Come Hungry, Leave Full...An Outdated Lifestyle

The dining area at Lunacy Black Market

By: Mei Brasel


Let me just start off by saying this: I enjoy my salad and healthy grub just as much as the next college health-obsessed female.Okay, I lied. Rather, I enjoy it only when I start reading all the health and fitness articles that warn me that my eating habits could be disastrous at an older age. Instead of taking cheat days off of a healthy diet to indulge in some good eats, I take cheat days off of my hamburger and fries to help ease my troubled subconscious that screams and tells me to be more healthy. 

This is who I am. This is who entered Lunacy Black Market- a place in the heart of Atlanta that is revered for its organic cousine. Oh, and another problem- I came hungry. The Atlanta Braves were having their home opener on this particular day which pushed my travel time from a regular 30 minutes to close to 2 hours. Not acceptable. When my stomach starts to sputter and growl , it is like an angry toddler that craves attention.

"Oh , but you will be fed soon! I am going to a fancy restuarant." 

LBM has been given the title of Best of Atlanta since 2010 and has rave reviews on Yelp and other leading websites. I had read about their quirky set up of having couches instead of the conventional table and chair arrangement- although that was offered as well. I entered the dim-lit room and was romantically cliche yet still

refreshing as well. I opted for the couches simply for the thrill of it.

The menus, written on two slabs of cardboard, were presented to me. The first thing I noticed was the prices were fairly low- all under $5. I did a backtrack and tried to figure out why this supposedly fancy restuarant was so cheap. That's when my eyes fell on the plates. They were maybe half a foot in diameter. Oh. It's one of those places- where you believe you're ordering an awesome dish that is brimming over the edges with delicious food. Then you have to hide your disbelief as the plate contains two quarter-size portions of the selected dish. At least LBM would not cost me an arm and a leg to eat at their establishment. 

With the portion-size dilemma fresh in my mind, I decided to make up for it by ordering more than one dish. That's  when I hit yet another brick wall. I had no idea exactly what to order. I chose the "braised beef dish" for my meat portion and a "mozzarella with tomatoes" for my vegetables. Seeing as this might not exactly fill up my impatient stomach, I ordered another dish- "steamed flash cauliflower" . 

Fifteen minutes drag by and the first plate is served. The Calliflour. My recollection of this particular steamed vegetable was that it is supposed to be white. Had I become such a carnivore that vegetables had already slipped my 21-year-young mind? Nope. As I took my first bite, soy sauce seeped through all my taste buds and 

I instinctively had to open my mouth to let some air in my stifled calliflour- filled jaw.After the third bite, I thought I was swimming in soy sauce. I put down my fork and let my companion finish up the plate. The next dish was the mozzarella cheese mixed with tomatos. Again, another dissappointment. This dish was simply lots of tomatoes piled sky high with two blobs of mozzarella cheese sitting on top like a king and queen upon their thrones. Excuse me if I'm being frank here, but how are these two pieces of cheese, both a little bit bigger than a quarter and with unappetizing craters enveloping them, supposed to fill up my stomach? Are we, as a culture, supposed to have a pre-meal before dining out? Had I become such a fast-food junkie in college that I had not noticed the change in times? 

Mozzarella & Tomato Dish.  

My stomach raged on as I tried to ease the pain by gulping down massive amounts of water (sidenote: LBM charges for water as well). My last dish was due up at any moment and I could not help put sound a little prayer that this dish would put away my frustrations and make me love the establishment. My braised beef was placed before my eyes. I gave a polite "thank you!" and stared down at the tiny plate carrying my tiny portion of tiny pieces of braised beef. I decided this was now or never telling myself that they make up for size with taste. This time, I was partly right. The dish was fantastic at mixing different herbs and spices to harmonize beautifully as the meat melted in my mouth. I could see fireworks. I had finally hit the jackpot. Unfortunately for me, that jackpot vanished four forkfuls later. 

I really have no idea what it was- but I did not click with this restaurant. Maybe I'm not classy enough and can not appreciate the delicacy of this food. Maybe I was just too hungry to start with. I loved the atmosphere with smooth jazz playing the background , coupled with the couches, it provides for a relaxing night and a great place to unwind from a stressful day with your significant other. Personally, however, I would trade all of this in for a foot-long meal combo from Subway. For food, I would choose quantity over quality any day. 

231 Mitchell St. SW

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 736-6164