The CSRA boasts an ever-changing and eclectic food scene, which is why Scott Russell, food blogger with @6bitesin, encourages locals and visitors to keep stepping out of their routines and give something new, or renewed, a try.
“I was at a restaurant the other day and this lady was complaining about how the food here locally just wasn’t any good,” shares Scott. “When I asked her where she’d been, she named about three places. And all I could think was that there are fifty more places around here that are amazing and she should definitely try them!”
Scott loves food and uses his social media platform to share his experiences from around the CSRA. Sometimes he visits new restaurants and other times, he’s back at old favorites. No matter what, Scott encourages patrons not to give up on a restaurant forever just because they had a poor experience.
“When I was talk to somebody and they say they don’t like a place but they tell me they haven’t been to a place in three years, I feel like that’s not right. It’s definitely time to give that restaurant a second chance,” says Scott. “Take Fifth & Finch for example. It was really struggling for a while, but two ladies have taken it over and now it's incredible. It's really a whole new restaurant with a completely different menu. The New Ming Wah is another good example of a local restaurant changing it up. It’s not a buffet anymore, it’s a sit-down restaurant now.”
“There are also places like Noble Jones where they are always changing the menu, which makes it like a new experience when you visit,” explains Scott. “I also enjoy Manny's Sports Bar, which opened fairly recently. The chef specializes in Greek flavors so he's putting a Greek spin on regular bar foods. He makes this amazing Cuban that has pulled pork and gyro meat on it. It’s really good!”
How does Scott find all these great places to try? “I ask around and get word of mouth recommendations… people are always recommending places to me,” shares Scott. “I also gravitate towards finding a new experience and seeing what a restaurant is all about before reading somebody else's opinion about it. I just want to be able to experience it for myself. There are a lot of hidden gems in this area that might not pop up at the top of a Google search, but if you look for them, there are really good restaurants that are off the beaten path here.”
Scott also encourages patrons to look for special events at restaurants, like wine or beer pairing events, which provide a great way to sample the menu. “Don't be afraid to try something,” says Scott. “You’ve just got to get out there and explore!”
Scott’s love of food began early in his life as a result of frequent meals with his family gathered around the table laughing and enjoying one another. He’s a true believer that food brings people together and makes people smile. You can follow Scott and his food adventures by checking out @6bitesin on Instagram.