I had never thought of myself as a "foodie," thinking that such names were only for overly self-indulgent new-age types who couldn't see beyond the title they thought they deserved. Likewise, my experience with local restaurants was relatively limited, confined to typical small family diners and the occasional strip-mall ethnic joints.
All that changed the day I came home from work and, having forgot my anniversary, and had to think quickly in the ten intervening minutes between when I managed to jump out of the shower and when my wife got home.
Aqua Terra in Buford, Georgia was what stood out when I flipped open the yellow pages, so that was that. Since it sounded fancy, I figured that it was a good bet for an anniversary. I got dressed, met her at the door, and off we went.
The restaurant is situated about mid way down East Main street, tucked in between a handful of other equally fancy-looking restaurants and various shops, primarily the kind that invariably call themselves "shoppes" instead of "shops." Being a Thursday, we were able to walk right in without a reservation, and were seated immediately. Almost as though it were planned, we were placed at a table in the back, in a dark corner perfect for ensuring that she wouldn't know that this was a last-minute plan. The music was playing softly, and the atmosphere was perfect.
We ordered an appetizer, which turned out not to be one of those meal-sized appetizers that some restaurants pass off to unsuspecting guests, but a real appetizer, just about two or three bites' worth. I had the Panko Crusted Tomatoes, and she ordered the Potato egg roll. Both were absolutely phenomenal. Mind you, this was part of the Prix Fixe menu, which gives you three courses for $25 a person. The tomatoes were stacked up just like what you'd see in a magazine, and there was a delicate, light and fresh taste that did exactly what an appetizer is supposed to do -- whet your appetite instead of fill you up! The wife loved the Potato egg roll, and I tried to get some for a taste, but the tiny little bite she offered me really wasn't enough to get an idea for how it tasted. To be fair, I didn't share much of my Tomato, either. Ain't married life grand?
The next course was the entree, and we both opted for the Barbecue pork tenderloin. Turns out the decision was absolutely spot-on. I'm sure the fish and the chicken would have been fine, but the pork was spectacular. It was served with smoked gouda polenta, cole slaw and long strips of shoestring sweet potatoes. Again, rather than stacking the plate three feet high with food you won't eat, it was the perfect amount of food. Still, knowing that I had a dessert coming left me feeling more than a little stuffed. Time to man up, though.
For dessert, I had the creme brulee, which I had high hopes for considering the sorry state of the creme brulee at another local "high class" establishment, Chateau Elan. (I mean seriously, do they actually mean for people to believe that that didn't come out of a box?) Turns out, Aqua Terra didn't let me down. It was unquestionably the finest, smoothest and tastiest I had ever consumed. My wife enjoyed a strawberries and cream puff pastery that was equally as good.
All in all, it was a great experience, both for the atmosphere in the restaurant and the food. It's definately worth the trip, being about 45 minutes northeast of Atlanta, as long as I-85 isn't too blocked up with traffic. On the weekends or on Friday evening, you'll probably want to call ahead to make sure you can get seated. You can find the contact information just below.
Aqua Terra Bistro
55 East Main Street, Buford, Georgia
(770) 271-3000
Lunch:
M-Fr, Sat. -- 11:30-2:30
Dinner:
Sun, Mon -- 5pm - 9pm
Tues, Thurs -- 5pm - 9:30pm
Fri, Sat -- 5pm - 10pm
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