The Wine Shoe opened in Castleberry Hill (my hood) a while back. Moon calls it a “weird store,” but I think it’s a convenient addition to the neighborhood when you don’t feel like trekking to another store. Just don’t go expecting to discover any obscure finds.

What they do have is chilled bottles of sparkling on hand if you are in a pinch and they offer loads of wine classes. There is also a super cute–and friendly–puppy that hangs out in the store every day. Check it out next time you are in the area and let me know what you think.

Lunchtime for intown workers looking for a quick fix is a monotonous endeavor. Sandwich. Salad. Burger. Repeat. Most nearby ethnic options are either dumbed down or too fancy for their own good. Kabobee (609 Whitehall St., 404-688-8885, www.kabobee.com) is neither.

Reza Ashtiani chose to open a restaurant specializing in quick and simple Persian cuisine in an odd quasi-residential part of Castleberry Hill. The self-standing building has many large windows that permit the sun to whitewash the already spartan — and kind of antiseptic — space. You will find none of the typical warm colors or cultural accents you see at more upscale Persian establishments. The only color comes from the charmingly cheesy mural of some hip Charlie the Tuna look-alikes leftover from the fish shack that previously occupied the space.

While the restaurant could use a few decorative touches, the owner and his staff do a commendable job of making you feel at home. The restaurant has only been open for a short while, but Ashtiani already seems to be acknowledging an eclectic mix of regulars. Click here to read the rest…

The morning after I moved to Castleberry Hill, I was jonesing for coffee. Unfortunately, my coffee maker was buried somewhere in a mass of boxes and I was too cranky to hunt for it. I set out on foot to find a coffee spot and came up empty. As the years went by, a few coffee places came (and a few went). But the ‘hood didn’t have a proper place to get a hot breakfast until Johnny Cakes (323 Walker St., 678-705-9759) opened in March.

The owners have made good use of a tri-level space that sits next to a tattoo parlor. The kitchen is located on the lowest floor, the dining room at street level, and the upper mezzanine is converted into a lounge where telecommuting customers can take advantage of the free Wi-Fi. One of the restaurant’s best features is a wall papered in a delightfully trippy assortment of posters, ranging from old-fashioned French bistro to SpongeBob to Reefer Madness. Click here to read the rest…

Agave: Is it any wonder that a restaurant named for the plant from which tequila is made serves excellent margaritas? Agave’s bar stocks an impressive list of obscure tequila brands you can enjoy in your margarita for an upcharge. The restaurant also offers a short menu of house-designed margaritas. Your best bets are the Agave Don Eduardo Anejo — Don Eduardo Anejo, Triple Sec, fresh lime and sour mix on the rocks — or the Corzo Perfecto, a mix of Corzo Super Premium Reposado, fresh lime juice and agave nectar (a syrup resembling honey in texture). 242 Boulevard. 404-588-0006. www.agaverestaurant.com.

Nos Mas Cantina: This Castleberry Hill cantina isn’t the most authentic Mexican eatery, but the wildly colorful décor and the prospect of sipping margaritas on the fan-clad porch are reason enough to visit. If taste and quality are what you’re after, order the Dulce — Partida Blanco Tequila, fresh lime juice and agave nectar. Click here to read the rest…

As a child of Mexican immigrants living in the States, I learned about the importance of food — especially sweets — during our visits with family in Mexico. My grandmother always insisted on taking us to Sanborns — the Denny’s of Mexico — for a breakfast of pan tostado con azúcar (butter and sugar-coated toast) and chocolate caliente. My grandfather would take me to panaderias and let me hold the tray as he grabbed various pastries from the display case with long aluminum tongs. And my father would get as giddy as a chubby schoolboy as he sampled the cloyingly sweet homemade candies of his youth.

So, you can imagine my excitement when I heard that the folks at No Mas had opened ADios Café (180 Walker St., 404-574-5678, www.nomascantina.com) in a warm space attached to the equally colorful and ornate cantina and furniture store. I was told the name does not mean goodbye, but “of the gods” — a tribute to the Mayans, who discovered chocolate in 600 A.D. and believed it was a gift from the gods. A cute idea even if the name actually translates “to god.” Click here to read the rest…

I’ve been known to linger a tad too long in specialty food stores — picking from what I imagine to be the owner’s ideal kitchen cupboard makes food shopping more personal. The Mercantile (1660 DeKalb Ave., 404-378-0096, www.themercantileatl.com) in Candler Park obviously reflects the style of owners Samantha Enzmann and Janea Boyles. Click here to read the rest…

Mouthful: Dumplings

CAFE 101: 101′s pan-fried potstickers had the table moaning after one bite. What sets these dumplings apart is their shape. A ball of flavorful ground pork is placed in the center of a super-delicate dumpling skin and loosely wrapped like a cannoli. Click here to read the rest…

Liquid Diet: Star Jazz and Blues Lounge

OH, STARRY NIGHT: Castleberry Hill’s nightlife can get quite rambunctious, and those seeking a more relaxed hangout have few options. But Star Jazz and Blues Lounge, situated on the quieter side of Peters Street, provides an oasis. Owner and comedian Don “D.C.” Curry has created a chill hangout that is cozy yet sleek. Click here to read the rest…

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