Delightful ‘Organized Chaos’ in Sandy Springs
Celebrating one year in Sandy Springs, Baraonda looks to remain at the top of Jewish dining choices because of the accommodating service and variety of selections.
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
The Baraonda team deserves “props” for picking up “the tent” and moving from its established post by the busy, well-positioned Fox Theatre some 14 miles north up the same stretch of the road.
As salmon discern which direction is “upstream,” some businesses head south towards the BeltLine, while some with more level heads and older demographics head to northern suburbs where the wine and sauce equally flow. Baraonda may have given up Fox Theatre proximity to gain easy advantage to City Springs and a welcoming Jewish crowd.
Upon closing the Midtown location in 2021 after 20 years, hands-on managing partner, Herculean hard worker and cordial host Alin Cruceanu dove right to find fun, exotic, and chic artwork that wasn’t too fussy with furnishings that earn the name “Baraonda,” or “planned chaos.”
Hi tops and dining tables adjoin the bar side. The scene starts with this U-shaped unimposing bar area separated from the main dining room. Regulars brag about the bartender and the shape of the bar which encourages a neighborhood feel.
The real show piece is the private yet exposed banquet table/wine room on the south side of the bar. The masterpiece in the room is the wall mural, “Vogue,” of Sophia Loren by Van Gogh and Cocoa. Cruceanu sought out vintage tile, chandeliers, art, some old and “homemade” things, to build a modern, homey, relaxed California feel, “but not too elegant.”
Not much is made of old ovens and hearth stones more readily associated with old world Italian haunts. Then again, Baraonda is more Italian-ish with Mediterranean strokes.
Baraonda seats 90 indoor, 40 at the patio, 16 at the bar. On the Saturday night we visited, the diners were primarily Jewish. Suzanne Eisenberg stated that it was her fifth visit and she deemed Baraonda as “convenient, reasonably priced with large portions.”
Dr. Mike Perkel was a fan because he finds Baraonda very accommodating. The servers were attentive as one in our party was gluten-free, and others had “naggingly” Jewish requests for things to be put on or left off, or on the side.
Robyn Spizman Gerson noted that just under the table were purse hangers often seen in New York as a useful touch keeping valuables close by and not touching the floor. She also complimented the salads as being “mini meals” and with “an accurate amount of dressing.”
What we had
Mista Salad: mixed greens, pickled and fresh strawberries, almonds, red onions, ricotta salata, honey balsamic dressing
Arugula Salad: spiced walnuts, green apples, parmigiano, cranberries, lemon vinaigrette
Cesare: Romaine lettuce, classic egg dressing, shaved grana padana, croutons
Roasted Cauliflower: arugula roasted red peppers, black olives, pickled onion. fried capers, red wine vinaigrette. All salads were $12.
Salmone Alla Grigle: grilled Norwegian salmon with tomato and corn succotash ($27)
Fish of the Day: Thick white fleshy halibut, capers, sliced potatoes
Easy special-order, gluten-free marinara pasta.
Dessert: Tiramisu with lady fingers, coffee, marscapone, cocoa powder, eggs ($9) and Raspberry sorbet.
Baraonda’s menu is extensive and complex with bread services, olives, antipasti, eggplant, bruschetta, crostini, burrata, fritto, pizza (pinsa), pastas, pollo, veal, and sides like grilled broccolini, rosemary potatoes, spaghetti aglio e olio, and much more.
Baraonda is currently open for dinner seven nights per week starting at 5 p.m. and will prepare private lunches for 25 or more. Always a plus, Baraonda diners can park for free in the Adley Apartment complex and is adjacent to the Bank of America.
Happy one-year anniversary, Baraonda. Now we know where to go for a pinsas and to pick up a minyon.
Baraonda is located at 6075 Roswell Road. 404-282-4380.
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