Saturday was a full and fun filled day out in Athens, Georgia.
Bambi, Amy, Saralyn and I (Tony and Eleanor had other plans, per my request) set off for an SCA event in (The People’s ) Barony of Bryn Madoc. On the way, we stopped for brunch at Mama’s Boy restaurant.
The story about how we got there is almost as interesting as the food, but I’ll get to that in a minute.
THE FOOD: We came for brunch. And that’s what we ate. I had the Breakfast Taco Plate, to which I added spinach and mushrooms. I like that their price to add fillings was very reasonable, just $.35 each. (All the prices) I liked the great flavor of the beans and the fresh tomatoes. The grits that came with were super creamy and very good. As a side, I ordered a salmon cake. Here I was a little disappointed. The cake was a little on the heavy and greasy side, and the field greens that came with were oily (I assume that this was to be greens in a vinaigrette, but mostly, it was just oiled greens) and too salty. I tasted some of Amy’s biscuit, which was, at first nosh, really sweet! Amy said she was pretty sure that it was the butter that was sweetened, but we weren’t sure. Taste first, butter second next time. Bambi, who came for the Peach Stuffed French Toast, walked away a little disappointed, I think. She said that she was hoping for more of a “stuffed” toast than a run-of-the-mill French with a peach puree drizzled over it. As a final note, The coffee was good, but I wanted a Latte. However, they only use whole milk for their coffees and I wanted non-fat (which makes better foam, BTW) so, I just opted for a decaf. Would I eat there again? Sure.
THE ATMOSPHERE: Super family friendly, bright and cheery. There were lots of kids, and the servers seemed nonplussed by messy toddlers and crying babies. I sometimes breastfeed in restaurants. I never want to make anyone uncomfortable, so if I can’t be discrete, I just go somewhere else. Like, to a car. Since Saralyn wouldn’t cooperate for breastfeeding under a blanket in the restaurant, I had to take her away. While I was sitting in the van attempting to get her to latch on, I saw the sign to the left posted by the front door. Hmmmmm…. I wonder if that is a breastfeeding allowed sign? IT IS!!! I’d never seen one before. I liked that I was welcome to feed my baby there if the need arose, and I also liked that the other patrons were warned that “bare boobs could be flyin’ around in here.” It was all so very ATHENS.
THE TALE ABOUT WHY WE WENT THERE: We had planned to go to Athens for a 12th Night Event. A Christmas party with a medieval bent. A few days before, Bambi, who is newly a food network junkie (welcome to the club), was watching Throwdown with Bobby Flay. He lost to a group of crepe makers, who’s website lists “friends”. The only restaurant that was listed in that group was Mama’s Boy, Athens, GA. Bambi thought, hey, we are going to Athens anyway, let’s take a chance. (She really wanted to try that French Toast). And there you have it.
Stay tuned for more restaurant reviews. (It seems reviews are becoming the most hit on part of my blog. I get a hit searching for Fanoo’s Persian Tea House almost every day!) I love to eat and write about it!
What a cool thing to have a sign that designates a nursing-friendly zone! Not that I breastfeed, but I’m very PRO breastfeeding. You know, one of those, “I would have, if I could have” things. So now I’m going to be on the lookout for those signs so I can let you know when I see them.
Like I said, I’d never seen one before. I thought it was SOAthens. I think to post a sign like this, you have to think your business uber hip and socially progressive.