REDEEMING factor of the meal was the burger. I read a few reviews that seemed underwhelmed with the burger. I mean, a burger can’t get much better than the Holeman and Finch burger, right? While it DEFINITELY did not beat out the H&F burger or even the Bocado burger, it was pretty legit. A juicy burger with bacon to make up for any imperfections. I’d take another order of the burger over another chicken and waffles here any day.
The fried Brussels sprouts came with this super mild ranch dressing, but for some reason, the fried sprouts weren’t complete without the ranch. I’ve had better, but these were definitely a great accompaniment to our meals.
Overall, an average attempt. The servers weren’t rude l, but they weren’t crazy excited that we walked in less than an hour before closing, either. I would love to come back another time and try some items off their dinner menu, and hope that I find their evening offerings more to my liking.

I can’t say enough positive things about this restaurant. We arrived for a late dinner and were in awe of the quaint atmosphere. We were seated with an attentive and happy server.
For libations, the drink menu is set up perfectly. The light refreshing drinks are in the top left corner and the drinks get stronger in flavor as you progress to the bottom right corner. The top two gin drinks come with my stamp of approval, and are even pretty when delivered!
For starters, Unilocal users get a free order of fried Brussels sprouts when they check in. Honestly, best Brussels sprouts I’ve ever eaten, and served with a homemade sauce that pairs perfectly. Also ordered the heirloom caprese salad before it went out of season and so happy we did. The tomatoes, radish slices and mozzarella cheese sat delicately on top of oil and pesto for a powerful flavor. I can honestly say this is a perfect, refreshing summer dish.
For the main course, we had the chicken and waffles. For once, in all the times I’ve tried eating this dish, I could understand why chicken and waffles made their way onto the same plate. The waffle is made with cheese and herbs, so with every bite of chicken covered in gravy, you’re in heaven.
Can’t say enough great things about this restaurant which is tucked away on the corner next to the bike shop — except that you really should try it for yourself!

I was only there for a drink with friends but the cocktails were really yummy. I ordered the Goonies never die and it was really great but be totally prepared for a ton of ginger. The service was pretty normal for a Saturday night. I’ll be back eventually to check out the food.

The dish: Chicken Cordon BLY
Three stars for the dish. Another star for the great service, awesome complimentary roasted brussels sprouts upon Unilocal check-​in and the the great selection of beer and cocktails. The Chicken Cordon BLY was decent but portion was small. The side of tater tots was tasty but standard. Atmosphere and bartenders were awesome so definitely worth checking out.
#4/​100 of my food adventure through Creative Loafing’s 100 Dishes to Eat in Atlanta 2015

The Pinewood is a extremely rare find in my opinion. This review will largely be based on the cocktails as I have yet to sample much of the food. I digress, Whiskey Wednesdays l, 5 dollar whiskey cocktails! The cocktails are made with their own whiskey and rye. I’m a stickler and hunter of good old fashioneds and the bar tenders at Pinewood did not disappoint! Their attention to detail, perfection of muddling and mixing as well as an innate ability to make the drinks perfectly each time. Moreover they seem to care about the customers and about the drinks they pour, watching the bartenders make drinks you can tell as they expertly execute their craft how much they want to provide quality beverages to their patrons!
The food I have sampled included the 100%free Brussels sprouts which were awesome, crispy, well seasons and didn’t leave anything to be desired! I have also tried the grit tots and they didn’t stick around long either!
Located in the heart of Decatur, it’s well decorated and has food specials and drink specials! I hear they have a five dollar burger during happy hours! Gents two burgers and two whiskey cocktails is 20 bucks for a nice dinner date out in a spot with good ambiance topped off with well prepared food and beverages. Keep doing what you’re doing pinewood!

Huevos rancheros + earl grey tea cocktails? Is this heaven or what?
We came on a rainy Sunday for brunch. Our friend had patroned The Pinewood for a Pappy Van Winkle dinner earlier this year and wanted to try out brunch since the dinner had been so good. We made reservations and were pleasantly seated upon arrival. Our waitress immediately took our drink orders upon us sitting down. Immediately upon reviewing the drink list, one stood out: the porch punch. Vodka, earl grey tea, lemon, orange flower water, bitters, & mint. I usually shy away from bitters, but took a leap of faith since I love tea so much. I was deliciously rewarded with an absolutely refreshing, perfect-​for-​brunch tea cocktail. I could barely taste the bitters; they actually contributed positively to the overall drink. Everyone sipped my drink and declared it perfection — I will come back to the Pinewood just to have this cocktail again.
I then checked in and voila! Free brussel sprouts for Unilocalers! Yippeee! We quickly ordered those and a round of grit tots (per the rec of my fellow Unilocalers) and settled in to make important brunch entrée decisions. I must say — I wouldn’t have tried the brussel sprouts had y’all not made the rec, but I’m so glad we had them. Absolutely delicious, especially with their dippy sauce. The grit tots didn’t disappoint either, with a similarly awesome sweet chili-​esque dippy sauce.
For brunch, the decision was similarly made — one item leapt out at me more than any other: huevos rancheros verdes. Having fallen in love with poached eggs in Paris + a general affinity to all things huevos rancheros, I knew I had to have this dish. It was a hearty portion of food, but I was able to sop it all up with my two tortillas. I paired it with a glass of super bubbly prosecco, which I really appreciate since sparkling wines tend to fall flat on Sundays, thanks to bottomless mimosas. A+ for bubbles!
I realize I’m making a glaring omission of the amazing bourbons one can purchase at the Pinewood. This is not my forte, but I can assure you that hubby had a terrific time perusing the libations list, analyzing the wall of bourbons (so many!), and sipping away on various bourbons. He was extremely happy.
Great service, terrific playlist (omg, Motown oldies!), delicious food, and one of the best cocktails I’ve ever had = 5 stars for the Pinewood! Can’t wait for the next Buffalo Trace/​Pappy dinners!