Atmosphere is very pleasant, server was great, table was ready at reserved time and the garden area behind Canoe is beautiful. Oh, and the food was great.
(5)
Sydney C.
Everything I had here was amazing. The smoked salmon app, the roasted chicken, and especially the popcorn ice cream were each perfect. The ambiance is really intimate and cozy with an interesting design. Extremely attentive servers who ask if you are celebrating something and add a message and candle with the desert if you are. When I went here it was pouring outside so I am excited to go back and be able to sit out by the garden and river. I am also really excited to try their brunch!
(5)
Mary Ellen B.
The location is great, the wine menu is very good, the atmosphere is delightful... The food leaves a lot to be desired. If you go just stick with the dishes all the fancy reviewers recommend and do not get the special. Additionally, if you've never liked French food then please dont come here expecting to all of a sudden enjoy this genre of food. I won't go back to determine why it keeps getting good reviews since my one and only time left a lot to be desired. Too many other great places in Atlanta to try!
(3)
Brian G.
The outdoor garden is amazing. Why anyone sits inside is beyond me. I had a beet salad, a duck burger, and a couple Sweetwater IPAs. A delicious meal with a great atmosphere. Not much more to ask for.
(5)
Jen K.
This place has fantastic food! We had our company Christmas party here (had a private table in the wine room) and I was definitely not disappointed. I had a shrimp spring roll appetizer (amazing) and a filet (cooked perfectly). They also have an extensive wine list which is fabulous. PS. Martha Stewart was eating here during our party. That should say it all.
(5)
JR D.
Dinner was delicious, ordered a mahi in miso broth. The restaurant was very busy so we didn't get to sit by the windows. Service was great. The raspberry cheesecake was the best I've tasted. The crust, I believe it's with almonds, made a difference as well as raspberries between the crust and cheesecake.
(4)
Lauren R.
The experience was amazing. I really enjoyed my halibut. The chocolate dessert was delicious.
(5)
Henry T.
Came here for dinner once, and besides the wait after having made reservations, the rest of the evening went very nicely. I came back again for brunch recently and did not have to wait. I ordered the crab and eggs, and I was very happy with my decision. The sauce that came with it was perfect for this dish. We also had a small basket of the pecan sticky buns and scones which were really good. The house made jelly tasted great with the scones. The restaurant is a little on the pricey side and a little out of the way, but the food and service were great.
(4)
Karen A.
An outstanding dining experience! Excellent service, amzing food, and the best ambiance in Atlanta. Went for brunch and had the french toast. Do yourself a favor and try it. One in our party had the crawdads and grits. He was quite pleasantly surprised (he is a bit of a crawdad snob). The lump crab soup (- may not have the name exactly right) had the third person in our party speechlesss (it could have been the shot of sherry that is served on the side). Either way, we were all in agreement that it was deliciously delightful!
(5)
Kesha R.
What is there really to say about Canoe..fabulous, always. Food and service is always on point.
(4)
Rob H.
I don't usually accuse someplace with 4.5 stars as being underrated. They made vegetarian pasta amazing. Now, I'm not vegan, and I'm not making a culinary moral judgment against meat. Nope, I just went in clad in my leather shoes and jacket, and threw down the gauntlet by ordering a totally vegetarian entree. And it was five-star outstanding.
(5)
Hannah S.
Went for my birthday brunch after a weekend of birthday eating. Even though this was my first meal of the day, I was still so stuffed from dinner the night before that I didn't get to try as much as I wanted. Service was good, food was good (though not as good as I had been told to expect.) A very beautiful restaurant and a good time all around.
(4)
Catherine C.
This was the best meal I've ever had. I can't say enough about how wonderful my experience here was. It felt like I was eating art with every bite. I won't recommend individual dishes since their menu changes, but I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. Some tips: be sure to visit the vegetable garden out back by the Chattahoochee and order your meat as rare as possible when they ask what temp. I plan on going back soon for lunch.
(5)
Josh S.
Canoe is well loved by locals, and for good reason: the food and the atmosphere. This place truly offers fine dining. Polished copper ceilings, warm lighting, and an altogether pleasing interior design is complemented by the warm and friendly waiting staff. The food is creative, and offers a wide range of culinary choices. Hot and sour shrimp soup is amazingly complex, and the braised rabbit is fork tender and scrumptious. As for desert, the Salted Caramel Grotto was the perfect end to an exquisite meal.
(5)
Todd G.
I end up in Atlanta, by coincidence, on championship night and found myself visiting Canoe because of the input I received from Yelp. The restaurant was high-end with great service. The food was exactly what I need as I had been traveling a lot for work. Definitely a place to hit when in town.
(4)
Rikki O.
Enchanting view of the river at dusk blends beautifully with good friends at Canoe. Very pleased with the wine selection and the knowledge of the waitstaff. And, the Marinated Golden and Red Beet Salad with Whipped Vermont Goat's Cheese, Candied Walnuts and Basil Oil engaged all my senses right from the start. I will be absolutely be returning.
(4)
Nhuy W.
OMG! I love this place! I have been here several times and have never been disappointed!! Their trout is amazing and their desserts are to die awesome! There is a great view if you want to sit outside or sit by the window inside!!!
(5)
t l.
Dreamy enlightened artisan food. $$$$/4 so it's expensive. Excellent service -from the waitress to the valet. Love the garden we sat out in the patio with the hummingbirds come by and it's right off the river so the scenery is just gorgeous and lush. Well thought out decor classy with canoes and paddle decor everywhere Had the smoked salmon appetizer - just delicious, The sauce was very good the potato underneath was perfectly cooked, A total winner. loved it Kangaroo appetizer-never knew kangaroo could be so lean it was a very good blend of sweet and savory and the potato cake underneath was perfect combination. Very good and would probably order again Had The duck-I liked it but it seem like he could have had more flavor maybe with some sort of sauce not too sure about the forbidden rice combination that went with it. Sort of interesting some sort of black grain not too sure The classic rabbit was good. Apparently they've had this item on the menu since the very beginning. I have to say that there wasn't a lot of flavor it was very delicate and again it might've been a good idea to have some sort of infuse seasoning or sauce to go with the rabbit Finished off with the popcorn crackerjack ice cream sundae and a blueberry crisp both were very good Service was excellent from the valet to the hostess and our waitress was wonderful love the bread. Often times we didn't even have to ask and our glasses were filled and bread was replenished without us even really noticing that's how good the service was. Nice touch that they decorated the plate with the chocolate message and A candle for our dessert. Loved that. Totally unexpected Very nice evening out and a great way to celebrate a special occasion Would totally recommend and definitely won't go back and try the other items on the menu because everything really did look delicious and it was hard to choose what to eat
(5)
Matthew H.
Canoe, we miss you. Our previous experience at this restaurant was nothing short of magical. The ambiance, service and food were all exemplary. This time, however, it was like 3 our of 4 of the engines of this luxury airliner were on fire and we were headed headlong into Mount Fuji. I'm an ominivore and my wife is a vegetarian. We were once again pleased to hear that "Chef" would prepare something fantastic for her. Service was lovely and professional but our appetizers were sadly sub par. The Hierloom salad was average and the arugala salad was drowning in dressing. Bleh. The over briney mingonette on the oysters was terrible and overpowered any semblance of clean flavor. Management quickly brought another 6 without the mingnonette but then left without offering a lemon. A mean, dry oysters? No biggie. But... Wife's "Chef Special" vegetarian offering looked like a gross four quadrant Hungry Man dinner of sloppy sides. My NY steak was dead cold. I mean, considering they ladeled four sloppy sides onto a square plate for my date you'd think they'd get the steak right. The manager was obviously gobsmacked by the very thought that anyone could EVER be disappointed at this Paces Ferry institution. He blinked and asked us to give him 10 minutes to fix everything. We appreciated the thought, but Uber had already been called and a gourmet pizza was already in the oven thanks to our Nanny. Canoe, you left us up the river without a paddle.
Excellence in Atlanta! This place is great. Came here for my Mom's birthday and it did not disappoint. Everything from the riverside location to the amazing wine list is great. I only wish we had gotten here early and gone down to the riverside bar to have a few pre dinner drinks. We started off with the charcuterie plate and the crab cake. Both were amazing. Possibly the best crab cake I have ever eaten. Super delicate and perfectly battered and fried. Amazing. The charcuterie plate was top notch, several really delicious sausages and cheeses but the highlight was the chicken liver pate, most certainly the best I've ever had. All of our entrees were amazing as well. I had the rabbit and it was great, but the dish was stolen by the mushroom ravioli that accompanied it, holy moly were those just perfect.
(5)
Amanda B.
Canoe is so good. It's really fancy but it can also be a pretty laid-back. If you want to walk in there is a nice big open bar with bar seats as well as really cute canoe paddle tables. Each time I went by the bar cute tables were available. You can make a reservation online through their website or by calling --they use their website to make the reservation so they availability is the same. A little known secret is there is a beautiful outside area for seating that is right on the river. It is so cute. I highly recommend sitting outside if it's a nice day. All the food here is amazing. I have the rabbit last time I was there which I was told was the oldest thing on their menu. It was absolutely delicious. I also had the salmon which was perfect as well. I recommend the chocolate salted caramel cake for dessert. Parking is valet when the sun is out but when it's dark you can park at the businesses next-door no one would know. The valet is free. I wish I lived closer so I could come here on the reg.
(5)
Colleen B.
Thank you, Yelp! Was looking for a spot for lunch in this neighborhood and this spot popped up and based on the reviews and pics, we had to go. Went on a Wednesday around 1 and there was only a short wait for the porch area with a view. It was lovely. I really have to say though, the highlight of our lunch was our server, Caitlyn. She was so dang nice, accommodating and funny as heck! Guys, they server their Iced Tea with a side of simple syrup so you can make it as sweet as you want. How awesome? We started with the Shrimp Spring Rolls with Cilantro & Yuzu - there were three of us so they brought us each a plate with one. Super classy even for lunch. She sold two of us on the shaved Lamb sandwich and I have to tell you, it was huge and was delicious. I didn't order it but it looked so good I had to try it. The truffle fries were to die for as well; cooked perfectly and seasoned just right. For my lunch, I went for the Panko Crusted George's Bank Cod with Whipped Potatoes, Baby Spinach and Caper Brown Butter. WOW! Absolutely cleared the plate clean. It was light, delicious and everything complemented each other perfectly. When you are done with your meal, or even before, make sure to walk over to their garden and chicken coop. Such a cute, communal area and they use fresh eggs from their coop when possible. Such a lovely afternoon, can't wait to return for dinner.
(5)
Joanna R.
I can't believe I have never reviewed Canoe! My boyfriend picked it all on his own for my birthday right after we moved here from Miami. We've been on several occasions and it has never disappointed. I miss living in Vinings mostly because of this. I've tried the New York strip, the bucatini with goat cheese, the burger, the lobster bisque, and a few other entrees I can't remember. ALL EXCELLENT. The service here is just lovely and it will not cost you an arm and a leg to dine at this establishment. Truly, I am impressed. I really look forward to going to brunch here before the outside bar closes and enjoying the river views. I think so far this has been my favorite dinner experience in Atlanta since the big move. This place is a standout. Cheers.
(5)
Kellie M.
OH LAWD! I was able to visit Canoe for lunch with co-workers. I had always wanted to visit due to their rave reviews, but thought only about going for a special occasion. DON'T WAIT PEOPLE! First of all our server Caitlyn was AH-MAZ-NG!!! She kept us laughing the entire time! I told her to bring an entire loaf of bread because I was starving!! She brought this amazing bread as well as a flatbread that was delicious! I started with an iced tea which comes accompanied with a side of symple syrup (TOO COOL)! We decided on the Shrimp Spring Rolls with Cilantro & Yuzu. We were a party of three so they split it up before bringing it to the table. I ordered the Lamb Sandwich w/truffle fries. GUYS! Are you kidding??!! This was one of the most delicious sandwiches that I have ever eaten! Don't even get me started on the truffle fries. This lunch dish was HUGE!!! I could only get through about half. I would HIGHLY recommend ordering this - FO SHO! My friend ordered the Panko Crusted George's Bank Cod with Whipped Potatoes, Baby Spinach and Caper Brown Butter. It also looked divine and she loved it!! I was quite impressed with the prices. They aren't as high as I thought. Also, they have this garden area in the back with - GET THIS - CHICKENS!!! A must see if you go! All in all I really loved this place. I will go back and tell everyone about it!
(5)
Debby L.
BREAD BASKET This is amazing. They have a sticky bun with pecans that are to die for. I thought I was going to share the bun with someone next to me, but I ended up grabbing more and basically eating the whole thing myself. It was so delicious. There are also cranberry and savory rosemary scones that were just as delicious, and it came with a creamy butter and apricot marmalade.jam. Yum. SAUSAGE SCRAMBLE on PUFF PASTRY The scramble is very good. The eggs are perfectly cooked and creamy, just the way I like it. I'd a pinch of salt and and some green onions but on the whole, it was very light and delicious. The puff pastry is new to me, especially with scrambled eggs but I loved it. COFFEE was nonstop flowing...which is great but I really had too much coffee! LOCATION The gardens are beautiful and you should take the time to go down to them and enjoy
(4)
Chris R.
This was my 27th birthday dinner from my girlfriend!!! The outside dinning area is great and the food is great too. Service was good and speedy and the valet was courteous!!!
(5)
Lauren R.
The food was excellent, being overcharged by 205% was not. I came to Canoe for on Sunday for a ladies brunch after Church. I had made the reservation well in advance so when we arrived we were seated immediately. We started off with the Small basket of Pecan Sticky Buns and Scones as well as the Pecan Zucchini bread. We love Peans so we couldn't resister. The Pecan Sticky Buns were good once you got over how tough they were. They were flaky which made them tough to split in two but once you crunched down on your first bite it was pretty yummy. The scones were okay. The Zucchini Pecan bread was my favorite. It came to out table warm and served with Bail cream cheese, an unusual but tasty combination. For entrees, my sister and I both ordered The Scrambler: French Toast, Bacon, Eggs and Breakfast Potatoes. This was really tasty! However the French Toast in this entree is different than their signature Brioche French Toast which is stuffed with Bourbon Cinnamon cream. My Mom ordered the Chicken Biscuit which looked and tastes eerily like smoked ham but she confirmed with the waitress that it was indeed chicken.. interesting. My Mom's friend ordered the Fried Green tomatoes which she enjoyed. Now to the bad, the really bad. I was in a hurry because I had another appointment to attend so I asked for the check to pay while the others in my party continued to brunch. I signed the non-itemized bill and left. I checked my receipt and they had mis-charged me $157.57 for a brunch for 4 people that was supposed to be $76.85.. I checked my bank account and they had processed the charge without even stopping to see that they had over charged me. No one from the restaurant called me to inform me that they caught this mis-charge or apologize instead I had to call the restaurant to let them know that I was overcharged by 205%. They said that they accidentally charged me for the table next to mine and would reverse and re-bill for the correct amount. A few minutes later I realized that I gave my waitress a 20% tip of $157 which is $30, way too much for a $76 brunch however the restaurant never asked me about adjusting the tip amount so I had to call AGAIN. I was never offered any form of compensation for their "accident" or for the mis-charge remaining on my bank account for 3 days. Great food but it's a shame that they have sneaky management. Always, always, always ask for an itemized receipt because they will try to over charge you if you are not careful.
(3)
Andrew W.
Eating Sunday brunch at Canoe in springtime translates to one thing: tranquility. Don't be a fool, this calls for dining al fresco (unless of course the weather is less than ideal). You get a lovely view of their meticulously groomed gardens and the Chattahoochee River. Get a basket of freshly baked pastries - we had Georgia Pecan Sticky Buns and Sweet & Savory Scones served with honey butter and house made preserves. Relax and enjoy the scenery while you eat. Feel the stress leaving your body. We had to wait quite a bit of time for our entrees, but we weren't in any rush. I ordered their brunch special of the day - some kind of smoked pork benedict. My wife ordered "The Riverside" - a traditional breakfast of bacon, eggs, hash browns, and French toast. While I was pleased with the lovely plating of my meal, the time it took to do so led to my pork being cold. Oh well, no biggie. The service was also very hospitable and attentive. I could hear a few of the waiters swooning to other tables about the intricate details of each dish. I detected sincere enthusiasm. They were also happy to snap photos for diners wanting their pictures taken in the garden. After you're done eating, don't feel rushed to pay and leave. Walk around in the garden. Take a few minutes to relax in the Adirondack chairs near the river.
(4)
Sylvia Y.
Took 3 tries to get a reservation because this place is popular and for good reason! Kangaroo appetizer: 5/5 Definitely to be shared between 2 ppl. The sweet onions bring out the subtle sweetness in the kangaroo. Yum. Rabbit: 4.5/5. The sauce was flavorful and helped to make the rabbit not dry and stringy but I thought the dish had just a tad too much fat... The ravioli was amazing though. Definitely tasted fresh and made with some serious love. Popcorn sundae: 5/5. To be shared by 4+ ppl. Looks deceptively simple but it's mind blowing. Their ice cream actually tastes like caramel popcorn cuz it was made with it. The chocolate note 'Congratulations' was a sweet surprise :) Basil dessert: 5/5 A lighter dessert option but nonetheless refreshing. What really gave this experience 5 stars was the quality of service. Our server was so patient even with an admittedly rowdy, big group. Our waters were always filled before they emptied and our bread crumbs scraped away without judgement. It's evident she knows her fine dining! If you're in Atlanta, come to Canoe to celebrate life. You won't regret it!
(5)
Michelle T.
You will not be disappointed at Canoe. And if some reason you are I recommend you do one of two things, A) speak to a manager because I am confident they will make it right or B) Go outside, have a seat at the outdoor bar, grab a drink and allow the Chattahoochee River to take you away from it all. I have been here three times and every time the food was delicious. If you go anytime soon, i suggest you get the smoked salmon appetizer, the cod with lobster and clam entree and for dessert well..... honestly the popcorn ice cream is amazing. I am a chocolate lover, so the Chocolate Grotto was my prince in shining armour for the evening. I was with a group and everyone left full and happy. The outside area is awesome in the warmer nights and there is a bar you can sit at without having to eat inside. Canoe is definitely on the Atlanta favorites list.
(5)
Didi L.
I had a great time for my birthday! We had the charcuterie plate to start I was hoping to get some pate but I didnt get any... For my main course I had the rabbit without the bacon but I didnt feel like i was missing anything. For my dessert the sorbet was perfect for a hot summer night! I didnt care for the cake that came with it.Fingerlicking good
(4)
Erin E.
I went to Canoe a few months ago with my partner for brunch. The food was delicious and our server was very good. She was knowledgeable about the menu and offered up a few great suggestions. We will be back!
(4)
Naomi T.
Great place to eat for anniversary. Ambiance was really nice and it wasn't really noisy. The food was excellent. Also the appetizers. Our waiter was also really nice. Would definitely go again.
(5)
Andrew W.
Overall 5/5 Food 5/5 Price 4/5 Service 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 Nutshell: Revisited Canoe for their anniversary. As always, I was blown away by their food and gorgeous scenery. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to celebrate an auspicious event, intimate affair, or someone just looking for exceptional food. Food: Everything tasted wonderful. Ordered the app shrimps, app tomatoes, entree rabbit and entree trout. The app shrimp came with 5 freshly poached GA shrimps (with head) with a nice fresh bell pepper arugula salad. The app tomatoes came with GA different types of fresh ripe tomatoes with goat cheese. Entree rabbit was slow roasted and perfectly cooked with no bones. The mushroom marscpon ravioli was out of this world and al dente. The bacon, potatoes, carrot micro salad garnish was refreshing. The sweet, salty and rich garlic sauce was the perfect addition that binded the plate together. The trout was perfectly cooked with the skin. It came with deshelled and very fresh shrimp, scallops and mussels in a gentle slightly rich seafood broth that made the blade seafoody but w/o that "smell" only the beautiful unique flavors that paired well. The trout dish did lack some sort of acidity that would have gave the dish more notes to it. Price: Although the food here is wonderful, after dinning in over 12 michelin star restaurants, I feel like the apps price could be reduced by $2 and the entree can be reduced by $4. But overall, everything here is fairly priced given the high quality and exceptional cooking. Service: Our waitress was extremely friendly and attentive. Our water was always topped off. Bread was always served warm. Table appropriately cleaned. Plates cleared quickly. Food came out promptly. They also do free validate parking but remember to tip :)! Atmosphere: Canoe is located literally next to the Chattahoochee River. Thus, after your order or after your done eating, you can walk along the banks of the river that is appropriately taken care of by the restaurant with romantic lightening. Additionally, they offer outside seating in which you can observe humming birds and butterflies flying by. They also have an outside bar located a few meters away from the river. If you prefer inside seating, its dark, upscale and modern.
(5)
Nauman B.
Had another outstanding experience at this beautiful restaurant. It's amazing how after my every visit Canoe and its staff leaves me speechless. Bruch recommendation; Duck & beef burger along with Granola & coconut yogurt. Either way, what ever one orders Canoe will leave you mouth watering and hungry for more.
(5)
Justin C.
I have heard amazing things about this place so finally decided to check it out for lunch today. It most def lived up to the great reviews it has. The food was absolutely amazing! The burger and fries I had were delicious and the wait staff was extremely friendly. I'll def be back again soon!
(4)
H R.
Celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary here and everything was so wonderful! Hospitality, service, food, water front garden view, seating and table setting were superb!! No detail is left below spectacular here! We ordered the Cod & Salmon entrees and also the Popcorn Sundae to share. Divine, delicious and beautifully presented! I think the only thing that would have made it pretty close to perfect (which is completely out of their control) would have been clearing the Chattahoochee River water. It's pretty gross and mirky. But otherwise the setting is absolutely beautiful!
(5)
Fefe P.
Seriously, Canoe tops my list of the best restaurants in Atlanta. And, it's a combination of factors that puts Canoe up there e.g. Southern Charm, Beautiful location on the Chattahoochee River, Ambience that can be romantic for a date Or great for brunch with parents/friends Or Cool vibe for a riverside Happy Hour with colleagues, etc. Plus, service is always EXCEPTIONAL...I think the waitstaff may be psychic. Finally, the "piece de resistance"--the food is consistently Amazing!!! To start, you cannot miss a beat with the House Smoked Salmon w/ Crispy Potato Cake, Baby Arugula Salad or PEI Mussels (refer to photos :-). Entree favorites include Hickory Roasted Pork Chop, Grilled Breast of Duck and Slow Roasted Rabbit (must have). Finally, literally anything that is being served for dessert will be Out of This World, Plate Licking Good! P.S. Don't forget to tour the garden and grounds, it's fabulous in Spring and Fall. Happy Eating!!!
(5)
Nikki A.
The husband and I enjoyed our third anniversary at this lovely restaurant. The service and the view are five stars for sure. We were looking for a romantic setting and this fit the bill. The only problem was that this place is LOUD! Not just a little bit bustling, but over the top noisy. I felt like our waiter actually had to shout explanations and favorite choices. The food was pretty amazing. We shared a Chartcuterie & Cheese board that was top-notch. My husband's Slow Roasted Georgia Rabbit was perfection. I chose the Pork Tenderloin plate; I wanted to love it but it was served lukewarm. The Popcorn Ice Cream Sundae was the best dessert I have ever eaten. We will definitely be back to try the patio/outdoor area, I am thinking it may be a little more quiet out there.
(4)
DynamicDuo H.
I absolutely love he atmosphere here. The outside has gorgeous scenery and delightful views of the chattahoochie river. We love to fine here for weekend brunch, it's always delicious. We often sit at the bar when we don't have a reservation. Dinner: we've only been once for dinner and it was definitely and interesting experience. Lots of game meat. We order the famous kangaroo. It was really good. Dinner was just alright for me because in kinda picky, however my other half loved it. If you love desert the Carmel popcorn ice cream is a must.
(4)
Katie O.
I've been to Canoe on a few different occasions and have always been impressed with their seasonal selections, variety and presentation. It has a perfect atmosphere nestled right on the Chattahoochee. I'd recommend making reservations in advance as it does get crowded! Bring change to tip the valet as well, since it is only valet parking!
(5)
Nick C.
Canoe, nestled in a shopping center/river bed oasis, is a wonderful place for a celebratory dinner. Upon entering the restaurant I felt instantly transported from Urban Atlanta to a quaint mountain town... in a good way. Menu standouts were the Onion Soup which seemed uniquely dairy based but somehow light and frothy and the braised rabbit. For dessert the caramel popcorn ice cream did not disappoint, even though its seems everyone is serving some version of it these days. Booze selection leans more towards wine, but there is a pretty nice Bourbon/Rye collection to match the rustic decor. Overall it was a great experience, just short of five stars.
(4)
Jill M.
AMAZING! Best service I have ever had!! Every employee was helpful, attentive, smiling, knowledgeable. Our waitress took an extra 5min to get me a cocktail and apologized multiple times and took it off the ticket (I didnt even notice the delay so it wasnt necessary but it was very sweet of her). The food was divine: the cranberry bread was a sweet surprising treat. we started with the kangaroo which had a pot roast flavor except for the sweet caramelized onions which made the dish special and exciting. My girlfriend and I ordered the salmon and also the duck entrees, and we told the waitress we planned to share them- and when the food came out the restaurant had already split the entrees so we had both entrees on our plates!! The salmon was so crisp on the outside and tender to perfection inside. The mushroom ravioli with the duck was chewy and savory, and the small bits of bacon added huge flavor. For dessert we had the popcorn ice cream- which tasted exactly like my mom's homemade caramel corn. The only issue was that we were sitting outside and the ice cream melted quickly. It was a busy Friday night- the parking lot was packed but we did NOT feel rushed or crowded at all. We were there for 2 hours and it was incredibly relaxing. It is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to, if for no other reason besides the incredible service.
(5)
Thi T.
What more can I add that others have not spoken about? I'll talk about my favorite item on the menu. I thoroughly THOROUGHLY enjoyed Canoe's House Smoked Salmon, Crispy Potato Cake, Vermont Goat's Cheese. It comes in two different sizes. The smaller size comes with two servings. I could gobble up 4 by myself though, I think. I love me some potatoes and this was thinly fried almost like hashed browns but not oily or mushy. Goat cheese was creamy and scrumptious. Salmon was fresh and not fishy at all. DEFINITELY recommend this appetizer. I came on a misty evening. I visited the backyard, dimly lit by various lamps. It was truly a magical and romantic experience. There are benches scattered throughout, including seats along the river. DEFINITELY visit this backyard haven!
(5)
Liz K.
Phenomenal place. I'm glad I finally got to try it! Started with some apps, like the Canoe's house smoked salmon app, crisped Georgia white shrimp, and a dozen oysters. Everything was soo well paired together. The smoked salmon was my favorite. Can never go wrong with potatoes+smoked salmon combination. For entrees, shared the cod with clams, and rainbow trout. Topped off the bottle with a sauvignon blanc, Domaine de la Perriere from Sancerre. My cod was so delicious. It was so fresh and tasted buttery, that is just kinda melts in your mouth. And the spread with the cod topped it perfectly. It was rich, but didn't feel overfilling. The service was great and prompt and the food was super tasty. I will be back, hopefully for Sunday brunch or another amazing yummy dinner. Next time I hope to dine somewhere near the view of the river!
(4)
Serge L.
For sure one of the best dining experiences I've had in the ATL area. Super location on the river with outdoor seating, and outdoor bar and a great vibe overall. The service was perfect, and the menu creative, featuring a number of game options and local ingredients. Highly recommend if you're in the area for dinner, or just want wind down at the end of a long day.
(4)
Christine W.
We had a lovely Sunday brunch here. Our waitress was great - She was not too overbearing and did a fantastic job explaining the menu. The atmosphere is very nice - see my photos of the garden out back. We ordered the small basket of pastries to start off. The scones and Georgia pecan sticky buns were absolutely delicious. Our waitress told us they were baked fresh at the restaurant that morning. The basket comes with housemade preserves and honey butter. I had the pastries with a cup of coffee and the coffee was really delicious too. For the main course we ordered the Fried Green Tomato, Smoked Carolina Trout Salad, Avocado, Poached Eggs and shared it. It was very good. The waitress split it for us and the portion was really just right after already having the pastries. I am looking forward to returning here for dinner on my birthday!
(5)
Connie A.
For the out of towners or for special occasions, Canoe is the place to go in Atlanta. Even my sister's father-in-law mentioned it when they asked where I lived in Georgia (he lives in Massachusetts, mind you). For service, it's definitely on-par for what you're expecting! They check in regularly and will never leave your glass empty. The drinks were heavy poured which we didn't mind. I LOVED the charcuterie board! Huge range of selections for $16; my personal favorite on there was the pate. As for dishes, I ordered the staple Slow Roasted Georgia Rabbit (when in Georgia, right?). The pasta with it was cooked al dente but once I had a bite of the Grilled Breast of Long Island Duckling... it was game over. The baby duck was the clear winner. Flavorful and amazing! I'm SO ordered that to myself the next time I come here.
(5)
Christophe D.
We went there on Wednesday evening. I took Rabbit who was supposed to be one of the highlight of the restaurant. Honestly it was good but kind of flavorless. A rabbit is a stew material and herbs or wine (or both) are helping a lot to bring flavor. There were none on this dish. That was quite disappointing as I was expecting higher quality of taste. Presentation was nice though. For 2 people, it ended up at $175 which I find quite expensive for what it was. I doubt I'll be back there.
We went to Canoe for a late dinner and got to sit outside and enjoy the view. The atmosphere is fairly upscale and you can walk around the property. It's a little outside the city but I supposed that's the price you pay for the view! The food was delicious but what truly sticks out in my mind is the popcorn ice cream as well as the incredibly professional service. Loved it, but seems like a visit here would be best for a special occasion rather than a one-off dinner.
(4)
Heidi M.
Creative cuisine and wonderfully priced bottles of wine. Beautifully venue for special celebrations. Enjoy!
(5)
Victoria S.
I took my partner here for their birthday. I was a bit nervous before coming here because some of the reviews were less than happy. I really don't know why though because this is a wonderful restaurant!! We went at 6:15pm on a reservation. It's part of this cute little strip mall; don't worry the restaurant is noticeable and very lovely. It was quiet on the inside; I wanted to sit outside but it was burning up so no ma'am. I will say that at around 7 when people started coming in, it got louder. It wasn't really that bad though, I didn't mind it and I really can't stand overly loud restaurants. Our waiter was really nice and explained the menu to us. This place is two courses then the optional dessert. Between the both of us, we had: scallops, duck, rabbit, and kangaroo. They are all very delicious, including the kangaroo which was surprising to me for some reason. Maybe it's because I didn't know what to think when it said kangaroo... Anyway, the outside is absolutely gorgeous and you can go towards the river and order drinks from their bar at any time without dinning there. Warning for people who are looking for a hardy meal: this isn't that kind of restaurant. This is a "this plate was made by a gourmet chef/abstract artist" type of restaurant. I did get full here, but if you want a double stacked burger with all the fixings, don't go here. I think the only thing that made me feel bad was that people were driving up in luxury vehicles. There is a free valet service; they brought all of these beautiful cars around...and then they bring my pathetic jeep that my sister recently wrecked and tore off like half my vehicle. Why couldn't I have an ashton martin too?! Lol this is a absolutely wonderful restaurant and I hope to go back soon...after I get a better car.
(5)
Steven L.
A fabulous restaurant that I have been wanting to go to for a long time. When you pull up its valet parking only. I did not know this as I have been looking at what menu items to order by looking at their pictures. Menu items ordered: turkey sandwich, truffle fries, sweet tea, two different kinds of bread (flat and regular). First up the sweet tea was great as they bring out unsweetened tea and with it they give you a small glass of sweet water to sweeten it by. The turkey sandwich was a big sandwich with special seasonings and flavor to add a special taste to it. The truffle fries were one of a kind as they taste like no other place I know of. The ketchup they bring you is house made and not store bought. The ketchup had a sweet taste to it which I liked. The service was excellent as they took care of me while I was dining in. My glass always stayed full of sweet tea as probably at least 3 waiters and waitresses served me. The portions of food they bring you during lunch are very generous if you order a sandwich.
(5)
Mama A.
Just made a reservation for two for tomorrow ( Monday ) the lady who took my call sounded like she was rushing me to end the call, not friendly at all! We shall see what happens next... I will still give this restaurant a try because of the so many good reviews. Good luck to me
(1)
Alex P.
There is no other restaurant in Atlanta that compares to Canoe or even gets close to it, especially for brunch. I see Canoe as an embodiment of the southern culture, food and beauty. Situated on the gorgeous Chattahoochee river, you get to see the beauty of Georgia right at your fingertips, oh and did i mention, while enjoying delicious food! It's a very romantic spot too in case you are considering bringing a date. During the summer months, they even have an outdoor bar right by the river. Treat yourself with a bottle of Prosecco and enjoy the Sunday afternoon pass by slowly, just as it should. I have many favorites on the menu. ~ Georgia Shrimp dishes - I don't specify which one, because they do change it up a bit. Sometimes with grits, sometimes with other sides. However, always delicious and one of my favorites. ~ She Crab Soup - PHENOMENAL ~ Duck n' Beef Burger - very tasty and a large portion if you are hungry. I don't think i've ever been able to eat the entire thing. ~ Georgia Pecan Sticky Buns - just get them. So tasty, not overly sweet and without doubt, go on the list of best pastries i've ever had. I've had my share, trust me. ~ House Smoked Salmon - infused with smoke and deliciousness. A must. One more note, if you want to sit outside, you may have to wait a little bit in the summer months. But it's worth it and the wait is usually not too long.
(5)
Nicole O.
Between the view, ambiance, food, and service this is a 5 star restaurant to me. Waiting for our table we went into the bar, where the gentleman sitting next to us recommended the smoked salmon starter with the endorsement that it was the best smoked salmon he'd ever had. Having lived in Seattle, I had to try this as I thought that wasn't possible....it was quite possibly true. Sitting at the bar, we started with a couple delicious glasses of wine as well as the shrimp appetizer, while the bartender gave us a tour of the best items in the menu. The shrimp was really good but not in the same level as the salmon atop something of a potato cake (a hashbrown the size of an English muffin). We move to the patio with a fabulous view of the river and the riverside bar. So peaceful, inviting, and just plan beautiful. For dinner we ordered the trout served with goat cheese ravioli with a bit on pesto and the rabbit with a more savory mushroom ravioli. My favorites were the ravioli (served with the trout which was cooked to perfection -not to dry, but not undercooked either) and the rabbit. I've only had rabbit very few times but this was incredible. Also cooked to the optimal temperature Looking to resemble chicken (which I am not a huge fan of) but with a rich flavor and great texture. I highly recommend giving it a try even if you are a little apprehensive about game meat.
(5)
Shawn C.
I love, love, love Canoe. My most recent visit was for brunch with my husband and another couple. We requested outdoor seating which was spectacular. We started with mimosas and the waitress accidentally spilled one of the mimosas on my husband. It really wasn't a big deal but she was so apologetic and compensated his meal. The scones were great and so was my meal. I ordered an arugula salad as my appetizer and the Riverside, minus the bacon as my brunch meal. Both were very tasty. Be sure to book reservations well in advance and if the weather permits, you can't go wrong with outdoor seating. I've been for both brunch and dinner and was satisfied each time.
(5)
Amy G.
You know that opening scene from the Notebook? Where the flock of birds fly over a sun-kissed lake? Yeah, you could tell me that scene was shot here and I wouldn't even bat an eye. This place is *gorgeous*. Atmosphere alone would make me suggest this place to you. The service is on point (they really know the menu and have whole hearted recommendations) and the complimentary valet is a nice touch. The food, however, didn't live up to expectations. While the charcuterie board had an amazing chicken liver pate and a nice assortment of meats/cheeses, the main entrees were a bit disappointing -- my friend and I tried the duck and the pork tenderloin. They were cooked perfectly but the taste of each was a bit lacking and not particularly awing. Dessert was amazing though. You must try the popcorn ice cream sundae. Seriously. It's ice cream layered with caramel and homemade cracker jacks. It's also huge, I would recommend sharing it. Overall, it was a lovely meal and I would come back just for the view alone.
(4)
Jenny D.
I had brunch at Canoe twice. The first time I was with a group of 8 and we were seated by the window and had a beautiful view, we made reservations a head of time. The second time I tried to make reservations the day before for two people but none was available. We decided to walk in during the day hoping a reservation would open but no such luck. However there was a table by the bar but you lose the view. In my opinion the view is a big part of the Canoe experience. At least I had the opportunity so sit by the window, but my friend who was a first timer did not experience it. Service was OUTSTANDING both times. Great personable servers. Here is my comments on the food: Duck and beef burger - according to the server this is one of there signature dishes. Although it was presented really well, there was something about the burger I did not love. Perhaps I'm more of a 100% beef kind of girl. Although the the truffle fries that he burger came with are AMAZING. Portion of both burger and fries was huge. some of each bread basket - it's not actually one of every bread they offer but it did have a sticky bun and 3 different scones. Sticky bun was my favorite of the bunch. It also came with 3 different Jams Zuchinni bread - oh my...this was a little piece of heaven. Served with whipped basil cream cheese on the side. House Smoke salmon appetizer - although this was beautifully presented, it was my least favorite food. The quality of the food was fine, I think there was an herb that I did not care for. The description of the appetizer was not clear, so I'd ask the server what are all the ingredients before ordering Grilled Atlantic Salmon over spinach and spaghetti squash - the server was kind enough to split this meal into two dishes for me and my friend to share. It was absolutely perfectly cooked and light sides to pair with. Dessert - they have so many delicious sounding options that is was so hard to decide. I ended up getting the popcorn sundae because I've ready many reviews about it. It was indeed delicious, how can you get ice cream, cracker jack popcorn and caramel wrong. But there were so many other desserts i wish I got to try. I was just so stuffed that I couldn't. I think I could go back here for just the dessert alone!
(4)
Keith G.
I am a sucker for artisan food in a romantic environment. So although I had been here before, imagine my surprise that the Hubster, brought me here for my birthday. It was around 9 pm and that time, to me, is perfect. There are less people and although you can't see the water, the dim lights, and outside walkway and trees that are outfitted with festive lights, provided the perfect backdrop to our celebration. I had the quail and it was amazing. We also had dessert, cocktails and an appetizer - the whole sha-bang and EVERYTHING from start to finish was delicious. And, the bread/pita/breadstick basket...too ridiculous. Trust me, Mama Bear was off the diet that day! A friend got the delicious crab cake. Chocolate grotto and shrimp stuffed calamari will be on my list when I will visit this place. Its a special place, next to the river...the perfect spot to make someone really spec. Do visit this place and the food is really testy. Do take ur friends and family amazing place. Canoe is a fabulous restaurant...well designed interior, tables focused on allowing the guests to see the river right outside the place. On to the service. What can I say? Remarkable in every regard. I love how particular restaurants have a team to service your table so you never felt like a need was not being attending to. Our waitress was great and she rounded out our exceptional experience. GO! Whether you want to explore some gamy options or stick to the more traditional fare, you will have a magical experience. its a special place to make someone really spec. Do visit this place and the food is really testy. Do take ur friends and family amazing place. Canoe is a fabulous restaurant...well designed interior, tables focused on allowing the guests to see the river right outside the place. Its the best place in Atlanta which will make u feel that you are out side of the city life. some dream place where you eat feel and feel happy about it. Do take your spouse when they are angry to make them feel special. PS: This is not just a spot for couples however that was my type of visit.
(4)
Rose S.
I just got home from brunch at Canoe with a couple of friends. We had a reservation at 2:30pm for their Sunday brunch. I made the reservation on Thursday and took the only available time slot left. If you're looking to have brunch earlier in the day, then I suggest making a reservation at least a week ahead of time. I was happy to eat at 2:30 because the restaurant wasn't very busy and we had excellent service. As soon as we even thought about drinking our water, the sever was there with a carafe. How did he know? Two of us ordered "The Riverside" but exchanged the applewood smoked bacon for grilled asparagus. I KNOW THAT BACON IS DELICIOUS. I'M SORRY! We're vegetarians so we were looking for another option. Our food was excellent but the brioche french toast that I was served tasted a little off. My other friend ordered the Brioche French Toast, Bourbon-Cinnamon Cream, Banana Pecan Syrup (yes, I copied a pasted that from the Canoe site) and loved her dish. The caramelized bananas weren't mushy like they can be. We also got an order of the truffle fries to share because we were looking to be wheeled out of the restaurant. The truffle fries are incredible and you can easily share a side with three people. Like some of the other yelpers have said, you need to bring tip money for the valet because you can park your own car. Other than our great food and excellent service the environment was beautiful and serene. We had lunch next to a hummingbird and a few cardinals.
(4)
Micki B.
Wow!! What a lovely spot. If you've ever eaten at Disneyland at the Blue Bayou restaurant, this is what the atmosphere reminded me of. Very upscale and waterside, glittered with lights as the sun fades away. The cuisine is seafood/American and the options are aplenty. I was recommended to split a couple appetizers and order a main course. I would actually recommend to downscale and leave room for dessert! That's the one thing I wish I did differently here. Everything was phenomenal. My date and I shared the kangaroo appetizer, the charcuterie/cheese plate and the beet salad. For the main course we each got the rabbit. The flavors were out of this world and each bite was worth the price. I also got a tasty lavender-honey cocktail and of course some of the delicious bread they bring along to the tables. Go for a stroll after dinner and maybe take some pics by the water. This is an excellent place to bring someone you want to impress, or to dine like royalty.
(5)
John M.
Went for Valentine's day. A special menu was available. Appetizers: My wife had a smoked salmon appetizer which was huge. She reported it was delicious. I'm allergic to salmon so I was unable to snag a sample. I had a beet, walnut, blue cheese salad. While pedestrian, it was tasty. Mains: Wife had a lobster tail with foie gras ravioli. All was delicious. However I don't understand why serve a delicious ingredient such as foie gras and so totally hide the flavor you would never know it was there. I had a New Zealand venison supposedly cooked to the rare side of medium rare. It was served with truffled gnocchi and various mushrooms. It was a hot mess. The venison was massively overcooked. The only way I could tell this was by using the light on my phone. It was so dark in the restaurant I couldn't tell venison from mushroom. Both were equally tough and stringy. Desserts: Both desserts were good but nothing special. Service: Went well until the end. I do not appreciate the check being brought to the table while we're still eating. This isn't Applebee. Ambience: I would probably enjoy this place on a day when I could sit by the river. I believe they over reached themselves with the special menu. I will give them another try.
(2)
Jeff F.
Everything is as good as it gets here! A beautiful place to come for a nice dinner or celebrate a special occasion. The food is great! The views from the open windows looking out of the river are very relaxing so try to request a table by the window. In the summer, you can sit outside and relax on a cool night. Don't skip the desserts!
(5)
Atlanta F.
The service here is always spectacular. The food here is always delicious. And the overall dining experience is fantastic. I only have the privilege of coming here to to three times a year but I always look forward to the next trip.
(5)
Logan N.
I probably need to come back to give this place another try. My dining experience wasn't as superb as other yelp reviewers....maybe I just didn't come hungry enough. Smoke salmon/crispy potato cakes: they're good, but I'm not smacking my lips thinking about them Rabbit: again, it was good, but not the best rabbit dish I've had. Parking: valet only
(4)
Michael W.
If you're looking for some amazing food in Northern Atlanta, then Canoe is the place to be. After spending weeks eating mediocre food around Marietta, my trust friend Yelp came to my rescue. Canoe looked like a restaurant that you'd find in New York and California. Located in a surprisingly nice area of Atlanta is where you'll find this gem. Right when you pull up, you'll see that the parking lot is incredibly small. Rest assured because the valet service has got you covered. Once you walk in you'll be welcomed with a full bar to your right, and an expansive dining room. The icing on the cake is their outdoors area, which is right next to the water. If you're looking to grab a couple drinks in the evening, what better place to do that then outside? From the countless times that I've dined here, I've developed a hit list of sorts on what I prefer to order every time I stop by. Appetizers: Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Yuzu, Napa Cabbage Slaw ($16) - Pretty large crab cake with chunks of crab inside. The yuzu flavor is an incredible complement to this dish Grilled Australian Octopus, Chorizo, Peppers, Horseradish Tomato Broth ($14) - By far my favorite appetizer here. The octopus is grilled to perfection. Chewy with a nice char, and when combined with the tomato broth, it sends you to a state of euphoria Prince Edward Island Mussels, Chili, Peanut, Ginger, Basmati Rice ($14) - Probably one of my less favorite dishes. The muscles are in a nice broth, but not as memorable as the octopus or the crab cake. Entrees: Grilled Breast of Long Island Duckling, Duck Leg and Ginger Pot Sticker, Bok Choy, Ginger Dashi ($27) - Out of all the dishes that I had, this was the smallest in regards to size. Even so, the dashi paired perfectly with the tender duck. Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit, Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato, Candied Garlic Sauce ($29) - This has to be the clear winner as far as dishes at Canoe. The rabbit is amazingly cooked and is juicy. Add in their ridiculous bacon ravioli and, Jesus Christ, this dish is what will sell you on Canoe. Hickory Grilled 12oz New York Strip, Crushed Fingerling Potato, Asparagus, Black Garlic Butter ($35) - A huge slab of steak. This strip has a nice char to it and has is flavored to perfection. Not too salty for my taste. Asparagus was a little soggy, but that's not a deal breaker. As far as service goes, the staff is attentive and gives that nice Southern hospitality that I've come to love. Canoe is a great place to have a nice dinner in Atlanta. The ambiance great for dates, as well as a dinner with coworkers. I've never been let down before with their food, and I don't anticipate this happening for the time that I'll be in Atlanta. Canoe, you have me sold.
(4)
Zoe Y.
Beautiful environment and good service. Most important, the food is so good! I had brunch in a sunny day and sat by the riverside. I love the Pecan sticky buns for start, it is so yummy and I took four buns to go. The house smoked salmon is great. Then for the entree, I had the mountain chicken, the potion is decent so I can't finish it, but it is also good.
(5)
Jang C.
I was not thrilled about going to Canoe. Looking at their menu, I thought it would be the same old stuff as I would get at South City Kitchen, Empire State South, or Common Quarter. Sure, 10 years ago, maybe Canoe would've been the bomb. But many farm-to-table, new-American restaurants popped up since then. So I thought I would be jaded by Canoe. Boy, I was wrong. Canoe is similar to those restaurants, but Canoe takes it a step higher. It is definitely a fancy-smacy, high-end restaurant. The service and food are high-class. I was pleasantly surprised. We ordered 2 appetizers and 2 entrees. What's cool about these appetizers, since we were sharing them, are that they made them into little courses. If you come with 2 people, you can probably order all the appetizers and have a 10-11 course meal. In fact, that is one option I recommend. Before the appetizers came, the bread lady came with several kinds of breads. We tried them all. All of the breads tasted good. I liked the cranberry bread the best. For my appetizers, I tried their Hickory Smoked Duck Pastrami and their Oysters on the Half Shell. The Duck Pastrami was amazing. I loved everything that came with it. The Radish, Blood Orange, Beets, and Rye matched well with the duck. The Oysters were delicious as well. They tasted fresh and loved whatever stuff they put on it. For the entree, I tried the Slow Roasted Georgia Rabbit. It was a very good rabbit. The rabbit meat melted apart. The candied garlic sauce and the juice from the rabbit gave it a great flavor. It comes with Goat Cheese Tortellini, but I got it with bucatini because of the lactose in the Goat Cheese. I thought the bucatini was overcooked, however. Maybe changing the dish messed with the chefs. Canoe is sensitive to whatever food allergies you might have. So if you need to change a dish, they will do it with no problem. So I was happy they changed the tortellini. I also tried the trout. I wasn't a fan. But it was done well. The skin was nice and crispy and seemed like a great dish. I just didn't find it appearling for some reason. I loved my rabbit, drinks, and the appetizers. Our server seemed very knowledgeable about a lot of stuff on their menu. Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions like we did! The food wasn't perfect. I give it about 4.5 stars.
(5)
Bob D.
Awesome staff, food and atmosphere. took girlfirend here for surprise birthday and the food was top notch. Leave room for dessert because it was simply spectacular- even tried the popcorn sundae
(5)
Quinn V.
It's been hard trying to get a reservation at the time I wanted. They mostly had slots after 9pm. But finally got a table for 2 at 6 pm. And it was worth the wait. This is definitely date night material. The view is beautiful. We chose to sit outside in the patio because the weather was nice. We sat directly in front of the Chattanooga river. It was quiet and romantic. Half way through dinner, fog started rolling in and it was quite a sight. Appetizers: --Smoked Salmon: delightful. It would have been near perfection if they reduced the amount of cream cheese. --Watermelon salads with goat cheese: such a simple dish but it was delicious. So fresh & flavorful. I imagine this is what spring tastes like. Specials of the day: - Sole in creamy shiitake mushroom & rice. (Sole is similar to tilapia in texture.) It was a mild dish at first taste, nothing exploding but the more you eat, the better the flavor. It was inviting. -Chard on coconut cake & vegetable. (Chard is similar to salmon, but milder.) the coconut cake is divine! Such a perfect balance between sweetness and saltiness. Love the seafood here. Will be back for the ambience and to try other dishes.
(4)
Ruth H.
Went here for Easter brunch and can I just say AMAZING. You have to get some sticky buns and scones to share for the table. They are decadent and your mouth will thank you. For my meal I got the fried green tomatoes and it was delicious! The poached egg and shrimp were cooked perfectly. It was a descent portion. Other people in my group got the salmon, steak and eggs, and duck burger and everyone enjoyed their dish. Not only is the food great but the scenery is beautiful. In nice weather you can take a walk or sit out back next to the Chattahoochee
(5)
Greg S.
Great spot in strange little shopping center. Excellent variety on the menu, solid cocktail program and excellent service. Will definitely be back
(4)
Ervin C.
Amazing food. Love the entire experience. Very romantic to have drinks after dinner outside. This place rocks.
(5)
AJ W.
Our absolute favorite restaurant in Atlanta! Great ambiance, outstanding service, best variety of food options available! Did I mention, it's right on the Chattahoochee River? With an outside bar right on the river- Spectacular!
(5)
Maurice D.
Nearing 700 reviews so I won't go too in-depth with this review. Canoe is one of Atlanta's top restaurants. The restaurant is situated right next to the Chattahoochee River in a quiet, forested area in the West Paces Ferry neighborhood. The staff here is very friendly and professional. Canoe is a great spot for a romantic date in the evening or a business lunch meeting during the day. The restaurant clientele here is mostly comprised of sophisticated and upscale diners, primarily due to the neighborhood this establishment is located in. I am very fond of the duck and beef burger here and have ordered it on both of the occasions I have dined here. The burger is very well executed and the french fries that are served with it are excellent. Give Canoe a try on your next date night, it definitely should not disappoint.
(4)
Valerie N.
We came for a birthday dinner on a Saturday night in July. We gathered our group of 4 at the outdoor bar as it was super mild, beautiful summer night and it felt heavenly to be outside with a glass of rose in hand. Delightful. They came out to find us and tell us our table was ready, and I said "Really? its so nice out..." hoping she'd get a hint that we wanted to finish our drinks outdoors, but instead, we followed her inside and up into the upper dining room to a table with no view. Wumph wumph. I looked at the birthday girl, who was shivering (the A/C was blasting in July style, but the weather was so cool outside, that it really made for a striking temperature change when we walked back in...), and asked the waitress if we could sit outside. She said there would be a 30 minute wait, and we said no problem. We went back to the river bar, ordered another round, and settled into the Adirondack chairs on the river to watch the ducks float by. Perfection. It very much felt like my happy place. Might I also pause here and give mega kudos to the bar staff at the river bar? Super friendly and quick with refills. I'd just sit out here in the future. Our table was on the outer edge of the patio, with primo views of the river and gardens. Perfect birthday locale! Our amazing waitress promptly showed up and walked us through the specials and menu. She was an absolute star. I truly credit her for making our Canoe experience so terrific. We got a few appetizers, two of them being summer specials. One of the specials, the heirloom tomato appetizer, was delicious. It came with a tomato sorbet, feta, and beautiful tomato slices. Deliciously light and flavorful. The other special was georgia shrimp with asparagus and housemade banh mi sausage. Also excellent - the shrimp were super plump and seasoned well and balanced perfectly against the asparagus and sausage. The app that stole the show was the smoked salmon. OMMMMGGGGGG, this is delicious. Get it. Maybe even get it as your entree. Its a can't miss item that I think has been on their menu since day one. I usually do not enjoy smoked salmon at all so this speaks volumes to me giving it praise as a can't miss item! Canoe takes a crispy hashbrown rosti base, some type of creamy herby cheese, and tops it with delicate smoked salmon. The balance of textures and flavors is so satisfying and delicious. It just tasted like summer, especially with a glass of rose. I ordered the trout with lobster ravioli, which was also terrific. It was a giant filet that could have been easily split with my spouse. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Absolutely delicious and the perfect meal for sitting outside in the summer. The ravioli were really good, but there was a part of me that would have preferred the trout on a bed of grilled summer veggies. I would definitely get this again, but I would want to split it. Hubby had the duck burger, which was actually just okay (I think its a better idea in theory than in execution), but the fries were seriously delicious. Because it was a birthday, we got a complimentary dessert with "happy birthday" on the plate. We had a summer special - peach crisp with vanilla ice cream. It was so delicious - great texture, great fresh peach flavor, yum. We also had after dinner drinks and I praise my decaf cappuccino. Yum. All in all, it was a super relaxing perfect summer evening spent eating beautiful food that was fresh and in season. I've gone ahead and booked out several reservations so I can get here more often and enjoy this beautiful location. I know I haven't spoken about how beautiful Canoe is, but I don't need to - many other reviewers have beaten me to it and they do it justice. I will note that I didn't notice any bugs and didn't get eaten alive while sitting outside - either at our table or on the river bank. I'm not sure if the breeze was helping keep them at bay, but I didn't get bit once. I love it here - its like a sanctuary, just right outside the city. It definitely deserves its top rating on Yelp as one of Atlanta's best!
(5)
Bryan L.
Came here for our prom dinner and it was a very enjoyable experience. The decor for Canoe is amazing, from the bright bold letters outside, to the wood furnishings, even to the menu design: a simple sheet of tan cardstock. Plus, the restaurant sits right on the bank of the Chattahoochee River, so scenery should be spectacular in the day (I came at night). After we ordered, we got two bread baskets for our table. It was an assortment of sourdough, olive bread, cranberry nut, and cheddar crisps. I've had my fair share of complimentary bread at restaurants, and these were one of the best I've tried. My favorite was the cranberry nut, it tasted like raisin bread, but the sweetness of the cranberries weren't too overpowering and the bread tasted fantastic with butter. The cheese crisps were interesting, like how other reviewers described it, Cheez-its come first to mind. These crisps were a bit spicy to some people, but overall contrasted nicely with the other selections of bread. Basically just a classy cheez-it. SMOKED SALMON, POTATO CAKE, GOAT CHEESE - $7 (2 cakes) Reading the other reviews, I had to get the potato cakes. I've been a huge smoked salmon fan all my life, and thoroughly enjoyed the combination of flavors in this dish. Essentially the base was a crispy potato cake, with goat cheese, and a slice of smoked salmon piled on top. The dish was kind of a twist on your regular salmon, cream cheese, capers, and bagel. The salmon was really tender and had a lot of umami, the goat cheese tasted a lot like cream cheese while the capers cut through the creaminess of the former. The potato cakes tasted like hashbrowns, and really wrapped the dish together. My only complaint is that there was a bit too much of the goat cheese, and I couldn't really taste the salmon as much as I would've liked to. GEORGIA RABBIT, MUSHROOM TORTELLINI, HOUSE BACON, GARLIC SAUCE - $29 I haven't had much experience eating rabbit, so I'm not very qualified to judge this entree. The rabbit was cooked to tender goodness, and kinda had that gamey taste you would have with lamb and venison. The mushroom tortellini didn't taste that special, and the garlic sauce had a little tartness that complimented the richness of the rabbit and bacon. Overall I really liked this dish, but I just wish the serving size for the rabbit was a little larger. I really enjoyed my experience here, and I do hope to come and visit again. It was a bit pricey for a student like me, but I would definitely recommend this restaurant for special occasions like prom for my instance. Also, the back of the restaurant is really gorgeous, and I got a few really nice shots at night (see them below).
(4)
Bo Y.
It's a great restaurant with good food. Nothing spectacular, but guaranteed satisfy everything you're looking for in a restaurant. First of all, their staff is out of this world. I've never seen a group of people so courteous and genuinely welcoming. Following that, the food is pretty standard chain-restaurant style. The oysters and seafood are extremely fresh, but they piled a lot of unnecessary ingredients onto the oysters. Too much vinaigrette actually overpowered the oysters themselves, to the point I had to wipe my oyster clean. They do have other creative appetizers like the smoked salmon on ultra crispy hash browns with cheese and their coffee is fantastic. Another flaw is that the food tend to be a bit too heavy, as in too buttery and too oily. Through my entire 3 course dinner, I grew too sick to eat anymore. It was delicious, just too heavy for seafood. Again, it is a decent restaurant and if the chef just eased his touch on the oil and let the fresh seafood shine through, I'd be much happier.
(3)
Anh B.
I wish this place was as good as I heard it was. Love the place and the atmosphere. Serves here was pretty amazing and I got to admit I love the out door of the location. When you come to a place like this, you know it will be pricey. Most of the dishes start off at $20 to $30. We didn't know what to order for appetizer here so we asked our waiter, he told us they where know for their crabs cake and smoked salmon. We end up ordering both of the appetizer and a drink. The crab cake wasn't bad at all, but I wish our crab cake was fully cooked from the inside because it was cold. The smoke salmon was slide very thin and it was topped over creamy goat cheese with crispy potato. I got to admit that wasn't my favor appetizer. I wish I didn't order that and the creamy goat cheese just over power the salmon. I feel like I was eating CREAM Cheese by it self. The crispy potato tasted like hash brown! My boyfriend order the steak here and nothing really fancy about it! I wish it had more flavor and the meat was a little dry for middle rare! I can't remember what I order was but I got the fish here. I wish my fish has more salt and and flavor. My fish was so bland that it wasn't worth paying for. I didn't even finish my fish so I brought it home and recook it to give it more flavor and a little more salt to it. I wouldn't come back here again! It wasn't that great!
(3)
Thu M.
Oyster tasting. No disappointments on quality coast oysters. Breads were delicious. Patio was romantic and I would love to come back on a rain less night to enjoy the landscape. Server was attentive and well trained. Loved the selection of oysters, debating to come back to try other things. Also, I need to add that I had THE BEST smoked salmon appetizer. Came on top of goat cheese and A crispy potato hashy-thing. A MUST try.
(5)
Dale N.
One of only a small handful of places that I'll give 5 stars. In all the years we've been going to Canoe, we still hold it as the benchmark for all other restaurants we frequent. If you've not been, you owe it to yourself to go.
(5)
Cara S.
Extremely good food! But will never go back. My boyfriend and I were blown away by the brunch we ordered. Our server was amazing as well. The scones were to die for. My boyfriend enjoyed his burger with delicious truffle fries while I enjoyed my French toast with eggs, potatoes and bacon. What we didn't appreciate was being sat in the corner next to the kitchen just because we weren't in a dress and a button up at 11am on a Sunday. About halfway into our meal we realized that we had been profiled for the way we dressed. We are both employed by highly successful entertainment conglomerates, but like to dress down on the weekend. For this we missed out on the outdoor view that we had looked forward to. Most likely will skip this place in the future.
(5)
Geraldine W.
Recently, we hosted a wedding reception for 70 and were very pleased with the food, service, and over-all ambience. From the beginning over a year ago, Laurie Vance and Dana were great to work with. They paid attention to every detail and we left the reception in their capable hands. Matt was the man in charge on the night of the reception and he was impeccable. Thanks to Canoe and their capable staff for a very memorable evening!
(5)
F G.
Our starter charcuterie was beautiful. Rabbit had a lot of flavor, great combination with the mushroom ravioli. My New York strip steak with bordelaise was cooked to perfection. Service was a bit too much on the colloquial side. My wife ordered a glass of white for the starter and a red for the main, which arrived at the same time. The waiters comment was "double-fisting, eh?" which is a bit, you know, inappropriate. Other than that, really well done. The restaurant is in a beautiful location by the river. If you can get a table outside, do it. It really adds to the experience!
(4)
Bryan M.
Rabbit and Chimay masterfully done. The service was exceptional. I must say this location is perfect as well. 5 stars!
(5)
Frank Z.
This restaurant is absolutely beautiful in every respect. After your meal, you can walk around in their garden/patio area and enjoy the scenic river. The food here is delicious as well. It is really a wonderful experience and a must-go in terms of Atlanta restaurants. To elaborate a little bit more on the food offerings, I have tried the majority of the menu items and have yet to find something that I didn't like. The server will usually suggest their smoked salmon appetizer to you and I would have to urge you to go with that suggestion and try it, its fantastic. For main courses, they're all good choices, but if you're feeling hungry and a little adventurous, try the Duck n' Beef burger, its pretty awesome. The service here is also very good, all of their servers are excellent. They also have complimentary valet service, and I would suggest making a reservation if you are going during their busier hours. The bottom line - Should definitely be on your list of must-go's in ATL
(5)
Maya E.
One of my favorites in Atlanta! Decor is beautiful, service and food was spot on! Perfect for a date or special occasion
(5)
Lee C.
Terribly disappointed with the brunch that we had this Sunday. my chicken was greasy and served on top of a very minimal serving of grits. My date was going to try canoe and rated her food a "ehh" Also if you're gluten free then avoid the brunch the choices were minimal
(2)
Nelle C.
Was able to have Sunday dinner with some friends at Canoe recently before the weather turned cold. The most outstanding part of the experience was the SERVICE! i am not able to recall the waiter's name, but he was amazing - polite, gracious, and really went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and well taken care of. We had a young child in our party who was very fussy about his food, and the waiter constantly checked to make sure that he was doing all he could to ensure a satisfying dining experience. My adult companions enjoyed the steak while i had a fish dish. It was great including the side dishes, and everything was expertly prepared. Our wonderful waiter offered to give us a complimentary dessert, which was so nice of him. i recall it being a bit dry, but we all didn't have much room for dessert in any case. The next time i'm in the ATL area, i hope to stop in again at Canoe for their great food and estimable service.
(4)
Jennifer C.
For the most part, the food is tasty and the environment and service is fantastic. For appetizers, we had the kangaroo and crab cakes. Main course was the skate fish and the rabbit. The kangaroo was smoked well, and both the skate fish and crab cakes were on the mark. However, the rabbit was a little bit on the dry side and and tasted exactly like a under flavored chicken (quite different from the tender rabbit at Miller Union). For dessert, we had the sorbet which I thought was delicious, although my friend noted it had a bit of a grassy taste. Overall, it was a really great experience. For two appetizers, two main courses, one white wine, and one dessert the tab came to about $115. I would definitely recommend walking around the back, they have a cute partially hidden vegetable garden area near the lake.
(4)
Lilly Y.
Oh my bacon wrapped monkfish. This place is so good! I wish I made more money so I could eat here regularly! Everything was top-notch: atmosphere, drinks, service, food and dessert. Now I know why they're packed all the time. We came in on the night before Thanksgiving, and it was fairly slow at the time. We got prime seating facing the river, and ordered a few drinks while we decided on food. I had some vodka drink that I can't remember the name of, and fiance had a Old Fashioned. They let you choose your own bourbon from a list of maybe 10+, so you can get it just the way you like it. Or, in my case, how he likes it because I really don't like bourbon. We split an order of calamari (all rings!) while trying the house-made breads. My favorite was the cranberry walnut; it would be good for breakfast with apple butter! The calamari was also good, and I really liked the pickled broccoli. I ordered one of the specials: bacon-wrapped monkfish that came with a side of brussels and something else that I can't quite remember. But I do remember it was really good! The monkfish had a similar texture to scallops and went really well with the bacon. But, then again, everything tastes better with bacon! Fiance's rabbit was good, but I couldn't get into it because I kept thinking about eating Thumper from Bambi. Rabbit may not be my thing, but the bacon-wrapped monkfish sure will be! Finally, for dessert, we had a chocolate grotto with caramel and pretzel dust. It's like a dome filled with chocolatey goodness that you crack open and rub the pretzel dust on, and don't worry about the calories because it's so darn good! I will definitely be back! In addition to everything else, our server was wonderful! So polite and took the time to make sure everything was done correctly and that we were happy from start to finish. Whatever they're doing, they're doing it well.
(5)
Maiya I.
My husband & I came here for our 2nd anniversary dinner. We were immediately very impressed with the restaurant, the atmosphere, the grounds, the lighting, & especially the customer service! By far, the best customer service of any place I've ever been to! Our waitresses were well informed & very pleasant. They brought over bread, wine, & our drinks. My sweet tea was amazing! It came with a simple syrup which is so much better than using regular sugar packets. **I will note that there was an issue with our appetizer (crabcake): it was not the waitress' fault nor was it taste (it had to do with the kitchen) but the issue was resolved quickly. We received a new appetizer & it was actually taken off our receipt at the end. We greatly appreciate the service & professionalism we received in rectifying this issue.** We also ordered the steak, perfectly medium rare, well portioned & divine! We got individual desserts, my husband got the popcorn icecream which is such a unique & yummy dessert. I got the chocolate grotto, I'm not a huge fan of caramel but I loved it! Pricewise, it is a very nice restaurant but the prices weren't outrageous! Definitely worth the food & experience! I would really like to come back to try out their Sunday brunch! I can't wait.
(4)
George W.
Amazing date night! Duck is terrific! Service outstanding. Valet parking. Walk along river after dinner, and hold hands. Super nice place to go with significant other!
Went for a late dinner with my wife and daughter. First time at this restaurant. The location and appearance are really good. Food was mixed however. The bread is excellent, starters were good although I found the watermelon salad to be a bit too complicated and could not identify all of the flavors. The smoked salmon and crispy potato was excellent. Sadly two of the entrees were disappointing. My duck breast was rather greasy atop an indistinguishable and quite unattractive mixture of the other ingredients. My daughter's quail suffered a similar accompaniment of indistinguishable ingredients enveloped in a wrap or crepe, unappetizing and which she did not finish. My wife had the trout and at least this dish was reasonably good. The wine list is extensive and very good, not overpriced given the quality. Service was mixed, attentive but at times a bit intrusive. I prefer to pour the wine myself but our server kept filling one or other of the glasses without first asking each guest if they wanted more. My wife eats rather slowly and the server asked her if she was finished while she was still dining. When she said no she was told no problem, take your time. Frankly that should be unspoken, this is niot supposed to be a cafeteria or fast food joint. Overall I have to say we came away a bit disappointed and unimpressed. We were expecting a lot better. Unsure if we would return to give them a second chance.
(2)
Christian M.
I'm giving it four stars because personally for me, the place was awkward. I consider myself to have a pretty open pallet, but I draw the lines at eating bunny rabbits. Yes, they sell rabbit on the menu. Also before I say the next thing, I would like to clarify I have a bachelors degree and I'm currently in school working on my second degree, but I couldn't understand ANYTHING on the menu! It was literally all like foreign language to me. This must be where the fanciest of the fancy eat because I couldn't understand anything (besides rabbit and duck lol). Me and my family didn't want to seem like duds by asking the waiter to explain their whole overly exquisite, fancy menu to us, so we winged it. It was ok. The scenery though is BEAUTIFUL! The whole atmosphere and environment was very beautiful!
(4)
Jen L.
I LOVED this restaurant! After hearing sooooo many wonderful things about it, it was definitely on my Top 5 list to go to! It exceeded all my expectations! To start, the scenery was beautiful. We requested a seat facing the river on the inside of the restaurant and the river is soooo close, you'd be surprised. It was a perfect afternoon, not too hot and not too cold. The waitress was really knowledge about the menu and recommend an excellent summer type gin cocktail. She also told us that they have a vegetable garden in June that you can look at outside and the restaurant actually uses it in peak times of the year! I started off with the Sweet Potato Clam Chowder which was the best soup I have ever tasted EVER! Then the main course was the Enchanted Rainbow Trout with Lobster Rangoon Ravioli in a Mustard Cream sauce. I wasn't abnormally impressed but it because it came to the table with the silver skin facing upward which didn't look too appetizing. After taking it off, it was pretty good but I probably wouldn't order it again. The Lobster Rangoon Ravoli was delicious and I wished there was more of it on the plate! For dessert, I had the homemade popcorn Cracker Jack Ice Cream Sundae. It was even better than it sounds and I've never had anything like it! This is a great restaurant for celebrating special occasions and enjoying wonderful weather. I heard the lunch portions were a great size with lower prices so that's something you'd want to check out as well.
(4)
Phong T.
Canoe is a beautiful restaurant that sits right next to the banks of the Chattahoochee River. It serves up Modern American cuisine with Asian influences. Amazing ambiance inside and out. Trendy, sophisticated-classy, and casual. Canoe consists of inside seating as well as outdoor (patio) seating. The scenery outside is breath-taking. Great for snapping a few pictures, waiting for your party to arrive, and grabbing a few drinks (has an open bar). Finally got the chance to try it out for a birthday event I attended! Parking: Complimentary Valet Appetizer: Tea Smoked Duck Breast, Bartlett Pear, Confit Duck Leg, Seeded Mustard, Blue Cheese Cream 13. -Where do I begin? The duck was cooked well and very tender to taste. It almost tasted like a Chinese BBQ pork seasoning/marination. It was served like a salad-type appetizer. The dressing/sauce was good, but eventually overwhelming -- too oily considering duck is already a fatty bird. The bleu cheese definitely added a kick of flavor balanced off with the sweetness of the barlett pear. Entree: Stuffed Vermont Quail, Kabocha Squash Stuffing, Brussels Sprouts, Apple, Bourbon Coffee Glaze (26) -DELICIOUS. The quail was delicious, tender. The bourbon coffee glaze was just enough to make your taste buds notice it. The squash stuffing was so good. It had a mushy flavor (kinda like mashed potatoes), but it went well with the slight crunchiness of the brussel sprouts. Simple yet tasty. Overall, great first experience at Canoe. Highly recommend this place. Service was exceptional. They really strive for their customers to enjoy everything about the restaurant: food, ambiance, scenery, drinks, you name it!
(5)
D.J. K.
This place gets a solid 4 stars. I've only been here once for dinner, but have been here a number of times for business lunches with colleagues. To start, the bread basket is AMAZZING. I'm a huge carbs girl so the freshly baked bread assortment of goodness always puts me in a good mood, especially because I'm so hungry by lunch time. I always get my usual of the jumbo lump crab cakes. It's always so fresh, but not fishy. I can't get myself to try anything else. My coworkers usually stick with the burgers and sandwiches which I never heard them complain about. Parking is valet only, so have cash for tip. The ambiance of the restaurant overlooking the Chattahoochee river gives it a charming and romantic element to this restaurant.
(4)
Joy W.
YESSSSSSSSSSSS I finally made it to Canoe! It was a joint celebration as a treat to myself for my first promotion and also for my good friend's 25th birthday. BREAD | FREE First, let's talk about how amazing their bread is. The waiter comes around with a wooden board of a variety of fresh baked bread: sourdough, olive bread, cranberry nut, and cheddar crisps. My favorite was the cheddar crisps which is basically like a gigantic fancy cheez-it for a lack of a better description. That thing was full of flavor, and I loved the crispiness. Also, I decided not to get the sourdough bread in fear of eating too many white carbs, but tried a bit of my friends' and IT WAS THE BEST sourdough bread I have ever put into my mouth. Finally, I tried the cranberry nut one which was exactly what you would expect it to taste like, and I enjoyed it a lot. Honestly, that's a meal in itself, so pace yourself so you have room to eat your entree. SMOKED SALMON AND POTATO PANCAKES | $12 for 2 This was a very refreshing and savory appetizer all in one. The smoked salmon laid on top of deep fried potato hash that was in the shape of a small pancake, and had soft goat cheese in between. Now, normally I'm not a goat cheese fan, but this one was pleasantly delicious. There was also a dill and cream sauce on top of the salmon that made it very refreshing. I loved this entree for 1) the flavors and 2) the price point and 3) makes you feel like it was worth coming to Canoe. DUCK AND BEEF BURGER WITH TRUFFLE FRIES | $16 My mom has come here with her girlfriends before and has raved about how delicious the duck and beef burger is and how you have to let them know ahead of time you want it so that they can prepare it. Honestly, I forgot that tip and ordered it anyway, and it was available. The patty is about 30% duck which renders its juicy fatty goodness into the beef, and is also topped with wilted spinach and an over easy egg that bursts its delicious yolk over the patty as a natural sauce. And the fries, oh the fries! BEST FRIES IN TOWN hands down. Even better than the ones at JCT Kitchen. They have rosemary, parmesan, and truffle oil. I could just eat the fries for my meal and be satisfied. RAINBOW TROUT, KALE, AND GRITS | $24 My friend who is a pescetarian (vegetarian that eats seafood), ordered this and fully enjoyed it. I tried a bite of it as well and it was REALLY good! I wouldn't have minded ordering that for myself. It is a fancier take on southern dining. YOU'LL LIKE THIS PLACE IF YOU'RE: - a fan of fine southern dining - gorgeous atmosphere (sit in the back patio overlooking the river on a nice day!) - like to feel like a queen because the service is phenomenal - needing a good place for a nicer occasion (graduation, promotion, birthday, family in town, anniversary, wedding) - rolling in the dough ($$$) YOU WON'T LIKE THIS PLACE IF YOU'RE: - on a budget - under dressed - too traditional with food and don't eat fun twists on American food - out of cash for the valet Hope this helps!
(5)
Erick P.
I believe the dinner I had here last week easily qualifies as my best meal ever. The server was super attentive and extremely professional. Wish I remembered his name! For appetizer I had the kangaroo loin which was spectacular. Having never eaten kangaroo, I was expecting it to be kind of tough and gamy. Boy was I wrong! It was extremely tender and delicious. My wife had some kind of soup I believe. For appetizer, we had the beef bolognese and grilled duck. The duck wasn't very fatty and was also excellent. It was served on top of a bed of equally delicious forbidden fried rice. The beef bolognese was also very good and had quite a bit of meat. For dessert, we shared the popcorn ice cream sundae which was served with homemade cracker jacks. It was a very unique dessert and I highly recommend you give it a shot. The waiter was also kind enough to have it split into two separate servings for us. I highly recommend this place! Top notch food and service plus the outside area is very nice for a quick stroll or a drink at the bar overlooking the Chattahoochee
(5)
J B.
Yum, yum, yum! Love this place; atmosphere is great, views are awesome, but their Roasted Lamb Sandwich takes the cake...sooo delicious!
(4)
Greg A.
My wife and I rank Canoe as one of the top restaurants we've ever experienced. From the creative menu, to the preparation, presentation, and flavors, they have it right. If you are in Atlanta and want a special dining experience you owe it to yourself to try this restaurant over all others on your list. To make this even better enjoy your meal outdoors where the environment adds a romantic and more peaceful element.
(5)
Cara M.
Took My fiance here for his Brthday!!! OMG SOOOOOOO PERFECT! its in an unassuming local but the food and service was exceptional. I called ahead and preordered dessert, they also offered to write a card for him from me which i thought was so great! Now the food......mmmmmm, omg the crabcake sooo good! But the star of the night the coffee rubbed venison! Ok I will admit i wouldn't let him order the duckling or the Rabbit bc I am like "no omg they are so cute" finally he ordered the venison. It was like a Filetx1000! so good! I had a fish special and I am used to fish from Miami and I also altered it taking of the breading it was good but I think when I am used to salt water fish never have had anything fron the south or fresh water I was just not amazed. I basically ate his food. But all in all I appreciated them being able to alter things to my dietary needs! YUM GO HERE
(4)
Rania G.
So I'm not going to beat a dead horse, clearly people love this place, and so do I. I have little to add to all these other reviews except that I don't even live in Georgia, but I am already plotting my next visit so I can come back to Canoe. I had lunch here. I just want to highlight a few things. 1) The ambiance is awesome, the views of the river are beautiful. 2) The service is wonderful. 3) I don't know what they do to their home "cold smoked" salmon, but it is literally the best I have ever had. Period. If you are a fan of that heavy smoke flavor, then you may not like it, but for me, I don't like eating something that tastes like smoke. Get the smoked salmon appetizer if you go here, seriously, do it. I can't wait to visit again and be reunited with my one true love, the house-smoked salmon.
(5)
Audrey A.
Okay so I'm not very good when it comes to ordering at high-end restaurants. I had never tried rabbit or any gamey food, but I still kept an open mind and was impressed with all the food. I had their appetizer meats and cheeses (more meat than cheese) and it was mostly meats that I had never tried before. They served it with a liver dish and at first I was like BLEH, but it had this cherry taste to it that was delicious. And the location could not have been more perfect. I sat a table that showed a view of the river and it was absolutely breath-taking. Although I can only afford this place every once in a while, I felt like every penny I spent was worth it (Boyfriend's penny, not mine). A very good date/celebration place to take yourself or significant other.
(5)
Jane L.
I ate here with my husband to celebrate our anniversary. If I have one complaint, it is just that there are no vegetarian options. I really wish there would be at least one!!! I understand that it is all about the fresh fish and meat... but it wouldn't hurt to expand the menu just a teeny bit would it? Just a suggestion!
(3)
Loretta V.
"Ruined Birthday Dinner" 2 of 5 starsReviewed July 29, 2015 NEW My husband took me here as a special treat ON my actual birthday after a week of trying new restaurants each evening around Atlanta. I must say this was the worst experience of the week. We had reservations at 7 and at 8:30, we were searching for the server to ask where our dinners were...when they did come, my husband's steak was undercooked, he sent it back and when it came back, did not look any better. The manager came over and suggested salmon that he could deliver quickly. It was my husband's third night of restaurant salmon and it was actually the worst tasting. Our evening was totally ruined since dealing with all these issues definitely takes away from the celebration. They brought out 3 ice cream desserts that were ice cream based, so we couldn't take them home...the manager did comp my husband's meal, but we felt that was the least he could do. As a marketing professional, I really thought they would have given us some incentive to return. We have no reason to do that now, especially since we have found several superior spots to eat and they were not nearly as expensive. I've been wanting to go to Canoe for years and was very excited when I learned that was where we were going...Beautiful place, but shocked to have had this experience. I really expected much more and so did my husband. He felt terrible for me. I have shared this with many friends and they were equally surprised. I really wish they would have lived up to our expectations, which were fair, and done better to apologize and compensate us better for falling so short of their supposed high quality reputation. I definitely also noticed that the large groups were getting preferential treatment. If a Manager wants to contact me, my e-mail address is vital27@comcast.net , I'd appreciate it. Visited July 2015
(2)
Brian G.
We really had a great dinner at this spot. It was my first time here, but I was with some experienced locals to Canoe. They knew exactly what to order and we had a great meal from the moment we walked in. The Canoe as you walk in, is just pretty amazing and it certainly gives a good idea of what you are getting into when you arrive. We are going to go back when it is light outside -- you have to get the view of the river and sit out on the back patio. I'm going to make that a must hit when we are back. I had the original manhattan when I got there -- we shared a few of the appetizers as well (smoked salmon and calamari). Meal was really good -- i went for the pork tenderloin and it was excellent. Great experience and I plan on going back sometime soon when I am back in Atlanta.
(4)
Petrina P.
This restaurant has always been on my to-do list but now that I've done it I must say I'm not impressed. Now don't get me wrong, the view is amazing and it's always great to pass by the amazingly beautiful homes in Vinings to get there, but the restaurant itself was just okay. The staff was very attentive. I mean I literally had to hide my water glass. The food was good enough, I had the Grilled Atlantic Salmon spaghetti squash & carrot saute, pecans and wilted baby spinach but not even that peaks my interest to return. Could be the fact that it was underwater that time Atlanta flooded a couple of years back. But then that would make it a mental thing and I don't want to sound crazy, oh wait is it too late? Any who, I doubt I'd make another reservation. I just wasn't excited about Canoe as much as I was before dining there. Again, it's ok and if nothing else you should try it out for the ambiance, the restrooms are selfie worthy.
(3)
Melissa N.
Wow! This place is great! The service here was perfection. Meal presentation was timely, wine refills were just perfect, meaning my glass was never empty and water refills were also perfect. The food was also amazing as other reviews have specified. The smoked salmon appetizer is a must have as others have also indicated. The atlantic salmon for dinner was also very well cooked and tasted amazing.
(5)
Kellie N.
The food is absolutely wonderful! Pricey but worth it! The service was outstanding & the views of the river add to the ambiance. Must try- Quail, Duck, Trout, & Popcorn sundae
(4)
Jack T.
Ambience: refined, elegant, great river view dining, the garden is a superb and looks like its stage ready for weddings Service: top notch, highly attentive staff Food: the roasted rabbit was well seasoned, had a flavorful sauce. Desserts: recommend if ordering the super sweet chocolate grotto to marry it with the popcorn Sundae. The sundae subdues the sweet grotto Definitely an enjoyable dining experience
(5)
lizzie b.
Even more amazing on the second visit! Enjoyed a beautiful view of the river while eating outside. Expert tip: while not on the menu you can get half portions of their appetizers! I had a half parsnip soup which was incredibly delicious and half an apple salad which was made with Georgia apples, shaved butternut squash, and rum soaked raisins. Fantastic! For dinner I had the salmon which was one of the most flavorful fishes I've ever eaten. I will be coming back here whenever I am in Atlanta!
(5)
Gill B.
Since I first moved to Atlanta over two years ago, I have heard whispers of this "Canoe" place and it's wonderfulness. I finally made my first trip to Canoe over the holidays while my parents were in town. And wow... I cannot believe that I waited so long to come to this spectacular gem of a restaurant. We made a reservation for the three of us and arrived about 20 minutes early, but they were able to accommodate us without a problem on the Friday after Christmas. I didn't love the fact that they only offer valet parking, but given how wonderful the food and experience was I can forgive it. The restaurant was still adorned with festive decor - pine and ornaments and lights framed the entrance. I was immediately charmed by the rustic elegance of the establishment especially - the canoe paddle door handles. We were seated to a table by the window overlooking the river. It was beautiful in the winter, but I can only imagine it would be a pretty spectacular spot in the spring/summer. Our waitress was incredibly informative, attentive, and delightful. She went through the specials in detail, and patiently entertained our questions on everything from fish texture to wine recommendations. To start off the meal, one of the staff members came by with an assortment of bread options - crisp flatbread, olive, sourdough. For the main course, my father ordered the duck n' beef burger, loaded up with a sunny side egg. He marveled at the massive masterpiece of a plate, complete with a side of fries. I ordered one of the fish specials - a white fish from Maryland. It was ridiculously fresh and flaky, and it was spot on with the white wine recommendation from the sommelier on staff. My mother ordered the famed smoked salmon appetizer as her main dish. Let me tell you - we all walked out smiling and satisfied. On our way out, the hostess smiled and inquired about our dining experience. We thanked her for a delicious and memorable meal, and she promptly handed us the brunch menu and encouraged us to return. Fresh pastries, egg concoctions and cocktails? Don't mind if I do... Now I understand why eyes light up at the mention of this classic ATL institution of a restaurant.
Great service and amazing food. Would recommend to anyone. Make reservations ahead of time!!!
(5)
Maggie H.
The main course here were soso, but the appetizers and desserts were so, so good! I loved the sweet potato clam chowder, the Mussels, the Raisin walnut bread and the Beet salad. Bathe main course Rabbit was not bad but nothing amazing. It was tender but not I was not a fan of the sauce (sweet and tangy like BBQ sauce? Doesn't seem classy enough for a place like this. There is a beautiful outdoor area and looks like it would be perfect for Sunday brunch. Service was great too. Definitely try this place out if you're in the area.
(4)
Dan G.
I'm going full 5 stars on this which I rarely do. We were just blown away and satisfied on so many levels with the experience at Canoe; operative word being "experience". This delightful establishment is not a place one ought to visit for a meal but rather and entire lovely hospitable experience. The grounds....amazing.....the food just wonderful....and the service, the final trophy on top. All three together made for an unforgettable moment and one I hope you and your friends or loved ones can enjoy as well. We had reservations for 2 on a beautiful Atlanta afternoon which they promptly found a table for us outside so we could enjoy the view of the lazy and refreshing Chattahoochee river as we dined. The service was just splendid with an attention to detail that was neither pushy nor claustrophobic. We ordered the House Smoked Salmon, Crispy Potato Pancake, Vermont Goat's Cheese for our appetizer and were just speechless. A gentle dripping of light olive oil dressing perfectly crispy potato shavings adorned with lovely smoked salmon and a tangy herbed goat cheese. Canoe seems to suggest one take a slow and lazy meal...just like the river and grounds and we did as we enjoyed this dish as long as we could. Well done!!! For our mains we had Cornmeal and Blueberry Pancakes, Maple Lavender Syrup, Key Lime Mascarpone and Crispy Smoked Chicken Biscuit, Southern Collards, Poached Eggs, "Red Eye Gravy". Shut the Front Door!!!!! That was an AMAZING brunch! Both meals were the perfect contrast to each other as the Chicken/Biscuit dish was hearty and savory and the pancakes were light fluffy and sweet with the most delicious key lime mascarpone cheese. We never intended on finishing both dishes but alas....it was so. We were just in Atlanta for the weekend so this was meal to be enjoyed experienced and remembered and I assure you Canoe and its wonderful staff did a fantastic job on all accounts.
(5)
Thomas Z.
Ordered steak, chocolate grotto, and lamb special. The steak was overcooked. Ordered medium but came to us almost well done. Lamb wasnt very good either, it was cooked four different ways but all four were average. The dessert ended up being the best out of our dishes. I would give 3 stars but the service and environment were spectacular. The manager came by and apologized for the steak and offered to have it recooked. They ended up not charging us for the dessert either. 3 stars for taste, but 5 for service.
(4)
Sammi T.
I really loved 3 things about this place - the cocktail I had (zerozen-something?), the appetizers, and the service. Unfortunately, we didn't get a table by the window :( However, dinner was still great! We started with the "Meat and Cheese" (a whole lot of things I can't remember or pronunce correctly) plate and Crispy Shrimp. The "Meat and Cheese" plate had a couple different pates, cured meats, and cheeses... it was truly a great sampler! Shrimp was fresh and awesome. The main course didn't wow as much as I expected, but it was still a good meal. The duckling (poor duckie) cooked medium was super delicious. The fish dishes were good as well, but the trout was a little salty. This restaurant has amazing service and was a good experience!
(4)
Yashaba H.
I had brunch here a couple of times and I've never left disappointed by the food. Everything is so well prepared and they use the freshest ingredients. All the berries on my French toast tasted as though they have just been picked. The outdoor view is amazing as well. The service at times isn't that great but the food definitely makes up for it. Make sure to try the basket of some of each!
(4)
Samantha L.
I came here once before with my family to celebrate my parent's 30th anniversary, and had a really lovely time, so decided to bring the BF here for an early celebration of his 30th birthday. Everything lived up to the hype of the reviews and my fond memories of the restaurant. We had a late reservation, 9 PM, but there were still quite a few tables when we arrived. We had a nice table by the window, but unfortunately it was too dark outside to fully appreciate the view. Mentioned once to the host that we were celebrating a birthday and I swear every single staff member that came in contact with us wished him well for it. Bravo. Leslie was our server and she did a fantastic job describing specials and tending to us throughout the course of the night. As she explained to us, they typically keep mostly the same proteins throughout the year, but change the preparation/sides seasonally. So if you went during the summer, don't expect the same to be available in January. (That's what seasonally means...duh...). The server assistants did a great job making sure our silverware were always clean and the table crumb free. Love that attention to detail. We started with the smoked salmon appetizer and it was PERFECT. Smoked salmon, chopped chives, onions on a potato cake (think really crispy latke) with some sort of aioli + capers on the side. Literally everything I want when I have smoked salmon as an app and really well balanced. For entrees, I had the duck breast, he had the chicken. Both were moist, tasty, and way too much food for us to finish. Oh, and their bread selection is wide (though not warm, probably my only qualm). If you're shameless, feel free to ask for one of each (This is what the BF did. We were told it was a judgement free zone). Leslie even noticed our bread obsession and gave us some extra to take home. Oh and drinks - this is where I first discovered Bulleit whiskey. Get the one with Bulleit Rye...it may or may not change your life. Overall, a GREAT place for a special occasion, or if you're just feelin' like a baller, shot caller.
(5)
Jasmine L.
What a great place to go to celebrate! It was my first time coming to canoe and after hearing so many talk about it I decided to give it a try. Everything about this place was great from the valet to the hostess to the waitress. They don't have a big selection on the menu but that didn't stop us from trying something new. We had the NY strip steak plate and the duck. They both were cooked to perfection. The best part is the big wine selection they have available and the wine shop they have located in the same strip as the restaurant. Overall everything was great, can't wait to go again.
Amazing food! Wait staff a little dry. Will definitely head back this spring summer. Great wine too!
(4)
Tahnita C.
This is a exquisite breathtaking romantic restaurant. I must say know I know why I've heard so much about this place. I wasn't so sure of the location since, it was my 1st in this exact area however, after a short misrouted from my map-quest & I arrived. The 2 valet attendants offer complimentary parking, 2 check in ladies & our servers were very professional. Our server (wish I recalled her name) was very pleasant. I suggest you make a RSVP so, you are guaranteed seating as this is a hit spot & it's fills up quickly starting at 6pm; even on a Wednesday. Even though it was my 1st time the service here was so magnificent that, when the server greats you they great you by your last name. I had to tell my date...I promise it's my 1st time here! He said I know, it's fine...this is what they do...this is my 3rd time here. I was relieved & said oh ok. The drinks were decent, as long as you drink up before the ice melts. Before placing our order I was a tad bit disturbed by a fly or two that was buzzing in the corner window at our table so, I asked to be moved to a different table. My friend had the salmon & I the grilled 32oz steak and I must say the food was very tastefully flavored. This a must visit restaurant & I highly recommend it. Its a perfect place for a romantic intimate date because, you can eat in the inside with a window view on looking the beautiful & active red cardinal birds and the Chattahoochee River. Or you can catch a drink at the bar, at the outside bar steps by the River or simply eat on the patio. Either was all anywhere you sit you will enjoy all that this restaurant had to offer. A small word of advice...if you decide to chill by the River be sure to spray yourself or bring some OFF! bug spray cause you will get eating alive by the bugs (like I did). However, I enjoyed my evening so much I suffered through the bug bits into the early part of the night, gazing at the fire flies (which was my 1st time seeing in my life as I never knew this was a real insect) and it was worth every bit received.
(5)
Quiba Q.
Flavorless chicken and fish, portion size and price is hmmmm ... HUNGRY-LAND! Come here for social setting. Complimentary bread items/breadsticks and crackers were great. Chocolate espresso tart is nice and that's about it. Great service!
(3)
Julea T.
I ate at Canoe for the first time earlier tonight, and my meal was absolutely incredible. I sat at the bar, and the service was top notch. The bartender took the time to ask everyone their name, and he remembered and called everyone by their name. He was extremely attentive, and knew how to check on me at just the right times. My food was outstanding. I had the New York strip; it was the best steak I've ever had before. Just perfect. The potatoes and spinach were the perfect accent. I had the gluten free chocolate cake, but I couldn't tell that it was gluten free- it was delicious. I also love that they have Allagash White there; it's my favorite beer. I wish I could afford to eat there all the time, but I'll make a point to go back and visit again before too long. What a great restaurant!
(5)
Lindsay E.
My husband and I visited Canoe for a fancy date, and boy did this fit the bill! The staff referred to my husband as Mr. Sutton the entire time, our waiter gave helpful recommendations and said "great choice" more than once. Relatively quick service, delectable delicacies, and a very nice garden patio by the river. -- Smoked salmon appetizer (Canoe's House Smoked Salmon, Crispy Potato Cake, Vermont Goat's Cheese): Call me casual, but the first thing we thought was, "It tastes like pizza!" We both really enjoyed this dish. Smooth, soft, and cool smoked salmon over crispy potato stick cakes. The goat cheese helped to tie up the flavors very nicely. I ate up every bite, and I won't be surprised if I get this again! The bread: Get the cranberry one! I could have filled up on that alone! The duck (Grilled Breast of Long Island Duckling, Duck Leg and Ginger Pot Sticker, Bok Choy, Ginger Dashi): My husband got the duck and loved it. His comments: "The portion is very good, and the ratio of duck meat to vegetables is great. Very good flavor and texture." The trout (Enchanted Springs Rainbow Trout, Lobster Rangoon Ravioli, Seeded Mustard Cream): I chose between this dish and the rabbit. My server informed me that the rabbit's been on the menu for 15 years, and it's probably not going anywhere, so if I plan on returning, I should try the trout now since it will probably be off the menu next week. I liked the trout. The meat was soft, and the skin was crispy. The lobster rangoon ravioli wasn't particularly impressive, but I ate all the fish. Next time, though, I'll forgo the trout for something more flavorful. The chocolate grotto (Chocolate Grotto, Salted Caramel, Pretzel Dust): Hard shell chocolate dome (that you have to crack open) with a creamy, salty mousse/caramel concoction inside with a chocolate cake at the bottom and finely crushed pretzels swathed across the plate with another swath of chocolate. It was delicious! It's very rich. When I took my first bite of what's inside. it reminded me of a very, very creamy and smooth peanut butter. The saltiness plus the sweet was a perfect combination. We couldn't finish all of it! -- Lovely location. If we want to drop some serious coin, we'll be coming again for the rabbit and that smoked salmon.
(5)
Jennifer N.
This is an update from my last review. Let's just say, they made me a believer.
(5)
Emily A.
I went on a rainy day so I didn't get to experience the beautiful outdoors :( but it was really nice and the food was great.
(4)
Nichole S.
Amazing service, food, and view! I highly recommend it! We had the smoked salmon appetizer, the fish specials for the evening, and a few cocktails- the Georgia peach tea cocktail was really good. The dessert was amazing - we had the chocolate grotto. The waiter even took time to talk with us during our experience there and wrote congratulations on the desert for our belated wedding anniversary and sons first birthday!
(5)
Greg G.
You can't beat the location. Perfect place for a business meeting or romantic evening. Great food and impeccable service.
(5)
Anuj C.
The best resturant in all of ATL is also the most romantic. This place is awesome, and please sit outside at eveing/night, there is nothing like it. Get apps and drinks and then take your drinks and walk around the canoe garden, see some fireflies, first time my wife has seen them, its really beautiful and romantic. Now to the food, bloody amazing. for apps we got the corn soup and the jumbo crab cake, corn soup was deliciously creamy and perfect amount of seasoning. the crab cake was on of the freshest crab cakes i have had and i come from SF were crab cakes are plentiful. For entries we got the scallop and Salmon, Scallops were incredible and can compete with the Michelin star restaurants in SF. the Salmon was perfectly cooked and deliciously seasoned as well. This is where i have to dock them a star, the deserts. we got the Popcorn Ice cream sundae, cause it sounded pretty interesting, and Chocolate Mint Panna Cotta. the sundae looked very cool but tasted not so good. I was just not a big fan of it, the saltiness in the sundae and the popcorn in there, it just didn't work for me. the panna cotta was good not out of this world, but good, the best part was the chocolate mint balls. The people that work here were very nice and FYI there is mouthwash in the bathroom, which i appreciated greatly. also the parking here is Valet only, don't have to pay extra but be sure to tip. This meal in SF would have costed close to $250, but the best fine dinning experience in ATL cost a $100 for two ppl(without wine), that sounds good to me.
Cant wait to return! Our group loved everything that was served along with the service. The only thing that could have been improved was the temperature of the coffee as it was barely warm (before pouring the Bailey's). Apps: -Charcuterie & Cheese Selection -Hickory Smoked Duck Pastrami Entrees: Rabbit New York Strip Grilled Breast of Duckling Dessert: Coffee with Bailey's (generous pour) Popcorn Ice Cream Classic Apple Tart
(5)
Lisa K.
Came here for our 1 year anniversary and had a great overall experience. We ended up sitting at a table overlooking the Chattahoochee River. The ambience was perfect! We started off with the smoked salmon on top of a crispy potato cake. It was AMAZING! Hubby ordered the duck and beef burger with parmesan fries. I ordered the trout which came with sauteed greens and mashed potatoes. Both were delicious. For dessert we ordered the chocolate grotto with salted caramel and pretzel dust. The plate had "Happy Anniversary" written on it and I was happy to know the restaurant paid attention to detail because we only mentioned that when we made the reservation. I heard Sunday brunch here is great too so I will be back to try it out!
(5)
Lee R.
Let's just say one of the best dining experiences I have ever had in Atlanta...or EVER for that fact. A friend and I went for my birthday and had a great experience. We had a reservation, but the place was so busy, we still had to wait about 10 minutes. I won't hold that against them as I know how unpredictable wait times can be. After being seated, the initial server addressed us by name, offered us waters, and explained the massive wine menu. (They also have their own wine shop next door with over 700 wines). We decided to start dinner off with cocktails instead of wine. Let's just say everything looked so great it was hard to decide. We had an awesome mussel appetizer that also featured crawfish and sausage all in a white wine garlic sauce. Let's just say that it was amazing. In addition to our appetizer, a server came around with a tray of about 4-5 different bread choices. I tried two of them and definitely had a second portion. For our entrees, I simply had to try to Rabbit. The flavor profile may have been one of the most amazing things to ever grace my mouth. As the waiter told me, "If you are even considering the rabbit again anything else, get the rabbit." It is simply something you just can't get anywhere. The portion size was great. My friend ordered the salmon and spaghetti squash. He enjoyed his dish, but didn't rave as much as I did. Honestly, If I'm going to a restaurant with a lot of unique options on the menu, salmon would be one of the last things I would order. After the entrees the waiter brought out the dessert menu, which looked great. They also had a huge list of after-meal drinks as well. We were so stuffed that we passed, but we will definitely save room next time. This is a great place for a special event or just a night out with friends. Be prepared to easily spend more than you would on a normal weeknight out, but it is well worth it, not only for the food, but the experience.
(5)
Jordan H.
Thee best food experience my husband and I have ever had!! I'm not an adventurous eater at all but I decided to step out of my box and ordered the rabbit. Oh boy am I glad I did. It was so delicious as what was paired with it. My husband had oysters as an appetizer and then the monkfish. He said the oysters were to die for and that the monkfish was really good too. Our waiter was amazing. He knew the wine, beer, and food menus forward and backward. Unfortunately, I don't remember his name since we went last March. I also loved that a waiter would bring a basket of different kinds of bread around to the tables that were all delicious. This place is pricey and I would say you should go for a special occasion but you won't be disappointed. The service, food, and atmosphere was great. I can't wait to go back for brunch in the summer! I heard the outside area by the river is great. OH! I can't forget about the dessert. I got the chocolate ball thing. You have to hit it but then this delicious chocolately goo flows out. Oh man. Plus there is a strip of pretzel dust that you pair with it to make it even more yum :-)
(5)
Jovan Y.
Canoe is an elegant place with a nice scenery. It is a great place for a family dinner. I had the duck it was very tasty. The specialty drinks were surprisingly good as well. If you want a more ambient scene with great service and delicate food try this place you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Vj D.
Canoe delivers a five-star experience without the pomp and pretense. It felt like being in a down to earth family restaurant albeit a very refined family. I admit that this was more than what I am typically used to in Australia and for a while I had forgotten about the kind of service that ought to be bundled with a $30 dollar meal. Let's just say you don't see this level of service and attention to detail in places that charge $30 and up for a meal where I live. Quite sad really. I tried the Carolina Rabbit and it was lovely, this was also the first time I had rabbit. I also got to sample a bit of the halibut which was one of the specials for the evening. What the chef did to that fish was amazing. Great value for money, great place to have dinner with family or a loved one. Too bad it was raining and we couldn't really enjoy the outdoor garden. I suppose that merits another visit in the future :)
(5)
Sharanya A.
Excellent scones! We even got to had our brunch on one of their tables that is outside bu the river which was a very pleasant experience.
(5)
Ashley O.
I am writing this review about 2 years late. I just never found the time until now. We dined here only on special occasions. It is very upscale so dress accordingly or you will feel a little out of place. I love that they offer rabbit and duck as I haven't ever tried them prior to coming here. The service was always impeccable. The outdoor seating is tranquil as you watch the river flow in front of you.
(5)
Tom C.
Alrighty, where do I start?? This place is great. At least, for brunch. I have not been there for anything else. OK, the pancakes. Amazing. Period. Eat them. The portion is enormous, so bring an appetite. The sticky buns. My god, the sticky buns. You hear a lot about the scones. But, trust me, just get the sticky buns. Did I mention they're good? The salmon eggs benedict is unreal. I mean, seriously, who was minding heaven when god himself was figuring this recipe out?? I'd go eat that every day if it weren't for my desire to keep my arteries from getting too clogged with hollandaise. Now, the view. You hear a lot about the view at this place. It's all right. Just beautiful. Make sure you make reservations and request a seat by the window. One piece of advice, though. Having sat by the window a couple of times lately, sit in a booth, not in a table up against the windows. When they get the AC going, it can be really cold against the windows.
(5)
Robert L.
One if my favorite restaurants in the States. Period. Location and ambience with the river and the gardens are fantastic. Classy without being pretentious. Good for business dinners or a romantic night out. The servers and Sommeliers are knowledgeable and also unpretentious. The masterful blending of flavor from the Charcuterie plate to the Rabbit or Duck or seafood is sublime. Wine and beer selections are perfect. You get enough good to be satisfied without any guilt that you are depriving the third world and that my Catholic guilt of gluttony will not be visiting me. Truly a treat.
(5)
Jessica D.
You know that show, The Best Thing I Ever Ate? Yeah, it was something like that. When your waiter comes by after clearing your plates with a crumb brush, you know you're somewhere swanky. Second time visiting, I made reservations for Sunday brunch with my family + beau as my treat. Confirming my reservation was a little.. annoying. A day prior, I missed their phone call, but they left a voicemail informing me that they would like to confirm (or cancel) my reservation. I called back about an hour later and they could not locate my reservation in the system. Eventually they cleared everything up though. My parents aren't used to nice restaurants like this, so it was a bit of a culture shock for them. The food was great, as expected. We ordered: - Large basket of assorted sweet and savory scones + Georgia pecan sticky buns - Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict - The Riverside - Smoked Chicken Biscuit - Grilled Atlantic Salmon - Duck N' Beef Burger The assorted basket was a big hit at the table. The sticky buns had a nice crunch and weren't too overly sweet. The scones came out with a variety of preserves and whipped honey butter. I ordered the Riverside and was disappointed that my eggs came out a little cold. They were, however, beautifully seasoned and quite possibly the best I've ever had. The bacon was plentiful and shared amongst the table. My sister mentioned that the parmesan truffle fries accompanying her duck n' beef burger were too overwhelming and I will have to agree. Beau loved his eggs benedict. I'm not a huge fan of smoked salmon though, but I'm glad he enjoyed his choice. Other than that, there weren't really any other comments on the food. The service was pretty good, but not as good as my first visit (with Terry as our waiter). When they brought out our food, they were really confused as to who ordered what and shuffled around a lot. One of the guys got pretty frustrated and just called our waiter over to clear things up. After brunch, we all went outside to soak in the warm sunlight and the cool breeze from the Chattahoochee river. There was a graduation brunch going on, so a large party was set up under a tent outside. I definitely recommend this restaurant as a nice treat every once in a while, or a restaurant to celebrate a special occasion. The first time I came to Canoe, it was for a birthday celebration for my beau two years ago and I would have given a full 5-stars had I remembered to review the place. They definitely bend over backwards for birthdays and anniversaries! Parking is complimentary valet only.
(4)
Mikee R.
After reading a dozen or so many reviews, there is nothing I can add which has not already been said. If you are in the area and you are looking for a splendid meal like you have never had before, then try this place. The food is out of this world and the service treats you like royalty.
(5)
JoAnn O.
One of the best lunches - salmon sandwich and dinners pork chops and fish in atlanta. I I came here 15 yrs ago on business and now we live here. Ambience food service w children or not. They are wonderful.
(5)
Rebecca R.
This restaurant has amazing food and we a beautiful view of the river and nice ambiance. We came in 2014 while in Atlanta for a conference and made sure to visit again this year! We were really sad they did not have the BBQ shrimp again (seasonal) but everything we did have was very enjoyable. Definitely will be coming here each time I'm in Atlanta!
(5)
Scarlett W.
The boyfriend and I had our 2 year here and we were not disappointed by the food nor the service. I'm going to ignore the topic of food prices because, well...pretty sure you know what you got yourself into, price-wise. Canoe's House Smoked Salmon - started off with this delectable appetizer which are slices of salmon on top of thin and crispy potato sticks bound together with goat cheese. Yum. Grilled Breast of Long Island Duckling - This was tender and flavorful, I loved the potatoes and the chanterelle made the dish very interesting. Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit - Bacon ravioli - how can the boyfriend resist. His one comment was that the rabbit was a little hard to cut through, but I'm assuming that that is because of the nature of rabbit meat. Despite that, he still managed to enjoy his meal. Maple Bourbon Creme Brulee - this had bacon brittle on top, which again, how can we resist. The bacon brittle was interesting and had enough sprinkles of bacon in it to make it sweet yet salty (and also sticks to your teeth). The creme brulee was carmelized on top and made a satisfying noise when cracked. There were also cocktails during our meal but unfortunately have forgotten their names. Service - Impeccable of course. Sidenote - I find their version of a "bread basket" to be very interesting, the bread server person essentially asks what kind of bread you want and serves it to you - I suppose it eliminates waste which is always good. Verdict - Would most likely only come back on special occasions (ugh fiscal responsibility).
(5)
Tanna L.
Why are there so many rave reviews for this place, even by snobby foodies? Because it's freakin' awesome, that's why. Our last time to Canoe, unfortunately (because we waited too long to go back), I think was 6 years ago for me n the missus' 4th anniversary. We just hit 10 and I figured we should go back. We need to go back more frequently. Hoppin' for a Wednesday night. Not really any parking so you have to valet. Even the valet dudes are all nice. The hostesses with the mostesses are all nice. Everybody at this whole freakin' restaurant is nice. Seriously, the place just delivers outstanding service and food. Our server, Josh, was freakin' nice too. Soft-spoken, courteous, helpful. Brought out some bread (take your pick from the basket), nice room temp butter, nice olive bread for me. Got a Manhattan with the Bulleit 95 rye; kind of a small size but packed a punch. Of course the food is excellent. I won't go into too much detail. Wife had a Caesar, not really on the menu but they made her one. That's how they roll. A bit too much dressing for my liking but the taste was excellent. Anchovy-y too but in a good way. She had the chicken. Tasty, good broth. Tried the house cured salmon app. Fantastic. I had the quail special. Freakin' delicious with smokey bacon and sausage stuffed into it. Dessert: chocolate grotto. Pop the dome on that thing and some salted caramel oozes out. Wife not a huge mousse fan. It was filled with chocolate mousse. Truth be told we were heading to Flip for a Nutella milkshake (for her) afterward. She only wanted a bite but kept eating it, mousse and all. That's how good it was. Pretzel dust added a nice crunch. Thing is good. Get it. Chocolatey "Happy 10th Anniversary" written on the plate for a final nice touch. This place simply delivers. Look around, everybody is so freakin' happy and in a good mood, patrons, staff alike. Prices are obviously high for a joint like this but I thought reasonable for what you get.
(5)
J. Christopher E.
Located in what the taxi driver told me was one of the nicest neighborhoods in Atlanta (crazy big nice houses nearby). From what the bartender said, Canoe is one of a very few restaurants located on the river in Atlanta (this is because the river periodically floods, and a few years ago a big flood did apparently destroy most of Canoe). Great restaurant. Menu changes as the seasons change. All the food we had was very good. Would definitely go back. Tip: If the weather permits I suggest arriving about 1 hour before your reservation and hanging out by the bar located aside the river for a few before-dinner-drinks. Forget the name, but I had a very good local IPA. Also, if the weather allows, sit outside on the patio for your meal.
(4)
Anant S.
It's very little difficult to give this place 3 stars.The service is absolutely fantastic. The location is perfect. Right by the river with a nice patio overlooking it. Everything about this place makes you want to love it. Except for the food. I would call the food pretty good. Definitely not amazing, probably not great, but just above average. I tried a few dishes and they were all somewhat forgettable. Maybe I went with the expectation of being blown away and came back underwhelmed. I would still recommend this place if you want to impress someone special just because the service here makes you feel that way... Special! But if your main focus is food... It's a different story!
(3)
Fiona H.
The venison here is AMAZING. Our waiter was super nice and helpful since it was our first time there. A lot of stuff is grown in their own garden in the back which is beautiful. Great views of the river with the lights. It's super romantic and much better than rays on the river.
(5)
Derrick W.
Because of its proximity to the office, Canoe is a favorite to entertain clients for lunch. I should have have submitted a review about a prior visit. That day, they were serving an octopus dish that was divine. In fact, my colleagues and I all requested that dish upon our recent return only to be told that it was not available. I believe that service can make or break a restaurant and Canoe provides great service. The staff is very attentive and engaging. They also will provide honest feedback on the selections. I no longer eat meat so my menu is restricted to vegetable, fish and seafood entrees and Canoe does not miss a beat. My current favorite has been the cod fish sandwich to which I add the truffle fries for truly decadent experience. There were/are many wonderful dishes to try and I plan to try them all. Canoe provides great service and the exceptional food.
(5)
Casey A.
Outstanding service! My husband took me here for my birthday dinner we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The menu here is incredible. I can't wait to go back to try their brunch menu.
We visited this based on a recommendation from Alton Brown. He mentioned that it's a favorite for a night out with just his wife. We were on a vacation with the kids, so they had to come along. Being $$$ and pretty sure it was a more dressy upscale experience, we did take the time to dress everyone up in dresses, skirts, ties and all. It sure helped us fit in a bit more and enjoy our experience at this nationally recognized restaurant. They had complimentary valet upon arrival, wasn't prepared for that and didn't have any cash :/. Made a reservation, which they were able to seat us early to which was great since we had three younger kids with us. The waitress addressed me by name and was so patient with us and the kids. The meal started with a complimentary assorted bread basket with what tasted like homemade butter. Also a flat flour crisp of sorts was served as well with a little herb spice going on, which my husband loved. We ordered their signature rabbit (which was wonderful) and the sweet potato ravioli and vegetables with it were very good, at $25 ish I recall. We also had the basil pasta with vegetables at $17. So good. Proportions were on the smaller side but still appropriately filling, expectable for this level of restaurant. The kids enjoyed generous portions of chicken strips and French fries and Parmesan farfalle noodles. Each I believe were $10. We followed our meals sampling two desserts included the chocolate grotto which is a chocolate ball shell filled with a chocolate cream and salted caramel sprinkled in pretzel dust and a rhubarb crisp with strawberry ice cream and oatmeal crunch. Each $8. The grotto was rich but delicious and the rhubarb crisp was one of my favorite desserts of our trip. Overall, I really enjoyed our visit. We took a short stroll out back after dinner to watch for fireflies and swing in the tree swings. Love the big lit up canoe sign. Just loved this visit. So wish I could go again.
(5)
Mary Margaret B.
Excellent dining experience. TC was our server and he was attentive and knowledgable...we ended up ordering dessert without even wanting it because his descriptions were so enticing. For lunch we started with the Smoked Salmon appetizer, along with the Squash soup with pumpkin seeds and citrus foam, arugula salad with orange segments and parmesan shavings, the dish not on the menu-Fish tacos with a white bean salad, cilantro lime and guacamole on the side. Lastly a Grilled Salmon over spinach and spaghetti squash. I truly enjoyed every aspect of the meal, starting with a mimosa which was just a touch of fresh oj with pulp, I typically hate pulp but this was delicious! The salmon appetizer was probably my favorite part of our lunch. The goat cheese was gamey and had a nice punch of flavor. Salmon so tender and the potato hash stacks were crispy crunchy and seasoned just right. I loved the sour cream that had chives and tasted like lime. I split this with my Nana and sister but I ended up eating two pieces. We had some tasty savory bread--sourdough was so soft and crust was great. My favorite was the chilli flatbread. It's a bit spicy but a soft crunch and crisp I couldn't stop munching on it! The fish tacos were so fresh and tasty. The white bean salad had a slight red wine vinegar flavor that was cilantro and lime all day I enjoyed it very much. My grandmother ordered it after our server suggested it off menu. My sister liked her salmon but wasn't a fan of the spinach and squash. The fish was fork tender and had a smoked wood smell so delicious! I had the soup and salad. I lived the warm soup, creamy and tasted like pumpkin and fall! Maybe a hint of nutmeg but very little spices, it was a very large portion so I didn't get to much of the salad which was also very large. I wasn't a fan of the Parmesan shavings on the arugula. It made it gritty a bit and the salad is wet from the dressing but it's tasty regardless. For dessert I was coerced into getting a Chicolate Grotto with salted caramel, chocolate mousse inside and a hard dark chocolate shell, sprinkled with pretzel dust. My sister and Nana aren't into sweets much but wanted to watch me crack the shell with the back of my spoon so I ordered one. It was divine! Didn't like the chocolate shell but I'm a milk chocolate lover, the mousse was absolutely delicious much lighter than I was anticipating and the caramel was the perfect touch! It was all in all a very well rounded sweet, I barely ate but a few bites but I have to have a little sweet to balance myself out! Will be back for that Rabbit and Swiss chard soon!
(5)
Kailey M.
Loved it! We had a triple date night at canoe and it was great! Everything we ordered was delicious! The duck was tender and moist. The rabbit was cooked perfectly and flavorful. The only complain I have is that I ordered the sundae for dessert, I saw it sit on the counter for a while before it got to our table. By then, a good amount of ice cream had already melted. Nevertheless, it was a great ending to an awesome meal. The service here was soo efficient. Every time we finished with our dish, the servers swoop in and clear everything immediately. Our server was super nice. She even offered to take pictures for us outside, in the backyard even though we were done and she had other tables to tend to.
(5)
Randy H.
I don't often give places five stars but I think Canoe deserves it. This place is definitely a fantastic place to go for a special occasion or if you are feeling really fancy. The scenery is amazing. The outdoor area is awesome and it is fantastically placed right on the river. First, the waitress was very friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. She offered her insight and gave us options based on what she felt our taste was. I started with the BBQ'd Georgia White Shrimp, Worcestershire, Grilled Sour Dough. It was amazing. Such fresh ingredients gave for a great flavor. The shrimp were large and cooked with the shell on. Some may not be a fan of the shell but it holds in the flavor and gives a great taste after peeling it off. After the shrimp, I went for the signature dish. Yep - Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit, Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato, Candied Garlic Sauce. I know..poor little bunny. What can I say...it was great. Better than I thought it would be. It's kind of mix of turkey or chicken. Delicious. This is the one thing on the menu that never changes according to the waitress. Definitely worth trying once. Finally, the seasonal dessert was a Mango Sorbet. My guess is the Mango Sorbet is freshly made and mixed with fresh mango chunks. Words can't express how great it was. Just go try it. Even if you go just for that. Just do it. I hear lunch and brunch are great times to go. I may check that out soon!
(5)
Lisa H.
I've been wanting to go to this place in forever, and we finally got a chance to go for a family birthday celebration. The service and staff were great, very friendly and prompt. However, the food was not as great as I had expected. We started out with the crab cakes, which are $16 for a crab cake. It was tasty, but way too much breading for the hefty price tag, and I've had way better all-meat-no-breading crab cakes for much less. We also had the duck leg ravioli for appetizer, and that was tasty but nothing too special. We also had the special blue crab soup, and that was very good. Entrees: Rack of Lamb - absolutely amazing and the best dish there. Flavorful and perfectly cooked Steak - a bit salty with the seasoning, but still tasty. Rabbit - we read reviews that the meat fell off the bone, but it was not the case on our entree. The flavor was ok, nothing spectacular. Cod - a nice big piece of fresh fish. not much flavor though if you just eat the fish, it's the sides and compliments that made the taste. Duckling - there must be a big difference between duck and duckling, because it did not taste anything like duck and it was just not good. The meat was very chewy and not that flavorful, and worst yet, the person who got the entree got super sick the next day with very bad stomach aches. We noticed that all of the dishes were on the overly-salty side. Desserts: We had 3 birthday celebrations (for the day we were there, a week later, and a month later), but no free dessert what so ever. Popcorn Ice Cream - super yummy Cheesecake - very tasty Creme Brulee - pretty standard Orange and Cranberry Bread Pudding - I think this is the first time I did not finish a bread pudding. The orange taste was just too strong and I didn't find it too tasty. Chocolate Grotto - amazing taste, and not too sweet, but still goes very well with a glass of milk (which they will bring you if you ask) Overall it was a good dining experience, and it was good to visit, even if it's just once.
(3)
Nate B.
One of our favorite restaurants in Atlanta. The salmon appetizer is a must. Always great service with unique menu choices. Highly recommended!
(5)
Richard R.
Everything I've heard about Canoe is absolutely true. This place is an oasis for the senses. THE SCENE I'm not what you would consider a classy guy. I'm in sweats or shorts and a t-shirt most of the time, I could care less about designer name brand clothes and I barely own any suits, shoes or jewelry. There is almost nothing about me that has "bling" and to top all that off, I rolled up to the valet in a minivan. "Be careful, it's expensive" I said as I handed over my keys. Meanwhile, the sum total of just three of the cars I saw in the parking lot would buy my dream house. (Bentley's, Ferrari's and Lamborghini's hang out here). But I will say that although I don't look the part of a well groomed gentleman, I enjoy beautifully thought out design and inspiring atmosphere... to which Canoe has in bucket loads. Here's what you need to know: * The decor and friendliness of the staff were as good (if not better) than I could ever ask for in a restaurant. * The valets were real pro's, the host staff were welcoming and our server Naisson was efficient and precise. However, he was a considerable bit slower than we would have liked in taking our order. * The interior design provides a wide variety of seating ambiances from romantic tables for two to brightly lit window seats for families and groups. Not to mention a lovely shaded outdoor patio that had a wonderful breeze on this day. * The well landscaped grounds behind the restaurant sit along the banks of the Chattahoochee River and are absolutely gorgeous. There are many venues to sit and talk while taking in the beautiful scenery. Truly an amazing place to impress a first date, out of town guests or a beautiful bride of almost 15 years. From the very moment we sat down I was eager to order and have my taste buds singing with happiness. Have you ever started writing a review in your head just based on the anticipation from watching plate after mouthwatering plate pass your table? -------------- - - - - - THE FOOD * The Chicken Biscuit ($18.50) was flavorful & the poached eggs were perfect. It was an off-menu special described by our server that had me salivating long before it arrived. Would have preferred the biscuit to be a little softer though. The hash brown potatoes w/onions were also very good. (4 stars) * The French Toast ($13) was practically a dessert. Loaded with sweetened fruits and stuffed with banana cream, it was delicious and beautifully presented. (4 stars) * Mixed basket of breads ($7) was a nice appetizer to our hungry crew. I really loved the jellies that came with the breads. (3.5 stars) * Truffle frites ($7) were ok. I guess I was just expecting more flavor. (3 stars) * Side of bacon ($3.50) our server encouraged us to order this by selling the fact they cure their own bacon and stating "it's amazing." We didn't find this bacon to be any better that what you find on a Golden Corral buffet. We expected a thicker cut and instead received these paper thin crispy strips. I prefer pan fried bacon instead of oven baked and I'm pretty sure this was oven baked bacon. (2 stars) NOTE: Our kids didn't really enjoy their pancakes from the children's menu and instead ate most of my wife's French toast. -------------- - - - - - OVERALL (3.75 stars) I've heard much ado about this place for a long time and I must say it IS deserving of all its accolades. My only slight problem: Although the food was good, it wasn't nearly as orgasmic as I had built it up to be in my mind. I wish my expectations hadn't been so high because I may have enjoyed my meal even more.
(4)
Aaron H.
We made reservations for dinner with some friends at Canoe. We had an additional guest join our party of 6 so I arrived early to find out if they would be able to accommodate us. The hostess was very pleasant and told us that it would not be a problem. She also told us that our table would be ready closer to our scheduled reservation time and directed us to their lounge area to have cocktails while we waited. The decor of the restaurant reminds me of an upscale boat house with nice cider wood paneling and stone floors. We were seated in the section on the spit level with floor to ceiling windows. The ambiance was very much like Ray's On the River. There is a really nice view of the river and river bank areas. For starters we ordered the Smoked Salmon on Crispy Potato Cakes, four come in one order so it should be enough for a party of four or less. The salmon was fresh, the potato cakes were crispy with creme fresh which together made for a tantalizing treat. The majority of the guests in my party order the Springer Chicken Entree and they all loved it. I thought the portion size was good and it looked delicious. I ordered the Enchanted Rainbow Trout with Lobster Rangoon Ravioli, I only have great things to say about this dish and was so sad when it was all gone. The trout was cooked perfectly with a crispy skin and tender flaky inside. The Lobster Rangoon Ravioli paired perfectly with the fish and the white creamy sauce made everything so delicious! For dessert we all tried different things I had the Bourbon Creme Brulee with Bacon Brittle which was devine. The bacon brittle did it for me, made with bacon oil, reduced until it was thick and harden with chunks of embedded bacon pieces. I cannot say enough great things about our waitress Sarah, she was very friendly, attentive, provided great suggestions and was efficient throughout our entire meal. There was never a time we were "searching" for her because she always appeared at the right time. I thoroughly enjoyed our Canoe experience and cannot wait to return.
(5)
Krys H.
Husband and I visited Canoe for our 2 year anniversary. What an awesome choice it was! The ambiance and view is amazing, the service was impeccable , and the food leaves you with much to talk about! Everything from the appetizers to the dessert were delicious. I'm not a big meat eater, but the braised beef was mouth watering and left me wanting more. My entree of rainbow trout was prepared to perfection and the dessert...OMG! Caramel popcorn ice cream sundae. It was sinful, but since it was my anniversary, why not sin a little! We can't wait for Spring to enjoy the outdoor bar area. I'm sure I'll be back to add an even better review!
(5)
Nicky D.
4.5 stars?!? Really?? What a joke. This was an absolute 5 star experience. The food is incredible. The ambiance is pleasant. But the customer service is really what makes this place standout. WOW. They gave us 5 desserts for free. Just because they took a little longer on the food than normal. We didn't even complain. Before they did that I still would have given it 5 stars love this place and I recommend it to any out of towner or anybody who wants a classy place for a date. LOVE IT.
(5)
Loren C.
Canoe receives three stars from me because although the ambiance and service was on point, the food just fell flat. My rabbit was very dry, although the mushroom ravioli it came with was good. I also had the crab cake for an appetizer; I enjoyed it, but $16 for one crab cake left a lot to be desired. Bottom line: there are better places in Atlanta if you're looking for high quality food.
Went here for lunch and we were shocked at how much traffic this place generated on a Wednesday at 1pm (this had no reflection on the speed of service, just an indicator of the popularity of the restaurant) Let me say the view was fantastic and our server Sarah was delightful. We had the crab cake on a salad, I ordered 2. This thing is DELICIOUS! I thought Capital Grille had a great crab cake LOL! This is unbelievably good. They had these ribeye and short rib sliders with bacon onion jam- OMG!! I could drink it through a straw it was so good. I can't say I was in love with the bucatini alla vodka but hey, Everything else was exceptional.
(4)
Donna M.
This is one of my and my husband's favorite places to go. Food is delicious and you can't beat the river view. It's a little pricey but worth it!
(5)
Sean H.
Meal is good, the price is fair and the ambience is proper. I'm giving three stars because of our server of the night, Brandon. 1) spits all over my arm while explaining the menu 2) splashes water all over while pouring 3) when it was time to order,due to language barrier, I told him I'll be placing order on behalf of my parents. Brandon says "lady's first." and proceeds to talk to my wife. Wife tells him "take his order first." Brandon looks back at me with blank or slightly confused expression. I say "like I said, because my parents don't speak the language I'll be placing the order for them." Brandon approaches my mom and asks "what would you like? Ma'am." I had to tell him for the third time that that don't speak English and I'm ordering for them before he finally got it through his head. 4) I order a bottle of Chimay(beer). Brandon shows me the bottle(bit too much for a beer. I didn't order wine for god sakes) and pours it....4/5 foam and places on the table. I look at him with disbelief and he look back at me with the blank stare again and asks "is something wrong?" I get him to bring a new bottle and this time he still pours with good 2.5" head. I gave up and let it go, but he grabs the bottle that still had beer in and takes it away!!! Now one just simply does not mess with a man's beer, especially if I'm paying $11 for just a freaking bottle of Chimay!!! On a positive note, food came out in timely manner and Brandon was fairly attentive but the service definitely wasn't worth $80 tip, never mind $50. i still left 15% incase they split the tip with kitchen, but the experience did leave sour taste.
(3)
Melissa M.
This place still soars!!! I really don't have anything new to say that hasn't already been said here. I'm just growing the chorus since I want one of my favorite places to be praised for making the effort to do all things well. This has been one of my favorite Atlanta restaurants for a long time. But I hadn't been here in a few years since I moved to a different part of the Atlanta area and worked through other life changes. Right before Christmas, I returned to the restaurant A friend of mine was visiting from out of town. The place had a nice electric vibe. And the food was delicious as usual. I always have their seafood dishes. Always perfectly cooked and flavorful. My friend was clear about his plans to visit this place again on future trips to Atlanta. And I know I'll be back for the river views!
Amazing! I was staying in Atlanta for a business trip and found this restaurant on yelp. It was one of the best places i got to eat in the US. I had the duck, it was so yummy and just enough so you don't end up completely full. The atmosphere is great and our waitress was super nice. Even the bathroom are not like any other place! And on top of all, it is not that expensive, very very good price-quality ratio. I told my colleagues to go there whenever they go to Atlanta.
(5)
Mari B.
I've heard so much about this place BUT it wasn't as great as I had hoped. The service was 5 stars but the food was 3/4 unfortunately. Went for lunch today. I had the chicken tacos with white bean salad and mom had the salmon burger. Both were good but a bit overpowering. It was the type of scenario where almost TOO much is done to the food. So much sauce, flavors, too many elements. Sometimes less is more with me. The dill on the salmon burger was so loud that it was almost all i tasted and i didnt like the white bean salad with my tacos.
(4)
Julia G.
This is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. First, there's the view. We ate outside and there was a mist over the river which was total ethereal beauty. Then, there's the food. I ordered the Roasted Springer Mountain Chicken which was totally delicious and I loved the basil whipped potato with peas and corn. My mom and brother both ordered the George's Bank Cod, and they both really enjoyed the dish. Our waiter came around with bread and there were four homemade breads to choose from. They were so delicious and I especially loved the raisin walnut bread. We split the Chocolate Grotto for dessert and it was just okay...next time I would probably try something else. I loved this restaurant and my family and I had such a great night eating at Canoe.
(5)
Nanette J.
Great ambiance , great service and the food is amazing . Can't wait to go for Sunday Brunch June 7th
(5)
Amy H.
After an impromptu little hike along the Chattahoochee river, my friend and I came to Canoe for dinner. This restaurant is the right mix of fancy fancy-date-night and fresh-Chattahoochee-mud-on-your-shoes, with a cozy vibe that makes everyone feel comfortable. Our server was a little intense and talkative, but he made some good suggestions and went so far as to split up a cocktail and an appetizer that we planned to share. It was a nice touch, but not necessary. I guess that sharing plates and stemware is not allowed at Canoe. The house smoked salmon on a crispy potato cake was melt-in-your-mouth fantastic; the bacon wrapped monk fish was good, but a little too peppery for my taste; and the slow roasted Carolina rabbit was the best meal that I've had since I left Chicago. Truly. The chocolate grotto was phenomenal for dessert, but skip the popcorn ice cream sundae. It's completely meh. If you feel adventurous, try the sorbet. It sounds like it would be boring but it's not and is a nice, light way to finish your meal. The wine list is, of course, exceptional and the cocktails aren't too shabby either. All in all, I would say that Canoe is a must-try and definitely a nice way to woo a lady-friend.
(5)
Elizabeth K.
Went here for my sister's college graduation. Amazing food, beautiful atmosphere, and great service. One of the (very annoying) members of our party found a small piece of metal in the food (from the cooking method, totally not a big deal,) and the staff was apologetic and credited the entire (10+ person) meal, as well as giving us a $250 gift certificate. Entirely unnecessary but much appreciated. The rabbit ragout and house made pappardelle is a real standout. This is my definite go to for special events.
(5)
M R.
I absolutely love this place. We went for lunch. The food was very good, and the atmosphere was Really nice. Also we sat outside after we ate and it Was not only peaceful but the grounds and landscape Are really nice..
(5)
Jenn G.
Great service, great food, and great view. I really enjoyed dining at this restaurant. For appetizers, we shared the smoke salmon, which was very fresh, and the prawns. The sauce for the prawns was divine -- I'd recommend dipping your bread for extras! For my dinner, I had the sweet potato and clam chowder -- which was flavorful, but not what I was expecting. They should have named this a bisque because the texture and consistency was exactly what you would expect from a bisque, as opposed to a chowder. I ordered the venison which was cooked perfectly (oddly, the server who took my order did not ask me how I wanted it cooked). I would highly recommend Canoe. The atmosphere is also great for business dinners. Minus 1/2 star for the waiter who kept joining in on our conversation. I found that to be really odd. I have never had a server who listens to the table's conversation while serving/pouring and jumping in with his own contribution. Also minus 1/2 star for the lack of attention to detail. We let them know that it was someone's birthday but they did not do anything special. I saw that another table had a birthday as well and their server put a candle on the birthday boy's dessert -- but our birthday guest did not get a candle on his dessert.
(4)
Stacy S.
I came here today for brunch and had a decent experience. The ambiance is lovely! I tried the sticky buns, scones, french toast, hash browns and scrambled eggs. The food is mediocre but you are mainly paying for the ambiance.
(3)
Scott B.
It's pretty good. Different for sure.
(4)
Michelle S.
Simply delicious. Warm ambiance, beautiful view of the river, OUTSTANDING food, pleasant service. An absolute "MUST" for anyone. Absolutely blown away.
(5)
Kaaart F.
Reputable, super D-LISH The absinthe drink dun turn A BISH LOOSE
(4)
Donna L.
Dinner function there last week for business. Started with cocktails by river. What a beautiful setting. Moved to private room for dinner. Nice seating arrangement. Two waiters were assigned to our group who were very attentive. Set menus of chicken or steak and am told that both were incredible. Desert was either a berry cobbler or this salted caramel truffle. I tried both and they were out of this world. Excellent evening
(5)
Jamie S.
Love the atmosphere, but price is overrated. Location is random, but definitely a fun night out. Only a restaurant that I would go to once or twice, not a place that I will go to consistently
(3)
Kiki P.
i love this place and definitely will come back. amazing seating area outdoor. went there for lunch. i spend some time walk around near the riverbank for a litte bit, see some ducks . they grow their own herbs and veggie in the garden area. it's very neat. the lunch is delicious! service was great. highly recommended.
(5)
Katy L.
All it took was one meal at Canoe for it to become one of my favorite places in Atlanta. It was my birthday and my husband let me pick where we went for dinner. I had had my eye on Canoe for awhile so of course that's where I chose. It is just such a perfect venue for a meal. The inside dining room ambiance is perfect, just the right amount of intimacy but also some hustle and bustle. The outside area provides scenery you wouldn't think you could get at a city dining establishment. The weather wasn't the best when we went, but it didn't matter. Todd was our waiter. I rarely remember the names of waiters, but he was so good I couldn't forget him. He had great recommendations and had the right balance of checking on us occasionally yet still allowing us to enjoy our meal. We started out by splitting the short rib. It was so buttery and delicious. It basically melted in your mouth. I could've eaten a few plates of this -- which is the theme of the entire meal. For my main, I got the famed rabbit. Don't be frightened off by the idea of eating rabbit. It doesn't taste too much different than most poultry and it is so delicious. The star were the chard and bacon ravioli. Oh my gosh. Do delicious. The chard and the bacon played off each other so well. For dessert, we got the popcorn sundae. My husband was initially hesitant, but then I had to battle him for the last few bites (I won because it was my birthday). The combination of the homemade caramel corn and the cool and creamy ice cream is out of this world. You wouldn't think it would work, but it did. Canoe is just outstanding. I cannot wait to go back.
(5)
Shaye B.
I had my dad take me here when he was in town and we were impressed! Everything was outstanding - food, drinks, atmosphere. We arrived about 15minutes before our reservation on a Saturday night, we had a table at 7, to grab a drink at the gazebo bar outside. However, we were informed that we could be seated immediately outside, so we opted for that. We started with cocktails - I remember I picked the one with absinthe in it and it was dangerously delicious. My dad just ordered his standard hendricks dirty but it was good. We then ordered salads to start, I got a standard house salad and my dad ordered the beet salad - which was amazing. After enjoying the refreshing salads on the hot summer night we got ordered our entrees. I forget which seafood dish my dad picked, but I remember I got the rabbit and it was phenomenal. To be honest I had never had rabbit before - but this dish turned me into a big fan! I have had it several other times but this was my favorite. We also ordered a bottle of pinot noir to go with our entrees and I remember my dad was impressed with their wine list. I look forward to coming back here - whether it is just for drinks and appetizers at the riverfront bar (to save money!!) or if I feel like splurging for the whole dinner (when I have visitors in town!). This is a dining experience I would recommend to anyone as it is a wonderful atmosphere and the food surely does not disappoint.
(5)
Eduardo C.
Took my girlfriend to her birthday dinner here. The staff was amazing everyone wished her a happy birthday. The food was amazing the service was superb. Our waitress was on point but not too overbearing. We had the New York strip which was extremely tasty and tender. The mash potatoes were exquisite. We also tried the bucatini which was home made and was scintillating to the taste buds. I highly recommend for a date, hang out, or any special occasion. Ps fantastic ambiance
(5)
S R.
We came here for a special occasion and it was definitely the perfect spot! My date pulled up to the front of the restaurant. A gentleman immediately opened the car door for him and offered to take his keys and valet park our car for us. Simultaneously, a gentleman opened my door for me. The doors to the restaurant were opened for us and we were taken to the patio as we had asked. The patio was beautiful. It overlooked a beautiful garden and a body of water. The restaurant was having its first night of music in the park so a band was playing. There was a bar located in the middle of the garden and a few tables as well as some straw benches. It was just wonderful. We were seated on the patio and our waiter came by and explained the specials. He also asked us if we had any questions about the menu and answered all of our questions clearly and completely. We settled on a bottle of GEWURZTRAMINER ($45) which was fabulous. You cannot taste the bottled wines but they will allow you to taste the wines that they sell by the glass. For appetizers we ordered a dozen oysters on the half shell ($30). They were absolutely fantastic and well presented. We also ordered grilled calamari which was also tasty. The offer a bread service. It is one of the best bread services I have seen. They had a cranberry (?) , olive, sourdough and two others that I cannot remember. We tried each of the ones that I named and they were all fabulous but we both liked the cranberry (?) best. For our entrees, my date ordered lobster. The lobster was served in a bowl (without the shell) over rice and a few other things. It was delicious. I ordered rainbow trout which was done very well. It was skin on but did not have a strong fishy taste which I was glad for. It came with a lobster rangoon ravioli. It was fabulous. I cannot remember the cost of these but they were reasonable. For dessert, my date ordered the popcorn sundae. It was very unique and absolutely delicious. Caramel popcorn over ice cream and cracker jacks (?). I don't care for popcorn but I loved this. I ordered the seasonal sorbet. It was an absolute treat. It came with fresh apple chips and was over a sliver of rum (?) cake and there was jim beam somewhere (in the sorbet or in dollops for decoration). We walked around the garden with what was left of our wine after we finished eating. It was very romantic. We also took some photographs in the garden. Our bill was about $175 after tax and before tip. It was well worth it! Overall, Canoe is a fabulous experience we will defiantly be back for dinner and hope to try brunch soon. Thank you canoe for a fabulous night! Your food, service, and ambiance are top notch!
(5)
Sarah B.
wonderful view, lovely drinks. Service was on par with good recommendations.
(5)
Bramfy B.
Yep love it. Nice bar in front for drinks This is the go to: smoked salmon appie with goat cheese followed by the rainbow trout from NC also with goat cheese. Trout was the best trout I've had in life! Dessert must get. Popcorn sundae is the best along with the truffle chocolate thing. Great look to this place - bet lunch outside on the river is deesh I heard the porkchop was great too
(5)
Andrew M.
My favorite restaurant in Atlanta. You must try the North Carolina rabbit, the best I've ever had. Always go with the special, you can't go wrong with the fish. The view of the river is wonderful. Reasonably priced for the service and menu selection. A must try
(5)
Gaby M.
Completely disappointed in the overall service I had today. I dined earlier for lunch for my sister and my birthday. From the get go the service was awkward and even though had us started promptly, the server then took about 20 minutes to ask for any appetizer orders (we were starving). It wasn't until after the apps finally came out until he finally remembered my husband's wine, which he ordered soon after the initial greet. He just kept apologizing for his forgetfulness. Entrees came and everything seemed fine, I then after ordered a desert especially for my sister (it was her first time dining there). I remembered how the time before the service was remarkable and up until this point I would always rave about how amazing this place was. The time before I was celebrating a friend's birthday and the server brought out a complimentary dessert for her. When I asked after the bill came out if it was not he said it was never a complimentary thing but would ask his manager. Upon returning he said "we have the right to decide who we bring complimentary desserts to" but we'll just do it this once. ? Totally unprofessional to say to a guest. Did not mind paying for it, just found it odd. Overall he made my family and my experience very awkward and unwelcoming and I will never dine with them again!
(1)
Ada N.
My boyfriend brought me here as a surprise dinner for my birthday and the ambiance was lovely. The restaurant sits by the river which I thought was pretty cool although we were unable to be seated and the section near it. The customer service is great, our server suggested the 4th Rising Sun as a cocktail which was different but refreshing with a soft kick. For entrees I ordered the rabbit (my first time trying it) with mushroom tortellini and my boyfriend had the Grilled Salmon with spinach and spaghetti squash. The rabbit was pretty good, wasn't a fan of the tortellini at all but I dipped in his plate often because the Grilled Salmon and spinach was amazing! Not a fan of squash. I'd definitely dine here again.
(4)
Alex J.
This is a very nice choice when visiting Atlanta. Setting is great and service is good. Food quality and service will no disappoint you. I have been at a Canoe multiple times, my experiences have been very positive.
(5)
Renee B.
I bookmarked this place for a LONG time so i was excited when i was given the go-ahead to book it for Valentine's day dinner. We arrived a little late for our reservation(like 5 mins) and we're seated promptly with no issues. We sat at one of the tables by the courtyard and although it was dark, it looked nice. I ordered a drink(darn i don't remember the name) but it was good!!! SO got a sweet tea. I wasn't sure what to get as a starter and our waiter(very efficient by the way) suggested the salmon and it was so good. I ordered the Monkfish with potatoes, mussels and asparagus. The asparagus was the best i have EVER tasted in my life. I wish they had a whole plate of this!!! The monkfish and mussels were also good but man, that asparagus was out of this world(i really cant believe i'm going on about asparagus but seriously!!!) I was not able to finish my meal(i think from all the bread, appetizer and drinks i had) but i did save some room for dessert. As far as desserts go, I got something off the menu(some strawberry champagne yogurt thingy---sorry don't remember the name but pic is below) and he got the Chocolate Grotto. Overall, this was a great experience. The most important thing(food) was good, nice ambience and chill atmosphere. Will definitely return!!
(5)
Jason C.
Such a fantastic experience! The location is so close to the city but transports you away to a quiet riverside with immaculate gardening. The waitstaff is attentive although it can be slow with drink refills. The food is fantastic. I had a dozen oysters in the half shell, which were so good. My BF had the roasted beet salad with goat cheese. I had a bite and as someone who doesn't normally like beets, it was very tasty! The goat cheese really makes a difference. We also split the kangaroo appetizer which was also excellent. The chefs here really know how to make flavor work! I had the rabbit for my entree and my BF had lamb. Both were excellent. Had I less breeding, I would have licked my plate. For dessert we had the chocolate grotto. Perfection on a plate! Hard chocolate shell with sea salt caramel and chocolate mousse inside with pretzel dust. Pastry chef Sarah goob has outdone herself.
(5)
Swetha G.
Canoe has been on my wish list for weeks and I am thrilled to say I finally got my brunch wish fulfilled. I just went there last Sunday with two friends and it was exactly what I was hoping for. Love it when expectations are met! Service is terrific. I was soo amazed at how much our waiter had to say to us about the specials and he didn't miss a beat. He had to have memorized what felt like thirty ingredients for a number of dishes and he said everything perfectly! The food was fantastic. I had the Fried Green Tomatoes Eggs Benedict without the bacon and it was delicious. My only complaint was they did not give more! As others have pointed out, the atmosphere is gorgeous. It is really one of the nicest places in Atlanta and just showcases itself well on every front - setting, service, food. Words of advice if you go: They get pretty busy (clearly as I'm the 563rd reviewer!) so take advantage of Open Table and reserve ahead so you don't have to wait. Also they offer complimentary valet parking so you don't have to worry about driving around looking for a spot. Canoe is a GO TO venue in my book for residents and visitors.
(5)
Kim N.
I love Canoe because of the delicious food, amazing view, and wonderful service. Brunch: - Georgia pecan sticky buns - absolutely amazing!! I can just eat these for brunch... maybe I'll do that next time - The Riverside - a little bit of everything: bacon, french toast, scrambled eggs, hash - Duck & beef burger w/ fried egg & truffle fries - smells and tastes amazing! cooked to the perfect temperature Everything on the dessert menu looked fantastic but we unfortunately did not have room for any dessert :( Dinner: -George's bank sea scallops - delicious!! -Slow roasted Carolina rabbit with swiss chard - interesting but yummy nonetheless There are so many other items on the dinner menu that sounded amazing! Will update my review after I try out other entrees :) Our servers knew the menu very well and were so friendly. Valet parking only. Did I mention gorgeous view? Beautiful garden next to Chattahoochee river right outside the restaurant.
(5)
Preeti M.
Canoe can do no wrong. Service is always on point. Never had a bad red wine here (we got several bottles of the Willamett Valley Oregon Pinot Noir). The food changes seasonally but the staples remain constant. I got Watermelon salad to start, followed by Scallops (my friend had the swordfish special and it was heaven). 30 year Tawny to finish. Sheer perfection. Love this spot. For business dinners, it is ideal but personal dinners always a hit as well!
(5)
Margaret T.
Came for brunch, finally! Came especially for the salmon appetizer. It was splendid! I think I'd like it w/o the crunch... Our waiter, Terry, was very hospitable and pleasant. His service complements the whole visit altogether. I think he was the best server I've had so far throughout my Canoe visits. He recommended to start w scones and GA pecans and they were awesome! OMG! My friend liked the salmon eggs benedict; I don't, but I liked the green beans a lot - fresh and tasty - and the potatoes. The outdoor seating is perfect for brunch. The atmosphere complements my meal. Well, at least today, the weather is gorgeous for August. Clear sky, sun shines, and the breeze! I don't like the double table - the leg of the table is really on my way. Grrr! :s A lady doesn't sit w an open leg. My first visit to Canoe was for my first job out of Georgia Tech. I've had tasted many great plates and enjoyed services by Canoe since then. I've had Canoe in Atlanta and once inToronto. The food I had in Atlanta was better. Canoe's rabbit, duck, and special of the day fish were the ones I remembered. I was disappointed with their scallops dish...the complements (salad, etc.). That might be the worst one, though their scallops were succulent. Almost made me think twice to go back, but salmon for brunch is long due, so I'm back. Additionally, they have good dessert, too... chocolate grotto and popcorn sundae. Canoe offers unique, new taste to my palates. I also think that the price for quality and taste of the food was reasonable. My kind of top notch restaurant. I am also not one that weighs on customer service, but Canoe's service made me see its value, exceeds my expectation. Outstanding! I'd remember to take my family here on their next visit and strongly recommend Canoe to anyone who visits Atlanta.
Went here for my birthday and the made it wonderfull. We came in and the lady gave us a table inside I really wanted one outside and she made it happen . Service was amazing!!!! Everybody was so nice and sweet. The view outside is beautiful! Love the oisters and the rabbit! I Deff. Recommend this place .
(5)
Veda R.
Canoe didn't really wow me like I expected it to based on all these awesome reviews. The service was "just okay" and I swear I had canned lima beans in my succotash thing (don't even remember what it was called, and they changed their menu so...). I dunno. It seemed pretty pretentious and just weird. Tons of bugs outside if you decide to be seated there. My beef was over cooked. I wouldn't go. I prefer Bacchanalia.
I randomly discovered Canoe summer of 2011 when I was in town for work. The waitress sat me on the porch. My breath was taken away the minute I stepped out onto the porch. It's not an everyday experience to see a restaurant with such a gorgeous courtyard and it's on the Chattahoochee river! The food was delightful. I was here alone but loved it enough to eat a full 3 course dinner. The service was impeccable. Since then, I came here any chance I had when I was in town for work. My husband and I will also drive in from Nashville just to have dinner at Canoe. To top it off, he proposed in the courtyard June of 2013. This summer we returned to celebrate our year together and as newly weds. I made a reservation without providing any detail information. Somehow they knew! The hostess greeted and congratulated us on our anniversary. They sat us outside close to where we sat last year. The waiter greeted us as Mr. & Mrs. Wolff. Again, I didn't ask to be seated outside or made a note that we were celebrating our anniversary. This just makes us love Canoe even more. Great food. Great atmosphere. Great customer service.
(5)
francisco c.
Ok, this place is just what a definition of great quality and service should be,,,I was there for lunch on monday,,,wow,,,the setting just amazing,,and there are no words to match the way i feel about their food,,just fantastic ,,,we had a gentleman a waiter ,,(i am so sorry that forgot his name), he has a slight accent (maybe french) and glasses with some blond strikes on his hair,,well,,the way he tends to you is just spoils you,,he does pay attention,,,he does not bother you,,seems he knows exactly when you need him,,he never interferes ,,its outstanding,,people like him set the standards very high for professionalism,,he makes waiting tables a real profession with extremely high quality standards,,,then again the food and setting is fantastic,,,the rest of the staff was just as kind and welcoming,,,
(5)
Donald L.
If you marry a great restaurant with an equally great view of the Chattahoochee river in Atlanta you get Canoe. We made reservations for an early dinner before a show at cobb energy performing arts center except spelled with an "re" for some unknown reason. Because of the event, we were in a bit of a hurry so we ended up skipping dessert but otherwise a great evening. Upon arrival, we were seated next to a window overlooking the river. That felt like a win and you should request a table on the windows overlooking the river when you make your reservation. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable. They offered a bread plate that that allowed us to choose the various breads we were interested in and the wine selection was good. Plenty of bottles to chose from and a limited wine by the glass option. For an app we chose the smoked salmon. You should get this. It comes on what seems like a potato chip and is crunchy and salty and delicious. For dinner I had the special, which was skate. It was sauteed perfectly and was both buttery and tender. I would get it again. After our entrees we simply ran out of time and had to cut our meal short so we could make our show. The waitress was accommodating, hurrying our check out for us. Overall, it was a great experience. Canoe has been around a long time but it has aged gracefully. We look forward to returning.
(4)
Liz R.
Brunch is sublime. The buttermilk cornmeal pancakes are delicate and fluffy and do just well alone, with only pat of butter. But if you're inclined to go all out: the pancakes are topped with warm berry compote [the good stuff, not that syrupy, bootleg nasty stuff] and cinnamon-infused creme fraiche. We weren't in the mood for salmon or rabbit -- the two Benedict options for the day -- but we were readily accommodated with steak instead. The corn soup was phenomenal and can heal all wounds.
(5)
Steven C.
This restaurant is one damn fine restaurant. Very fine and the food was absolutely amazing! I had rabbit for the first time and was very impressed! Very luxurious and great service! Highly recommended for a special occasion or a fine date!
(5)
Bill J.
This place is tucked away in a very upscale woodsy area along side a river. We came here for Sunday brunch. You can stroll or hangout along the river while waiting for your table. They did not give us a buzzer so we were impressed when the hostess tracked us down some 200' away to seat us. We started with the breakfast breads and found them quite good. The scones were among the best I've tasted. The main dishes were creative. The server recommended a sparkling wine and we were surprised to find on the bill that it was $20/glass. We felt the server should have mentioned this as was almost twice the price of most other wines on the menu. Only reason I dinged a star. Otherwise, great place for brunch and I look forward to having dinner here next time I am in town.
(4)
David S.
Beautiful place with great service. It's upscale so not cheap for sure. Located by a creek/river and the location is simply stunning. Indoors was kind of loud (could use a sound engineer look over) but none the less a nice venue. Food is excellent, I'm sure whatever you get is completely off the chain!
(4)
Daniel B.
Canoe is one of the best restaurants in Atlanta because it's got great food, great atmosphere, and great service. There aren't many places in town where you can dine on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Sure, there's Ray's, but Canoe is much nicer. It's classier, more elegant dining, and the river and gardens outside really set it apart. Whether you sit inside or out, the view is beautiful. Needless to say, this is a great date or special occasion venue (or if you just want a nice brunch too). The restaurant was flooded in September 2009 from torrential rainfall. Since then, the restaurant has been completely gutted and renovated from the inside-out. Markings on the brick wall inside show just how high the water level rose during the flood's peak. The ceiling was designed to look like the inside of a canoe. Interior seating near the windows, including oversized semicircular booths, all face the garden and river. Seating on the patio outside is just as nice as it is inside. Ceiling fans keep you cool. On certain nights, there's live music on the patio. You can take a leisurely stroll through the garden outside before or after your meal. The garden has several wooden benches and chairs for you to relax and enjoy the scenery. Hidden behind one of the outdoor private party tents is Canoe's herb and vegetable garden. A lot of people don't know about this. It has an outdoor fireplace and additional seating. If you're facing the river from the restaurant, just follow the small path left. Canoe's menu changes four times a year. Ingredients-wise, the produce is organic and grown locally (some on the aforementioned on-site garden) and the proteins are high quality. They feature some small game. It's quality over quantity here with about a half-dozen appetizers (around $10-15 each) and a dozen entrees (around $15 to $35 each). All the menu items look great and there seems to be something for everyone. However, If you still can't find anything you like, the chef may be able to cook something up on-the-fly to your liking. Ask your server. I came here for a pleasant Sunday evening dinner and enjoyed the following: Appetizers: Marinated Golden and Red Beet Salad with whipped Vermont's goat cheese, candied walnuts, and basil oil Baby Arugula Salad with spiced nuts, shaved Parmesan, and poppy seed vinaigrette Entrees: Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - bacon ravioli, sweet potato hash, and candied garlic sauce Sage Roasted Pheasant with brown butter whipped sweet potato, crispy pheasant croquette, and natural jus Dessert: Chocolate Grotto with salted caramel and pretzel dust Everything was delicious and each of the dishes had splendid presentation. A selection of breads, hard and soft, was offered by our server. The best one was a flatbread that was prepared with a pepper rub. A little bit spicy. The Beet Salad resembled tartare: a layer of chopped golden beets on top, red beets in the middle, and a base of goat cheese. The candied walnuts were hidden inside the cheese adding additional texture and flavor. This creation was topped with a sprout and the plate drizzled with natural beet juices and green basil oil. The Arugula Salad was a good mix of greens, nuts, and cheese. The arugula was used as the base with the cheese placed in the middle and topped with nuts, raisins, berries, and seeds. The cheese's hard outer shell was left intact. Soft middle. The Carolina Rabbit was very good. It's been on Canoe's menu for 14 years. I was expecting a lot of bones, but the cut Canoe uses yields only one or two. The rabbit meat came apart easily with fork and knife. It somewhat resembled chicken, but leaner and a bit more "stringy." Good flavor. I love leafy greens and the chard was magnificent. The best part, though, was probably the pieces of bacon ravioli on the bottom. They were amazing. Canoe should make a side order just of the ravioli. The Pheasant was nice because they prepared the bird in two ways: (1) white meat fillet pre-sliced on top of greens and sweet potato and (2) dark meat turned into croquettes. The spherical croquettes had crispy layer on the outside that covered up steaming, shredded, tender pieces of pheasant on the inside. It was good stuff. Buttered sweet potato had pretty much been pureed to a super fine consistency. Very smooth. The Chocolate Grotto was named as such because a mound of chocolate encased melted caramel. Once I broke open the hard chocolate shell, the salted caramel just came pouring out onto my plate like a small volcano had erupted. The grotto was incredibly rich and tasted just as decadent as it looked. Kevin T. was our server and he did a magnificent job. He was polite, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. He also offered to go out of his way to help us take photos in the garden afterwards. Canoe is located on Paces Ferry Road near the Lovett School and Tyler Perry's house. Complimentary valet parking.
(5)
Kyle F.
Took my girlfriend here for her birthday. I am in the industry myself and it is nice to see classic service executed well. Our server Jess W. was the best I've had outside of NYC and the food was recited very well. I would recommend to anyone or a special occasion and I consider myself a tough critic!
(5)
b t.
What a treat. I flew into ATL for a business meeting (came in the night before), and found Canoe with a quick mobile phone search. I originally had identified a different restaurant, but for some reason, i decided to keep looking and I'm very glad I did. My colleague and I were able to get into Canoe with a last minute reservation, so one minute we're getting off the plane, the next we're sitting next to the river where it was easy to instantly forget the 'travel' day and relax into a glass of wine and a menu that made me want one of everything. Canoe is very seasonal, and lucky for us, we were still able to sneak in to partake in the summer menu. Lucky, because the tomato salad was amazing (I'm guessing that may have been one of the last days/weeks of it's availability). I had the rabbit pasta, my colleague had the scallops, and everything was perfect. Very well balanced, flavors were spot on...everything in its right place, and the service to match. We were one of the last tables there, and not once were rushed. Wine list is as you'd expect and each expectations you could have is met. I hope I get sent back to ATL again, just so I can be afforded the opportunity to go to Canoe.
(5)
Xiao W.
This place is one of my favorite spots for a special occasion. The atmosphere is really great and service is on point. I love their homemade bread (walnut is the best!) and desserts! The food is always good and if you haven't tried the rabbit, do it! Valet is complimentary as well which is always a plus.
(5)
Nate T.
Top-notch. Favorite romantic dinner spot in Atlanta for me. Glorious view of the river highlights a truly unique dining experience. Food is on the more expensive side but I've never been disappointed. You go here to impress people.
(5)
Arianna N Shaffer S.
This was such a great little find for my mom and I!!! We were on a road trip from Florida to Arkansas for my cousins graduation and we were passing through Georgia and we were getting hungry for dinner! We looked up upscale restaurants in Georgia and this was at the top of the list so we decided to give it a try!!! It is definitely a lovely and elegant upscale atmosphere! The decor is lovely, warm and intimate! My mother and I decided to sit and eat dinner at the bar! The air conditioning was a little bit cold inside but we had sweaters with us! My mom and I both had a glass of reisling! They let us taste test both reislings that they had on their menu which was a dry one and then a more sweeter one! My mom and I both decided to go with the more sweeter one! The Bartenders were super friendly and made the experience really fun! For dinner my mom had an arugula salad, which I took a bite of and it was so good, the dressing on it was amazing, and she also had the mussels which were the best I have ever had! The mussels were in a lemongrass coconut broth and they were just excellent! I got a Caesar salad and I made it super complicated by asking to add on beets, onions and extra tomatoes and no croutons but the bartender had no problem with making that happen for me! Unfortunately they put croutons in my salad which was not a big deal, I picked them out, but the bartender made sure that they took it off the bill, which wasn't necessary but he did anyway which was really really nice! I definitely recommend this place! I wish we could have tried everything on their menu because it all looks and sounds amazing!! This was definitely a great find for my mom and I while passing through Georgia, so maybe on our way back home to Florida we will try and stop in again! Whether you are passing through or you live in Georgia, this is definitely the go to place! It's right on a river, it's elegant, chic, classy, delicious food, drinks, and amazing service!
(4)
Alexandra D.
WOW! I have to say that Canoe most certainly lives up to it's stellar reputation. My boyfriend and I went on a Sunday evening, and the place was pleasantly busy. Canoe's atmosphere is full of life. Our server was clearly very well-trained in fine dining, and was very knowledgable about the restaurant and attentive to our needs. One thing that we loved learning about while we were there was that Canoe has their own "kind" chicken coup, grows much of their own produce onsite, and that they have close relationships with all of their food distributor's, so if you have a question (I.E.: "Where did this cut of meat come from?") they have a legitimate answer to give you. I praise hem for not going the cheap route and buying from factory farms. We tried a Smoked Salmon appetizer that was to-die-for, the rabbit which was possibly the greatest thing that I have ever eaten, the duck, and two different desserts. Everything was cooked to perfection, was beautifully garnished, and was memorably flavorful. You can't go wrong with the homemade lavender ice cream for dessert, by the way! If you're in Atlanta, don't miss out on Canoe! You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Luvs V.
Fantastic restaurant for fine dining. Eating on the porch area is best for full garden view. The menu is great and the chef takes on special requests. I am Vegan and I am always pleased with the food the chef creates for me.
(5)
Adam A.
My wife surprised me for my birthday with a reservation for two at Canoe to enjoy a tasty dinner and luscious libations. We were promptly seated in a beautiful spot overlooking the river, and greeted with a subdued well-wishing on my birthday. We started with some delicious P.E.I mussels and a crisp, refreshing watermelon arugula salad along with their tasty fresh bread. For our main course, we were each given nice recommendations for white vino, and the misses enjoyed an amazing dish with Atlantic salmon and sides; I ordered a chicken dish that sounded good, but came out a bit too "fried" for my liking, and I ended up pushing most of it around my plate. At one of the check-ups, the waiter asked if there was anything wrong, and told him there wasn't really ... I just didn't know the chicken would be as 'well-cooked' in oils as it was. Now, I wasn't expecting anything from this comment. There was nothing wrong with the content, the presentation, or the flavor. It came out piping hot and right on time with my wife's meal. ...I just didn't like that it was fried. No big deal though, I've ordered meals at places that came out and wasn't what I was expecting. I eat what I can, take it as a learning experience and remember not to order it again... Well, they pulled out all the stops and after they cleared our plates, the manager came over to apologize about my meal, and sent out three (!) desserts as an apology. They even wrote a nice 'happy birthday' message, with a single candle for the all-important birthday wish, on a plate with their signature caramel popcorn sundae. The other two desserts (an all-new blueberry sorbet, and a triple death-by-chocolate thingy with caramel inside), along with some tasty cappuccino, pleased the palette and rounded out the end of a great birthday dining experience. Of course, we couldn't finish three desserts, but the fact that they wanted to ensure I enjoyed my big day with these offerings was a very nice gesture. We'll certainly be back for other celebrations or when guests are in town, to show them an amazing dining experience overlooking the 'hooch! I'll just remember to ask if the food is fried next time. :)
(5)
Ayaka T.
An experience to remember. Reservations are highly recommended. My first time dining here was with a group of my lady friends in 2013. We started at the bar with a cocktail while our table was being prepared. Canoe is where I first tried Mussels and they were good. The waiter explained the menu and each dish to us. They cleaned the table after each portion of our meal. After eating we went out to the bar by the lake.....amazing and beautiful scenery!!
(5)
Elmer P.
Took my wife here for our anniversary (13 yrs) and my only regret was not coming sooner! From valet to the overall experience was top notch!!! Our server (Michael) was very down to earth and fun to talk to. The Lunch menu is different from the Dinner menu, which I was kinda bummed cause I wanted to try the Rabbit dish. BUT, we already made reservation for December. It takes a lot to impress my wife and she was the one who made the December reservations. That alone proves I scored with Canoe! :-) Can't believe this hidden gem is on Paces Ferry Rd.... This review was in October 2014. Don't understand how it got dated 4/1/15.
(5)
David B.
Great ambiance! Good food. Great place for a date, sure to express! My advice is try the rainbow trout; however, the quail never disappoints.
(5)
Sean H.
I had wanted to try this place out for a while due to the stellar reviews by everyone else on yelp. I came here on a Sunday night with a reservation for 6 and we were seated promptly in one of the booth/chair seating arrangements near the kitchen. We started the night with crab cakes, duck ravioli, and she crab soup. The crab cakes were great, but not sure if it was worth $15 price tag for a single piece. The duck ravioli was alright nothing spectacular and not disgusting. The she crab soup was delicious and probably one of the best I've ever had. On to the entrees.. The family of 6 tried the cod, rabbit, steak, duckling, and lamb rack. I was fortunate to get a taste of these 5 entrees and I would rate them in the following order: lamb rack, steak, cod, duckling, and rabbit. The lamb rack and steak were perfectly cooked to their designated temperatures and the seasoning was perfect as well. I would have been happy with any of the entrees besides the two rabbit entrees we ordered. This was the first time I had ever had rabbit so I had no idea what to expect. The rabbit was rough and the portion was also tiny. I could not distinguish the taste of rabbit from a rough piece of chicken. Since I ordered the rabbit based off of reviews I definitely expected a lot more taste and tenderness. So obviously I was disappointed with the main part of my meal. Maybe the two order of rabbits we had were just off and not cooked correctly. We had a number of desserts and they were all good. I have a particular sweet tooth and I always need a glass of milk to wash down my sweets and Canoe provided a glass of 2% for free! That was probably one of the highlights of the night since the rabbit entree was way below par. All in all I do not think I would come back on my own accord and there are just many other restaurants in Atlanta that I would like to experience.
(3)
Danielle D.
It's no surprise from other reviews that the food (and the view) at Canoe is amazing, but what really sets this establishment apart from others in Atlanta - particularly the trendy new hot spots in Midtown and Buckhead that also have great food - is the impeccable service (TC). My 3 friends and I dined at Canoe early on a Friday night and casually mentioned, in conversation as we were seated, that a friend in our party had recently gotten engaged. During the course of our dinner, the server, the sommelier and the manager came over to congratulate my friend on her engagement. When we ordered dessert, they spelled out Congratulations on the plate. It was not a dinner to celebrate her engagement, rather it was four friends getting together, but they made it a truly special occasion. After dining all over Atlanta, I will never balk at $12 for an appetizer or $26 for a main in a good restaurant. But to get not only fantastic food but also top-notch service for that price is a rarity. Canoe has both, which puts it at the top of the list here in Atlanta.
(5)
Michelle Q.
Food is always delicious, service is perfect 99% of the time. It's usually a experience to eat here, meaning the course are brought out with time in between and you have a good time talking to you meal mates, but the last time we went the courses were rushed out, we had apps, dinner, dessert and coffee in one hour ten minutes, too fast. But food and service are perfect.
(5)
Christina K.
It has been well over 13 years since I have been to Canoe, yet it's one of the first places I always recommend to friends who are looking for a great place to celebrate a special occasion. SO surprised me with an anniversary dinner there last night and the whole experience was beyond amazing from start to finish. We arrived a bit late (stupid ATL traffic) for our dinner reservation, but the hostess didn't give us any flak for it. She offered us either outside or dining room seating but the weather was perfect (not too hot or stifling with a cool breeze thanks to proximity to the river) so we sat outside. The table was large and sturdy (I hate having to use wobbly furniture), however the table legs were positioned in a way that when you sat, the legs were between your thighs. Not the best or most refined posture for dinner. For apps, we ordered the sweet potato soup w/ lobster and the mussels. The mussels were delicious and served with a light but flavorful coconut curry and some crusty french bread for dipping. The mussels were very well cleaned, no grittiness there! The only thing, I wish that they had put more of that broth in the bowl! The soup was my least favorite dish. The texture and flavors really threw me, I think, separately, the soup and lobster would be great, together not so much. It was basically baby food texture with lumps of lobster meat thrown in. Our entrees were the rabbit and the duck and beef burger. The rabbit was everything I remember delicious and well-cooked rabbit to be. I tried explaining it to SO before we arrived and the best explanation I could give was that it is heartier than chicken, with a very subtle gamey taste, like dark meat chicken with tons more flavor. It was served on a bed of bacon ravioli, which was phenom. At first glance, I was a bit disappointed because the bowl was soo huge, and my entree not nearly so. But the flavors were out of this world. SO was kind enough to split his burger with me and it was delicious as well! SO was hesitant to order it bc most high end places that offers burgers is kinda a hit and miss. But this burger was perfect. It is a combo of beef and duck, so my palate was going crazy when I ate it in that you can definitely taste the beef and then something else that was crazy good but definitely not beef. For desert we got the white chocolate coffee tart. It was a great way to end a delicious meal - light and not overly sweet. However, it did come with scone type cookies for those who want more texture and sweetness. There is also a bar in the back near the river. The bartender was great there. You can also take your drinks and stroll around the property or lounge in the many chairs scattered around. The service was just exceptional. Our waiter was attentive, but didn't hover and was actually pretty sweet, smiling tons! The hostess had asked us if we were celebrating a special occasion and that info was relayed to our server and the kitchen who drew out Happy Anniversary on our desert table. The price point is not something that you'd want to just casually stop by and have a meal, but for a laid back beautiful place to celebrate life's special occasions I definitely recommend Canoe!
(4)
Elizabeth H.
Delicious breads. Tasty entrees. But, my Cod Fish entree came with a piece of breaded, fried fish on top of just a very few, tiny pieces of asparagus, along with four mussels and about three tiny shrimp. And maybe a slice mushroom. They use canola oil for frying, which is a highly processed and refined oil, not healthy as one is led to think. So, more vegetables, please. And a healthy oil for frying.
(4)
David L.
Sunday evening, 7PM, party of 4. Would have tried to have come earlier in evening had there been a reservation available. Pre-meal: bread assortment w/ flatbread, sourdough, and rye. Rye was mild and flatbread had a little spice (pepper). Sourdough seemed fine, though I had none. Apps: African Squash Soup - I ordered because my good friend raved about this, and it was probably the best squash soup I've ever had. Flavorful but not overdone, with a bit of cream to balance out the medley. Crab Cake - good flavor (lots of crabmeat) with right amount of crust. Entrees: (Daily Special) Pan-fried Sole with cauliflower risotto - two filet pieces provided an ample portion with a not-too-creamy risotto underneath. Perfectly cooked. Duck and Beef Burger with fries - bun was good, duck flavor did not come out for my tablemates. Fries were good. Stuffed Vermont Quail - bird was prepared well, Brussels sprouts were deconstructed a little bit, unexpected but okay Rainbow Trout w/ Lobster Ravioli - sadly, the trout was undercooked slightly, only in the thickest portion of the fish. The ravioli was delicious with the texture of freshly prepared pasta. The cost of the Trout was taken off the bill. They did not prepare another fish, since the entree was pretty much finished, so our server brought an empty (clean) plate back instead of the remains of the entree. He did not explain what he was doing, so it was a little strange at first, but only because he beat the manager to the table. Dessert Chocolate Grotto - a fun chocolate, caramel, pretzel dust concoction that was plenty for four of us to share to round out our meal. Did not order any beverages other than water. Overall: the dishes were delightful and flavorful with top quality ingredients and intent. The burger can be skipped to try other great entrees and the trout's preparation was a little disappointing but the menu, meal, and service keep this a superior restaurant for special occasions in the north metro suburbs.
(5)
Al M.
Bravo! Five big ones! We were drawn like a magnet to the lighted beacon of a sign pronouncing "CANOE" above the front entrance of one of the top restaurants in the Atlanta metroplex. The service was stellar throughout the eventing with a highly knowledgable wait staff. We enjoyed the view of the river as we sampled delicious appetizers of smoked salmon over goat cheese and potato latke, the creamy French Onion and the fresh oysters. Our party tried entrees including lamb, rainbow trout and the house specialty rabbit. All were outstanding. We left completely satisfied with a wonderful dining experience.
(5)
Brian H.
Rabbit?! Yes, I'm a believer. You should too. The hype is true. Wonderful restaurant for special occasions. Food, service, vibe, ambience, romance, it's all there folks. Look to spend roughly $40-$70 / person depending on how you want to splurge. For the special occasion, I'd say go all in and just do it (ie. cocktail, appetizer, wine, entree, dessert). We ended up going with the smoked salmon, rabbit, beef rib, pinot noir, 2 cocktails the server recommended, and that caramel popcorn ice cream thing. Yelp recommendation nailed it on this one.
(5)
Addy C.
Gosh it's been many years since I was at Canoe - I'd been a few times when it first opened but only for dinner. We went last wknd for brunch, and besides the great food and service, the highlight was sitting across from Michael Douglas. Our table was next to the window and while half of our table got a pretty view of the river, our half got a clear view of the famous actor :) Fortunately we behaved ourselves and no one took pictures or asked for his autograph - although I did a live tweet about it, haha :) Restaurant was packed - you definitely have to make reservations. We had a party of 6, and everyone seemed to enjoy their food. Our server was fantastic and attentive, and I'd never seen anyone split the check as good as her - she didn't do the easy "split evenly 6 ways" but was able to charge the correct items to each person PLUS split the shared foods and the birthday girl's dish. LARGE BASKET OF FRESHLY BAKED PASTRIES - $11 We got the "some of each" which included a delicious mix of GA Pecan Sticky Buns (best part was the puff pastry), and sweet & savory scones (my favorite was the coconut ginger). Served with vanilla butter and two different jams. Highly recommend getting the pastries! CRAB & EGGS - $18 Got this dish b/c the reviews were raving about it. Jumbo lump crabmeat (wish there was more), soft scrambled eggs (nice texture), hollandaise, and hash brown potatoes. Initially I really enjoyed it but it's a lot of food and I actually got bored later. I wouldn't get it again - but worth a bite if someone else orders it :) FYI - our server recommended the Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict, Chicken w/ Cheddar Grits, and Duck n' Beef Burger. I'd probably go for the burger next time. POPCORN ICE CREAM SUNDAE w/ HOUSEMADE CRACKER JACK - $8 Of the three desserts we ordered, this was my favorite. The presentation was beautiful, and I loved the sweet/salty combination. TRIO OF CREME BRULEE - $8 Bailey's, Kahlua, Godiva. Need I say more? CHOCOLATE GROTTO - $8 This dessert was just ok - impressive presentation but that was it. I do like salted caramel though. Overall great choice for brunch - wide menu selection, reasonable prices for a restaurant like Canoe, excellent service, and great atmosphere. FYI - parking is complimentary valet.
(4)
Joe S.
This was by far the #1 restaurant in several different different aspects. I say, it's a must visit by far. The ambiance was very nice and romantic, dimmed lighting with a great view of the outside garden and river. Our server was excellent and very familiar and knowledge with the menu (sorry forgot his name but a newly transplanted Savanah resident). Our food was prepared to perfection! For the appetizer we had the shrimp, which came in a curry/spicy sauce that was great to dip with the bread. We had the trout and salmon for the main entree, both were excellent in taste and preparation. For desert we had the Chocolate Grotto and that was a great ending to our meal. Not too sweet or too huge but very tasty. We both had cocktails (No.5 and a Manhattan), which I must say, we're pretty strong and probably some of the better and strongest drinks that I've tasted around town. I like to taste my liquor in the drinks and these drinks definitely had alcohol in them to taste!!! Go and you will not be disappointed. It will make your significant other, let's just say, want to make you "very happy"!!!!
(5)
Katy N.
I don't think I could say enough good things about this place. I made a reservation while friends were visiting from out of town last week. I don't think I could have picked a better place to take them. The food was excellent, service was phenomenal, wine was delicious and atmosphere was perfect. We started with oysters on the half shell - flown in fresh and by far the best I've had. We also tried the smoked salmon appetizer - fresh smoked inhouse and served on a crispy potato pancake with goat cheese. To. Die. For. For dinner I had the trout served with lobster ravioli. Delicious. I couldn't pass on desserts from their executive pastry chef and swooned over the popcorn sundae. All in all a delicious meal from start to finish. I've also been to Canoe for brunch and the scones are not to be missed. This is a must go in Atlanta.
(5)
James D.
Amazing food and all around experience. Great setting on the Chattahoochee River with an outdoor bar and chairs to kick back in after an amazing meal surrounded by gardens and a fantastic view. Overall, I'd rate this as the best experience I've had at a restaurant in Atlanta. I look forward to making a return visit.
(5)
Jenny H.
I came here for brunch and everything was really good. Their sweets basket in the beginning with various scones and their pecan sticky bun (which was FABULOUS) was good. Everything was freshly baked and served with jam, marmalade and butter. Their she-crab soup is REALLY good. Served with cream and sherry on the side that you pour over the soup, it has great texture and is heart-warming. I got their fried green tomato eggs benedict which was good. The salmon potato pancake was good too but too much cream on the pancake to be really good. Their burger was pretty good and flavorful, their steak and eggs I thought was the best dish (ribeye with just done soft scrambled eggs). My friend got their shrimp salad (batter fried shrimp) and a small pile of salad and the crawfish and grits dish which was just OK. All the dishes are pretty good, nothing stands out in particular. The ambience feels like a nice steak house and they do a good job topping off your water. Great views in the back by the river.
(4)
Chris W.
Wife took me here for my birthday. It's been at least 5 years since we last came and I still remembered the first meal we had here. Once again Canoe did not disappoint, excellent service and the food was great. Wife had the crab cake and I had the smoke salmon app to start, clean plates! Main course was the rabbit and the pork chop, both plates were spotless when we were done lol. Finally we shared the cracker jack sundae which was excellent, we don't normally do sweets but this one was well worth it. Already trying to think up a reason to go here again.
(5)
Ryan K.
One of the best waiters I ever had. Great atmosphere, great food. The rabbit is their signature dish and was very very good.
(5)
Lindsay S.
Picked this for my birthday Thursday, and so happy I did! Loved it there. Salmon appetizer was amazing. Get the large portion, trust me :). Take pictures outside before dinner as well.
(5)
Alison L.
This is one of my favorite special occasion restaurants in Atlanta. Canoe's location on the bank of the Chattahoochee River makes this a beautiful location for private events. They have walkways and an outdoor bar. Every time we've been to Canoe, we've seen large parties enjoying the outdoor space. Request a table outside and go to watch the sunset. Service is impeccable and the fresh, seasonal menu provides so many options, that it's always good to mix and match. My husband and I regularly request this place for our birthdays and anniversary celebrations. Tell the host and your server will bring you a beautiful customized dessert. If you have plans to see a show at the Cobb Energy Center, this is a perfect place to start or end your evening.
(5)
Hailey P.
Grabbed an early brunch here. The food was amazing. We started with coffee and a sampler of the pastries. Everyone ordered something different and it seemed you could do no wrong. Loved sitting out by the river after brunch. I'd love to come back for dinner.
(5)
Ashleigh P.
I have eaten here four times now and love this place. The service is impeccable. You HAVE to valet - which is a sore point for me, but there really is limited parking... I have always been greeted warmly by the hostess, the bar is a great place to be while you wait for your table, either inside or DOWN BY THE RIVER (sorry, had to) the inside bar is where you can get the concoctions, the riverside bar is were you can get a killer dirty martini. All the tables have a river view per-say and all of the servers work in concert to deliver some of the best service I have ever received. I love the food, which rotates seasonally, and the desserts are thoughtful and delicious. The strawberry rhubarb tart with house made strawberry ice cream was so so good. The flat bread is spicy... just so you know. The wine list is great, and the drinks are very good. I love this place... have I said that already?
Never knew you could find such a beautiful setting in Atlanta. Calm, and beautiful, this restaurant is the perfect setting for a romantic lunch or diner. And of course, the food is amazing.
(5)
Remi E.
Everytime I come to this restaurant I am always amazed at the view,the service and food. Great place to enjoy beautiful weather and food. Price is worth every bite, we love coming here and just sitting and talking, even saw someone get married outside one time.
(5)
RJ C.
TL:DR -- Try to avert your eyes as you enter the strip mall, because the only bad thing about this place is the front door. Unless you're a vegetarian, I suppose. Lovely back lawn opening to the river, great views thereof while dining, attentive servers, great chops and fish. The cocktails were nice, but not quite up to snuff for a place of this caliber -- didn't think it worthy of removing a star, because Canoe, to my knowledge, does not profess to specialize in them. I don't recall if I've had a dessert here, but for your sake, dear yelpers, and for the sake of a better review, I am willing to take on this great task.
(5)
Barbara H.
Let's start with the good... This is a NICE place. Free and friendly valet. The menu is atypical (in a good way), so I had a million questions, and server was incredibly knowledgeable. The food was pretty good. Beautifully landscaped property next to the river (but geese poop is everywhere so watch out!) The hostess and our server, pretty much killed our experience. As we were celebrating a special occasion, our party of 4 requested a table by the window, a "good" table, when we made the reservation over a month ago. Instead, we were seated in a not-so-great, high-traffic area of the restaurant (the kind where my chair gets kicked by everyone when they walk by). Although the restaurant was literally empty when we arrived, we were told they could not accommodate the table we requested. We watched as 2 of the best tables (one of them the exact one we had requested) go unused. One table of 4 was being used by a party of 2, and the other table of 4 sat empty the entire time we ate. Although the location of the table was annoying, we weren't going to let something silly like that ruin our evening. Instead our server, Jess. N. did that for us. She was rude and had a terrible attitude from the very start. When I asked if they had Coke Zero, for example, her response was "well our sodas come in bottles so you don't get free refills." Although she was very knowledgeable about the questions I had regarding the menu, she was clearly frustrated that I was even asking them. I realize this makes me sound overly sensitive, but I'm telling you, her negativity, eye-rolls, and strategically loud well-timed exhales made it awkward for all of us throughout the entire meal. We wanted to order dessert but it was clear that would put her out, so we paid as quickly as we could and left.
(2)
Timothy D.
Sometimes saying less is more. The food is very, very good, though not excellent. My rack of lamb came with what I'll call a lamb pot pie. A lot of work in the kitchen, and it just did not deliver, except for heartburn. Place some quinoa & a generous portion of haricot vert on the plate, and call it a day. All the fish is good. The presentation is very good, even when it doesn't deliver. The service is solid 5 star, and the staff close to the same. The lowest staff member is managed well. These people know the biz. The ambiance is somewhere between 4 & 5. We were there in December, so no outside dining. Food pricing is slightly high, but no sticker shock. The wine list, however, is straight out of that old restaurant playbook that I now call totally lame, and a disservice to the consumer. 2.5 times and maybe more. Not everything, but many bottles. Some solid, nuanced wines. to be sure, and plenty of love & care is given to this side of the biz. But count me among those smart enough to bring their own wine. Be smart, plan ahead, break out the good stuff, and bring your own. Your wallet will be very happy. Your waiter might not be, but oh well. A very nice place, probably a little more special occasion than once a month, but very good. Kudos to the owners for their longevity in maintaining this quality establishment. The only reason I held back one star is the wine issue. To the owners I would say I have no problem paying for your first house but not your vacation home. At 100% markup, you'd do fine, and be client friendly. The world is changing. Get ahead of the curve.
(4)
Loren B.
Out of ALL the places in Atlanta, I wanted to come here the most and now that I finally went, so upset. Maybe my expectations were too high.... who knows but all I know is someone will have to bring me here again for a very good reason. I came here for brunch, so maybe I need to come here for dinner menu or not at all. Shrug. Where do I begin, I had the eggs and crab. The eggs weren't that good. The bacon wasn't that good. My boyfriend had the duck and fried egg burger and he said it wasn't that good. You literally saw a pile of oil just collecting itself on the plate and not in a good way The soup was delicious....but that was the best part of the meal. Unfortunate. I need to come back here for dinner...that's all I was thinkingn in order to justify this bad meal. I think people love this place cause its high end and the ambiance, but to be honest there are a lot of places in Atlanta with a beautiful backdrop and flowers. When I go out to eat, I love food. I want to rave about it to all my friends and dream about going back. This place failed to do that for me. Tip: They won't serve any alcoholic beverages until 12:30PM. That's right no mimosas with those eggs. Think again! I'll try again yelpers....maybe for dinner...maybe if there is a yelp event there or maybe not at all. Best of luck.
(2)
EJ P.
Fantastic food in a fantastic setting, and the service was phenomenal. Do not miss the popcorn sundae!!!!!
(5)
Na L.
The hosts were friendly and our waitress was very knowledgable. I'd give the service 5 stars if it was a separate category. The reason why I can't give this place 5 stars is because the food. My boyfriend ordered the smoked salmon on potato cakes as our appetizer. The teaser was ok, nothing special. For our entrees, we ordered: duck N beef burger with truffle fries and the Carolina rabbit The truffle fries were my favorite out of both dishes. For dessert we had the popcorn ice cream and chocolate grotto. Eh. By the end of our dinner, the place was getting crowded and quite loud. Good thing we finished our meals before it got worst. Overall, this place is nice with lovely people. The food is mediocre.
(4)
Cathy S.
I took my parents to brunch here and wowed them with food, decor and service. SCORE! However for me everything is just standard-good though, but their price is not ridiculous so i am totally OK with this. Be warned that their sticky buns are made of croissant dough, not the regular bread dough. Calorie bomb but so intoxicating! The service staff got my oder of pastry basket wrong, and they charged it wrong, and they found out the mistake before i signed the bill, and they apologized sincerely, and they offered us a complimentary order of pastry basket to go. Model in the service business.
(4)
David M.
Enjoyed an excellent dinner at Canoe. I feel the food was thoughtful, expertly prepared and April's service was "Top Notch".
(5)
Alexandra P.
One of the nicest restaurants in Atlanta. It has a large garden and river out back so it is a serene place. Would be perfect for a proposal or wedding! Definitely a good place to bring your extended family when they are in town. They have a delicious brunch and a romantic/classy dinner.
(5)
Yohan N.
For those that can afford 30-40 dollar plates, this would be a frequent place to go. However, for those that stick in around in the 10s for average dinner price, this would be a special occasion restaurant. Came 30 minutes before reservation (Yes, reservation needed. Especially on Wednesday nights where live music happens and on the weekends). Went in the back and walked and sat in the garden that they have. The weather was perfect (fall) so it made the ambiance that much better. There isn't much lighting at night so I would not recommend if it's getting dark. Ordered the dozen oysters for some appetizers. The topping on the oysters was very unique and different. It didn't come with your typical garlic, tabasco, cocktail sauce. It had it's own fresh cucumber based topping which went very nicely with the oysters. Fresh - is all i got to say. yumyum. Recommend. For the entrees, ordered their famous rabbit dish and brisket. I gotta admit, the rabbit was just okay. It was good over the risotto on the bottom but I now can say I had rabbit. The brisket however was sooooo tender. So soft, it melts in your mouth (in a good way...) Would recommend the briskets over the rabbit. For dessert, ordered the three chocolate creme bulee and salted popcorn ice cream. The popcorn ice cream was heavenly, however, after half way, it was getting too sweet. The creme bulee.... o m g. i can't describe it. just get it. trust me. please? Price: For appetizer, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts, total bill came out to $140 If you live in Atlanta and have not gone here yet, definitely a place to check out. Go go go!
(5)
E B.
A recent visit was all 5 stars again. Service was absolutely PERFECT.
(5)
Mo F.
Amazing food. The she-crab soup is terrific as are the sweet rolls at brunch!!! Service was great, iced tea comes with simple syrup instead of sugar... Thank goodness
(5)
Melanie B.
My boyfriend took me there for my birthday, and I was very excited. The view on the river was incredible and lived up to the hype. However, everything else was just ok. The food was good, not great. And compared to similarly priced restaurants, the wait staff fell way short. We barely had the opportunity to reorder drinks. Also, small thing, but they knew it was my birthday and they didn't bring out anything. I wasn't expecting anything huge, just a small treat. I thought that this was standard at these caliber restaurants, but apparently not at Canoe.
(2)
Phuong N.
I chose Canoe because it was highly recommended by my roommate and I needed a special place to share my one year anniversary with my girlfriend. The staff were incredibly friendly and really made us feel special. They went so far as to spell out "Happy 1st Anniversary" on our dessert! (the popcorn sundae is fantastic by the way) Josh was our server and he was the man. Super friendly, did a great job walking us through the menu, and made great recommendations. My girlfriend also enjoyed it and we can't wait until the next time we can dine at Canoe!
(5)
M G.
The food, the garden and decor: 5 stars Service: 1 star The food was great. The waitress was rude, mean, and humiliated one of the guests by putting a napkin over their part of the table, "to keep the presentation clean". Let me assure you, the table was not dirty. Putting a napkin in front of only 1 guest -- that's just weird, patronizing. When she came back to the table and saw that the guest removed the napkin, she stared at them, expecting explanation. At that point, the guest explained that they found it humiliating to be the only one sitting with a napkin on their part of the table. From the very first moment she gave us an attitude by arguing over the correct preparation styles when we just expressed our curiosity over how venison is cooked. Moreover, she got really defensive when we tried to pick out wine -- she was anything but helpful, and the worst of all was her attitude when we were just trying to pick something we'd enjoy. All this time our table was polite and respectful to the waitress, even through her rude attacks. I'd never come back to this place, not even for its good food. The management should do a better job training the staff, especially at a place that targets to be a fine dining experience. And replace the waiting staff after they've behaved in such a disrespectful way.
(1)
Josh D.
Wonderful, tranquil setting with attentive and knowledgeable staff and really great selections (even wonderful breads). Some dishes were great (crab cake was just right), some tried a bit too hard (bacon wrapped grouper was just a bit too rich), and others were a touch too decadent. But we've been here twice now and will likely be back - they continue to experiment, churn out great dishes, and give us a chance to explore a southern influenced farm-to-table concept.
(4)
Jason G.
Amazing food. Outstanding service. Vibrant atmosphere. Gorgeous views. Inventive cocktails. Just about everything you could look for in an excellent dining experience can be found at this picturesque location along the Chattahoochee River. We really had a wonderful time sampling the menu at Canoe. I will second the other reviews I've read, either here or on trip advisor, that they were running behind schedule even with reservations. The thing is, they were jam packed, the food is amazing, and everyone stays for dessert. So, I don't think it's a scheme to have you buy drinks, no, I think they're busy and they make quality food that people want to enjoy. We started off with an order of the house smoked salmon which comes on potato pancake. The large order came with four pieces. We also had the BBQ Georgia shrimp which are cooked with the head and tail still on. That was great as well. For entrees my friend had the beef & duck burger. It was a good size and cooked well. The fries that accompany it were great - you really taste the truffle oil, garlic and rosemary. My wife went with the salmon, and I can't say I've ever tried a better piece of fish. I had the slow roasted South Carolina rabbit. It was delicious. Legitimately, tasted like chicken, if you've never had it before. All of the entrees were amazing. My friend and I tried drinks throughout the night. They were good, but the menu stuck with more traditional cocktails. To wrap things up my friend and I went with the popcorn sundae and my wife the chocolate grotto. Delicious. This place was awesome, and we are glad we found it. The service was very friendly, and really had honest recommendations about the food. Make a reservation and enjoy!
(5)
Morris M.
A great place for dinner. Quite business. Good for dating and business social. Service is good. Waiters and waitresses are very polite. #1. Menu is very attractive From the appetizers to entrees, of course the drinks. Cocktail tastes very good, and tried the rabbit and the lamb bolognese. Personally I prefer the lamb better. The reason I don't pick the rabbit is that I have tried a better rabbit in Canada. #2. Dessert Menu is even more attractive I am kind of old fashioned, in order to maintain the great experience of dining, creme brulee. Creme Brulee is very good, thick and thin crust. But the popcorn sundae and Chocolate Mousse, Bittersweet Flatbread, Jalapeno Jam ~~ Definitely will go for a second time!
(5)
Danica K.
Pricey but definitely worth it. I liked every dish from start to the end. The salmon appetizer to the seafood risotto to the peanut butter dessert! I would definitely go here again.
(5)
Caleigh R.
Yum!! We are in Atlanta for David's work and met friends for dinner Thursday night. What a great restaurant!! Ambiance is perfect, so don't be fooled when you pull into the parking lot and question why it's next to a weightloss center and dry cleaners. The outside is very relaxing...easy to forget you're so close to the city. Reservations had been made....accidentally for Tuesday, but the maitre d took care of us! We had drinks in the bar before a table outside became available. The zen zero was delicious!! David had whatever the first cocktail was listed and it was too fruity---but he liked my zen zero a lot :) We tried the smoked salmon and jumbo crab cake appetizers. Followed it with the fish special and lamb sirloin. All was delicious! Shared a dessert to top off our evening. Left happy customers. I highly recommend Canoe if you are in the Atlanta area...just make sure you get OpenTable reservations or plan on getting a cocktail ahead of time!
(5)
Sebastien I.
The place was suggested by my boss: given the number if reviews, let's say one of the best restaurant in the SE USA: great tasting, very subtle Arctic char (trout from Iceland) with chanterelle mushrooms. The raw oyster sauce with cucumber is to die for. Great view on the river. BUT: if the cook knew that the outside bar server is serving his/her great tasting food next to pigeon poo (see picture), I bet he/she would teach him a thing or two about life...this is why I only give 3 stars: when you charge what you do for great tasting food, you want this to be perfect!
(3)
Whitlee H.
I went here for brunch and the food was good. The service was fast and the menu was nice and simple. I will definitely come back for dinner one day it was crowded as well. Reservations I highly recommend. They have complimentary valet parking.
(5)
Mallory Z.
Their food never disappoint me, meanwhile predictable every time. A bit more variety and more off the menu options would be great! I love every dessert of canoe that's made out of passion fruit, so delicate, fresh and sweet. The beet salad is lovely too. Entrees like Rabbit, quail, fishes and steak are good, but not exceptional. :) can't beat the dining environment! Btw the new Bordeaux blend is fantastic.
(4)
Houdini J.
I wanted to hate this place. My initial impression - Canoe is where the well-healed eat during he week. Canoe may be special to me, but it's their version of Applebee's. Plus, when the valet took our new Honda, I noticed that most of the cars were luxury class and black or white in color. When I pointed this out to the parking attendant, he looked around, then smiled back at me. Apparently, this wasn't news to him. Once seated indoors, we noticed the beautiful garden setting that rests along what I believe to be the 'Hooch. We also noticed that the price was not out of line for the area. We ordered an appetizer and a 1/2 bottle of wine. All good. For dinner I had the quail stuffed with chicken andouille. Delicious! However, the side item was some corn and tomato concoction. I would have preferred some roasted potatoes. Regardless, the food was good as was the service. The portions were as expected, thus, I felt a tad hungry afterwards. I will remember to request more of that tasty bread, if and when I return. Overall, a good experience.
(4)
ChauPha N.
A friend took me here for my birthday dinner. It didn't look like much when we pulled up but when we stepped inside it was a very nice surprise. The restaurant was welcoming and homey in a way. It was very packed on a Tuesday night. Since I came here in October it was a bit chilly to sit outside on the patio. We did take a walk after our dinner though. I ordered the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard and Bacon Raviolo, Sweet Potato and Candied Garlic Sauce. This is their most well known dishes i suppose. My friend ordered the Lamb Bolognese with Orecchiette pasta. We also ordered the Lump Crab Cake and Canoe's House Smoked Salmon with Crispy Potato Cake and Vermont Goat's Cheese. The rabbit meat was tender and melt in my mouth good. It didn't leave behind any bad aftertaste so that's very good. It kinda reminded me of chicken. My friend's lamb wasn't as good in my opinion. It did leave behind a bit of an aftertaste. The crab cake was really scrumptious and good. Not as big as a I would like but it will do. The Smoke Salmon was good too. Not as good as the crab cake though. :D For desserts I had the Maple Bourbon Creme Brulee with Applewood Bacon Brittle. I didn't like it as much because the Applewood Bacon Brittle was bitter. I told my server this but he kind of just say alot of people like it and thats that. lol. After dinner we took a walk outside. The view was pretty and the lights was nice. I can see the river and wished I visited when its summer time to enjoy the view during daylight. I will come back again. Overall, service was on point, except for the dessert part. He did check on us alot and that was good. I think canoe is a great restaurant for the summertime. I will come back.
(4)
Dave L.
I came here for a business dinner. Service could be better and more attentive. I realize it is a Friday night and they had 2 large parties to cater to outside. The food was amazing however which is why I'm leaving review
(4)
Steve B.
The Update.... There is a reason this is probably the best restaurant in all of Atlanta. The ambiance, the service, the food, the atmosphere, the setting. All across the board, it knocks it out the park. I would like to take time to give a shout out to our server Roland. I will have to call Canoe, speak with Management and inform them that this was the best server I ever had. He enhanced the service for his knowledge and politeness and with hard work should be celebrated. The cold smoked salmon with goat cheese as the appetizer was pretty good. My smoked roasted Carolina Rabbit was to almost die for. It was non-chewy, melted upon impact.. Then add the ravioli and Garlic sauce and the entree became an instant classic. My wife enjoyed her George's Bank Cod Lobster Etoufee. If you follow my reviews, she is very picky but recommended when I do this review that she hit on all points between great food, great service, great environment. The lemon zest shortbread dessert was beyond delicious. Great scenery along the Chattahoochie on a beautiful evening. Canoe doesn't disappoint, it's the go to restaurant in the Metro ATL. Overall: A+
(5)
Aaron L.
Went there for the first time a few weeks ago. Loved it. Had a rabbit dish for the first time. It was great. I think I loved the bacon ravioli that came with the dish more, though. My wife and I loved everything we had. The servers were friendly and courteous. Loved the olive bread they offered. The highlight of the meal was the desert. Wow. I had this date pudding and my wife had a chocolate desert. Both were amazing, really. The ambiance was ok. Didn't think it was as fancy as they try to make it out to be. It's dark inside and fairly loud. Some people were pretty dressed up and there were some wearing pretty casual clothes. Hmm... This one table even had their children with them. Good for them, I guess. Also, they have a small garden/ outdoor area by the river. Super cool and romantic. It was a great over all experience. We'd go back there just for the deserts alone.
(4)
Gabriel B.
Food is always amazing. Location in unbeatable. Service can be moody, so after last time stopped going frequently (was an once a month regular). There is nothing worst than a waiter who thinks is nobler that its guests, and insists on making that clear...so be prepared to be amazed by the food, stunned by the river and garden view, but watch out for the pompousness of some staff members. That, to me, ends up ruining the whole experience. And draining down 2 yelp stars...
(3)
Lily L.
If you want to come, you'll need a reservation. I would recommend booking about a week in advance for good seats and a normal time slot. When I went I didn't get nice seats by a window and the lighting of the restaurant was really dim. The waiters are all nice and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. I was especially impressed by their incredible selection of bread (flatbed was my favorite). The food was pretty good, but I feel like the reviews on this page overhyped the food. It was good, but Canoe is not favorite restaurant in Atlanta.
(4)
Steven B.
The best meal I've had in Atlanta in the year I've lived here. My wife and I go out pretty much every weekend to try a new restaurant, usually guided by Yelp recommendations. Some are great, some are not. Canoe is the best so far for more upscale restaurants. I ordered the quail, which is a few boneless breasts pieced together, stuffed with a chicken andouille stuffing, sitting on top of corn and fried okra, all covered in an amazing chipotle sauce. My mouth is now watering after typing those last few sentences. It was cooked perfectly, great portion size, and just fantastic. I wouldn't hesitate to order it again if (when) I return. My wife got the salmon, and it was also very good, although somewhat traditional. We didn't order an appetizer, but they bring a great selection of breads to your table and allow you to pick a few kinds. They're great, think Great Harvest type breads. We did order the Georgia Peach Crisp for dessert. The peaches and crisp were really good, albeit somewhat ordinary, but it came with a scoop of homemade honey flavored ice cream that was incredible. Seriously, I'm planning on sending them an email asking for the recipe. Additionally, the view from the outside is awesome. Sits right on the river, and it smells and looks great. As you can probably tell from the review, I enjoy trying unique foods rather than traditional ones. I can prepare a salmon steak at home or even go to Outback and get a good one for $12, so paying $30 for salmon seems a bit wrong to me. I prefer to have a very unique twist on ingredients, and Canoe provided that, in addition to traditional dishes. I was very impressed with everything. I would go again.
(5)
Travis J.
Overall great restaurant the food is great, service is excellent and teh atnospohere is very relaxing.
(5)
Eddie R.
We went for Easter brunch. My first thought was, what a great job with the valet parking cars. This was my first time there. What a fantastic view. Our group of 4 selected the sticky buns. What a start. We then ordered the salmon appetizer. Nice. We then ordered the special. Egg, bacon,potato,French toast. Also the panko crusted fish, and the salmon dish. Wow it was all great. The service was fantastic. The food was fantastic. The experience was awesome. If you were here one night, and you only get to eat at one place, canoe would be the place to select. It doesn't get any better than this. This is the kind of place you go to celebrate something special. I highly recommend.
(5)
Melissa N.
A friend recently put me on to Canoe. I am a complete foody! I have been here 3 times in the past week. A few things I love about canoe 1. The setting, it's located on the Chattahoochie w wonderful landscaping and bar down by the river. The ambiance is unbelievable! Beautiful set up. 2. The service! Everyone treats you amazing here. From the time you are greeted at the door, to when you sit and are served. It's a very good feeling going somewhere you know you will be treated right. 3. Of course...the food!! Now growing up my dad was a chef, so I know good food. Things I would definitely suggest is the Smoked Salmon w goat cheese! They were doing a special on heirloom tomatoes from Alabama that were just delicious! Like the wonderful server Mitch said.."taste like sunshine" I would also suggest the rabbit of course, (I ordered side of plums to go with) the artic char is one of my favorites as well! Now the good part..hands down!! The Popcorn ice cream. I was hesitant at first. Trust me! It's amazing. A mix of sweetness w Carmel and salty goodness! Heaven in your mouth. Can't wait to go back!
Great food and service. Love how the menu is always changing and every time I go its a whole new experience!
(5)
Liz V.
Canoe is a great restaraunt considering you have so many dining options. You can eat in the dining room that boasts one of the best views of the river in the city; get a drink and appetizer at the bar that is set up like a cozy living room or meet up with friends at the outside bar area along the river and sit in one of the oversized chairs under the stars. We did a little bit of everything, starting out our night in the bar area. Canoe has a stronger than normal moscato that only enhances my typical wine side effect of giggling and hair tossing. We moved on to a great dining table by the window with a river view. It doesn't matter where your sitting near the windows, the views are amazing. There is a seperate dining room right by the bar that has high wood ceilings and oversized fans. It was darkly lit as compared to the warm evening sun coming in from the windows. It looked more intimate and it definately was not as loud. My friend ordered the filet with wasabi potatoes, I ordered the fish special and we shared the crab cake appetizer. Canoe doesn't offer your typical bread option, they walk around with fresh breads brought in by Holeman and Finch and each night is a new variety. I had to try the sourdough and french bread. Both were deliciously crusty and were used to scoop the spicy sauce that was used on the crab cake. The crab cake was over an inch thick and crumbled perfectly on my fork, I knew it was fresh. Our entrees came and while he loved his steak my fish wasn't cooked. His steak was a thick cut porterhouse cut topped with shallots and creamy wasabi mashed potatoes. He became silent after his first bite so I knew it was good! My monk fish special came in an oversized bowl that was swimming in an odd fishy broth with mussels, clams and squid. I tried to use my fork to cut the fish and it moved like Jello. I tried to use his steak knife and it still didn't cut either. Thankfully the waitress stopped by to check on us and she took the plate away with no hesitation. A manager came over to discuss the fish. He offered to bring me something different but I declined. I was perfectly content with my wine, the warm bread and random bites of his steak. He graciously smiled and said "I will have something for you before you leave." Just as we were closing out our check to go to the outdoor bar area, I looked up and 5 desserts were heading towards the table. This is where Canoe really shines, the desserts looked like art! The manager went over every dessert with detail and it was poetry. Plate #1: Chocolate grotto hard shell with salted chocolate mouse, salted caramel and pretzel dust. Plate #2: Classic vanilla bean creme brulee and warm brownie. Plate #3: Banana nut bread with brown butter sauce. Plate #4: Assorted seasonal fruit and 2 scoops of sorbet. Plate #5 and my ALL TIME FAVORITE DESSERT EVER: Popcorn icecream sundae with house made cracker jacks. Let me tell you, I have a weakness for treats and enjoyed every dessert but the most amazing yet odd combination had to be the popcorn sundae. It was served in a deep rootbeer mug with vanilla bean icecream, melted caramel and caramel popcorn mixed in and scattered on the plate. The mix of salty and sweet caused a bit of a battle at our table where I ended up with caramel on my nose but I still won! Even if you don't go for dinner, you have to try this sundae. I appreciate the staff of Canoe turning a bad dinner entree in to a sugary smile. You can never go wrong with dessert whether it be one or five!
(4)
Brad W.
This is the BEST restaurant in Atlanta, hands down. I don't care which magazine or website comes out with a list praising the next Top Chef winner's newest spot; year in and year out this is the best restaurant you can possibly find in this town. The service is top notch, with a staff that you can tell is paid well to be there, wants to be there, and enjoys what they do. Courteous but not stuffy, they're not old men like steakhouse waiters but they're not kids either, these are people who know how to take care of a table. The atmosphere is romantic, elegant, and classy. While they've never required a coat, you should wear one. This place is way too nice for jeans and it ticks me off when I see them here. This is the kind of restaurant you buy new pants for. The view is not to be missed and if you can eat here in warm weather and sit outside, you must. The food, I can't even begin to describe. If you want a steak, this is among the best. Fish, among the best. Sides, among the best. Wine, desserts, you name it. I usually get the specials here because they've never done me wrong. Good God, the food here is impeccable. I think the prices are very reasonable when you compare to the others in the routine top 10 here, Canoe comes in on the low end. I could spend all day singing praise to Canoe, but when my wife and I have something big to celebrate or are just dying to get dressed up and have a night out, this is always our top choice. Getting a table isn't always easy, so it's not for the spontaneous dinner plans, but if you can plan ahead, do it. You will not be sorry.
(5)
Sarah M.
From start to finish, my experience at Canoe was remarkable. The hostess was very accommodating, allowing us to test tables both inside and outside (with our concern that it was too cold outside). The waiter was extremely professional, thorough, and efficient. The food was timely and exquisitely prepared. They were very accommodating to allergies in our party. Afterwards, we took our wine and walked along the path that follows the water. The lights were out due to power lines cut down during a recent storm, but our waiter gave us his flashlight to use on our walk. I highly recommend dinner at Canoe!
(5)
Kristin B.
Great atmosphere. Had the salmon appetizer and rabbit main course which was so tender and delicious. Went for a birthday dinner and they encouraged us to get a dessert because it was our birthday, making us assume it was complimentary. Well it was a delicious peanut butter dessert but not complimentary. My boyfriend did call the manager to complain as he thought it would be included based on how the waiter had presented it and they said that is not typically included but due to the confusion they took it off the bill, which I thought was nice customer service. Would like to go back for brunch.
(4)
Ginger J.
We thought the food was great and the price was good too! The salmon appetizer and truffle fries are worth going for!
(5)
Jessica P.
I'm not a person who is convinced that a high price on a menu ensures that the food will be phenomenal. I signed on to Yelp and before I could search for a restaurant Canoe was at the top of the list, with a 4.5 star rating and glowing reviews. I made reservations and was shocked to see on a Monday evening the available times were almost non-existent. I was lucky to get what I did! Good timing...maybe this was a sign? We were sat right away and our waitress promptly greeted us with "Good evening Ms. Pratas, how are you?" Excuse you? She knew my name. They took the time to look at my name from my reservation and pass it a long to the waiter. I knew right off the bat that we weren't going to be just paying for the food but paying for the service. It might seem like a small detail, but they're no fools. When you're paying between $30-$40 a dish, it's the little details that matter the most, not just the food. Since it was our first time there, she took the time to go through the menu, highlighting dishes that Canoe is known for. She pointed out the House Smoked Salmon, Crispy Potato Cake, Vermont Goat's Cheese under the appetizers and the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit, which has been on the menu since the restaurant opened over 20 years ago. Our waitress set the mood for the rest of the evening...it was simply lovely. Now - to the best part! We started our meal off with the oysters on the half shell with a cucumber champagne mignonette. There were six in the order, and the cucumber mignonette was already on the oysters instead of on the side. I was hesitant about that...it's always disappointing when a sauce or condiment is slathered all over food that would have been better with out it! But Canoe has these reviews for a reason...they know what they're doing. It was a perfect compliment. Sweet and crisp thanks to the cucumber but not so strong that you couldn't taste the oysters, which were tender and buttery. Yum. For our entries we got the slow roasted Carolina rabbit with swiss chard on bacon ravioli, sweet potato and a candied garlic sauce ($29) and the venison served with sweet potato and blueberry compote ($32). The rabbit was tender and moist (which is a feat when it comes to rabbit) and the ravioli was ALL bacon. It was delicious because, I mean c'mon bacon is king. Although by the end of the meal the rabbit was gone and half the ravioli's were left. The bacon was overwhelming. The venison was cooked a perfect medium rare and the outside had a charred crust to it. The sweet potato was mashed and under the meat, with a small dollop of the blueberry compote. The sweetness was a nice compliment to the gaminess of the meat, but I'm glad they were conservative with it. I'm not a huge fan of fruit with my dinner, but it was perfect. Sure, the prices might be steep but the charming ambiance, the phenomenal service and stand up food makes Canoe a "must try" in Atlanta. It was worth every penny. I can't wait to get back there to try their brunch and hopefully get a seat outside over looking that beautiful Chattahoochee River.
(4)
Chris C.
I took my fiance here lastnight and we were very impressed. Everything was awesome! From the smoked salmon and fresh shucked oyster appetizers, duck and venison main courses, and the crepe cheesecake, and sorbet desserts, we enjoyed every last morsel. The waitstaff and atmosphere were both perfect. Might just have to come back again for sunday brunch tomorrow.
(5)
Niki C.
Exquisite! I was in Atlanta briefly for business but was able to free up my evenings to enjoy them catching up with a dear friend over dinner. My instructions to her: "Take me somewhere that I cannot find in NYC." And so here I am, writing a five star review, for this enchanted restaurant which is perfectly perched in a beautiful riverside setting. (*At least that is the sense you get once inside. Forget, for now, that when you pull up to the complimentary valet, that technically you are in a small suburban Atlanta strip mall...) Anyhow, service was not perfect but still very good, essentially from the moment we walked in. Food was amazing (I started with the Yellow Corn Soup then moved onto the Rabbit, with a few tastes of the delicious fresh baked olive and raisin breads in between since there was a bit of a lag.) There was no room for dessert, though I hear it is divine. Oh how I would love to host a dinner party outdoors overlooking the river! It looks so tranquil in that rustic-chic type of way!The setting was exceptional! Was not able to venture out there as there was a private corporate event happening the night we dined there, but the spectacular view from inside served me just fine! Highly recommended!
(5)
Alison B.
My bf surprised me when he shared that he had made a reservation for dinner at Canoe to celebrate my birthday earlier this month and it was everything I had hoped for and more. Like many others, I consider Canoe to be a special occasion dining place, not just because it is expensive (although it certainly can be), but there is just a frission of excitement about going out to eat at Canoe- especially for dinner- which is best savored during a celebratory meal. We tried the raw oysters and smoked salmon over crispy potato cakes as appetizers. The salmon literally melted in our mouths and the potato stick base was a nice crunchy counterpart to the soft unctuous salmon. I loved both of these dishes, and most who know me realize that is saying something as I rarely eat seafood! The night were dined there (and we were lucky enough to get a riverside table in the front corner of the restaurant as we had a fairly early reservation and these highly desirable tables are not guaranteed), it was the first night of the King crab season, so we tried the entree which featured succulent chunks of the buttery crab and a scoopful of olive oil gelato. Interesting and memorable, but more to his taste than mine. Dessert was spectacular! We split the (quite large!) popcorn sundae with salted caramel sauce and housemade Crackerjacks. Perfect flavor and texture and it still makes my mouth water to think about it. They even decorated the plate with a Happy Birthday message in chocolate, but the celebration was thankfully low key for the spotlight avoiders! :-)
(5)
Donald M.
Awesome place to eat or have a relaxing cocktail. We had dinner and it was amazing. Beet Salad A+ Scallops A+ Chocolate Grotto A++
(5)
Anna S.
Awesome atmosphere! Last time I was here in 2008, but now I'm loving it! Definitely try the rabbit - yum! And their green tea with honey and fresh mint is a must-have. Service was extraordinary, couldn't ask for more...
(5)
Paul V.
Can't say anything negative at this place, we were here for a wedding reception they had buffet and everything was good! They had cake for dessert it was so delicious, not too dry not too sweet. I asked the waitress were the cake came from, she says it was baked in-house. Ambience was perfect, specially at night perfect for couples!
(5)
Karen P.
Visit #2 and I'll be back again. I am so glad that my son lives in Atlanta as it gives me an excuse to visit Canoe! Service was impeccable although Matt the sommelier lacked some personality that I would have expected...probably my own exhuberence made it hard for him to get a word in edgewise. The waiter was excellent - giving us time to make decisions and patiently explaining the dishes. The wine list was great - the North American Pinot list was exciting and after I found it, didn't look through the rest of the list too carefully. I recognized many of the top pinots as well as some that I had not heard of. We ordered a bottle of the 2010 penner ash - yum! I started with the yellow corn soup - which tasted like really good creamed corn. I do not like avocado but the avocado cream on top was a perfect accompaniment. We also ordered the calamari, an item from the specials which was not too greasy, had a nice batter that had a little kick. We then departed completely from the menu. I had the Swordfish which was tangy and firm. The table also had the rabbit dish and a fish which is like red snapper (we never did figure out the name). Both were excellent. After all that, could it get any better? YES it could! We shared a popcorn ice cream sundae - one of the best desserts I've ever had. It was layers of ice create and caramel, topped with popcorn. It was the perfect combo of fat, sugar and salt. Going back the next time I'm in Atlanta!
(5)
Julie L.
We drove all the way from TN because of Canoe. First of all, our server Terry was amazing! The restaurant was packed and busy but he still gave us the tour of the restaurant. The BEST server ever! He is so friendly and answered all questions promptly. I had their famous roasted rabbit and my husband had their steak. My husband ordered his steak blue rare and it was perfect. Also, his old fashion was on point! Fresh cucumber oysters & calamari is to die for! FREE valet parking and FREE 3 different types of dessert because we drove all the way from TN. We will definitely be coming back to see Terry again! Thank you!!
(5)
A W.
Here right now and I have been waiting for more than 45 min for someone who has a reservation. What is the point of making a reservation if they seat all the walkings first. Very upset, in a Monday. Thanks miss Kelly for the 45 min wait, who was managing all the seating...
(2)
Whitney F.
I will preface this with that I did not show up to Canoe in full form. I was planning to surprise the parents here, and after a day of flight delays and missed connections, I crashed their dinner an hour into it. Needless to say, it was still a pretty amazing dinner. The service, considering we took over a table for 3+ hours due to my tardiness on a Friday night, never ever made us feel like we were extending our welcome. We had a beautiful table on the Chattahoochee, brought me additional bread after I swirled in from Harts field airport, and kept my wine glass full and steady. Granted at that point I would have been happy with the bread basket (mind you 4 different choices to pick from), our food was amazing. I had the pan-seared scallops with lima beans and bacon. Heavenly, amazing, and all I expected. My dad ordered the burger - a little out of his element - however it was the most exquisite "duck and beef" burger I have seen. The fries were out of this world. Finally we had a lovely birthday Rhubarb and "Georgia" strawberry crisp. Paired with Stag's Leap Chardonnay, we were two happy gals. Really excited for this to be a home visit staple
(5)
Corey W.
I will never go to Atlanta and not spend at least one meal here before leaving the city. It is about as good as it gets. From the outside when you what up it is a little bit of a diamond in the rough, as it sits right next to a cleaner and a Chinese fast food joint. They really start to set themselves apart before you even walk in. During dinner hours complimentary valet service by friendly professional attendants. The hostess, waiters, everyone is super friendly and professional without being stiff. The food is as good as the service. The food is a 4.5 star but the 6 star service and 5 star setting makes up for in. My fiance' calls it the most romantic restaurant in the UR'S. How it earns that title is not only the perfectly designed interior but the outdoor gardens that create a beautiful foreground of a scenic river view. Their cocktails albeit expensive are amazing. Typically doing their own take on different classics. What even more crowned off the experience for me was when I called the manager a week before we went asking him what he could do to help me make the experience just a little more special since I was using it for a proposal he made sure he personally took an interest to help. Great food and just a real 1st class place that loves their customers. And yes my now fiance' said yes.
(5)
Shannon H.
The setting is lovely, the staff is considerate, and the food is yummy. It's a real treat to dine here.
Excellent ambience : Service par excellence : best time to be there would be spring / summer -- aah! Just to get reservations by the river for leisurely evening over drinks -- food is delicious ! Don't forget to take a walk and check out their garden :)
(4)
Wendy S.
I went there for my mom 's birthday and she loves the lamb and they were nice to surprise my mom with a birthday desert. Too bad she is diabetic but it was tasty :}
(5)
Alan S.
what an experience my wife, 5 yo daughter, and I had this evening. we absolutely loved everything about this eatery. it was quiet, beautiful, food was divine as was the wine. kudos to the chef for fixing something my daughter loved, steak, plain whipped potatoes, haricot verts. she devoured the meal, you even cut her meat up to chewable bites, impressed the heck out of us. ate out doors, amazing scenery. you can come casual, or dress up and feel like you belong. waiters were great, thanks josh, pain to serve kids but you kept a stiff upper lip, well done. The rabbit was off the hook. the black gratto, I was impressed. good job everyone.
(4)
Lisa Y.
Tonight's experience has probably been one of the best dining experiences I have had in... years. My line sisters and I came in for dinner to celebrate our 3 years together, and we all fell in love with the place. Most of our birthdays are coming up this summer, and we're all planning to dine here again. I was recommended this place last year to celebrate my 21st, but turned it down, and now... I wish I hadn't. This place would of been perfect to celebrate a 21st birthday, especially during the summer time. We got seated immediately, and our waitress was with us shortly. She explained the menu in-depth, got us our drinks, and constantly came back to check on us. Perfect doesn't come close to describing how amazing she was. Once we decided on our entrees, she took our order, our appetizer order, and constantly came back with more bread for us to munch on. Shortly after, our meals came out, but we wondered about our appetizer, so I asked her about it, and it happens she forgot the put the order in. We were all okay with it, so it wasn't a big deal, but when she brought out our appetizer, she said that it was on her because she completely forgot about it, and she felt horrible about not having it come out to us on time. Completely unnecessary, and none of us had a problem with it coming out after our entree, but she insisted, so we all just shook our head and agreed. I was pleasantly surprised. Never in a million years would I expect customer service that like. She is amazing, and that is why I tipped her 30%. :] Anywhoo, the food is DELICIOUS. All four of us devoured EVERYTHING. It's slightly pricey, but when your meal is THAT good, you do not regret spending a single penny. After dinner, we walked around the back, and it is breath-taking. It is gorgeous. One of my line sisters said that it looked like it was right out of a fairy tale. This is a great place for a wedding/reception *hint hint* I'm highly considering it after walking around, and seeing how gorgeous it was. It'd probably have to be a small wedding, not in the middle of summer, but still, it's definitely a cute place to bring your SO. A very cute place to get proposed to, too. Valet parking seemed like a must. My BIL works valet at different locations throughout Atlanta, so he's told me a few tricks to valet. I normally hate valet, but on a rainy/cold night like how tonight was, it's VERY convenient. Overall, I LOVE this place. I can't wait to bring my boyfriend, and even my best friend here for a surprise birthday dinner!
(5)
Han L.
Now is the perfect time to visit Canoe! The weather is lovely and the flowers are in full bloom left and right at there. Even though living at Walton on the Chattahoochee affords me a great view of the river, I enjoyed Canoe's view greatly because it presented the calmer side of the river. You are also surrounded by vibrant azaleas among other flora. There's also a path that leads you to a sitting area near an outdoor fireplace and a small garden. It's all very charming and picturesque. The outdoor space also has a small bar space which hosts live jazz music on Wednesdays. Brunch is very popular at Canoe. According to our server, Kevin, Canoe's busiest shift is perhaps the brunch shift. Reservations are highly recommended. I would make a reservation through opentable and earn some points while you're at it. We were there for dinner on a Sunday evening. I am incredibly impressed by their menu. Although there's a whole gamut of meats to select from, Canoe is well known for their game meats dishes. The pheasant dish is one of the restaurant's popular entrees. Even though the menu is seasonal ( it changes 4xs/yr), the pheasant dish has been on the menu 14 out of the 17 years Canoe has been operating. You don't have to worry about small pheasant bones because the white meat is presented in cutlets and the dark meat is used to make 2 croquettes. It's served with sweet potato puree and spinach. The pheasant was incredibly tender. It was very good. The rabbit dish is also very delectable. I have never had rabbit before and was hesitant to try it, but I'm so glad I did. The meat is quite similar to chicken, but more stringy and has a stronger flavor. It was served with bacon ravioli, which was amazing! I tried to dissect the ravioli to pinpoint the bacon flavor, but all I found was chard. How...the...h...?? The lamb portion was smaller than the pheasant dish, but it was as equally filling. Their appetizers are equally worthy of ravings. I tried the warm "Artisan Cheese Salad with Bacon, Baby Spinach, Golden Raisin and Wheat Berry Vinaigrette" and the "Marinated Golden and Red Beet Salad with Whipped Vermont Goat's Cheese, Candied Walnuts and Basil Oil". Both salads had a beautiful and artful presentation. The Artisan Cheese was served warm. It has a multidimensional taste. It's rich and creamy, and not too bold. The beet salad is not a traditional salad. It's a layer of pickled beets atop some really creamy cheese. I think a picture is more helpful than my description. The servers also brought us a selection of bread to pick from. There was olive bread, sourdough bread, cranberry bread, and jalapeno flat bread. There weren't served warm. My favorite was the olive bread and the jalapeno flat bread. Oh the the butta; it was incredibly soft. The service was great. Our server, Kevin, was attentive and helpful. Even though he's relatively new to Canoe, he was very knowledgeable about the establishment; citing noteworthy things about Canoe, including the flooding of the restaurant in 2009. If you look at the brick walls, there's a white marking to show how high the water flooded the restaurant. Because it was Daniel's birthday, Kevin presented him with a very indulgent treat. It was the "Chocolate Grotto with Salted Caramel and Pretzel Dust" presented on a dish with Happy Birthday in chocolate writing. After you crack the chocolate, caramel goodness oozes out. How did they make this dessert?! When you order this dish, you'll know what I mean. How did they manage to put the caramel inside the chocolate dome? AND HOW CAN YOU MAKE CHOCOLATE LOOK AND TASTE LIKE THAT?! It's magical. The servers here wear collared shirts tucked in dark jeans. You would be safe with dressy casual. Canoe has valet parking and the rest of the parking lot has a sign that states no Canoe parking.
(5)
Anthony D.
I had a great experience here tonight. All staff were very polite, proper, and friendly. Our waiter Todd was a good server, was prompt, and knew the menu well. I got a special heirloom tomato Carpaccio, not on the menu, as an appetizer. It was delicious, the tomatoes were fresh and had fantastic ripe flavor. The bread is really interesting, they have 5 different kinds in a basket that is brought around and you choose what you want. All the bread was fresh and delicious. As an entree, I ordered the rabbit, which came with swiss chard and some ravioli, some sauce I cannot remember. The dish was perfectly executed, the sauce was a perfect tie, and the rabbit itself was cooked perfectly and had good flavor. The whole dish was a knockout. My date got the pork chop, cooked medium. The pork had fantastic flavor and was juicy and tender, not dry like a lot of pork chops I've had. For dessert I had the chocolate grotto. The first bite made me smile. Perfection. The rich but not overpowering chocolate, with a salty pretzel dust to counteract the chocolate. The dessert alone was enough to bring me back. My date had the popcorn ice cream sundae, again, very sweet but not overwhelming. The entire experience tonight was excellent, and I will definitely be back.
(5)
Skipper W.
This is probably my top 3 romantic restaurants in ATL. Interior decor is very classy. Outdoor patio is very nice, especially if you are there during the day when you can see the beautiful garden & weather is nice. If you like lights on your food like my hubby, you might not like sitting inside at night, because most seats are dimly lit (think romantic). Just like other reviewers say, it's in the strip-mall & it is easy to miss it if you are not paying attention. Food: fantastic! They change the menu so it wouldn't be helpful to tell you which item was good, but we always enjoy the cheese plate for sure. We've had the rabbit, quail, lamb, fish...if you like this kind of stuff, you will enjoy them all! The sauce really complements the meat. Dessert is also interesting & amazing. Service: servers were very knowledgeable about their food & wine, and you feel like they really care about their customer. Although it's not the cheapest place to eat, it feels really down to earth. When we were eating early evening in the summer in outdoor patio, there was a family with about 3 young children, and they didn't seem to be dressed for special occasion (they were rather casual), but they did not look out of place at all. Outdoor Area: don't forget to take a little walk or have some drinks before/after your meal! Brunch: surprisingly, I was not too impressed, especially for the price. It is crowded, but I would not come here for brunch. A basket of pastries were ok. I think I had the smoked salmon eggs benedict, which was also ok. They would have got 5 stars from me if it wasn't for my brunch experience. I wonder how lunch is like...
(4)
Ange T.
I would have to say that the combination of service, food and atmosphere made me a very happy diner. My family and I enjoyed a wonderful brunch experience. The basket of baked breads to start were fresh and tasty. The sticky buns were so delicious that we had to order extra to take home. The Brioche French toast and the Scrambled Egg breakfast were a hit at my table. I ordered a special seafood dish that is not on the menu regularly, but I sure wish it was. I will definitely be back to try one of their other specialties.
(4)
Denise D.
Went yesterday for lunch. had a lovely server named Katie who was excellent. Valet parking was woefully slow both on arrival and departure. They didn't even open my friend's car door for her. I wanted to make this a special lunch date for a close friend and called every day to see what the lunch specials were. Every day the only off menu item was salmon with the same sides as dishes already on the menu. Is there no other fish out there than salmon? Shrimp egg rolls were soooo greasy and the Napa 'slaw" was right out of a bag. The fish sandwich was good and the popcorn sundae as good as ever. The lamb sandwich was dry as toast. Really chewy and tasteless. I don't know any other chef that would have sent that out to a diner. I hate to say it , but I will. The menu has been boring eve since Chef Carvel Gould left. The new Chef Basford is riding on her coattails and brings nothing new to the table. With so many great new places out there to dine, Canoe will be a one time event for most folks due to the same old tired lunch and dinner menu. Yes, they say they change it four times a year, but in reality, they add a new dish or two but pair it with the old tried and true stand-by's. Let's see some innovation here Chef Basford! I know you can do it! Sad, because it used to be my favorite place to go in Atlanta.
(4)
Mo W.
A wonderful dining experience for all in our party. I usually stake out restaurants prior to entertaining clients and am glad I tried this place out. There was a big event going on at the same time as our meal, and there was a slight hick-up with one entree being delivered out of sequence, but the staff more than made up for it. We were able to sit outside (which is a must in good weather) and enjoy the view of the river and the river bar activities... The food was more than what was expected and the expectations were already high. The special was venison and was fantastic served medium - very tender - but for me my most enjoyable foodie experience was the beet salad. A simple dish, but very well done. I'll be back to entertain clients in the future.
(4)
Winter W.
I would say that this is probably one of the best restaurants that I have ever been to. The garden is really beautiful and a nice view from the windows. Taking a stroll before and after dinner seems ideal and nice. The waitress was from SF and we got to chat a bit while she was serving our complimentary breads; the bread with cranberry was so delicious! We had a few oysters as starters and some soup. The main course I ordered was the rabbit with ravioli. I am not a big fan of any kinds of ravioli because of the cheese stuffing inside. But I must say that this one was extraordinary, and I ate all 3 of them! For dessert, I had the ice cream with popcorn and it was great; I didn't finish it due to its large portion size. Really happy, and had a great time! The price was obviously towards the high end, but I'd say it was worth it considering of the enjoyable experience.
(5)
Emily D.
Went here to celebrate my graduation with my family. The ambiance is amazing, right on the river with many of the tables overlooking the river outside. The breads are very fresh and tasty. I had the salmon, which was delicious. All three of my dining companions had the monkfish. Two of them had to send it back because the fish was cold, but our waitress graciously deducted the price of these entrees from our bill. Overall great experience and a great place to celebrate a special occasion.
I came here for my birthday. I was a bit surprise that the location was next to a cleaners, but when you go inside, it's like a whole different world. This is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Atlanta, so definitely two stars already for the landscape. it was a great experience dining here. Book a reservation in advance. I was not able to get a reservation until 10:15 on a Saturday night. The hostess was very friendly & greeted me at the door. We decided to sit outside. The waiter served the two gentlemen that came after us first before serving us. This made me a bit annoyed that I was not treated equally due to my age. This is the reason why I did not give the restaurant five stars. For appetizers, we got the full rack of oysters on the Half Shell with a Simple Cucumber Champagne Mignonette & the jumbo crab cake. The oysters were different but mediocre. I loved the slaw that came with the jumbo crab cake though. It was different and delicious. I recommend the crab cakes. For entrees, I got the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce. The rabbit tastes exactly like chicken. It was not all that. I was a little disappointed, but overall it was still good. the taste just has nothing special to it. However, my boyfriend got the Duck Breast with a Grilled Romaine and Duck Sausage Crêpe and Pistachio-Blackberry Compote. I loved his meal. The duck was cooked medium and was scrumptious!! Not sure why people do not recommend this, luckily our waiter recommended this to us. I highly recommend this. For dessert, I had the famous Popcorn Ice Cream Sundae, House Made Cracker Jack. It did not wow me. I would probably try a different dessert. Overall, I will give this place a try. It is a place you should dine in, at least once.
(4)
Angel L.
This place is amazing. The food is very unique and the smoke salmon is very tender. The highlight was definitely the peach tart that was not out if a can. The service was too scale. The inside of the restaurant is business casual and very clean. While the outside was casual and very relaxing. This is the perfect date night place if you don't mind the price.
(5)
Tasaday L.
Great food! Had the duck and smoked salmon appetizers. Wasn't a fan of the duck pastrami with pickled relish; it was too acidic and salty for me but I'm intermittently a pescetarian who never cared for pastrami or relish. The smoked salmon, however, was tasty and paired nicely with the goat cheese and potatoes. For dinner, I had the lamb shank with risotto. Such great flavors and the shank was hugh, tender and falling off of the bone. The mushroom-risotto was also perfect! My date had the rabbit with Swiss chard and was a little unhappy with the small portion of meat. Nevertheless, the rabbit was tender and rich with a slightly sweet essence that went so well with the entree. Overall, this place is amazing. The food is phenomenal and the service is outstanding. Sit by the back windows so you can get a view of the river. And remember to make a reservation in advance.
(5)
Phillip D.
Great menu selctions, wonderful atmosphere and I appreciate how knowledgeable the wait staff is about the menu. Located next to the river, I look forward to returning in the spring when I can sit outside and enjoy the views. I dined here for dinner with some coworkersWho had been here before I was very impressed. Be sure to book a reservation in advance as this place gets very busy very quickly in the evening. The complimentary valet is a nice touch as the parking lot is not very large, so having this available allows you to begin your dining experience shortly after your arrival.
(5)
Adrienne T.
Finally made it to Canoe. What a nice night out. The SERVICE here is absolutely OUTSTANDING! Other restaurants should OBSERVE the way Canoe does things and take notes. Really. The food is tasty. Nothing special, though. Problem is, I was expecting "special". Pretty place, stunning grounds, in a (wait for it)- strip mall. Quite pricey, save up for this one. Glad to have had the experience. Next!
(4)
Rashida E.
Honestly, it was alright. I had the duck burger and it was cool. Maybe I need to go back and try something else because I wasn't that impressed. I expected more because of the great reviews but didn't see what all the hype was about. Like I said, maybe I just need to go back and get a second impression. We shall see.
(3)
Kira O.
Love this place! Food is excellent, scenery is amazing, and service is upscale.
(5)
Mark L.
I have been here a few times previously for dinner and had an opportunity to try their Sunday brunch here today. The brunch was truly exquisite. You can't turn down the basket of scones and sticky buns. These were delicious. The bacon accompanying the egg and potato dish was excellent; I have found it is hard to get bacon that is prepared just right, but theirs was. The service in the restaurant is outstanding and of course the setting is one of the best in Atlanta.
(5)
Gerald M.
One of my favorites, but make a reservation! The selection of wines is excellent and the food is amazing. Would you believe if I said the the breads they serve with every meal are my favorites?!
(5)
Georgia B.
Good food, good service and good ambiance. I've dined at Canoe at least dozen times and it's consistently good. It's good for business lunches, dinners, romantic dinners, special occasions, catching up with friends and just a good meal. Full bar with a solid wine list.
(5)
Tiffany D.
I went here for a birthday brunch with Natalya S. and it was indeed, delicious. The restaurant is beautiful and wood furnished. The tables are draped in thick white table cloths. The waiter was friendly and accommodating. On the menu there are starters, appetizers, and entrees. (What is the diff between a starter and an app?) We ordered: Starter: A basket of sticky buns, a muffin, and a scone. In my opinion, these should be free. Murphy's offers free scones and muffins for the table with their brunch. But I digress. The sticky buns were awesome. They reminded me of a Greek pastry, made from rolled filo dough, drizzled in a delectable honey and sprinkled with pecans. The scone and muffin were forgettable, as in, I really can't remember what they were. I didn't really like them though. Next time I will order all sticky buns. This basket was served with a side of pear jam, honey, and butter. Entree: "Crab & Eggs" - Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Soft Scrambled Eggs and Hash Brown Potatoes. The whole dish was perfect, the hashbrowns were the little fried square potatoes, and added perfect texture to the entire meal. Also, you get a huge portion. Very pleasantly surprised! I forgot what my cocktail was called, but it was a version of a Mimosa with some passion fruit juice or fruit punch in it. It was light, effervescent, and refreshing. Plus, it had the perfect amount of alcohol. All in all, a delightful meal with great prices. I can't wait to come back in the summer and sit outside by the water!
Never lets me down. I came back to Canoe recently on a diet. I've always eaten their game and knew that fatty meat wouldn't be an option. The waitress put in my order for fish with a request for it not to be cooked with butter and substituted my sides for veggies with no issue. I expected a rather bland meal after taking away what I thought would be the "good parts" but the food was STILL delicious! We had a table of 6 and the service was great. I couldn't pick out a bad experience from the night, which is just what you want (especially when you are some place to celebrate) I was very happy with my experience, as usual.
(5)
Travis J.
By far one of the best restaurants I've been too. Everything from the bread all the way to desert was amazing. I recommend the the watermelon salad and the scallops.
(5)
Jana S.
There is a reason why Canoe consistently gets voted as one of the best restaurants in Atlanta. It just is THAT good! The food is fantastic, the atmosphere is wonderful, and the service is hands-down the best I've ever experienced. The wait staff is the creme-de-la-creme! Canoe should really be your go-to place for special occasions. We did. The hubby and I came here to celebrate a raise (yay!). Let me rave about the service some more. We had made reservations (a must!) and were seated promptly at our reservation time. We were consistently greeted by our last name by everyone who came to our table (i.e. they knew from the reservation who we were and made sure everyone serving us did too). Our server asked us if there were any specific foods we didn't care for or any food allergies and she let us know that they could leave off anything we didn't like. Again, never had this experience in a restaurant before. Top notch! The food is amazing! Meticulously prepared and flavor-packed! Appetizers: squash soup (wow, so tasty!!) and the celery salad. It was good, but I was hoping for a bit stronger celery flavor. The celery was shaved and not very over-powering. So, if you're not a fan of celery, this is probably great! The hubby had the short ribs, one of their specialties. Soooo tender, easily pulled apart with the fork. Really yummy!! I had the lamb shank! I absolutely love lamb, so I was loving this dish. The meat was incredibly tender and so flavorful!! I'm craving it just writing about it! Unfortunately, we got so stuffed eating our entrees that there was no more room for desert... boo! I hope I have something to celebrate again soon, so I can come back here again!
(5)
Leanne E.
Canoe had been on my list of "to try" restaurants for a while. So this year my sweetie and I dined for valentines day. Swanky and romantic. We started with the potato cake and salmon appetizer. The dill sauce is a great compliment and reminds me of the locks and bagels from Goldberg's. Delicious. I chose the rabbit for my entree. I had never had rabbit before but canoe does it so well. If you've never had it the best way to describe it is like dark meat chicken. Not gamey or greasy at all. Served on a bed of bacon mascapone chard ravioli and a cream sauce from the Gods. The portions are perfect. For dessert we went with the cheesecake. Delightful and creamy. A perfect romantic Valentine's date night.
(5)
Courtney R.
The food was delicious. I ordered the salmon and it was very flavorful. The drinks were delicious. It was a very romantic spot and upscale. My boyfriend took me on a date here. The server was the best. I really enjoyed it and plan to return.
(5)
Bonnie B.
One of the best meals and the best service. We were delighted!! Thank you. Brittany! When you go you must try the popcorn ice cream!
(5)
Joesph P.
This is a great place for a date night. It's right on the river and the scenery is excellent. Food is consistently great and so is the service. You do have to valet park, which I'm never crazy about. This is a 5 star place!
(5)
Denada A.
Just had Sunday brunch here with my boyfriend's family. This restaurant is beautiful, the service is exquisite and the garden is breathtaking. I will be going back to experience dinner. If my budget allowed I would come here every weekend just for the atmosphere.
(5)
Dustin S.
Oor favorite upscale restaurant to visit. The menu is very american. I had the South Georgia rabbit. It was incredibly tender. The chef mixes various tastes into one plate. The atmosphere is very inviting. A view of the river can make for a romantic evening.
(5)
David D.
I dinned here my last night in Atlanta. The ambiance of Canoe is remarkable! Simply put, Canoe mixes natural beauty and class in a way few restaurants can accomplish. From the remarkable backyard with the trees all around to the wonderful creek that runs through the backyard, Canoe's setting alone is a treasure. Myself and my friend had the smoked salmon appetizer, which featured their homemade smoked salmon on top of a slightly crispy potato cake and topped with goat cheese. This was very good. For our entrees I ordered the Alaskan halibut with the pea risotto. The halibut was exceptional. Tender, flaky and perfect with the light curry sauce drizzled on top. The risotto; on the other hand, was disappointing! It was a little hard and lacked flavor. My friend had the rabbit. That was truly the winner! I don't know how they brazed it, but it was wonderful. I'd never tried rabbit, but it was like a wonderful mix of chicken and perhaps pork. And served with swiss chard, it couldn't be beat! Our server was also wonderful and explained his favorite items. Many servers try to gear you towards the most expensive items on the menu, but our server was very honest about what we should try and why we should try them. I'm definitely keen on going back to Canoe next time I'm in Atlanta.
(4)
Tran N.
Yes, I agree with other reviews for Canoe, this place tops it all in Atlanta. I was taken here as a surprise for my 19th birthday, and I must say this was a great experience. The food is super fresh, ingredients and salad were straight from their garden in the back, and service is very excellent. For the entree, I got the salmon with the fresh veggies and pine nuts. The salmon was perfect, they grilled it to my request and had the lemon butter sauce over it of the right amount. The veggies were really good as well. The person I came here with go the duck i believe, and it isn't like the duck I've had on buford highway. it was actually quite tender and really full in juices and flavors. Even with the portions they give, I was pretty full and didn't know if I wanted dessert. However, I never go to a new restaurant without trying desserts, especially if they have stuff like Chocolate Grotto and Popcorn Ice Cream? When our waiter recommended the Popcorn ice cream, I was super curious as to how they would even blend that. It came in a nice portion with some caramel popcorn on the side. The first bite i had was amazing, it is really rich and indulging and taste like popcorn. lol. I got the chocolate grotto which was even more delicious. It is hard chocolate covered with hazelnut and caramel filling and a flour less chocolate cake. If you slice a bit of the Grotto, it cracks open and the stream of caramel pours out. I do miss this place, but it is only great to me on occasions. After dinner, we strolled through the garden and viewed the river, everything was just great that night, and I can't wait to come back again. They have complimentary Valet also. Overall, one of the BEST restaurants in Atlanta.
(5)
Alexander M.
I have been wanting to come to Canoe for the longest time and I am sure glad that I was able to make it here last Sunday for Brunch! Reservations, Reservations is ALL I can suggest on a Sunday because they were PACKED and I can see exactly why! The customer service is without a doubt some of the best I've received so far! From the time you are greeted by the valet when you pull up to the time you're seated nothing but a great experience! Now for the food! Started out with a basket of the Georgia Pecan Sticky Buns! yummy!! The mimosa's were made to perfection as well! Had a nice buzz after two glasses! hehe! If you are a Salmon lover like myself please do yourself a favor and order the house smoked Salmon! It comes on a crispy potato cake with goat cheese! The She-Crab soup was another hit! For the entrees we went with "The Riverside" which comes with Applewood bacon, scrambled eggs, French toast and hash browns, the smoked Salmon eggs Benedict came on two toasted English muffins topped with a citrus hollandaise sauce! I will return to try out the dinner for sure!
(5)
David R.
Went with my wife back in the Day for our first Valentine's Day. Great setting, good food, and yeah it was little over booked at the time.
(5)
Benjamin T.
Went here for sunday brunch, tried the duck and beef burger with the she-crab soup as an appetizer. The soup was amazing and the burger was pretty good, but not great. If I was to visit again i'd probably try another brunch item. I would definitely lkke to visit for dinner though. The service was good and our waitress was very professional. The view of the chattahoochee is nice and after your meal, you get drinks from the bar near the river and sit on the river bank. I'll definitely be visiting again in the near future, probably for dinner.
(4)
Nicki K.
My co-workers took me out for Canoe's because they love the atmosphere. As you could tell from my reviews, I had a really bad experience last time. This time it was for lunch and I could see the GORGEOUS view of the river. I ordered the Grilled Chicken Breast Sandwich with Avocado, Swiss Cheese and Oven Dried Tomatoes. It wasn't that bad, I honestly thought it would have more flavors. The experience was definitely better but food is still meh to me.
(3)
Mary H.
Our new favorite "date night" restaurant in Atlanta! Lovely setting, inside and out. Walk the grounds if you haven't - it's like you are in a private garden. Gorgeous! Fantastic service and a menu from which I can hardly make a choice because so many offerings are out of this world. LOVE all the game... venison, quail, rabbit...and your morally responsible attitude about not using harmful preservatives like sodium benzoate in your scallops. Hats off!! We highly recommend your restaurant and will be back every chance we get. It's an hour drive for us but completely worth it!!!
(5)
David H.
My wife and I had dinner here tonight. It was one of the better dining experiences we've had in Atlanta. I think it would be a fair perspective to say it was superior to Restaurant Eugene but not quite up to Bacchanalia...that's a pretty sweet spot to be, in my view. My wife had two daily specials for apps., one featured heirloom tomatoes, and the other featured three Ga. Whole head-on Shrimp. I tried one of her shrimp. It was quite good, but the shrimp weren't exactly Jumbo, so the shrimp ran out before the tasty rice it was served on. I would make that a 6 shrimp app. or use larger shrimp perhaps - tasty, though. I had three apps. The Crab Cake was very good. Large lumps of crab with the breading mostly on the outside of the patty and deep-fried crisp. The citrus flavors complimented the richness of the crab well. The Calamari was cooked perfectly but I thought the smoked peanut overwhelmed the sweet chili component. The House Smoked Salmon app. was every bit as good as other reviewers have said - this was absolutely an excellent app. Of the five apps we tried, I would consider the Smoked Salmon as the main "must repeat" of the apps for our next visit...and there will be another visit. Aside from the nice view and excellent food, it was very convenient to the Cobb Energy venue where we were seeing a show. (Whoopi Goldberg this particular night). The Crab Cake I would very probably order again next time also. For Entrees wife had a daily special featuring Red Snapper - it was very tasty. I had the Cod in Bouillabaisse. There were some issues with the other items in the bouillabaisse, but the Cod was cooked absolutely perfectly. For dessert, the Popcorn Ice Cream was crazy good. Our server and the manager were both assets to the restaurant and showed the desire for our evening with them to be a pleasurable one. And it was. One tip: check their website for an accurate menu. The one here bears little resemblance, and even on their site, there were several changes from just the previous day.
(4)
Sam L.
Located on the edge of the lower Chatahoochie River on the Buckhead / Vinings border. A fine dinner shared with fine friends. Canoe has maintained a classy and sophisticated yet un-pretentious ambiance. The menu items will not disappoint. Service is a friendly, casual version of white table cloth. Not overly formal, just the right amount of class. Food is outstanding, desert is perfect. Had the roasted rabbit, rack of lamb, bread pudding.
(5)
Nisha G.
Canoe is one of my top brunch restaurants in Atlanta. Let me describe the first time I ever ate here. I took the recommendation of my waitress and ordered their fresh scones basket which did not disappoint! My boyfriend and I devoured it quickly and took the waitress's second recommendation of the she-crab soup with sherry. We both were enamored with our choices that when it was time to order our meal we decided to do it all over again- that's right we ordered more scone and more bowls of she-crab soup! We both walked away full and happy! My second and third visits to Canoe have brought progress; the brioche french toast did not disappoint and was the perfect balance, not overly sugary. The blackened Georgia shrimp was light and satisfying; the spring chicken is also another hit on the menu. There hasn't been anything I tried that I didn't like. The restaurant sits on a beautiful piece of land and I recommend walking around outside all the way through the path and enjoy the view of the Chattahoochee river. If you are a brunch lover, then be sure to put Canoe on the list!
(5)
Rachel T.
Enjoyed Sunday brunch with my husband here recently. I honestly cannot find any fault with this place whatsoever. The food is fantastic, portion sizes are generous, prices were reasonable (for the quality), atmosphere was polished and comfortable, service was top notch and the view/outdoor area gives the experience a magical feel. As a tip though, I would recommend requesting a booth with a view or a patio table when making a reservation. We weren't happy with the first table we were seated at and asked to move and were shortly upgraded to an oversized booth with a view of the river. This made a huge difference in our dining experience. I'm already itching to return for lunch and dinner.
Wonderful. Great service. Great food. Comfortable atmosphere. Not the same type of place like Bacchanalia or Cafe Eugene where the food is very clearly the main attraction. Food is great, but the atmosphere is comfortable enough that you can enjoy spending time with friends or family. Rabbit is amazing. I highly recommend the caramel popcorn dessert--it's a bit sweet for everyday, but utterly authentic. Love it and given the opportunity, I will always return!
(5)
Frank T.
Wife and I came here last night for our anniversary dinner. Our first time here, we didn't know what to expect. We were seated towards the back area looking out over the back lawn/patio area and the view of the Chattahoochee was amazing. Our server Eric was freaking awesome. He walked us through the menu and some of his recommendations. My wife got a crab cake appetizer and I went with salmon potato cake appetizer, mouth watering. My wife got the trout entree which was really good. One of our server's recommendation was the rabbit which I've never had before. I felt adventurous and ordered that. Let me tell you, that's one of the best meals I've ever had. We ended our meal with the popcorn ice cream crackerjack dessert and that was amazing as well. Everything about our meal experience was top notch from beginning to end.
(5)
Bobby Q.
Awesome Experience! Took my wife there for her Birthday dinner. She had the Rabbit and I had the steak. Food was delicious and staff was exemplary. Well done Canoe. Hope to frequent often.
(5)
Nicolas G.
Great food and amazing location for a romantic dinner on the Chattahoochee river. It was our special day, wedding anniversary plus my wife's bday and they took extra care of us with a personalized service. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Ida C.
We were initially perplexed by the strip mall housing Canoe. After driving through rolling hills and luxe, verdant neighborhoods, we were taken aback by a low key setting. Keep the faith ya'll...just beyond the free valet parking lies a gorgeously manicured riverfront setting with flawless service, backed by an excellent brunch offering. Arriving at 10:30am on a Sunday (opening time), we were able to have our pick of tables and chose to sit outside. We had a fantastic view of the river and gardens. Our waiter was charming, attentive and full of excellent recommendations. We let ourselves be guided and soon found ourselves with quite a feast: 1. Georgia Pecan Sticky Buns ($6): the love child of a perfect croissant and an exquisite pecan pie, these pastries are definitely the best way to kick off Sunday brunch at Canoe. The buns are flaky and buttery, topped liberally with chopped pecans and then anointed with honeyed syrup. Simply divine! 2. She-crab Soup with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat and Cream Sherry ($9): served with ample sherry, our waiter did mention that some guests find this soup too rich and although I doubted than anything could be too rich for my taste, this actually was a bit too rich. The cream portion is unabashed, but I did really enjoy the chunks of sweet, sweet crab. 3. House Smoked Salmon on a Crispy Potato Pancake with Vermont Goat Cheese ($12): my advice to you if you want the best possible brunch at Canoe for 2 people would be to order the sticky buns and follow up with the large version of this dish. Share both, and you'll be in perfect shape (read: fullness) to go on to conquer entrees. Each bite of the salmon is perfectly balanced and nuanced with the smoked salmon balanced by the creamy goat cheese and crispy, creamy potato. 4. Crab & Eggs ($18): a generous mound of lump crabmeat piled on top of soft scrambled eggs all over crispy diced potatoes, drizzled with hollandaise. What's not to love? 5. Steak & Eggs ($18): one of the day's special menu items. Exactly the same as the Crab and Eggs but with thinly sliced steak instead of crab. The crab reigned supreme, but this was still tasty. If you wind up extremely full (like we did), diners are always welcome to enjoy the grounds and take a respite in the ample chairs by the river after settling up. PARTING THOUGHT: If you are one to favor brunch cocktails over views, you might want to make a reservation for later in the day. Atlanta restaurants cannot serve alcohol on Sundays until 12p or 12:30p!
(5)
Tamika H.
Great restaurant, fantastic view, and yummy food. This is my second timing visiting Canoe, and the experience did not disappoint. For my first visit, I had the rainbow trout which was cooked to perfection. The popcorn concoction of a dessert was also nice; it was a nice blend of salty and sweet flavors which worked very well. During my second visit I had the Rhode Island skate fish which was paired with risotto; this was one of the specials for the evening. ...This was also very good and cooked perfectly. My husband had the pork chop, which he thought was fantastic. ...He only wished he could have a bigger portion because it was so good :-). For dessert, we had the Georgia Crisp, which came with homemade honey ice cream! That ice cream is INCREDIBLE. I highly recommend Canoe, and look forward to visiting again soon.
(4)
Candace L.
I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. Brunch? Fantastic -home made scones (huge) and fresh preserves from their backyard garden - make sure to make a reservation weeks in advance - Mothers day brunch requires at least a month in advance. Dinner? Wonderful. If you are on a romantic date, business dinner, or even large group reception. They can accommodate anything from large to small, and will execute flawlessly. The location is great - just moments from central Buckhead, and is a nice drive away on west paces ferry. Great for out of town visitors, this is a must go restaurant. The decor is relaxing and serene, and there's even a bar on the river, very majestic and a lovely place for dinner or any outing. Not to mention the food - food is creative, and delicious. A+++
(5)
Julie F.
This review is only for brunch, but I hope to soon expand it and come back for dinner. All I have to say is: YUM. I came here with a small group and was able to sample a variety of Canoe's delicious weekend offerings. How was it? Well, let's start with the best Bloody Mary of my life (and I've tried quite a few, always trying to enjoy the drink and never before caring for it). Amazing cocktails. Buttery-delicious in-house smoked salmon. She-crab soup, stuffed with jumbo lump crabmeat, that comes with a sidecar of sherry for additional awesomeness should you wish to add it. The smoothest, creamiest scrambled eggs of my life. A burger crafted from beef and duck! Brunch is often overrated, but Canoe's brunch is truly worthwhile. I'll be back, and I can't wait to see what they've got for dinner. (And as a bonus, we were one of the later brunch reservations, and the staff packed up care packages with their amazing scones and cinnamon rolls to bring home, despite the fact that we hadn't ordered any. Talk about amazing service!).
(5)
Dave B.
We had high expectations coming in and canoe met or exceeded all of them. We had our anniversary dinner there and the total experience was wonderful. We had two game dishes and both were outstandingly flavorful and delicious. The service was top notch even for a fine dining establishment. It seemed like all tables had a nice view of the river, which even on a cold and rainy day brought a romantic atmosphere to the restaurant. We will definitely be taking our out of town guests to canoe.
(5)
L E.
I rated it two stars because the place was not that great. They had good food, but for the price, I was expecting to leave there and tell all my friends about what a great place it is. You can get better food at Garrisons(down the road) and pay half the price. I don't know why its rated that high. Its really not that memorable. Honestly, I can't even remember what I ate. Probably, some chicken based meal. The only thing I remember is the liquid sugar they give you to pour in your tea. It wasn't that good, just slightly unique.
(2)
Sneha G.
My husband and I are from NY and we loved canoe for brunch. The scones and pecan sticky buns were delicious! They were freshly baked and warm. I ordered the pancakes with carameliZed apples and my husband ordered the French toast. We loved everything about this place. The decor was so nice and the scenery outside by the water was a perfect romantic setting. If you have not been here, make sure to go for brunch!
Well I must say this place is quite an experience. As soon as you walk in your greeted and you will notice the decor is very fitting for the surroundings of the restaurant. It's very cozy but sophisticated. We went here for brunch on a Sunday afternoon and everything was great except that it rained and we wanted to take walk outside by the river. I had something like a duck sandwich with a very tasty sauce. We also a chicken Benedict entree with fries. The fries were nothing special but everything else was great. We also had a bread basket that had a cinnamon roll and other types of sweet breads with pecans. The bread basket came three different types of preserves/jelly. I would definitely try this place again and you should to. This place is sort of expensive so be prepared to drop at least sixty bucks for dinner
(4)
Mahmoud A.
I had the rabbit and it was perfectly cooked. I have a huge sweet tooth and Canoe found a way to satisfy it.
(4)
Megan M.
My husband made reservations here a month in advance, I thought it can not be that big of a deal. It was! The hostess were very thoughtful to ask if we were celebrating anything (sadly no) and quickly ushered us to our table. The menu is wonderful. We were sitting near where the food comes out and you could see the chef vetting every plate before they went out to dinners (win!), that is the kind of place I want to be at! We started with salmon (holy moly, this was way better than I thought it would be! I want this right now as I type) and we also ordered the crabcake. The crab cake was all lump meat, very little breading, but enough to brown the surface, it was really good. For dinner my husband went out of his comfort zone and got the rabbit, and he was impressed and it was also perfectly prepared. I got the scallops, and they were much more flavorful than I expected, lots of eggplant, peppers and capers. We used the sommelier to pick out a bottle that would pair with our dishes (rabbit and seafood are a little difficult to pair). He did a lovely job picking out a beautiful Italian wine in our price range! We had a chocolate pretzel dust desert, another yumm. Our waitress did a wonderful job and was very professional and had amazing timing. I know that waiting tables is not easy but she made it look easy. It was dark by the time we got to go outside to see the river, that was the only disappointment, the pictures made it look stunning. I also spied a bar out on the river, it would be a great place to meet for drinks pre date!
(5)
David K.
Absolute top notch dining experience. One of the best meals I have had in Atlanta. The service was impeccable. The jumbo lump crab cake for an appetizer, the rabbit entree, and pb&j for dessert... As good as it gets for dinner. Enjoy.
(5)
Brittiany M.
Were my expectations too high? Was it the weather or that it was Election Day? Unsure what was going on but this place is highly overrated! Our server became very inattentive when a group of 4 men bought expensive wine for her to present. Maybe she was new. My boyfriend loved the Rabbit. I liked the Trout...maybe I was full. Everything came out extremely fast that I felt I couldn't enjoy the items in it's entirety . Best part of the night is the drinks (wine, cocktail, and prosecco.., bread, and the dessert). Slightly disappointed.
(3)
Liz B.
LOVE IT! My boyfriend took me there around Halloween for my birthday, and it was the best meal I've had in a LONG time. We had some cocktails before we sat down that were just ok, but from there the food was simply amazing. Our server was perfect - friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, and quick. I ordered the crab cake appetizer - best of my LIFE. I hate traditional crabcakes that are dense or mustardy, but this one was light and flavorful. I could eat 10 of those things, but sadly there is only one on the plate. My boyfriend ordered the smoked salmon with potato nests (or something like that). He said it was very good but not as mind-blowing as the crabcake. for the entree, he had the rabbit with brown butter bacon ravioli, and I had the lamb with a root vegetable tart and celery root puree. Words cannot even describe how good this food was. You just have to go and try it yourself. GO NOW, MY FRIENDS! For dessert we had the creme brulee. It was delicious but quite sweet, and since we were full we had a hard time finishing it. The atmosphere is cozy and lovely. Canoe is a great place for a dinner with close friends, family, or a special evening out.
(5)
Rich V.
Canoe is what Rays on the River TRIES to be but isn't. I love Canoe. Canoe is understated hip with a great view. Execution has always been great when I've been there, usually personally but a couple of times for business meals as well. Clearly Canoe has a lot of great menu items. The wine list is solid, a little pricey but a good list. They've done some work putting it together. If you're still reading this review, then you're about to be rewarded, because I have a little secret for you I'll ask you not to share with just everyone: Canoe has the best burger I have ever had. There I said it, not flame away if you like (pun intended) but seriously. Before Canoe, my favorite burger was a kobe beef burger I had in the harbor in Tacoma, WA. How's that for random? Seriously though, that's how far and wide this competition was. I know many Atlanta people are going to point to Local [whatever the number is] or the place that only makes 60 burgers a night...all nice stunts, but Canoe has the best burger. I will grant you, the Canoe burger is not for purists, and for that, if you prefer the others, then we'll just agree to disagree. I can't do justice to what all is in the Canoe burger, but I'll tell you it ruined a date night. There I was all chatty and nice, when I took my first bite. Suddenly I couldn't focus on the conversation. All I could muster was..."this is so ********* good!" After each bite, that's all I could say, for 20 minutes. Date night didn't go so well that evening. So when my brother moved to ATL from Manhattan I took him there. Guess what? Same reaction. We just sat there looking at each other muttering, "this is awesome." Fortunately, that's about as deep as conversations usually go.
(5)
Krystal H.
I just love this place. From the pheasant to the scallops to the rabbit, everything I've eaten here has been heavenly. Superbly prepared without being overly trendy, the food just tastes so darn good. The smoked salmon appetizer is possibly the best thing I've ever eaten. The flatbread is amazing. Although the food is the highlight of Canoe for me, the service has always been impeccable and courteous. The setting is serene and romantic. Canoe, will you marry me?
(5)
Kate L.
I'm only a fan of Canoe because of it's Ambiance. It's calming and I loved the outside. I came here on a date and I came wanting the soup. He said he was going to take me here and I watched how they made the Squash soup online. I craved it all day. When we got to Canoe I went to the bathroom and he ordered for me. But no Soup!!! : ( He ordered the Grilled Breast of Long Island Duckling, Cauliflower, Chanterelle, Red Bliss Potato, Pistachio. I wasn't impressed. But it was okay. Still want the soup. lol Staff are great here! Very accommodating. I think I could eat Waffle house here and still give it 4 stars because I loved the outside. I may give it 5 stars if I get the soup.
(4)
Michael A.
Add this Great restaurant to your list! Canoe is very romantic, has phenomenal service and a fantastic menu. Recommended to everyone!
(5)
William K.
On a Sunday noon we 'brunched' at Canoe. 1. It's a magnificent location on the Chattahoochee River, with lush gardens, paths and seasonal outdoor seating. It's a visual feast. 2. The building itself is a fantastic and beautifully done interior with open spaces and intimate seating and booths. The mixture of iron, steel, brick and soft interior surfaces create a remarkable environment. 3. The service staff, fromt eh valet to the door, to the table service was impeccable. Our server Aga did a great job explaining the menu, popular or favorites, specials, and deserts and drinks. I love a knowledgeable server. The timing of everything was perfect. 4. The food... ahhh the food. I tried the Oysters Mignonette (FAB), then the smoke salmon on potato pancake and the spinach salad... (Yummo) Others at the table dined on the steelhead / ratatouille, eggs benedict, and brioche french toast. Deserts of sweet potato cheesecake and the amazing grotto of chocolate and sea salted caramel... sublime. It's my intention to go back and try every appetizer! Then, every main course. I WILL return.
(5)
Sheena F.
Visited Canoe for a birthday dinner with my hubby and had a very good meal. We were there on a Thursday night, so the restaurant was on the empty side, making for a romantic, calm atmosphere. Started out the meal a bit on the wrong foot by ordering a half bottle of their pg that tasted like the bottle it came from had been open for a while. To be fair the waitress was great in recommending another wine (which was wonderful!) and replacing it right away. I felt a little bad returning wine at such a classy place, but I was glad I did. We started out with oysters on the half shell with their cucumber champagne mignonette and their signature house smoked salmon. The portions were huge...probably meant to share, hehe but it was my birthday dinner! When I eat oysters I'm a cocktail sauce and cracker gal, but I really enjoyed this preparation. The mignonette was unique and there was a kick to it that I enjoyed. However, the salmon was the clear winner here. So delicious! The waitress gave a whole spiel on how they smoke the salmon, I was half listening but now I wish I paid more attention! The goat cheese and crispy potato cake were the perfect additions to the star salmon. For the main course had their signature rabbit dish and the pheasant. Both very good. The bacon ravioli and garlic sauce that the rabbit was on top of were my favorite parts of the dish. I was guilty of making yummy noises. The pheasant dish featured roasted pheasant along with a croquette...I preferred the later, but everything on the plate was good. For dessert I went with their creme brulee trio because it's my favorite. I should have listened to the waitress and tried their signature popcorn ice cream sundae though, because the creme brulee was only so-so. Not the best way to end the meal. Overall verdict: the food and service were both very good, but Canoe is a bit out in the boonies for us, and with so many excellent options in ATL I'm not sure it will be top of my list for a trip back. I can't complain about anything :) but wasn't blown away either.
(4)
Pushkara C.
My boyfriend took me here for our 23 months date! We went on a drizzly Sunday morning for a nice Sunday morning brunch. This place had both indoor and outdoor seating. We chose to sit on the patio. Our seat was on the corner of the patio closest to the lake. It was gorgeous. The waiters and waitresses were very attentive. My boyfriend and I are both vegetarian and they were kind enough to let us know what dishes are vegetarian and what can be made vegetarian. I got Cornmeal pancakes with roasted apples and toasted pecans! So yummy!!! He got "The riverside" minus the meat. It was really yummy and we both enjoyed it. Then we took a walk by the river, there was a cute outdoor ballroom so we went and checked that out and it was amazing. oh and the bathrooms were really cool looking too. :)
(5)
Rachel W.
Had a great meal here on our trip to Atlanta, I would recommend Canoe to anyone! Wonderful drinks, flavorful and large entrees. My husband had the lamb pasta and I had the duck breast. We both wound up taking some of ours home, possibly to save room for the amazing desserts! Do not miss dessert! I had the fresh mint ice cream and my husband had the caramel popcorn ice cream sundae, both were to die for!
(5)
Andrea R.
Sometimes I like pretending like I'm one of those ladies that lunch and Canoe is the perfect place to play that game... These days I'm too busy for nice lunches so a gorgeous restaurant like Canoe is a nice change from the peanut butter sandwiches, tortillas and cheese, and the popcorn I usually whip up in my condo back in Chicago. While the outside garden was calling my name the 105 degree report from the weatherman was telling me to stay inside because ladies who lunch don't have frizzy hair and sweat running down their face. Right? Ladies who lunch probably also don't eat every last bite on their place, but when served the best chicken tacos in the world (seriously) I had no choice. Our waitress tried to take my plate away several times, but I was determined to get every last drop....and it was beyond delicious. If I had access to Canoe year round I may just become a permanent lady who lunches.
(5)
Roshanda P.
hmmmm the layout of this place.. is amazing... I was taking away. I think if/when I get married one day, I would love this outside setting. At first this place was a little difficult to locate, just because I remember it being in a different location, but once I found this hidden secret I didnt know how to act. I went for Sunday brunch and it was delish , The sticking buns are a must try, and the french toast ... yum yum yum yum ! So if your looking for something romantic this is the perfect location. So you looking for a nice outdoor brunch this would be the perfect location.
(5)
Sterling L.
We had our 2012 office Christmas party here. Excellent choice. Friendly staff. A little bit of traffic getting there, but not as bad as buckhead.
(4)
Arthur W.
This is a fun place full of glam, but it also has a nice cozy vibe. Popcorn Ice cream stood out as being creative and special. I would have given it 5 stars but I tend to reserve that for mom and pop joints this place doesn't need any favors or extra hipe.
(4)
Paul N.
The restaurant is located a little out of the from Atlanta, but it is definitely worth the drive if you don't live by. The venue has a very beautiful scene, and parking is adequate. The back of the restaurant is tranquil and beautiful. There is a little lake with benches and artistic landscape. The restaurant can hold large parties, and the interior design is by far one of the better ones in the Atlanta area. The service is impeccable. The wait staff and the hosting staff are very attentive and really serve you very well. I had the pleasure of having a brunch in this restaurant. The pastries were really good, and they were not too sweet. I am not so sure about the price, but I am not a huge fan of sweet things. Some people love the pastries the restaurant serves on Sundays. She Crab Soup with Jumbo Crab Meat was delicious. It has a full flavor to every bite paired up with lump crab meats. The ingredients were very fresh and good quality. It's a rich creamy soup, and I enjoy rich creamy soups. House Smoked Salmon on a Crispy Potato Pancake with Vermont Goat Cheese is a good appetizer. It's not a lot, and it won't feel you up. It has very good qualities though. It's too bad the restaurant only give you three pieces. The salmon goes well with the goat cheese, and the seafood is fresh. The crisp potato pancake was a good texture to the soft and moist salmon. It's very light, and the seasoning on these crispy potato pancakes went very well with the overall smoked salmon and cheese. "Crab & Eggs" - Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Soft Scrambled Eggs and Hash Brown Potatoes is an entree that is pretty filling. One thing I did notice is that my taste buds got tired of the flavor half way through. The scrambled eggs with crab meat just started to taste blend or not as exciting anymore. I think if they added something to balance the soft texture with something crispy, it might improve the dish. Additionally, I think if the dish had a contrasting flavor to the egg, it will be better. The crab just became mundane with the egg because they tasted the same with no contrast to each other. Oak Roasted Local Chicken with Cheddar Grits, Spiced Escarole, Oven Dried Tomatoes and Natural Jus is a good entree. It's a heavy dish, and you're going to get full. The dish had more of contrast between flavors and the balance was there. The oven dried tomatoes brought the mundane grits out, and the cheese, well cheese makes everything taste good. The chicken was fresh and very well cooked, and I think this was better than the Crab & Eggs. I had the sorbet, and the sorbet was pretty good. I can't comment as much as the other dishes because I am not a huge expert on desserts. But, it's good! Overall, this place was a very good dining experience, and I suggest taking your hot match dot com dates. I am sure you can impress them very well with your selection of restaurant. I wouldn't recommend bringing your heavy dates because they will just run up the bill... this place is not cheap!!! Unless you like feeding big people and get a fetish out of it... I mean, people have the right to do what they enjoy and get a kick out of... It's America after all...
(4)
George P.
This is one of the better restaurants I have been to recently. I wish I could have given it 5 stars. The food absolutely warrants it. The service however brought it down. Let's start with the good. Just to preface, awe were told all of the food at Canoe is locally sourced. They change the menu 4 times a year to adjust for the seasons. We ordered the Canoe's House Smoked Salmon on a Crispy Potato Cake with Vermont Goat's Cheese. It was good, not amazing. Amazing we'll get to in a minute! The appetizer was reminiscent of a play on a bagel with lox and cream cheese(sans capers.) I would have in hindsight ordered something else but was not disappointed with the appetizer. Amazing is what ensued. I ate Thumper. Bambi might have been a little bit upset but at the end of the day, it was GLORIOUS!!! Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce. For those of you who have never had rabbit, it is a slow roasted, tender sweet version of chicken. I have eaten many of Thumper's relatives over the years and the rabbit at Canoe may very well be the best I have ever had. For those of you who are environmentally conscious but still eat meat, it is one of the most sustainable sources of protein you can have. There is a reason why there is the age old adage of " ___ like rabbits." I gave my date a bite as she was leery eating rabbit as she thought they were "too cute to eat." Begrudgingly, she loved it. As a side note, I don't have to tell you how amazing the bacon ravioli was. Bacon makes everything taste better!! This is the only dish that has stayed on the Canoe menu since it opened its' doors in 1995. We also had fish special. Honestly, I was so engrossed with my meal; I forgot exactly what my date had. She said it was good though. For dessert we had a trio of Crème Brule. It was a Trio of Baileys, Kahlua and Godiva. As with anything it is a question of taste and your palate. I LOVED the Bailey's. The others were good as well and WELL worth ordering. The only reason this restaurant did not otherwise receive 5 stars is sadly because of our server. The valet, hostess, bartender( I had a drink before my date got there) and the person who sat us were extremely professional and friendly. The person who sat us even took the liberty of taking my dates coat and told her it would be waiting by the hostess stand. I usually give waiters the benefit of the doubt as I was a waiter for a number of years. She was courteous in the beginning and made recommendations. However, thereafter there were 3 major mistakes she made. The first and second were making us feel rushed. First, we ordered a bottle of red wine. Overlooking the generous 34 of a glass pour, she subsequently continued to pour generously throughout the meal. I even commented to my date and said, "If she pours more wine considering our glass is half full, I will be a little bit perturbed." She did not fail to fail me...Secondly, as we were eating dessert; she drops the check as we are having the 1st bite. I know what many people who have been in the industry are thinking now: We were sitting and she might have been 1st cut. Not at all.... We had reservations on a Friday night at 8:00 PM and she dropped off the check at 9:00PM. The last time I was rushed like that I was at a diner in New Jersey. The final mistake was my date was kind enough to pick up the tab. She has a very feminine name. Her name is not Pat, Chris or Jesse. The waitress handed me the slip to sign anyway and addressed me with her last name! I know waiters may have bad nights so I will not describe what she looks like. I hope this was an isolated event. Otherwise, the meal was absolutely incredible and would absolutely return. I would comfortably put this restaurant as a must eat restaurant in Atlanta.
(4)
justin p.
this place was really good. the outdoor area was really pleasant. there is a cool bar near the river to hang out at and enjoy the pleasant weather. innovative cocktail menu. the menu is really great too. i had the pecan-crusted red grouper and the watermelon feta salad. both were great. also tried the smoked salmon (great) and the sweet corn chowder (also great). service was also on top of things. good food, great setting and, overall, a very pleasant evening.
(5)
Jennifer K.
Always top-notch service, delectable food, and a cozy atmosphere. Canoe is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. It is perfect for business meetings or romantic dinners.
(5)
Juv C.
*sigh* I fell in love with this restaurant, and best believe that as soon as I'm back in Georgia I will be coming right back here. The ambiance is incredibly inviting - nice for groups and romantic for couples. The service is true southern hospitality- our waitress was a sweetheart and so friendly. Smoked salmon appetizer with goat cheese on a fried potato cake was delicious. I'm not even a big fan of goat cheese but I loved this. I couldn't decide between the trout or the shellfish risotto, so thank god our waitress recommended the risotto. It was fantastic. Yummy creamy risotto in a bouiabase with fresh mussels, shrimp and scallop and a nice hunk of sourdough garlic bread. I was very happy with my meal. Some of the best risotto I've ever had. Even the after dinner coffee was fantastic. Made by Martinez. A true attraction for Canoe is the outside patio. It's beautiful! And that's just from me seeing it at night. I can't even imagine how gorgeous the land is during the day with the beautiful lawn of grass and flowers. You can sit out there, enjoy your dinner or brunch, and look out, or better yet, walk along the river. Yes, the river is right there. I wish we had more places like this in SF, but honestly, it probably wouldn't be as beautiful.
(5)
Rob W.
I have to start off by saying that it has mandatory valet parking. I was kind of put off by that because I wasn't expecting it. The location by the river is awesome. We were seated and one of the staff noticed me taking a cell phone photo of the grounds from our table. She encouraged us to get outside right then and there for photos before we lost the light. She guided us out back and then took photos of our group of four with our phones. She's obviously done this before. That was a nice touch. We ordered our meal after hearing of the specials and the waitress's favourite items. She spoke like it was a memorized speech, but that's being picky. The food arrived in good time and it was well plated. I ordered the sea scallops and it was tasty. Proces were not too over the top. Service was very good.
(4)
Andy A.
Decore was nice. Appetizer was great. Rabbit was nice, but slow cooked beef was so-so. Go for the salted carmel desert! It was a good value overall.
(4)
Andrea H.
I loved this restaurant! Can't think of a thing that wasn't spot on: the lighting was dark, but not too dark; the noise level was quiet enough to hear everything in the conversation without yelling or straining, but it wasn't too quiet (read: great energy abuzz in the room), impeccable service (attentive but not overbearing). The food... was pretty darn good. I loved their basket of bread and butter. I know it sounds simple, but so many restaurants overlook this part of the experience and its just wrong to start your meal with stale, grocery store bread and tasteless butter. We started with oysters on the half shell with a cucumber champagne mignonette. It may have been one of the more memorable fresh oyster dishes I've ever had. Usually I eat fresh oysters with horseradish and tabasco... but the cucumber champagne was a light, refreshing surprise. It really made the oyster shine. We also had the beet salad, which they kindly split onto two plates so my husband and I could eat from our own plates. For entree, I had Gulf Red Snapper, Peruvian White Beans, Baby Collards, Roasted Eggplant Hummus, Melted Grape Tomato Vinaigrette. My entire plate was delicious. I devoured...everything. My husband had Newfoundland Steelhead Trout, Smoked Salmon Tortelloni, Blue Crab Bechamel. His fish was cooked nicely, but the tortelloni and bechamel sauce was "meh," as he put it. Unfortunate, since it was the dish our server recommended to him. We shared a creme brulee for dessert, and it was pretty standard. Overall, we had a great experience at Canoe and will return to try other dishes when visiting ATL!
(4)
Samuel R.
Amazing service and amazing food!
(5)
Denise S.
Everything about our meal at Canoe was fabulous! From the ambience to the food and the service. As many times as I've visited Atlanta I cannot believe I've never eaten here. Selected lamb ribs and shrimp stuffed calamari for apps. Delicious! Chose the rabbit as my entree and enjoyed every bite. Husband had the cod served over a coconut rice cake and I couldn't keep my fork out of his plate. But, the piece de resistance was the popcorn ice cream sundae. OH MY! Popcorn flavor infused ice cream with a Cracker Jack bottom and pieces on top. Wow. Bar and table service was fabulous. And the sommolier, Elisha, what a delight! Helped us select a very nice wine and then chatted with us about our recent wine tasting trip to Sonoma & Napa. We loved our meal so much we made reservations for the following evening but due to unforeseen time restraints had to cancel. Canoe- you better get used to seeing me each time I am in ATL!
(5)
Rina C.
this restaurant is the best restaurant I've ever been to. I would give it 6 stars. the service is excellent. food didn't take long 3 kinds of bread and they are so good. (can't stop eating them) everything from appetizer, soup to main entree is super delicious the view? yes, the most amazing. pretty garden by the river, and you can sit on the patio and enjoy the view while you eat and take a walk in the garden before and after meal. my only complaint to this restaurant is that everything taste so good--I ran out of room for desert!
(5)
Anna S.
Great atmosphere for romance but also casual brunch. Minus one star because the food has never blown me away. It's always just slightly off. If you go, I recommend getting the cheese plate. It's substantial and has an interesting mix of cheeses and breads.
(4)
Badri N.
Went here for a business lunch with a couple of our top sales people. Lunch with sales people rocks since they like to keep us marketing folk happy and buy us nice expensive lunches :) Anyway, Canoe is "Upscale" feel and atmosphere but with very little overt pretentiousness. Never mind the three Bentleys in the parking lot. Never mind the hand carved wood bar with hand rubbed brass fixtures. Never mind the scenic waterfront location by the river, with a walkway and steps leading to the water's edge! Never mind the uber-attentive wait-staff that knows almost everyone by name (obviously they get a lot of repeat customers) Never mind the fact that they took my food and held it in a warmer when I had to step out to take a phone call. It's 5 stars and I haven't even got to the food yet!!! ~ 5 stars for location, ambiance, service! The house smoked salmon is a "can't miss" start to your meal - do it. Again, DO IT - comes with a lemony hummus and wonderful crisp bread (like a pita chip on steroids) - a steal for $7.95 (but not enough to share so get your own plate!!!) I tried the African squash soup (WAITER: "African squash tastes like regular squash but it's darker" Said with earnestness and a straight face so I won't make any "typical Southern comment" comments :) DELICIOUS. No other way to describe it - topped with a delightful lemon cream that was whipped so light that it would make a French souffle chef cry tears of joy!!! I could make a meal out of this soup - incredible doesn't even begin to do justice to it!!! $8.95 - and if you ask to share it with a fellow diner, you get nearly the same as a full bowl except two eat for the price of one! FTW :) I had the baby arugula salad - with candied walnuts, fresh parmesan shavings and a fresh citrus vinaigrette ($6.95) - this would be delicious inside a warmed or toasted ciabatta too - good option - and I'm sure they'd make it if you asked - this is THAT kind of place :) We all had the special (unlisted) - a panko encrusted dover sole filet on a bed of sauteed spinach with roasted red fingerling potatoes. Mmmmm, I can still taste it (which, for fish, would ordinarily be followed by EUWWWWWW, not so in this case!!!) I think this was about 15 bucks (not on the menu and I wasn't paying hahaha) ~ 5 stars for the food. What can I say? An unqualified, unreserved 5 stars. If you're in the area - you owe it to yourself to check this place out. You will not regret it, I promise! # 45
(5)
Alex H.
Great food, great service. There's not much I can add that hasn't already been said. A must visit unless it's the weekend. It's a bit loud on weekend nights, which sours the atmosphere. They're also more harried, pulling the service from "great" to "good".
(4)
Brandy L.
One of my favorite restaurants in Atl well Vinings! I have never had a bad meal or experience here excellent food & service.
(5)
Michelle Y.
This restaurant was fabulous. I don't live in Atlanta, but brought clients for a biz dinner. Food, service, atmosphere- all top notch! Would definitely return if back in Atlanta. Particularly beautiful outside space with River view!
(5)
Howard B.
always good with consistent service and ever changing and updated menu. great location.
(4)
Kate B.
Excellent Food Beautiful Relaxing Atmosphere Great Service Perfect for a date!
(5)
Kimi B.
Wow. Really, I should probably just leave it at that. SUCH an amazing dining experience was had at Canoe. First, the service. Christopher Williams was our server and he was one of the best servers I've ever had (I waited tables and bar-tended for 10+ years so I'm picky). He was present w/o hovering. Had amazing suggestions (although I suspect everything is good here). Had intimate knowledge of the menu. Never made us feel like he was trying to up-sell us on anything. Timed our food perfectly. Phenomenal. Second, the atmosphere. Modern, yet quaint and intimate. I would love to come back when it's warm enough to eat outside. Third, the food. Heaven. We shared the smoked salmon appetizer on potato latkes. I nearly forked my friends in the eye to get more than my fair share. We also had the duck pastrami. This was the only thing we had that I did not absolutely love, but I did love the pickled veggies on top and it was probably just a personal preference thing. We then shared the baby arugula salad which Christopher was gracious enough to have the kitchen split into thirds w/o us even asking. Delicious. I got the Sourdough crusted lemon sole for my entree. One of the best fish dishes I've ever had. Literally sopped it all up w/ my bread. My one friend got the Cornmeal Crusted Rainbow Trout which I tasted and it was nearly as good as mine. My other friend is a vegetarian, but is obsessed w/ eggs so she oddly got the Duck n' Beef Burger w/o meat. She literally would NOT stop going on and on about how it was the best sandwich of her life. Strange, but so is she. Dessert: we were stuffed, but shared the Chocolate Grotto and the Banana Bread Pudding. I was a CIA trained pastry chef for 6 years so I'm also picky about my desserts. The bread pudding was amazing, but the grotto was literally out of this world. The plates looked clean when we'd finished w/ them. The only possible negative I could even mention about my experience at Canoe was that our reservation was at 7:45 and we were not sat until 8:30, but I really did not care as we sat at the bar and shared an amazing bottle of pinot noir from Santa Barbara. I would have waited another 2 hours for the meal I had here.
(5)
Rony G.
Canoe probably ranks on the top 10 places to eat in atlanta. That is a lot to say as Atlanta is a city that calls it self the Mecca of great restaurants. As soon as you walk in you will know that this restaurant is not pretentious but you must be aware that the people that frequent this restaurant have comfortable means ;) Dress up you will fit right in!!! Once in your table the service from all angles will be superb. Everything on the menu is great. Was with a party of 5 so we were able to try many things from the menu!!!! The best for last. Go to the patio!!!! Right next to the Chattahoochee river. You will be transported to a surreal ambience that you will not want to leave. Try it you will not regret it Tip, try the goat cheese wrapped by salmon. Wow!!!!
(5)
Ben C.
I've been here about five times. Brunch on Sundays is always impressive. Crab bisque is awesome. Dinner has been hit and miss though. Jackrabbit was awesome, but I also had a Greek-type steak that wasn't that good and was fairly expensive. Atmosphere and view is near the tops in the city.
(4)
Gay R.
I've had the privilege over the years to dine in many very good and extremely well thought of restaurants in a number of major cities in the US. I have rarely, maybe only once, had a better dining experience than the one I recently enjoyed at Canoe -- and that was at Pebble Beach's Spanish Bay Inn! While at Canoe, this past Thursday evening (21 March 2013) EVERYTHIG was perfect -- service, food, atmosphere, wine ...! We could not have been more pleased. My husband and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary and Canoe made it even more special. We'd be neglect if we did not give special recognition to our server, Mitch. He was extremely professional with a deep knowledge of the menu, accurate descriptions -- making every menu selection decision even more difficult :-) ... and fabulous service. On the appetizer menu, they had replaced the Squash Soup with a Parsnips Soup -- it was off the chart fab! I would never have thought a soup made with parsnips could be so good, but it was incredible; and the crab cake -- the best I've ever had. My ONLY compliant was there was only one! My husband, being a meat/potatoes kinda guy had the Hickory Grilled New York Strip and I had the slices of Lamb Sirloin which was one of their special entrees that night. His strip was perfect and my slices of lamb sirloin were unbelievable! Desserts -- his the Classic Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee, me -- the Banana Nut Bread Pudding. OMG -- both terrific! I highly recommend Canoe for anyone. We can't wait to go there sometime for the Sunday brunch!
(5)
John G.
Fancy place. I enjoyed the meal but might be a little pricey for what you get. We had a party of roughly 8 and had to exponentiate the amount of appetizers as the portions were ridiculously lacking. It tries a little too hard to be elite. But for a company paid lunch, I found everything fine.
I had a excellent experience here. The atmosphere was great. It was louder than I thought it would be and we sat out on the porch. The food and service was great.
(5)
Scott W.
Had a 7 course wine pairing here. I am not much of a wine person, but all were very tasty and smooth. They were paired perfectly with the small plates that were served with them. I enjoyed this experience very much.
(5)
Natalia C.
A place of choice for special occasions.
(5)
Adam W.
Let me start by saying that I am by no means, a foodie. I haven't lived in Atlanta for very long and I haven't had a lot of finer dining experiences in the city yet. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed Canoe. The Good: I made my reservation using Yelp a day ahead of time for our 2 yr. anniversary. They have complimentary valet at the door which was nice because it was drizzling rain. The hostess took our coats and gave us a ticket. (Also complimentary) We were seated immediately. The inside of the restaurant was decorated very nicely. Our waitress appeared to be very busy but we had 2 people come to our table and ask if we needed anything and informed us our waitress would be there shortly. We were given a very large wine list and a menu to look over. Our waitress was very nice initially and explained every single dish in depth to us (even though we didn't ask). They seemed to have a pretty solid variety of entrees (fish, meat, etc). The restaurant has someone to come around with about 4 different kinds of bread for you to choose from. We both had the Rabbit dish. I can't remember the name but it was fantastic. The rabbit was extra tender and all the sides were very tasty. After the meal we were given a dessert menu but nothing really caught our eye. Then we went to the hostess stand and got our coats and the valet brought our car around. The Bad: Nothing was too bad, but for the sake of providing a complete review: We were at our table for 8-10 minutes before we had our drink orders taken. After explaining all the dishes (which took some time) we took a few minutes to decide. My girlfriend decided she wanted one of the fish entrees but when she went to place her order, the waitress informed her that they were sold out of that particular entree but she did apologize for not mentioning that earlier. We sat by the kitchen and didn't really get to enjoy the river view that I hear they have. The restaurant was a little on the loud side but nothing unbearable. They were very busy the night we were there but the waitress seemed to get a little snappy with us as the night progressed. She wasn't mean but just sort of lost the friendliness in her attitude. But like I said, none of that really took away from our meal. Any other useful info: 1 Glass of Wine, 2 waters, and 2 entrees with a 20 percent tip was $105 All in all it was a pretty nice experience and I will probably go there again.
(4)
Chriss F.
Had a very nice meal with Red Snapper, Steelhead trout, Squash soup, banana cream pie, salted caramel chocolate dessert and a delightful pinot noir. The bartender was attentive. Seating was prompt..had an open table reservation. The server called us by a different name..wasn't sure if she was dissapointed that we were not who she expected. From that point on, she was not as polite as I thought she should be. Was kinda cold... Food was excellente !
(4)
Matthew L.
Attended a wedding here on the restaurant property along the river. Setting for the ceremony was gorgeous. The reception was in an adjacent tent and was catered by the restaurant. Food was excellent as was the wait staff. Whole event was very well done.
(4)
Brittany W.
I love this place. I took my dad for lunch one day and he fell in LOVE. We sat outside because it was warm and oh how gorgeous it is. Tons of flowers and right on the river, it was awesome. The food was DELISH. Like, legit both of our plates looked brand new when we were done. So awesome, 5 stars - totally worth it!
(5)
Tricia W.
My fiance and I had a wonderful dinner here. The restaurant and its surroundings are removed but romantic so it is a great place for a more private date. The bread was delicious, try the cranberry (or maybe it was raisin) one even though it is a bit unconventional for a before dinner bread. Entrees were very good but we thought the real stand-outs were the dessert. I had tangerine sorbet with a lemon cake, so moist and refreshing! My fiance had the chocolate grotto with salted caramel and it was definitely one of the best desserts we have had. Extra pluses: Interesting drink menu, and the service is thorough without being overbearing. Overall, highly recommended for special occasion...worth the splurge and not snooty!
(4)
Stefani P.
Wonderful food and beautiful scenery! We were there for NYE dinner so the outside area was not open, but we will definitely be returning to sit outside! My only complaint is we were slightly rushed through our meal. The waiter kindly let us know that they would be taking our order for everything right away, which i'm not a fan of. I'm sure the only reason for this at the time was because of the holiday and they were very busy. Oh! And our waiter looked exactly like Steve-O, haha :)
(4)
Shawanda M.
Frolicked here last month for my birthday and the food was divine! The crab & eggs was so flavorful and filling, I cannot wait to head back to brunch just to have it again. The scones...ahhh. I generally don't do scones..not really sure why but considering I had been out the night before and was slightly hungover, the scones were a delicious prerequisite to a tasty brunch. my only downfall was that our service was odd. She started out amazing even telling a couple of my strict dieting friends that she'll be happy to get word to the chef so that they can come up with something delicious and healthy for them. Very nice of her. But she sort of lost her "mojo" a little later, which definitely left bad taste in my mouth. Despite our hot & cold waitress, I'll be returning to Canoe...hopefully sometime soon.
(4)
Abbey J.
I have been to Canoe 2 times in the past and was not impressed. The setting, right on the river, is great, but I was not very impressed with the food for the price. With that being said, I went here again a few weeks ago and it was AMAZING. I had the pheasant and it was absolutely one of the best meals I have ever eaten. The service this time around was impeccable and we even had cake that they made especially for my friends birthday. Canoe is going back to the top of my list of restaurants for fine dining.
(4)
Ming Y.
amazing place for romantic occasions. they have indoor dinning, porch dinning, and a outdoor bar by the river. the environment was very pleasant and relaxing, ppl have their wedding there as they were one wedding, and one rehearsal while we were there. the dish was very tasty, and the price is VERY REASONABLE. we had duck, rabbit, and a appetizer, and it was a good amount. we then went outside to have drinks at the outside bar next to the river, it was a lovely setting with very friendly bar tenders. they only thing was that the day we went was my birthday, i was hoping for a free desert, but there was none :p
(4)
Ruchir P.
I had briefly glanced at Yelp and Canoe's website prior to attending, and the combination of fairly high reviews and appetizing menu made be fairly excited for our reservations. Background: The dinner was for an end of the year banquet with a group of 8-10. We arrived as a fairly casually dressed (most patrons where dressed in a minimum of business casual) and diverse racial party. The only reason I make note of these two qualities is because I saw other reviewers comment on the lack of diversity at the restaurant and fairly formal, elderly clientele. I must agree with their comments - the mix up is fairly older white individuals, but this in no way implies a negative. They were just as pleasant to our crowd as any other. Not to mention, we were definitely the youngest group at the restaurant. The Experience: Canoe's initial impressions where a bit mixed. Set in a mini-strip mall the exterior of the restaurant leaves something to be desired, but upon entrance you clearly see why it is so highly rated. The interior is amazing, but the view and garden are what make it worthwhile. Overlooking, the banks of the Chattahoochee River, Canoe's setting is truly perfect. The gardens are amazing to walk in while waiting for your appetizers or while sipping your first cocktail. There is no need for me to go into extreme detail to describe the delicious food (you can simply look at their on-line menu), but the portions, variety, and overall quality is definitely a distinguishing quality of the restaurant. Again to address other reviews, the prices are steep, but then again if you check the menu prior to arriving you are fully aware of this quality. Other Notes: Unfortunately, the night we went (yesterday) a slight storm happened to pass through Atlanta. As we were waiting on our check, the storm hit causing a giant tree in the garden to collapse on the outdoor seating and awning. As the emergency lighting quickly flicked on, we saw our waitress and almost the entire Canoe staff (everyone from the manager, bus boys, and even kitchen staff) jump into action to quickly help the people that were sitting under the outdoor awning. The paramedics and ambulances were immediately called for the outdoor patrons, but luckily it seemed that almost everyone was fine. The staff was extremely helpful and could have done nothing more in the situation. Let it be noted, that the storm was extremely intense and caused several other tress in the area to fall, and actually closed several roads in the area. Summary: Overall, I believe the setting, experience, and food are definitely what distinguish Canoe as a top-tier restaurant. It is extremely unfortunate that the outdoor awning was severally damaged, and I came to learn that only two years prior Canoe had actually flooded. I am glad that they were able to rebound from the flood, and have no doubt that their excellent food and service will keep patrons coming back (and hopefully the outdoor setting will be fixed as soon as possible). On a side note, I recently read that they have an option for a private menu in the garden for a small group titled, "Chef's Organic Vegetable Garden". Once I go, I will update my review!
(4)
ash r.
The setting is real romantic and has a great view of the chattanooga river. The pheasant was cooked to perfection. The crotquiets were nice and crisp with tender pheasant meat inside. The sweet pototoes could of used more sugar but still wasn't bad. I would definetly recommend getting this dish. Another tasty dish was the beef short rib. The meat was real tender and didn't need a knife to cut it. I substituted the white beans for the risotto. The risotto was real good but was a little too salty for my taste.
(5)
Christina T.
Went here last night for my birthday! I will start by saying my server Hope was amazing. She recommended her favorite dishes and was so pleasant and attentive. I ordered the steak medium well. The first few bites were cooked to perfection however the middle of my steak was extremely pink. I decided that I was not going to complain because the service had been so great and I would just take the remainder to go. When my server came back to the table she realized my steak was not cooked like I asked and was extremely apologetic and pretty much begged for me to send it back so that they could cook it to perfection. Not only did she take my plate back but she insisted on taking my friends plate also to keep their food warm while mine was cooking. When she brought it back she replenished the sides on both of our plates. Also to apologize she brought out three complimentary birthday desserts. My experience here was like none ever before. I give this restaurant five stars. I have dined at many restaurants in the Atlanta area an have not had service as good as this. I will recommend Canoe to everyone I know because of the above and beyond service.
(5)
Barbara D.
I am in love with this restaurant. My boyfriend and I came here for date night yesterday and it was everything we could have asked for. We were seated in a semicircular booth facing the river and fully enjoyed the view the whole evening. For an appetizer, we ordered the oysters on a half shell with a simple cucumber champagne mignonette. I am a huge seafood fan and I have to say these were the best raw oysters I have EVER had, hands down. For dinner, I ordered the Georgia mountain trout which was fairly good - light and flavorful. My boyfriend ordered their popular slow roasted Carolina rabbit - for his first rabbit experience, he absolutely loved it. I hate bacon but I even loved the bacon ravioli that came with his rabbit entree. Our server was perfect. He was on top of everything without being overbearing. The only thing I thought was odd was the bread service. They don't give you your own basket of bread but instead, bring around a basket for you to choose from where they serve you 1-2 slices at a time with tongs. After dinner, we brought our drinks outside where you'll find a bar at the waterfront with plenty of chairs for you to lounge around on. It was really cute and a perfect romantic spot to spend some time at. It was fairly dark by the time we were finished dinner but we also took a walk and briefly looked around their organic garden which had me completely sold. This isn't a restaurant I'd regularly return to but it's definitely a nice 'special occasion' or 'date night' spot. For 1 appetizer, both of our entrees, and a total of 4 drinks, our bill came to $105 before tip. After writing this review, I may need to make a trip back just to order the oysters next week.
(4)
Aaron P.
Right on the Chattahoochee River, in a beautiful wooden structure, this place is a get away. There is a patio (first come, first served) which was lovely to sit on. There is also a bar closer to the river (which you should sit at while you wait for a place on the patio). I cannot attest to the entrees but this place was pretty crowded on a Saturday night so they must be good. I did get desert, smoked salmon appetizer, and a bottle of wine. Their by the bottle wine list is one of, if not the best in town and their deserts were very good. The service was pretty good, I have had better but I'm not saying it was bad at all. All-in-all I will be going back.
(5)
Isabel Y.
Since I reviewed Canoe two years ago, I've been back several times.. it's just a consistently awesome place. I love the new-ish outdoor bar on the river... great place to chill out after dinner and listen to some live music with a post-dinner drink or coffee. Food- they had this asian scallops special a few visits back that I just cannot get out of my head... it was amazing amazing. The trout I had a couple nights ago was sort of ordinary, so I wish I had picked something else, but I think I just really was wishing they offered those scallops again. I am obsessed with their corn soup. Also, their creme brulee is awesome, though extremely rich (it's not a splurge meal for nothing!). It's a great place for a business dinner or a romantic evening out-- and the staff makes you feel comfortable and relaxed, and is always attentive to your next drink. What more could you ask for (especially at a work dinner)? Kidding...!
(5)
david w.
I really enjoyed just about everything about this place, and was very happy to stumble upon it in the Atlanta 'burbs. Took about 10 clients out for a dinner, and everyone in the group loved the entire experience. The decor is really nice and relaxing, the service was great, and the food outstanding. I had the pecan crusted grouper and a watermellon salad, which seems to be a hit based on other reviews, but around the table we covered most of the menue and all was amazing. Highly recomend this place anytime...and hope I can get back soon.
(4)
L D.
My Husband took me here as a treat, and what a treat it was! As we walked in and sat at the bar(we were not fans of the drinks-my only complaint), I didn't think it anything special, but as I caught a glimpse of, and was led outside, I knew why he had brought me here, and it's not just for the food. The back of Canoe is a green wonderland with a river running behind it. It is, in my book, breathtaking, magic, heaven on earth! We sat down, and a thunderstorm started! Wonderful! We were covered and safe. Our server was lovely. Let the food begin. Marinated gold and red beet salad with Vermont goat cheese was gorgeous to look at and dee-lish! My short ribs were savory, tender-in short, they were scrummy. I'm a bread girl, and the selection of bread was varied, flavorful, and chewy/soft perfection. We shared the popcorn sundae, which was big enough for two, and quite tasty. I live in the Bay Area of California, travel quite a bit, eat in Manhattan, and New Orleans, and I think I know good food a little. Well, this was very good, and with the view, it can't be beat!
(5)
Shamik M.
Amazing place for fish. Upscale ambience. Try whatever the fish they give as the fresh fish of the day - that always turns out to be very good. And dont miss out on the chocolate lava dessert - love the fact that you have whack it to get the creamy chocolate out of it.
(4)
L S.
We loved this place. Our server was so nice and treated us like we were royalty (esp since they knew it was a special day). The food was great. The new York steak is amazing. The ambience is really nice as well, right by the riverside, the garden etc. WILL DEF recommend and go there again.
(4)
Lauren N.
I went here with my family on graduation weekend, and am glad I did. It's definitely a nice spot for a special occasion. The scenery is beautiful, and we took lots of memorable photos outside prior to dinner. I found the food to be a little too southern and a bit disappointing for a restaurant with such built up expectations. Here is my reaction to what we ordered: - Wine = AMAZING. My dad picked out a nice bottle, haha. - Bread basket = AMAZING. Very unique and delicious. - Arugula Salad= eh. I like cheese on my salad, and the only kind they had was Parmesan. It was too basic. - Salmon= it was drenched in a buttery-type sauce. Definitely ask for it on the side. I was not a fan! - Duck n' Beef Burger-=My brother ordered this and sent it back. He said it was gross. - Dessert= They gave us about 7 complimentary desserts. Some were good, some weren't. None stood out in my mind as spectacular. Overall, it was a quality meal and an enjoyable experience. Good service. Ran into about four other families celebrating graduation at the same time. Side Note: Canoe is located in Bumblefuck, GA. Took me 30 minutes from Decatur.
(4)
Dean T.
We ate there last friday night, very nice place, service was good. The food was good, and I liked that they use local produce. We went out to the bar area by the river after dinner, it was a great evening. I would definately recommend this place
(4)
Terry F.
I took my lovely wife to Canoe for one of those rare nights out without the kids. I had booked the table thru an online service and ordered flowers and a romantic table. The staff at Canoe came thru with both. We loved the decor and ambience of Canoe from the moment we walked in. We were seated and our evening began. Service was good, although slow. Pretty much what I expected, after all this isn't a fast food place. The food was spectacular, as was the entire evening. We highly recommend Canoe!
(5)
Dat L.
Most romantic place to eat and bring a date. Delicious food. We always get the rabbit entree plus something else to share. :)
(5)
Carlos A.
Canoe you are swanky. Came here for wife's birthday and we were not disappointed. The food is delicious and the service is excellent. We had Shrimp Stuffed Calamari with Spanish Chorizo for the app and it was on point. Wife had the lamb and I had the NY Strip. I'm not going to lie, mine was better than hers and she was jealous. (I gave her some bites). We'll definitely be back, especially when it cools down so we can enjoy the view of the Chattahoochee.
(5)
Fontaine C.
It is my second visit here for brunch. I enjoyed the food and service a lot at both times. We ordered a small basket of bakery. It comes with two sweet sticky buns , one blueberry scone and one cheese/bacon scone. Sticky buns are crunchy and not too sweet. Scones are decently baked. We also ordered a dish of "crab and eggs". This is extremely delicious too. I highly recommend this place for brunch. And I will come back to try other dinners and desserts next time.
(5)
Paula S.
Canoe boasts Atlanta's most lovely setting for a restaurant. In a way the garden environment reminded me of Commander's Palace in New Orleans. Yet the food isn't astonishing. It's merely high quality ingredients, properly prepared but ultimately somewhat forgettable. We've dined there twice, once on the terrace at sunset with a wonderful friend. I remember our conversation and watching the sunset by the river far more than the cuisine. However, DH and I both recall my needing to decamp for a stroll because Canoe's cheese plate was skimpy! LOL There was barely enough for him and our host. (We were assured it was sufficient for 3.) The service was great one time though a bit sloppy during our initial visit. While we waited for our friend during that visit a bartender was surly because he wasn't knowledgeable about whether one of the 2 gewurtztraminers then offered was sweetish or off dry. He acted as though I didn't know wines. We ordered the Trimbach to play safe. If my treasure of a mother in law visited us we'd take her there for brunch. It's that kind of place.
(4)
Katrina M.
amazing service, always. the she crab soup (brunch) is my fav. not one complaint.
(5)
Chris I.
The view and meal was fantastic. Had the Grilled Atlantic Salmon, Spaghetti Squash & Carrot Saute, Pecans and Wilted Baby Spinach. The flavors and texture blended together perfectly. Will definitely be back for another meal the next time I'm in Atlanta area.
(5)
Christie K.
Canoe is one of my favorite restaurants! The setting is absolutely gorgeous - it has a fantastic view of the Chattahoochee. The food is consistently delicious. The service is always top-notch. UNF. UNF. UNF. I've been to Canoe for brunch, lunch, and dinner and it's always been FANTASTIC. Try the cornmeal pancakes (or anything that has cornmeal in it) and any of their seafood dishes! PURRFECTION. All of their ingredients are top-notch (veggies are brought in from their own garden)! *ECSTATIC WRITHING* The place is great for any occasion~ I really recommend to anyone visiting Atlanta!
(5)
Andrew C.
Impeccable restaurant. Consistently among the best in Atlanta, and has a better location than all of them.
(5)
Jeremy A.
I went to Canoe with my girlfriend to celebrate our anniversary. The place has a beautiful decor and setting. We sat outside on the patio and the view over the river was very cool. I had a scallops dish and it was very very good, I also recommend the mussels appetizer. It's pricey so reserve your visit for a special occasion and definitely go check this place out.
(4)
Jennifer S.
Great location on the river...scenic and cozy. The food and service were also very good!
(4)
Megan C.
I was seriously excited to eat here after reading all the positive reviews. I definitely love a great meal- and the menu looked great. My friend and I came in late last Friday night, and started with a round of cocktails in the bar. The drinks, espresso martinis, were pretty delicious. We were seated at a table about a half hour later and both ready to eat. Our waiter came to the table, we had brought in our own bottle of wine(Chappellet Prichard Hill Cab 07-WS 96-YUM) and our waiter seemed irritated. Our bar tab was transferred and they do charge a corking fee so it wasn't like we were being cheap, we just brought a special bottle. I am not quite sure how to describe this fellow or his attitude, but by the end of our meal we were quite irritated by him. He was cocky, overenthusiastic and rude at the same time. He recommended we start with the Salmon appetizer, which we agreed sounded great and I ordered the Rabbit for dinner. The salmon appetizer came out, basically Lox over a layer of goat cheese on a potato cake, I was quite fond of the potato cake, it was light and crispy. However, the smoked salmon lox was cut thickly and placed on top of a very thick layer of goat cheese. When you bit into it, it was mushy. I am sure the kitchen just screwed this one up because I can't imagine it always tastes that way. The waiter came by and asked what we thought of the dish. I told him, "The flavors are there, but the texture is mushy". Apparently this personally offended him, he didn't apologize, he just kind of brushed it off and was short with us the rest of the night. The rabbit was OKAY, I had extremely high expectations for the dish. The meat tasted decent, my real problem was with the ravioli. The smoke flavor was extremely overpowering. It tasted like an entire bottle of liquid smoke was added to the filling. I couldn't even eat it, but since our waiter was already being rude because our appetizer was mushy I wasn't about to complain again. Here is my problem with the service I received at Canoe. Is it not plausible that a dish could have been prepared wrong? What happened to the customer is always right? And, if I tell you the food is not up to par, it is not a personal attack on you so please don't act that way and be noticeably rude to me the rest of the night. At least apologize and/or offer to remake the dish. I have to say, I probably won't eat here again.
(2)
Marc T.
Excellent experience. Great, friendly service from the valet, hostess, and bartender as well as the servers who delivered to the bar. I was visiting on business and decided to eat at the bar. The burger (duck and beef) was very tasty, and the truffled fries were as well. I will be back for a full meal
(5)
Maura H.
Definitely worth making a reservation on Open Table for this restaurant. We did and go the corner table overlooking the garden and the river and I couldn't have asked for a better seat. I love to hear everything about what is in a meal and how it is prepared. Canoe indulged me with every morsel of detail they could muster, right down to where the organic tomatoes came from. I was so impressed by the waitress and her knowledge of the meals, I could hardly focus on what to order. The meals were incredibly imaginative and diverse. Example of menu items: Organic tomtatoes layered wtih tomatoe salad and topped with a small scoop of ice cream. Sage Roasted Pheasant with mashed sweet potatoes, garlic sauteed spinach and dark meat pheasant croquettes. Vanilla Cornmeal Cake with Blueberry-Cilantro sauce and sweet corn ice cream. Bizarre combinations I admit, but perfectly paired. I even went with a relatively picky person and she loved her food. Expect to spend your savings on a meal, but who needs savings when you can be in food heaven?.
(5)
Song S.
So far, the best contemporary American fare I've had in Atlanta. The location is great: situated besides the river with a small vegetable garden (heirloom tomatoes, okra, carrots, squash...) and a sizable garden to walk through, this isn't a place to just eat and leave. And walking was necessary after noshing through the appetizer, entree, and dessert. Here's a rundown: Appetizer: Mussels in curry-like, lemongrass broth. I like mussels, so I'm already biased. But I liked the suggestion from the server: dip your sourdough bread into the broth - it's like a meal on it's own! Entree: Australian lamb. Wow. This may have been the first time I've had lamb cooked medium-rare and I do not regret it. Not funky like lamb can sometimes taste, the outside was seared until crunchy and the inside was soo tender. I ate a chunk of fat and did not gag. Yummy. Served on a bed of risotto (double yum) with a tart-ish dressing. I could've done without the capers, but that's my only complaint. Side note: Heirloom tomatoes were extremely flavorful. Not on my dish, but recommended. Dessert: Semifreddo of blueberry sorbet, sweetened yogurt served with lavender sauce. I was hesitant about this dessert, but this sounded like the lightest thing on the menu. The syrup smelled so nicely of lavender that I wanted to bottle it up and sniff it all the way home. The greek yogurt was so delicious and it paired well with the sorbet (and I'm not normally a fan of sorbet). It was sizable enough to share. Is the pastry chef single? Our visit was pleasant and our server was extremely helpful and accommodating. We had to wait about 10min to get seated which kinda irked me since the lady at the entrance wasn't the warmest person, but the person who sat us made up for her. The servers were very friendly; we got smiles, farewells and greetings from other servers (maybe they can sense my grad student budget trickling away). I don't know what the other yelper was talking about - the place was pretty quiet and mellow for a Friday evening. And as always, bread service (recommend the flat bread!) and crumb sweepers impress me.
(5)
Justin D.
What a pleasant drive up to see the elegant sign looming throught the trees and then to have my car parked for me. But this place is a total winner on every level. For me a good Vodka Collins is a difficult order, but I had 2 at the bar before dinner because they nailed it so well. Dinner was perfect, and I would go as far as to say that my Duck was prepared better then any other then I can remember having before. This is a large place so don't expect to have a nice quiet dinner, there are a lot of people all trying to talk too, so it may get a little loud in there. but the food it totally worth it. Wish I could've had desert while I was there, but will be back soon for that!
(5)
Sarah E.
Canoe has it all: A classy yet comfortable atmosphere, excellent food and service that's above and beyond. This is one of those restaurants that I've been wanting to visit forever but haven't gotten around to for some reason. Well, no, actually... I know the reason. It's not every day that my husband and I can afford to drop $100 to $150 for dinner. But we decided to save up our Date Night pennies and give it a go. We were both very happy that we did. Now I know that most people seem to want to sit on the porch out back with a view of the river. But we were happy to be seated inside, with a view of the open kitchen. We got to watch the chef in action and smell the delicious aromas of the food she and her staff were creating back there. Our server Terry was also excellent. He was friendly and happy to explain anything and everything. He pointed out the chef and the executive sous chef to us, explained that the chef liked to use local ingredients when possible and that the soft shell crabs being served that night had been crawling around when they got there that morning. He was happy to make recommendations, and they were all on point. First, we tried the Lemongrass Martini and snacked on three different types of delicious house-baked bread while we mulled over the appetizer selections. My was the Kalamata olive bread, and there was also a very interesting chili-rubbed flatbread that had a surprising amount of kick to it. The menu at Canoe is always changing, so a lot of the items mentioned here on Yelp were not listed last night. Fortunately, our server was happy to make recommendations. I had the House Smoked Salmon with a Crispy Potato Cake and Vermont Goat's Cheese. For some reason, even though I love lox AND goat cheese, this item didn't catch my eye until Terry pointed it out. The salmon was bursting with flavor without being fishy at all (which is quite a feat for smoked salmon). The goat cheese was a perfect complement to it. Even my husband, who cannot stand lox, thought that the appetizer was delicious. Oh, and the portion was huge (although I believe it's possible to order a half-portion). My husband had the Fried Green Tomato with Local Egg (and some sort of ham I can't remember) as his appetizer. I had a bite of this, and the tomato was wonderfully crunchy and flavorful. Yummy! When it came time to order our entrees, I was very tempted to order the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard, Bacon Ravioli, and Candied Garlic Sauce. It's a house specialty and I really wanted to taste it after reading about it here on Yelp. The only problem was that the only time I'd eaten rabbit before, I really wasn't a fan. Fortunately, my husband also wanted to try the rabbit, so he ordered it as his entree. The main issue I had when I tried rabbit before was that it seemed very tough. This rabbit was not the least bit tough, though. It was tender and accompanied by the most beautiful garlicky, buttery sauce. Mmmmm. One thing to note about this rabbit dish is that it takes about 20 minutes to prepare. So you should definitely order a starter and be willing to take your time. Our server was very on top of things and gave us fair warning about this. I ordered the Chili Glazed Duck Breast with Foie Gras Sausage. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the sausage - I've never tried foie gras before because I definitely do not like liver in any forms I've tasted so far. However, either I do like foie gras or I just like foie gras that's made into delicious sausage. And the duck was rich and tender. Even though it was a reasonably small portion, I started to get full quickly. Despite our full tummies, we decided to order dessert because other reviewers had indicated that the dessert was not to be missed. My husband ordered the Valrhona Chocolate and Salted Caramel Grotto dessert - a dome of dark chocolate filled with salted caramel and hazelnut creme. As a Greek yogurt lover, I couldn't resist the Blueberry Semifredo with Greek Yogurt and Lavender. My husband's dessert was good, but mine was definitely the favorite of the two. The Greek yogurt was creamy without being heavy, the blueberries were simultaneously sweet and tart, and the lavender broth was just... heaven. Oh, and in case you are not in the know already (I wasn't), "semifredo" means it's half-frozen. Freaking awesome. We had a great time at Canoe. All of the staff made us feel welcome and at ease, and every single thing we put in our mouths was delectable. Would definitely go back and blow our paychecks there again.
(5)
Sheena P.
Great experience here. The food was amazing and the view was great. I suggest getting there early and grabbing a drink at the bar and walking around outside or even getting a table outside and just hanging out for a while. Once you are ready then ask to be seated and enjoy the meal. The service was excellent and if you have time after walk around back and look at the mini farm they have and the swings-- its a great place for a date or just a fun night with friends!
(5)
Crystal K.
I found this place thanks to everyone on Yelp. I like it because it is away from town and is unique and different. This place really has such beautiful atmosphere. While we were waiting for a table they invited us down to their garden area. It was a pretty walk down by the water with walkways lined with flowers. This place is a must see! Very impressive! The food was terrific. Starting with fresh bread made daily. I just had to try each type of bread. The sourdough melts in your mouth. The flat bread has a little bit of a kick to it. I thought both were really good. I went with couple of friends who also enjoyed the place. I ordered the Salmon, which was cooked to perfection. One friend had Pasta and the other ordered the Pheasant and both said that they were delicious I will without a doubt go there again. I highly recommend this place for entertaining clients, special occasion or if you just want great food and atmosphere.
(5)
Kristie C.
Great restaurant - atmosphere was very unique, looking over the river. Service was pretty good - just the right pace, never had to search around for our waitress. 3 breads served: sunflower-whole grain, sourdough and chili-pepper crisp bread. All were fresh and seemed very home-made, something I really enjoyed. Appetizer: Smoked salmon was great - quite filling but delicious: served on top of a cream-cheese mixture, stuck to a thin layer of fried shoestring potatoes on the bottom that were crispy, not too oily and flavorful. Brick-roasted chicken was pretty good. Vegetables and sauce it was served with seemed more creamy than I had expected - also a bit more garlicky than I had hoped too. A lot of chicken in this entree - next time I'll try the Grilled Atlantic Salmon. Scallop entree was fresh as well, my boyfriend seemed to enjoy it. Will definitely come back - can't wait for the summer for the outdoor seating. Quite a nice, romantic ambience.
(4)
Tom L.
Fantastic service, great wine selection, great food (locally sourced when possible), beautiful setting... You can get a great meal at Canoe that is worth the price ( 25-30 per entree on avg.). The ingredients are respected resulting in a fresh, well prepared dish regardless of what you order. The food is a creative interpretation of classic Southern cuisine, remaining respectful of traditional cooking techniques and ingredients. There are usually a couple of specials every night that don't appear on the menu, but typically the rabbit is recommended as the signature dish. The duck breast is also fantastic when available. The gardens are great for a stroll after dinner, and there is an outdoor bar within the gardens overlooking the river that makes for a great nightcap. All in all, you can't go wrong with Canoe. This is one of the best all around dining experiences in Atlanta.
(5)
RC H.
I and two friends dined here on September 2. I and one of the friends had dined here several times before and were expecting a repeat good performance. It didn't happen. Though well-versed on the menu, the wait service was not as good as before. My friend had a steak which was very salty and he sent it back because he couldn't get past the all the salt. I ordered fish this evening, Skate, which was a special. It too was very salty, but I finished it because I was very hungry. My other friend had the rabbit which was good.
(3)
Bob L.
You know a restaurant is good when you recall it fondly years later. I had the Home Depot account at the time and asked my contact for a wonderful place where we could celebrate in style. Canoe was right at the top of her list and rightly so. I loved it (and still do). Oddly, my Canoe experience started with the drive from Home Depot's HQ. I'm not sure what neighborhood we entered but the feel went from "business park hell" to "Nantucket niceness". Felt like someone was going to stamp my passport actually. As I recall, the road became all twisty (think Mulholland if you've driven that), the buildings turned white, picked fences sprang from nowhere ...and I thought I heard fairies giggling. Typically this happens to me after the 3rd bottle of Flowers (You need to try this wine) but my colleagues convinced me that I was not dreaming. The atmosphere was sublime and food was heavenly. So thanks Home Depot for Canoe (& for the free fence installation). :)
(5)
DC C.
Tried the crab cake and shrimp stuffed calamari appetizers with the crusted cod entree. All nicely presented and good flavor, though it wasn't to the level of the pheasant on my first visit. Also quantity could have been a bit more. Service on my multiple visits were rather average - still very good food overall and worth a visit - 3.5 Also now tried the grilled duck breast entree with a grilled peaches, duck sausage & vidalia onions. It had potential but failed to deliver this time, four 2" slices of duck breast, parts quite chewy/sinewy. Flavor was good initially then became monotonous, oily and overwhelming by the end - 2.75. If you're looking for a poultry dish, go for the pheasant.
(3)
Lindsay C.
Canoe is one of my favorite spots to have a pleasant, "working" lunch. The service rivals that of fancier joints like Blue Ridge Grill, and Canoe has a tastier menu if you ask me. You can never go wrong with the chicken tacos or salmon chips. Make sure you get the caramel corn desert. It's crazy good. The river (while brown and gross) provides a nice backdrop for a lovely lunch. I go here at least once a month.
(4)
Jill C.
I NEED MORE STARS!!! Canoe is the best kept secret! We live less than a mile from Canoe and no one has told us about it?! We initially sat at the inside bar. Our plan was to have some drinks (on what we assumed would just be a patio) outside before heading out to dinner. The 'patio' we had envisioned was more like a backyard that backs up to the Chattahoochie. There are several places to sit outside if you don't want to reserve a table. Oh! And did I mention Live Music (Wednesday's) Needless to say, we ended up staying for dinner in which we ate at the bar ...Spinach Salad to start, A perfectly cooked NY Strip and Lemon Poppy Seed Cake for dessert...Each course amazing. And the Service? 'Best we've had in Atlanta' would not even be close to an exaggeration. One more thing that sets Canoe apart is the Elegant Casual atmosphere. We were able to wear a nice pair of jeans AND feel comfortable...As we moved from the inside & outside bar and finally back in for dinner our tab moved with us. No card, simply a name. No hassle, No Fuss...Pure Class. Thank You Canoe for a Fine Evening of Dining Drinks & Music
(5)
Stuart M.
Amazing restaurant! The food, service, and atmosphere was outstanding!! I actually ended up eating here for dinner one night and then lunch the following day.
(5)
Christine H.
corn soup = velvety sweet corn puree + bright corn salad + crispy fried clam bits stuffed calamari = bed of super crunchy fried tentacles + shrimp stuffed calamari braised rabbit = tender rabbit thigh/leg + beautifully curly strips of veggies + BACON RAVIOLI + one of the best sauces i've ever had duck = perfectly medium duck breast + duck crepe stuffed with mind blowing duck sausage + tangy blackberry pistachio compote caramel popcorn sundae = phenomenal caramel popcorn ice cream + salted caramel sauce + HOME MADE CRACKER JACKS hazelnut mousse = stiff chocolate hazelnut mousse + super crunchy dark chocolate shell + pretzel dust white chocolate cheesecake = standard flavors + lovely plating i've been dying to eat here for so many years, and just never made it. i was thrilled that my recent engagement finally brought me over. we received the royal treatment! champagne waiting on us at the table and we ended with a smorgasbord of desserts. the service was impeccable, and the manager came by at the end to congratulate us. our table was a raised booth overlooking their amazing back garden and the chattahoochee river. i couldn't have wanted a better setting. all the food was fantastic, but the corn soup was really something special. it was the corn salad and fried clams that totally put it over the top. the braised rabbit has been on the menu for over 14 years, and now i understand why. i could eat a giant bowl of just the bacon swiss chard ravioli and sauce. the stuffed calamari was a tad bit off, but the crispy bed of tentacles was just perfect. the duck breast was perfectly cooked, and the duck sausage was packed with flavor. i wanted a bit more blackberry pistachio compote, but maybe i'm just being greedy. and the caramel popcorn ice cream... if you closed your eyes and tried it, there's no question of what the flavor is. i was blown away by how much it tasted like popcorn. we took a stroll in the back garden after we ate, and it was the perfect end to a big meal. there's a little hidden vegetable garden off to the side, and it's not to be missed. they grow quite a few things, and there's a gorgeous wooden swing just begging to be leisurely swung. with all the hustle and bustle of restaurants downtown, canoe is practically a destination restaurant. all you "in-towners" need to get out to vinings and enjoy a special dinner here. i know you'll love it.
(5)
Chuk V.
If you like game dishes or seafood, you're unlikely to find better in the metro area than Canoe. Its got a nice, dark, romantic atmosphere and in the summer months you can stroll around by the river with your cocktail while you wait for your table. The food is spectacular. I don't know how to say it much more eloquently than that... a brother has a tough time ordering due to the large number of delicious and interesting menu items, and the waitstaff are attentive and knowledgeable... almost to the point of too attentive. Do yourself a solid and get the PEI mussels and/or the salmon/goat cheese/potato cake.
(5)
Danielle W.
Canoe- wow what a great way to spend an evening dinner with the family for a special occasion. My sister graduated from Emory and our recommended dinner night was to Canoe! We had a lovely evening. The night was gorgeous and we were right along the River. We started out with great service and a story about Canoe's recent flood and rebuild and we were all entranced and excited to try all the NEW things on the menu. My family and I were a table of 7 and ordering everything that was suggested to us by our server. It was phenomenal. I had the halibut with the wasabi sauce to cover it. My sister had the salmon, the trout was served to my grandma, my mom and one other had the Rabbit, my brother had the steak and my dad had the Duck. Everything was to die for. We had a superb time. Highly recommended! YUM!
(5)
Thao N.
I went here for my birthday dinner. The food was okay, nothing out of the ordinary, but that was probably because I had the chicken. I wasn't brave enough to try the bunnies or the baby lamb. They were nice enough to hook me up with a free b-day dessert and that was delicious. Too bad I can't remember what it was :) We also came late so once we went outside to view the river it was too dark and foggy. Of what I could see, it looked beautiful. It would make a great place for a wedding reception!
(3)
Julie N.
Wonderful service, amazing location (river view on the patio), and great food. Went there for brunch right when it opened at 1030a on Sunday and had a full choice of prime seating, but by the time we left the outside seating was full. All the servers were extremely attentive. We ordered the large mixed baked goods basket and our server told us that it may be too much for us since it was 8 pastries so we switched to the small basket. I really appreciated his honesty and thoughtfulness; many servers would have just taken the order. The scones and sticky buns were sooo good with delicious jams. I had the salmon eggs Benedict which was also delicious with substantial amounts if salmon. I will definitely be back to try dinner.
(5)
Nicholas L.
Incredible place. The food, service, and ambience were all terrific!
(5)
Brett H.
How did I forget to review here???? Liked it so much I got engaged here! The staff was beyond helpful. The food was perfect! She had the sole and I had the rabbit! We had desert in the garden, they kept it empty for just the two of us. It was a great night. Thank you Canoe!
(5)
Brandon D.
This restaurant has the best ambiance of anywhere I have been in Atlanta. The wait staff was excellent. The food was pretty good. I just have come to expect a little bit more when I spend $120 on dinner for two. I would give the food 3 stars, the environment and wait staff 5 stars, which is why I rated 4. We enjoyed our experience as a whole and am glad we checked it out since this is one of the most popular Atlanta restaurants on Yelp, but I doubt we would go back.
(4)
Katie B.
A truly amazing gem of a restaurant perched right on the edge of the "hootch". I've only experienced the brunch so far, which was out of this world. The pecan sticky buns they serve are one of the top five pastries I have ever eaten, the staff was polite and efficient, the coffee was strong and truly addicting, and the view was spectacular. This is my new favorite "special occasion" spot.
(5)
Jason L.
There are places that you've dreamed about, and when you wander into a real "waking life" place, you suddenly feel this surreal sense of familiarity and comfort. Canoe is one of those places. On my last weekend of a 9-month project engagement in Atlanta, I flew my girlfriend in from Chicago to celebrate our anniversary. From the moment we were welcomed warmly by hostess and bartender alike, to when we stepped out into the riverside garden, everything felt in place and just right. The summer dusk stroll next to the Chattahoochee with loved one on arm can only be described as serene. With the sounds of birds and insects on a summer night, you really don't have to say much. A candlelit dinner ensued on the open patio, and over the hushed conversations of other tables in the distance, the girlfriend and I enjoyed some great dishes. + Sweet corn soup: out of this world phenomenal, creamy and naturally sweet + House smoked salmon with crispy potato pancake: delicious + Fried green tomato with poached egg: as good as it gets + Vegetable pasta: hearty yet light + Duck and beef burger with fried egg and herb/parmesan fries: sounds proletarian, but you'll love every bite eating this with a knife and fork Setting, food, loved one -- few combinations in life can be recreated like this one on a consistent basis. I hope you realize the same tranquility that Canoe affords when you visit.
(5)
Estacy F.
Awhile back a family member decided to have a quiet dinner for her husband here. It was the first my husband and I, herd of the Canoe. The ambience was beautiful dinner was great. But the best was the after dinner stroll outdoors. The garden was beautiful even at night and the gleam of the river; i think it was the Chattahoochee, was picturesque.We made a promise to return for lunch just to take in the views during the light of day.
(4)
Jesse M.
Sat at the bar with a great view. Had the roasted rabbit which was great! Our bartender Kevin was awesome! Def. A great place. Food quality is great! and service is even better. This is a must in Atlanta.
(4)
smacksmackgulp K.
This place is an icon for Atlanta. Canoe was my very first "big" restaurant meal in Atlanta, over 5 years ago, even before I moved here. My then-bf had just moved down, and I flew in to help him celebrate his birthday. We were both in our mid-twenties, still fresh from grad school. And since I was still trying to pay off the lion's share of my school loans back then, this was a big splurge. But it was worth it. I remember how beautiful the setting was, how un-stuffy the service was, and how elegant and yet accessible the food was. Fast forward almost 6 years later -- even though I didn't return to Canoe again until this past Saturday (with my parents, who'd come in for a visit, and were agog over this place...yes, my "No place is better than Irvine/Newport Beach in CA" parents), I'd never forgotten Canoe, even after all these years. It was still wonderful, as it was then. Shannon was just a fabulous server, welcoming and helpful. With regards to food, definitely get the sausage-stuffed calamari and the halibut, if it's available. The popcorn sundae was a fun and nostalgic end to the meal. And yes, bring a loved one, go outside near the river at sunset and take a photo. You'll look back at that photo and remember how much you enjoyed being here.
(5)
Alex G.
Wonderful. Setting, food, staff.
(5)
soomy s.
When I think of Canoe, I think about the Food Network show "The Best Thing I Ever Ate". I imagine myself being a guest celebrity and talking about how the mussel dish from Canoe is MY best thing I ever ate. I seriously never had mussels like this before. They are not on the dinner menu but based on another friend's recommendation (Tulie L.), you can REQUEST them. Yes, my friends, you can REQUEST them. You seriously don't need to order anything else; but definitely do because everything was almost as delicious. If you come for lunch, you're in luck since it is on their lunch menu. First, the mussels themselves are succulent and plump and melt-in-your-mouth scrumptious. They are swimming in an asian-inspired cream based broth (not too creamy at all), flavored with lemongrass, ginger, garlic and other fresh herbs. This broth was so delicious it could have been a soup by itself. You must have their sourdough bread for dipping. Next, I ordered their Caesar salad which was delicious. You can really taste the anchovies. My husband ordered their signature "Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce". The bacon ravioli really complimented the rabbit. We were both a bit hesitant to order the rabbit because the waiter told us it tasted like chicken. Which isn't necessary bad, but we seriously eat chicken almost everyday. At any rate, we went with the server's recommendation and my husband was so impressed. The rabbit was so tender and was finished with a slightly sweet glaze. His only complaint was that he could eat the rabbit with maybe three bites. They only serve the hind legs with this dish. So you can imagine, even a large rabbit, would produce fairly small hind legs. Oh, and yes, rabbit does taste like chicken: very lean and can be boring, but when it's cooked right, it's out of this world. Onto my dish....absolutely loved the halibut. It was accompanied with a risotto side. To be honest I went to Canoe over three weeks ago, and I can't seem to remember much about this dish. One may assume, it's because this dish was not good; but that is not true. It was delicious and I was so impressed, but I can't seem to remember anything past those MUSSELS! So, run to Canoe and ask for the mussels. You won't regret it. I also forgot to mention that this restaurant is on the river so it is absolutely wonderful during this time of the year. And of course...always need to thank the servers. My server was a sweetheart and very attentive to our needs.
(5)
R W.
The dining experience here is a serious matter, well attention to each and every detail. Canoe hits a home run in terms of its atmosphere, cuisine, and service. I've found a new favorite spot in Atlanta and I encourage everyone to visit here. Perfect place for foodies, special occasions or to indulge in a very enjoyable atmosphere.
(5)
Victoria M.
My husband and I have been here many times, and we won't stop going. It's a special place to us because we had our wedding reception there. The food was good every time we went there, and the wait staff was very attentive. The view overlooking a beautiful garden and Chattahoochee river was spectacular. Alaskan Halibut, Sage Roasted Pheasant, Smoked Salmon, and Oysters (can't remember what other dishes I ordered) were very good. It's an awesome place to bring your date here.
(5)
roxanne o.
The view by the river is gorgeous and the service was pretty impeccable - it's your white linen tables with someone who comes by to clear your bread crumbs type of place. It's also the kind of place that tells you about the day's specials "as it might influence your wine choices." I love the bread basket - they come by and ask if you like their flat bread, sourdough or cranberry - their flatbread has a nice spicy kick to it and it's crunchy. Sourdough didn't taste too sour doughy and cranberry was excellent. I had the crabcake which was out of this world. I love that the lump was true lumps (3 oz worth) and was baked with tartare. The accompanying slaw salad was pretty as it was delish. My entree was the buckwheat pasta with porcini mushrooms and seasonal veges - it was awesome! The pasta was perfectly al dente. My only quip was it's a bit too salty for my taste - but then it's Atlanta. Dessert was ridiculous! I havent been impressed with a dessert menu for a while. Because I was so damn full, I had to forego the Mocha Creme Brulee or Chocolate Grotto (apparently in a ganache shell you have to break into to get to all the amazing stuff inside) and opted instead for the coconut sorbet with lime and lemongrass. An excellent choice. I didnt care for the waffle that much but the sorbet was so so good. If your are a tea person they have a box of Harneys & Sons. When will upscale restaurants start realizing that Harneys & Sons makes horrible teas packaged like it is for royalty? I had my tea - which was the nadir of the experience. I would come back again. The chef really puts heart in the menu and it's all very, very well executed.
(5)
Seth V.
This restaurant is amazing. Everything about the experience was exceptional. The food was spectacular. The ambiance and grounds are beautiful. And the service is the best I've experienced. This is a great location to celebrate a special occasion like an anniversary, and I've recommended the restaurant to several friends and they all had excellent experiences as well!
(5)
Dean S.
We went for our 13 year wedding anniversary. Our visit to CANOE was memorable. It made the special occasion all the more special. The food, the service, the view were all fantastic. I would highly recommend a visit to CANOE for any special occasion. Thank you CANOE! I don't think you will find a bad thing on the menu from the appetizers to the desserts. It's all great! I WILL be returning to CANOE.
(5)
D B.
I love love loveddd this place. My honey and I went on Valentines day and it was awesome! For apps, I'd try to smoked salmon with goat cheese, entree - scallops with shrimp curry and any of the desserts! I would most def. go back to Canoe! They have great customer service, the ambiance is delightful and the food is to die for. Have a great time!
(5)
Sonal P.
My boyfriend and I came to Canoe for the first time to celebrate our birthdays. The menu was definitely unique featuring mainly fish and game. The food quality was excellent--not gamey at all. The atmosphere is lovely. I would like to come back when the weather is warmer and experience their outdoor space. The waitress was very nice. We shared an appetizer, each had an entree, shared a dessert and had a glass of wine and left with a bill less than $100. My only complaints are that despite having reservations we still had to wait to be seated. I was also disappointed by both of our cocktails. They lacked flavor and tasted quite watered down. I can't say that I'd frequent this place, but once-in-a-while it's nice.
(4)
Marcus B.
Tucked away in the area between Vinings and Buckhead, Canoe was an absolutely fantastic choice for dinner. Everything from the decor, the single malt selection, the selection of food on the menu, to the staff was phenomenal. My girlfriend and I went for our 1 year anniversary and the choice was definitely well made. One of the things we both loved about it was that, as others have mentioned, it was very high class without being pretentious and snobby. Our server (Bryan) knew my name from my reservation as well as the fact that it was our first time there, I'd have to say, I was very impressed with his energy and candor about his job. I had Ostrich for my appetizer and Skate for my entree. The Skate truly was unique! It had the texture of fine crab but a flavor all it's own. She had the Salmon appetizer and the Lamb Shank for her entree. It's been a long time since I've seen Lamb as tender or well prepared as Canoe's. I can't imagine how nice this place would be on a nice spring or fall day when the view of the Chattahoochee river is much better than we experienced. We came on a day when it was pouring so we enjoyed a nice lightning show through the abundant windows. One very interesting tidbit about our evening though, which further reinforces my choice of Canoe, was this was the same night a tornado ripped through downtown Atlanta. We almost went to the Sundial instead, but due to the less than fantastic weather, decided for something a bit more subdued. Luckily, we did! Overall - highly recommended! One of my personal favorites was their list of over 30 single malt scotches - all reasonably priced!
(5)
Mary S.
The trout is my personal favorite. The service, the various little breads--this is a really nice experience, we always celebrate our birthdays here. Glad they recovered from last year's floods. So nice that it is right on the river and you can walk around.
(4)
Christopher S.
We visited Canoe after planning to for months (the flood shut them down for part of that time). When we finally visited, we were disappointed in the food. It was good, but nowhere close to the flavor we had experienced at Rays on the River, SoHo, or McCormic and Schmick's. It's not that the dishes were not thought out - the sauces matched the favors of the meat and vegetables well. Instead it seemed to be a lack of execution. Our pheasant was overcooked and dry, the steak and fries were so pungent my wife had to leave the table, and the rabbit while well-flavored, was very dry. However, the service was wonderful. Our glasses were never low, and our waitress was wonderful. I'm hoping the problems in the food are due to Valentine's
(3)
Laura H.
I have been going to Canoe for years, always for special occasions, ranging from my junior prom to my last bday (24). Needless to say, I'm a fan. I love the impeccable, 5-Star service and food without the pretentious atmosphere that you get at a lot of other spots. Canoe is warm and inviting, like it's lodge-y decor. The food is amazing - I'm a big fan of game meats and there's not a whole lot of places where I can choose from ostrich, venison, duck and rabbit on the menu (all of which are good, by the way). Desserts are delicious as well, so save room. Go when the weather is nice and ask to be seated in the lower dining area overlooking the river. So pretty.
(5)
ML V.
We've lived in Atlanta for 2 yrs, how have we not tried this place before? We went for our 5 yr anniversary and were given an amazing table with a view of the gardens and river. I was initially thrown off by the fact that the restaurant is at the end of a strip mall, not at all what I expected given the reputation for beautiful grounds. But once you're inside you forget all about the strip mall. Our server was wonderful - said we would not be rushed, the table was ours for the night. In short, we had one of the best meals of our lives. For foodies who eat out often, that is saying a lot. Sharing is encouraged, they will even give you half portions if you can't decide between dishes. We felt too full to order dessert after finishing our entrees so our server suggested we take a stroll through the gardens with our wine, then return for dessert. Thank goodness we did because the popcorn/cracker jack sundae is not to be missed! A must for anyone who loves food and appreciates good service.
(5)
Chris B.
Hmm, I think it's hard to say anything new about this place because it seems like everyone and their brother has given this place glowing reviews... but that should tell you something! It's kind of an interesting location for such a classy restaurant, but hey, you can't judge a book by it's cover. It's a pretty cool view looking out over the lawn and the river if you sit by the window. As for the food and service, obviously amazing as one would expect from one of Atlanta's best restaurants. I was particularly impressed by my steak. Also, great wine to go with the meal. If you live in the city you should definitely make the drive out to check this place out.
(5)
Rich H.
Summary: --good for solo dining --much better quality than the local alternatives --not cheap --valet parking --reservation through opentable.com I've generally been coming here for dinner one evening when traveling through the area on business. It's fine for solo dining and the staff seems to go out of their way to put you in a place in the dining room where you'll be comfortable with enough light to read a book, say. If there's a tasting menu offered with wine pairings, that would be my choice.
(4)
Jason C.
All I can say is this place is amazing!!! Great food and awesome service!! Went there to take my best friend from college to dinner for her 21st birthday and had an amazing experience. We are definitely going back real soon... did I mention that I love this place??
(5)
Holly H.
Fine dining with young children is never easy. Canoe not only made it easy but actually pleasurable! The staff was unbelievably accommodating and welcoming...at one point the pastry chef walked over to my son and offered him a chocolate chip cookie (not on the menu) when he was done with his chicken fingers (also not on the menu). This is only one small aspect of Canoe that makes it so special. The food, setting, and staff make this one of the best restaurants in the country.
(5)
Emily S.
2.5 stars is actually our experience, but I will give Canoe the benefit of the doubt. Before dining there last night, I had not eaten at Canoe since June 2005. Both of previous experiences at Canoe (June 2005 and first in October 2004) had been fair. The first time the food was too gamy, and the second time everything was mediocre. After so many years, a change in chef, and several recommendations, we decided to try again. First, my husband had a large work dinner there. He came home raving about the meal. The food and service were far better than he remembered. Thus, we decided to go again, but this time, we would take my mother. The service was terrible. While the view and setting is beautiful, it was ruined by the disgusting and continuous assortment of flies at our table, on our food, and in our faces. The bread man came once, the waitress enjoyed long waits between returning to ask for questions or our order, and wee constantly needed more water. We were shocked at how slow and inattentive the service was. We started with the Blue Cheese salad and recommended Salmon atop a potato pancake. The salad was not at all what she described or what we had explained we wanted. The salmon was fair. It wasn't bad but nothing that I would race to order again. For dinner, my husband had the rabbit, I ordered the braised beef, and my mother had the salmon. The salmon was by far the worst of the dishes. She could not even finish it. The braised beef that I ordered was delicious but was served with undercooked cabbage. My entree was definitely the highlight of the meal. My husband enjoyed his rabbit, even though I found the bacon ravioli unnecessary and a poor addition to the dish. For dessert, the waitress highly recommended the chocolate with hazelnut and carmel. It sounded fantastic but was supremely disappointing. The hazelnut mousse was way too heavy and overpowered the thin chocolate. Overall, it was a very disappointing evening. I left there feeling even less enthusiastic than 5 years ago. Bad service, decent food, great setting (when not interrupted by flies). There are so many good restaurants in Atlanta, that I don't think we will be returning to Canoe any time soon.
(3)
joe b.
Excellent food. Could not pronounce have the things on the menu but waitress was more then accommodating and food and service were second to none.
(5)
tracy r.
Super romantic, the bar on the river is fab. Food was good, but ambience is amazing.
(4)
Lisias A.
Delicious and flavorful food, very good service, beautiful sunset seen through the trees on Chattahoochee's riverbank, good background music and ambiance. Had the Local Yoke and it was terrific! It is a organic three-course prix fixe menu using ingredients from local farmers and wine pairing - also organic. To start, a Will Harris Beef Cheek Soup with Sourdough Crisps paired with Montinore Pinot Noir, Willamette '07. Then, a Tangerine Roasted Chicken with Baby Sweets and Baby Bulbs paired with Robert Sinskey Merlot, Napa '04. Man, the tangerines kicked butt. To finish, a Georgia Pecan Panna Cotta with Strawberry-Thyme Syrup. Creative three-course and well paired wines. Enjoy!
(5)
Ashley W.
Ok. Let me just say that I really like this place. My boyfriend and I went here on a Sunday back in October for brunch. The place is located in a plaza which threw me off a little bit after looking at the pictures online, but no big deal. They offer complimentary valet parking. We had reservations so we were seated immediately. We were also lucky enough to get a table located on the outside of the interior right next to the big windows overlooking the Chattahoochee River and the back gardens. Our waitress (can't remember her name) was super cute and very knowledgeable of the menu. We started off with an order of the sticky buns. Omg! They were the best sticky buns I have ever tasted! Warm, flaky, and sweet. Mmmm. For my main dish I ordered scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns. My bf ordered the duck and beef burger with fries which he said was pretty tasty. My eggs were a little too soggy for my taste and my hash browns were too hard/over cooked, but the bacon was good. After brunch we walked out back toward the river which was nice. They have tents set up and sitting areas. Looks like I nice place to host an event. We will definitely be back again.
(4)
Paul S.
I agree with the Brunch / Breakfast comment.. I wrote a review on evolutionatlanta.com and I was extremely impressed with there creativity.. This is a great restaurant if you like game food as well. I love Canoe... It's 1 of my top 5's in Atlanta.. It is one of Atlanta's more expensive restaurants but well worth it.... I love there focaccia bread! An if rabbit is on the menu I always order it.. :) Great for large elegant dinners or a black tie date!
(5)
Chrissy A.
Canoe Review: Nestled in a quaint little locale right on the Chattahoochie, we have Canoe. I was very impressed with the creativeness of the appetizers (We sampled quite a few), the entree's and the desserts. The quality and presentation of the appetizers were beyond compare to any we've ever had.. I cannot say enough about the food, creativity, and presentation. Valet parking- Check Impeccable Service-Check Amazing & Creative Cusine-Check Unmatched Atmosphere-Check Good for Special Occasions-Check. All of that plus, they make a wonderful martini, have an impressive wine list, awesome bread and a menu that is unique and never dry. The staff is very knowledgeable of their food preperation and wine selection. After dinner, I suggest you take a little stroll out to the back lawn and enjoy dusk on the beautiful Chatahoochee river or an evening under the stars. It's perfect for a first date-if you are looking for the WOW factor....Its sort of lob-cabin/lake tahoe meets culinary genius. Great for luncheons, celebrations, or a refreshing night out with your significant other. You might miss this place as it is not in a very well known area of town...Between West Paces area of Buckhead and the historic Vinings district-Its definitely worth map-questing. Book your dinner around sunset and you'll sure to soak in all that is Canoe..Remember, the menu is heavy on the seafood!!! Save room for desert because the selections are amazing!!! Not inexpensive by any means... But worth it! Food: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Service: 5 Recommendations: Squash Soup Crab Cakes All in All: Seriously Delicious & Divine!
(5)
Kat W.
LOVE Canoe, one of my favorite brunch places in the city. Always fabulous service, clean and reliable. One of the only restaurants you can find quiche on the brunch menu. Very good, definitely recommend.
(5)
Annie H.
I took my mom here for her 84th birthday on the recommendation of a friend. I could not have asked for a better experience. 1st of all the staff is great. Obviously very experienced & well trained. The meal was wonderful. Their menu says they are trying to bring back the Manhattan, & they have succeeded. Being from New York, this was a big delight to us. They were chilled & just right. We started with she crab soup, which my mom was hoping they would have. They provide you with sherry on the side, but it wasn't needed. I had salmon with baby spinach & spaghetti squash, which was just delicious! Mom had a rib-eye. I ended the meal with bread pudding, which was as light & custardy as a bread pudding could be, with a nice slightly crispy outside. Mom had a light ice cream or sorbet, which was the perfect ending to a perfect meal. They also wrote "Happy Birthday" in chocolate on the side of the dessert dish. Nice touch.
(5)
Christi L.
Just the grounds alone are worth a cool summer outing! I was with the wedding party and the staff were the best most attentive I have ever experienced at a catered event. Also, the rhubard pie - best ever. Served with toasted almond ice cream. I wasn't suppose to eat it with my wheat allergy, but eh... It was worth the stomach ache. I look forward to going back when I am in Atlanta again. Thanks!
(4)
Stephanie S.
Fine dinning by the Chattahoochee River - for those who forgot that Atlanta has a river! This riverside cabin-like restaurant is one of Atlanta's prime dinning locations with paths leading through lush gardens lining the river to flawless flavored fish entrees to the staff's attention to detail and hospitality. If you have any reason to celebrate, whether it is an anniversary or a graduation, you should definitely treat you and your family and friends to a night at Canoe. The chef changes the menu daily so you know everything is freshly prepared and seasoned, and don't feel like you have to order fish, I've tried a decadent duck dish here before that was suburb. Most of the dishes have a gourmet southern flare with cream based sauces on top of grilled fish with a side of roasted vegetables or a bowl of Vidalia onion soup. Be sure to ask the waiters what wine pairs best with your dinner. And because you are most likely celebrating, my as well order dessert and coffee to finish the meal, or split a dessert if your watching your figure. After the meal, feel free to walk and take pictures amongst the flowers in the gardens or by the river bend. My family and I definitely got that perfect family shot to send to all my relatives when my brother graduated. The two other reputations floating around about this place are that celebrities, like Bono, like to dine here when in Atlanta and that occasionally Canoe closes because of potential flash floods.
(5)
wandering j.
Everything is perfect. Only one complaint: I cannot eat here every day.
(5)
Michelle A.
We LOVE their Sunday brunch. The food is alway absoutely fabulous, and as an added bonus they're lays so kind to our two girls (ages 5 and 8). They have a great garden out back by the river and the kids love to walk back there. Beautiful setting for brunch.
(5)
Oliver C.
i'm in atlanta for work and had heard really great things about this place and i've gotta say it is pretty spot on. located right next to a river, it's a really nice relaxing atmosphere (would make for a really nice date night). very interesting menu, a more modern fancy pants take on classic, rustic comfort food. do yourself a favor and order the beet salad. i'm not really a fan of beet salad in general, but seriously, amazing. i also had the rabbit (poor little rabbit), which was slow roasted over a bed of bacon ravioli and swiss chard lightly covered in an amazing candied-garlic sauce. (yes, i did say bacon ravioli - freaking brilliant!) everyone at our table was extremely happy with their meals as well. service was friendly, however, timings in between courses were a bit slow. overall a great find in atlanta. crowd was a bit older/stuffy/mercades driving, but their prices were fair $20-$32 / entree... if you live in atl or are visiting, i really recommend this place. also, theres a bowl of those chewy mint things near the exit (i freakin love those things).
(5)
Yolanda T.
This place is amazing. Not only is the food quite good, but just the location itself is enough reason for me to want to come here over and over again. The beautiful, romantic riverside location allows for the perfect after dinner leisurely walk. There was even live music present. Then there's the food. One of the most memorable things we ate were the mussles. They were large and succulent, and soo good, especially with that incredible sauce. I could have drank up that sauce. All in all, we had a wonderful romantic evening at Canoe.
(4)
E M.
Impressive in all aspects. The place is beautiful, in a beautiful setting. The staff was very attentive and pleasant. The food and drinks were prepared with care and attention. Minor comment, the oysters were overpowered by the mignonette. Perhaps, the mignonette could be served on the side.? Thank you for a wonderful evening.
(4)
Katie D.
Great restaurant! Although I loved my scallops, I was amazed when my boyfriend ordered the pasta (it was a Friday during Lent). His dish was amazing!! I would definitely order the ravioli next time. Drinks were great and it was way better than I remember growing up!
(5)
Jason R.
Had my first visit back post flood on Wednesday. Same old Canoe...and that's a good thing. Great service. Ike was our waiter. We had a party of 10 and he managed it with no problems. For lunch I had the South East Cobb salad and it was perfect. No complaints. Overall, the lunch was great, and the food and experience was what you've come to expect. Highly recommend for business lunches or any other occasion. Jason
(4)
Carole M.
Just had a wonderful Sunday brunch at Canoe. Highlights included the scones and a to die for pheasant-egg dish. Just amazing. Totally professional service. Pleasantly busy dining room that wasn't overwhelming. A class act, all the way around.
(5)
derek m.
Great ambiance on the back deck, especially as the sun sets... As for the food, great all around. We had dinner, instead of organizing my review in order of courses, I'll organize in order of what you should get and what you maybe should shy away from. Good... House smoked salmon (we had it with crispy shoestring potato cakes, regardless of what it's with, it was DELICIOUS). Slow-roasted Rabbit- the sauce this was paired with was reminiscent of a barbecue sauce, and it was paired with applewood smoked bacon and swiss chard ravioli (I can remember this because of how good they were). I'd recommend this to anyone! Strawberry-rhubarb Cobbler- (this was on a locally sourced fixed menu for the night, thanks to the fantastic waitress we had it without the rest of the fixed menu.) This was the best strawberry-rhubarb dessert I've ever had; emphasis was put on the tartness of both the strawberries and rhubarb, while the cobbler served to calm the tart with sweetness. The ice cream that topped it complimented it perfectly! Alright... Some sort of Pheasant- the seasoning on whichever preparation of pheasant this was, was unremarkable... that said, it was moist and so, still delicious; it was paired with again unremarkable sides (maybe sweet potato puree and some sort of swiss chard or spinach?). By no means bad, but was blown away by the rabbit. Fried Green Tomatoes- there's a lot to be said for the simplicity of the preparation. I was a big fan of the fried egg and meat (thinly sliced pork of some sort?) that topped the fried/breaded green tomato... My only problem is that the tomato was so sparsely seasoned (very subtle) that the flavor was almost entirely lost... I would've voted these "Good" if they were able to make the tomato "POP" out of everything paired with it. Warm Ricotta Cheesecake- Again, another problem with subtlety of flavor... While the texture of the cheesecake was spot on I didn't feel like it was warm enough... also, the fact that it was paired with candied pistachios (which were delicious in their own right), only served to dry the cheesecake out in your mouth. As for the subtlety of flavor, I'm fairly certain it was a slightly lemon cheesecake... A little more lemon and I would've been thrilled with it. Bad... Nothing. Voted 4 for not living up to their full potential (certainly not for being bad in any way)!
(4)
Surge P.
I can classify this restaurant, as the perfect spot for a great date. The environment is impressive and the food is delicious. Great variety of food. Nice environment for a great conversation. Call and make your appt only and ask the best corner seat in the house :). Hope that helps.
(5)
Austin C.
Loved it. The wait staff was incredibly helpful. Our waiter in particular was attentive and knowledgeable. The ambiance was fantastic and the food was better. I definitely plan on going again.
(5)
Vanessa T.
Brunch is sublime. The buttermilk cornmeal pancakes are delicate and fluffy and do just well alone, with only pat of butter. But if you're inclined to go all out: the pancakes are topped with warm berry compote [the good stuff, not that syrupy, bootleg nasty stuff] and cinnamon-infused creme fraiche. We weren't in the mood for salmon or rabbit -- the two Benedict options for the day -- but we were readily accommodated with steak instead. The corn soup was phenomenal and can heal all wounds.
(4)
Anna F.
Very serene and upscale. I'd heard nothing but praises about the beautiful riverside view, and I definitely wasn't let down; it really is the most gorgeous restaurant. The food isn't quite as impressive as the atmosphere; during my last visit, I got the pheasant, which was extremely tasty, no complaints - but during another visit I, was hugely disappointed to get a pork tenderloin that was overdone and dry. The scallops/risotto entree (usually one of my favorite dishes) was also not as great as others I've tried. With that said, though, I definitely recommend that everyone dine here at least once for the experience and the view. Perfect for special/romantic occasions.
(4)
Jeff M.
One of my friends was about to take a huge exam. I had a few long days at work. We were both looking for the perfect dinner spot. Canoe immediately came to mind. I was last here two or three years ago. The experience was so fantastic, I still remember it vividly. Not that I was surprised; my return experience was equally wonderful. Despite my friend running a good half hour late, they insisted I take a seat and were more than understanding and accommodating. Though we had settled on the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit and the Grilled Duck Breast, our waiter threw in the special of Pan-Seared Scallops. When I asked him what to do, he said, "Just get all three." That was the EXACT answer I was looking for! (I appreciate an honest answer!) The House Smoked Salmon was fantastic. The rabbit, duck, and scallops were brought out and were works of art. Delicious, flavorful, and filling art. The creme brulee: decadent, perfect. I know that Canoe underwent renovations because of water damage; this place hasn't skipped a beat, which is so good to see. The best part of the night? Enjoying wine while sitting along the river. This is always what makes the experience over the top. One of my favorite escapes in Atlanta is Canoe. Everything about it but especially that post-dinner relaxation period on the restaurant grounds, relaxing in the garden or on chairs on the edge of the river, that makes this place not just unique to Atlanta, but to any restaurant in any city. One of Atlanta's finest without a doubt.
(5)
Sona S.
Terrible experience tonight! poor service, bad waiter and pathetic food! No attention to detail at all for being a high end restaurant. If you are anyone of color, forget going to this snotty place! What a waste of a wonderful evening! never recommend it to anyone!
(1)
Annie R.
Please DO NOT take my 3 stars the wrong way! The ambience,location and service here are impeccable! The reason I didnt rate this place a 4 or 5 is because it always seems to be hit or miss! Ive been here a few times and sometimes I just feel 'meh' about it. For instance, I just ate here last night(monday), and my waitress kept forgetting me(it wasnt busy this night), and the food was just okay. Now the other time I ate here a few months ago everything was perfect! You must try the sage roasted pheasant with brown butter sweet potatoes, its the best thing there. Also, if your a solo diner the staff will treat you like a king or queen. So, give it a try. Maybe my three stars comes from me being a picky person but oh well, you decide. My other meal reccomendations are: Slow roasted rabbit, the mussels, and for dessert? the creme brulee or the peanut butter bar!YUMMMM!
(3)
Christina D.
Located right along the Chattahoochee River, Canoe offers the perfect backdrop for Sunday brunch or a nice alfresco date spot. The "Yellow corn soup" and the "She-crab soup" was to die for, overall service was great and the bloody mary's weren't half bad either. Wasn't too crazy about the pheasant ragout in my "Pheasant & Eggs," but everything else met or exceeded my expectations.
(4)
Carey M.
Excellent!! Outdoor patio is beautiful. The landscaping is very serene. Perfect on a spring or fall day. The service is great. Our server was polite and very knowledgeable of the menu. Smoked salmon is delish! Canoe is perfect for groups, birthdays, anniversaries, romance.
(5)
Loren M.
Best dining experience I have ever had. This place is phenomenal. You could never tell just looking at the humble front of this restaurant. We arrived 30 minutes early for our reservation, and while they were very busy, they were still able to seat us immediately. Our server was the best part, I believe his name was Terry. He had wonderful knowledge of the menu when we asked for recommendations & being our first trip to Canoe he gave us a quick tour of the gorgeous riverfront garden outside. The food was amazing. All of the dishes were unique. I went out on a limb and had the rabbit & was stunned by how tasty it was, especially with the bacon ravioli. I could eat that stuff all day. The dessert was to die for. The blueberry cobbler with banana ice cream melts in your mouth. Canoe just moved to the top of my best restaurants in Atlanta list. I can't wait to go back. Oh, and I want to get married here. That good.
(5)
Eric G.
I had the pleasure of dining here tonight with some co-workers. It was more than I expected. They started off with fab cocktails then on to the appetizer a cheese plate with 8 different cheeses from all over the world. I decided on Pheasant with sweet potatoe souffle. I certainly chose the right dish. Someone ordered rabbit which freaked me out but it tastes like chicken. My other half ordered the scallops no comment from me as i do not eat them but he said they were amazing. Desert consisted of white chocolate croissant pudding and a peanut butter layered kit kat type dish. Truly a great experience. NPWH
(5)
Faridah S.
Canoe is a wonderful restaurant, that has mastered the art of maintaining impeccable service, food, and atmosphere. Set right next to the river, the view from inside or out is amazing, and the servers are incredibly well-trained and knowledgabel about both the food and the wine. My boyfriend and I each ate three courses, and none of them were a disappointment. The roasted pheasant was perfectly cooked, and the mussells were seasoned to perfection.
(5)
Paul Y.
BRUNCH a must! Although we didn't try the sticky buns, they looked amazing as they continuously passed by our table. The crab soup, amazing! The salmon eggs benedict and the riverside, awesome! The services/staff were extremely pleasant. I can't wait to go back. Sticky buns here I come.
(4)
Don R.
Had the opportunity to visit on multiple occasions for brunch and dinner and one of our favorite spots. Classy service, great seasonal menu, outside bar and setting along the river. Can't say enough great things and can't wait to visit again.
(5)
Christina B.
I was in the Atlanta area yesterday hosting a very important business lunch, and several of my colleagues in the area suggested Canoe. I am so glad that I listened to their suggestions--we could not have had a more lovely meal. We started with the house-cured smoked salmon, which was absolutely fantastic. I had the cod, which was served with sauteed spinach and pureed potatoes and the most amazing butter sauce that I would have lapped off the plate if it had not been a business lunch. We all decided not to order dessert, but had a lot of questions about the unusual-sounding buttered popcorn flavored ice cream. Our server brought us out a tiny bit to taste, and we were all pleasantly surprised. Not only did it taste just like buttered popcorn (and not like the icky jelly-bellies of the same name), it was also delicious. All in all a truly delightful luncheon, and I think very reasonably-priced for the quality of the food and service.
(5)
Marni G.
Canoe is the best! I lived in Atlanta years ago, and my mom (who lived in Los Angeles) and I would go when she came into town. It was our favorite restaurant because of the outstanding food and setting. Unfortunately, she passed away of breast cancer five years ago, and I have never been back since. Tonight, my boyfriend and I went to Canoe, even though I had some hesitation because it was one of the places that really reminded me of my mom. I requested in the reservation, and when we got to the restaurant, to sit on the patio, to truly re-experience what I had when my mom and I used to go to Canoe. Unfortunately, due to the somewhat cold temperatures, the patio was closed. But, about halfway through the first course, the manager came and offered us to not just move to the patio, but to move us to one of the few tables right by the river. We decided to just eat dessert down there, but it was absolutely perfect. I couldn't believe someone would take the time to offer us such an incredible experience. It truly made me feel like my mom was there with me, and made our whole trip (we now live in Los Angeles). Thank you, Canoe, for an experience I will always remember! (And our meal was excellent!)
(5)
Kim W.
What can I say? AMAZING! We searched the internet for a nice dinner with friends on a weekend trip to Atlanta. We settled on Canoe because most other restaurants were closed for Labor Day weekend (why?). Canoe had the service, food, and atmosphere of a 5 star restaurant while their prices were very reasonable. The 4 of us had appitizers, coffee, dinner, and dessert and the bill came to $150. We even had a lovely stroll through their garden after dinner. We will definatly return, and will order the Halibut - texture like butter!!
(5)
Sasha B.
The first time I went to Canoe (3 years ago) I fell in love and have been going ever month (almost) since then. The Sunday brunch is the best!! My advice would be to make reservations for it tho because it can get crowded on some Sundays (especially after church). They switch up the menus for all the meals often so you won't always get the same thing. I love the buttermilk pancakes and the sticky buns that they serve @ brunch. For dinner, I usually go with either brisket or chicken. The place is southern classy and its located next to the Chattahoochee River so in the spring time its REALLY nice to sit outside and eat. This place is great for big family/wedding dinners.
(5)
Valerie B.
gorgeous atmosphere (right on the Chattahoochee river) , amazing service, fantastic food. will definitely be going back!
(5)
Tracy L.
ATMOSPHERE: Awesome. Dimly lit. Nice booth seating - the semicircular kind which I love! Wish I could have seen the outside. We were right in front of the windows but too dark to see anything. FOOD: Awesome! I know it's a meat eaters place but you can make a great dinner from a couple of appetizers. 1. Assorted breads - comes with the dinner. Choice of: - Flat bread - had some spiciness to it. Good. - Poppy seed wheat - my favorite!! Good enough to eat alone without the provided butter. - Sour dough - average but good. 2. Ruby red and golden beet salad - I wasn't expecting much but this was actually great. Went well with the goat cheese. 3. African squash soup - has lime cream and toasted pumpkin seeds. Also very, very good. Went well with the wheat poppy seed. It's a big bowl - probably this along is enough for a dinner with the bread. 4. Pinot noir - wow, this was the best pinot I've ever had. I'm not a wine expert and probably wine naive, but I was impressed, so we got a whole bottle. I forgot which pinot though... They have a huge wine selection. 5. Chocolate peanut butter bar with chocolate sorbet - peanut butter bar was way too rich. Enough for 2 people. I think I should have chosen something lighter like the sorbet or something. PRICES: Pricey but correlates with quality. SERVICE: Very good. Server was VERY knowledgeable. Sometimes maybe too good? At one point was asked every other minute if they could take a plate off the table when we weren't done with it. PARKING: Valet CONCLUSION: Great place for atmosphere and food even for vegetarians! Will be back again.
(5)
Kristi E.
Wonderful food, fabulous service, covered patio seating overlooking beautiful gardens and the river. A great place for a special celebration or just a delicious evening out. I love this place!
(5)
Chris R.
Excellent for a family brunch, and one of my favorite spot for business meals. Be sure if you have a group of 10+ to request to eat in the wine cellar it is unbelievable. Great menu, exquisite quality and reasonable prices make this a top spot for business dining or date night.
(4)
Robert M.
For some reason, Canoe always slips my mind when thinking of somewhere to eat...especially Sunday brunch. But Canoe is one of the best. I haven't had dinner here in years but remember it to be outstanding and creative, and I do know that the brunch is very good...all the bad stuff to get you going on a Sunday. The staff is 'on it', the space is charming and the outside setting is excellent riverside. We were trying to do our wedding ceremony and reception here before signing with Flint Hill. Consistent, mark of a winner. Highly recommend!
(4)
Bob T.
Canoe is consistently one of my favorites in Atlanta. It's in a nice setting, they have valet parking, an inventive chef, and a one page menu, it has everything I look for in a restaurant. We went for my birthday and had great service and great food. We sat inside, near the open kitchen, which wasn't too loud like some places can be. I had the pork belly appetizer, and the grilled duck breast entree, which was smoky and delicious. Our service was great. All our food was served simultaneously, which is a sign that the wait staff is working in coordination with the kitchen. I like how instead of crowding the table with a bread basket, they bring a selection around and serve you what you want. It seems less wasteful. We will definitely be returning soon, this is the perfect spot for a special dinner.
(5)
Juliet C.
I ate at Canoe with a party of 6 on a Saturday evening. We arrived an hour before sunset to have a cocktail by the river. First, the outside bar was closed, maybe because there was a wedding outside, so we ordered drinks at the bar and sat outside. It is so lovely riverside, probably the best and only reason to go to Canoe. We sat for our meal and boy was it slow. On top of that the waitress was sloppy, spilling water and literally throwing utensils at the table! I was not impressed by the service at all. In sum, the appetizers were generally good, the entrees were average or overcooked, and the desserts were very good. I would only return for a drink by the river, the wine list is very good. I would skip eating there unless I was really hungry and I would order an appetizer. I was disappointed by the experience because it was a special evening for us, and the food and service did not rise to the occasion. I still give it 4 stars because of the great outside setting, rare in ATL.
(4)
live to nibble d.
According to Bourdain, brunch is every cook's worst nightmare. If this is true at Canoe, then the cook's nightmare translated into some day dream worthy stuff on our plates. I had forgotten how perfectly the eggs come out here. Both J's pheasant and eggs (photos may be found at livetonibble.blogspot.co… ) and my smoked salmon benedict got to the table with yokes wobbling. My hollandaise dripped off the eggs slowly into a pretty little pool, never showed any signs of developing that deathly congealed look. Seasoning came through every element, but managed to stay shy of being too much in combination. Also impressive was the she crab soup. It threatened to put us into a Sunday stupor. The viscous spoonfuls comforted with plenty of sweet cream. The awesome shot of good cream sherry on the side changed the taste profile entirely and sent the already decadent treat over the top.
(5)
missy a.
Great menu and service. Specials are great and use fresh ingredients. Brunch and dinner are my favorites. Pastry chef is amazing as well.
(5)
Rebekha J.
This is a five star restaurant so you will be spending a bit of cash. Canoe is my FAVORITE restaurant in Georgia. The first time I went there I was a veggie head. They didn't have anything on the menu that was 100% veggie but the waiter said that the chef would be happy to make me a vegetarian stir fry with mushrooms and snap peas. It was a wonderful dish but when the waiter brought out my check, the dinner was not on the bill. I asked if it was a mistake but the waiter said with a smile, "Because we could not offer you anything on our menu the meal is on us." Also, I took my parents there for their anniversary. I asked them to bring a small desert but they brought a huge beautiful cake and again...the cake was not on the bill. Again, the waiter said it was on us. Every time I visit this place I walk away thinking how wonderful the meal is but also how sweet they are to keep you satisfied. If you do go make sure to get there a bit before your reservation. Grab a drink and walk through the garden. BEAUTIFUL!
(5)
James P.
Be sure to ask for a table in the lower level so you can enjoy the very pleasant riverside view, but don't forget your sunblock before the meal--there are no window coverings. The delicious food and amazing waitress (Amy) banished my angst about the potential UV-A exposure. Again, props to Amy--you should really consider asking for a table in her section--I've met few servers with her genuine enthusiasm, curiosity, and knowledge about food and delightfully quirky command of conversational skills. Don't meh-pass the granola starter (I can't remember what all came in it but it really perked me up on a rough morning) or the not really "old-fashioned" applie pie (it's a medium-thin applie pie disc, with sharp cheddar baked into the crust, and topped with rosemary ice cream (I was skeptical, but the ice cream was great)). My entree was fried chicken with grits and mushrooms--this obviously isn't a paradigm shifting concoction, but it couldn't have been done much better.
(5)
Desiree Y.
whoa this place is amazing. the food was so good. the service was out of this world. the martinis were to die for. this is where you should take a date you really wan to impress.it was nice to take a walk after a long meal around the restraunt.
(5)
JG S.
Well, it would be wrong to say that canoe was bad, but it was far from great, although our server was nice. I had the impression that this restaurant would be sort of hip with a stylistic atmosphere, but it wasn't all that hip and it had no distinguishable style really. Don't be fooled by the name or the menu, it's really not that special. Sometimes a cool name, a fancy menu, and high price can make a place seem better than it is. For the price, Canoe isn't really worth it. But it is on the river and it does have a garden and they do serve fancy sounding things like duck and quail, oh, and rabbit. So if you want to tell your friends you went to Canoe and they'll be impressed by all means go. I don't know, I really want to like this place, but it didn't satisfy. Sorry.
(2)
Tricia C.
We went on a Friday night for "date night" and had a great experience. The bar is a little small, but very comfortable with yummy cocktails. We snagged a table right next to the windows so we could look out over the gardens and the 'hooch going by. The food was so good that we both stuffed ourselves so that I had to go home and but on my "comfortable pants". I would highly recommend this restaurant for out of town guests as they specialize in "wild game". My husband had the pheasant and said it was delicious! I'm not quite as adventuresome and had the steak which had the best flavor!
(4)
Lacey A.
My BF and I made a reservation for this place based off of the yelp reviews and it did not disappoint! We were seated on time (what!?) and the service was top notch. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu which came in handy since we had a ton of questions. We are both pretty picky. The view was breathtaking! I felt like I was on a vacation sipping cocktails outside and people watching for hours. I had the slow roasted Carolina rabbit. The flavor of swiss chard, bacon, and sweet potato was divine. The candied garlic sauce sent me over the moon! It was a little pricey but I can see myself going there often just for cocktails and desert. They bad me at popcorn sundae.
(5)
Lindsay F.
Went here a few weeks for a nice dinner. Unfortunately it was still hot outside so we couldn't enjoy the gorgeous patio. But the grounds are beautiful and it's a great setting right on the river. Dinner was delicious; I had the watermelon salad and the scallops, and both were great. I think everyone at the table liked their dinner. The only negative that night was the service. I had read reviews raving about the service so my expectations were high, but the service was poor by any standard. I think it's because we had a large party seated next to us, but for a $200+ dinner I'd expect them to adapt. Took a long time to order, once we had finished appetizers the empty plates sat there until dinner came out, and our empty dinner plates were never cleared. We had a leisurely dinner and were ready to pay at the end, but waited so long that we finally had to go find someone and ask to pay. We had hoped to walk around outside but by the time we finally got the check and paid it was dark. So, overall it was a very nice restaurant and great food, but service was not what we had hoped.... just an off night, perhaps.
(3)
Benjamin J.
We went to Canoe as a part of the Yelp Eats week and it was awesome. We sat outside and the atmosphere was great, Lindsey...our waitress was fabulous and very knowlegeable about the menu. She suggested for my wife and I to each try something different from the Yelp Eats menu so we could try everything. That is what we did and every course was great! We cannot wait to go back.
(5)
Cheryl B.
I've been to canoe several times before and really liked it. This past time I did not have a good experience. I ordered the Crispy Rock Shrimp Salad with a Napa Cabbage Slaw and Sweet Pepper Remoulade. I guess I didn't realize that crispy means deep fried with a giant onion ring on top. The Napa Cabbage Slaw was drowned in dressing - to the point of being inedible. I have never returned any item in a restaurant, but this was so bad I couldn't eat it. When the server came, I told her I really didn't care for the dish. She then asked me if I wanted to box it up and take it home!! She didn't offer to give me a substitution or try and rectify the situation. She just took it away. Then she brought the bill and there was the $16.00 charge for that horrible dish. We had to ask her to take it off the bill. As I was leaving I saw two other tables where that dish had been ordered and was sitting off to the side almost untouched. One mom I noticed was picking food off of her kids plate instead of eating that. It will be a while before I venture to Canoe again.
(2)
Dee G.
I took my mom here for her birthday. The appetizers and entrees were all very good. The price was reasonable for everything that was ordered. Will go back again. Mandatory valet parking was not needed. Parking lot is right in front of restaurant
(4)
Nancy R.
Yum, yum, yum!!! We came here for brunch and everyone was fully satisfied. FOOD: We started with the Georgia Pecan Sticky Buns and Sweet and Savory Scones combo(recommended by our server) and they were delicious! The scones with jam/preserves were melt-in-your-mouth good! For brunch I had the "Crab & Eggs" - Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Soft Scrambled Eggs and Hash Brown Potatoes. It came with Hollandaise sauce on it, which gave it a creamy flavor. It may have been a little heavy after the sticky buns and scones, but I finished it all! For dessert, we had 3 desserts, but my favorite was the Popcorn Ice Cream Sundae and House Made Cracker Jack.
(4)
Goutami M.
I think this is my favorite place to eat in Atlanta for this past year. I don't eat red meat, don't like seafood, pork or turkey and chicken can get dull. When I tried the pheasant, I really thought, man if they served this as much as chicken in the real world, I would eat meat everyday. It was the best dinner dish I have had in Atlanta this past year. The location is quaint and the view is lovely. My parents, one is a strict veg, and the other is finicky and loves his Indian food, both loved this place too!!! One small thing, I asked the waitress a question about something written in the menu and she just pointed to the same word and said its right there in the menu. Kind of snotty, and since I have only seen one season of top chef, and cannot cook, I don't know what a gremolata is. Reading the same word I don't know twice isn't helpful. I think instead of saying she was snotty, its just the wait staff really knows their stuff, very professional about the food and a novice foodie like me might get annoying.
(5)
Caroline K.
My BF brought me here for my birthday and everything was PERFECT!! No matter what you order it tastes amazing, and the service is stellar. We will for sure be back for all of our special occasions.
(5)
Rose K.
We ate here for mothers day brunch and I was very disappointed. I ordered a shrimp salad which came in a small portion considering the $20 price. The shrimp on the salad came as is! and by that i mean legs, tail, eyes, EVERYTHING. I wasted so much time trying to remove all that stuff only to have shrimp parts all over my salad. Also, the shrimp was overcooked which tasted horrible. Our waitress was nice and friendly and she answered all our questions. I don't think I'll be giving this place a second chance.
(1)
Kelli K.
Looking at the menu makes you wonder uh... " maybe I could get this same dish else where" or you may even feel that your not quite in a rush to visit this restaurant" Well.... let me assure you that if your feeling this way you should most certainly go to the "Canoe" not only is the food delightfully delicious the setting in this charming restaurant is one of a kind the nice sultry atmosphere will make you feel like staying and not going home! After dinner I enjoyed a glass of red wine with a bit of entertainment and laughter w/ friends all while appreciating this restaurant true gem their "charming landscape" where the river steals the show making this beautiful scenery hard to forget. If your wondering rather you should experience this restaurant you most certainly should. It's worth the try!
(5)
Michael E.
Canoe is a five-star restaurant in every sense of the word. Our waitress was phenomenal--extremely friendly with a literally encyclopedic knowledge of the menu. I had the duck 'n beef burger and my wife had a swordfish special. Both were incredible. I also really appreciated the friendliness of the waitress and hosting staff.
(5)
Chai S.
I am from out of town and this place was amazing. We sat near the window looking over the park and lake. My love and I were celebrating our two year anniversary and it was definitely one of the best experiences I've had in Atlanta. We started the meal with the salmon appetizer. It had a dill sauce that was amazing!! The crunchy piece that the salmon lied on was just delightful! I just wish I had the words to accurately describe it. :) I had the Venison and my love had the rabbit. Both dishes were delicious. My venison was perfectly cooked. It had huckleberries that worked so well with the mashed potatoes and veggies. The rabbit was moist and paired perfectly with the ravioli. It had mushrooms inside and the wine sauce was light and delicious. For desert, we had the chocolate grotto. We paired it with a couple shots of espresso and I was in desert heaven. The salted caramel was a dream and the nuts added a delightful crunch. I loved it. Thank you to the chefs and wonderful staff at Canoe.
(5)
Erica M.
Canoe is one of the few restaurants I visited during my last days living in Atlanta. Canoe did not disappoint and reminded me of what I would be missing once I moved away. Not only is the ambiance and scenery of the place beautiful, but the food and service are excellent as well. If you're going here for dinner, definitely make reservations and request to sit by the window with view of the Chattahoochee river. Outside seating is great as well if the weather is nice and cool. Canoe is must go to if you're looking for a great "date night" restaurant. For my entree I had the Duck n' Beef Burger. This was one of the best burgers I've ever had. Everything was cooked perfectly with balanced flavors in a nice neat package( unlike a messy Vortex burger). My husband ordered the famous Slow Roasted Carolina rabbit. It tasted very good, but it's a pretty small portion. I wouldn't recommend ordering it if you're looking to get stuffed. My husband liked my burger better than his dish and was having plate envy. Canoe is definitely on the top of my list for "fine dining". Hopefully I will be able to try their brunch once I come back to visit Atlanta.
(5)
Cherie W.
This place is the real deal, a real class act. The service was exquisite. I really appreciated the vivid descriptions our server gave us of some of their signature dishes. She made me want to eat everything! I had the salmon appetizer and my husband had the corn chowder appetizer, both were absolutely excellent. For dinner I had the rainbow trout which is served with lobster ravioli, it was fantastic. My husband ordered the chicken, which, while he admits was very unambitious of him, was still the best chicken he has ever had. The risotto with it was fabulous as well. I am still dreaming about the cracker jack ice cream; there is nothing like it! We shared a bottle of wine and had a third person in our party and still walked out for under $200. I was stunned that the bill was that low for the quality of food and service.
(5)
Sandra B.
Taste buds and sensibilities can be lost effortlessly at Canoe. The cuisine, wine, and view all contribute to a short, yet spectacular, euphoria. I've only been here once-a week after I had broken up with my ex boyfriend and he decided he wanted to take me to someplace to smooth things over. I had the waitress order me my wine- it was probably the best pinot gris I've ever tasted. On principal I ordered the scallops, which were then the priciest thing on the menu (he needed to hurt). The point was, that while the scallops were slightly over burdened by heat (don't overcook your scallops!) they were cooked with in maple- something rarely seen outside of New England cuisine, and delicious. My then ex's seared tuna was perfection, and still the new thing. I ate most of it. Neither of these are on the menu currently, but the skill and imagination in their execution was clear. One important note- this place is tricky to find. Like Peach Tree, Pace's Ferry is everywhere! Bring a map! We didn't get back together, but we both love each other. And Canoe.
(5)
Deandre L.
Whether like me, an average city boy who like to try new things and go way beyond the ordinary or someone who likes to stick to what they know, you will have an amazing experience at The Canoe. First of all I love how it is hidden away from the road. Canoe does a great job of making you feel exclusive. They start the experience off with valet parking. The staff is great. I especially like the formal atmosphere. Remember the part about trying something new... I had the roasted quail. I was looking for something different and ended up finding one of my favorite foods. If your looking at the screen with a weird face trust me that exactly how my babe looked at me when I ordered it but once we tasted it quail became the new chicken. If you have a special someone take them to Canoe... Bottom line. I did and now we have a memory that will last a life time. Indulge and enjoy
(4)
Kim S.
I sat outside at Canoe and while the view was amazing, a few dozen small flies insisted on buzzing around our heads all night. There is not much the staff can do, but just be aware of potential swarms of flies in your face all night if you do eat outside. My friend had the sweet corn soup and I had the watermelon/feta cheese salad. Both were incredible. We both had the pork tenderloin, which was a bit over salted. I had the chocolate peanut butter bar for dessert and oh my. I hate to say I ate the whole thing, but I did. It was rich and tasty. My friend had the strawberry shortcake, which was good as well. The staff at Canoe is very attentive. Canoe is a wonderful place to bring a date you want to impress.
(5)
Ben H.
Almost everything is great about Canoe: the space, the atmosphere, the staff, the food, the location. Dining riverside is really nice so the location is definitely enjoyable. The restaurant is nicely designed and decorated. It has an upscale yet relaxed and unpretentious feel (the servers wear jeans and are friendly, for example). I've been here for family dinners and romantic occasions - the restaurant has been great for both. For a birthday dinner they went the extra mile to make my lady feel special. The food has been consistently very good every time I've been, but not fantastic as nothing has every really blown me away or made think "Wow, I have to get that again!" If the food was just slightly better it would be a solid 5 for me. 4.5
(5)
Alana E.
Good, but not great. I went here with a group of people for New Years, and although it has beautiful decor, I didn't think the food was the best. It is nicely secluded and has parking (bonus) and isn't in the middle of the city (so no traffic), but I thought it was a little overpriced and the wait staff wasn't 100% up to par.
(3)
Courtney C.
Here's the thing about upscale cuisine in Atlanta. It's generally a bit more in love with itself than I am with its food. Canoe, though tasty, falls into this category. Although a tad snootier than tasty, I have eaten at Canoe three times--though each time I have been increasingly less impressed. The first time I frequented Canoe I made a point to try as much as possible. I was with a group of four for a dinner birthday, and we all tried different appetizers, cocktails, and entrees. The prosciutto wrapped rabbit was fabulous. It wasn't too gamey as rabbit can sometimes be. That was definitely the stand out. As an entree I got the striped bass with baby brussel sprout risotto. Fantastic. I know brussel sprouts are not for everyone, but if you have even the slightest interest, try them at Canoe. After this initial fabulous meal punctuated by copious amounts of inebriating beverages (try pairing a smoky cabernet with the rabbit), I was eager to return to Canoe. A year later, I went back twice in the same week. I was disappointed. I got a whole fish...I cannot remember the type of fish. It's not important. What is important is that the fish was overcooked. It was overcooked and fishy. Okay, it happens, but when I told my waiter about it, I was met with a bit of snoot. Yes, snoot. I was also not quite as inebriated during this visit as I was on the first visit, I should note. The moral of my Canoe story? Good food, hit or miss service, decent atmosphere depending on your table, tasty cocktails and decent wine list, appetizers are better than entrees (but I find that the case in many nicer restaurants), and a bit overpriced for the uniqueness and quality of the meal. But maybe I just wasn't drunk enough to appreciate the brilliance that is Canoe.
(4)
Jeffrey s.
Sooooo perfect. The grounds were beautiful. I know, grounds. I come from southern cal where grounds are the parking lot and the shrubs in front. The architecture was also stunning. Well appointed, correctly lit, good acoustics (Monday night and the restaurant was full but it was easy to talk). The service was unforgettable. The funny thing is I am usually horrible with names but because of the experience I remember them all. Kevin the bar tender that was on the spot bringing us drinks before we asked. Love the paddle shaped stir stick and the pretty bottle of simple syrup. June our waitress. Awesome. I realized very soon she understood the menu and how it paired like nothing I had ever heard a server explain. I ended up having her pick everything; the bread (baked in the restaurant earlier that day), the salad, the slow roasted Carolina rabbit with swiss chard stuffed pasta, the wine to go with the dinner, and the desert a 70% coca hard shell hiding a flour less chocolate cake with camel and just the right amount of salt to make it sweet and complex (also prepared in house that day). There is no way I could have picked a better meal, everything was way beyond expectation. I have a more detailed review here with pictures: blog.proven3pl.com/2009/… The only downsides to the night were my wife was not present (work trip) but she would have LOVED this place and esp the desert!
(5)
Candis B.
OMG!! I Love Canoe! This was my second visit in 3 days! My boyfriend and I dined here to celebrate my 26th bday and it was absolutely phenomenal. Our server, Lindsay, was awesome. Never once did we have to look for her or seek her out..she was on the money!! The servers at this place really are unbelievable. They don't stalk you, nor or they overbearing...but they are right there when you need them to be. They even come by and wipe the crumbs off or your table with a neat little sweeper before your dessert comes!!! The food at Canoe is ridiculously incredible! My guy and I chose the yelp 3 course pre fixe menu for only $25...hey, why not save a buck or two when you can?? You cannot beat the value, especially at a place as nice as this one...I had the watermelon salad, shrimp fettuccine, and the chocolate peanut butter bar for dessert. I have two words to describe the cuisine...SIMPLY DECADENT! This place will be one where we come to celebrate special occasions. It's soooo amazing...we don't want to over do it. My guy and I have dubbed Canoe to be our favorite restaurant in the city...and that's saying a whole lot because I am one serious foodie...and sometimes he's choosy when it comes to his likes and dislikes but hands down Canoe takes the cake by a looooong shot! Oh and BTW, the ambiance of the outside patio along will have you coming back for more!
(5)
Jenny B.
Wow, what a wonderful time we had here. Canoe is a very romantic restaurant, and so pretty. We went on the night of a full moon, and the sight of the moon lighting up the garden area and river outside was magical, it didn't look real. We ordered the mussel appetizer and I couldn't believe how large the portion was! Usually with these fancy, expensive places you get such a small amount of food, but we had a very large platter of mussels to enjoy. I would love to go back.
(5)
D. R.
I paddled my way over to Canoe one day and the tastebuds were delighted. The shrimp cakes with a sweet corn succotash, and basil, really impressive. But what set it off, was a squash soup with a lime cream---light, yet bountiful in the wonderfully flummoxing taste waves sent out by the lime and the squash. Impressed. The wait staff brought charm to the experience, along with an extra spoon when I dropped mine on the floor. They also pointed out a nice chard which marinated the afternoon into a smile. Thanks.
(4)
Daniel A.
Canoe dominates, has killer service with obnoxious amounts of knowledge & menu items that will have you longing to return again & again. And do not even talk to me about THE Holeman & Finch Burger until you've had the Butter-Pop Ice Cream with House Made Cracker Jack. I shit you not, the single greatest thing to come out of Atlanta. Don't believe me, that's my thing - no lies. Prove me wrong. Please.
(5)
David H.
4.5 My experience at Canoe was very memorable. The garden setting by the river is nice and scenic. Sure, you can still tell it's near Atlanta because you can see the bridge and cars crossing it, but it's a nice environment nonetheless. We sat outside at night and it was great -- very pastoral, or as close as you'll get dining out in the area. I like the concept of the very reasonably priced "Local Yokel" prix fixe three course menu with locally-sourced ingredients. I didn't order it this time, but my date did (with wine pairings). We started by splitting the House Smoked Salmon. I liked the smoked salmon itself, and the potato cake with goat cheese was pretty good, but it was all very rich together. Personally, I like the simple taste of smoked salmon by itself. With the cheese, I think it was too rich as a starter, so I didn't finish it. Also, since they pre-split it for us, we both got a relatively large portion. They also bring around a bread basket and let you choose from three different breads. The sourdough and spicy flat bread were awesome; I probably had five or six pieces of that flat bread over the course of dinner. The poppy seed wheat was also good but my least favorite of the three. Since my date got the three course prix fixe, they brought out a chilled white shrimp soup for his appetizer after we finished the salmon. I tried a bite and it was pretty good, but I don't think I'd order it normally. His entree was pork tasting consisting of pork loin and barbecue pork belly. Those were both very good. I had the George's Bank Scallops for my entree. The Leek and Bacon Risotto was really amazing. Very nice bacon flavor. His dessert course was a strawberry rhubarb cobbler with vanilla ice cream. He loved it so much that I only got a small bite, but it was really excellent. I'm not really a fan of fruit cobbler or pies but I'd have ordered this any day. I I had the Toasted Georgia Pecan and Walnut Pie with Spiced Forelle Pear Sorbet. It too was awesome. The pie crust was unusual and good; it was very flaky and had a texture similar to a puff pastry. The sorbet's flavor was unusual but I liked it. I'm still not sure if I feel it complements the pie filling or not, but it was good by itself. The service was all very good. My only (minor) complaint was the long wait between my appetizer and my entree. I attribute this, again (see my Aria review), to my date's glacially slow eating and the fact that they brought him a second first course after we had completed the appetizer we were splitting. I get the impression that places like this try to pace your meal, letting you finish a course before bringing out the next one; little do they know that he never finishes anything. He eats very slowly and they always end up checking back several times before asking him, "are you still working on that, sir?" /rant Anyway, overall, it was an excellent night and I'd happily return -- quality food in an excellent setting.
(4)
M G.
Aside from Bacchanalia, Canoe is probably one of the best restaurants in the entire Southeast. I've been twice and both times were perfect. Every part of the meal from the bread, to the apps to the dessert and coffee were spectacular. Great atmosphere... and the pastry chef who invented the Chocolate Grotto with Salted Caramel and "pretzel" dust should be given a million awards. It was hands down the BEST dessert I've ever had anywhere. I'd highly recommend this place for a "romantic" dinner, to bring your out of town clients, or even just brunch. And why not "blow it out"? We did just to taste many of the dishes - still comes up way cheaper than Bacchanalia.
(5)
lindsay t.
Canoe was recommended to me when I first moved to Atlanta, and it is hands down my restaurant of choice when having lunches and dinners with colleagues! On the banks of the Chattahoochee and a gorgeous, gorgeous setting. The service is impeccable, the food is amazing (I love the salmon appetizer, salmon entree, and buttered popcorn dessert!) and you will have a great meal and experience!
(5)
Travis N.
A great upscale Atlanta dining experience in a unique location. I went there for date night a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, mother nature decided not to cooperate and the deluge kept our dining inside. I had heard about the views from the deck, and was looking forward to a table by the river. The food is a mix of neuvo-american and french. A lot of fish, but chicken pork, etc. All the food was HEAVY...the portions are not huge, but they are rich. This is a place where many have walked in and waddled out! The wait staff was attentive as they should be for this caliber of restaurant, and their wine reccomendations were spot on. In short it's a wonderful, romantic change of pace from Buckhead, that's just a few minutes up the road. I wish I could give it 4.5 stars, but unfortunately I reserve my 5 stars for EXTRA special places.
(4)
Cousin D.
Some of the best food/dining experience I have had in the US, let alone ATL. The setting is great, decor, service, etc....all great! I heard they had damage from the floods and hope they are back open. Would highly recommend a dining experience here.
(5)
Michael J.
The setting, ambiance and service are all as good as it gets but the food is uniquely incredible. We always can depend on Canoe as our go-to place for any important meeting or special occasion because everything will be executed flawlessly. For a key executive role, we opted for a 10-course chef's tasting menu with wine pairings and this 3 hour experience was at the chef's desire and not a single course disappointed. Imaginative, creative and outstanding are just three words that come to mind. This is no doubt among the best in Atlanta and sets the bar that everyone else should strive to meet. There may be only 2-3 other restaurants who can deliver on par with Canoe.
(5)
S W.
I've had a couple of really good lunches and a dinner at Canoe. The cuisine, which is primarily seafood, is served with excellent service in an atmosphere of sophistication and nature. This is a wonderful place for a romantic evening. I have always had good meals and great experiences at Canoe.
(4)
Tiffany L.
Time after time, I have the most amazing experiences at Canoe. My fiance and I go to Canoe for all of our special occasions and they never cease to amaze us. The food is a true culinary experience and the wait staff are so knowledgeable on all food and wine. The food is exquisite but the service is what blows my mind each time. Being in the service industry myself, I know how hard it is to create consistently high level of service so the staff at Canoe raises the bar each time.
(5)
Carol G.
I really enjoy the atmosphere here, and like going there because of that. The food is ok, not stupendous
(3)
Cindy P.
Best Special Occasion dinner! My husband and I tried Canoe after just moving to Atlanta and needing to celebrate our 10th Wedding Anniversary. Loved the atmosphere - warm, dimly lit, rustic wood, open kitchen. We also appreciate the seasonal and local menu. We shared the Oysters on the Half Shell and it was so large, we each received our own platter of 5 oysters on ice. Hubby got the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit. He thought it was surprisingly rich and tender. I had the Panko Crusted Cod. It was cooked perfectly and a good portion size. We shared the Chocolate Grotto for dessert and it was served on a plate where the chef had written "Happy 10th Anniversary" in chocolate drizzle. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and helpful with ordering advice. This is not just a place for pricey special occasions; we look forward to returning for drinks and appetizers while taking in the view of the Chattahoochee River at the bar out back. You can also stroll through their onsite gardens. So romantic!
(5)
Kelly O.
Went for brunch last Sunday and left a happy camper. We split the smoked salmon with goat cheese - which I literally haven't stopped thinking about since then - it really is as good as they waiter/ress tells you (and believe me our waitress recommended we order half the menu for the two of us, slightly overkill? I think so...)! I had the quiche with mushrooms, bacon, spinach and tomatoes and it was solid quiche, but I would probably get the smoked salmon as my meal next time :)
(5)
Roy K.
This is def a staple of mine when I have something to celebrate & someone special to appreciate. Always a new twist on the menu, you can trust that everything is great...not just good. I have had duck, pork, chicken, steak, pasta, & seafood and all of it has been exceptional. Lots of flavor in every dish. Ambiance - Outdoors is great, make sure you take a walk around the grounds. Inside - classic elegance. Staff - always had great service, never any complaints on this front except for the fact that I was on a date once and they once said "Hi Mr and Mrs _ _ _ _" - Whoa there tiger you just jinxed us! *Canoe also did the Yelp eats menu which I appreciated and it was a great value.
(5)
Malinda K.
A friend and I had the most amazing lunch on the patio overlooking the water. It is fall in Atlanta and it really could not have been more amazing. We sat and lingered and were made to feel welcome and not rushed at all. The food was wonderful and it really could not have been a better experience.
(5)
M D.
I went here for brunch and was disappointed. We had to wait quite a long time despite having a reservation. I expected the food to be much better. The coffee cups are very small and we rarely got a refill (in fact, our waiter was pretty MIA overall). I had a salad and the dressing was so sugar-y and heavy that I couldn't eat it. Biscuits are good, though. I probably won't be back.
(2)
Jason E.
I was tempted to not write this review because it will surely just become lost among the other 5 red star reviews. But I simply must put in my two cents. I think it's important to point out that I myself am in the service industry and consider myself to be very good at what I do. At least I did until I went to Canoe. Wow. Perfect. From start to finish. EVAN did an incredible job of making us all feel welcome. Only 2 of our party of 4 had experienced Canoe at dinner - myself not being one of them I was extremely excited to finally pay witness to the storied perfection of their service. I was not let down at any point. We arrived fairly late on a Monday night at around 8:00 without a reservation and were seated immediately by the most polite and considerate host I've ever encountered in my life. We got the best table in sight on the patio right up against the low stone wall overlooking the garden. The fans were on, there was ZERO humidity and no bugs... and a thunderstorm was coming. We were all so excited to be safely covered with the comfort of fans, great music, incredible company, and what was about to be the best meal any of us have experienced in a very, VERY long time while mother nature went nuts in the background. We were in for a show and we knew it. Wine was a pain in the ass to even begin to think about so we all decided on a few classic cocktails that were all made by someone that clearly knew what they were doing and had a passion and respect for their craft. There was a mixologist behind the bar and I liked it :) My Manhattan was easily one of the tastiest I've had in Atlanta and that's saying something when there are people like Tres and Greg in this world. After a rousing first round and a quickly ordered and thoroughly enjoyed appetizer course of Calamari stuffed with shrimp and served with awesome andoulli sausage, and some Smoked Salmon, we settled into our dinner course decisions and our taste buds began thrilling us in anticipation. I don't remember what everyone else had but I know that there was Rabbit and Short Rib involved and it made my heart sing! My dinner was a glutinous and obnoxiously delicious Duck Burger (yeah, I ordered the burger. If you've had the Duck Meatloaf at Local Three you'll understand. If you haven't, you need to and then you need to have the Burger at Canoe).... with a side of the bacon and sweet corn risotto that was the side for the scallop special of the evening.... words don't, and cannot describe the emotions and sensations that went coursing through my body when my glutinous ass slopped some risotto onto the burger and took a massive bite. I was in heaven. Not just normal heaven, I'm talkin' fat boy inside of me dancin' on MDMA Heaven!!!! So juicy, and meaty, and salty, and porky, and beefy, and runny, and DELICIOUS! Nothing comes close. We went on a walk through the gardens after the rain ceased but there were still lightning bolts fighting quietly amongst themselves in the clouds above us. That burger wasn't going to burn itself off... I had to work for it, and what a walk we had. The property is on the Chatahoochee, which we couldn't really see since it was night time but we could hear the water going by. The gardens, the pathways, the trees, the LIGHTING.... oh the lighting... it was too good. Way too good. We made our way to the back where a small gate opened to what can only be described as the most seductive dining spot on the planet. A giant picnic style community table beautifully crafted by hand by someone that really took care to put some character into it. The table is right next to the river and sits right next to Chef's garden. It was absolutely breathtaking. I cannot wait to spend a ridiculous amount of money with my best friends eating out there one night. You can apparently get your own chef out there cooking just for you. That's beyond just going out to eat....that's an experience that you will ALWAYS remember. It's the kind of thing that makes life worth living. These people get 'it'. I get 'it' so it makes it so much better for me to be shown such an incredible evening by people that shared such a love and respect for this industry and the kind of experiences, like the one I had, that people remember forever. Thank you Canoe, and Evan, and Chef Carvel, and Sous Chef Nick (who I had the pleasure of meeting the next night while out with work buddies) I'll be back, many many times. We'll get to know eachother really well... I promise I'm pretty fun to be around and I like to help garden for free :) Stop reading this and go... now. It's something everyone should experience at least once even if it requires your lights getting turned off to pay the bill... it IS worth it.
(5)
Janice F.
Great food!!! Great Atmosphere!!! Good service!!! Make a reservation!!!
(5)
Evan G.
Overall a fantastic dining experience. We went with a small group of friends to celebrate a double birthday. Everyone in our party enjoyed their appetizers and entrees. The entrees took a little longer than expected after we were done with our starters, but the place was packed and in the presence of good company you hardly notice. They have a fairly large wine selection which most of my group took advantage of. I was looking for a good beer though that night. It always disappoints me when a nice restaurant doesn't have an equally nice high end beer selection to accompany their wine selection. Our waitress wasn't very familiar with their available beers but after some coaxing I was able to get a few higher-end beers from her and settled on a nice Chimay White. The quality of food, drink and atmosphere is fantastic without breaking the bank. We will be back to Canoe.
(4)
Michelle C.
We had a great experience here. We came for brunch and had no idea how cute and romantic this place or location was! Our server was really fantastic. Very knowledgeable about the restaurant and menu in general and was very attentive to our needs. The rest of the staff is very efficient and well trained and I Iiked how they work as a team. The food was out of this world. I had the fried green tomato eggs benedict and my husband tried the crab over eggs. Both were excellent dishes, perfectly executed and well made. We also ordered the mixed basket of pastries to start wow! Everything in the basket was freshly made. I think the scones were the best I've ever had! The restaurant is very pricey for the average person, but we had a gift card so it was totally worth it for us. We will be back to try dinner sometime, perhaps for a special occasion.
(4)
Steve O.
Consistently one of the best restaurants in Atlanta with a truly unique menu, great location and service. I'm even having my wedding here.
This is a bit of a drive if you are in Atlanta. It is near a lake, and there is indoor and outdoor seating. I would dress up a bit. People often come for breakfast or brunch, but we came in a group of about 8 for a friend's birthday. The rabbit was good, although I ordered the rib eye dish. The dishes in general were all very good and your server will probably help you choose a dish. In the back, there is outdoor seating and a lake. It is nice and could be nicer if they worked on it a bit more. I would recommend for a date.
(4)
Kathy H.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Absolutely fabulous time at Canoe this past month. Victoria was the perfect server. She managed to select a lovely wine to accompany my meal just by asking a few simple questions as to my tastes. I had the Skate wing with sauteed sugar peas over red bliss potatoes. Hubby had the NY Strip with Applewood smoked bacon gnoche over swiss chard and wild mushrooms with a Worcestershire red wine reduction. My honey is a beer man, not a wine man, and they had a great selection on tap. Dessert was soooo good. Couldn't finish it, but layers of cake, chocolate mousse flavored with coffee, covered in ganache. Not so coffee flavored that is was overpowering either. YUM
(5)
Felix B.
Very nice atmosphere and great food for dinner. I had a steak that was prepared perfectly (rare) and a cream of corn soup that was phenomenal. It packed a lot of flavor that was very interesting. I also had a blueberry tart with banana ice cream...delicious!!
(5)
michael m.
There's so many incredibly good restaurants in Atlanta that it's tempting to be stingy with the 5 star ratings, but Canoe was just so perfect that I have a very hard time not handing one out. The ambiance is flawless. I worry about HOW they manage to keep it so insect-free, but it was nice to sit outdoors and enjoy perfect weather right next to the river. The service was perfect. Their timing was flawless and their knowledge of the food was amazing. The quality of the food was tops and the wine selection was beyond expectations. Again, the servers seemed to know every wine first-hand, which was really appreciated =) I can't think of anything negative to say, hence 5 stars =D Pricey, yes, but still good bang for the buck.
(5)
Seyna B.
If a restaurant experience could be equated to the best 'O' you've ever had, then I'd gladly 'When Harry met Sally' Canoe every day. Yes! Yes! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
(5)
Lin O.
You know, I hate to be the downer here, but I came to Canoe with high expectations and left pretty disappointed. I came in a large group, we sat outside. First off, the ambiance is gorgeous. The plantings are lush, the garden gorgeous, and the riverview fantastic. There were chairs out from a wedding that happened earlier and I was definitely jealous of that party! From the start, our waitstaff were very pleasant and informed, quickly taking orders and well informed about the wines on the menu. My cocktail was promptly fixed when I realized it was made with tonic and not soda water (always happens!). The wines we had with dinner (one white, one red, can't remember what they were) were excellent. So what was wrong? The food! One of my friends was a vegetarian and they didn't have any vegetarian entrees on the menu. No worries, in this case he normally has the chef just create something with items on hand. The meal he got was disappointing, boring, and looked like someone had just taken handfuls of whatever non-animal protein foodstuff in the kitchen and mixed it together. My appetizer (corn soup) was delicious. Flavorful, and a very generous portion. I was excited for the rest. Then came the hazlenut crusted cod -- so salty at first bite I almost sent it back, but my hunger won out. The rest of the cod was not much better and I ended up eating mostly the beans that surrounded the fish. Another girl had the scallops, and they also suffered from being "aggressively seasoned." Dessert was also a disappointment, with the table's best dessert being the three ice creams. My peanut butter chocolate dessert was rich, but definitely too sweet for my taste (I am not a fan of the American sweetness). The table consensus for dessert was, "eh, ok." Although I am critical of ambiance and service, when it comes down to it all, I go out to eat to... eat. I enjoyed a $7 sandwich at Papi's much more than my Canoe meal that night. I might go back to Canoe just to give it a second chance, but it would be a pricey test to try out!
(2)
Liz T.
I was there for dinner on a Friday evening with couple of friends. We had pre-dinner drinks at the bar set by the riverside. It was a perfect setting. Just for that view alone is worth 5 stars. I can see why it would be a popular venue for weddings and debutante parties, if these still happen. Giving Canoe 4 stars overall because the food was that - it was good but not fantabulous. Our waiter told us their specialty was game and fish. We ended up ordering their pheasant and rabbit entrees. Both were very well-prepared, and came in good-sized portions especially the pheasant. We came away with doggie bags. We had 2 appetizers - the smoked salmon on what seemed to be more of a potato crisp versus croquette, and the calamari. I really loved the calamari ! - it came as a whole tender squid stuffed with shrimp and chorizo. It was a delightful starter. Someone talked about their bread, and I agree. Fresh and so, so good -- I had 2 slices of their cranberry nut bread and craved more. Service was top-notch. Everyone was so friendly and personable. I liked that no one put on any airs and just seemed like genuinely nice people who enjoyed working there. Our waiter Josh was very knowledgeable about the menu, and every dish and wine that he recommended were spot on. Except for the chocolate grotto; perhaps a bit over the top after a heavy meal. I loved my Jasmine rice pudding, and the many spoons of my friend's Blueberry cobbler with brown sugar banana icecream. I can't remember the labels of the wines we had, but they were deliciously paired with our food. The Chardonnay was buttery, and the Pinot was smoothly All in all, it was a delightful experience. I am inclined to visit for Sunday brunch so that I can dally and soak in the serene beauty of the Chattahoochee.
(4)
Erica B.
BEAUTIFUL. I went with my mom for my birthday this year and being new to the area I wanted to try the best Atlanta has to offer. They asked the occasion and put in extra effort after finding out it was my special day, they placed us out in the garden and the view was breathtaking. I had the pheasant cooked two ways and it took all my strength to not lick the plate! Our waiter was so friendly and knowledgeable and it was truly a great, memorable, and tasty experience!
(5)
Sam U.
This formal *5-Star dining restaurant is my personal favorite in the entire Atlanta area. IT serves all-American cuisine straight down to the meat choices and vegetables and ever since surviving the flood from a couple of years ago has flourished. If I had a higher income I would eat here every night if I could! The food is delicious! The ambiance is strong from being off a main road yet subtle enough to make the river the main ambiance of the restaurant even though it is closer to the road. A sunny Sunday afternoon between lunch and dinner in the fall or summer is the perfect time to have an outdoor sit here, with the sound of the river rushing by making the rush of the Atlanta atmosphere seem miles, if not decades away.
(5)
Lena R.
Great place! They bake their own breads and all three of them were delightful. Smoked salmon appetizer was amazing. Ans so were deserts. Main dishes were good, but my tuna was a little overcooked for my taste, I like it seared just a little, almost raw. I will go back when I can though. Recommend this place. Beautiful atmosphere, music, view, and wonderful food.
(5)
Mark K.
Rating: 8 (out of 10) Canoe, a restaurant in the Vinings area of Atlanta on the Chattahoochee River, is a wonderful place to dine when looking for a special occassion place or a semi casual eatery. I had the pleasure of trying their tasting menu, which was a treat given that I was dining alone. We start with a dill cucumber oyster appeitizer, then move into a smoked salmon on a potato cake. Then there is a beautifully arranged beet salad (which was amazing...by far my favorite course). Next comes a braised lamb lasagna. For the main course, it's heart of rib eye over organic spinach and shitake mushrooms. Desert was a trio of creme brulee, a peanut butter bar, and a strawberry banana shorbet. What an amazing finish. There was an intermezzo of rasberry gran marnier shorbet. This is the perfect palete cleanser. I've been there a couple of times, and I would also recommend the Grilled Berkshire Pork Tenderloin. I've been to a lot of great restaurants, and let me say, I would put this up there with the greats, easily putting this in the top 5. If you'd like, I have pictures posted of my meal. Enjoy! Bon appetit!
(5)
Marie P.
Yum! I've been here several times now and all but one were for brunch. And honestly, the dinner wasn't as memorable. But brunch...I LIVE for Canoe's whole milk yogurt with berries, granola and honey. I wish I had gone later in the day because, being Sunday brunch in Georgia, I can't order a Bloody Mary until 12:30. Ugh. For my entree, I had the crispy rock shrimp salad with a spicy remoulade. It's absolutely delicious. The salad part is actually Napa cabbage, carrots, jicama, red onions and red cabbage so it's super crunchy. My boyfriend had the smoked salmon eggs benedict and Canoe's house smoked salmon is fantastic. Perfectly poached eggs and a fantastic citrius hollandaise sauce on an English muffin. I saw a plate of french toast walk by and it looked divine. The view is a completely different story. The building is on river-front property (hence, the name Canoe...) and features a beautiful garden with walking paths and benches behind the restaurant. And I saw hummingbirds feeding on the flowers! My party sat inside but overlooked the garden and the river and was the perfect view with out brunch. Service was pretty good. At first, the service was actually excellent. Our server was fantastic and very knowledgeable about the food. But we were also one of 3 tables in the restaurant. As it started filling up, our server was clearly getting bogged down and it took forever for someone to clear our plates and finally get the check. So, that's why I only give it 4 stars. Canoe is definately one of my favorite restaurants and it's great for any occasion. Dates, lunch, prom (oh yes...), family brunch, you name it.
(4)
Heather K.
Smoked salmon app, Warm artisan cheese salad, truffle fries, and the rabbit... you MUST try them all. EXCELLENT!!!
(5)
Ruksana H.
We were treated by a friend here and quite the treat it was. I love the location and the ambience, the wait staff were so very helpful. We had dinner and the chef was out to personally explain each dish and suggest something suitable for everyone's palate. The food itself was outta this world. I enjoyed every bit of the meal and I must say they have some unique food preparation here. I would suggest it for a great family dinner, or a romantic date too maybe. Enjoy!
(5)
Michelle F.
The boy and I have always wanted to try Canoe, but have never made it there for some reason or not. Well, after almost 10 years in Atlanta, we finally went. Since we had early weekday opera tickets, our reservation was for 5:30. We were early for our seating, and the hostess suggested we have a cocktail or wander the gardens. We did both. The weather was cool and perfect, the sparkling white pinot we sipped was crisp and clean. The vista, charming, green and cheery. The boy's hand, soft and warm in mine. Though with all this waxing poetic I did struggle a tad in my 3 inch heels on gravel paths...c'est la vie I suppose, it meant more clinging to the boy's arm tightly... The service was attentive and knowledgeable. The bread delicious...soft butter, always a good sign. Black napkin for my black dress, white for the boy's khakis...always appreciative of that. Loved the view from our cozy and roomy booth, did not love as much the waiters hanging at the wait station directly next to us. There should be a law about wait stations in promximity to diners in restaurants. I remember when the boy and I worked in 5 star, we were foribben to hover and to congregate on the dining room floor. We were to "appear when needed and disappear when not"...magically. I appreciate these nuances of fine dining. Though it did not kill the expererience. Luckily, I was for the most part distracted by the food. We had: Duck stuffed crispy Georgia Quail with blackberries, roasted vidalia onion puree and cilantro: This was WONDERFUL. The tart of the blackberry,. the sweet of the onion, the fresh brightness of the cilantro contrasting with the crisp light crust and the tender rich complexity of the two birds...just wonderful. Salmon Creek Farms BBQ Pork Belly on english pea terrine and jicama vanilla slaw: I like pork belly. I think this could have been very good. But it was cold, and cold congealed fat is unsettling. Now perhaps a hot belly would pair nice with the chilly cool of the pea terrine and the crisp slaw...but it was not hot. Whole crusted sea bass with garlic, lemon, fennel, capers and olives with fresh green beans: Cooked perfectly, tender sweet flesh was light and firm, buttery in contrast to the bite of the caper...perfect. Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with swiss chard-applewood smoked bacon ravioli, candied garlic jus: I had rabbit about six months ago and was wholly disappointed. Inspired by some darlings romping about my yard this weekend, I decided to give them another chance. I am so glad I did. This was beautiful, meltingly sweet and tender. Redolent of rich dark forests bright with springs youth,heavenly and transporting, yet held to earth by the perfectly paired jus and ravioli. The boy had chosen a tempranillo for me to accompany, and it did so with grace. I was distressed that we had no time for coffee, dessert or aperitives. I was sure there would be a fascinating cheese plate just waiting for me to discover it. Overall, the place was lovely, romantic, the food and service top notch. I look forward to dining there again...hopefully that cheese plate will be there!
(4)
Robert C.
I had to update my review after Brunch - it is amazing at this place. The scone basket is awesome. Coffee is great for a restaurant too. I would give it five stars, but requiring a Valet to move my car 30 ft is completely absurd!
(4)
David J.
By far my favorite restaurant in and around Atlanta. The best food ever... The best service ever.... The best dining experience I have ever had... And I have had quite a few. Their selections across the board are amazing. They are willing and eager to bend over backward to make your experience a good one. Some may consider Canoe to be pricey but you get what you pay for in my mind. You will know it when you take your first bite. Creative cuisine, balanced flavors, bold choices, and very nice presentation make this my best and only choice for special occasions or just a great dinner out. One thing to note: the mixed drinks here are fabulous. They are well balanced and it is obvious that the mixologist knows what they are doing. Excellent! I recently was having dinner here with a friend when unfortunately, a table of unruly business associates with little respect for those around them were making much more noise than was acceptable for the atmosphere of this restaurant. I informed our waiter and was not surprised when, without fuss, the waiter informed the manager and our table was moved to a much more secluded and quiet area of the restaurant. I loved that. There was no, I'm sorry but there is nothing we can do... They did do something and it made my meal what it was intended to be. Relaxing and sharing conversation only with my guest at dinner. I compliment them on their customer service which every time has been exceptional. You know when you have been to a restaurant many times, you begin to see highs and lows in service and / or food. Not so here, every experience has been top notch across the board. It is not often that I am not able to find something wrong with a restaurant. When I do however, I say so and with Canoe I say Bravo!
(5)
William S.
Anniversary dinner and overall a disappointment. Big foodies and expected an out of the park hit but a lot of swings and misses. Starters were beet salad for wife and green onions for me. She loved hers, mine was like a cheap breakfast dish at a hotel. Salmon for her was good, ribeye for me was a cheap cut of meat set in a cold sauce that made the meat cold and chewy, Desert was chocolate grotto for her....yuck and homemade crackerjack and ice cream for me, only home run of the night. Service was respectable to good and the grounds are beautiful or this would have been a 2. Pay the extra $$$ and go to Bacchanalia.
(3)
Mikel M.
Typical southern American pseudo-upscale restaurant in an out of the way strip mall with valet-only parking. The menu has many bizarre combinations that just don't work (Ahi tuna with sliced potato, mango ice cream with thyme sauce). The blue jean wearing service is gruff and has no spirit.
(3)
Jameil W.
Canoe is the restaurant for which you save your five star review. It is also the measuring stick for other restaurants. From drinks to appetizer (she crab soup), dinner (ribeye and rabbit) to dessert (outstanding panna cotta!), this restaurant was a dream. A note about the steak. I don't like steak. But here I tried my boyfriend's and couldn't keep my fork off of his plate! This. This is why people love steak. This is what steak is supposed to taste like. An animal can be grateful it died for this. Then we were on the river, too? I couldn't ask for a better experience.
(5)
Samantha D.
Unbelievable dining experience!! The food is excellent and the ambiance is just as good. I highly recommend this to anyone living or visiting the Atlanta area
(5)
Matt V.
Everything was great. Atmosphere, service, and the food, smoked salmon app was great, along with everything else
(5)
Maureen R.
Great food, great service, and beautiful view. The smoked salmon app was super tasty with a crispy potato cake, a suggestion of our waitress. She also suggested the popcorn ice cream Sunday for dessert which was so yummy.
(4)
F H.
Beautiful! The view from the dining room is gorgeous and the service was impeccable. Our entrees were a little under-seasoned, but were cooked well. Try to get the restaurant early so you can walk around outside before your meal. The true star here, for me, was the ambience - the good food was just an added benefit. We live downtown, so it's a bit of a drive for us, which means it's not a place we would go to on a regular basis.
(3)
Alex R.
Perfect outdoor atmosphere and the food wasn't half bad either
(5)
Robert S.
I will try to be brief (something that I am often not) since the restaurant is basically an Atlanta institution now, there are 105 reviews and the restaurant has a 4 1/2 star rating. There is no reason to ramble about this restaurant because, in a nutshell, the food, service and ambiance are all impeccable and one visit to the restaurant will prove that to even the most discerning diner. It is unfortunate it has taken me this long to get around to writing about Canoe. I first dined here in 2004 and had only been back sporadically until recently. Every meal I have ever eaten here left me with a feeling of complete satisfaction yet I could never seem to work it into a regular rotation. Recently though, things changed. A friend of mine wanted to have a birthday dinner for a larger group so I suggested Canoe. As with all my previous experiences it was perfect. The fact that we were with a group of 8 allowed all of us to sample practically everything off the new menu (devised by Chef Gould during the 60 day period Canoe was closed due to flooding) and I loved it all. Since that dinner party, which was approximately 4 months ago, I have become much more of a regular customer. I have eaten both lunch and dinner there about a dozen times over the last few months and when I finish one meal, I am already looking forward to my next one. I dined there last night and will be back again on Saturday. The ingredient centric menu can be a little daunting but I actually appreciate the heavy descriptions as they really bring life to the dishes you are about to be served. Last nights dishes for me consisted of the Crab Cake and the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce followed by their famous popcorn ice cream. Everything was beautifully presented (without being pretentious) and captured the essence of all the ingredients listed on the menu. Needless to say the plate was cleaned at the end of the meal. I am already anticipating Saturday's meal and cannot wait to try something different. In the end Canoe is a special place and well worth a visit for a simple business lunch, Sunday brunch, dinner with friends or a special occasion. The river that runs behind Canoe makes it a magical destination and the food will keep you coming back.
(5)
Aroline A.
I yelped Canoe before going and was still blown away by how great the food tasted and the romantic setting. Its a great place to sit down, have a bottle of wine, great food, and wonderful conversation. I will definitely recommend to anyone! I suggest going right before sunset and sitting outdoors in the summer time.
(5)
Jason K.
What can I say about Canoe, If it wasn't so damn expensive I'd be here every day. Best Restaurant anywhere in the states, though I've never been to every restaurant in the nation. 1 star crappy - 5 stars the best Creativity - 4 1/2 Presentation - 5 Service - 5 Atmosphere - 5 Flavor - 5(6 if you count the fact that I bit my tongue b/c their was a party in my mouth) Execution - 5 Need I say more?
(5)
Jessica K.
This really is an amazing restaurant, from the valet parking to the dessert, it's an experience to say the least. You'll remember coming here, especially if you're from out of town like myself. During my stay, this is the only place where I didn't opt for a chicken dinner. Instead, I chose a twist on a classic I'm used to from home in Jersey: Bolognese. It was meat sauce alright, LAMB meat sauce. And while it was different, it was also delicious, rich & incredibly flavorful. I'll say it again, it's establishments like this one that remind you that dining should be an experience, not just the part where you eat at a table. Everything was incredible, the service, the atmosphere, the food, and the wine. Reservations are suggested.
(5)
Jherine W.
I guess my expectations were either too high or my palate is too unsophisticated. After years of attempting to convince my husband we finally made it to Canoe. I'll never be able to look him in the eye again. The dim lighting was okay; it would have been nice to see my table but alas, one cannot win them all. Our server was abrupt and I had the distinct impression that I was keeping her from more important ventures. Indeed I was actually unable to even order a beverage--she brought me a water and without pause asked if we were ready to order. I guess I am now. . . I ordered the rabbit after reading the rave reviews. I have to assume that maybe my rabbit simply died of natural causes. At some point my noodles were stored in a refrigerator as they were like little cold cubes of something. The rabbit tasted like a cold, tough turkey. It's really difficult to find something more tough than a poorly rendered turkey, but there you go. My husband had the duck burger. It wasn't great but it was okay. His narrowed eyes suggested I would never live down the mistake, but he ate it. I wanted desert but my server didn't seem to want that, so we payed our tab and left. The bitter disappointment is the taste that I have now. I will not return.
(2)
Lauren P.
I've frequented Canoe often over the past 10 years. It's always been a divine experience. From the valet down to the bussers, the entire team at Canoe provides great service. Carvel Grant Gould, the proprietor of Canoe, is truly the leading lady of her restaurant. As a Southerner, she has a keen sense of local flavors and a refined sense of hospitality. When I'm at Canoe, I feel like I'm in Carvel's house and part of Southern foodie history in the making. Canoe's property is beautifully "tucked away not far away" on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Y'all would never think this place flooded and had to be rebuilt just a few years ago. Definitely go when it's not brutally hot out (as mosquitos also like to dine at Canoe) so you can sit outside or stroll through the gardens. If you're only going to Canoe once: order either the rabbit or the fresh catch. That roasted rabbit with bacon ravioli is one of the best dishes in Atlanta. Also, the chocolate desserts are all crafted with sweet love in-house. Canoe also has a great wine list. Now I'm salivating and need to save up for another wonderful meal :)
A wonderful setting and a wonderful food experience. An upscale restaurant that delivers. So im not taken back when I get the bill.
(5)
Denise W.
The ambiance was very nice. We went at night so we were not able to see the outdoors. Our waiter was good; although our first waitress had a bit of an attitude. The food was just okay. Nothing to go back and recommend to anyone. I had the New York strip and it was just blah; not flavorful. Nothing I had really gave me the melt in my mouth taste. Maybe I will go back, maybe not. Not worth the money.
(3)
Lem M.
Canoe smashed my pockets into cosmic dust! The final bill was stooopid!.....But the "roasted rabbit" was a beast! (I wish I could start my own lil' rabbit farm in my backyard and breed these little critters because of this savory dish!) My wife and I really the enjoyed total experience! After I use my tax returns to pay off my debt!....I will be back for more! lemillions.com
(5)
Mike L.
After my friend and I found out (from the nice valet at the Westin, kudos) that Sun Dial was under renovation, we proceeded to use the power of the Yelper to find the next best place that offered a top-of-the-line menu along with a I-gotta-post-this-on-FB-worthy view to go with it. So why not go with the #1 ranked restaurant on Yelp? And you know when you picked the right place when you call in for an appt & there's at least an hour-wait on a Thursday night. (We were willing to wait so that wasn't going to be a problem.) An awesome thing happened when we got there (complimentary valet, by the way), we immediately got a table even though we were a 1/2 hour early for our RSVP! Sweetness. Even better, we were seated with a view that was definitely 'I-gotta-post-this-on-FB'-worthy. Go see for yourself. About the service: some of the best I've experienced. Not much else to say except that it's exactly as advertised by fellow Yelpers. What we ordered: - Canoe's House Smoked Salmon on a Crispy Potato Cake with Vermont Goat's Cheese, - Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce, and - Hickory Grilled Ribeye, Wasabi Whipped Potatoes, Shiitake Mushrooms, Asian Barbequed Cipollini Onions Smoked salmon was okay only because I don't have a palette for goat cheese (my fault.) The rabbit was...interesting. Definitely a delicacy (like eating beef tongue or fertilized eggs.) But the ribeye? Straight-up delicious to the point where my date was eating off my plate (I think she liked the ribeye more than the rabbit!) In toto, a great place to take a special someone out for an excellent fine dining experience.
(4)
Anne P.
I love Canoe - it is the best restaurant I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. The service is always amazing and the food is incredibly delicious. I always have to get the house smoked salmon and potato cake appetizer - even my boyfriend who hates salmon loves Canoe's smoked salmon. Entrees are always hard to determine - the rabbit dish is the first entree I ever had there and I still remember each bite I had of that meal. But they have so many other amazing entrees that I feel like my goal in life is to try each one before I die. The desserts are also amazing - I love cracking open the chocolate grotto to expose all the deliciousness inside. If I could live at Canoe, I would. But then I would be broke and they'd probably kick me out for stalking them. So instead I will go on special occasions and savor every bite!
(5)
Miguel C.
Very nice. The location is right by the riverside in a quiet, quaint little suburb. The grounds on the riverside are beautifully landscaped. The interior has a beautiful, rustic look. The food is elegant and somewhat eclectic with a mixture of game and local favorites mixed with more traditional high-end fare. All was quite good. Very nice date place. A couple of considerations: The food is well above average and worth a visit, but I would not say it was the best I've had in this price range. However the ambiance pushes it over the top. The other thing I would mention is that the noise level inside was a tad high. If you want more quiet, taking a table outside might be a better choice.
(4)
David M.
Fantastic restaurant. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was wonderful. Their garden by the river is a beautiful view.
(5)
Daniel G.
Nice atmosphere, good service, and most importantly: every dish we ordered was top-notch quality. Fresh, perfectly cooked and perfectly seasoned. I recall ordering fish at another respected Atlanta restaurant after visiting Canoe and being disappointed that it was merely fresh and barely seasoned. If you know what you're doing like the folks at Canoe, you can combine freshness with flavor and zest and take the experience to another level. Of course, be prepared to pay for what you get.
(5)
Addie A.
I met some friends here for brunch yesterday. This wasn't my first time at Canoe, but first time for brunch. The menu was wonderful. I ordered the breakfast with scrambled, eggs, french toast, potatoes, and bacon. VERY tasty. The service was great. The atmosphere was vibrant. The bacon was thick cut which was great. The restaurant was packed. It was a tad hot inside, but it later cooled off as the meal went on. I highly recommend the brunch. It has a wide variety of items. Definitely order the sticky buns. I'd return again!
(4)
Pam C.
Dined here for our 5yr anniversary. We lucked out with the weather, a dry and humid free night spend on the patio. Had a wonderful server, Lauren. We started with the oysters, loved the mignonette sauce. Also had a special watermelon salad. Hubby hada pork chop special that was smoky goodness. I loved my Arctic Char with coconut rice. I was disappointed in the dessert. It was a trio of creme brulee, I remember the basil was good, the other two I dont even recall. Overall great meal and we would go back!
(5)
Paul L.
We remember our Atlanta days fondly. Almost 9 years in the "City Allergic", and many great memories. The glory days of Delta expense accounts takes us back to the first visit ever, circa 1996 perhaps, entertaining our advertising research friends (Hall & Partners) from New York for dinner - and the New Yorkers and Brits were genuinely impressed. Incidentally, when we first moved there, we stayed at Calibre Vinings 2 miles away for almost a year - I used to run right past Canoe on those beautiful, hilly, twisty wooded hilly streets. AH! Those were the days! FF to this June - what better place then to celebrate our milestone anniversary, with our kids than at Canoe? After a slight snafu with the seating (taken to a table, and taken back out again, with apology), we were greeted by our server April. Cocktails involved some tough choices. This place is so high brow that, when it comes to sweet vermouth - forget your Martini & Rossi, Cinzano, or even Noilly Prat - those are for the great unwashed. Here, they only have Carpano!! He's the dude credited with inventing this concoction back in the 18th century. The modern day wine made supposedly from his old recipe costs about 3 times more than the afore-mentioned "peasant" varieties. Truth be known - while it was a nice diversion if drunk on the rocks (for my wife), in my Negroni, it was a bit of a distraction - a touch too floral and overbearing, instead of the perfect balance that a Campari-gin-vermouth is supposed to be. That said, I STILL haven't met a Negroni I don't like. We ordered 3 apps to share, but only 2 made it to the table - between going out in the last fading dusk light to take some pictures and too busy enjoying the other two, none of us called out the missing smoked salmon. The crab cake ($16) was good: fresh lumpy chunks of crab, good size for an appetizer (maybe not for $16), but I'd say I've had at least equally good ones elsewhere; the mussels ($13) on the other hand - they were out of this world. Perfect app to share as well, with delicious fresh bread for the dipping. If I have to do it again, we might order two of those instead. The wine list here will blow your mind. You may need help from the sommelier if you don't know your wines. I decided to settle for a tried and true and not be adventurous - plus, a Hall '08 Merlot at $50 is some attractive price point! We had the same that I paid retail very close to $30. Our entrees were all wonderful. For once, a duck dish did not disappoint, but my wife (bless her) didn't love it so much that she didn't share. Our daughter's slow-roast rabbit had just a remarkable flavor to it. My quail was stuffed, which may explain why it didn't look like quail at all (more like the size of a grouse!), but it was exquisitely blended with the side dishes. Just orgasmic fare all around. I mean when a lamb loin was arguably the least remarkable (our son's main course), that's saying something. This chef and this kitchen has a lot going for it. We ordered a half cheese course before dessert - delightful cheeses, but too tiny a portion for eight and a half, and I took a small issue with the order in which they recommended the tasting. Then came dessert. The chocolate grotto was fine, but you know what - just cut to the chase and get that ice cream sundae thing with the popcorn. OMG - talk about a perfect ending to a perfect day. Hope we won't have to wait 30 years for the next one!
(5)
Laura B.
My honey and I celebrated our first anniversary at Canoe and were certainly not disappointed. I was quite surprised to find it located in an ordinary-looking strip mall. The parking lot is problematic, even with valet, there were too many cars trying to pull into the small lot. Suffice it to say that from the front, one would never guess how lovely the inside of the restaurant and the garden really are. We arrived a little early for our reservation and enjoyed a round of well-crafted cocktails from the outdoor bar while lounging in chairs next to the river. The garden is beautiful and quiet, with two event tents set up on either side of the building. In a secluded corner of the garden we saw a table for two, complete with candle, roses, and white tablecloth - guys, if you're looking to impress a lady this is the way to go. Sadly, it wasn't for me...but anyway, on to dinner. Our waiter was excellent, congratulating us on our anniversary without us mentioning it, in a way that came across as genuinely friendly. I was pleased with his wine recommendation, and he discussed the beer selection with my guy without a hint of the haughtiness that sometimes accompanies a great wine list. I ordered the vidalia onion soup and the rabbit. The soup was delicious; I'm not sure what else was in it, but it really captured the sweet and tangy flavor of the onion. The rabbit was also well prepared, very tender and perfectly complemented by the sauce. The ravioli tasted delicious but I didn't care for the texture. Overall, our dinner was delightful. I don't remember what my honey had, but he loved it as well.
(5)
Brittany C.
I took my husband here for his birthday and it was exquisite! The service was fantastic, atmosphere beautiful, and food to die for! Will definitely revisit. Very romantic setting.
(5)
Brian E.
Please keep in mind this restaurant is hard to get into during peak hours but well worth planning to go. Food and service was great! Food was prepared uniquely but was full of flavor. Sometime I feel like expect to much from nicer restaurants and just think the meal was ok however I left feeling like this is a great place. Would highly suggest dinning here on your next night out because I know we will be back
(5)
Venkat R.
Overpriced.. check. Snobby waiter.. check. food was Meh.. All in all, i've eaten in better places in atlanta than Canoe.
(2)
Bill C.
We spent our 20th anniversary at Canoe based on a friend's suggestion. The scenery and the service was fantastic. The food was exceptional. Only drawback was the place was packed and loud. I may not return for an intimate, romantic escape; however, definitely a first class dining experience.
(5)
Lucia M.
That is my second time here, first for brunch. First of all, the restaurant is placed in an amazingly beautiful natural setting. This will always be 5 stars. Service is impeccable. I was very impressed at my first visit, for dinner, and food was delicious. No complaints. But I was not very excited this time about the brunch menu. Too ordinary for the kind of restaurant that Canoe is, and that is why I am taken one star from my review. I will certainly be back (many times) for lunch and dinner and I am sure the 5 stars will shine again.
(4)
Suzanne W.
I've been meaning to write a review about this place. I really like this place. I've been meaning to go back. Their service and presentation was immaculate. Our server (wish I remembered his/her name) was very on point with everything. I went there for a family dinner and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. My fahsha ordered a fish dish and boy was the presentation pretty cool. It was a huge whole fish. The server even debones it for you! I can't remember what I had, but my sister had the rabbit dish. Now, I was a little hesitant about that dish (seeing as how it was a little bunny =( haha...my weird humor) ... but I wanted to try it from her plate. Oh ... my ... goodness... it was SO delicious!!!! I am definitely ordering that next time ... if it's still on the menu. Oh yeah ... the scenery behind/on the side of the restaurant is gorgeous. If you catch it on the right day with the perfect sunlight ... it will def set the mood for dinner or after. ;)
(4)
Bianca C.
Went for my birthday the staff was great always and nice. The food was GREAT! A bit on the expensive side but it was good. Not sure if I would go back again on my own doing but would join others if they went.
(4)
Andra F.
My wife took me here for Father's Day 2013. Previously I tried to take her there for special occasions but they were always booked. Finally I got to go there. I love the unique menu selections like the Duck, Quail and Rabbit. My wife isn't a fan of wild game so she went with something safe and ordered the Roasted Springer Mountain Chicken with Oven Dried Tomato, Thyme and Goat Cheese Risotto. I went with the Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce. The rabbit was flavorful but was slightly dried. I've has rabbit before and it was more tender and moist. Other than that, everything was great and well priced. I tasted the chicken my wife ordered and it was great. Moist and tender. Next time we go I'm trying the Quail or Duck. If you're on the adventurous side, this will be a great place to go.
(4)
Alexandra A.
My husband and I went to this restaurant for our third anniversary. I really liked the place. The waiter assisted us like no other waiter has before. He explained the menu in detailed and helped us pick our drinks. I enjoyed the apperizers but I wasn't too crazy about the food. My favorite part was the dessert, we had the Creme Brulee Trio. It was amazing! I might go back again but next time I have to reconsider my food choices.
(4)
Anna B.
Canoe is my favorite go to for important celebration dinners or in law visits. The food never disappoints and usually is truly delicious. As long as you are prepared to spend the money you will leave satisfied. And it's always worth it. Plus if you want to save a little you can bring a bottle of wine for a reasonable corking fee.
(5)
James S.
A 50th wedding anniversary, a surprise dinner for my parents. My brothers and I flew in from around the country and surprised our parents with a dinner at what I was led to believe was a nationally acclaimed restaurant. An experienced diner, I make allowances for mishaps, mistakes and less than perfect events but by the end of this night I was absolutely fuming. I cannot warn people enough to stay away from a place so clearly resting on past laurels. Early in the afternoon I dropped off an expensive, custom made "wedding style" cake we had had made (see a separate review of Cakes by Darcy / Roswell, GA. Fabulous.) --- pursuant to the directions given to me by a hostess the day before. I told the person who received it that it needed to be refrigerated and that I would like it placed on the table immediately prior to being seated. She appeared confused at first and then subsequently 'bothered' or 'annoyed.' Arrival was fine; the grounds are lovely and well kept, and cocktails along the Chattahoochee were pleasant. It was after being seated that things went south. Our original party of seven had dropped to five before arrival. I called the restaurant and informed them of the change. I again told the hostess of the change upon arrival, before spending time at the bar for pre-dinner cocktails. When we were brought back into the restaurant, we seated at a table for seven. As the waiter was filling water glasses I told him our party had changed to five and he expressed surprise. Two settings and two chairs were subsequently removed after we were seated and the party shifted. The cake had been placed on the table, but had been left unrefrigerated; the fondant was glistening in sweat as it appeared to melt to the side. We ordered appetizers, soups and entrees. Appetizers and one order of soup were served simultaneously (to the same person), while another was served separately as a separate course (after the first individual's double course was finished and removed.) The first soup was served cold and was sent back. Entrees were standard fare and served cold. I mean, really cold. The plates were hot and the food cool, as if they sat under an insufficient heat lamp for some time. A steak ordered "medium" came to the table "rare" and even after pointing it out to the server and re-fired, it was still underdone. Four of the five entrees needed to be sent back for different reasons. Service in general was slow and inattentive; food, with the exception of the signature rabbit dish, was underwhelming. After being seated the cake was taken away and later sliced for desert. The vast majority of it was left over and was re-boxed to take home. And this is where a less than mediocre night became infuriating. Despite no managerial comment or table visit during the repeated mishaps and although my family requested nothing, at the end of the evening our server told us the entire meal was comped. The entire night was a remarkably slipshod, amateurish experience but our family is a positive one and we enjoyed our time together despite the overwhelmingly disappointing food and service. We accepted the restaurant's response; we weren't looking for a 'freebie' and between the three sons we tipped our waiter a total of one hundred sixty dollars ($160), and left. The specially made cake was a beautiful creation from Cakes by Darcy in Roswell, Georgia. An edible copy of my parent's wedding photo from fifty years ago was mounted in a fondant frame above it. Five slices were taken from it. When we received the boxed leftover from our server, I noted that the box was excessively taped shut, on all sides, top and bottom, which I thought odd. It wasn't until we got back to my parents' home that I found out why. Opening the box at home I found the fondant frame broken in pieces with the photograph itself literally shredded and the remaining cake placed on top of it. This was not merely a mistake or slip up; the photo was actually torn in pieces, the frame broken up and the cake placed on top by either our server or someone in the kitchen. (See the attached photos.) I was infuriated. I called Canoe immediately and asked to speak to a manager. The hostess requested my name, which I provided, and then placed me on hold. After a moment she came back and told me a manager was not available. After explaining the circumstance, the hostess apparently tried again and a manager again refused to take my call. I was, and still am, furious. In short, the place is mediocre at best; service terrible and vindictive at worst. A once in a lifetime event was enjoyable solely because of the blessings and good nature of my family. Canoe did nothing but work to thwart that --- even after the fiasco was over. Absolutely terrible.
(1)
Chloe B.
Delicious food, great atmosphere. Come here for brunch, too! Best in Atlanta, but a tad pricey.
(5)
Tyler R.
Simple: Amazing service, amazing food, amazing scenery. Damn near perfect for any occasion.
(5)
Ana M.
Last time I came here was over three years ago (a girl can't afford to Canoe that often), and they just keep doing it- having the best service in the ATL. I mean, they clean up the crumbs on your tablecloth BETWEEN COURSES. Water and bread keep being replenished without you even noticing. And the servers are just so knowledgeable. Our server, as expected, knew everything in the food menu and described it to us flawlessly. But then, we turn to this multiple page wine book (not list, but book) and ask for a comparison between two Malbecs, out of maybe 10 they offered. DId the server call the sommelier? NO NEED. Girl had it down. She's telling us about the different altitudes of where the grapes were growing, region, and palate. I mean that is awesome. Some of us decided to share appetizers or entrees and the kitchen seamlessly split the dishes for us, they looked like they were meant to be that way, still perfectly presented. Even red beet salad, that was served to look like a round cheesecake type thing, when shared was made to look like two smaller cheesecake like things- no semi-circle appetizers at this table. Anayways, moving on... The food is great and I would recommend the smoked salmon, the lemon sole and the rabbit. The sole is fillet'ed at the table by your server so that it stays nice and moist til consumption. I ordered the rabbit, which was good, but the bacon stuffed raviolis that it came with were the star in my opinion. Finally, I would recommend getting there early and sitting at the outside bar- adirondack chairs overlooking the river never work as well as when paired with a glass of their sangria. Oh and quick note about the sangria- Best I had in a very long time, definitely the best in the ATL. There's this smokiness to it- it may be the brandy (?) they add to it. Delicious. Perhaps next time I will just go to the bar, order an appetizer and drink those awesome sangrias...
(5)
Jason M.
This place had great service! The staff was very knowledgable about the menu and offered great advice on selecting what to eat. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a nice place to eat with exceptional food and service!
(5)
N. Y.
Amazing. Fantastic food and service and a beautiful and serene atmosphere. Loved it. Went for a business meeting and it was perfect as we did not feel rushed and we received just the right amount of attention. I had the cod, which was made to perfection. Valet parking was nice too as the lot in teeny, but is seems a bit odd as they literally park your car less than 20 feet away from the drop off spot.
(5)
Emily Y.
June, our server, was FABULOUS. We were a HUGE group, compiled of picky eaters and vegetarians - and she *happily* accommodated our every need. SO cute. The food was delish. We had almost every app - the salmon was my favorite. And I LOOOVED the corn soup. My cousin devoured the crab cakes - and doesn't even eat crab. :) We were impressed. I will absolutely return upon my next visit to ATL.
(4)
Lyndsay K.
I hope this wasn't just another case of our expectations being set too high by yelp reviews, but - seriously - I wasn't as blown away as I'd hoped to be. We have had reservations 3 times in the past 6 months and had to cancel for scheduling problems. On our one year anniversary we decided to make sure to go. The service was great and I'm a service junkie, so this made me happy. Attentive, but not annoying. Just great. I started with the artisan cheese salad and it was awesome. If my entree had been half as good as this salad I probably would have gone with the 5 star rating. But sadly it wasn't. I had the rabbit and it was so dry it hurt going down. I'm not even exaggerating. It wasn't my first bunny, so I know it shouldn't have been like that. I didn't even manage 3 bites because it was so damn dry. My lovely boyfriend had the smoked salmon appetizer and loved it. Had we stuck with the first course we both would have been huge fans. He had the duck breast for his entree and -next to my way dry rabbit it was amazing. But on its own? It was ok. Nothing to order again. In the end - as we drove away with our dessert of Banana nut bread pudding packaged to go - we both commented that it just wasn't as good as we expected. In fact, we both said we wouldn't go back. Before going I read the negative yelp reviews more than the positive ones and I thought the people leaving bad reviews were just hard to please, annoying people. Sorry. It's what I thought. But after experiencing it? I totally understand. The setting is lovely. The service is just as great as I'd expect when spending that much. But the food just didn't live up to 4.5 stars. Sorry.
(3)
Katherine K.
After whining a little bit that he no longer made me feel impressed or whatever, muhaha, Paul decides to finally take me here. When I say finally, I mean he kept mentioning the place, but it wasn't until I was all "impress me!" that he threw down the gauntlet. We did update to casual dinner wear and showed up without a reservation, but decided to sit down immediately in the bar area. There's an actual bar for serious people waiting to impress other serious people, and then there's little tables and low couches spread around the perimeter for fat fuckers who just want to eat and don't care about how they look. Obviously, we went with the latter. The bread, needless to say, is stellar. We did the jumbo lump crab cake, excellent. I had the rabbit and he had the duck burger which he thoroughly enjoyed. The truffle fries were very good. The rabbit was AMAZING. I highly recommend. Usually I order unusual gamey stuff just to try new stuff and often times it's a miss, but this was really good and soft and flavorful. mmmmmm We ended the night with a coconut rum cake. Not really my favorite, not sure why I picked it, still ate it all and the table next to us also ordered it and were raving about it. damn. awkward. It says Atlanta, but it's quite a ways from Midtown. I really liked the prompt service and the food really blew me away. It wasn't until later I found out it was so highly rated so my experience was not biased. We didn't drink, but they seem to have a very good wine list.
(5)
Laxsamee L.
Outstanding service. Highly creative delicious food. Beautiful setting along the river. Tried beet salad with goat cheese.
(5)
Wendy G.
This restaurant has been around for many years and people always seem to forget about how amazing it is. Nestled right next to the Chattahoochee River, this is a the perfect spot for brunch or a romantic dinner. We revisited dinner there on a cool summer night and it was great. We started with the oysters on the half shell and their signature starter - the house smoked salmon on a crispy potato cake with goat cheese. So tasty! We also enjoyed a special heirloom tomato salad, love that they offer seasonal plates. One of the dishes they are most known for is the slow roasted Carolina rabbit, but we went with two seafood specials since they were in fresh, but there are so many tasty entrees on the menu to try out from Rainbow Trout and Halibut to Quail and Duck breast. For dessert we indulged in the Popcorn Sundae, which was absolutely amazing and definitely big enough for 2-4 people to share. It comes with house made cracker jack - which is really tasty. We sat outside on the covered patio, which was really nice. After we enjoyed a view of the river from the lighted garden. There is also a bar right on the river if you want to end your night with a libation. Free valet parking.
(4)
Dillon O.
Beautiful setting, excellent service, food so-so (at brunch, haven't been there yet for dinner.) I'm not a big breakfast fan & Canoe's brunch menu has very few lunch-type entrees. I had the sausage scrambler which is basically scrambled eggs mixed with some veggies over a small brioche bun. Not bad but nothing to get excited about and very expensive at $15. One of my dining companions had the pancakes and he raved about them and the smoked salmon Eggs Benedict were a hit with the other two diners at my table. The lunch/dinner menus look way more appealing to me than the brunch menu so I'll probably go back for dinner sometime. One more thing: the dining room was FREEZING so when I go back I'll definitely bring a jacket & wear long pants.
(4)
Alan T.
Best dining experience in the Atlanta area. I'd recommend it to anyone
(5)
Tristan A.
You gotta hot date? Don't know where to go? Better put this place on the top of your list. I went for lunch, sitting next to doctors on a lunch break tells you the clientele they have up in there. Had me feeling a tad bit underdressed. I listened for the special...it was a bbq pulled pork sandwich. The sauce had to be homemade because it was some of the best I've ever tasted. The appetizer? Shrimp rolls? Almost fell out my seat. This place will see my face again...and again...and again..
(5)
Will Y.
Excellent location and fantastic food.
(5)
Brian M.
Service and food are second to none! The smoked salmon appetizer was delightful and the rabbit rocked my world. My wife ordered the Niman Ranch pork chop and loved it. Their manhattans were strong and delicious. Dessert consisted of banana cake and chocolate grotto... INSANE! The banana cake was par for the course - but the grotto was killer. A bit pricey for my lifestyle but we had an amazing anniversary dinner.
(5)
Cameron G.
Upfront Disclosure: I'm a vegetarian, and my rating here is somewhat influenced by that. Canoe was not amazing. Sure, it had a lot of good things: knowledgeable wait staff, beautiful property, and service that makes you feel like semi-royalty. But, for the prices they're charging, that stuff is usually par for the course. I just didn't see anything that separated it from the other $$$-restaurant pack. Most importantly, though, the food I got was underwhelming. I got the vegetable pasta because it was the only vegetarian entree on the menu. I knew I was in trouble when I saw only one acceptable meal and that meal was far less glamorous than the meat dishes (e.g., rabbit and north-GA trout). It didn't taste terrible, but it did taste like something that could easily be whipped up at home. Overall, from the menu and the taste of my meal, I got the impression that Canoe couldn't care less about the business of a vegetarian, but only put one (minimalist) veg meal on the menu to avoid losing the business of omnivores who eat with vegetarians.
(3)
Fatina B.
This is the second time I review this place. I think it is one of the best if not the best in atlanta. The garden setting outside is beautiful. Sit outside if you have the chance. The service is first class. Our server Leslie was very affable and knowledgable. The choices of home baked bread were great. We had the beet appetizer which they split for two very elegantly. For entree , we had their special for the day, halibut dish prepared over pea with risotto. We also had the venison plate on their menu prepared over sweet potato and an amazing sauce. Both plates were split very nicely for us. For desert we shared their chocolate groto. That was amazing but heavy. Will be back again
(5)
Jess C.
SO. FREAKING. GOOD. I LOVE CANOE's bread. All are fresh made every afternoon by the pastry chef (sourdough, olive, and flatbread). I wanted to just eat bread for dinner! APPS: I had the salmon cakes which were a generous portion of salmon and a goat cheese cream sauce, on top of a crispy home made potato chip. It was good but very rich and creamy. ENTREES: The beef tenderloin was amazing, perfectly cooked and seasoned with a crunchy salty crust, on a bed of some amazingly rich seasoned mushroom potato mash. I'm running out of synonyms for the word "amazing." The Striped Bass, the special for the evening, was also good, and it sat atop a medley of fresh corn and vegetables from their garden. DESSERT: I thought I would be a fan of the chocolate bombe which tasted like hazelnut goodness with a crunchy hazelnut cake on the bottom. While it was beautifully made, I thought it was too rich for my taste. I loved the chilled lavender greek yogurt dessert topped with flaky crunchy biscuit. I never like lavender in my food (it tastes like soap usually). THIS was truly AMAZING. I wanted to come back every night for dinner here!
(5)
Jermaine W.
Absolutely fantastic! Definitely top three of all time when it comes to service. We had a table of nine and the staff took away all clean plates, the food was just awesome! From appetizer to dessert, two thumbs up.
(5)
Carrie Neal W.
"Sham - to - the - WOW!!" Lately, *shamwow* has been a popular expression in my circles. And, really, I can't think of a better word to describe the simply amazing, impeccable brunch Emily R. and I had at Canoe today. It was - yeah, really - THAT good. I hadn't been to Canoe in quite awhile, and not since the repair-and-reopening, and was delighted when Em suggested it for our brunch meet-up. I'd been wanting to try the brunch I'd heard such good things about, and I honestly think this might be the best brunch-y meal I've had, possibly ever! A recap for you - and if you haven't tried it either, go and go soon - like next Sunday!! - Service . . . everyone who works there was most gracious and welcoming and our server Leah was spot-on. Friendly, funny, knowledgeable and just all-around terrific. The kind of server I'd ask for next time I go, to see if I could sit in her section. She and Emily even talked tomato plantings and such, we enjoyed and chatted with her that much! Atmosphere . . . simply lovely. And that is a favorite word and high compliment in my book, for something to be "lovely." We went early, about 10:45, and it was just such a pretty day and the restaurant looks wonderful - even the gardens and patio area outside are delightfully lush and blooming, despite the heat we've had this summer. I love a good "comeback kid" and Canoe's definitely (back) on its game. I've saved the very best for last . . . Food . . . I almost don't know where to start! We pretty much had the most perfect brunch, ever . . . This part definitely gets its own "paragraph" (or several!). We started with the warm summer corn soup - smartly, Canoe offers the choice of a half-serving (for only $3.50 - how can you not try it?!) and it is delicious. A bit of avocado and cream and a little parmesan crisp . . . mmmm, yummy. Next, we shared the simply amazing smoked salmon app - with goat cheese and served on a crispy potato "cake," this is a dish that I will crave and make a point to return to Canoe just to order. Leah even split it for us on separate plates, each with their own pretty set-up, without being asked. It's those extra touches that make this such a wonderful place! For our "entrees," Emily went with the day's special (which I totally would have ordered if I liked shrimp, because it was just bound to be good) - the shrimp and (Anson Mill) grits. With arugula and several types of beautiful and delicious tomatoes, it was a gorgeous dish that was equally divine to eat! I opted for the fried green tomato "benedict" and got my eggs scrambled - shamwow!! It was perfect. Served with tiny diced hash browns, haricot verts and a few juicy heirloom tomatoes, my eggs were perfectly scrambled and delicious, everything on the plate was excellent - I didn't even think about touching the salt or pepper! Emily got the chocolate something dessert that looked like a hard-shell chocolate egg waiting to be cracked open, and when she did - voila! - caramel or cream or something inside was revealed and just waiting to be enjoyed. I sampled the Butter Pop ice cream - it even had its own little Cracker Jack topping! - and can honestly say not only was it yummy but totally original. Never have tasted anything like it before! Oh, what a nice meal. And a wonderful start to my "birthday week" - a lovely brunch with a dear friend, amazing food in a beautiful environment, impeccable service . . . Happy (early) Birthday to me!!
(5)
Katherine P.
Brunch, brunch, brunch. One of my favorite things about Sundays. Came here to brunch (duh) during my visit to ATL and had their salmon eggs benedict. Oh yum. Yum, yum, yum. Service was also fantastic! Our waitress was so sweet, funny, and just overall really great. When we left, she even gave us some of their pastries since the restaurant throws them out at the end of each day. I'm sure all the servers do that but it was just still a nice touch. Check this place out. Scenic view, great service, and delicious food. Can't ask for more, right?
(5)
S. L.
Canoe? Cannot. No can do. Sigh... I really, really wanted to adore this place. After all, fellow Yelpers have ranked it so highly. The setting is pretty good, but did I miss the fact that this place is in a small STRIP MALL? Something about fine dining and strip mall just don't go together in my brain. The wait staff is top-notch, A+. (They can get a little hyper about removing things from the table, though. Some items were literally swiped in assumption that the things were no longer wanted.) The best part of the meal was the bread basket. Trust me, get as much bread as you want the first go-around because "bread guy" only makes ONE stop at your table. If only I had known that I wasn't going to care for my meal, I would have stocked up on bread as if Pillsbury was headed for bankruptcy. My trout was tasteless; the baby spinach was over seasoned, and the parlez-vous francais mashed potatoes were absolutely nothing to write home about. (While I'm on the subject of mashed potatoes, the hands-down BEST I've had were Smith and Wollensky's.) So, I've read fellow Yelpers howling and drooling over the "famous" popcorn ice cream sundae. Since I was making my first and final trip to the place, I simply couldn't leave the premises without seeing what all of the fuss was about. My reaction? Here are a few choice words that came to mind: Um... Yeah... Okaaaaaay... Hmmm... Seriously??? Really??? What in the world was all of the hootin' and hollerin' about? Let it suffice to say that one could do just as well by swinging by the local grocery store for a tub of Blue Bell and a 59-cent box of Cracker Jack. Seriously. Take it from me, if you've never been, you can certainly go enjoy the bread basket and the view of the Chattahoochee.
(3)
Nan B.
Love this restaurant, hate their reservation policy. For a 91st birthday lunch they will not promise any seating location whatsoever and the best they can do for a special effort is if you order a dessert they will write happy birthday on the plate.
(1)
Kevin A.
When I find my way home to the ATL - for family and for business - Canoe is my ace card. If I wanted to impress you, for instance, I'd take you there. Yes - you. What to say? The chef is brilliant. The service has always, always, always been top shelf. And they're COOL, btw. It's those places that balances high-end with low-key with complete ease. Go here. I'll have to write more about it later. For now, I'll simply tip my cap to this most special place down by the river.
(5)
Alyx K.
I came here a few months ago for a date night dinner. The place is really very nice and has a wonderful ambiance. I did not have reservations on a Friday night, but we grabbed a drink at the bar and were seated rather quickly. Service was polite and attentive and the food was good. It wasn't a very memorable place and there's nothing that really makes it stand out, but it is definitely a good go to restaurant if you have a friend in town or need a quick date night idea. -A
(4)
Latoya W.
I happened to be looking through my reviews and realized that I did not see a review that I left for this place back in November 2011. Almost two years later I still remember my experience at this restaurant. I tend to like profiling my experiences via a Yelp review, and this is the ONLY restaurant that I have ever given 5 stars. I'm admitedly a bit picky. Yes, I will own it. This is hands down the BEST SERVICE I've ever received in LIFE period. From drinks at the bar to actually being seated in the restaurant the service was on point! The food was dare I say AMAZE BALLS!!! I took my boyfriend here for his 33rd birthday (patting myself on the back for the selection, not the check!!!) and we both really had a great time. The rabbit was delicious. I probably would'nt have ordinarily ordered rabbit, but I tell you this was the best Peter Cottontail ever. And the dessert, some popcorn ice cream fusion... yummmm. I'm still thinking about that dessert. Gosh, I'm salavating right now.... OK, so I'm a bit fuzzy on the rest of the details, but I will say I can only imagine this place to be amazing during the spring and summertime. That outdoor bar looked super cute and can you believe this place has like a chicken coupe. Very interesting. That's all I got folks. If you're trying to score big, then you will invest in this place, I'm giving it a "5 star rating" what I like to call a "lights out" date night spot. You get my drift. LOL!!!
(5)
Liz M.
I'm so sorry to say, but Canoe was really underwhelming! If my review was based on decor, ambiance, and customer service alone, it would definitely be 5 stars. However, after hearing how AMAZING the food is from yelpers and friends and everyone in between, we had some pretty high standards! Maybe that's the problem--our standards were too high--but could that really be a problem for highly-touted Canoe? We ordered the salmon on potato cake appetizer, as it reminded us a bit of the salmon chips at Serpas which we love. Again, possibly a mistake by setting unreasonably high standards. They had good flavor, but not the mind-blowing, earth-shattering experience we were expecting. Worst of all, I ordered the duck breast as my entree. I had never ordered duck breast in a restaurant before, so maybe, again, this was my mistake, but I figured if I could order it anywhere, it would be a place like Canoe. I watch a lot of Food Network, and I'm familiar with how a duck breast is supposed to look like when cooked properly. The inside of this duck breast was very, very rare, and the texture was rubbery and just not appealing whatsoever. Womp womppppp. Not sure I would try Canoe again, as it is fairly expensive and a bit far from where I live, especially when there are SO MANY amazing restaurants closer in the city.
(2)
Juichia C.
I won't lie, the food here is definitely the best among the restaurants of its style and caliber in Atlanta. Everything was very good. However, not being a "new American" cuisine aficionado, I really can't say that the food was jaw dropping or better than anything I've ever had. Nothing personal really. We tried the below: Duck pastrami (i think) - really tasty and smokey Crab cakes - best ones I've had in a while (outside of Maryland) Duck - pretty good, on the rawer side if you like that type of thing Rabbit - very tender, tastes like chicken, I liked this better than the duck Popcorn sundae - caramel corn goodness Perfect service. Definitely a nice place to go to for impressing someone. Place is extremely loud, had a hard time hearing.
(4)
Angela D.
The view here is awesome, and so is the ambiance. Our server was really knowledgable and on her mark all night. But the food was not as good as I'd expected it to be. We shared the salmon appetizers, the scallops and the duck. The salmon was good, but we had better at another restaurant the previous night. The scallops were fishy (Fishy? At an upscale restaurant?? Big no-no.) but the duck was good. For the price, I felt that we would have really been wowed by the food. Next time, we'll head straight to Two Urban Licks. They really knocked it out of the park on every single item we ordered for around the same cost.
(3)
Katie T.
By far best & lives past the hype! The scallops were wonderful and the duck breast was enjoyed by the hubs.
(5)
Eric G.
I went to Canoe for my birthday 1/8/13. We had read good reviews on Yelp and heard good things. My girlfriend and I are from California and we are new to Atlanta. We have eaten at some amazing places all over the US. Our expectations were pretty high for Canoe knowing Atlanta has some great restaurants. We had a poor experience at Canoe. - The service was very poor. We waited for over 10 mins before we got any water. Cocktails took longer. After we received our main course, we never saw our waitress again until plates were cleared. - No bread was ever offered until we asked. No bread ever offered again. - My girlfriend was charged $20 for a vegetarian plate that was just terrible. Risotto was overcooked and too creamy. Greasy collard green and squash. - I had Lamb Shank with Risotto. My Lamb tasted good, but it was very dry, the worst I have ever had. I don't know what three grain Risotto is supposed to taste like, but the Risotto was all hard and barely tasted cooked. - I ordered a $19 dollar glass of Pinot Noir and it barely filled a quarter of my glass. The worst pour I have every received. - We skipped dessert fearing the worst. I really wanted to like this place, but every step of the night we just felt it got worse and worse. We are not ones to complain usually. We feel this place is WAY over priced for the quality of food and service received. I felt it was barely a step above a steakhouse. Unfortunately we will not go again.
(2)
Matt O.
Beautiful place and good food. Romantic if you have a hot day with a great selection of wines. Had the duck burger, cold smoked salmon, and rabbit. All of which were tasty. Portions were also decent so you won't go home hungry.
(5)
Kevin M.
Sitting on the banks of the Hooch with a glass of wine in hand, the only thing that can top that type of atmosphere is great food. And this place did just that!! Their food is spectacular. The rabbit, the trout w/ grits, squash soup, salmon cakes appetizer, it was all incredible. I've lived in Atlanta for 6 years and just went here for the first time. It immediately became my favorite restaurant in Atlanta. The entire experience was perfect.
(5)
Ryan M.
Perfect for Celebrations My wife and I have dined at Canoe a number of times over the years and especially enjoy the restaurant for celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. - In the fall or spring (before it gets to cold/hot) sit outside with a river view - Excellent food - Top notch service without being stuffy - Great atmosphere for celebrating a special event
(5)
Brett S.
I've dined here at Canoe twice, both thoroughly enjoyable experiences, and both tied to an Atlanta based friend (I life in Columbus, OH). The first time we dined there for dinner, and it was excellent. We sat inside, as it was a December evening a few years ago, and dark outside. I was impressed by the wine selection (my Atlanta friend is an expert), this was his choice for a not-cheap-but-not-over-the-top dinner with a great wine selection with good service and quality associated with the wine and the food as well. This was a few years ago, so I am not confident in my memory of what I ate, but I believe it was trout. I do remember being quite happy with it. The second time I dined here was last weekend at the same friend's wedding. This time, we dined outside after an open air ceremony in the early evening next to the river. The setting was picturesque, and the event very well organized. It was a warm June day (in Georgia), and the ceremony was hot, but the staff seemed to both keep things moving through good organization and provide ice water. The reception was in a tent cooled with fans, and was quite comfortable. Service was exceedingly friendly and never stiff. We dined on roast beef and shrimp, which was quite good, particularly for banquet food. So, I've experienced Canoe from two very different perspectives, and would return again the next time I'm in town.
(4)
Christine L.
I went back here and though was a bit disappointed I didn't get the stellar waiter, the food was still salivating-ly delicious. I decided on the crab cakes to start, meticulously fried and cooked with an excellent tangy yuzu sauce , a perfect appetizer. The pheasant cooked in au jus was spectacular however there was a bit too much sweet potato for me, it ended up overpowering the subtle sweetness of the bird. For dessert, the chocolate grotto with a hazelnut mousse and salted caramel inside with dusted pretzel, was divine. Seriously, bite into this you'll see the God in this dessert. Nothing was too overpowering, the hazelnut worked beautifully with the salted caramel but didn't over power the chocolate. Still a stellar place to go, treat yourself and your special friend to a night of wining and dining.
(5)
Candice M.
Everything about this place is wonderful. From the atmosphere to the food to the staff.
(5)
Josie M.
The service here was great but for the prices the food was blah! Atlanta has a lot of culinary delights but this was not one of them. We were not impressed by the food at all.
(2)
Jin K.
My friend and I went on a Sunday so we had a 45 minute wait. We didn't mind at all because the waiting area was in the garden right by the river. EVERYTHING we ordered was so delicious. My favorite was the crab bisque. You may want to taste the soup before you put the sherry in it instead of what I did and dumping all of it in at once. But it was still very good. I will be going back to Canoe again very soon. The only option to park for canoe was to valet and I'm not really a big fan of that.
(4)
Saam G.
Seriously this place is great. I got the NC fluker (sp) it wasn't great, but my date got the halibut and it was incredible as was everything else we ordered. Great romantic setting too. You can walk right up to the river after dinner and relax.
(5)
Ashley T.
Great dinner, but they didn't have the reasonably priced bottle of wine that we ordered.
(4)
Angel N.
HIIIIYA! here I am once again, your favorite foodie Ninja with awesome review. Canoe! oh Canoe I love thee. Now you must be saying "really? that good?" YES, THAT GOOD, how dare you question my ninja skills of pure awesomeness? Anyway, let me tell you a bit about our experience here. From the moment we walked in we were treated with respect (to be expected for a ninja) the staff was very cordial and attentive; I hate the snobbiness of some upscale restaurants that judge you as soon as they see you at the front door, I didn't feel that here. The staff was also extremely knowledgeable of the menu items; It felt like if I asked at what time was the fish caught they would give me hours, minutes and seconds. The food was truly amazing, I died and went to ninja heaven. We had a couple different apps, the oysters stood out for me. The fish uber fresh and delicious and dessert was great too. This is the kinda experience you expect when you go to an upscale restaurant. Like my uncle Confucius said "The ninja is in the details" and Canoe didn't oversee any. Canoe, you are high up in my places of awesomeness and I expect you to remain there for quite some time, but I warn you, I'm no softy ninja, do not ever relax, let your guard down, keep doing what you are doing and my katana will never be un-sheathed. out! *poof*
(5)
Jason F.
I ate here this past week with two other dining companions. We were sat immediately in a booth with a view overlooking the water which was beautiful. After being seated we were served from an excellent selection of breads with the spicy flatbread being my favorite of the bunch. I started off with the shrimp stuffed calamari. Half of the calamari was fried with the other half having been cooked and stuffed with a shrimp and chorizo mixture. It tasted fantastic even though I couldn't taste the shrimp which was probably overpowered by the chorizo. For my entree I decided upon the duck with blackberry and pistachio compote with romaine crepes. The duck was the best that I have had in a while with the compote imparting both salty and sweet to the savory meat. The crepe was also nice until I got to the part that soaked up all the soy sauce that was the garnish at the bottom of my plate. That portion of it was way too salty. The bottom line for me is that I would definitely head back here again. The food was wonderful, the soy sauce withstanding, and the service was world class.
(5)
K V.
Took my out-of-town friend here for his last night in Atlanta. The food exceeded our yelp-hyped expectations including my LA foodie friend and very picky eater mom. After dinner (table inside, away from mosquitos but still with a great view of the river) we walked down to the water among beautifully lit trees and benches and this normally unimpressed friend exclaimed: "This feels like a perfectly southern evening". The service was impeccable. Worth every penny.
(5)
Astrid P.
This is one of The best places i ve eaten. We has The duck breast, The bass and The pork. Really amazing The view is very pretty. Great grden with spectacular flowers! The only thing that was missing for me was some music. It would made The place younger but un general is am amazing place
(4)
Phoebe T.
This is a review for Canoe's brunch. To be honest, I did not like their brunch one bit. Our tables shared the scones/muffins mix and it was not that great although the accompanying jams were quite good. However, I would expect that at a place like this, the scones/muffins mix should be included, not an extra charge. I got the pancakes and it was DRENCHED in syrup. I hate my pancakes drenched in syrup! I guess I should have asked for pancakes that weren't drenched in syrup, but we were on a tight timeline and you can't really take syrup off pancakes..you'd just have to make new ones. (and I was not asked beforehand if I wanted drenched pancakes!). There were bacon pieces on my pancakes which just did not go with the sweetness of the syrup. Overall, I hated these pancakes. My husband's crab egg dish looked good but again, his was more expensive than mine. Most likely I will not be coming back because for this price point, I really expected more.
(2)
Asma A.
I came here to celebrate a birthday and it was really really good.. service was great, ambiance was great and the food was great... We came in, got seated immediately, we had a table right in front of the river just in time for sunset, we were able to walk around the garden and walk towards the swing and sit on the swing for a few minutes... In that sense, this place is very romantic! We ordered the seafood and it was very good... I enjoyed this place from the moment we walked in to the moment we left... I definitely would come back here for a special occasion.
(5)
Tommy D.
Fantastic. Great for a special occasion if you're poor like me. Great service, amazing cocktails, delicious food (get the rabbit), and the ambience is delightful. I can't wait for an excuse to go spend that sort of money again.
(5)
Daniel G.
Nothing but great things to say about Canoe. Service and food were both 5 star! Looking forward to going back in the spring when they have outdoor seating open and live music. The Rainbow Trout was awesome!!
(5)
Steve J.
Call me a simpleton but I wasn't impressed with supposedly the best place in the city. I'll say the service was excellent and the restaurant decor and ambiance very nice. My biggest complaint is portion size. I paid $30 for what is an appetizer size plate. I'm not an overweight person but I definitely left hungry. Hey Canoe I think you've got plenty good margins on the food so just give me a salad or something. If you've got tons of money to blow then by all means go here and order two entrees for yourself. The food was excellent but I won't be back. On the pet peeve side, don't have your wait staff recite every detail of every entree to me. Although it is helpful info, it took her 5 minutes and I'd rather just ask her about a specific entree instead of hearing the whole menu.
(3)
Cassandra K.
My wonderful experience with Canoe began before ever laying eyes on the place. It started with Emily on the phone. I'd called to see about making a last minute change to a reservation for last Saturday night and she was very kind and happily accommodated my request. When we arrived, the valet was kind and efficient. Upon walking in, the 3 women at the host stand greeted us with a "Happy Anniversary!" (Hubs had dropped off the top tier of our wedding cake a little before our reservation so they recognized him) and everyone called us by Mr. & Mrs. D**** all evening which was a welcome acknowledgment. We were promptly seated at one of the rounded booths overlooking the river. Hubs had also brought in a bouquet of roses which they had laid on the table to greet me. :-) Leslie was our server and she was very welcoming and informative (even gave us an apartment referral for our relocation search!) We started with a bottle of wine while perusing the menu. Ordered the crab cake and smoked salmon for appetizers. The crab cake was good, but I've had much better in Savannah (duh!) so I don't think I'd order that again. The smoked salmon was delicious and I could go for some more right now! The bread that Leslie came by with was very good, I especially enjoyed the cranberry/walnut bread. For dinner, Hubs ordered the infamous rabbit and he liked it. Said he would try something else next time, but wouldn't rule out ordering the rabbit again. I ordered the scallops which were perfectly cooked and melted in my mouth. The bits and pieces of bacon mixed in with the asparagus and potatoes were soooo good, I must go back for brunch and get a whole piece of bacon! For dessert, Leslie brought us out a slice of our wedding cake and had written "Happy Anniversary!" on the plate along with some fresh berries. Our cake was still delicious after a year in our fridge (in case you were wondering.) The whole night was a terrific experience and I look forward to dining at Canoe again once an Atlanta resident.
(5)
Abe H.
Perfect. Perfect food and service. Hope was our server and she made it an awesome experience. We will definitely return and we look forward to it.
(5)
R R R.
Great atmosphere. Went here for dinner with my coworkers. Food was awesome. Our server was very attentive and top notch. I had the burger and fries which was certainly the most tasty combo of this kind I'd ever had. We also shared several desserts which were not at all disappointing. I'd definitely recommend this place to others,
(4)
Biao C.
Brought my girlfriend there for her birthday dinner. Absolutely loved this place. I am really a fan of seafood, and they do seafood right. Their baked salmon is tender and flavored, not so dry and tasteless as those you will find in a lot of restaurants. The service staff there were friendly too. Same as some other places, Canoe also charges several bucks for brought-in birthday cakes. Five dollars, if I remember correctly. I would say those several bucks were well spent at this place. They cut it for us, and nicely re-decorated it with chocolate and fruit.
(5)
Chin Chin J.
Ambiance and service are excellent except the noise level was a bit high. I can't stand why people like to raise their voice when dinning like they are in a bar. This is why I can't give 5 stars. We ordered Crab cake and Heirloom tomatoes carpaccio as appetizers. Both are excellent. The crab cake was coated with panko result not much breading. The outer layer is crispy and inside is soft and moist. The tomatoes also very tasty. My husband ordered the rabbit stew but he wasn't impressed with the meat after first bite. He stated that it's chewy do he changed to cod. I didn't taste the rabbit because that is the only meat I won't eat. I even tried kangaroo meat but not rabbit. His cod came out very fast. I taste the cod and it is good but the alkaline of the fish is quite strong. The source is like bouillabaisse which is also strong. I guess the chef is trying to cover the strong fish taste. Mine was rainbow trout. It was very good. Crispy on the skin and meat is soft. Finally the dessert to complete the meal. We ordered chocolate grotto. It was surprisingly good. I was afraid it's too sweet but it wasn't. It's delicious. I would give 4.5 stars.
(4)
Leslie N.
Hubby & I spent Fathers Day here with family, and we loved it! On first glance, the front of the restaurant is unassuming, but once you enter, the interior and lakeside sitting area will blow you away! The ambience is perfect- romantic with a laid back elegance thats very enjoyable. The menu was great. At our table, we did the 1 rabbit & 3 steaks. The steak was delish! The rabbit was tender but a small portion. The desserts were to DIE FOR! I had this molten lava chocolately goodness, that I still think about today. Great place for a special night out with ones you love.
(4)
James P.
The best service I have had in a restaurant - ever. Every need was met, the expressed and unexpressed. The food was spectacular, the scenery was gorgeous and the evening couldn't have been better. I recommend Canoe to everyone that asks for a special place to go in Atlanta.
(5)
Catlady F.
Came here for my birthday dinner...Delicious and nice restaurant...Expect to spend $100 for 2 people, which I think is great for 2 people at this style restaurant...Quality food..I had the rabbit which was absolutely delicious (combination taste of chicken and turkey, not gamey at all) and my Husband had the Trout...he enjoyed it and even went home the next day to try to duplicate the style...beautiful scenery as well...we will definitely be back.
(4)
Taylor R.
Very very nice restaurant with great atmosphere! they also have delicious food and great service! Our waitress was very helpful and nice. It's a perfect place for a date night! Definitely will come back!
(5)
sarah w.
This place was really lovely. We had a wonderful dinner outside on the patio and really fantastic service as well. We started dinner with some great cocktails and appetizers. We also had some fantastic bread (a raisin loaf and a sourdough). They were all made that day at Canoe and were just awesome. Our main courses were very well done as well but the dessert was probably the best of the courses. After dinner we walked around the grounds and checked out their little garden in the back with the beehive and also their chicken coop. Great place.
(4)
Boyd H.
Canoe is literally the best restaurant I've ever eaten at. Period. The service and wait staff are excellent, the food is delicious, and the location is romantic and unique. My girlfriend and I recently returned here for the 2nd time for our 2 year anniversary so we knew what we were getting into right away. We made reservations for 7 pm and were seated promptly once we entered the door at this time. We were first sat at a booth on the far end of the upper dining room near the kitchen area. After Ken, our waiter, arrived and talked to us about the menu did we decide that it was far too noisy at this spot and requested to move to a quieter spot. This was taken care of with no issue at all as we got moved to the other side of the upper dining room - a far quieter location for this special occasion. I ordered the duck pastrami as an appetizer, the rabbit as an entree, and the popcorn ice cream sundae as dessert. My girlfriend ordered the smoke salmon as an appetizer, the lamb shank as an entree, and a special pineapple, curry sorbet as a dessert. The duck pastrami was pretty good but ultimately not too my liking (too vinegary/salty). I don't blame the dish as I probably should have got a salad or the salmon instead. My girlfriend's smoke salmon on the potato cake was mouth-watering and basically melted in your mouth like butter. The rabbit was absolutely, mindblowingly ridiculous in terms of taste and quality. The bacon ravioli underneath the rabbit only added to the awesomeness of the dish. I was literally trying to use my fork to somehow scrape up all the juices on my plate when I ran out. My girlfriends lamb was also very good but I preferred the rabbit still. The popcorn ice cream sundae was incredibly unique and very tasty. It literally tasted like cracker jack popcorn and was pretty massive. My girlfriends sorbet was also very delicious and fresh tasting. Finally, I would also like to mention that during our dining experience, my girlfriend stated in passing that it was our anniversary and that we had tried the chocolate grotto last time. So for dessert, her sorbet came with "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate and a free chocolate grotto. Awesome service from Ken!
(5)
William H.
Went there last night and had a great time. If you like oysters, Canoe's oysters were the best dish of the night. I also ordered the vidalia onion soup - it was just ok. I was kind of expecting more like an french onion soup and this dish was totally different; very creamy. I ordered the burger which was excellent. The service was also great. If you have a large group, expect to wait. Our dinner lasted around 3 hrs last night even with reservations for a group of 12. If you decide to go, you MUST go outside and walk for a bit. It's really pretty.
(4)
Anita C.
I LOVE this place and I wish I could go every weekend. I ordered the Duck and beef burger and we shared an assortment of breads. Although bread is extreely bad for you, I highly recommend you order both!! The duck and beef burger was AMAZING! I'm drooling just thinking about it. And the breads were like eating dessert. I came here before for dinner but I have no recollection of it. But I will never forget their brunch. I also love their location. It is right on the river and we got seats right by the window. It was a perfect brunch and made my day!!!
(5)
Dawn L.
The details they put into their food is unreal! NOTHING is overlooked, and they are tough to beat! Atmosphere is AMAZING, quality service, and best of all, INCREDIBLE food!! The menu is consistently changing, but a personal favorite staple of mine is the rabbit dish!! {Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce} Talk about cooked to perfection yumminess!! My mouth waters each and every time this dish crosses my mind, which is quite often! Another is the Beef Carpaccio with Crisped Capers and Parmesan Many of my other favorites I no longer see on the menu, which makes this place even that much more exciting!! I recently went to brunch and was NOT disappointed! Table favorite? 1|She-Crab Soup with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat and Cream Sherry! (My boyfriend is still talking about it! smooth, rich, and DREAMY) We also ordered : 2| Smoked Salmon "Eggs Benedict" on Toasted English Muffins with Citrus Hollandaise (our second favorite!!) 3| Wild Mushroom, Bacon & Goat Cheese Quiche with a French Bean and Grape Tomato Salad (The salad was an excellent addition to the quiche, Mmmmm) 4| Brioche French Toast with Banana-Mascarpone, Walnuts, Maple Berry Syrup (Delicious "dessert" portion of our brunch!) 5| Crispy Rock Shrimp Salad with a Napa Cabbage Slaw and Sweet Pepper Remoulade (We were least impressed with this dish, while good, was just over shadowed by the other dishes...)
(5)
Connie J.
Great atmosphere and views. Service and food were exceptional.
(5)
Julia S.
One of my favorite restaurants I've ever been to--and I'm a big foodie :) The waitstaff is incredibly friendly and knowledgable, and left us laughing more than once. The food was superb--every dish we ordered we loved, from the heirloom tomatoes and crab cake to the rabbit and atlantic salmon AND the dessert--chocolate salted caramel grotto and a creamy ginger pudding of sorts with hazelnut toffee. YUM. The pace is leisurely so that you can really enjoy the food, wine, and view. The gardens are wonderful to take a stroll in afterwards, sit by the river, get a drink at the bar... I really have to say I loved this place, and would absolutely recommend it to others. I am surprised to see a few less-than-enthused reviews... some are about the price. Yes, it is expensive! But not really more so than any other fine dining restaurant--apps between 8 and 16, entrees around 24 each, give or take, and desserts 8. Pretty reasonable for the generous service (our waiter gave us two extra servings of their housemade bread to go home with some of my leftovers!), delicious food, and lovely ambience. P.S. To the person who complained they had no WiFi... well perhaps you shouldn't go to fine dining with a great view if you're going to be on your phone the whole time anyway! :)
(5)
Andrew H.
Canoe was top notch. The service was outstanding, the food was impeccable, even their take on standard cocktails were uniquely delicious. It's not cheap but it is well worth the experience, especially given that many restaurants in Atlanta are just as expensive but far inferior.
(5)
Michelle S.
My husband surprised me for our 1 year anniversary with reservations at Canoe. I had heard great things about the restaurant, but never been. I was a little concerned as I had thought this restaurant would be a little to "stuffy" for us. We started with drinks at the bar and then took a walk near the river. It was a little chilly outside, so we couldn't enjoy the outdoor space for very long, but we will surely be back in the Spring/Summer to do so! We were seated near the window and started off with the poached pear salad and one of the their appetizer specials; pork tenderloin with bacon jam -- wow! melt in your mouth! Our server was fantastic. He was able to describe each item that we asked about and even convinced us on how delicious the rabbit entree was. I tend to eat pork or chicken, while my husband is a red meat and potato guy. I decided to go out on a limb and order the duck and my husband ordered the NY Strip. He said he wouldn't have ordered the rabbit if i didn't!!! The rabbit was so tender and delicious and was not gamey at all. The rabbit came with a bacon ravioli and butternut squash - holy moly it was divine! And of course we couldn't leave with out dessert - Mocha Latte Cheesecake. It was okay. The consistency was a little too dense and not as creamy as I would have liked. But it still tasted delicious! The best part of our dinner was the service. We had no idea that our server, Darren was in fact in training and that the "back server", Evan was in fact the server who had been there for years. Darren was so professional, yet he was able to communicate and adapt to us. There was a business dinner table right next to us who were very dry and rude, but when Darren approached our table, he did not let the other table bring his attitude down. Great food and great service. We will be back!
(5)
Elaine L.
The restaurant is really good. When I went it was really packed, so get a reservation if you are going! The food was pretty good. My date and I got the oyster and smoked salmon (half) as our appetizers. He liked it but I feel like they cover up the natural taste of the ingredients too much. All I got from the oyster is the spoonful of pickles and salmon the cottage cheese (? it was something heavy and creamy). The actual entree was pretty good, it's a bit heavy. I feel like it needs better pairing for the vegetables that goes with it. I got the rabbit, I just feel like it's really greasy and needed something that will soak up the grease and make it not so greasy. It was good at first bite but eventually I got a bit tired of it. My date's was really good though, he got the short ribs and paired with mashed potato and pickled cabbage (this was a good pairing, though heavy but it wasn't greasy). All in all, it's pretty good. They have good food I have to say, but it's just not my cup of tea. So I'll give it a 3.5/5 (I rounded up lol) because I feel like if meat heavy food is your thing, then this would be great.
(4)
Mick D.
A friend of mine introduced me to Canoe specifically for some soup they have on the menu. And she was right. But everything they do here is done with intent and attention. Breads and pastries are baked daily. Food is meticulously crafted and presented. The atmosphere is comfortable and welcoming. Situated next to the river, the whole place provides a relaxed, yet polished ambiance. I need to check out their brunch. I hope you'll meet me there.
(5)
Adnan D.
After dinner make sure you take a walk around the restaurant. great scenery.
(4)
Anjali S.
With so many reviews written already there is not much I can offer. I visited for brunch and I have to say I was pretty impressed with the view sitting on the patio facing the water. It was really quaint and actually relaxing. It made me feel totally removed from the city. The star rating would have been 5 just for the incredibly scrumptious baked goods! (but i have other issues detailed below) I am still dreamily reflecting on the texture and taste of a savory herb cheese biscuit included in our mixed basket (you can get a basket of savory goods or sweet or both- we chose both)...I will admit here that even after brunch on my way home I could not contain myself and ate half of a sticky bun that was leftover from the basket. I also have to be honest and say that if I were to ever return for brunch it would only be for the baked goods. Other than that, I think the brunch items are overpriced breakfast items I could get elsewhere. I also think service can be spotty. They either want to be very respectful of your space and leave you alone or service is slow. It seemed there was a forever wait between looking over the menu, ordering, getting coffee, getting the meal, getting the tobasco I asked for etc. But all in all, based on the menu and other reviews, I am interested to give dinner a try as well.
(3)
Fitz M.
Folks, Canoe is the kind of place you bring friends and family for that special dinner. I suppose customers would enjoy it too but I like that it feels like my personal restaurant. I start with a martini (vodka) and walk through the garden down to the river. After the edge is off I check on my table and usually it's time to sit down. The wait staff does a great job of welcoming you and asking you a few particulars to get a sense of what your occasion is. The complimentary mixed bread appetizer is delicious and gives new guests confidence that the other menu items are going to be great too. I have to admit that I'm not a foodie, so I rarely remember what I have to eat here. Then why do I love this place??? The service and the atmosphere. So eat at Canoe but take the time to enjoy the experience.
(5)
Tonya C.
Best date night ever. So romantic. And the food was devine!! I had the steak and we also had the daily special appetizer of smoked salmon. AWESOME. Creme brulee was great too Dine outside... This is my fave place period!!
(5)
Parker D.
I went here for bunch and ordered the crab and eggs. So good especially with the bernaise sauce drizzled all over it.
(5)
Allison S.
I love this place!!!! Amazing food with unique flavor profiles! Now- this place can be quite pricey, but it is so worth it!!!
(5)
Anna D.
Canoe deserves its reputation as one of the top restaurants in Atlanta. I've only had brunch and lunch here, both of which were excellent. I think every single one of my out-of-town visitors has been taken to brunch here. While I typically steer clear of the pastries and go straight for mimosas and pheasant and eggs (or duck and eggs... they usually have some variant of this on the menu), my latest visitor ordered us a basket of the pastries and they were amazing. I can't believe I've been missing out! There's pretty much nothing better than brunch out on their patio, overlooking their gardens along the Chattahoochee.
(5)
Sean M.
I decided to try this place, being someone who had never been to this restaurant had advised me to try it. The restaurant is located in the middle of a more affluent area in northwest Atlanta within the perimeter. There is only "complimentary" parking at the restaurant. Once you enter the establishment you will be pleasantly greeted and deluged with a darkly lite romantic decor. As you are guided to your table you will notice each table has its own personal energy and casual lighting. Each table possesses just enough personal space enticing one to engage in romantic play. My server was named Jenna, she introduced herself professionally and cordially handed me the menu and began to describe all of the entree's and appetizers in great detail. After her dissertation of the menu, I had expressed to Jenna that I do not partake in red meat and pork, so she then recommended of the menu that which is tailored to my diet. After pondering her recommendations and glancing the menu I then decided to try the Calendar Island Mussels with Housemade Andouille, Sofrito Broth, Grilled Sourdough and Cornmeal Crusted Rainbow Trout, Peruvian White Beans, Eggplant Hummus, Collards, Grape Tomato Vinaigrette with a glass of white wine. Before receiving my appetizer and entree, Jenna had introduced me to a choice of six different kinds of complimentary in house freshly baked bread. My god, i have never tasted breads that tasted this delicious in my life. My toes were curling, I could not get enough, I was in utter disbelief of the perfection of texture and taste of these breads. Of the six choices of bread, one of them was a raisin sweet bread and the other more like a spicy cracker, I cannot remember the other three. As far as I am concerned the bread was the most impressive appetizer dish I had that evening. When I received my Calendar Island Mussels I was quite disappointed, The "Andouille" that came inside the appetizer was actually a pork based sausage. Unfortunately Jenna overlooked this by mistake , and did not inform me of the sausage .Jenna did offer to take back the dish to have it remade without the sausage, but I declined. I did not want her to get in trouble, not that she would, but who knows, I just ate around it. Nonetheless it kind of dampened the experience, after eating the toe curling breads with butter. The Mussels were tasty but nothing really special. When I received the entree of Rainbow Trout it was excellently presented, perfectly cooked and encrusted, it was very tasty, but nothing really special also. All together outside of the bread, my other two dishes did not justify the price in my opinion. If I am going to pay this kind of price , I expect the food to be toe curling like the in house made bread, and the entree's must be of a much larger portion. The restaurant itself is beautiful being located on a serene river with seasonally changed outdoor landscaping. There is also a outdoor bar with strategically placed seating designed to take advantage of the landscape and river scenery . Jenna was excellent and she also gave me a short tour of the outside area including their herb garden where the restaurant derives a lot of its seasoning from. Ending I would recommend Canoe as a perfect experience for a outdoor wedding, romance dinner or a special date.The people who work here are very professional and attentive, everyone greets you and makes you feel like royalty.
(4)
Simon C.
This is quite simply one of the best restaurants in metro Atlanta... Amazing food and impeccable service. The rack of lamb was to die for
(5)
Brian K.
I just had the opportunity to dine at Canoe for the first time and I can unequivocally state that it was among the very best dining experiences I've had in Atlanta. Everything from the service to the ambience and food was simply impeccable. Food: The delightfully varied menu of Canoe blends expertly-executed American and Continental fare. Every offering is characterized by innovative flavor combinations and only the freshest of ingredients. During my first visit, I opted to start with the warm artisan cheese salad with bacon, baby spinach, and dried cranberries; the dish was accompanied by a pecan vinaigrette dressing, which nicely complemented the warm baked brie that topped the salad. Based on the recommendation of our waitress, I opted for the roasted rabbit as an entree, which was served atop bacon ravioli, sweet potato hash, and candied garlic sauce; the dish was absolutely superb. For dessert, I ordered the orange cranberry bread pudding with white chocolate chunks; the dish was light and delicious, but I would have preferred if the white chocolate flavor was more pronounced. Service: Every staff member our party came into contact with, from the valet to the waitress, was professional, courteous, and efficient. It was particularly refreshing to have a waitress with a personality and the ability to recommend dishes that weren't necessarily the most expensive on the menu; I've personally found that this quality is becoming rapidly extinct in the Atlanta restaurant scene. Atmosphere: Sophisticatedly upscale, yet not pretentious. The clientele is mixed, but mostly comprised of middle-aged to older individuals. There were a few patrons that were underdressed, but for the most part the dress is business casual; ladies would fit in nicely with a cocktail dress and gentleman would be well advised to avoid jeans. Cost. Expensive by most standards. Appetizers cost between $8 and $15, entrees cost between $20 and $30, and desserts are all $8. For the most part, full dinner and drinks for a party of two will exceed $100. Other: Canoe is attached to the end of a strip mall, but that doesn't necessarily quell the overall dining experience. The restaurant is directly adjacent to the banks of the Chattahoochee River, which affords a tranquil and natural aesthetic that most reasonable individuals would find pleasant.
(5)
Josh S.
Wonderful food, great service but a little loud. Our waiter Justin made great recommendations and every one wished my partner a happy birthday! Made it a ver wonderful night.
(5)
David S.
Truly one of the top restaurants in the Atlanta area! Great service too.
(5)
Sarah M.
I finally came to Canoe for a baby shower a few weeks ago. Wow - what a stunning place - the views are truly breathtaking. I need to come back on a date! Our meal was fantastic - I had grilled salmon over spaghetti squash with orange and pecans and greens. Healthy, great texture and flavor. The bread we had before was also delicious and I only wish there had been more of those flaky pecan buns! For dessert, I had a raspberry cheesecake - yum. Canoe delivers great food with a beautiful setting!
(5)
Annie L.
I can see why this place continuously receives high ratings. Canoe is a cute restaurant, with an upscale vibe without the snootiness. You can come here and dress up (cocktail dress) or dress down (jeans with a dressy top). Parking: The restaurant has complimentary valet parking. Entrance/seating: Upon entering, you're instantly greeted by a hostess who directs you to your table. We requested indoor seating next to the large windows and received just that. It really is the best seat in the house. You get the view of outside without really being outside. Service: What really blew me away was our server. She was bright, cheerful, and extremely accommodating. I believe "Hope" was her name. She always came at the right moments without being too overwhelming. Food: They offer complimentary bread. They come by and offer you an assortment of bread slices, including sourdough, cranberry (my fave), olive, and some crispy cracker looking bread (don't know). Foods that we ordered were: * Beet salad: We had it split between us. It was DELICIOUS. While it was tangy, it wasn't overpowering at all b/c of the creamy goat cheese that complimented it well. It had a tangy/savory aspect to it. * Duck burger: Cooked to perfection. It was juicy and flavorful. There was an egg that came on top of the meat patty, and it oozed creamy goodness. The fries had flakes of parmesan cheese on it. Fries tasted like fries. * Duck breast with crepe: The crepe wasn't my favorite; it had an off taste to it. The duck was very tender and juicy, though. I liked the blackberry that came with it. * Popcorn ice-cream: GET THIS. It is sooooooo good! Words cannot describe the heavenly explosion in my mouth. It was creamy, sweet, with a bit of crunch. YUM. * Chocolate grotto: This wasn't my favorite dessert, but I can see why people who love chocolate would enjoy this. It's a chocolate shell with a creamy, overly sweet filling inside. Pricing: A bottle of wine, an appetizer split, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts was a little over $100. Definitely worth the price. I adore this place and will come again soon...probably for a "special occasion."
(5)
Cloe A.
This place is amazing, and the staff is very nice! There was a round table with 8 very loud people next to me and my friend when we went for my birthday. Our waitress apologized to us, it did not bother us very much, but it was appreciated. At the end of our diner, the general manager came to us with 3 different deserts and offered them to us as an apology for the uncontrollable noise our neighbors did during our diner! They did not have to buy us deserts, neither three, but they were so good that we did not feel bad after all!!!
(4)
Jenna B.
Went here for brunch this past weekend after making a reservation on Open Table. The group I was with goes out to eat all the time and we are very familiar with the Atlanta dining scene. That said, I don't think we have ever had such a positive dining experience! The service was over the top wonderful, everyone loved the dishes that they ordered (including a very picky vegetarian), and we were all blown away over how delicious the Bloody Marys were. We even made reservations to come back next weekend before we had finished our meal. P.S. If anyone who works at Canoe reads this....you should definitely consider bottling and selling your Blood Mary mix!
(5)
Mimi C.
When my friend showed me Canoe about a year ago, I made him promise to take me here when I visited. We chose to eat here before my flight back which was a good call after having a full weekend. Canoe is easy on the eyes and relaxing - in a private retreat kind of way. We picked brunch so we could enjoy the wonderful views (though, I'm sure it's equally beautiful at night). They sit right next to a secluded river which you can walk up to and the outside seating area (includes a classy bar) has a wonderful view of the river and the surrounding gardens (gardens belong to Canoe). They even have a little side secret garden if you walk a little further -- you can see planted veggies, a wooden swing, comfy lounge chairs. We ordered a basket of their morning buns and scones (SMALL) -- VERY sufficient for 3 people.. I would not recommending eating too much of this (difficult) before your entrees arrive. We also ordered the sea crab bisque -- it's one of their signature dishes but I thought it was too creamy (if that's possible). Entrees (taken verbatim from menu) -- "Crab & Eggs" - Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Soft Scrambled Eggs and Hash Brown Potatoes* 18 Fried Green Tomato "Eggs Benedict," House Canadian Bacon and Chipotle Hollandaise* 15 Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict on Toasted English Muffins with Citrus Hollandaise* 15 ....I think we were quite full from our pastry basket that we didn't have much room for our bennys. But they were good -- I think the fried green tomatoes were the best (and it is their signature) -- the extra crunch helps! Otherwise, they all tasted very similiar given all that hollandaise (in retrospect, I should've asked for easy on the sauce). I have had better bennys elsewhere at a cheaper price but you are paying for ambiance here. They do have weddings here!! BEAUTIFUL location!! It's the kind of place to get engaged, married, or have any kind of special occassion happen. =) It is really really quite special and unique here. Valet parking only in their lot but I think you might be able to get away with parking at their neighboring lot. When we walked out.. we found a Ferrari, Porsche, Maserati parked outside. I guess the rich know how to eat well.
(4)
Laura A.
Service and food were both wonderful. The menu is varied and everything we tried was delicious
(5)
Scott N.
We celebrated our anniversary here in June 2010, and the food, view, and service were excellent. We had a table at the window overlooking the river. The place can be very noisy, though. The table next to us was a larger party of 6 or 7, and had no respect for people around them. I don't understand why people feel it is normal to yell in restaurants these days. As soon as one table starts, everyone has to do it to hear the person across from them :-p If you can stand the noise inside (or eat outside), the place is nice, but...Make reservations!
(4)
Stephen F.
My wife and I came here about 3 weeks ago and I was disappointed. Maybe I built it up by reading so many great reviews. My wife had the duck and beef burger and it came out bloody and had to be sent back. I ordered the trout and thought it was so so. The food is over priced compared to some of the great restaurants in Atlanta. The service was good. The ambiance and bar by the river made the night much better. If it wasn't for the service and ambiance I would of given the experience 2 stars.
(3)
Carol H.
I went here recently for a friend's wedding and thought the place was great. The food was interesting and very tasty and the wait staff was incredibly nice and very attentive.
(4)
Brandon M.
I really wanted to love Canoe, but I cannot. I've relegated it to "Sunday brunch only" status, because I do believe that it is the nicest brunch in Atlanta. For brunch only, I would give it 5 stars. Throw in my 1-star dinner experiences, though, and it averages out to 3 overall. Brunch: Besides the phenomenal menu (more later), brunch affords you the luxury of a nice view of the Chattahoochee that just isn't really there later at night. The garden & the river are a nice backdrop, and the restaurant seating is aligned to show this off. Brunch has been a "never had anything less than 'good'" experience for me, but the duck burger, shrimp-crawdads-eggs-&-grits, & at least 2 different flavors of their eggs benedict have all been big winners that I recommend. The sweet rolls are good too, but don't bother taking them out of the restaurant...they're only good fresh. Service has been pretty good, as well, even when it's quite busy which is pretty much always at brunch. It does get pretty noisy there at brunch in the main area, but at night it's been much quieter. Dinner: I've had dinner here 3 times, and each experience has been "bad". Not just "bad" like "disappointing", but bad from a "can you believe they just did that?" bad. On 3 different occasions I've had experiences pretty much ruin the dinner. The worst was when we told the waitress that we wanted our main courses boxed up (we had multiple appetizers and salads to start, and no one had even eaten half of their main course). She picked up the plates, SAT THEM ON TOP OF EACH OTHER, and then said "Huh? What was that?" After being told a second time that we had asked to have them to be boxed up, she said "You still want them?" as she pointed to the stack of plates, and after we understandably said "Not now", she said "Oh, ok", and then left! Wow. The thought that someone like that could even be employed there made me shake my head. But the service has been relatively bad every time. We were eating there relatively late, and there is a general malaise in all of the workers. Maybe management steps out around 8:30 or 9pm so they all relax? I can't come up with any other reason, but as it is they've lost a dinner customer.
(3)
Dynomutt F.
So, perhaps Canoe used some manner of telepathy to learn that my birthday is about as important to me as that cute bee costume is to my cat (for which I paid $5 so you're gonna wear it whether you like it or not, you always-wakin-me-at-five-a.m. harpy). Even so, someone wanted it to be a special night for me, and although the experience was pretty good, it was nothing close to a 5-star meal, unless we're operating by Applebee's standards. Most of the people at Canoe are great: the hostess friendly and effervescent, the wait staff well-trained and attentive, the runners efficient. The setting, especially on this evening, was wonderful. I was led to a table on the patio, which is not screened, but has fans set to a sufficient speed to keep mosquitoes away. Mist hung low against the Chattahoochee and as the sun went into hiding and the outdoor lights flickered into life, the fog thickened and began to blanket the river banks. Hummingbirds flitted to and fro, enticed by the feeder a few feet away. I was not alone in celebrating. Most guests around me were there for birthdays or anniversaries. My server was Ken, who seemed a bit green but was nonetheless well-practiced in the menu. The first thing to annoy me about the experience was that Canoe has the typical in-and-out American restaurant feel. From the time I was seated, it was clear that, although there would be no explicit pressure to speed the meal along, all of the servers have either been directed or see it in their interest to whiz through as many tables as possible. In such ambience, and with the expectation of a wonderful meal in store, I had no desire to be rushed through the process as though I was party #132 at Macaroni Grille. In the words of Mallory Knox, "Next time, don't be so fucking eager!" I drank water, though I'd been craving ginger ale, because Canoe has only bottled Seagram's. I have a dream that, one day, great restaurants will put as much focus into serving wonderful non-alcoholic beverages as into beer, wine and spirits. A selection of fresh bread was brought - sourdough, cranberry raisin and walnut, olive, and a peppery flatbread. I tried all but the sourdough and they were very good. I don't know why it is so uncommon to find untoasted bread with a meal, but I was glad to have it that night, served with softened butter. The olive bread was my favorite. I started with the warm cheese salad and the corn soup. The salad of spinach and endive was topped with a thick slice of slightly melted sheep's milk cheese from Spain, chopped bacon and pecans, and a sweet and tart cherry vinaigrette ($12). I loved it. The savory bacon and brie-like cheese went well with the nuts and the sweet bite of the dressing. The soup, however, did not impress me. It was a velvet blend, with the subtle flavor of sweet corn and an avocado cream that did little to enhance the serving ($8). All I could imagine as I ate it was that it was probably little different from what is served in a typical nursing home. I was allowed no time to rest and appreciate the surroundings after finishing the soup and salad. The main course arrived within moments. The scallops ($30) were served over a creamy concoction that I forgot to ask about, and were topped with potato sticks, and diced asparagus and bacon. The scallops themselves were firm and had a strong seafood flavor. Personally, I prefer them to be buttery and to melt in my mouth, but this wasn't my plate and I was alone in my dissatisfaction with them. I ordered the quail ($26), which was stuffed with a foie gras and brioche dressing and served atop greens, with a couple of bites of roasted plum. Though cooked to a medium-rare temperature, the quail was quite dry on its own. Together with all of the other ingredients, each bite was much better, but the flavors that I'd have loved to have detected - the creamy deliciousness of the liver, the buttery richness of the stuffing - were overpowered by the sweetness of the plum and dryness of the bird. Perhaps too much subtlety, again. Sure, there are times when we love the subtle sensuality of 1940s film noir, but also times we want to hear Asa Akira beg to have her rectum damaged. I'd have liked to have had a better blend of the two from Canoe. Luckily, the latter was exactly what I got for dessert, in the form of the Chocolate Grotto (although now on second thought I'm reconsidering the previous sodomy reference given the context of cacao) - a small chocolate torte topped with a hazelnut and caramel crème, encased in a hard chocolate shell, and then dusted with salt and pretzel crumbs. Amazing. I restrained myself with such small bites, savoring each with such delight. This would have been a 4-star meal at $60. Unfortunately, it cost twice that, so I must raise the bar substantially and Canoe didn't deliver at that level. Another five bucks to the valet to drive my car fifty feet and not even open the door for my guest was a final disappointment. Overall, 6/10.
(3)
Kristen M.
Just as everyone else has said, the food/service/decor is amazing. Try the popcorn sundae!!!
(5)
Susan C.
One of my favorite restaurants....food is great, service is attentive but not overbearing and the setting is beautiful
(4)
Kendra M.
The best food and customer service I've ever had.
(5)
Steven B.
I was looking for a nice restaurant to take my wife and daughter. Canoe fit the bill perfectly. The food was sublime and Kevin, our waiter, was attentive, knowledgable, and funny. Our experience at Canoe could not have been better, unless of course, it was free. Speaking of which, Sunday brunch for the 3 of us including tips, was $100. You will not be disappointed if you go to Canoe.
(5)
Dori C.
Great food, location, service - my favorite in Atlanta
(5)
Alison G.
Buckle in, y'all, 'cause this is gonna be a long one! A friend gave Boyfriend and I a gift card to Canoe last year. We kept putting off going because we're not really fancy people, but with Boyfriend turning 30 this year (and reading all the excellent ratings on Yelp), I finally made our reservations on Open Table. As always, I made sure to compliment the restaurant in the Open Table "special request" section ("I have heard nothing but wonderful things about Canoe and am so looking forward to coming!"), and I mentioned it was Boyfriend's 30th birthday. When we arrived, the hostess wished him a happy birthday, and so did everyone else for the entire evening. It definitely made him feel special, and I was glad that they cared (especially since Open Table sent me an email saying no special requests could be honored). Our waiter was friendly, fun, and knowledgeable though I'm pretty sure he had the A Perfect Circle logo tattooed on his arm, which seemed weird for such a pricey place. I don't really care, I just thought it seemed worth mentioning. The thing about Canoe is, it can't seem to make up its mind about what kind of place it is. Cloth napkins and $30 entrees, but no one pushes in your chair or wipes away your crumbs. I can't decide how I feel about that, because on the one hand I hate when people are all up on my nuts, but at the price point I was kind of expecting it. We sat outside, which was gorgeous, but the interior could have been Houston's or something--nothing was really unique about it. I ordered a raspberry soda, which was strong and delicious. The bread guy came around and I grabbed some sourdough and flatbread. The flatbread was wicked freakin' good and I was so tempted to ask if I could just buy some to take home. I would have liked to have a personal basket of bread on the table, because no one wants to be like, "Hey bread guy, more free food over here please!" We ordered the smoked salmon and the crab cake for our apps. Both were INSANE. Best versions of both of those dishes I've ever had, hands down. After those, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the panko-crusted cod. Well, I kinda could. In all honesty there was nothing on the entree menu that screamed, "ORDER ME," but the server really sang the praises of the cod so I went with it. When it arrived I was struck by two things; 1) the portion size was pretty measly and 2) It didn't really taste like anything. Boyfriend was smitten with his rabbit, which came with bacon ravioli. For someone like me, who loves plain ol' American fare, I kept thinking if I could just mix and match some of the dishes on the menu, I'd be happy. Bacon ravioli is up my alley, but rabbit isn't. Cod is delicious, but I'm not a fan of beans, which is what the cod was resting on. Scallops sounded delicious, but sweet potato puree really doesn't do it for me. I guess despite my efforts to be classy, I'm really more of an Outback kinda gal than a Canoe one. Sad trombone. For dessert we split the creme brulee, and it was ZOMG so good. I can't even. I don't. No words. Best. Mmmm. I really hate to say it because I know everyone else loves this place, and the service was awesome (well it started out awesome at 7, but as the night wore on we became less of a priority), and I had been looking forward to the meal for so long, but the main course at Canoe was the downfall of the meal. And I think for a $30 piece of fish, it should be pretty damn good. I'd say stick to apps and desserts, or maybe come for brunch or lunch. And bring a couple bucks for the valet, because we hadn't really planned ahead for that. I guess we are not really Canoe-level clientele and that's fine since I'll never be able to afford going there again. We were treated very well and had a great time, I just wish I wasn't hungry an hour after paying $150 for dinner.
(4)
Alice L.
Definitely one of the best restaurants in Atlanta. Consistently good food, excellent service, and gorgeous ambiance. One time, I saw a wedding reception taking place in the back --- can't think of a more romantic place to get married in Atlanta than on the river banks at sunset, with amazing food. We came here on two separate occasions (both for our anniversary). Note: no self parking here, only valet parking. First time (Sept 2010): Appetizers - shared Canoe's House Smoked Salmon on Potato Cake, and summer corn soup. Both amazing and delicious... I think I preferred the corn soup, but that's just my taste. Waiter graciously split the appetizers onto 2 plates for us --- how nice! Entrees - got 2 of the favorites: slow roasted Carolina rabbit and grilled Atlantic salmon. The rabbit certainly sounded amazing, but it was bit too gamy and dense for us with meaty rabbit taste, bacon, and a heavy sauce --- we had a lot of trouble finishing the dish. The salmon, though, was what brought us back the second time --- they cooked it medium-rare, and the middle was reminiscent of high-grade sashimi. On top of a bed of spaghetti squash, this salmon dish was light, flavorful, and hit all the right spots. Surprise dessert! - Waiter was nice enough to offer us a complimentary berry sorbet for our anniversary --- even had a little message on it in chocolate drizzle! We couldn't finish it (way too full from all the delicious food), but still an unexpected and happy surprise for us. Second time we came (Sept 2012): Appetizer - shared heirloom tomatoes appetizer. These fresh tomatoes apparently are transported from Alabama daily, so I had to try them! Wasn't particularly impressed by the taste (I thought fresh tomatoes were supposed to taste amazingly different from average grocery tomatoes), but very light, fresh tasting tomatoes for a good start to dinner. Entrees - Of course, the salmon again, and the grouper. The grouper came on a bed of mashed potatoes and some veggies (i.e. corn, carrots, etc.) -- really delicious. However, I was disappointed by the salmon. It's not that it wasn't well cooked --- I was just expecting that same lightly-salted sashimi-centered taste, but I think they used smoked salmon instead of fresh salmon? It was overwhelmingly smoky, which is good if that's what you like, but the smokiness weighs down the light salmon taste. I'm not sure if they changed the way they cook the salmon, or if this was a fluke, or if I was just mistaken the first time. All in all, still a must-visit restaurant for the serious foodie visiting or living in Atlanta. As for the bread service, but the cheesy flatbread (more like a cracker) is hands down my favorite.
(5)
Vonda D.
I went to Canoe one year for my birthday and had a very pleasant time. The service was fantastic and the view of the river was great. They were setting up for a wedding, so that was fun to watch. Overall a great experience!
(5)
Ann C.
Leah was our amazing and beautiful server. She took excellent care of us. Canoe is fabulous. We celebrated a birthday today. Food was great, service was superb, view was really nice. HIGHLY recommend. Worth every penny. Innovative, varied menu. Great chefs.
(5)
Elana R.
Very memorable and delicious! Impeccable service, beautiful ambiance. I especially loved the beet salad that was presented like a tartare and the trio of creme brulee, which included chocolate, basil and passionfruit mini creme brulees. The cocktails are also inventive and delicious - I had the ginger cocktail and would definitely recommend it.
(5)
Paige N.
I can't say enough good things about Canoe, really I can't. This place is just beyond wonderful! "Double cool with knobs" as the Brits might say. The two times I've come have been with my family for special occasions; once when my parents came down to visit me at Emory for Parents' Weekend and the second time when I graduated from Emory. And both times were immensely memorable. The setting couldn't be more grand with a luxurious view of the Chattahoochee River flowing by, which people can wander down to while waiting for their tables in warm weather (I spied a lot of people having their pictures taken by friends posing in front of it). The restaurant itself is all class and elegance inside and the staff is top-notch. Each time I've been the waiters have introduced themselves, told us the daily specials from memory and always, always had this bread basket of multiple freshly baked breads circulating so your plate was never empty. I opted for the raisin bread (so good!) both times and had to remind myself my main course of rabbit was coming soon. I went for it because it's something not normally available, and it was a great choice. My mom had scallops with ravioli and my dad had trout, and both cleaned their plates as well. Then, for dessert our server brought out a slice of chocolate deliciousness with the words "Congratulations on Graduation" written around it in chocolate syrup. The perfect end to a perfect meal. While we nearly rolled out of the restaurant afterwards, it was so well worth it. I certainly can't eat so richly on a regular basis, but for special occasions, Canoe can't be beat.
(5)
Rick F.
Best Brunch it Atlanta! From the valet to the hostess, to Hope our server and Aga who lent an assist as needed. Love the teamwork with the staff. The decor was great, warm, very comfortable and what's not to love about the river and all the great seating areas to pass the time away. I'm very impressed with the chef's garden and the use of homegrown ingredients when possible, the honey from the bee's in the back is amazing! Now for the food! Scones and Sticky Buns, WOW! fresh, warm and tasty! Gazpacho soup was just right on and warm day like today. Crab and Eggs were the best brunch food I've ever had! I need to find out where they buy the eggs! Perfect in every way!
(5)
Marge L.
If you are a fan of brunch on the weekends, then be sure to hit up Canoe for some of the best brunch that I've had in a long time. The brunch is great, but what I enjoy the most is the variety of options that they have available for brunch. The view is awesome and it feels super cozy and romantic overlooking the riverbank. I'm a huge fan!
(5)
Esther K.
Disappointed experience- Horrible service overshadowed the food and experience... I was really excited to finally dine at Canoe due to the immense recommendation and reviews. My experience was sub par. Highly disappointed from start to end... We went there for a birthday party for two individuals' birthdays and for a table of 11 people we only had 1 server. On top of only having one server for a large party the server was extremely unfriendly and poorly skilled in representing Canoe. She was condescending during our whole dining experience. The appetizers and meal was above average but nothing spectacular. It was well prepared but flavor was not memorable. Also, a manager never came by to check to see how our dining experience was. (Probably due to the foreshadowing of individuals voicing a negative dining experience). I called later to speak to a manager about our experience and he was extremely aloof and unapologetic, and did not call me back as he said he would. Despite the relaxed countryside and beautifully landscaped area in the back and cozy appearance of the restaurant I would not recommend this restaurant to my large network of colleagues and friends. Another case of "don't judge a book by its cover." There are plenty of other spectacular and mouth orgasmic restaurants in Atlanta that deserve and appreciate Atlanta's Foodies' business and experience!
(2)
Honest A.
Pricy excellent food and service with a pleasant view of the river. It's hard to be disappointed here.
(4)
Fuk Y.
Beef and Duck burger was good, but not 16-dollar worth good (should had listened to my wife).I have had plenty of burgers for about 8-10 dollars. I also ordered Prince Edward Island Mussels, Ginger, Lemon Grass, Thai Coconut Broth to go. My wife did not like it. I sat at the bar. The service was very good.
(3)
Catherine C.
food was delicious. get the African squash soup to start and split it because it's so good you can't stop yourself and won't have room for your amazing dinner! will definitely go back when the sun is still up next time to see the view of the river!
(5)
Jie Y.
Food: absolute ambrosia Service: very warm and friendly atmosphere: decent Price: reasonable.except 30-40 per person
(5)
Jacqui C.
Brought my boyfriend here for his birthday and he loved it! Food and service were excellent. I had the rock shrimp salad and he had the lamb sandwich. Their bread was fresh and unique. The view was beautiful and the restaurant is spacious. Afterwards, we walked along the creek in the back patio part of the restaurant.
(5)
Michael L.
A (very generous) friend of ours treated us to this spot a month or so ago- Don't know why it took me so long to actually write this review- but here's what we had. Slow roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss chard and bacon ravioli- This was my entree- and though it was pretty decent, it was actually the "worst" dish among all the ones we got. The sweet sauce that the rabbit was swimming in was just not very complex- the rabbit itself was tender (as it should be), and the chard and ravioli were pretty good. This dish wasn't bad at all (there's a reason why it's one of their signature dishes), but it just didn't shine the night we were there. (3.5) Striped bass with bacon risotto- In contrast to my dish, this one was phenomenal. The bass held together very well, but flaked upon a gentle push against the flesh- I forgot the ingredients used to flavor the fish, but it was really good. Bacon + anything usually means it's going to taste good. And the risotto did not disappoint. (4.5) Pheasant and pheasant dark meat croquettes- I got a bite of both the pheasant and the croquettes- and man were they tasty! The croquette was perfectly fried, not too salty, great texture. (4.5) Grilled duck breast- Again, another phenomenal dish. I never knew duck breast could be cooked medium-rare- and still taste great! (4.5) We really liked taking a walk into their vegetable garden and around the rest of the waterfront- this is just a great spot to have dinner with good friends and/or family. Definitely a special occasions type of place for us. (4.25)
(4)
Alex C.
Always a place to visit again and again. The duck and beef burger is the most value dish upon these kinds of restaurants.
(4)
Tim D.
Absolutely incredible dinner! My wife had the rabbit and I had the lamb, two of the most incredible dishes we have eaten since being in Atlanta! The restaurant was beautiful and the service was top notch. This is the kind of place that sets the standard from amazing restaurants. The bread was awesome and we have found another place to spend our time and money to eat the finest!
(5)
Daisy B.
I went with a large group for a birthday party (usually a recipe for disaster). The servers were great--although this is the kind of service where, when you ask where the restrooms are, they walk you all the way there, so sometimes a little intense. I am gluten-free, and they were well-informed about all the menu items and what I could have. I ordered a steak, which I almost never do, and it was possibly one of the best I've ever had in a restaurant. Cooked to perfection. The popcorn ice cream sundae was also delicious. Overall, a very nice experience.
(5)
Taylor A.
Is that Fonzworth Bentley? Goddamn right it is! When Fonzworth is somewhere you can bet your ass it's a classy joint. On the night my arm candy and I were at Canoe he rolled in wearing orange pants, and not in that Clemson frat-boy look, but in that smooth, put-together way only he can pull off. Anyways, on to the review. This place really is almost perfect in just about every way. The location, on the delicious, is this really Atlanta?, banks of the Chattahoochee river is picture perfect. They even have a waterfront bar if you want to be within an alligator bite of the water. I'm going there first the next time I'm here for dinner. Our waiter was that perfect balance between "I know everything about the menu, including the paternal lineage of our fennel seeds" and "You don't know what a veloute is?" There were some random long pauses between drink and order taking and checking in on us, but other than that our server was perfection. The food is world-class here. My ladyfriend started with the corn soup special and it was out of this world. This needs to make it onto the permanent menu. I was truly jealous I didn't order it, though the shrimp stuff calamari from their regular menu was amazing as well. Soft, not chewy calamari with some random sauces that complemented fantastically well. I had Peter Cottontail over some bacon ravioli and sweet potato hash. This is by far the best rabbit I've had, though my rabbit eating experience is rather limited. I'm certainly going to try it other places now, though I'm doubtful any place can top Canoe in this respect. My date had the duck which she mightily enjoyed, saved for a couple center pieces that were way undercooked. Mmmm, raw poultry! The veggie crepe wasn't anything special to either of us. The chocolate grotto as a finishing dessert was superb as well. It certainly warranted the, "get it" from the waiter. My date had a special dessert with pomegranate ice cream that tasted way too sour to me. She did like the cookie that came with it. Overall Canoe is an amazing restaurant for any special occasion. It's the kind of place you should go all out because it's really worth it. I expected it to be much more expensive for everything you get with the experience. Wonderful!
(4)
Shanon W.
My husband and I went here for our anniversary and we can't wait to go back. Everything from the food to the drinks to the ambience is spot on. The wait staff is very knowledgable in the wine selection, of which there is plenty to chose from, as well as the cocktails. The food is delicious and the deserts are worth "saving room for".
(5)
Adam C.
We had heard a lot about this place and wanted to check it out. The perfect occasion presented itself in the way of a business luncheon. It was lunch time, yet we were once again greeted by my latest pet-peeve of the Atlanta Valet Mafia. You know what I'm talking about: you pull into a lot and before you can even think about where you're going to park it, some young punk who just got his driver's license runs up to your car and politely demands you let him park it for you. That would be the Atlanta Valet Mafia that seems to be worming its way into every dining establishment that I've been to as of late. This place gets an A+++ for location and scenery. Located right on the banks of the river, you are literally watching the water flow slowly on by while you dine. You would be hard pressed to find a prettier view while dining anywhere else in the entire metro area. The decor is also really nicely done. If I were to call it anything, it's like rustic cabin chic. The service was flawless, polite and attentive to our every need. Multiple people came to check on us while we were enjoying our meals. I ordered the Turkey Burger, which was incredibly juicy, flavorful and tender. It was served with a cranberry spread on the top and bottom which enhanced the taste of the turkey. It was a bit overly salted in some places and I actually winced during one bite when I got a particularly salty note on my tongue. The french fries were perfectly cooked and tasty...and just the right serving size. My wife ordered the salmon and said it was not good at all. The texture was very chewy and the flavor wasn't nearly as good as it should have been for the level of restaurant that Canoe bills itself to be. The goat cheese was runny and overseasoned. The salmon also had way too much vinegar, as did the salad that was ordered with it. I don't think we've written Canoe off entirely. It's far too beautiful and romantic of a place to be forgotten as an option. I just think we'll try some other items on the menu next time.
(3)
Jessica B.
Venison, service and price were all perfect. Take your hot date here.
(5)
Min Y.
I dined here recently and had an amazing time. The service here is amazing, very attentive and they get little details down. The hostess seemed to know who I was right as I walked in and also made sure to pronounce my name correctly. She asked for the reason of our visit (anniversary) as well. They also knew I was a first-time diner, so i'm sure they're keeping track of visit dates as well. We started out with two cocktails, both were excellent but on the pricey side (minimum $10 no matter your selection). We then moved to our table and our waiter instantly knew my name and the fact that it was our anniversary. Our guy was a little off on his descriptions of the menu items (stumbled a few times), but I have to give him some slack since he basically has to memorize 20 different item descriptions. He was very attentive and also swept any food crumbs off the table at various points throughout the night. The food was excellent. I had the sage-roasted pheasant with sweet potatoes, which was both filling AND extremely tasty. We finished off the meal with a dessert (i forget what, something chocolate but that's not my thing) and they wrote "Happy Anniversary" on the plate, which was impressive. Other miscellaneous notes: 1. We were the only non-white people there that I could see. 2. Dress was not strict, but mostly people were wearing a nice shirt and pants (guys) or a dress (women). I don't think they would have kicked anyone out for not dressing up though. 3. At one point, I felt like dining at places like this all the time would make me very Patrick Bateman/American Psycho-esque. Reservations for Dorsia? I want to give it 5 stars, because it's probably the best restaurant I've dined in Atlanta... but the price is ridiculously expensive. I already mentioned the cocktails, and the entrees were all minimum $27. Desserts were all $8 too. I spent a ton of money here. I know that you have to pay for quality, and I do like this place a lot, but I just have to reserve 5-star reviews for restaurants which are amazing and have reasonable prices. Another negative about this place is the valet parking. Canoe is in a little mini-mini mall, and you have to valet your car. This is common in Atlanta, but most of the time somewhat necessary because nice restaurants in the city are in the middle of high traffic areas with limited parking. But in this case, the other shops next door are strict about not parking there, and the only parking lot for Canoe was literally right outside the door. The parking was complimentary, but you obviously have to tip the guys for the valet. This meant that I had to pay a tip to watch a man get in my car, close the door, and drive FIVE FEET and park it. When I saw that, I was laughing my ass off. Thanks, dude. I gave him 3 bucks which isn't a lot but I computed a $0.60 tip/feet driven cost. Anyway, 5 stars for food, service, atmosphere. -1 star for the exorbitant prices and the ridiculous valet situation. A very high quality 4 stars.
I have traveled to many places in my life, and I have eaten on great places..., but, I have never...NEVER... imagined that food could make me laugh the way the food in this place did. What I am trying to say is, the taste of the food in this restaurant is so amazing, that each bite you eat, will cause an inner joy... I can't find the words to express my experience in this place. I ordered NY Steak and this steak was by far, the best steak I have ever eaten. It was so amazing, my co-workers had to try it and we all started laughing because we couldn't believe how good it was. Until this day, we are still amazed with the food we ate at Canoe. Overall, the food is so good, that if I find out I have only 1 day left to live, and I had to choose my last dinner, I would definitely go to Canoe...and then..rest in peace. Highly recommended!
(5)
Christina G.
Maybe I'm the only person in the city who isn't completely in love with this place. The atmosphere is bit stuffy for my taste. Pros: Everyone was very friendly and accommodating. We had excellent cocktails. The view of the river and property is really nice. The outdoor bar is unique. Our dessert was excellent. We had the creme brulee trio and enjoyed each one. Cons: Parking is difficult. You must valet your car, and even with that service it's still a little hard to maneuver around in the strip mall parking lot. Our food was very underwhelming. I had a steak. It wasn't cooked to my specifications. In fact, I thought it was overcooked quite a bit. My boyfriend ordered lamb and really enjoyed it. Our server NEVER asked if we enjoyed our food. He just assumed it was amazing and went about his business. That kind of rubbed me the wrong way. Had he asked, I would have told him that I thought the steak was just ok. Things are pricey here. I feel that if I'm at a certain price-point I want things to be amazing...and this wasn't. I doubt we'll ever go back. In this price range, there are FAR better restaurants in Atlanta.
(2)
R C.
Absolutely loved the experience. I took my girlfriend here for our anniversary and had the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, the lemon butter sauce paired the flavors perfectly and came with a vegetable salad that was a good contrast from the crab cake. For our main courses I had Cod and she had rabbit, hers was so good I didn't get to try any... Haha, but my cod was seasoned and crusted well, it came on a bed of spinach and a sauce containing bacon, potatoes and carrot cubes. The atmosphere is joyful and energetic and awesome. The staff was extremely accommodating. We got the Chocolate Grotto for dessert and it was perfect, it had a peanut butter cream in it and some chocolate ganache. Every bit of the experience was perfect. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
SAJJAN S.
Update a year later: still excellent..still my favorite restaurant in Atlanta..
(5)
Derrick P.
Client travel to Atlanta, checked out the reviews here for the ATL area and was absolutely blown away! The oysters were out of this world, some of the best I've ever had. The rabbit was outstanding as well. I highly HIGHLY recommend this place. The atmosphere also is a huge part of my 5 stars.
(5)
Gail F.
This was a very disappointing experience. The first disappointment came when we were told to wait in the bar(fine) , ordered a drink but as we were just about to take our first sip we were approached and told our table was ready. Not a problem but the individual sensed my discomfort and said it was no problem for us to enjoy our drink and then go to our table. Not true because ten seconds later we were retrieved by the head mistress. We had an excellent table with the perfect view. The best part of our meal. I had a beet salad with goat cheese that was good but certainly nothing as spectacular as I would anticipate from such a highly rated establishment. My husband had oysters on the half shell that he enjoyed but missed some heat. For entrees he had rabbit that was fair at best while I had trout served over garlic grits.The only thing I could taste was garlic. It was truly awful and the absolute worst way Ihave ever been served trout. It ruined a nice price of fish. We will never return. It is not worth the money nor the hurry up we need this table to make more money feeling we had. There are many more restaurants that our money has been and will be better spent.
(2)
Ruth L.
5 stars everything! Food, check! Service, check! Atmosphere, check! I want to come back!
(5)
Ashley M.
This is a great little gem of a restaurant - perfect for a date or if you're looking to wine and dine business partners. It sits right on the river, has fabulous views and the services is even better. Listen to your servers, they have great suggestions. However, if you want my personal opinion, you can't go wrong with the rabbit. It's been on their menu since the place opened and for good reason - it's tender and juicy. Great selection of wine and nice size portions. I left satisfied and not overly stuffed. Didn't have room for desert but have heard great things about the popcorn sundae. Next time!
(5)
Angel L.
With my wife we were looking for a nice restaurant to go eat and checked the reviews on yelp before to place the reservation. I am so glad we did, this place was totally worth it. It is not cheap, but you eat good and real fresh. Fresh at the point that they get delivered their tomatoes from Alabama (?) in the morning without being refrigerated... If that's not called fresh! I had the Lamb Bolognese with Orecchiette Pasta and Mint and my wife had a salad specially prepared for her (fancy hu ?) with some seasonal vegetables. Mine was just perfect, the sauce, the pasta... everything was a perfect match and cooked to perfection. I ordered a seasonal sorbet (peach was the flavor), and it was awesome. The kind of dinner that fills you up but doesn't make you feel sick because you ate too much. The waiter that took care of us was pretty knowledgeable and very nice. They also have an outside sitting are near the river, very nice. You should try it if you are in Atlanta and are looking for good food.
(5)
LouAnn C.
I made my second trip to Canoe for lunch today, the first having been a lunch about six months ago. This lunch was definitely better than the first. There isn't much that can go worse than having a cockroach slowly make his way across the white linen tablecloth of a table with eleven guests and the ensuing embarassment as management comped everything but our drinks. Today I ordered the she-crab soup, I guess left over from yesterday's brunch. Don't confuse this with a bisque; it is not the lovely rich butter-cream-pureed shells-and crab meat version, it's bechamel with large chunks of crab, served with sherry, and good, if slightly gloppy and colorless. I ordered the lamb bolognaise with oricceiette pasta and mint. Ugh. This dish was so salty it was barely edible. I dug in and eventually found ground lamb mounded in the center under the pasta. But I sure couldn't eat much and saw two other nearly full bowls being bussed. There was so little mint that it should not even have been mentioned on the menu description. The bread here is wonderful, the view absolutely lovely, and the service impeccable.
(2)
Ed F.
Sat at bar Great food and good chat with bartender Always great
(5)
Amanda L.
My husband proposed to me here and it was wonderful. The staff was great and the food amazing.
(5)
Bonnie B.
Alfresco dining at it's finest! My boyfriend & I dropped in last night & headed straight to the River Bar for wine & appetizers. The setting cannot be beat! Our Greek wine, Santorini, was crisp & so delicious! Perfect minerality without the citrus bite of a Sauvignon blanc. We snacked on smoked salmon on crisp potato cake, shrimp stuffed calamari & the most delicious crab cake ever ! The hot & friendly bartenders helped make the evening enjoyable.. Especially when Chris insisted we try the Popcorn Ice Cream with Cracker Jack garnish! WOW!!! Who would have guessed?
(5)
Scott Y.
Everything is quality about this restaurant. The food, service, decor, and location. I'm going to keep it short because there is already a wealth of praises from other reviews. It is by the Chattahoochee River and the outdoor view is spectacular. It's valet only. The service is warm, friendly, and helpful for a newbie like myself. The support staff knows what utensils are needed and their timing on delivery is impressive. A sign of great organization and communication. They have interesting, sophisticated cocktails. I'm all about novelty drinks and their selection is delicious as it is unusual. A few of the drinks are taken from the 19th century. It's like a trip to the past! Their food presentation, while not the best I've seen, is pretty good. Their food uses vegetables and herbs from their own raised bed gardens. Anyone growing their own vegetables should take an after dinner stroll to view it! My date and I got the rabbit, seafood fettuccine, crab cake, and oysters. All very delicious, but at $18-28 per dish it is expected. Overall, a memorable dining experience that stands above almost all. Bring someone here to impress.
(5)
Jody R.
Incredible arrogance ruined our anniversary. The food didn't help at all. For all of the hype and pompous attitude at least they could do is serve a good quality meal. It was overpriced and really disappointing
(1)
E L.
This was one of the most infuriating experiences I've had recently. Came in for brunch. They told us we could sit at the bar since we were walk-ins and the wait was extremely long. No problem. We would have put our names down, but we were happy to sit at the bar. We went over to the bar and the barstools had been taken away. We politely asked if we could have some barstools. A server very dismissively said "no." We were like, "Ummmm, there's a bunch of space right here where the barstools have been taken away." "No," she says while eyerolling. Ummmm ????? Her attitude was so upsetting that we left immediately. It's a shame. We love fine dining, spend a not insignificant amount of money on it, and Canoe has been on our list to try. Never can I recall that kind of inexplicably mean treatment--and we are from NYC. We went over to South City Kitchen Vinings and had a lovely meal . . . at the bar . . . sitting on barstools.
(1)
Lee C.
Overall great experience. Great view of the river. Polite valet and maître d. Waitress fully explained specials. Waiters step aside as you pass. Don't see these little things anymore. Food was excellent. Wife started with smoked Arctic char and I had the octopus. Both were well done. Never had octopus that tender. I then had the bacon wrapped monkfish with mussels. Broth that it was served in was buttery but not greasy. Very good dish. Price was reasonable. In California, easily double the price.
(5)
Matt C.
Had dinner at Canoe for the third time last week, my first visit since 2010. I have always enjoyed it, as the setting is one of the best in Atlanta; but this particular meal was far better than past experiences, and definitely put it back 'on the radar' for me. Our server was a little odd, with corny jokes and too many check-ins, but we never wanted for a drink refill, so I guess I can't complain too much. All the food we ordered was wonderful.. one of those meals where everyone tries each other's plates. Standout for me was the duck breast.. probably the best duck dish I have ever tasted.
(4)
David D.
My wife and I had the good fortune of finally visiting Canoe last night. We've lived in Atlanta for almost 8 years, and I can't believe it's taken us this long. But we were going to see a show nearby at the Cobb Energy Centre and went on a friend's recommendation. The show started at 7pm, so we made the earliest reservation, at 5:30. SInce we were a bit anxious about getting to the show on time, we got there a half-hour early. The hostess was more than accomodating, inviting us to sit in their lounge until our table was ready. My wife had a cinammon-apple flavored cocktail called Pomme (which she loved). Mine was called Las Ventas, and it was a variation on the old Blood and Sand that matadors traditionally had to celebrate their Bullfights in Spain. It was a mix of Spanish Brandy and Vermouth with a dash of Jamaican bitters and a splash of Orange Juice. The hostess then showed us to our table promptly at 5:30. She sat us by the window with a wonderful view of the Chattahoochee River. We had an awesome server named James. His style is a pleasure for foodies like us, he makes recommendations based on his own personal tastes, patiently describes how the dishes are prepared, and puts no pressure on us to hurry with our order. I highly recommend him for his great service. My wife went with Canoe's staple dishes. For an appetizer, she chose the House Smoked Salmon which comes on a crispy potato cake with goat cheese sandwiched between them. For dinner she selected the roasted rabbit with bacon ravioli and sweet potato hash. She was very happy with her dish especially since, having never tried rabbit before, she went into it with some trepidation. I took a taste and found it to be very tender and without the gamey taste that makes many people, including her, quite nervous about trying it. Bacon Ravioli is not my thing, but she loved it so much she texted her friend about it while we ate dinner. I went a bit farther afield. I had the duck pastrami appetizer. Thinly sliced, it comes with pumpernickel toast, pickled radish and blood orange, all perfect accompaniments. For dinner, I was delighted to try what they call the Fork-Tender Lamb Shank. So often Lamb can be prepared incorrectly, and it's not a fun meat to try when that is the case. But this lived up to it's name, falling off the bone with little pressure from my utensil. The risotto, Kale and Mushroom hash at the bottom of the plate was equally delicious. Anyone who visits Canoe should save room for their wonderful desserts. I had their popular Chocolate Grotto, a chocolate dome shell that when cracked, gushes with a mousse-like concoction of hazelnut-salted caramel goodness. It's all finsihed off with liberal helpings of crunchy pretzel dust. Here, it was my wife who eschewed their traditional dish to try the warm, cranberry-orange bread pudding with white chocolate sauce. It's hard to believe that any dessert can top the one I had, especially since I'm a chocoholic. But somehow, the bread pudding does it. Both fantastic ways to finish the meal. Now, Canoe is not inexpensive. But given the location, romantic atmosphere, fantastic service, and most of all, excellent food, it is a perfect demonstration of the oft-used expression, "You get what you pay for." In this case, we got one of the best dining experiences we've had in quite some time. Thanks, Canoe.
(5)
Average G.
1st year dating anniversary with my lady was amazing. We had early evening reservations on a Sunday night and the food, drinks, and service were all impeccable. Service: Our server was spot on...not over attentive and not too uptight. He made great recommendations on food and drinks. He split up our 2 apps and ended up making the dinner a long, 3 course affair that was perfect. Drinks: We had the Absinthe and the ginger based gin/vermouth cocktails...both smooth and well put together and surprisingly strong. Food: This is what we came here for and being Iron Chef/Chopped fans, we finally got a chance to eat a legit Atlanta eatery that served high end style of food. We went with 2 apps: "Smoked Salmon on a Crispy Potato Cake" (probably our favorite thing all night) and "Baby Arugula Salad with Spiced Nuts, Shaved Parmesan and Poppy Seed Vinaigrette" (delicious dressing). Our 2 entrees: "Duck Breast with a Grilled Romaine and Duck Sausage Crêpe and Pistachio-Blackberry Compote" (duck was smoked perfect and the compote was spot on) and "Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce" (the rabbit was tasty and ravioli full of flavor). For desert: "Popcorn Ice Cream Sundae, House Made Cracker Jack" (the ice cream was so rich and buttery and the cracker jacks were a perfect textural complement to the ice cream). Overall the food was fresh, full of great flavor combinations, and well executed. I think many of the items are smoked in their smoker out back and it really has this nice down south feel to it even though it is finer dining. Next time we will hit up this famous brunch of theirs, but the dinner was well worth the price. It was a great way to celebrate a year with my love. Thanks Canoe!
(5)
Phil W.
There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said recently. I'm just on here to give them a 5 star to see if they can pull off a 5-star average. The food was incredible, the service amazing, and the atmosphere unbeatable. This is THE place to bring a girl you've been seeing for a while and really like (or a first date if you're a high roller).
(5)
Victor O.
wow what can i say the food at this place is amazing
(5)
Mary-Nevin H.
My fellow's parents were in Atlanta for the weekend from France and my parents had one chance to impress them with a restaurant, enter Canoe. We went here on Sunday for brunch and it was really good. We had a nice table by the river and everyone's dish was happy with their order .They have a nice mixture of sweet and savory essentials(a must do for brunch) In addition, they have interesting pairings(for example, never though crab and eggs would mix and it was amazing) We had a party of 6 and our order was out shockingly fast. Our waitress was nice enough, a bit chatty but that's way better than being surly so i'll take it. Although she did say to my french in-laws that the only thing she learned to say while in france was "don't touch me". Awkward but it gave the whole table something for all 6 of us to laugh at, so if nothing else we were united in making fun of her. The location is a bit out of the way, but is worth the short trek. Also could have finally become one of those insufferable ITP people and the restaurant may not actually be that far. It's pricey, but here thankfully you get what you pay for, that tends to take the string out of an expensive adventure. The location is beautiful with a nice area to walk around\enjoy the river. Next time I'm in the mood for an upscale night out or making my husband pay, I think Canoe will be the spot.
(5)
Ana G.
So I needed a place to celebrate my parent's 30th anniversary as well as my birthday and boy was this the perfect place. Yelp has not steered me wrong thus far! We were promptly seated near the bar... all nice tables with the view of the river were taken at this point and it was very crowded, even for early dinner time. Anyway our server was excellent, she had great suggestions and was always on top of it. Meaning our wine glasses were never empty...she called herself jokingly as the inebriator. We started off with some appetizers, they were the shrimp and chorizo stuffed calamari with fried tentacles on the side. Man they were delicious! I wish there were more! I also had a taste of the arugula salad which was really good despite its simplicity. The dressing was out of this world, it was a sweet vinaigrette topped with a white sharp cheese. Yummy!!! For the entree, I decided to go with the tuna cooked ahi/rare style. This was delicious. It had shitake mushrooms and sat on a bed of black rice with carrots. The tuna was cooked on a wasabi glaze which made the tuna a little spicy but not overpowering, it actually had a tinge of sweetness to it. When they served this dish they actually poured some broth on the black rice, which gave the dish another dimension to it. It was absolutely delightful. I also had a taste of the rainbow trout with lobster succotash. This dish has some delicate, subtle flavors. Not always a fan of trout, but this was amazing as well. The salmon was perfectly cooked, it was nicely seared on top giving it this crusty texture, while maintaining uniform texture and taste in the actual "meat" oh so gooood!!! Probably the best salmon I ever had. I also had a taste of filet, which was also one of my favorites. It tasted beautifully!! This steak melted in my mouth. Probably one of the best steaks I've had....it ties with the Bistro 491 in Augusta. I would definitely come here for the steak, even though they specialize in seafood and game. Overall this place was outstanding. The attention you get form the staff was excellent. The atmosphere was nice, very romantic and classy without being pompous. I can't wait to go back!!! #365Yelp 30/365
(5)
Kat in the House s.
What a disappointment! I had heard so much about this place from magazines to friends... I was very excited when my boss offered to take our small group there for her holiday gift. I ordered a mixed green salad that I can only describe as being prepared- dressing and all- a day or so before it was served to me. The leaves were a clumped, damp mess and very cold. Ice chips held them together. My entree was about the same- I ordered the grilled shrimp. I typically don't order seafood out unless I can see water from the restaurant's window but this was CANOE they are written up in every magazine in the south... The shrimp was dry, sponges and over cooked. Wow... I nodded politely when asked about the meal. If I hadn't been a guest and in front of coworkers, I would have gotten up and talked to the waiter one on one. I won't return to this over priced have to be seen in place...
(1)
Melody M.
Canoe makes everything to order and they have a very clean flavor combination palate at this restaurant. Everything we ordered from the steamed mussels in creamy, bacon and leek broth to the rainbow trout with white beans and the rabbit were just perfectly blended in terms of flavoring. Not too sweet, not too savory and not too salty. I recommend the rabbit very very highly. We did not have dessert, but the menu looked delightful. Great wine selection. Great for outdoor dining along the water. We will be returning!
(5)
Ray L.
I'd say a 4.5, so take the extra half star as tip. This is a great place for a nice dinner. It's sophisticated and upscale without being stuffy (not if you're hanging out with my group, anyway). From inside, there's a gorgeous view of a river out back. If the weather is nice, you can even sit out there on the patio, which extends almost all the way to the water. The service is superb. Our waiter was knowledgable, helpful and friendly. To start, they bring out a fancy basket of all kinds of bread. Nice and fresh. The crispy flatbread had a nice kick to it. We also ordered a few appetizers: Smoked Salmon on a Crispy Potato Cake: so delicious, great flavor on the salmon, potato cake was delicate. Shrimp Stuffed Calamari with Spanish Chorizo: good, but I would have preferred just a regular fried calamari. All that stuffing made it kind of soggy and the flavors were a little confused, I think. Jumbo Lump Crab Cake: I only had a bite, but seemed like a solid crab cake to me! Marinated Golden and Red Beet Salad with Whipped Vermont Goat's Cheese: really good and refreshing. The beets were fresh and goat cheese was very light. My entree: Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic The rabbit was slow-roasted perfection. It was so tender and delicate. Flavor was great. Portion was just right. The ravioli didn't do so much for me. The pasta was a little dense, maybe a little too firm. It was tame on flavor, but that was good because the rabbit was so flavorful. I think I would've preferred some kind of rice instead. Dessert: Caramel corn ice cream on top of some caramel corn. Need I say more? Self-explanatory concept and it was delicious. They give you a lot of ice cream too. I didn't finish it, despite wanting to.
(5)
Autumn S.
I love brunch-it is hands down my favorite meal. So this review is for brunch only which Canoe excels at, executing breakfast and lunch-y standards with its own little twists. It doesn't hurt that outdoor sitting is available in a quasi-bucolic setting (I can't think of very many places with lake/riverside dining close to ATL). So...my favorite part of brunch (and the best bang for you buck in my opinion) at Canoe are the appetizers. Crab bisque with sherry and the warm, sticky rolls glazed with yummy, butterscotchy- caramel are a great way to start a Sunday morning. Followed by the smoked salmon on potato cakes with goat cheese and capers-you pretty much have a complete meal right there. If you have enough room for entree's, I'm an Eggs Benedict girl and I love the citrus hollandaise sauce they use in their dish. I would stay away from the chicken and grits dish-its pretty blah. Now, you should be completely stuffed (and you already had dessert with the sticky buns) so lounge around the park-like setting and relax while you savor your meal.
(4)
Valerie S.
This is easily in the top five restaurants I've ever eaten at in my life. We had lunch here while on vacation from Chicago. The outdoor patio is amazing. The service was perfect-they even give you fresh silverware between each course. The best thing of all, of course, was the food. We tried the salmon appetizer, soup (I believe a clam chowder with sweet potato) and the fish sandwich. All items were incredible. When done we took a little walk around their mini botanical gardens by the river. If I lived here I would be a regular!
(5)
Michael K.
One of the best restaurants youll find in ATL, or anywhere else. Great farm to table concept with excellent seasonal menus. Go to place for my fiance and I!
(5)
Megan E.
We went to this place for a winter meal in December and enjoyed it very much. Quiet, good food, and quick service. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we decided to hold our wedding there the following May. We had great service from them, the cost was reasonable, the food good and when it rained, they were able to move the whole group into a tent with no issues so our wedding wasn't ruined. Bonus for us: when they ran out of appetizers before we were able to get out of the greeting line, they brought more just for my husband and me! The biggest problem we had was that, when designing our wedding cake (part of the package, we didn't want to pay more), we sent several designs that were rejected, but they couldn't tell us why so we went through 5-6 iterations before finally picking a very simple version, no flowers or anything, and when we got there, the colors weren't exactly right. So you may want to consider hiring out if you care about your cake a great deal - we didn't and a little photoshopping fixed the colors for posterity ;-) Even though it's in a strip mall, this place is worth a shot for a special occasion and they do events and dinner equally well.
(5)
Becca D.
Amazing! My boyfriend took me here for my birthday and we couldn't have had a better meal or experience. We sat outside and the garden atmosphere and view of the river is wonderful. The inside looked perfectly nice and romantic, but their outdoor seating was truly a highlight. It's a dressy place, but I promise it doesn't give off a pretentious vibe. The staff was friendly and informed. They were happy to make food and wine recommendations in detail. Since it was our first time here, our waitress took the time to tell us about some of their most popular features and her favorites, I never felt rushed. We ordered a bottle of wine, two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts. Not one thing we ate was sub-par. The portions are normal, nothing too small but nothing was egregiously large. If your bread obsessed like me, you'll be in heaven when the bread man comes around with several bread choices on his tray for you to indulge. It seemed like a lot of guests around us were also celebrating special occasions. The staff must've been used to it because they were sure to recognize what we were celebrating and I saw them taking a few pictures for their tables. Definitely make a reservation. We'll be back when we're ready to splurge and/or celebrate!
(5)
Olivia H.
Everytime I come here, everything is outstanding. Every meal is memorable. Servers are always helpful and knowledgeable. I try to come here to celebrate events, wish I could eat here more often!
(5)
Robert M.
Canoe is a beautiful venue. The problem is, the food is super pricey, and it's not that good. If your standard is Outback Steakhouse, this is an upgrade in both price and quality. Otherwise, there are much better meals in Atlanta at a similar price point. Try Chops or Bones or Capital Grille. If you want to experience the setting, come here for some cocktails and appetizers and have dinner elsewhere. The food sounds great on the menu, but the quality is not that good. My New York Strip was tough, I could have done better at Kroger. And the service was super-slow. Again beautiful venue, worth a visit once on a date. But don't expect too much from the menu.
This culinary gem hidden in the woods. It was years ago, the last time I ate there but I think about it all the time. The menu was small and yet I had a hard time deciding what would be the most delicious when I knew it all would be. I wonder what I'll try next time...
(5)
Tiffany H.
I love this place! Romance, Romance Romance.....The outdoor dining experience is outstanding. You can enjoy a nice stroll through the garden while awaiting your meal or enjoy a drink...The ribeye and wasabi potatoes are my favorite...
(5)
Dina C.
I went for brunch and it was an enjoyable experience overall. The atmosphere is very nice although infused with lots of testosterone flair. The sample basket of scones and pecan rolls was a pure treat. The appetizer of the potato pancake topped with smoked salmon and chives was just stellar. I ordered a traditional breakfast of eggs, applewood smoked bacon, potatoes, and french toast. The service was excellent. The potatoes were tiny, diced, and deep fried...not impressed. I like to think that they were fresh, but they looked like something that would go into a deep fryer from a frozen "diced hashbrowns" bag. They also topped the bowl of eggs and bacon with the french toast and berries...very strange. French toast with berries should not be placed on top of eggs, potatoes, and bacon. A significant portion of my eggs had berry drippings on them....berry eggs. They should plate the french toast on a separate plate and provide maple syrup as the bread was rather dry. I will say that Canoe is a nice place to take Grandma and out of towners for a special occasion brunch.
(3)
Sangeetha I.
First things first, get June as a waitress. She's fantastic! Next..go get drinks by the bar on the river before your meal. Sitting on the adirondack chairs and sipping a Southern cocktail creation looking at the river...quite priceless. Lastly, if you can, get a table that faces the water enveloped in the famous Atlanta foliage....because let's face it...the restaurant is gorgeous but the water...that's just pristine. Based on the fact that Canoe offers rather upscale Southern riverside eating, I took my college roommates here on a recent visit they had made to Atlanta. Two of us are vegetarian, one is an omnivore. Canoe has no vegetarian menu but they offer 3 selections for vegetarian entrees: 1. a vegetable plate made with your choice of sides (3 I think), 2. a vegetable plate made at the whim of the chef and 3. a vegetable pasta. Nothing too interesting but when I came here, I came for the experience and not really their food. I ordered the vegetable plate that was to be made at the whims and fancies of the chef. Usually, veggie plates are obligatory offerings made at meat-centric restaurants that reflect the listlessness of the restaurateur's disdain for a vegetarian. Not so at Canoe. That plate was bursting with at least 5 different sides meshed together in perfect harmony. There was a tangy cabbage-like slaw, crisp green beans, smooth potatoes and a few other vegetable that really were delicious. My vegetarian friend ordered the pasta dish which was chockful of fresh veggies and al dente pasta. Yum! My other friend ordered a crusted fish dish of some sort and cooed in exhilaration as she took each delicious bite. We shared a beet and goat dish appetizer which was fresh, beautifully presented and quite excellent! The dessert blueberry tart was a little un-overwhelming but the sorbet trio more than made up for that little snafu. Each entree is upwards of $20 and appetizers are around $10. I highly recommend this place to anyone who values primo service and quality food baked in a gorgeous setting. Also, I very much appreciate Canoe's sensitivity to various dietary needs.
(5)
Beavan B.
Incredibly overdue review, so I'm going to keep it short, had an insanely good experience there, the staff was attentive, helpful and just really helped to make a dinner for two there into an even more special occasion than it already was. Our server was Leah, she was GREAT, she was incredibly friendly and had wonderful suggestions! definitely check this place out, and if they have it, GET THE POPCORN ICECREAM! It'll make you see heaven.
(5)
Naz G.
this restaurant not only has great food and customer service, it has a breathtaking view. we came to this romantic restaurant for brunch and it is truly a beautiful place. We ordered the arugula salad with spicy walnuts, the cornbread pancake, a small basket of the scones, crab soup, and their trout dish that was not in their menu. Each one of the dishes were spectacular. I loved how fresh their fruits were and how they make everything there themselves including all of their sauces, breads, etc. They have great customer service. I wish I had more room to try more stuff on their menu, but hopefully I will go back to this place very soon. The table next to us had ordered truffle fries and it looked and smelled delicious. I loved everything about this restaurant. It is a very relaxing, beautiful, sophisticated restaurant with amazing food and customer service. I can't wait to try their desert and their dinner menu next time.
(5)
Jorge O.
Easily my favorite restaurant in Atlanta. The food here is always top notch as well as the service. My (now) wife and I enjoy it so much that we had our wedding reception there in September which was a great experience not just for us but for our guests as well. The food for the reception was very highly received and is definitely not your average wedding fair which you normally see to be dried out or overcooked. Everything we were served from the hors d'ouevers to the sit down dinner was fantastic and one of the things speak most about our reception besides the great locale. As for the restaurant, I can't speak highly enough about them. The service you get is worth the dollar you pay. I haven't had one bad experience with any server, they are prompt, knowledgeable of the menu and drinks. Some of my favorite things to get are the cheese plate as an appetizer, the oysters and usually my wife and I will split some small plates but if not then I'll go for the short rib which is phenomenal. Also, I could go there and fill up on their olive loaf alone (and I hate black olives). Eat here if you have the chance, I've been to most of Atlanta's "Top 50" restaurants and this is at the top of the list.
(5)
Bonifacia B.
I really like the ambiance of this restaurant outside; the garden is so cute and cozy. I found that the appetizers and table breads were much more nice then the entrees itself. I would love to come back and sit right on the riverbed.
(4)
Tony G.
This was my second visit to canoe. The first visit was great food was good and service was prompt. Which was the main reason we decided to go back. But that was a huge mistake. This place like many over hyped restaurants in atlanta lacks consistency. Have people forgot about that? The crab cake is good but a bit too salty this time around. I think it was the slaw that was a bit salty. The duck pastrami was harder to eat than I remember form last time. The smoked salmon was good but the potato cake was the best part of the dish. Rabbit was amazing last time I had it. So I suggested to my friend. This time around it was tough and the ravioli was totally overcooked. I was so embarrassed. I tried the duck and beef burger this time and it was good and juicy but had no wow factor or uniqueness I have had better burgers at flip for half the price. Our other friend a ordered the New York strip which she thought was too garlicky and the steak was not medium like she wanted and was too bloody. Last time I had the German chocolate mousse with coconut nougat and it was extraordinary. This time around I had the vanilla poached pear with ginger rice pudding and it was awful the pear had no flavor and there was too much ginger to taste anything else. It was almost like they made a mistake or they would have had several complaints about the strong ginger. My friend had the chocolate gratto and thought the pool of caramel was not appetizing and the chocolate ball was too hard to break gracefully. Over all I must say I won't be back. I go to such highly rated places for consistency and sometimes want to have the same dish again like rabbit since It was delicious last time. But this place is overhyped and way too expensive to hope that you may have a good meal. Please do yourself a favor and go some place else where you know the food is going to be great as always. Sotto, The Spence , Aria and rathbun are hands down my top choices in atlanta.
(2)
Keitha D.
Sunday's are perfect for brunch so I decided to try Canoe today. Oh my wow! I hadn't made reservations so once arriving we had to sit at the bar as there was no seating. But it was still great! The bar staff was extremely nice and personable and made menu recommendations that were awesome, they also had our drinks ready at exactly 12:30 once it was legal to serve them. We ordered the sticky buns to share and each had a bowl of the she-crab soup. First of all I wanted to bathe in the sticky bun glaze it was so good. Omg! The soup was delicious as well however didn't stand out among a city of great she-crab soup options. I was so full at that point I didn't order an entree but my date had the duck beef burger and it looked amazing! He said it was delicious and would definitely have it again. Overall I loved the place. The scenery was great too. Very picturesque. We sat so long we didn't realize they had closed! I will definitely be back!
(5)
Lucy W.
Absolutely delicious. App: Smoked salmon with dill & goat cheese creme fraiche on crispy potato and onion cakes- bursting with flavors and completely scrumptious. Entree: Fresh papparadelle-like (thin wide ribbons) of pasta tossed in light cream primavera sauce with fresh peas, beans, baby asparagus, mushroom slivers and shaved parmesean. Hearty yet light & smooth at the same time. Decadent dessert of a dark chocolate dome, with chocolate, caramel and crushed hazelnuts inside. So yummy and my favorite part of the meal. I tasted my friends' meals too- the silver queen corn soup was so full of flavor, the truffles fries that came with the duck beef burger was perfectly crisp and truffley, and the caramel popcorn ice cream wwere great complements with each other...what a great idea! The restaurant is gorgeous- giant windows of the patio overlook the Chattahoochie River, beautiful landscaping, upscale but still cozy and comfortable ambiance. Servers were attentive but not overbearing, friendly and answered all questions that we had about the menu. Glad I got to finally try Canoe!
(5)
Christa L.
Inventive and well executed menu. Friendly, knowledgeable wait staff. Crazy fun dessert selection. Perfect setting. Magical bread basket. You won't be disappointed. The smoked salmon and potato pancake appetizer is pitch perfect...as is the trout. Ask for Justin, exceptional service.
(5)
Jane B.
This place never falls short. From the moment you walk in the door they take great care of you. I took my grandparents for brunch. They loved it, I loved it. Really, Really, a great place to go and know your going to have a great time. Hope was our waitress. She was so knowledgeable and really helped us have a good time. Thank you!!!
(5)
Ashley E.
Me and a couple girlfriends went here for a birthday brunch and it was well worth the drive from Midtown. The food and the service was on par and the ambiance was upscale but still homey, if you can believe that. This is definitely where the Vinings clique goes, but I'm a cameleon, I can blend in. No rachet talk here! We had the cinnamon bun appetizer and it was perfect. The texture, the sweetness, and the fruit--perfecto. For my entree I ordered the bacon and egg scrambler. It was good, but I tasted my friend's friend green tomato eggs benedict and wish I would have gotten that. The basil hollandaise made me weak in the knees.
(4)
LRenee H.
We (myself, my boss and some co workers) went to Canoe last night for dinner..there was 6 of us total and even though we didn't have a reservation, they accommodated us very quickly. From the start, the service was top notch and the waiter always addressed my boss by her last name. He also told us a very funny story about his mother and brother lol. To start, we had the smoked salmon, calamari and crab cakes and they were all great. For dinner, I had the steak which was pefect and didn't even need steak sauce as the sauce that was on top of it and on the plate was fantastic. One of my co workers had the chicken and she said it was moist and delicious. The rest of the diners had the trout and they raved about it. Because of where I was sitting, I could see our waiter checking on us numerous times from afar and always came over at the right time to refill drinks, etc. For dessert, we had the sundae and strawberry short cake and they were both excellent. You cannot beat the view and at one point there was even a rainbow outside of our window. It was a great dinner at a great place. I am looking forward to returning.
(4)
Jina M.
Don't know what's so great about this place besides the location and the atmosphere of the restaurant. As far as service, our server did not come off too friendly and she just came on a little off towards us...I don't know why I got that feeling but yea. Anyways....took my husband here for his birthday.... We ordered the mussels and crab cake for the app. The mussels were really salty and creamy ...I didn't like. It lacked true flavor. The crab cake wasn't anything to rave about it...it didn't have much flavor either and I was disappointed it didn't come with any dipping sauce..just fried crab cake. I ordered the scallops...which I thought was also really salty and a little too undercooked for my taste. It wasn't that great. I ate 1 scallop and couldn't eat any more. My husband ordered the rabbit. I didn't try it but he did say it was really good. He also ordered duck to go which he said that was also really good. But I don't eat either of those ...so I couldn't say. The portions are super small...which is no surprise. Not impressed with the food. I was disappointed that our server brought like 3 tables around us dessert with a candle on it...but she didn't bring us anything...I guess we have to order a dessert? I don't know....but she said happy birthday about 3 times before and after bringing us the check. That's lame when an overpriced fancy restaurant can't just bring out a little something for birthday celebration guests. Anyway, don't think I'll be coming back here.
(2)
Amy G.
Overpriced for what it is. Great ambiance, awesome location, good service but the food was just 'meh'. We went for brunch and I had the recommended smoked salmon Benedict. It literally wasn't worth the calories and had very little flavor. Same review for the food of the other 4 in my party. I would definitely come for cocktails on the river but wouldn't bother eating here again.
(2)
nava w.
My husband love this place I will say that the overall treatment is great. The view is great . Some of the dishes are grand names. We will come back for sure. Love the olive bread .
(5)
Andrew E.
The best food and service I have ever encountered at any restaurant, hands down. Knowledgable, friendly staff. You can trust their recommendations! If you are going to spend this kind of money, you might as well get an experience like this!
(5)
Jeff F.
If you're in the Vinings area, this place is a great call. First off, let's get service and atmopshere out of the way. Angela was perfect - helpful without being overbearing and there when you needed her. The atmosphere...well, I'm not going to do it any justice. Trust me - you'll like it. Here's the rundown on the grub: - Oysters - Wellfleet and some CT topped off with Cucumber Champagne Mignonette - Highly recommended, but the mignonette has a kick - Salmon ceviche - meh, completely underwhelming - Mussels were very good, but not mind blowing. Not sure why everyone raves about them...Maybe I just eat a lot mussels in different broths... - Pheasant - solid - Rabbit - exceptional - Cowboy rib eye - tasty - Dessert: Valhrona Chocolate & Salted Caramel Grotto with Pretzel Hazelnut Dust....Translation: One of the most memorable desserts I've had 4.5 stars, because some of the food was off, but the litmus test for rounding up is that I really want to go back next time I'm in town. Highly recommended if you're in the area. BTW - if you come here and don't try the pheasant or the rabbit, you're blowing it.
(5)
Lorie D.
I dined here with visiting family and friends for dinner in summer of last year. It was actually my sister's birthday. The location and atmosphere were absolutely wonderful. Overall the food was good with great presentation. We had the canoe house smoked salmon as an appetizer which was very tasty and a few other appetizers which I cannot remember. For my meal I had the duck burger, someone else in our party had the rabbit, I found both quite good. The night turned a bit strange at dessert, after a few appetizers, dinner and drinks I was stuffed, but 4 of our party of 7 decided to order dessert. At that point I took it upon myself to ask our server if they did anything "special" for birthdays, the server gave an assuring yes and wink stating that she would "take care of it". With that I expected a complimentary dessert or something "special" for the my sister (the birthday person). As the desserts arrived my sister received a dessert with Happy Birthday in chocolate syrup and whip cream added. We were all wowed and waiting for all desserts to arrive before eating. After several minutes my brother in law still had not recieved his dessert, we then realized and confirmed with the server the "special" dessert given to my sister for her birthday was actually the dessert my brother in law had ordered for himself! lol Instead of a complimentary dessert, they took his dessert (without his knowledge or permission) wrote happy birthday in chocolate syrup and whipped cream and gave it to my sister...on purpose. Why would any restaurant take a dessert ordered by one patron, ruin it with chocolate syrup and whip cream and pass it off as "special" for another patron? It was ridiculous to the point of total hilarity. I think it would have been fitting for the server to at least disclose of such an arrangement so an extra dessert could have been ordered for my sister. I found it shocking, bordering on insulting. Completely unexpected that a classy place of this caliber would have such a ghetto tactic in place but it made us laugh really hard :-) But for this faux pas I would have rated a 5.
(3)
Nana M.
Very nice atmosphere and helpful servers with great suggestions. Had their rabbit dish and scallops dish which were both excellent. The popcorn ice cream was good but a little too much, as it came in a pretty large portion and I was already quite full by then.
It really does not get much better than this. The atmosphere, food, and service all for a descent price! We started outside at the awesome river front bar with some live music playing. The bartender was very friendly and more than willing to tell us about the history of the place as well as about the flood from last year. Once we were inside, the server was just as friendly and infomative. Told me details (that only a foodie like myself would care about) on how the meals were prepared. So I took the servers advice and went for what they are best known for. Appatizer I got the Smoked Salmon with goat cheese. It was so good it gave me goose bumps. And for dinner I tried the rabbit. Can't remember if I ever had rabbit before so I gave it a shot. It was awesome as well. We had a bottle of great wine and after we were done our bill was almost half of what I end up paying at other high end places. Stop reading about it and go!!
(5)
Chris S.
Great, upscale place for brunch. We got the sticky buns, scones, and smoked salmon to start. I got the Riverside - eggs, bacon, french toast, for my main meal. Everything, including the service, was excellent.
(5)
Miggy F.
Amazing lamb and salmon!
(5)
Tasha A.
Fantabulous...yes folks, I said fantabulous! The boyfriend and I went to Canoe for his birthday dinner date. I wasn't expecting it to be in the middle of nowhere, but honestly, it was way in BFE (to us) lol! We arrived & had the car parked by valet. We were just in time for our reservation, but were asked to wait while the table was cleaned. While we waited, we went to the bar & had a few drinks. The wine list is great, every wine enthusiast will find something they either like or would like to try. 5 stars for ambiance. Since we were a party of 2, we were seated in a booth. The lighting set the mood perfectly for our date night. Let's talk food! For a starter I ordered the crab cake, absolutely delicious btw, I was impressed! The boyfriend had the artisan cheese salad which he absolutely loved. For our meal, I went with the Jerked Berkshire Pork Tenderloin & him the Gulf Red Snapper. The pork tenderloin was super super tender & extremely flavorful. What surprised me was that after a few bites, the seasoning on the pork tenderloin started out quite sweet, but ended with a kick. I LOVED it! The entire staff at Canoe was friendly from start to finish; we couldn't have asked for better service! Canoe was pretty impressive, it tops my list of awesome places to eat in Atlanta!
(5)
Eliza B.
When I used to live in the Vinings I always wanted to visit Canoe but never really made it around to going, so when my brother and I were in town recently we were driving by and I knew I had to stop in. I didn't really know what to expect because I've never actually read any reviews, I just lived so close and it looked like such a neat establishment. The ambiance is oh so romantic! ( I'd rather have been there with my boyfriend, but hey I love my brother too and we could appreciate the stunning Chattahoochee river seating nonetheless.) The server recommended the rabbit entree and the mussels appetizer and I can't tell you the amount of times I've taken a server's recommendation, only to regret it once the meal arrives, but he absolutely nailed it! The chef created a work of art in their ability to turn my gamey entree into pure elegance. Awe inspiring atmosphere, a staff who almost literally knows what you want and need before you even have to ask while catering to your every whim, and exceptional cuisine. I'm glad I finally stopped in!
(4)
R B.
Exquisite Brunch! The Server went above and beyond. Even with members of our party arriving late. They accomodated us. If you would like to alter the menu (which is not something I do), they'll ask the chef, who usually will ablige. I will definately return in the near future.
(5)
Sarah F.
One of my favorite places hands down. Food is always amazing they have the best desserts which I have found lacking many places these days. Every time I have been here I just really loved my experience. Consistently good , service is always great and wonderful atmosphere. Perfect for a romantic date night.
(5)
Michael F.
Everything about Canoe is what an upscale restaurant should be. From the tasteful and comfortable decor to the expertly prepared and reasonably priced drink menu. I have yet to try a single item from this menu that wasn't excellent. This is what a restaurant looks like when the staff has their heart is serving others and succeeding in business. Kudos!
I went here for brunch and it was delicious! I ordered the Salmon eggs benedict with the citrus hollandaise sauce, as well as the sticky buns (amazing!) and scones. All the options on the menu sounded good as well. Our waiter was very friendly and had just the right balance of checking in on us without being overwhelming. The ambiance inside the place is nice, but it is the outside that is particularly pretty (and I don't mean the entrance which is underwhelming since it is in a plaza). There is parking valet service, but that seemed unnecessary. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience there and look forward to returning next time I am in Atlanta.
(4)
Charles G.
Okay, I'm sure many of you Atlanta elite will scoff at my backwoods Alabama mentality, but my wife and I are definitely in love with this restaurant! We come to Atlanta fairly frequently for my wife to get her hair done or just to stock up at H-Mart with Korean goods we can't get at local Korean markets, and each time we try to find at least one new good place to add to our favorites. This time we are here for my wife's birthday, and while I was pretty in love with the idea of going to Pampas or a Brazilian BBQ place (haven't been to one since I lived in China... odd, I know!), she got to pick because it was her day. I was not thrilled with the menu when I saw it at first, mostly because I had dreams of whole herds being slaughtered for my culinary enjoyment, but once we arrived I warmed up to it. The service was excellent. Our waiter knew our names when we arrived due to our reservation, which was odd at first but definitely added an element we had never had before in being made to feel like they had been expecting us and were glad we were there. The waiter knew his menu well, not just for the food but for the drinks as well. I'm just delving into this world, so I'm open to and often in need of guidance. I told him what I like and he came up quickly with something he thought was similar but better. I didn't agree that it was better, but it was good and I enjoyed trying something I had no access to in Huntsville. For an appetizer, we had the smoked salmon on the potato cakes. I don't normally care much for smoked salmon, but this was prepared excellently and was absolutely delicious! The flavors balanced each other very well. My wife had the trout and I had the New York strip for our entrees. I was all on board with the rabbit until he mentioned the beef was a much larger portion, and since I had foregone lunch in anticipation of good food I went big. Next time I'm definitely getting the rabbit! Anyway, my steak was cooked perfectly to medium as requested. The mashed potatoes and broccoli rabe were great as well, and the bitter was a welcome taste to balance out the savory steak and creamy potatoes. The trout was not my favorite, but my wife thoroughly enjoyed it. We were both surprised that it was a red fish because we are accustomed to white fish trout, and when we discovered it was slightly undercooked we didn't even have to tell the waiter because he had noticed it when walking by. He apologized and sent it back, and for the first time ever in my dining experience it came back perfect. Normally they end up overcooked or ruined, but they did a great job saving this cut! We didn't ask for or get any discount for this error, but since it was remedied we were more than okay with the apology of the waiter. For dessert we listened to the waiter and got the cracker jack ice cream. I don't normally care for salty sweet, and I'm not particularly fond of cracker jack, but hearing the whole process explained from start to finish and knowing that it was all made in house I was convinced. It was one of the best desserts we've ever shared. This is of particular significance since my wife hates ice cream, but ate almost half of the ice cream in the cup! All in all, this is a great restaurant! The ambiance is very nice with low lighting and lots of decorative wrought iron work and, of course, the obligatory canoes and paddles that fit the name. It appeared that on one side of the restaurant there may have been a view of a creek of some sort, but due to my wife's love of booths we were too far away to see what was out there. It also appeared there was outdoor seating for those who love a fine misting of pollen for those lovely spring evenings, but even as indooraholics, it did look quite inviting.
(5)
Errol G.
The waiter we had made it all come together, starting with a great welcome and an excellent explanation of what we could do to change things a bit on certain items. The wine list is good with a nice selection of single servings. The bread selection was also very good. For starters I really enjoyed the calamari, and the beet salad was second best. The rabbit is amazing, and the duck wasn't far behind. That chocolate grotto was the crowning glory. If I wasn't so full I would have had a couple. The wait staff were very attentive and made sure that we had everything we needed without being intrusive. The only thing that really pissed me off was that I hadn't read the reviews and my son didn't tell me about the outdoor section. What an incredible place to sit and enjoy a glass of something and a great stogie. We ran out of time but next time, I know how to do it. And there will be a next time
(5)
Josette D.
It was a Birthday meal and, I'm sorry, there is just something about the entire staff wishing you a Happy Birthday without prompting! This foodie was impressed - I ordered the special Rabbit Confit over sweet potato ravioli in a beurre blanc - Yeah it was THAT good. Portions weren't large but in ordering an appetizer, entree and shared desert, I wasn't stuffed! I was perfectly comfortable taking an after dinner walk by the river. What can I say? It was thunder storming! Sit on the patio during a thunder storm, it's uber romantic while you enjoy the humming birds were at their feeders... yeah, humming birds!
(5)
Laura F.
Amazing!!! I went here for my birthday, and loved everything about it!
(5)
Mandy L.
I absolutely LOVE this place, and after trying many restaurants and knowing the best ones, I can confidently say this really is the best one in Atlanta. I love the location on the river, the herb garden, the elegant romantic atmosphere, the menu....and going there for Sunday brunch is sooo good. It's so good that when my Grandmother visited my spouse and I took her there. I also appreciate that the chef is responsible with her food, creating things that are balanced AND delicious. I also love that they change the menu with the seasons, using seasonal ingredients, and they also change up the dessert menu a bit. We went for the first time during an anniversary vacation to Atlanta and fell in love with it. We found out about it by looking at area restaurants on the trip advisor website. We usually reserve a table on OpenTable for the points.
(5)
Adam M.
Perfection in Atlanta. You don't find it often, and when you do, you return.
(5)
Jarrett P.
excellent. Food was amazing. Service was great. Comfortable atmosphere.
(5)
Marnie R.
This is my all time favorite restaurant in Atlanta. Incredible setting on the Chattahoochee, impeccable service, warm welcoming atmosphere, and wonderful menu. It is clear from the moment you walk in the door that this is a very special place - not just a restaurant but a sensational experience. This is a perfect setting for life events such as engagement, birthday, anniversary, celebration, or just a unique evening out with a date, friends or family. Highly recommended.
(5)
Akiko I.
I think it's more like 3.5 stars... So when I went back to ATL for few days, we decided to try this place because my best friend heard good things about this place and the rating on Yelp. The location is really interesting. It's about 10miles away from Emory U in a very quaint area of ATL. Since we went for dinner, it was too dark to see the river but I'm sure the view would have been really beautiful during the day. The interior of the restaurant is very spacious and has a very lovely ambiance. Very spacious and cozy but classy. We were there a little early so we had some cocktails at the bar to pass the time. They seated us promptly soon after. * Shrimp stuffed calamari = umm....not all that like we expected. It was pretty bland and nothing special. * Canoe's house smoked salmon = this was delicious. all of us loved it. * Rabbit = our least favorite. It sounded interesting so we ordered it but it was just like a regular chicken with very heavy sweet sauce. Not so appetizing. * Duck = this was my favorite but my husband and my bff both thought it was just soso. I thought it was very tender with right amount of flavor, not gamy. * Lamb = 2/3 loved this dish. I personally thought it was soso. Just ordinary lamb dish to me. We had some cocktails...all of them were delicious but there was one cocktail that was just purely delish! The bad thing is I don't remember the name... It was a smoggy pink cocktail...I'll try to find out the name from my bff... * Service = very good * Price = average * Location = very nice * Ambiance = wonderful * Food = interesting but soso
(4)
Dan H.
I adore Canoe. I've been here a dozen times, and each time - it's been a treat. The food has never failed to impress me and the waitstaff has been the benchmark against which all others should be measured. My only complaint is that it can get loud in there. If you're looking for a quiet, intimate setting for dinner - you may want to look to the patio, or elsewhere, because you're not going to find it inside.
(4)
H. M.
Fabulous, local, very very tasty. I love that they have a garden and include fresh ingredients as much as possible. It is such a pleasant and wonderful surprise on the north side of Atlanta. The service is fabulous and they REMEMBER you from previous visits. Just fabulous, just go.
(5)
Mimi T.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta. Everyone is very nice that works here and are very accomodating if you need to make any dietary changes to the menu options. The atmosphere is AMAZING! I highly suggest you come early when its light outside to walk the grounds and have a cocktail on the stacked stone bar near the water. Then you can go enjoy the wonderful food that is about to enter your body. Guys if you are trying to impress a lady, you need to come here but make sure you walk outside first and make it romantic. Also make sure the girl is not a vegan or grossed out by different meats as it has many amazing dishes (i.e. pheasant, duck, lamb, etc.) that they might not like. HIGHLY RECOMMEND: Warm artisan cheese salad as appetizer and rabbit entree.
(5)
Tina R.
I've only been for brunch and it was terrific each time. Seat outside if possible, its beautiful to see the river. Go with friends willing to share so you can try lots of different treats. All the salmon dished are great. If they are serving the popcorn ice cream, save room. Great service too. Skip the creme brulees, not worth it.
(4)
Lydia L.
Fantastic. Both times. Service here is impeccable. The brand new outside patio area near the river is gorgeous. The first time I went here it was for New Years Eve, and I was terribly ill. Sad. I know. Yet, I still thought the food was delicious. The real review: Came back to give it a shot while I was in good health. I was NOT disappointed. Started out with the beet/goat cheese appetizer with basil oil and little pieces of basil on top [note: I love basil], and it was great. Scrape the plate with your fork great. Also got the smoked salmon on potato cake appetizer. Those were quickly demolished. Entrees: Sole, Salmon, and Cod? That's a lot of fish. Done well. Drinks: Martini specials. Dessert: Chocolate and Salted caramel grotto. Great meal.
(5)
Jaz R.
I'd been hearing about Canoe and finally got to go-- I am so glad I did. The waiter said "if you're thinking about getting the rabbit, get the rabbit.' He was right. I'm not much for gamey flavor (don't care for vennison, turkey, pork), but the rabbit was so well done, cooked and prepared to perfection. The drinks were impeccable, and the dessert-- Now, I'm not a dessert person, don't really like sweets, but I am a big fan of lavender. They had a lavender ice cream over pound cake au poivre. I was shocked, au poivre? Peppercorn encrusted/interspersed pound cake? You must be joking. The waiter again advised me to go for it and it was one of the best desserts I've ever had. The lavender ice cream was superb and as it melted into the pepperred pound cake the flavours mixed to create an exquisite experience. The location overlooking the water and the beautiful gardens are wonderful additives to the Canoe experience. The wait staff is friendly, knowledgeable and professional, and allowed us to walk around the gardens in between dinner and dessert. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Art V.
Hosted a business dinner. Bar waitress delivered our drinks and vanished. We got up and returned to the hostess so as to be taken to our table. Asked for our tab to be carried fwd. For some ridiculous reason they sat us (2 men) at a banquet built for 4. Either we scooted together and look like lovers or sit far apart and shout out our conversation. We chose the latter. Very nice waitress. Each course of food was delivered by a different food runner. Lamb rib appetizer was a fat-fest. My guest had to continually expel chunks of gooey fat from his mouth. I had very good oysters served with a stupid amount of useless garnish. I had to remove the garnish to make eye contact with my guest. My entree of Cod was good- but served over too much soggy panzanella salad. Guest's rabbit was ok- but the ravioli beneath the rabbit were very good. Highlight of the meal was the cobbler dessert. The creme brulee was way overcooked and had the consistency of jello pudding. Poor quality tea. 2 bags of english breakfast couldn't produce a decent cup.
(2)
Nona Y.
Love this place, great service and atmosphere. The river bar is amazing at dusk in the summer. Great great restaurant. Try the rabbit.
(5)
Mark J.
The food and the staff here are top notch. Suggest a table outside and enjoy the view of the river and the gardens.
(5)
Jane A.
The food here is excellent. I had the salmon. I forgot my server's name but she was wonderful as well as everyone else that I spoke with there. I'd definately come here again. I had a Manhattan after dinner. It was the bomb.com
(5)
Ferdinand H.
I've been here twice now, and I've enjoyed each visit. Given the high marks, everyone else seems to give, I expected at earth shattering experience, but I could only get "darned good" out of my meal. The sommelier was excellent -- and despite only having visited twice, half a year apart, he remembered what he recommended our last visit. Note, he correctly remembered it! A nice Cristom Estate 2005 Viognier to go along with Turkey Ravioli, Crab in a Gazpacho, Yellowtail Snapper, and Cod. The crab was perhaps the best highlight of the meal. Canoe is a well-heeled establishment with warm beech-wood tones and maritime pariphanalia decorating the walls. Wide glass windows look out onto foliage, river and the parking lot, contrasting well with the gentle candlelight and wan overhead lighting. Decor, thus is prim, and modern, with a taste of something of the south-pacific. The fare is excellent, with constantly changing selections of fresh seafood. I really enjoy canoe, and desperately want to give it a 5, but... can only manage a 4.5 Definitely going back, however...
(4)
May Y.
Came in from out of town and found Canoe on Yelp. It's certainly an odd location, but I'm glad we made the drive. The ambiance was nice (didn't get to see the outside area), the service was excellent, and the food was great! I'm a big crab person (can't imagine life without em), but have always been let down by crab cakes. The idea always sounds amazing, but every time I order them I get disappointed by a salty lump of over spiced sadness. I didn't order them at Canoe because my heart has been broken so many times, but luckily my boyfriend did. Hands down, best crab cake ever. It was juicy, seasoned just right, and had a great breading (panko?). So good. We also got the smoked salmon with goat cheese which seems to be popular. It was a great twist on lox and cream cheese, and while not what I expected, it was certainly delicious. A great blend of flavors and textures. I'm salivating now just thinking of it. Definitely worth checking out, and coming from a larger city, it was all at a very reasonable price point.
(4)
Randall S.
Great reception and the availability of outdoor seating was a real plus! We picked a perfect night for weather and the ambiance outdoors was superb. Out table light did not stay on steadily--not a big deal at first, except as the night grew it was our main source of illumination; promised to replace it, but never done. First inclination that all was not perfect. The mussel appetizer was the "Best Seen to Date"! Generous portion, exquisitely seasoned, absolutely perfect! Not so much the salmon entree (though VERY good), or the pork loin special entree (a bit undercooked from the order). The swordfish special was good, but lacked a bit on the portion size (however, after the mussels, certainly adequate). The desserts were outstanding! Major points lost on the "Irish Coffee" which did not include cream (or whipped cream) as is the apparent way it's done at Canoe. All in all, a very nice meal and worth the expense, but not an eye-popping experience. It is always nice to receive a service or culinary surprise that is more than you anticipate; this experience was good, but expected.
(3)
B. C.
Don't let Canoe's appearance from the street fool you. I have a wonderful experience every time I visit. Really liked the Rabbit, Duck and several of the seasonal specials. Sit outside if the weather permits. Bugs get a little annoying on the patio but it's well worth it being right on the Chattahoochee.
(5)
Eric M.
We took my dad to Canoe for his birthday, and we started the dinner by taking a walk and taking some pics out by the river. Beautiful location. Going inside, we had a round table for 11 right be the window. Perfect. The food was really nice (I had the delmonico - very well done), and overall it was a nice meal. Food was appropriate in quality for the One thing I did have an issue with was the faux-friendliness of some of the staff. A couple of our requests (birthday cake / cupcake with a candle, etc) were met as what appeared to be an inconvenience. A pity, because that kind of ruined the occasion in some ways. However, tip reflected. :) I hope if you go there you don't get the server we got. Otherwise, this is a 4.5 star in my rating scale.
(3)
Hector M.
The setting of this restaurant is beautiful and unique. I love nature and had dinner in a garden next to the Chattahoochee river...Outdoor patio is one of the best in Atlanta for sure. Service at Canoe is friendly, prompt, personable and professional. Service to me has become critical besides obviously the quality of the food and how interesting a menu is in choosing which restaurants I patronize. Canoe gets 100 points for quality of service. We dined at the outdoor patio bar and our server/bartender extraordinaire was Philip. He was very knowledgeable about both the wine list and the menu so he offered some solid recommendations. I appreciate a restaurant were the staff is knowledgeable and can make recommendations. The food itself was ok - I'm afraid I can not say I was impressed...I had a delicious corn soup yet after that the appetizer I ordered (calamari) was not memorable at all and felt like an appetizer you could have at one of those hideous chain restaurants you find all over Atlanta... For my main entree I ordered the scallop fettuccine. The scallops were quite good I have to say yet the dish was bland overall and it appeared that it needed a richer sauce to complement the homemade pasta and the scallops/shrimp/mussels that came with the pasta. Don't get me wrong - the dish was not bad but I have had much better (think La Tavola where they always have great pasta/seafood dishes). The highlight of the meal might have been the delicious chocolate grotto I had for dessert. I love dark chocolate and this really hit the spot. Total bill for two exceeded what I was willing to pay and I am not cheap by any stretch of the imagination - I guess you pay for the ambiance and unique location of the restaurant. I may go back in the future yet would reserve this restaurant to entertain out of town guests or for a special occasion.
(3)
Nichole K.
I was there pre and post flooding of Atlanta and I must say before the flood this restaurant had my approval all over it. The martinis excellent. Five girlfriends of mine went and we all swapped entrees - and all were to die for. When the in-laws were coming into town I couldn't of been more excited to take them there. When I left I had disappointment all over my face not because everything was bad, but because everything was just so awesome before and did not meet my expectations. But the in-laws loved it. They are coffee lovers so there was a coffee rub on a steak that made their day. Along with a coffee flavor dessert. Things I DO love about it. The view and the outside bar. The constant changing of the menu. The service. The atmosphere. I will revisit, but not anytime soon.
(3)
Dio S.
Canoe feels like a resort restaurant far away from the city. Beautiful wood accents, two sides open onto a terrace that goes all the way down to the river. Tranquil and elegant. Fantastic service and food. Southern themed menu is full of premium, small production ingredients lovingly prepared and well seasoned. Great smoked salmon, crab cake, and an African Squash soup that's velvety and perfect. The fowls can get a little dry however. Desserts are again beautiful and delicious. When you express an interest in sharing food with your companion, the chef will try to portion it as it's being plated. A few places do this and it's very considerate, but I found I didn't like it too much--the intended presentation is inevitably compromised--and I advise you to not take up on the offer. Finally the brunch. It's famous and I think rightly so. But I am not a huge fan. They've priced and portioned the entrees too high and large, and I have had a hard time finishing it, especially if the Pastry Basket is ordered. The pastry items are great, not perfect, but great. Usually lots of "stately", conservative looking regulars can be found at Canoe. Overall I prefer the brunch at Watershed better. Of note is that there is a small but very nice bar area. Might be great for stopping by for a drink and small plate if it's not so out of the way. I've never dined outside on the terrace but I'll take a stroll after the meal.
(4)
Kris P.
What can I say that hasn't already been said? The place is wonderful. It's a haven for us foodies, but it's never pretentious. The service is always attentive, but never bothersome. Not a big wine drinker, but Canoe has converted me. The food? Excellent. I'm making my way through the menu, and having eaten there about ten times now, I've NEVER had an issue, however minute, with the food. I love the rabbit, the seasonal pastas, the mussel appetizer they served last Friday night... you can't go wrong here. Desserts are amazing as well - butter-pop ice cream, red velvet cake - all delish. I just love coming here. It's exciting and comforting all at once! My cares slip away once I walk in under that C*A*N*O*E sign because I know I am going to be well taken care of and well fed. Love it.
(5)
Scott B.
Canoe is one of those places that stays with you and becomes a benchmark. I haven't eaten there in quite a while but the experience is still fresh in my mind. Canoe is situated on some beautiful property literally right on the edge of the Chattahoochee river and is surrounded by beautiful landscaping. If you get there early, take a minute to walk around out there. This time of year (March to May) has some of the best colors when everything is in bloom. Inside, the decor is spacious, rustic modern with warm brick and old wood. The food and service are equally tremendous. The servers are some kind of dream team...extremely knowledgable, friendly and always on their "A" game. Last time we were there, our server was great to deal with. He also expertly de-boned a whole Snapper for my father-in-law in about 30 seconds with 2 spoons, like some kind of cross between McGuyver and a surgeon (nice entertainment value). The dishes are beautifully prepared and include creative, top quality ingredients. If you have a penchant for the unusual, you can often find it here - I've had Skate, Pheasant, and Rabbit which were all excellent. There are no holes in the menu, no matter what you like you will probably find it here in some form or another. Portions are decently sized. The wine list is expansive and overwhelming, so it's best to ask for assistance from one of the capable servers when choosing. 5 stars. I can't think of any reason to not give this the highest recommendation.
Yes, this lives up to all of the reviews posted. amazing, lovely location, over the top attentive service and food that is just first class all of the way. We were there with a huge group (40 total I believe) and although we were at separate large tables of 10, we were treated as if we were a small table of 4. Our menu was pre-selected and we started off with a lovely Baby Arugula Salad with Spiced Nuts, Shaved Parmesan and Poppy Seed Vinaigrette. We then had our choice of either the Salmon or the Beef Tenderloin. I chose the Beef and it was about 8 oz of medium rare beauty, nestled on a bed of super-creamy mashed potatoes and mushrooms, with a lovely burgundy reduction sauce. For desert we had an option of either the creme brulee or the blueberry semifreddo. Either was heavenly but I did inhale my creme brulee. Service was top notch and really attentive (i said that already) but if I have time when I'm back in Atlanta, i'm surely heading over there. It IS difficult to find (use your GPS) but once there, you'll never forget it.
(5)
Antoinette F.
One thing Atlanta does well is make the attempt at nice restaurants - Canoe delivers where the rest of Atlanta fails. This place is right on the mark. The service is impeccable - all the waiters are extremely knowledgeable about each and every menu item, as well as the extensive wine list. While being extremely attentive and professional, they don't come off as high-brow, unlike a lot of "nicer" restaurants I've been to in this city. The food is phenomenal. I highly recommend the rabbit - it may be my favorite meal I've had in Atlanta. Also, the smoked salmon can't be beat. From the appetizers through dessert, the food is consistently delicious, fresh, and cooked perfectly. Each time I've gone, I've sat outside - which I highly suggest. The view over their grounds and the river is great, and provides atmosphere hard to find in Atlanta. It gets a little dark, but you can manage. While most people are in what I'd call business attire, the waiters/waitresses wear dark jeans with long-sleeve button up shirts, so a guy in similar attire wouldn't be completely out of place. I'd suggest a dress/skirt for women. Simply put, you can't go wrong with Canoe.
I went to Canoe a few weeks ago with Brian and my friend Amanda. I was up in East Cobb for the night and wanted to go out to dinner. In East Cobb, there are NO good places to eat, so if I want good food, I head over to Vinings. I had never been to Canoe, but its reputation precedes it. Canoe has 26/26/25 from Zagat, and it's a go-to place for nice evenings. The menu had lots of delicious-sounding options, and I loved everything I had. It is a bit on the pricy side (my mom was thanking us for bartending her party), so I wouldn't recommend it for an average night. The landscaping is beautiful, and people often have weddings here, except recently Canoe was hit hard by the rain and had some issues with flooding. We sat in the bar, but still got excellent service. The wine list, in particular, is fabulous. When I was in Napa this summer, I spoke to a winery that told me the only place they distribute in Atlanta is at Canoe. But don't be scared, I was still able to get one of my favorite bottles (a Qupe Syrah) for just $30. Canoe is a bit of a hike from downtown, but if you ever find yourself craving an elegant meal in northwest Atlanta, I would definitely recommend stopping in Canoe.
(4)
Oscar G.
It's been some time since i've been to Canoe but the memory stands out. I had the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce. The rabbit was tender and not gamey. overall a really pleasing meal and experience.
(4)
Michael S.
Great food. Expensive but definitely worth it. The Carolina Rabbit is amazing.
(5)
Aneece K.
I took my girlfriend out to Canoe to celebrate our first year together. As a thrifty college student, this is the most that I have ever spent on a meal so expectations were pretty high. I was disappointed with the food but everything else was simply perfect. In my opinion, the food is nothing special and I would not recommend this place for the quality of the food. But if they're looking for an incredible dining experience (whatever that means) then checkout Canoe. The view from the "patio" and the landscape are absolutely stunning. We later walked through the garden along the river bank and let me tell you there is nothing like seeing your girl's eyes sparkle with joy (I choose to believe its because of me and not because of the silly colorful flowers). The service was royal. I almost felt like a king, all that the waitress needed to do to complete this experience was to start feeding me grapes and praising my good looks (oh and give me a shoulder massage as well). So go check out Canoe for a great dining experience but as for me I won't be there again before the food gets better and I become a millionaire :)
(3)
Michelle C.
I know this is one of the top rated restaurants in Atlanta which was precisely the reason I wanted to take hubby for his birthday dinner. Upon entrance, we decided to wait 30-45 minutes for an outside table versus barside immediately. The wait was actually 20 minutes. We had a great table with a wonderful view of the chattahoochee. The server gets most of the stars here. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and just overall great. We ordered the crab cake app - DELICIOIUS. Best item I had. Waiter recommended the rabbit. I chose that and the hubby ordered the short rib entree. My rabbit (never having had rabbit before) was... ok. Like rabbit. I can see how cowboys of the western days were lean and wiry. The rabbit leg was about 3/4 my palm over a bed of julienned veggies. It was ok. The meat was very nonflavorful which usually means that the accompanied gravy or veggies have a standout flavoring but that was not the case. It tasted like unseasoned meat with a little au jus and the veggies had no real seasoning. It was "eh". My husbands short rib was tender and delicious. It was very good. They placed it over mashed potatoes. The server recommended a pinot noir that didn't taste as smooth as some I have tasted. It was ok. It had a little tang aftertaste that I didn't particularly care for. The dessert choice was based off of a nearby tables choice. Their dessert looked very good. So I ordered the chocolate dome and hubby ordered the apple cobbler. Not sure what I thought the dome was filled with but I didn't like the fact that when I broke through the super hard shell that there was just a caramelly/creamy filling that filled it about 1/4 of the way up the tennis ball sized dome. It was ok. I wish I'd have ordered something else. Hubby said his apple cobbler wasn't seasoned and wasn't really sweet. Just tasted like sliced apples. Said they could've seasoned the breading more also. More sugar & cinnamon. To finish, we are not food snobs in the least bit. I just thought that a top rated restaurant was be infinitely better than it actually was. I would like to go back and try different entrees and dessert. The view is the biggest wow factor here and even that is ok. It's just the Chattahoochee.
(3)
Shelly J.
This is such a beautiful place! It is right beside the river and they have their own garden you can visit! We started with the shrimp stuffed calamari which was wonderful! We ended up soaking up the sauces on the plate with the delicious varieties of bread they gave us. After much deliberation, I ordered the rabbit (you have to try everything once, right?) and my boyfriend ordered the burger (without the egg). Both of our dishes smelled and looked amazing! The rabbit was very tender and served with beautifully cooked vegetables, delicious sauce, and amazing homemade bacon ravioli! It was so delicious! The burger was very delicious as well, but he kept reaching over and eating my dish because it was that good! For dessert we had the caramel popcorn sundae! Wonderful! There was caramel popcorn on the plate and vanilla ice cream and salted caramel in a glass with whipped cream on top. It was yummy! Visit this place! It is upscale, the service is wonderful and the food is even better!
(5)
Jeff L.
For our most recent anniversary, my wife and I wanted to go out to a top-notch restaurant. After lots of researching on Yelp and elsewhere, we settled on Canoe. In sum, neither of us could have been happier with the choice. We both absolutely loved our experience at this place. To start, the ambiance of the restaurant is magnificent. Everything is soft, from the lighting to the color palette. On top of that, it sits right on the Chattahoochie River, adding a level of depth to the experience. It kind of takes you out of the city in a great way. We had the option of sitting outside, but chose instead to sit inside, but facing the river. A wonderful view while eating! On top of that, service throughout was excellent. In terms of their food, they seem to specialize in seafood and gamier meets, which suit my wife and I perfectly. For our first courses, my wife ordered the Shrimp Dumplings and I had the Duck-Stuffed Quail. The shrimp dumplings are served in a bouillabaisse. My wife (an avid seafood lover) was in heaven with this dish. The shrimp dumplings were clearly hand-made, and were expertly prepared. The bouillabaisse itself was also wonderful, and packed a bigger seafood punch (=loaded with seafood) than we expected given it's smaller size (being a first course). My duck-stuffed quail was also amazing. The duck was chopped into smaller pieces and was cooked (I believe) with bacon, all stuffed inside some quail. Stuffing two of my favorite meats inside another one of my favorite meats will always make me a happy man! We were certainly off to a great start. For our main courses, my wife ordered the Sage Roasted Pheasant, and I had the Rabbit. Just like with our first courses, we loved our main courses. Where I liked my first course a bit better, I did like my wife's main course just a hair better than mine. That's not to say the rabbit wasn't excellent, I just thought it was among the best pheasant I've ever eaten. On top of that, one of the sides for the dish was pheasant croquettes, which were (almost) better than the pheasant itself. Overall, both main courses were cooked perfectly, and the accompanying sides seemed to compliment our dishes as well as one would hope they would. I honestly cannot remember what we ordered for dessert. It was fine, but was served in a shallow pool of frangelico (hazelnut liqueur), which kind of overpowered everything else. About the only misstep of the evening for Canoe, and neither my wife nor myself are big dessert people, so not a big misstep. Overall, we both loved this place. In the end, I'd probably say it was a solid 4.5, but I'll round up to a 5. It wasn't the absolute best food we've ever eaten, but everything we had was consistently wonderful. We're planning on going back for our next anniversary...and probably the one after that as well!
(5)
Susan D.
We've been going to Canoe for years and have always had a excellent and consistent meal. I went there last night with my 81 year old aunt and was very disappointed with our meals. We ordered the octopus salad. The waiter said it was big enough to share. He was so wrong about that. The potion was so small and maybe there was 4, 2" pieces of octopus. The waiter said that it was cooked in a sealed plastic bag for 7 hours, and would be very tender. It was not tender and. It was dry, probably because the pieces were very small. It was very lack luster. My aunt ordered their famous salmon potato cakes... as she always does. She said the dish was sloppily put together and lacked the presentation of prior years. We've had it too and we agree because we've had it in the past. For my main I ordered the duck breast with duck spring rolls on bok choy. Where was the bok choy? There was 1 leaf of bok choy, not a whole bok choy, only one leaf. The duck spring roll was a bit greasy and the duck was ok but noting great and lacked in flavor. On a different note, our waiter Terry was fantastic, and the service impeccable. We've heard that there is a new executive chef... hmmm. Is that the problem.
(2)
Trip B.
I was here for New Year's Eve 2007 and had one of the more memorable dinners of my life. I thought, perhaps it was the company and the ambiance but those thoughts were laid to rest quickly once the tasting menu started. From scallops to pork belly to swish chard and bread pudding, I was hooked and after hearing about this place for ten years I finally "got it". I'll be back to this place but it won't be as special as the firs time I was there, I got a flat tire and celebrated New Year's on the shoulder of I-85.
(5)
Billy F.
This place is amazing. My co-worker and I both had fresh oysters and rib-eye steaks. One of the best rib-eyes I've had to date. The food is not only what makes this place outstanding, the service is phenomenal. It was our server's first night on the floor and he was amazing. I went to the restroom and he waited until I returned to pour my glass of water. The plates were cleared promptly and drinks were refilled before the glasses hit the table. We shared 2 different deserts, a red wine reduced cherry stuffed ice scream and a chocolate sphere impregnated with salted caramel and pretzel crumbs. Both were under priced and ridiculously good. If I'm ever back in Atlanta I'm definitely making another trip to Canoe.
(5)
Ivy S.
4 people from my table threw up after this meal. Not because it was bad or because of food poisoning, but because there was so much good food that we overstuffed ourselves. Nuff said
(5)
Jay H.
Great Restaurant! Their outside space in the back of the restaurant is amazing! Looks like the back of a large estate...and it's on the river! The outdoor bar is the coolest! Someone was playing the guitar and singing ever so faintly in the background. It was a very rich experience. Oh yea..the food... the slow roasted rabbit was awesome! This is the perfect place to celebrate something special!
(5)
Brian C.
Located in a odd little shopping center on the Chattahoochee River, we would have been a little sketchy on Canoe had it not been for the positive reviews we had read beforehand. Overall, the place had a great, upscale charm - and its grounds and little gardens were quite nice. If we lived closer we would be coming back for wine and cocktails just to stroll around the outside. Inside is also nice, with a small bar area to hang out in before you get your table. The cocktail menu was solid and appealing, although not large. The wine list had a GREAT selection by-the-bottle, and quite a decent one by-the-glass (maybe 25 total?). The hostess, the bar staff, and our server were AWESOME. We arrived much earlier than our scheduled reservation, but were able to be seated much sooner than expected. Our server was overflowing with personality, which we like - and was VERY helpful with food selection. The menu was extremely interesting and varied, with many dishes you won't find almost anywhere else - rabbit, pheasant, duck, etc. Fresh artisan bread kept us happy while we perused the menu - it was hard to make an entree choice - I wanted 5 of them... We settled on the raw oyster appetizer, pork loin with butternut squash, and pheasant with sweet potato and pheasant croquettes. The oysters were VERY fresh, although the cucumber relish they put on top really overpowered anything else - I certainly appreciate the attempt at a cool oyster-topper...but that one's not quite there yet. Both of the entrees were excellent. Both bone-in, and accompanied well with their starches and veggies. The pheasant's outer coating added a nice peppery crispinees - and the dark meat pheasant croquettes were INSANELY good - I was told you can order them separately...and if we are back in the area I will. The herbs and spices on the pork were also superbly done. The desserts sounded really good (I wanted the killer sounding bread pudding)...but at that point we would have been hospitalized if we had eaten any more. The only thing even slightly negative is the proximity of the tables to each other. Many are so close together the servers can't even walk by - which doesn't really lend itself to a romantic venue, if that's a reason you're going. Some of the tables are nicely located, however - maybe just a luck-of-the-draw thing. Overall, a great experience that we would recommend to anyone living in or passing through the area.
(5)
Frances O.
Went last Saturday for an early b-day dinner with my hubby. We've never been to Canoe but heard a lot of good things about it. It was THE most absolute best dinner ever! Food was absolutely delicious and the service was great. Our waiter (Laura, I think!) was extremely knowledgeable and all the recommendations she made were spot on. We split 2 appetizers, the smoked salmon and the warm goat cheese salad, both outstanding. For entrees I had the rabbit and my hubby had the short ribs...DELISH!!! For dessert, we had the Valrhona dessert with salty caramel. Bottom line: a MUST-visit place in ATL!!! My hubs and I will definitely go back, hopefully in the spring!
(5)
Chris P.
My wife and I have been to Canoe several times and it has been fantastic every time. I already want to go back! I want to be constructive and find some things to say that need improvement but I just can't find anything. You really do have to eat here. Love to hear your thoughts when you do!
(5)
Bridget A.
This is my go to place for a special night out!!! The service has ALWAYS been top notch! I love the everything on the menu plus great choices of wine. For the foodie folks out there...THIS IS THE PLACE!
(5)
Cornelius J.
Went for brunch today and the experience was great. Had the Crab & Eggs and a spicy bloody mary which were both great items. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very inviting and the staff was very helpful.
(5)
Kathleen M.
After leaving the Elite event with ears ringing from the, um, jovial Yelpers, we needed somewhere quiet to enjoy. Miriam W had bookmarked Canoe ages ago so we made our way along the gorgeous residential streets of Buckhead and over the river to the lovely little spot. It was about 9:15 on a Sunday so the place was pretty cleared out with a few of the typical Buckhead elite clientele finishing their meals. Our ebullient waiter quickly greeted us, unfortunately informing us that due to the Valentine's rush they were all out of scallops. I had decided upon the warm cheese salad and the mussels, but oh, happy day, we were about to receive mussels gratis thanks to my wonderful chef-friend Maggie who works here. On the waiter's recommendation, I went with the veal and portobello tortelloni. The mussels were great, with the perfect amount of bite in the sauce. The breads that were served paired wonderfully. The warm cheese salad was quite possibly the best salad I've ever tasted. My dining companions may have noticed my lack of offer to share, it was that good. The tortelloni was properly cooked al dente and reminded me just how bad of a cook I am, as I can't manage to make boxed penne properly. I've always loved Canoe. The atmosphere is perfect for any date or special occasion and the menu is varied enough to suit pretty much everyone. The view and setting is obviously best for daylight hours, so be sure to check it out for lunch or brunch-- you will be pleased!
(5)
Hambri Enta M.
I had my Bday diner there with the Dirty dozen, and I loved everything. Everyone played it safe with the salmon, or the beef, including me. Waiting at the bar was a delight, the drinks were stiff, just like I like my man! We got seated outside (it was March 7, not too cold, kind of pleasant) because we are an embarrasing bunch and I knew that talks of T & A and C*ck and racial jokes would be shared outloud. My table ordered the House Smoked Salmon w/ crispy yukon potato cake, vermont goat's cheese 11.95 that was awesome! so was the Panko Crusted Lemon Sole Roulade scallop mousse, yuzu 12.75. I can eat a shitload of that! I had the Grilled Heart of Ribeye, celery root whipped potatoes, creamed cipollini onions, tarragon 32.95, and got some dessert I cannot recall. In any case, it was fucktastic and I recommend it. Stop being a Sissy and get out of your zip code comfort zone and venture out this way....is beautiful and worth it!
(4)
Mari E.
Wonderful food, wonderful service, gorgeous view! A++ all around.
(5)
Holy Guacamole M.
LOVE THIS PLACE! The ambience is captivating and the food is intoxicating and the service is honestly the best there is in this city! Love, love, love this place! When you go, make sure you try the smoked salmon appetizer and the rabbit dinner entree. Their Sunday brunch is pretty awesome too!
(5)
Nikki K.
The first time I went to Canoe was for a rehearsal dinner and it was truly lovely. The restaurant itself is very nice, but the tent they put on their back lawn for the event, against the Chattahoochee River, with white strings of light all around, was breathtaking. The food was delicious, and since the groom was vegan, they went out of their way to accommodate him by coming up with special foods he could eat, as well as the many vegan guests that were there. This is definitely a restaurant you have to go to at least once, if not many times! Just the view outside the windows is worth the trip to Vinings!
(4)
Shireen B.
Sunday Brunch at Canoe had a romantic touch to it...I think it was the delicious french toast. The food was well cooked and the wait-staff was polite and courteous. The atmosphere right near the kitchen wasn't very accomodating, though it was interesting. This is a hidden surprise I wouldn't have found without Yelp.
(4)
Brooke B.
Canoe is an Atlanta classic and, in my opinion, absolutely deserves its 5-star reputation. There is nothing not to love about this place, unless you hate food. And love. And life. Perhaps the most impressive part of my Canoe experiences has been the service. Every waiter has been spot-on, with excellent manners and great personalities. They seem to be proud of their establishment without being arrogant. The dishes at Canoe are upscale American, and they cook up classic, homey food with their own personal twist. One of their claims to fame is they make everything in house, including the spicy flatbread and the quirky ice cream in the flavor of the day (literally). The menu is varied and interesting and just plain delicious! I recently tried Canoe at lunch for the first time. I was surprised at how affordable their lunch menu is! It is such a good deal. My friends and I remarked that it was no more expensive than going to the Cheesecake Factory, but leagues above any chain restaurant out there (that is such an understatement... I will think up a better hyperbole later). The crab cake on a citrusy watercress salad was pure heaven. Plus, this was the first time I had been to the restaurant during daylight hours, and my, are their gardens gorgeous! I'd like to just go sit on their patio by the Chattahoochee with a glass of wine. I may just have to make lunch at Canoe a monthly staple... Though it will be very hard to get back to work for the afternoon.
(5)
RadioCobb R.
Great turkey burger for lunch and also enjoyed the salmon appetizer. The view from the outside patio was wonderful. Higher priced than your average lunch, but comparably priced to other Vinings Village restaurants and much better. Try it for lunch.
(5)
Sanket S.
Definitely one of the better restaurants in atlanta, though not quite as good as equally priced (and rated) meals in some other cities. Service was impeccable, as was the ambiance. The garden seems fantastic as well, weather permitting.
(4)
Amrita J.
Love Love Loved it.....can't say enough about this place!!! So every "big celebration" day that I have, I like to try a new place that I've never been before, whether it's a birthday, an anniversary, a holiday. It makes it that much more exciting. Well this Valentine's day, led me and the boyfriend to Canoe. Settled along the Chattahoochee river, it's a beautiful place for a nice date or romantic evening out with your love!!! The pictures on the website looked amazing, so I was super excited b/c I knew there would be some great photo-ops, and I was SO on the money with that. Well we were seated, and I was so happy to be seated right near the back glass windows, overlooking the outside patio and river. We ordered some wine, and also ordered our food and while waiting for the food to be made, we took our wine outside and walked along the trail out back, and they have benches for you to sit on, and tables out there, and it was nice to see the couples out there sharing an intimate moment or conversation. I mean it's really just a beautiful setting. The only negative with the back area that I had, were that the trails were gravel/dirt. I mean as classy a place as this is, they could have paved them up or put some wood planks or something down, I mean I imagine most women coming here will be dressed up and have heels on, it's a real struggle walking through there with the rocks and dirt eating up your heel. Ok so back to the review......the food was delicious, and well worth the money, the portions were pretty large and definitely able to fill you up, which is great to see, because often these swanky restaurants skimp on the meal and still charge you an arm and a leg for it. The service however was not up to par, which was disappointing for such a nice restaurant who probably prides itself on the classy factor, you would think the service would have been right up there with it.......our server literally checked on us ONCE and that was when she gave us our check. (hence the lack of a 5-star rating) I can't describe to you the great food, you just have to go out there and taste it for yourself.
(4)
Jeremy M.
It was like that movie, you know the one that all your friends loved and raved about and then you went to see it and it was just ok... That was my experience with Canoe. I appreciate what they were trying to do, highlighting locally available items and stressing freshness, but when it came right down to the taste of my meal, it was just ok. If not for the impeccable service this would have been a three star experience but the 5 star service averaged it out.
(4)
John U.
A purely awesome dinning experience and great setting right on the river.
(5)
Andrea S.
I took my boyfriend here for his birthday this past Friday night and OMG, awesome dinner, wine, dessert, service! The atmosphere was beautiful with an outside small bar with seating along the chatahoochie river. I wish it wasn't so humid so we could enjoy it but not a chance. Any questions we had the server was quite knowledgeable in how everything was prepared and what type of wine we could have with it. I DEFINITELY plan on returning soon.
(5)
Lauren R.
I went here for the first time last night after wanting to try it for years and had a great experience. Despite not being able to sit until 30 minutes past our reservation time (the party in front of us just wouldn't quit!), from start to finish, the staff and the service was impeccable and the setting was absolutely beautiful (loved being in the city but not IN the city) . So why only four stars? The food was very good, but I was not blown away like I expected to be. The appetizers were the highlight of the meal for me. The chefs treated us to some to make up for our wait (duck, smoked salmon and crab cake, which were all excellent) and our table of 7 devoured all of them, along with the selection of yummy breads to much on while we we waited for our entrees. My African squash soup was creamy and delicious, but I was a bit disappointed in my main entree, the lamb shank, which was a bit too salty (and a little greasy) for me. I was full, but had to get dessert to round out my experience, so I took some chocolate mole to go and I look forward to devouring it later tonight. I would definitely return (but perhaps choose another entree) and look forward to sharing this place with someone special. :)
(4)
Michael V.
Finally had dinner at Canoe last weekend and was highly impressed. This was a meal that happened by accident as a result of the fact that the wait at Local 3 was too long and Canoe was right nearby. We arrived and were lucky enough to be seated immediately in the lounge. The service was overall very good, despite the initial oversight of a napkin which was remedied quickly. I definitely must give kudos to the sommelier, who was very knowledgeable and fun to talk to. She guided us to some great wines that I probably wouldn't have picked and it really helped make the meal that much more special. And the wine list is out of sight awesome. Can't say enough about it. As for the food, overall I was wowed, and not necessarily in the dishes I expected. The apps we got were the Warm Artisan Cheese Salad with Bacon, Baby Spinach, Dried Cranberries and Toasted Pecan Vinaigrette and the Shrimp Stuffed Calamari with Spanish Chorizo, Crisped Tentacles and Laurel Aioli. The Warm Artisan Cheese Salad was a home run. Perfect balance of opposites (sweet/savory, warm/cool, soft/crunchy) made for a very well balanced and delicious dish. I could eat a bigger version of this as an entree no problem. The Shrimp Stuffed Calimari was good, but a bit pedestrian overall on the flavors. The chorizo flavor was not very evident and while the dish was good it did not wow me as I expected it to when I ordered it. The entrees were both insanely good. We had the Newfoundland Steelhead Trout, Smoked Salmon Tortelloni, Blue Crab Bechamel and the Sage Roasted Pheasant with Brown Butter Whipped Sweet Potato, Crispy Pheasant Croquette, Natural Jus. The Trout dish was decadent and rich and could have ended up being a mess of heavy cream without the thoughtful hand of Chef Carvel Gould. The real uniqueness of this dish was in the details, with the hints of dill and onion that really rounded out the flavor of this dish. I was hooked from the first bite. The Pheasant dish was totally different flavor but another rock star dish for sure. Big, rustic flavors were the theme of this dish from the sage preparation on the pheasant to the decadent jus and sweet potato mash. The croquettes were amazing. I could eat them every day and be a very happy man. Overall an excellent experience and one I will hope to have again.
(4)
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Address :4199 Paces Ferry Rd SE
Atlanta, GA, 30339
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Owen S.
Atmosphere is very pleasant, server was great, table was ready at reserved time and the garden area behind Canoe is beautiful. Oh, and the food was great.
(5)Sydney C.
Everything I had here was amazing. The smoked salmon app, the roasted chicken, and especially the popcorn ice cream were each perfect. The ambiance is really intimate and cozy with an interesting design. Extremely attentive servers who ask if you are celebrating something and add a message and candle with the desert if you are. When I went here it was pouring outside so I am excited to go back and be able to sit out by the garden and river. I am also really excited to try their brunch!
(5)Mary Ellen B.
The location is great, the wine menu is very good, the atmosphere is delightful... The food leaves a lot to be desired. If you go just stick with the dishes all the fancy reviewers recommend and do not get the special. Additionally, if you've never liked French food then please dont come here expecting to all of a sudden enjoy this genre of food. I won't go back to determine why it keeps getting good reviews since my one and only time left a lot to be desired. Too many other great places in Atlanta to try!
(3)Brian G.
The outdoor garden is amazing. Why anyone sits inside is beyond me. I had a beet salad, a duck burger, and a couple Sweetwater IPAs. A delicious meal with a great atmosphere. Not much more to ask for.
(5)Jen K.
This place has fantastic food! We had our company Christmas party here (had a private table in the wine room) and I was definitely not disappointed. I had a shrimp spring roll appetizer (amazing) and a filet (cooked perfectly). They also have an extensive wine list which is fabulous. PS. Martha Stewart was eating here during our party. That should say it all.
(5)JR D.
Dinner was delicious, ordered a mahi in miso broth. The restaurant was very busy so we didn't get to sit by the windows. Service was great. The raspberry cheesecake was the best I've tasted. The crust, I believe it's with almonds, made a difference as well as raspberries between the crust and cheesecake.
(4)Lauren R.
The experience was amazing. I really enjoyed my halibut. The chocolate dessert was delicious.
(5)Henry T.
Came here for dinner once, and besides the wait after having made reservations, the rest of the evening went very nicely. I came back again for brunch recently and did not have to wait. I ordered the crab and eggs, and I was very happy with my decision. The sauce that came with it was perfect for this dish. We also had a small basket of the pecan sticky buns and scones which were really good. The house made jelly tasted great with the scones. The restaurant is a little on the pricey side and a little out of the way, but the food and service were great.
(4)Karen A.
An outstanding dining experience! Excellent service, amzing food, and the best ambiance in Atlanta. Went for brunch and had the french toast. Do yourself a favor and try it. One in our party had the crawdads and grits. He was quite pleasantly surprised (he is a bit of a crawdad snob). The lump crab soup (- may not have the name exactly right) had the third person in our party speechlesss (it could have been the shot of sherry that is served on the side). Either way, we were all in agreement that it was deliciously delightful!
(5)Kesha R.
What is there really to say about Canoe..fabulous, always. Food and service is always on point.
(4)Rob H.
I don't usually accuse someplace with 4.5 stars as being underrated. They made vegetarian pasta amazing. Now, I'm not vegan, and I'm not making a culinary moral judgment against meat. Nope, I just went in clad in my leather shoes and jacket, and threw down the gauntlet by ordering a totally vegetarian entree. And it was five-star outstanding.
(5)Hannah S.
Went for my birthday brunch after a weekend of birthday eating. Even though this was my first meal of the day, I was still so stuffed from dinner the night before that I didn't get to try as much as I wanted. Service was good, food was good (though not as good as I had been told to expect.) A very beautiful restaurant and a good time all around.
(4)Catherine C.
This was the best meal I've ever had. I can't say enough about how wonderful my experience here was. It felt like I was eating art with every bite. I won't recommend individual dishes since their menu changes, but I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. Some tips: be sure to visit the vegetable garden out back by the Chattahoochee and order your meat as rare as possible when they ask what temp. I plan on going back soon for lunch.
(5)Josh S.
Canoe is well loved by locals, and for good reason: the food and the atmosphere. This place truly offers fine dining. Polished copper ceilings, warm lighting, and an altogether pleasing interior design is complemented by the warm and friendly waiting staff. The food is creative, and offers a wide range of culinary choices. Hot and sour shrimp soup is amazingly complex, and the braised rabbit is fork tender and scrumptious. As for desert, the Salted Caramel Grotto was the perfect end to an exquisite meal.
(5)Todd G.
I end up in Atlanta, by coincidence, on championship night and found myself visiting Canoe because of the input I received from Yelp. The restaurant was high-end with great service. The food was exactly what I need as I had been traveling a lot for work. Definitely a place to hit when in town.
(4)Rikki O.
Enchanting view of the river at dusk blends beautifully with good friends at Canoe. Very pleased with the wine selection and the knowledge of the waitstaff. And, the Marinated Golden and Red Beet Salad with Whipped Vermont Goat's Cheese, Candied Walnuts and Basil Oil engaged all my senses right from the start. I will be absolutely be returning.
(4)Nhuy W.
OMG! I love this place! I have been here several times and have never been disappointed!! Their trout is amazing and their desserts are to die awesome! There is a great view if you want to sit outside or sit by the window inside!!!
(5)t l.
Dreamy enlightened artisan food. $$$$/4 so it's expensive. Excellent service -from the waitress to the valet. Love the garden we sat out in the patio with the hummingbirds come by and it's right off the river so the scenery is just gorgeous and lush. Well thought out decor classy with canoes and paddle decor everywhere Had the smoked salmon appetizer - just delicious, The sauce was very good the potato underneath was perfectly cooked, A total winner. loved it Kangaroo appetizer-never knew kangaroo could be so lean it was a very good blend of sweet and savory and the potato cake underneath was perfect combination. Very good and would probably order again Had The duck-I liked it but it seem like he could have had more flavor maybe with some sort of sauce not too sure about the forbidden rice combination that went with it. Sort of interesting some sort of black grain not too sure The classic rabbit was good. Apparently they've had this item on the menu since the very beginning. I have to say that there wasn't a lot of flavor it was very delicate and again it might've been a good idea to have some sort of infuse seasoning or sauce to go with the rabbit Finished off with the popcorn crackerjack ice cream sundae and a blueberry crisp both were very good Service was excellent from the valet to the hostess and our waitress was wonderful love the bread. Often times we didn't even have to ask and our glasses were filled and bread was replenished without us even really noticing that's how good the service was. Nice touch that they decorated the plate with the chocolate message and A candle for our dessert. Loved that. Totally unexpected Very nice evening out and a great way to celebrate a special occasion Would totally recommend and definitely won't go back and try the other items on the menu because everything really did look delicious and it was hard to choose what to eat
(5)Matthew H.
Canoe, we miss you. Our previous experience at this restaurant was nothing short of magical. The ambiance, service and food were all exemplary. This time, however, it was like 3 our of 4 of the engines of this luxury airliner were on fire and we were headed headlong into Mount Fuji. I'm an ominivore and my wife is a vegetarian. We were once again pleased to hear that "Chef" would prepare something fantastic for her. Service was lovely and professional but our appetizers were sadly sub par. The Hierloom salad was average and the arugala salad was drowning in dressing. Bleh. The over briney mingonette on the oysters was terrible and overpowered any semblance of clean flavor. Management quickly brought another 6 without the mingnonette but then left without offering a lemon. A mean, dry oysters? No biggie. But... Wife's "Chef Special" vegetarian offering looked like a gross four quadrant Hungry Man dinner of sloppy sides. My NY steak was dead cold. I mean, considering they ladeled four sloppy sides onto a square plate for my date you'd think they'd get the steak right. The manager was obviously gobsmacked by the very thought that anyone could EVER be disappointed at this Paces Ferry institution. He blinked and asked us to give him 10 minutes to fix everything. We appreciated the thought, but Uber had already been called and a gourmet pizza was already in the oven thanks to our Nanny. Canoe, you left us up the river without a paddle.
(2)Jonathan T.
Have you ever accidentally watched a painfully awkward nude scene during a movie with your parents? Like, everyone wants to grab the remote to flip the channel or throw a toaster through the screen, but no one does anything because of the #bystandereffect? (Yes, I saw Titanic with my parents. Yes, it was terrible. Yes, I had no idea what the movie was about.) Canoe is the complete opposite of this. It's getting-the-first-pick-in-your-fantasy-league outstanding. And aside from the super amazing food, service, etc..., they also have chickens in the back yard. I mean c'mon. That's awesome. ***** I. FOOD Imagine New American with a Southern twist that specializes in seafood. This is Canoe. So I tried an appetizer and entrée. *Spring Roll: Being Vietnamese, I know what's good with spring rolls and this isn't a spring roll. It's essentially a high-end baller shrimp egg roll with a tasty sauce. It's crispy (but not overly fried), toothsome, and beautiful -- order this appetizer. **Lamb Sandwich w/ Truffle Fries: Oh. My. Lawd. After our amazing server (more on her later) raved about this entrée and rolled the eyes into the back of her head, I had to get it. AND IT WAS THE ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING SANDWICHES EVER. The lamb? Succulent. The slices of bread holding these beauties together. Heavenly. The delicious truffle fries? Could feed a family of five, and I ate them all. II. SERVICE Caitlyn, aka a person that I assume is a standup comedian on the weekends, is now my homegirl. Not only was she hilarious, but she definitely worked her ass off to take care of us that brunch. The only things she didn't do were give us massages and file our taxes. In other words, she couldn't have done better. (Give her a raise, yo!) III. ATMOSPHERE/ DÉCOR Things you need to know: 1) the ceiling in the main room of Canoe looks like the inside of a... canoe! Sick! 2) it's ideal for everything ranging from a work lunch to an intimate date; and 3) Venture out back and follow the river to their backyard to see the chickens and garden. So awesome! IV. PRICES Apps and entrees fall under $15 and $20, respectively. I think the prices are more than reasonable. V. OVERALL Even though I've only lived in ITP since the beginning of July, I have to say that Canoe is one of my favorite restaurants in the ATL. Can't wait to return.
(5)Derek B.
Excellence in Atlanta! This place is great. Came here for my Mom's birthday and it did not disappoint. Everything from the riverside location to the amazing wine list is great. I only wish we had gotten here early and gone down to the riverside bar to have a few pre dinner drinks. We started off with the charcuterie plate and the crab cake. Both were amazing. Possibly the best crab cake I have ever eaten. Super delicate and perfectly battered and fried. Amazing. The charcuterie plate was top notch, several really delicious sausages and cheeses but the highlight was the chicken liver pate, most certainly the best I've ever had. All of our entrees were amazing as well. I had the rabbit and it was great, but the dish was stolen by the mushroom ravioli that accompanied it, holy moly were those just perfect.
(5)Amanda B.
Canoe is so good. It's really fancy but it can also be a pretty laid-back. If you want to walk in there is a nice big open bar with bar seats as well as really cute canoe paddle tables. Each time I went by the bar cute tables were available. You can make a reservation online through their website or by calling --they use their website to make the reservation so they availability is the same. A little known secret is there is a beautiful outside area for seating that is right on the river. It is so cute. I highly recommend sitting outside if it's a nice day. All the food here is amazing. I have the rabbit last time I was there which I was told was the oldest thing on their menu. It was absolutely delicious. I also had the salmon which was perfect as well. I recommend the chocolate salted caramel cake for dessert. Parking is valet when the sun is out but when it's dark you can park at the businesses next-door no one would know. The valet is free. I wish I lived closer so I could come here on the reg.
(5)Colleen B.
Thank you, Yelp! Was looking for a spot for lunch in this neighborhood and this spot popped up and based on the reviews and pics, we had to go. Went on a Wednesday around 1 and there was only a short wait for the porch area with a view. It was lovely. I really have to say though, the highlight of our lunch was our server, Caitlyn. She was so dang nice, accommodating and funny as heck! Guys, they server their Iced Tea with a side of simple syrup so you can make it as sweet as you want. How awesome? We started with the Shrimp Spring Rolls with Cilantro & Yuzu - there were three of us so they brought us each a plate with one. Super classy even for lunch. She sold two of us on the shaved Lamb sandwich and I have to tell you, it was huge and was delicious. I didn't order it but it looked so good I had to try it. The truffle fries were to die for as well; cooked perfectly and seasoned just right. For my lunch, I went for the Panko Crusted George's Bank Cod with Whipped Potatoes, Baby Spinach and Caper Brown Butter. WOW! Absolutely cleared the plate clean. It was light, delicious and everything complemented each other perfectly. When you are done with your meal, or even before, make sure to walk over to their garden and chicken coop. Such a cute, communal area and they use fresh eggs from their coop when possible. Such a lovely afternoon, can't wait to return for dinner.
(5)Joanna R.
I can't believe I have never reviewed Canoe! My boyfriend picked it all on his own for my birthday right after we moved here from Miami. We've been on several occasions and it has never disappointed. I miss living in Vinings mostly because of this. I've tried the New York strip, the bucatini with goat cheese, the burger, the lobster bisque, and a few other entrees I can't remember. ALL EXCELLENT. The service here is just lovely and it will not cost you an arm and a leg to dine at this establishment. Truly, I am impressed. I really look forward to going to brunch here before the outside bar closes and enjoying the river views. I think so far this has been my favorite dinner experience in Atlanta since the big move. This place is a standout. Cheers.
(5)Kellie M.
OH LAWD! I was able to visit Canoe for lunch with co-workers. I had always wanted to visit due to their rave reviews, but thought only about going for a special occasion. DON'T WAIT PEOPLE! First of all our server Caitlyn was AH-MAZ-NG!!! She kept us laughing the entire time! I told her to bring an entire loaf of bread because I was starving!! She brought this amazing bread as well as a flatbread that was delicious! I started with an iced tea which comes accompanied with a side of symple syrup (TOO COOL)! We decided on the Shrimp Spring Rolls with Cilantro & Yuzu. We were a party of three so they split it up before bringing it to the table. I ordered the Lamb Sandwich w/truffle fries. GUYS! Are you kidding??!! This was one of the most delicious sandwiches that I have ever eaten! Don't even get me started on the truffle fries. This lunch dish was HUGE!!! I could only get through about half. I would HIGHLY recommend ordering this - FO SHO! My friend ordered the Panko Crusted George's Bank Cod with Whipped Potatoes, Baby Spinach and Caper Brown Butter. It also looked divine and she loved it!! I was quite impressed with the prices. They aren't as high as I thought. Also, they have this garden area in the back with - GET THIS - CHICKENS!!! A must see if you go! All in all I really loved this place. I will go back and tell everyone about it!
(5)Debby L.
BREAD BASKET This is amazing. They have a sticky bun with pecans that are to die for. I thought I was going to share the bun with someone next to me, but I ended up grabbing more and basically eating the whole thing myself. It was so delicious. There are also cranberry and savory rosemary scones that were just as delicious, and it came with a creamy butter and apricot marmalade.jam. Yum. SAUSAGE SCRAMBLE on PUFF PASTRY The scramble is very good. The eggs are perfectly cooked and creamy, just the way I like it. I'd a pinch of salt and and some green onions but on the whole, it was very light and delicious. The puff pastry is new to me, especially with scrambled eggs but I loved it. COFFEE was nonstop flowing...which is great but I really had too much coffee! LOCATION The gardens are beautiful and you should take the time to go down to them and enjoy
(4)Chris R.
This was my 27th birthday dinner from my girlfriend!!! The outside dinning area is great and the food is great too. Service was good and speedy and the valet was courteous!!!
(5)Lauren R.
The food was excellent, being overcharged by 205% was not. I came to Canoe for on Sunday for a ladies brunch after Church. I had made the reservation well in advance so when we arrived we were seated immediately. We started off with the Small basket of Pecan Sticky Buns and Scones as well as the Pecan Zucchini bread. We love Peans so we couldn't resister. The Pecan Sticky Buns were good once you got over how tough they were. They were flaky which made them tough to split in two but once you crunched down on your first bite it was pretty yummy. The scones were okay. The Zucchini Pecan bread was my favorite. It came to out table warm and served with Bail cream cheese, an unusual but tasty combination. For entrees, my sister and I both ordered The Scrambler: French Toast, Bacon, Eggs and Breakfast Potatoes. This was really tasty! However the French Toast in this entree is different than their signature Brioche French Toast which is stuffed with Bourbon Cinnamon cream. My Mom ordered the Chicken Biscuit which looked and tastes eerily like smoked ham but she confirmed with the waitress that it was indeed chicken.. interesting. My Mom's friend ordered the Fried Green tomatoes which she enjoyed. Now to the bad, the really bad. I was in a hurry because I had another appointment to attend so I asked for the check to pay while the others in my party continued to brunch. I signed the non-itemized bill and left. I checked my receipt and they had mis-charged me $157.57 for a brunch for 4 people that was supposed to be $76.85.. I checked my bank account and they had processed the charge without even stopping to see that they had over charged me. No one from the restaurant called me to inform me that they caught this mis-charge or apologize instead I had to call the restaurant to let them know that I was overcharged by 205%. They said that they accidentally charged me for the table next to mine and would reverse and re-bill for the correct amount. A few minutes later I realized that I gave my waitress a 20% tip of $157 which is $30, way too much for a $76 brunch however the restaurant never asked me about adjusting the tip amount so I had to call AGAIN. I was never offered any form of compensation for their "accident" or for the mis-charge remaining on my bank account for 3 days. Great food but it's a shame that they have sneaky management. Always, always, always ask for an itemized receipt because they will try to over charge you if you are not careful.
(3)Andrew W.
Eating Sunday brunch at Canoe in springtime translates to one thing: tranquility. Don't be a fool, this calls for dining al fresco (unless of course the weather is less than ideal). You get a lovely view of their meticulously groomed gardens and the Chattahoochee River. Get a basket of freshly baked pastries - we had Georgia Pecan Sticky Buns and Sweet & Savory Scones served with honey butter and house made preserves. Relax and enjoy the scenery while you eat. Feel the stress leaving your body. We had to wait quite a bit of time for our entrees, but we weren't in any rush. I ordered their brunch special of the day - some kind of smoked pork benedict. My wife ordered "The Riverside" - a traditional breakfast of bacon, eggs, hash browns, and French toast. While I was pleased with the lovely plating of my meal, the time it took to do so led to my pork being cold. Oh well, no biggie. The service was also very hospitable and attentive. I could hear a few of the waiters swooning to other tables about the intricate details of each dish. I detected sincere enthusiasm. They were also happy to snap photos for diners wanting their pictures taken in the garden. After you're done eating, don't feel rushed to pay and leave. Walk around in the garden. Take a few minutes to relax in the Adirondack chairs near the river.
(4)Sylvia Y.
Took 3 tries to get a reservation because this place is popular and for good reason! Kangaroo appetizer: 5/5 Definitely to be shared between 2 ppl. The sweet onions bring out the subtle sweetness in the kangaroo. Yum. Rabbit: 4.5/5. The sauce was flavorful and helped to make the rabbit not dry and stringy but I thought the dish had just a tad too much fat... The ravioli was amazing though. Definitely tasted fresh and made with some serious love. Popcorn sundae: 5/5. To be shared by 4+ ppl. Looks deceptively simple but it's mind blowing. Their ice cream actually tastes like caramel popcorn cuz it was made with it. The chocolate note 'Congratulations' was a sweet surprise :) Basil dessert: 5/5 A lighter dessert option but nonetheless refreshing. What really gave this experience 5 stars was the quality of service. Our server was so patient even with an admittedly rowdy, big group. Our waters were always filled before they emptied and our bread crumbs scraped away without judgement. It's evident she knows her fine dining! If you're in Atlanta, come to Canoe to celebrate life. You won't regret it!
(5)Michelle T.
You will not be disappointed at Canoe. And if some reason you are I recommend you do one of two things, A) speak to a manager because I am confident they will make it right or B) Go outside, have a seat at the outdoor bar, grab a drink and allow the Chattahoochee River to take you away from it all. I have been here three times and every time the food was delicious. If you go anytime soon, i suggest you get the smoked salmon appetizer, the cod with lobster and clam entree and for dessert well..... honestly the popcorn ice cream is amazing. I am a chocolate lover, so the Chocolate Grotto was my prince in shining armour for the evening. I was with a group and everyone left full and happy. The outside area is awesome in the warmer nights and there is a bar you can sit at without having to eat inside. Canoe is definitely on the Atlanta favorites list.
(5)Didi L.
I had a great time for my birthday! We had the charcuterie plate to start I was hoping to get some pate but I didnt get any... For my main course I had the rabbit without the bacon but I didnt feel like i was missing anything. For my dessert the sorbet was perfect for a hot summer night! I didnt care for the cake that came with it.Fingerlicking good
(4)Erin E.
I went to Canoe a few months ago with my partner for brunch. The food was delicious and our server was very good. She was knowledgeable about the menu and offered up a few great suggestions. We will be back!
(4)Naomi T.
Great place to eat for anniversary. Ambiance was really nice and it wasn't really noisy. The food was excellent. Also the appetizers. Our waiter was also really nice. Would definitely go again.
(5)Andrew W.
Overall 5/5 Food 5/5 Price 4/5 Service 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 Nutshell: Revisited Canoe for their anniversary. As always, I was blown away by their food and gorgeous scenery. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to celebrate an auspicious event, intimate affair, or someone just looking for exceptional food. Food: Everything tasted wonderful. Ordered the app shrimps, app tomatoes, entree rabbit and entree trout. The app shrimp came with 5 freshly poached GA shrimps (with head) with a nice fresh bell pepper arugula salad. The app tomatoes came with GA different types of fresh ripe tomatoes with goat cheese. Entree rabbit was slow roasted and perfectly cooked with no bones. The mushroom marscpon ravioli was out of this world and al dente. The bacon, potatoes, carrot micro salad garnish was refreshing. The sweet, salty and rich garlic sauce was the perfect addition that binded the plate together. The trout was perfectly cooked with the skin. It came with deshelled and very fresh shrimp, scallops and mussels in a gentle slightly rich seafood broth that made the blade seafoody but w/o that "smell" only the beautiful unique flavors that paired well. The trout dish did lack some sort of acidity that would have gave the dish more notes to it. Price: Although the food here is wonderful, after dinning in over 12 michelin star restaurants, I feel like the apps price could be reduced by $2 and the entree can be reduced by $4. But overall, everything here is fairly priced given the high quality and exceptional cooking. Service: Our waitress was extremely friendly and attentive. Our water was always topped off. Bread was always served warm. Table appropriately cleaned. Plates cleared quickly. Food came out promptly. They also do free validate parking but remember to tip :)! Atmosphere: Canoe is located literally next to the Chattahoochee River. Thus, after your order or after your done eating, you can walk along the banks of the river that is appropriately taken care of by the restaurant with romantic lightening. Additionally, they offer outside seating in which you can observe humming birds and butterflies flying by. They also have an outside bar located a few meters away from the river. If you prefer inside seating, its dark, upscale and modern.
(5)Nauman B.
Had another outstanding experience at this beautiful restaurant. It's amazing how after my every visit Canoe and its staff leaves me speechless. Bruch recommendation; Duck & beef burger along with Granola & coconut yogurt. Either way, what ever one orders Canoe will leave you mouth watering and hungry for more.
(5)Justin C.
I have heard amazing things about this place so finally decided to check it out for lunch today. It most def lived up to the great reviews it has. The food was absolutely amazing! The burger and fries I had were delicious and the wait staff was extremely friendly. I'll def be back again soon!
(4)H R.
Celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary here and everything was so wonderful! Hospitality, service, food, water front garden view, seating and table setting were superb!! No detail is left below spectacular here! We ordered the Cod & Salmon entrees and also the Popcorn Sundae to share. Divine, delicious and beautifully presented! I think the only thing that would have made it pretty close to perfect (which is completely out of their control) would have been clearing the Chattahoochee River water. It's pretty gross and mirky. But otherwise the setting is absolutely beautiful!
(5)Fefe P.
Seriously, Canoe tops my list of the best restaurants in Atlanta. And, it's a combination of factors that puts Canoe up there e.g. Southern Charm, Beautiful location on the Chattahoochee River, Ambience that can be romantic for a date Or great for brunch with parents/friends Or Cool vibe for a riverside Happy Hour with colleagues, etc. Plus, service is always EXCEPTIONAL...I think the waitstaff may be psychic. Finally, the "piece de resistance"--the food is consistently Amazing!!! To start, you cannot miss a beat with the House Smoked Salmon w/ Crispy Potato Cake, Baby Arugula Salad or PEI Mussels (refer to photos :-). Entree favorites include Hickory Roasted Pork Chop, Grilled Breast of Duck and Slow Roasted Rabbit (must have). Finally, literally anything that is being served for dessert will be Out of This World, Plate Licking Good! P.S. Don't forget to tour the garden and grounds, it's fabulous in Spring and Fall. Happy Eating!!!
(5)Nikki A.
The husband and I enjoyed our third anniversary at this lovely restaurant. The service and the view are five stars for sure. We were looking for a romantic setting and this fit the bill. The only problem was that this place is LOUD! Not just a little bit bustling, but over the top noisy. I felt like our waiter actually had to shout explanations and favorite choices. The food was pretty amazing. We shared a Chartcuterie & Cheese board that was top-notch. My husband's Slow Roasted Georgia Rabbit was perfection. I chose the Pork Tenderloin plate; I wanted to love it but it was served lukewarm. The Popcorn Ice Cream Sundae was the best dessert I have ever eaten. We will definitely be back to try the patio/outdoor area, I am thinking it may be a little more quiet out there.
(4)DynamicDuo H.
I absolutely love he atmosphere here. The outside has gorgeous scenery and delightful views of the chattahoochie river. We love to fine here for weekend brunch, it's always delicious. We often sit at the bar when we don't have a reservation. Dinner: we've only been once for dinner and it was definitely and interesting experience. Lots of game meat. We order the famous kangaroo. It was really good. Dinner was just alright for me because in kinda picky, however my other half loved it. If you love desert the Carmel popcorn ice cream is a must.
(4)Katie O.
I've been to Canoe on a few different occasions and have always been impressed with their seasonal selections, variety and presentation. It has a perfect atmosphere nestled right on the Chattahoochee. I'd recommend making reservations in advance as it does get crowded! Bring change to tip the valet as well, since it is only valet parking!
(5)Nick C.
Canoe, nestled in a shopping center/river bed oasis, is a wonderful place for a celebratory dinner. Upon entering the restaurant I felt instantly transported from Urban Atlanta to a quaint mountain town... in a good way. Menu standouts were the Onion Soup which seemed uniquely dairy based but somehow light and frothy and the braised rabbit. For dessert the caramel popcorn ice cream did not disappoint, even though its seems everyone is serving some version of it these days. Booze selection leans more towards wine, but there is a pretty nice Bourbon/Rye collection to match the rustic decor. Overall it was a great experience, just short of five stars.
(4)Jill M.
AMAZING! Best service I have ever had!! Every employee was helpful, attentive, smiling, knowledgeable. Our waitress took an extra 5min to get me a cocktail and apologized multiple times and took it off the ticket (I didnt even notice the delay so it wasnt necessary but it was very sweet of her). The food was divine: the cranberry bread was a sweet surprising treat. we started with the kangaroo which had a pot roast flavor except for the sweet caramelized onions which made the dish special and exciting. My girlfriend and I ordered the salmon and also the duck entrees, and we told the waitress we planned to share them- and when the food came out the restaurant had already split the entrees so we had both entrees on our plates!! The salmon was so crisp on the outside and tender to perfection inside. The mushroom ravioli with the duck was chewy and savory, and the small bits of bacon added huge flavor. For dessert we had the popcorn ice cream- which tasted exactly like my mom's homemade caramel corn. The only issue was that we were sitting outside and the ice cream melted quickly. It was a busy Friday night- the parking lot was packed but we did NOT feel rushed or crowded at all. We were there for 2 hours and it was incredibly relaxing. It is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to, if for no other reason besides the incredible service.
(5)Thi T.
What more can I add that others have not spoken about? I'll talk about my favorite item on the menu. I thoroughly THOROUGHLY enjoyed Canoe's House Smoked Salmon, Crispy Potato Cake, Vermont Goat's Cheese. It comes in two different sizes. The smaller size comes with two servings. I could gobble up 4 by myself though, I think. I love me some potatoes and this was thinly fried almost like hashed browns but not oily or mushy. Goat cheese was creamy and scrumptious. Salmon was fresh and not fishy at all. DEFINITELY recommend this appetizer. I came on a misty evening. I visited the backyard, dimly lit by various lamps. It was truly a magical and romantic experience. There are benches scattered throughout, including seats along the river. DEFINITELY visit this backyard haven!
(5)Liz K.
Phenomenal place. I'm glad I finally got to try it! Started with some apps, like the Canoe's house smoked salmon app, crisped Georgia white shrimp, and a dozen oysters. Everything was soo well paired together. The smoked salmon was my favorite. Can never go wrong with potatoes+smoked salmon combination. For entrees, shared the cod with clams, and rainbow trout. Topped off the bottle with a sauvignon blanc, Domaine de la Perriere from Sancerre. My cod was so delicious. It was so fresh and tasted buttery, that is just kinda melts in your mouth. And the spread with the cod topped it perfectly. It was rich, but didn't feel overfilling. The service was great and prompt and the food was super tasty. I will be back, hopefully for Sunday brunch or another amazing yummy dinner. Next time I hope to dine somewhere near the view of the river!
(4)Serge L.
For sure one of the best dining experiences I've had in the ATL area. Super location on the river with outdoor seating, and outdoor bar and a great vibe overall. The service was perfect, and the menu creative, featuring a number of game options and local ingredients. Highly recommend if you're in the area for dinner, or just want wind down at the end of a long day.
(4)Christine W.
We had a lovely Sunday brunch here. Our waitress was great - She was not too overbearing and did a fantastic job explaining the menu. The atmosphere is very nice - see my photos of the garden out back. We ordered the small basket of pastries to start off. The scones and Georgia pecan sticky buns were absolutely delicious. Our waitress told us they were baked fresh at the restaurant that morning. The basket comes with housemade preserves and honey butter. I had the pastries with a cup of coffee and the coffee was really delicious too. For the main course we ordered the Fried Green Tomato, Smoked Carolina Trout Salad, Avocado, Poached Eggs and shared it. It was very good. The waitress split it for us and the portion was really just right after already having the pastries. I am looking forward to returning here for dinner on my birthday!
(5)Connie A.
For the out of towners or for special occasions, Canoe is the place to go in Atlanta. Even my sister's father-in-law mentioned it when they asked where I lived in Georgia (he lives in Massachusetts, mind you). For service, it's definitely on-par for what you're expecting! They check in regularly and will never leave your glass empty. The drinks were heavy poured which we didn't mind. I LOVED the charcuterie board! Huge range of selections for $16; my personal favorite on there was the pate. As for dishes, I ordered the staple Slow Roasted Georgia Rabbit (when in Georgia, right?). The pasta with it was cooked al dente but once I had a bite of the Grilled Breast of Long Island Duckling... it was game over. The baby duck was the clear winner. Flavorful and amazing! I'm SO ordered that to myself the next time I come here.
(5)Christophe D.
We went there on Wednesday evening. I took Rabbit who was supposed to be one of the highlight of the restaurant. Honestly it was good but kind of flavorless. A rabbit is a stew material and herbs or wine (or both) are helping a lot to bring flavor. There were none on this dish. That was quite disappointing as I was expecting higher quality of taste. Presentation was nice though. For 2 people, it ended up at $175 which I find quite expensive for what it was. I doubt I'll be back there.
(2)Andrée P.
We went to Canoe for a late dinner and got to sit outside and enjoy the view. The atmosphere is fairly upscale and you can walk around the property. It's a little outside the city but I supposed that's the price you pay for the view! The food was delicious but what truly sticks out in my mind is the popcorn ice cream as well as the incredibly professional service. Loved it, but seems like a visit here would be best for a special occasion rather than a one-off dinner.
(4)Heidi M.
Creative cuisine and wonderfully priced bottles of wine. Beautifully venue for special celebrations. Enjoy!
(5)Victoria S.
I took my partner here for their birthday. I was a bit nervous before coming here because some of the reviews were less than happy. I really don't know why though because this is a wonderful restaurant!! We went at 6:15pm on a reservation. It's part of this cute little strip mall; don't worry the restaurant is noticeable and very lovely. It was quiet on the inside; I wanted to sit outside but it was burning up so no ma'am. I will say that at around 7 when people started coming in, it got louder. It wasn't really that bad though, I didn't mind it and I really can't stand overly loud restaurants. Our waiter was really nice and explained the menu to us. This place is two courses then the optional dessert. Between the both of us, we had: scallops, duck, rabbit, and kangaroo. They are all very delicious, including the kangaroo which was surprising to me for some reason. Maybe it's because I didn't know what to think when it said kangaroo... Anyway, the outside is absolutely gorgeous and you can go towards the river and order drinks from their bar at any time without dinning there. Warning for people who are looking for a hardy meal: this isn't that kind of restaurant. This is a "this plate was made by a gourmet chef/abstract artist" type of restaurant. I did get full here, but if you want a double stacked burger with all the fixings, don't go here. I think the only thing that made me feel bad was that people were driving up in luxury vehicles. There is a free valet service; they brought all of these beautiful cars around...and then they bring my pathetic jeep that my sister recently wrecked and tore off like half my vehicle. Why couldn't I have an ashton martin too?! Lol this is a absolutely wonderful restaurant and I hope to go back soon...after I get a better car.
(5)Steven L.
A fabulous restaurant that I have been wanting to go to for a long time. When you pull up its valet parking only. I did not know this as I have been looking at what menu items to order by looking at their pictures. Menu items ordered: turkey sandwich, truffle fries, sweet tea, two different kinds of bread (flat and regular). First up the sweet tea was great as they bring out unsweetened tea and with it they give you a small glass of sweet water to sweeten it by. The turkey sandwich was a big sandwich with special seasonings and flavor to add a special taste to it. The truffle fries were one of a kind as they taste like no other place I know of. The ketchup they bring you is house made and not store bought. The ketchup had a sweet taste to it which I liked. The service was excellent as they took care of me while I was dining in. My glass always stayed full of sweet tea as probably at least 3 waiters and waitresses served me. The portions of food they bring you during lunch are very generous if you order a sandwich.
(5)Mama A.
Just made a reservation for two for tomorrow ( Monday ) the lady who took my call sounded like she was rushing me to end the call, not friendly at all! We shall see what happens next... I will still give this restaurant a try because of the so many good reviews. Good luck to me
(1)Alex P.
There is no other restaurant in Atlanta that compares to Canoe or even gets close to it, especially for brunch. I see Canoe as an embodiment of the southern culture, food and beauty. Situated on the gorgeous Chattahoochee river, you get to see the beauty of Georgia right at your fingertips, oh and did i mention, while enjoying delicious food! It's a very romantic spot too in case you are considering bringing a date. During the summer months, they even have an outdoor bar right by the river. Treat yourself with a bottle of Prosecco and enjoy the Sunday afternoon pass by slowly, just as it should. I have many favorites on the menu. ~ Georgia Shrimp dishes - I don't specify which one, because they do change it up a bit. Sometimes with grits, sometimes with other sides. However, always delicious and one of my favorites. ~ She Crab Soup - PHENOMENAL ~ Duck n' Beef Burger - very tasty and a large portion if you are hungry. I don't think i've ever been able to eat the entire thing. ~ Georgia Pecan Sticky Buns - just get them. So tasty, not overly sweet and without doubt, go on the list of best pastries i've ever had. I've had my share, trust me. ~ House Smoked Salmon - infused with smoke and deliciousness. A must. One more note, if you want to sit outside, you may have to wait a little bit in the summer months. But it's worth it and the wait is usually not too long.
(5)Nicole O.
Between the view, ambiance, food, and service this is a 5 star restaurant to me. Waiting for our table we went into the bar, where the gentleman sitting next to us recommended the smoked salmon starter with the endorsement that it was the best smoked salmon he'd ever had. Having lived in Seattle, I had to try this as I thought that wasn't possible....it was quite possibly true. Sitting at the bar, we started with a couple delicious glasses of wine as well as the shrimp appetizer, while the bartender gave us a tour of the best items in the menu. The shrimp was really good but not in the same level as the salmon atop something of a potato cake (a hashbrown the size of an English muffin). We move to the patio with a fabulous view of the river and the riverside bar. So peaceful, inviting, and just plan beautiful. For dinner we ordered the trout served with goat cheese ravioli with a bit on pesto and the rabbit with a more savory mushroom ravioli. My favorites were the ravioli (served with the trout which was cooked to perfection -not to dry, but not undercooked either) and the rabbit. I've only had rabbit very few times but this was incredible. Also cooked to the optimal temperature Looking to resemble chicken (which I am not a huge fan of) but with a rich flavor and great texture. I highly recommend giving it a try even if you are a little apprehensive about game meat.
(5)Shawn C.
I love, love, love Canoe. My most recent visit was for brunch with my husband and another couple. We requested outdoor seating which was spectacular. We started with mimosas and the waitress accidentally spilled one of the mimosas on my husband. It really wasn't a big deal but she was so apologetic and compensated his meal. The scones were great and so was my meal. I ordered an arugula salad as my appetizer and the Riverside, minus the bacon as my brunch meal. Both were very tasty. Be sure to book reservations well in advance and if the weather permits, you can't go wrong with outdoor seating. I've been for both brunch and dinner and was satisfied each time.
(5)Amy G.
You know that opening scene from the Notebook? Where the flock of birds fly over a sun-kissed lake? Yeah, you could tell me that scene was shot here and I wouldn't even bat an eye. This place is *gorgeous*. Atmosphere alone would make me suggest this place to you. The service is on point (they really know the menu and have whole hearted recommendations) and the complimentary valet is a nice touch. The food, however, didn't live up to expectations. While the charcuterie board had an amazing chicken liver pate and a nice assortment of meats/cheeses, the main entrees were a bit disappointing -- my friend and I tried the duck and the pork tenderloin. They were cooked perfectly but the taste of each was a bit lacking and not particularly awing. Dessert was amazing though. You must try the popcorn ice cream sundae. Seriously. It's ice cream layered with caramel and homemade cracker jacks. It's also huge, I would recommend sharing it. Overall, it was a lovely meal and I would come back just for the view alone.
(4)Jenny D.
I had brunch at Canoe twice. The first time I was with a group of 8 and we were seated by the window and had a beautiful view, we made reservations a head of time. The second time I tried to make reservations the day before for two people but none was available. We decided to walk in during the day hoping a reservation would open but no such luck. However there was a table by the bar but you lose the view. In my opinion the view is a big part of the Canoe experience. At least I had the opportunity so sit by the window, but my friend who was a first timer did not experience it. Service was OUTSTANDING both times. Great personable servers. Here is my comments on the food: Duck and beef burger - according to the server this is one of there signature dishes. Although it was presented really well, there was something about the burger I did not love. Perhaps I'm more of a 100% beef kind of girl. Although the the truffle fries that he burger came with are AMAZING. Portion of both burger and fries was huge. some of each bread basket - it's not actually one of every bread they offer but it did have a sticky bun and 3 different scones. Sticky bun was my favorite of the bunch. It also came with 3 different Jams Zuchinni bread - oh my...this was a little piece of heaven. Served with whipped basil cream cheese on the side. House Smoke salmon appetizer - although this was beautifully presented, it was my least favorite food. The quality of the food was fine, I think there was an herb that I did not care for. The description of the appetizer was not clear, so I'd ask the server what are all the ingredients before ordering Grilled Atlantic Salmon over spinach and spaghetti squash - the server was kind enough to split this meal into two dishes for me and my friend to share. It was absolutely perfectly cooked and light sides to pair with. Dessert - they have so many delicious sounding options that is was so hard to decide. I ended up getting the popcorn sundae because I've ready many reviews about it. It was indeed delicious, how can you get ice cream, cracker jack popcorn and caramel wrong. But there were so many other desserts i wish I got to try. I was just so stuffed that I couldn't. I think I could go back here for just the dessert alone!
(4)Keith G.
I am a sucker for artisan food in a romantic environment. So although I had been here before, imagine my surprise that the Hubster, brought me here for my birthday. It was around 9 pm and that time, to me, is perfect. There are less people and although you can't see the water, the dim lights, and outside walkway and trees that are outfitted with festive lights, provided the perfect backdrop to our celebration. I had the quail and it was amazing. We also had dessert, cocktails and an appetizer - the whole sha-bang and EVERYTHING from start to finish was delicious. And, the bread/pita/breadstick basket...too ridiculous. Trust me, Mama Bear was off the diet that day! A friend got the delicious crab cake. Chocolate grotto and shrimp stuffed calamari will be on my list when I will visit this place. Its a special place, next to the river...the perfect spot to make someone really spec. Do visit this place and the food is really testy. Do take ur friends and family amazing place. Canoe is a fabulous restaurant...well designed interior, tables focused on allowing the guests to see the river right outside the place. On to the service. What can I say? Remarkable in every regard. I love how particular restaurants have a team to service your table so you never felt like a need was not being attending to. Our waitress was great and she rounded out our exceptional experience. GO! Whether you want to explore some gamy options or stick to the more traditional fare, you will have a magical experience. its a special place to make someone really spec. Do visit this place and the food is really testy. Do take ur friends and family amazing place. Canoe is a fabulous restaurant...well designed interior, tables focused on allowing the guests to see the river right outside the place. Its the best place in Atlanta which will make u feel that you are out side of the city life. some dream place where you eat feel and feel happy about it. Do take your spouse when they are angry to make them feel special. PS: This is not just a spot for couples however that was my type of visit.
(4)Rose S.
I just got home from brunch at Canoe with a couple of friends. We had a reservation at 2:30pm for their Sunday brunch. I made the reservation on Thursday and took the only available time slot left. If you're looking to have brunch earlier in the day, then I suggest making a reservation at least a week ahead of time. I was happy to eat at 2:30 because the restaurant wasn't very busy and we had excellent service. As soon as we even thought about drinking our water, the sever was there with a carafe. How did he know? Two of us ordered "The Riverside" but exchanged the applewood smoked bacon for grilled asparagus. I KNOW THAT BACON IS DELICIOUS. I'M SORRY! We're vegetarians so we were looking for another option. Our food was excellent but the brioche french toast that I was served tasted a little off. My other friend ordered the Brioche French Toast, Bourbon-Cinnamon Cream, Banana Pecan Syrup (yes, I copied a pasted that from the Canoe site) and loved her dish. The caramelized bananas weren't mushy like they can be. We also got an order of the truffle fries to share because we were looking to be wheeled out of the restaurant. The truffle fries are incredible and you can easily share a side with three people. Like some of the other yelpers have said, you need to bring tip money for the valet because you can park your own car. Other than our great food and excellent service the environment was beautiful and serene. We had lunch next to a hummingbird and a few cardinals.
(4)Micki B.
Wow!! What a lovely spot. If you've ever eaten at Disneyland at the Blue Bayou restaurant, this is what the atmosphere reminded me of. Very upscale and waterside, glittered with lights as the sun fades away. The cuisine is seafood/American and the options are aplenty. I was recommended to split a couple appetizers and order a main course. I would actually recommend to downscale and leave room for dessert! That's the one thing I wish I did differently here. Everything was phenomenal. My date and I shared the kangaroo appetizer, the charcuterie/cheese plate and the beet salad. For the main course we each got the rabbit. The flavors were out of this world and each bite was worth the price. I also got a tasty lavender-honey cocktail and of course some of the delicious bread they bring along to the tables. Go for a stroll after dinner and maybe take some pics by the water. This is an excellent place to bring someone you want to impress, or to dine like royalty.
(5)John M.
Went for Valentine's day. A special menu was available. Appetizers: My wife had a smoked salmon appetizer which was huge. She reported it was delicious. I'm allergic to salmon so I was unable to snag a sample. I had a beet, walnut, blue cheese salad. While pedestrian, it was tasty. Mains: Wife had a lobster tail with foie gras ravioli. All was delicious. However I don't understand why serve a delicious ingredient such as foie gras and so totally hide the flavor you would never know it was there. I had a New Zealand venison supposedly cooked to the rare side of medium rare. It was served with truffled gnocchi and various mushrooms. It was a hot mess. The venison was massively overcooked. The only way I could tell this was by using the light on my phone. It was so dark in the restaurant I couldn't tell venison from mushroom. Both were equally tough and stringy. Desserts: Both desserts were good but nothing special. Service: Went well until the end. I do not appreciate the check being brought to the table while we're still eating. This isn't Applebee. Ambience: I would probably enjoy this place on a day when I could sit by the river. I believe they over reached themselves with the special menu. I will give them another try.
(2)Jeff F.
Everything is as good as it gets here! A beautiful place to come for a nice dinner or celebrate a special occasion. The food is great! The views from the open windows looking out of the river are very relaxing so try to request a table by the window. In the summer, you can sit outside and relax on a cool night. Don't skip the desserts!
(5)Atlanta F.
The service here is always spectacular. The food here is always delicious. And the overall dining experience is fantastic. I only have the privilege of coming here to to three times a year but I always look forward to the next trip.
(5)Logan N.
I probably need to come back to give this place another try. My dining experience wasn't as superb as other yelp reviewers....maybe I just didn't come hungry enough. Smoke salmon/crispy potato cakes: they're good, but I'm not smacking my lips thinking about them Rabbit: again, it was good, but not the best rabbit dish I've had. Parking: valet only
(4)Michael W.
If you're looking for some amazing food in Northern Atlanta, then Canoe is the place to be. After spending weeks eating mediocre food around Marietta, my trust friend Yelp came to my rescue. Canoe looked like a restaurant that you'd find in New York and California. Located in a surprisingly nice area of Atlanta is where you'll find this gem. Right when you pull up, you'll see that the parking lot is incredibly small. Rest assured because the valet service has got you covered. Once you walk in you'll be welcomed with a full bar to your right, and an expansive dining room. The icing on the cake is their outdoors area, which is right next to the water. If you're looking to grab a couple drinks in the evening, what better place to do that then outside? From the countless times that I've dined here, I've developed a hit list of sorts on what I prefer to order every time I stop by. Appetizers: Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Yuzu, Napa Cabbage Slaw ($16) - Pretty large crab cake with chunks of crab inside. The yuzu flavor is an incredible complement to this dish Grilled Australian Octopus, Chorizo, Peppers, Horseradish Tomato Broth ($14) - By far my favorite appetizer here. The octopus is grilled to perfection. Chewy with a nice char, and when combined with the tomato broth, it sends you to a state of euphoria Prince Edward Island Mussels, Chili, Peanut, Ginger, Basmati Rice ($14) - Probably one of my less favorite dishes. The muscles are in a nice broth, but not as memorable as the octopus or the crab cake. Entrees: Grilled Breast of Long Island Duckling, Duck Leg and Ginger Pot Sticker, Bok Choy, Ginger Dashi ($27) - Out of all the dishes that I had, this was the smallest in regards to size. Even so, the dashi paired perfectly with the tender duck. Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit, Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato, Candied Garlic Sauce ($29) - This has to be the clear winner as far as dishes at Canoe. The rabbit is amazingly cooked and is juicy. Add in their ridiculous bacon ravioli and, Jesus Christ, this dish is what will sell you on Canoe. Hickory Grilled 12oz New York Strip, Crushed Fingerling Potato, Asparagus, Black Garlic Butter ($35) - A huge slab of steak. This strip has a nice char to it and has is flavored to perfection. Not too salty for my taste. Asparagus was a little soggy, but that's not a deal breaker. As far as service goes, the staff is attentive and gives that nice Southern hospitality that I've come to love. Canoe is a great place to have a nice dinner in Atlanta. The ambiance great for dates, as well as a dinner with coworkers. I've never been let down before with their food, and I don't anticipate this happening for the time that I'll be in Atlanta. Canoe, you have me sold.
(4)Zoe Y.
Beautiful environment and good service. Most important, the food is so good! I had brunch in a sunny day and sat by the riverside. I love the Pecan sticky buns for start, it is so yummy and I took four buns to go. The house smoked salmon is great. Then for the entree, I had the mountain chicken, the potion is decent so I can't finish it, but it is also good.
(5)Jang C.
I was not thrilled about going to Canoe. Looking at their menu, I thought it would be the same old stuff as I would get at South City Kitchen, Empire State South, or Common Quarter. Sure, 10 years ago, maybe Canoe would've been the bomb. But many farm-to-table, new-American restaurants popped up since then. So I thought I would be jaded by Canoe. Boy, I was wrong. Canoe is similar to those restaurants, but Canoe takes it a step higher. It is definitely a fancy-smacy, high-end restaurant. The service and food are high-class. I was pleasantly surprised. We ordered 2 appetizers and 2 entrees. What's cool about these appetizers, since we were sharing them, are that they made them into little courses. If you come with 2 people, you can probably order all the appetizers and have a 10-11 course meal. In fact, that is one option I recommend. Before the appetizers came, the bread lady came with several kinds of breads. We tried them all. All of the breads tasted good. I liked the cranberry bread the best. For my appetizers, I tried their Hickory Smoked Duck Pastrami and their Oysters on the Half Shell. The Duck Pastrami was amazing. I loved everything that came with it. The Radish, Blood Orange, Beets, and Rye matched well with the duck. The Oysters were delicious as well. They tasted fresh and loved whatever stuff they put on it. For the entree, I tried the Slow Roasted Georgia Rabbit. It was a very good rabbit. The rabbit meat melted apart. The candied garlic sauce and the juice from the rabbit gave it a great flavor. It comes with Goat Cheese Tortellini, but I got it with bucatini because of the lactose in the Goat Cheese. I thought the bucatini was overcooked, however. Maybe changing the dish messed with the chefs. Canoe is sensitive to whatever food allergies you might have. So if you need to change a dish, they will do it with no problem. So I was happy they changed the tortellini. I also tried the trout. I wasn't a fan. But it was done well. The skin was nice and crispy and seemed like a great dish. I just didn't find it appearling for some reason. I loved my rabbit, drinks, and the appetizers. Our server seemed very knowledgeable about a lot of stuff on their menu. Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions like we did! The food wasn't perfect. I give it about 4.5 stars.
(5)Bob D.
Awesome staff, food and atmosphere. took girlfirend here for surprise birthday and the food was top notch. Leave room for dessert because it was simply spectacular- even tried the popcorn sundae
(5)Quinn V.
It's been hard trying to get a reservation at the time I wanted. They mostly had slots after 9pm. But finally got a table for 2 at 6 pm. And it was worth the wait. This is definitely date night material. The view is beautiful. We chose to sit outside in the patio because the weather was nice. We sat directly in front of the Chattanooga river. It was quiet and romantic. Half way through dinner, fog started rolling in and it was quite a sight. Appetizers: --Smoked Salmon: delightful. It would have been near perfection if they reduced the amount of cream cheese. --Watermelon salads with goat cheese: such a simple dish but it was delicious. So fresh & flavorful. I imagine this is what spring tastes like. Specials of the day: - Sole in creamy shiitake mushroom & rice. (Sole is similar to tilapia in texture.) It was a mild dish at first taste, nothing exploding but the more you eat, the better the flavor. It was inviting. -Chard on coconut cake & vegetable. (Chard is similar to salmon, but milder.) the coconut cake is divine! Such a perfect balance between sweetness and saltiness. Love the seafood here. Will be back for the ambience and to try other dishes.
(4)Ruth H.
Went here for Easter brunch and can I just say AMAZING. You have to get some sticky buns and scones to share for the table. They are decadent and your mouth will thank you. For my meal I got the fried green tomatoes and it was delicious! The poached egg and shrimp were cooked perfectly. It was a descent portion. Other people in my group got the salmon, steak and eggs, and duck burger and everyone enjoyed their dish. Not only is the food great but the scenery is beautiful. In nice weather you can take a walk or sit out back next to the Chattahoochee
(5)Greg S.
Great spot in strange little shopping center. Excellent variety on the menu, solid cocktail program and excellent service. Will definitely be back
(4)Ervin C.
Amazing food. Love the entire experience. Very romantic to have drinks after dinner outside. This place rocks.
(5)AJ W.
Our absolute favorite restaurant in Atlanta! Great ambiance, outstanding service, best variety of food options available! Did I mention, it's right on the Chattahoochee River? With an outside bar right on the river- Spectacular!
(5)Maurice D.
Nearing 700 reviews so I won't go too in-depth with this review. Canoe is one of Atlanta's top restaurants. The restaurant is situated right next to the Chattahoochee River in a quiet, forested area in the West Paces Ferry neighborhood. The staff here is very friendly and professional. Canoe is a great spot for a romantic date in the evening or a business lunch meeting during the day. The restaurant clientele here is mostly comprised of sophisticated and upscale diners, primarily due to the neighborhood this establishment is located in. I am very fond of the duck and beef burger here and have ordered it on both of the occasions I have dined here. The burger is very well executed and the french fries that are served with it are excellent. Give Canoe a try on your next date night, it definitely should not disappoint.
(4)Valerie N.
We came for a birthday dinner on a Saturday night in July. We gathered our group of 4 at the outdoor bar as it was super mild, beautiful summer night and it felt heavenly to be outside with a glass of rose in hand. Delightful. They came out to find us and tell us our table was ready, and I said "Really? its so nice out..." hoping she'd get a hint that we wanted to finish our drinks outdoors, but instead, we followed her inside and up into the upper dining room to a table with no view. Wumph wumph. I looked at the birthday girl, who was shivering (the A/C was blasting in July style, but the weather was so cool outside, that it really made for a striking temperature change when we walked back in...), and asked the waitress if we could sit outside. She said there would be a 30 minute wait, and we said no problem. We went back to the river bar, ordered another round, and settled into the Adirondack chairs on the river to watch the ducks float by. Perfection. It very much felt like my happy place. Might I also pause here and give mega kudos to the bar staff at the river bar? Super friendly and quick with refills. I'd just sit out here in the future. Our table was on the outer edge of the patio, with primo views of the river and gardens. Perfect birthday locale! Our amazing waitress promptly showed up and walked us through the specials and menu. She was an absolute star. I truly credit her for making our Canoe experience so terrific. We got a few appetizers, two of them being summer specials. One of the specials, the heirloom tomato appetizer, was delicious. It came with a tomato sorbet, feta, and beautiful tomato slices. Deliciously light and flavorful. The other special was georgia shrimp with asparagus and housemade banh mi sausage. Also excellent - the shrimp were super plump and seasoned well and balanced perfectly against the asparagus and sausage. The app that stole the show was the smoked salmon. OMMMMGGGGGG, this is delicious. Get it. Maybe even get it as your entree. Its a can't miss item that I think has been on their menu since day one. I usually do not enjoy smoked salmon at all so this speaks volumes to me giving it praise as a can't miss item! Canoe takes a crispy hashbrown rosti base, some type of creamy herby cheese, and tops it with delicate smoked salmon. The balance of textures and flavors is so satisfying and delicious. It just tasted like summer, especially with a glass of rose. I ordered the trout with lobster ravioli, which was also terrific. It was a giant filet that could have been easily split with my spouse. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Absolutely delicious and the perfect meal for sitting outside in the summer. The ravioli were really good, but there was a part of me that would have preferred the trout on a bed of grilled summer veggies. I would definitely get this again, but I would want to split it. Hubby had the duck burger, which was actually just okay (I think its a better idea in theory than in execution), but the fries were seriously delicious. Because it was a birthday, we got a complimentary dessert with "happy birthday" on the plate. We had a summer special - peach crisp with vanilla ice cream. It was so delicious - great texture, great fresh peach flavor, yum. We also had after dinner drinks and I praise my decaf cappuccino. Yum. All in all, it was a super relaxing perfect summer evening spent eating beautiful food that was fresh and in season. I've gone ahead and booked out several reservations so I can get here more often and enjoy this beautiful location. I know I haven't spoken about how beautiful Canoe is, but I don't need to - many other reviewers have beaten me to it and they do it justice. I will note that I didn't notice any bugs and didn't get eaten alive while sitting outside - either at our table or on the river bank. I'm not sure if the breeze was helping keep them at bay, but I didn't get bit once. I love it here - its like a sanctuary, just right outside the city. It definitely deserves its top rating on Yelp as one of Atlanta's best!
(5)Bryan L.
Came here for our prom dinner and it was a very enjoyable experience. The decor for Canoe is amazing, from the bright bold letters outside, to the wood furnishings, even to the menu design: a simple sheet of tan cardstock. Plus, the restaurant sits right on the bank of the Chattahoochee River, so scenery should be spectacular in the day (I came at night). After we ordered, we got two bread baskets for our table. It was an assortment of sourdough, olive bread, cranberry nut, and cheddar crisps. I've had my fair share of complimentary bread at restaurants, and these were one of the best I've tried. My favorite was the cranberry nut, it tasted like raisin bread, but the sweetness of the cranberries weren't too overpowering and the bread tasted fantastic with butter. The cheese crisps were interesting, like how other reviewers described it, Cheez-its come first to mind. These crisps were a bit spicy to some people, but overall contrasted nicely with the other selections of bread. Basically just a classy cheez-it. SMOKED SALMON, POTATO CAKE, GOAT CHEESE - $7 (2 cakes) Reading the other reviews, I had to get the potato cakes. I've been a huge smoked salmon fan all my life, and thoroughly enjoyed the combination of flavors in this dish. Essentially the base was a crispy potato cake, with goat cheese, and a slice of smoked salmon piled on top. The dish was kind of a twist on your regular salmon, cream cheese, capers, and bagel. The salmon was really tender and had a lot of umami, the goat cheese tasted a lot like cream cheese while the capers cut through the creaminess of the former. The potato cakes tasted like hashbrowns, and really wrapped the dish together. My only complaint is that there was a bit too much of the goat cheese, and I couldn't really taste the salmon as much as I would've liked to. GEORGIA RABBIT, MUSHROOM TORTELLINI, HOUSE BACON, GARLIC SAUCE - $29 I haven't had much experience eating rabbit, so I'm not very qualified to judge this entree. The rabbit was cooked to tender goodness, and kinda had that gamey taste you would have with lamb and venison. The mushroom tortellini didn't taste that special, and the garlic sauce had a little tartness that complimented the richness of the rabbit and bacon. Overall I really liked this dish, but I just wish the serving size for the rabbit was a little larger. I really enjoyed my experience here, and I do hope to come and visit again. It was a bit pricey for a student like me, but I would definitely recommend this restaurant for special occasions like prom for my instance. Also, the back of the restaurant is really gorgeous, and I got a few really nice shots at night (see them below).
(4)Bo Y.
It's a great restaurant with good food. Nothing spectacular, but guaranteed satisfy everything you're looking for in a restaurant. First of all, their staff is out of this world. I've never seen a group of people so courteous and genuinely welcoming. Following that, the food is pretty standard chain-restaurant style. The oysters and seafood are extremely fresh, but they piled a lot of unnecessary ingredients onto the oysters. Too much vinaigrette actually overpowered the oysters themselves, to the point I had to wipe my oyster clean. They do have other creative appetizers like the smoked salmon on ultra crispy hash browns with cheese and their coffee is fantastic. Another flaw is that the food tend to be a bit too heavy, as in too buttery and too oily. Through my entire 3 course dinner, I grew too sick to eat anymore. It was delicious, just too heavy for seafood. Again, it is a decent restaurant and if the chef just eased his touch on the oil and let the fresh seafood shine through, I'd be much happier.
(3)Anh B.
I wish this place was as good as I heard it was. Love the place and the atmosphere. Serves here was pretty amazing and I got to admit I love the out door of the location. When you come to a place like this, you know it will be pricey. Most of the dishes start off at $20 to $30. We didn't know what to order for appetizer here so we asked our waiter, he told us they where know for their crabs cake and smoked salmon. We end up ordering both of the appetizer and a drink. The crab cake wasn't bad at all, but I wish our crab cake was fully cooked from the inside because it was cold. The smoke salmon was slide very thin and it was topped over creamy goat cheese with crispy potato. I got to admit that wasn't my favor appetizer. I wish I didn't order that and the creamy goat cheese just over power the salmon. I feel like I was eating CREAM Cheese by it self. The crispy potato tasted like hash brown! My boyfriend order the steak here and nothing really fancy about it! I wish it had more flavor and the meat was a little dry for middle rare! I can't remember what I order was but I got the fish here. I wish my fish has more salt and and flavor. My fish was so bland that it wasn't worth paying for. I didn't even finish my fish so I brought it home and recook it to give it more flavor and a little more salt to it. I wouldn't come back here again! It wasn't that great!
(3)Thu M.
Oyster tasting. No disappointments on quality coast oysters. Breads were delicious. Patio was romantic and I would love to come back on a rain less night to enjoy the landscape. Server was attentive and well trained. Loved the selection of oysters, debating to come back to try other things. Also, I need to add that I had THE BEST smoked salmon appetizer. Came on top of goat cheese and A crispy potato hashy-thing. A MUST try.
(5)Dale N.
One of only a small handful of places that I'll give 5 stars. In all the years we've been going to Canoe, we still hold it as the benchmark for all other restaurants we frequent. If you've not been, you owe it to yourself to go.
(5)Cara S.
Extremely good food! But will never go back. My boyfriend and I were blown away by the brunch we ordered. Our server was amazing as well. The scones were to die for. My boyfriend enjoyed his burger with delicious truffle fries while I enjoyed my French toast with eggs, potatoes and bacon. What we didn't appreciate was being sat in the corner next to the kitchen just because we weren't in a dress and a button up at 11am on a Sunday. About halfway into our meal we realized that we had been profiled for the way we dressed. We are both employed by highly successful entertainment conglomerates, but like to dress down on the weekend. For this we missed out on the outdoor view that we had looked forward to. Most likely will skip this place in the future.
(5)Geraldine W.
Recently, we hosted a wedding reception for 70 and were very pleased with the food, service, and over-all ambience. From the beginning over a year ago, Laurie Vance and Dana were great to work with. They paid attention to every detail and we left the reception in their capable hands. Matt was the man in charge on the night of the reception and he was impeccable. Thanks to Canoe and their capable staff for a very memorable evening!
(5)F G.
Our starter charcuterie was beautiful. Rabbit had a lot of flavor, great combination with the mushroom ravioli. My New York strip steak with bordelaise was cooked to perfection. Service was a bit too much on the colloquial side. My wife ordered a glass of white for the starter and a red for the main, which arrived at the same time. The waiters comment was "double-fisting, eh?" which is a bit, you know, inappropriate. Other than that, really well done. The restaurant is in a beautiful location by the river. If you can get a table outside, do it. It really adds to the experience!
(4)Bryan M.
Rabbit and Chimay masterfully done. The service was exceptional. I must say this location is perfect as well. 5 stars!
(5)Frank Z.
This restaurant is absolutely beautiful in every respect. After your meal, you can walk around in their garden/patio area and enjoy the scenic river. The food here is delicious as well. It is really a wonderful experience and a must-go in terms of Atlanta restaurants. To elaborate a little bit more on the food offerings, I have tried the majority of the menu items and have yet to find something that I didn't like. The server will usually suggest their smoked salmon appetizer to you and I would have to urge you to go with that suggestion and try it, its fantastic. For main courses, they're all good choices, but if you're feeling hungry and a little adventurous, try the Duck n' Beef burger, its pretty awesome. The service here is also very good, all of their servers are excellent. They also have complimentary valet service, and I would suggest making a reservation if you are going during their busier hours. The bottom line - Should definitely be on your list of must-go's in ATL
(5)Maya E.
One of my favorites in Atlanta! Decor is beautiful, service and food was spot on! Perfect for a date or special occasion
(5)Lee C.
Terribly disappointed with the brunch that we had this Sunday. my chicken was greasy and served on top of a very minimal serving of grits. My date was going to try canoe and rated her food a "ehh" Also if you're gluten free then avoid the brunch the choices were minimal
(2)Nelle C.
Was able to have Sunday dinner with some friends at Canoe recently before the weather turned cold. The most outstanding part of the experience was the SERVICE! i am not able to recall the waiter's name, but he was amazing - polite, gracious, and really went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and well taken care of. We had a young child in our party who was very fussy about his food, and the waiter constantly checked to make sure that he was doing all he could to ensure a satisfying dining experience. My adult companions enjoyed the steak while i had a fish dish. It was great including the side dishes, and everything was expertly prepared. Our wonderful waiter offered to give us a complimentary dessert, which was so nice of him. i recall it being a bit dry, but we all didn't have much room for dessert in any case. The next time i'm in the ATL area, i hope to stop in again at Canoe for their great food and estimable service.
(4)Jennifer C.
For the most part, the food is tasty and the environment and service is fantastic. For appetizers, we had the kangaroo and crab cakes. Main course was the skate fish and the rabbit. The kangaroo was smoked well, and both the skate fish and crab cakes were on the mark. However, the rabbit was a little bit on the dry side and and tasted exactly like a under flavored chicken (quite different from the tender rabbit at Miller Union). For dessert, we had the sorbet which I thought was delicious, although my friend noted it had a bit of a grassy taste. Overall, it was a really great experience. For two appetizers, two main courses, one white wine, and one dessert the tab came to about $115. I would definitely recommend walking around the back, they have a cute partially hidden vegetable garden area near the lake.
(4)Lilly Y.
Oh my bacon wrapped monkfish. This place is so good! I wish I made more money so I could eat here regularly! Everything was top-notch: atmosphere, drinks, service, food and dessert. Now I know why they're packed all the time. We came in on the night before Thanksgiving, and it was fairly slow at the time. We got prime seating facing the river, and ordered a few drinks while we decided on food. I had some vodka drink that I can't remember the name of, and fiance had a Old Fashioned. They let you choose your own bourbon from a list of maybe 10+, so you can get it just the way you like it. Or, in my case, how he likes it because I really don't like bourbon. We split an order of calamari (all rings!) while trying the house-made breads. My favorite was the cranberry walnut; it would be good for breakfast with apple butter! The calamari was also good, and I really liked the pickled broccoli. I ordered one of the specials: bacon-wrapped monkfish that came with a side of brussels and something else that I can't quite remember. But I do remember it was really good! The monkfish had a similar texture to scallops and went really well with the bacon. But, then again, everything tastes better with bacon! Fiance's rabbit was good, but I couldn't get into it because I kept thinking about eating Thumper from Bambi. Rabbit may not be my thing, but the bacon-wrapped monkfish sure will be! Finally, for dessert, we had a chocolate grotto with caramel and pretzel dust. It's like a dome filled with chocolatey goodness that you crack open and rub the pretzel dust on, and don't worry about the calories because it's so darn good! I will definitely be back! In addition to everything else, our server was wonderful! So polite and took the time to make sure everything was done correctly and that we were happy from start to finish. Whatever they're doing, they're doing it well.
(5)Maiya I.
My husband & I came here for our 2nd anniversary dinner. We were immediately very impressed with the restaurant, the atmosphere, the grounds, the lighting, & especially the customer service! By far, the best customer service of any place I've ever been to! Our waitresses were well informed & very pleasant. They brought over bread, wine, & our drinks. My sweet tea was amazing! It came with a simple syrup which is so much better than using regular sugar packets. **I will note that there was an issue with our appetizer (crabcake): it was not the waitress' fault nor was it taste (it had to do with the kitchen) but the issue was resolved quickly. We received a new appetizer & it was actually taken off our receipt at the end. We greatly appreciate the service & professionalism we received in rectifying this issue.** We also ordered the steak, perfectly medium rare, well portioned & divine! We got individual desserts, my husband got the popcorn icecream which is such a unique & yummy dessert. I got the chocolate grotto, I'm not a huge fan of caramel but I loved it! Pricewise, it is a very nice restaurant but the prices weren't outrageous! Definitely worth the food & experience! I would really like to come back to try out their Sunday brunch! I can't wait.
(4)George W.
Amazing date night! Duck is terrific! Service outstanding. Valet parking. Walk along river after dinner, and hold hands. Super nice place to go with significant other!
(5)Sonya A.
We heard so many good stories about this restaurant so we decided to try it. The location is perfect, not too far not too close from the city. It is located right next to the Chattahoochee river. We went during dinner so we couldn't really enjoy the view and it was a cold night. However, we did walk around the patio by the river - lovely place. I must say, the service was great. Attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. Our food however, was not too impressive. For an appetizer, we had the Canoe smoked Salmon on a crispy potato cake. It was tasty, though a bit salty. As an entrée we had the slow roasted Georgia rabbit and the the George's Bank Code. Although the rabbit was pretty tasty I was not impressed by it. The Code tasted buttery and watery (pretty disappointing) the only thing that cheered us up (other than the wine) was the PB and J chocolate cake - it was so delicious. Overall, I give it 4 stars. The ambiance was great. However, I don't think I'll come back anytime soon.
(4)Michael T.
Went for a late dinner with my wife and daughter. First time at this restaurant. The location and appearance are really good. Food was mixed however. The bread is excellent, starters were good although I found the watermelon salad to be a bit too complicated and could not identify all of the flavors. The smoked salmon and crispy potato was excellent. Sadly two of the entrees were disappointing. My duck breast was rather greasy atop an indistinguishable and quite unattractive mixture of the other ingredients. My daughter's quail suffered a similar accompaniment of indistinguishable ingredients enveloped in a wrap or crepe, unappetizing and which she did not finish. My wife had the trout and at least this dish was reasonably good. The wine list is extensive and very good, not overpriced given the quality. Service was mixed, attentive but at times a bit intrusive. I prefer to pour the wine myself but our server kept filling one or other of the glasses without first asking each guest if they wanted more. My wife eats rather slowly and the server asked her if she was finished while she was still dining. When she said no she was told no problem, take your time. Frankly that should be unspoken, this is niot supposed to be a cafeteria or fast food joint. Overall I have to say we came away a bit disappointed and unimpressed. We were expecting a lot better. Unsure if we would return to give them a second chance.
(2)Christian M.
I'm giving it four stars because personally for me, the place was awkward. I consider myself to have a pretty open pallet, but I draw the lines at eating bunny rabbits. Yes, they sell rabbit on the menu. Also before I say the next thing, I would like to clarify I have a bachelors degree and I'm currently in school working on my second degree, but I couldn't understand ANYTHING on the menu! It was literally all like foreign language to me. This must be where the fanciest of the fancy eat because I couldn't understand anything (besides rabbit and duck lol). Me and my family didn't want to seem like duds by asking the waiter to explain their whole overly exquisite, fancy menu to us, so we winged it. It was ok. The scenery though is BEAUTIFUL! The whole atmosphere and environment was very beautiful!
(4)Jen L.
I LOVED this restaurant! After hearing sooooo many wonderful things about it, it was definitely on my Top 5 list to go to! It exceeded all my expectations! To start, the scenery was beautiful. We requested a seat facing the river on the inside of the restaurant and the river is soooo close, you'd be surprised. It was a perfect afternoon, not too hot and not too cold. The waitress was really knowledge about the menu and recommend an excellent summer type gin cocktail. She also told us that they have a vegetable garden in June that you can look at outside and the restaurant actually uses it in peak times of the year! I started off with the Sweet Potato Clam Chowder which was the best soup I have ever tasted EVER! Then the main course was the Enchanted Rainbow Trout with Lobster Rangoon Ravioli in a Mustard Cream sauce. I wasn't abnormally impressed but it because it came to the table with the silver skin facing upward which didn't look too appetizing. After taking it off, it was pretty good but I probably wouldn't order it again. The Lobster Rangoon Ravoli was delicious and I wished there was more of it on the plate! For dessert, I had the homemade popcorn Cracker Jack Ice Cream Sundae. It was even better than it sounds and I've never had anything like it! This is a great restaurant for celebrating special occasions and enjoying wonderful weather. I heard the lunch portions were a great size with lower prices so that's something you'd want to check out as well.
(4)Phong T.
Canoe is a beautiful restaurant that sits right next to the banks of the Chattahoochee River. It serves up Modern American cuisine with Asian influences. Amazing ambiance inside and out. Trendy, sophisticated-classy, and casual. Canoe consists of inside seating as well as outdoor (patio) seating. The scenery outside is breath-taking. Great for snapping a few pictures, waiting for your party to arrive, and grabbing a few drinks (has an open bar). Finally got the chance to try it out for a birthday event I attended! Parking: Complimentary Valet Appetizer: Tea Smoked Duck Breast, Bartlett Pear, Confit Duck Leg, Seeded Mustard, Blue Cheese Cream 13. -Where do I begin? The duck was cooked well and very tender to taste. It almost tasted like a Chinese BBQ pork seasoning/marination. It was served like a salad-type appetizer. The dressing/sauce was good, but eventually overwhelming -- too oily considering duck is already a fatty bird. The bleu cheese definitely added a kick of flavor balanced off with the sweetness of the barlett pear. Entree: Stuffed Vermont Quail, Kabocha Squash Stuffing, Brussels Sprouts, Apple, Bourbon Coffee Glaze (26) -DELICIOUS. The quail was delicious, tender. The bourbon coffee glaze was just enough to make your taste buds notice it. The squash stuffing was so good. It had a mushy flavor (kinda like mashed potatoes), but it went well with the slight crunchiness of the brussel sprouts. Simple yet tasty. Overall, great first experience at Canoe. Highly recommend this place. Service was exceptional. They really strive for their customers to enjoy everything about the restaurant: food, ambiance, scenery, drinks, you name it!
(5)D.J. K.
This place gets a solid 4 stars. I've only been here once for dinner, but have been here a number of times for business lunches with colleagues. To start, the bread basket is AMAZZING. I'm a huge carbs girl so the freshly baked bread assortment of goodness always puts me in a good mood, especially because I'm so hungry by lunch time. I always get my usual of the jumbo lump crab cakes. It's always so fresh, but not fishy. I can't get myself to try anything else. My coworkers usually stick with the burgers and sandwiches which I never heard them complain about. Parking is valet only, so have cash for tip. The ambiance of the restaurant overlooking the Chattahoochee river gives it a charming and romantic element to this restaurant.
(4)Joy W.
YESSSSSSSSSSSS I finally made it to Canoe! It was a joint celebration as a treat to myself for my first promotion and also for my good friend's 25th birthday. BREAD | FREE First, let's talk about how amazing their bread is. The waiter comes around with a wooden board of a variety of fresh baked bread: sourdough, olive bread, cranberry nut, and cheddar crisps. My favorite was the cheddar crisps which is basically like a gigantic fancy cheez-it for a lack of a better description. That thing was full of flavor, and I loved the crispiness. Also, I decided not to get the sourdough bread in fear of eating too many white carbs, but tried a bit of my friends' and IT WAS THE BEST sourdough bread I have ever put into my mouth. Finally, I tried the cranberry nut one which was exactly what you would expect it to taste like, and I enjoyed it a lot. Honestly, that's a meal in itself, so pace yourself so you have room to eat your entree. SMOKED SALMON AND POTATO PANCAKES | $12 for 2 This was a very refreshing and savory appetizer all in one. The smoked salmon laid on top of deep fried potato hash that was in the shape of a small pancake, and had soft goat cheese in between. Now, normally I'm not a goat cheese fan, but this one was pleasantly delicious. There was also a dill and cream sauce on top of the salmon that made it very refreshing. I loved this entree for 1) the flavors and 2) the price point and 3) makes you feel like it was worth coming to Canoe. DUCK AND BEEF BURGER WITH TRUFFLE FRIES | $16 My mom has come here with her girlfriends before and has raved about how delicious the duck and beef burger is and how you have to let them know ahead of time you want it so that they can prepare it. Honestly, I forgot that tip and ordered it anyway, and it was available. The patty is about 30% duck which renders its juicy fatty goodness into the beef, and is also topped with wilted spinach and an over easy egg that bursts its delicious yolk over the patty as a natural sauce. And the fries, oh the fries! BEST FRIES IN TOWN hands down. Even better than the ones at JCT Kitchen. They have rosemary, parmesan, and truffle oil. I could just eat the fries for my meal and be satisfied. RAINBOW TROUT, KALE, AND GRITS | $24 My friend who is a pescetarian (vegetarian that eats seafood), ordered this and fully enjoyed it. I tried a bite of it as well and it was REALLY good! I wouldn't have minded ordering that for myself. It is a fancier take on southern dining. YOU'LL LIKE THIS PLACE IF YOU'RE: - a fan of fine southern dining - gorgeous atmosphere (sit in the back patio overlooking the river on a nice day!) - like to feel like a queen because the service is phenomenal - needing a good place for a nicer occasion (graduation, promotion, birthday, family in town, anniversary, wedding) - rolling in the dough ($$$) YOU WON'T LIKE THIS PLACE IF YOU'RE: - on a budget - under dressed - too traditional with food and don't eat fun twists on American food - out of cash for the valet Hope this helps!
(5)Erick P.
I believe the dinner I had here last week easily qualifies as my best meal ever. The server was super attentive and extremely professional. Wish I remembered his name! For appetizer I had the kangaroo loin which was spectacular. Having never eaten kangaroo, I was expecting it to be kind of tough and gamy. Boy was I wrong! It was extremely tender and delicious. My wife had some kind of soup I believe. For appetizer, we had the beef bolognese and grilled duck. The duck wasn't very fatty and was also excellent. It was served on top of a bed of equally delicious forbidden fried rice. The beef bolognese was also very good and had quite a bit of meat. For dessert, we shared the popcorn ice cream sundae which was served with homemade cracker jacks. It was a very unique dessert and I highly recommend you give it a shot. The waiter was also kind enough to have it split into two separate servings for us. I highly recommend this place! Top notch food and service plus the outside area is very nice for a quick stroll or a drink at the bar overlooking the Chattahoochee
(5)J B.
Yum, yum, yum! Love this place; atmosphere is great, views are awesome, but their Roasted Lamb Sandwich takes the cake...sooo delicious!
(4)Greg A.
My wife and I rank Canoe as one of the top restaurants we've ever experienced. From the creative menu, to the preparation, presentation, and flavors, they have it right. If you are in Atlanta and want a special dining experience you owe it to yourself to try this restaurant over all others on your list. To make this even better enjoy your meal outdoors where the environment adds a romantic and more peaceful element.
(5)Cara M.
Took My fiance here for his Brthday!!! OMG SOOOOOOO PERFECT! its in an unassuming local but the food and service was exceptional. I called ahead and preordered dessert, they also offered to write a card for him from me which i thought was so great! Now the food......mmmmmm, omg the crabcake sooo good! But the star of the night the coffee rubbed venison! Ok I will admit i wouldn't let him order the duckling or the Rabbit bc I am like "no omg they are so cute" finally he ordered the venison. It was like a Filetx1000! so good! I had a fish special and I am used to fish from Miami and I also altered it taking of the breading it was good but I think when I am used to salt water fish never have had anything fron the south or fresh water I was just not amazed. I basically ate his food. But all in all I appreciated them being able to alter things to my dietary needs! YUM GO HERE
(4)Rania G.
So I'm not going to beat a dead horse, clearly people love this place, and so do I. I have little to add to all these other reviews except that I don't even live in Georgia, but I am already plotting my next visit so I can come back to Canoe. I had lunch here. I just want to highlight a few things. 1) The ambiance is awesome, the views of the river are beautiful. 2) The service is wonderful. 3) I don't know what they do to their home "cold smoked" salmon, but it is literally the best I have ever had. Period. If you are a fan of that heavy smoke flavor, then you may not like it, but for me, I don't like eating something that tastes like smoke. Get the smoked salmon appetizer if you go here, seriously, do it. I can't wait to visit again and be reunited with my one true love, the house-smoked salmon.
(5)Audrey A.
Okay so I'm not very good when it comes to ordering at high-end restaurants. I had never tried rabbit or any gamey food, but I still kept an open mind and was impressed with all the food. I had their appetizer meats and cheeses (more meat than cheese) and it was mostly meats that I had never tried before. They served it with a liver dish and at first I was like BLEH, but it had this cherry taste to it that was delicious. And the location could not have been more perfect. I sat a table that showed a view of the river and it was absolutely breath-taking. Although I can only afford this place every once in a while, I felt like every penny I spent was worth it (Boyfriend's penny, not mine). A very good date/celebration place to take yourself or significant other.
(5)Jane L.
I ate here with my husband to celebrate our anniversary. If I have one complaint, it is just that there are no vegetarian options. I really wish there would be at least one!!! I understand that it is all about the fresh fish and meat... but it wouldn't hurt to expand the menu just a teeny bit would it? Just a suggestion!
(3)Loretta V.
"Ruined Birthday Dinner" 2 of 5 starsReviewed July 29, 2015 NEW My husband took me here as a special treat ON my actual birthday after a week of trying new restaurants each evening around Atlanta. I must say this was the worst experience of the week. We had reservations at 7 and at 8:30, we were searching for the server to ask where our dinners were...when they did come, my husband's steak was undercooked, he sent it back and when it came back, did not look any better. The manager came over and suggested salmon that he could deliver quickly. It was my husband's third night of restaurant salmon and it was actually the worst tasting. Our evening was totally ruined since dealing with all these issues definitely takes away from the celebration. They brought out 3 ice cream desserts that were ice cream based, so we couldn't take them home...the manager did comp my husband's meal, but we felt that was the least he could do. As a marketing professional, I really thought they would have given us some incentive to return. We have no reason to do that now, especially since we have found several superior spots to eat and they were not nearly as expensive. I've been wanting to go to Canoe for years and was very excited when I learned that was where we were going...Beautiful place, but shocked to have had this experience. I really expected much more and so did my husband. He felt terrible for me. I have shared this with many friends and they were equally surprised. I really wish they would have lived up to our expectations, which were fair, and done better to apologize and compensate us better for falling so short of their supposed high quality reputation. I definitely also noticed that the large groups were getting preferential treatment. If a Manager wants to contact me, my e-mail address is vital27@comcast.net , I'd appreciate it. Visited July 2015
(2)Brian G.
We really had a great dinner at this spot. It was my first time here, but I was with some experienced locals to Canoe. They knew exactly what to order and we had a great meal from the moment we walked in. The Canoe as you walk in, is just pretty amazing and it certainly gives a good idea of what you are getting into when you arrive. We are going to go back when it is light outside -- you have to get the view of the river and sit out on the back patio. I'm going to make that a must hit when we are back. I had the original manhattan when I got there -- we shared a few of the appetizers as well (smoked salmon and calamari). Meal was really good -- i went for the pork tenderloin and it was excellent. Great experience and I plan on going back sometime soon when I am back in Atlanta.
(4)Petrina P.
This restaurant has always been on my to-do list but now that I've done it I must say I'm not impressed. Now don't get me wrong, the view is amazing and it's always great to pass by the amazingly beautiful homes in Vinings to get there, but the restaurant itself was just okay. The staff was very attentive. I mean I literally had to hide my water glass. The food was good enough, I had the Grilled Atlantic Salmon spaghetti squash & carrot saute, pecans and wilted baby spinach but not even that peaks my interest to return. Could be the fact that it was underwater that time Atlanta flooded a couple of years back. But then that would make it a mental thing and I don't want to sound crazy, oh wait is it too late? Any who, I doubt I'd make another reservation. I just wasn't excited about Canoe as much as I was before dining there. Again, it's ok and if nothing else you should try it out for the ambiance, the restrooms are selfie worthy.
(3)Melissa N.
Wow! This place is great! The service here was perfection. Meal presentation was timely, wine refills were just perfect, meaning my glass was never empty and water refills were also perfect. The food was also amazing as other reviews have specified. The smoked salmon appetizer is a must have as others have also indicated. The atlantic salmon for dinner was also very well cooked and tasted amazing.
(5)Kellie N.
The food is absolutely wonderful! Pricey but worth it! The service was outstanding & the views of the river add to the ambiance. Must try- Quail, Duck, Trout, & Popcorn sundae
(4)Jack T.
Ambience: refined, elegant, great river view dining, the garden is a superb and looks like its stage ready for weddings Service: top notch, highly attentive staff Food: the roasted rabbit was well seasoned, had a flavorful sauce. Desserts: recommend if ordering the super sweet chocolate grotto to marry it with the popcorn Sundae. The sundae subdues the sweet grotto Definitely an enjoyable dining experience
(5)lizzie b.
Even more amazing on the second visit! Enjoyed a beautiful view of the river while eating outside. Expert tip: while not on the menu you can get half portions of their appetizers! I had a half parsnip soup which was incredibly delicious and half an apple salad which was made with Georgia apples, shaved butternut squash, and rum soaked raisins. Fantastic! For dinner I had the salmon which was one of the most flavorful fishes I've ever eaten. I will be coming back here whenever I am in Atlanta!
(5)Gill B.
Since I first moved to Atlanta over two years ago, I have heard whispers of this "Canoe" place and it's wonderfulness. I finally made my first trip to Canoe over the holidays while my parents were in town. And wow... I cannot believe that I waited so long to come to this spectacular gem of a restaurant. We made a reservation for the three of us and arrived about 20 minutes early, but they were able to accommodate us without a problem on the Friday after Christmas. I didn't love the fact that they only offer valet parking, but given how wonderful the food and experience was I can forgive it. The restaurant was still adorned with festive decor - pine and ornaments and lights framed the entrance. I was immediately charmed by the rustic elegance of the establishment especially - the canoe paddle door handles. We were seated to a table by the window overlooking the river. It was beautiful in the winter, but I can only imagine it would be a pretty spectacular spot in the spring/summer. Our waitress was incredibly informative, attentive, and delightful. She went through the specials in detail, and patiently entertained our questions on everything from fish texture to wine recommendations. To start off the meal, one of the staff members came by with an assortment of bread options - crisp flatbread, olive, sourdough. For the main course, my father ordered the duck n' beef burger, loaded up with a sunny side egg. He marveled at the massive masterpiece of a plate, complete with a side of fries. I ordered one of the fish specials - a white fish from Maryland. It was ridiculously fresh and flaky, and it was spot on with the white wine recommendation from the sommelier on staff. My mother ordered the famed smoked salmon appetizer as her main dish. Let me tell you - we all walked out smiling and satisfied. On our way out, the hostess smiled and inquired about our dining experience. We thanked her for a delicious and memorable meal, and she promptly handed us the brunch menu and encouraged us to return. Fresh pastries, egg concoctions and cocktails? Don't mind if I do... Now I understand why eyes light up at the mention of this classic ATL institution of a restaurant.
(5)Antonio A.
If your ever near Atlanta, GA Come en experience Canoe. My wife and I tried the smoked salmon and kangaroo appetizers. Both were amazing. The entrée of rabbit was also amazing. The service is incredibly great.
(5)Brady G.
Great service and amazing food. Would recommend to anyone. Make reservations ahead of time!!!
(5)Maggie H.
The main course here were soso, but the appetizers and desserts were so, so good! I loved the sweet potato clam chowder, the Mussels, the Raisin walnut bread and the Beet salad. Bathe main course Rabbit was not bad but nothing amazing. It was tender but not I was not a fan of the sauce (sweet and tangy like BBQ sauce? Doesn't seem classy enough for a place like this. There is a beautiful outdoor area and looks like it would be perfect for Sunday brunch. Service was great too. Definitely try this place out if you're in the area.
(4)Dan G.
I'm going full 5 stars on this which I rarely do. We were just blown away and satisfied on so many levels with the experience at Canoe; operative word being "experience". This delightful establishment is not a place one ought to visit for a meal but rather and entire lovely hospitable experience. The grounds....amazing.....the food just wonderful....and the service, the final trophy on top. All three together made for an unforgettable moment and one I hope you and your friends or loved ones can enjoy as well. We had reservations for 2 on a beautiful Atlanta afternoon which they promptly found a table for us outside so we could enjoy the view of the lazy and refreshing Chattahoochee river as we dined. The service was just splendid with an attention to detail that was neither pushy nor claustrophobic. We ordered the House Smoked Salmon, Crispy Potato Pancake, Vermont Goat's Cheese for our appetizer and were just speechless. A gentle dripping of light olive oil dressing perfectly crispy potato shavings adorned with lovely smoked salmon and a tangy herbed goat cheese. Canoe seems to suggest one take a slow and lazy meal...just like the river and grounds and we did as we enjoyed this dish as long as we could. Well done!!! For our mains we had Cornmeal and Blueberry Pancakes, Maple Lavender Syrup, Key Lime Mascarpone and Crispy Smoked Chicken Biscuit, Southern Collards, Poached Eggs, "Red Eye Gravy". Shut the Front Door!!!!! That was an AMAZING brunch! Both meals were the perfect contrast to each other as the Chicken/Biscuit dish was hearty and savory and the pancakes were light fluffy and sweet with the most delicious key lime mascarpone cheese. We never intended on finishing both dishes but alas....it was so. We were just in Atlanta for the weekend so this was meal to be enjoyed experienced and remembered and I assure you Canoe and its wonderful staff did a fantastic job on all accounts.
(5)Thomas Z.
Ordered steak, chocolate grotto, and lamb special. The steak was overcooked. Ordered medium but came to us almost well done. Lamb wasnt very good either, it was cooked four different ways but all four were average. The dessert ended up being the best out of our dishes. I would give 3 stars but the service and environment were spectacular. The manager came by and apologized for the steak and offered to have it recooked. They ended up not charging us for the dessert either. 3 stars for taste, but 5 for service.
(4)Sammi T.
I really loved 3 things about this place - the cocktail I had (zerozen-something?), the appetizers, and the service. Unfortunately, we didn't get a table by the window :( However, dinner was still great! We started with the "Meat and Cheese" (a whole lot of things I can't remember or pronunce correctly) plate and Crispy Shrimp. The "Meat and Cheese" plate had a couple different pates, cured meats, and cheeses... it was truly a great sampler! Shrimp was fresh and awesome. The main course didn't wow as much as I expected, but it was still a good meal. The duckling (poor duckie) cooked medium was super delicious. The fish dishes were good as well, but the trout was a little salty. This restaurant has amazing service and was a good experience!
(4)Yashaba H.
I had brunch here a couple of times and I've never left disappointed by the food. Everything is so well prepared and they use the freshest ingredients. All the berries on my French toast tasted as though they have just been picked. The outdoor view is amazing as well. The service at times isn't that great but the food definitely makes up for it. Make sure to try the basket of some of each!
(4)Samantha L.
I came here once before with my family to celebrate my parent's 30th anniversary, and had a really lovely time, so decided to bring the BF here for an early celebration of his 30th birthday. Everything lived up to the hype of the reviews and my fond memories of the restaurant. We had a late reservation, 9 PM, but there were still quite a few tables when we arrived. We had a nice table by the window, but unfortunately it was too dark outside to fully appreciate the view. Mentioned once to the host that we were celebrating a birthday and I swear every single staff member that came in contact with us wished him well for it. Bravo. Leslie was our server and she did a fantastic job describing specials and tending to us throughout the course of the night. As she explained to us, they typically keep mostly the same proteins throughout the year, but change the preparation/sides seasonally. So if you went during the summer, don't expect the same to be available in January. (That's what seasonally means...duh...). The server assistants did a great job making sure our silverware were always clean and the table crumb free. Love that attention to detail. We started with the smoked salmon appetizer and it was PERFECT. Smoked salmon, chopped chives, onions on a potato cake (think really crispy latke) with some sort of aioli + capers on the side. Literally everything I want when I have smoked salmon as an app and really well balanced. For entrees, I had the duck breast, he had the chicken. Both were moist, tasty, and way too much food for us to finish. Oh, and their bread selection is wide (though not warm, probably my only qualm). If you're shameless, feel free to ask for one of each (This is what the BF did. We were told it was a judgement free zone). Leslie even noticed our bread obsession and gave us some extra to take home. Oh and drinks - this is where I first discovered Bulleit whiskey. Get the one with Bulleit Rye...it may or may not change your life. Overall, a GREAT place for a special occasion, or if you're just feelin' like a baller, shot caller.
(5)Jasmine L.
What a great place to go to celebrate! It was my first time coming to canoe and after hearing so many talk about it I decided to give it a try. Everything about this place was great from the valet to the hostess to the waitress. They don't have a big selection on the menu but that didn't stop us from trying something new. We had the NY strip steak plate and the duck. They both were cooked to perfection. The best part is the big wine selection they have available and the wine shop they have located in the same strip as the restaurant. Overall everything was great, can't wait to go again.
(4)Matthew E.
First off don't go expecting to be in and out in a decent time. We were there for 2 hours only ordering an appetizer and entrée. Skip the rabbit. I try all sorts of foods but this was horrible. The texture was like tuna in a pouch. It tasted like it was soaked in teriyaki sauce overnight. The piece of "meat" was tiny. Just get a big ass steak for around the same price. My wife's steak was awesome. I think she had the ribeye. I only gave it 4 stars because of the bite of steak I had. I think it really deserves a 3 star rating.
(4)Lindsay G.
Amazing food! Wait staff a little dry. Will definitely head back this spring summer. Great wine too!
(4)Tahnita C.
This is a exquisite breathtaking romantic restaurant. I must say know I know why I've heard so much about this place. I wasn't so sure of the location since, it was my 1st in this exact area however, after a short misrouted from my map-quest & I arrived. The 2 valet attendants offer complimentary parking, 2 check in ladies & our servers were very professional. Our server (wish I recalled her name) was very pleasant. I suggest you make a RSVP so, you are guaranteed seating as this is a hit spot & it's fills up quickly starting at 6pm; even on a Wednesday. Even though it was my 1st time the service here was so magnificent that, when the server greats you they great you by your last name. I had to tell my date...I promise it's my 1st time here! He said I know, it's fine...this is what they do...this is my 3rd time here. I was relieved & said oh ok. The drinks were decent, as long as you drink up before the ice melts. Before placing our order I was a tad bit disturbed by a fly or two that was buzzing in the corner window at our table so, I asked to be moved to a different table. My friend had the salmon & I the grilled 32oz steak and I must say the food was very tastefully flavored. This a must visit restaurant & I highly recommend it. Its a perfect place for a romantic intimate date because, you can eat in the inside with a window view on looking the beautiful & active red cardinal birds and the Chattahoochee River. Or you can catch a drink at the bar, at the outside bar steps by the River or simply eat on the patio. Either was all anywhere you sit you will enjoy all that this restaurant had to offer. A small word of advice...if you decide to chill by the River be sure to spray yourself or bring some OFF! bug spray cause you will get eating alive by the bugs (like I did). However, I enjoyed my evening so much I suffered through the bug bits into the early part of the night, gazing at the fire flies (which was my 1st time seeing in my life as I never knew this was a real insect) and it was worth every bit received.
(5)Quiba Q.
Flavorless chicken and fish, portion size and price is hmmmm ... HUNGRY-LAND! Come here for social setting. Complimentary bread items/breadsticks and crackers were great. Chocolate espresso tart is nice and that's about it. Great service!
(3)Julea T.
I ate at Canoe for the first time earlier tonight, and my meal was absolutely incredible. I sat at the bar, and the service was top notch. The bartender took the time to ask everyone their name, and he remembered and called everyone by their name. He was extremely attentive, and knew how to check on me at just the right times. My food was outstanding. I had the New York strip; it was the best steak I've ever had before. Just perfect. The potatoes and spinach were the perfect accent. I had the gluten free chocolate cake, but I couldn't tell that it was gluten free- it was delicious. I also love that they have Allagash White there; it's my favorite beer. I wish I could afford to eat there all the time, but I'll make a point to go back and visit again before too long. What a great restaurant!
(5)Lindsay E.
My husband and I visited Canoe for a fancy date, and boy did this fit the bill! The staff referred to my husband as Mr. Sutton the entire time, our waiter gave helpful recommendations and said "great choice" more than once. Relatively quick service, delectable delicacies, and a very nice garden patio by the river. -- Smoked salmon appetizer (Canoe's House Smoked Salmon, Crispy Potato Cake, Vermont Goat's Cheese): Call me casual, but the first thing we thought was, "It tastes like pizza!" We both really enjoyed this dish. Smooth, soft, and cool smoked salmon over crispy potato stick cakes. The goat cheese helped to tie up the flavors very nicely. I ate up every bite, and I won't be surprised if I get this again! The bread: Get the cranberry one! I could have filled up on that alone! The duck (Grilled Breast of Long Island Duckling, Duck Leg and Ginger Pot Sticker, Bok Choy, Ginger Dashi): My husband got the duck and loved it. His comments: "The portion is very good, and the ratio of duck meat to vegetables is great. Very good flavor and texture." The trout (Enchanted Springs Rainbow Trout, Lobster Rangoon Ravioli, Seeded Mustard Cream): I chose between this dish and the rabbit. My server informed me that the rabbit's been on the menu for 15 years, and it's probably not going anywhere, so if I plan on returning, I should try the trout now since it will probably be off the menu next week. I liked the trout. The meat was soft, and the skin was crispy. The lobster rangoon ravioli wasn't particularly impressive, but I ate all the fish. Next time, though, I'll forgo the trout for something more flavorful. The chocolate grotto (Chocolate Grotto, Salted Caramel, Pretzel Dust): Hard shell chocolate dome (that you have to crack open) with a creamy, salty mousse/caramel concoction inside with a chocolate cake at the bottom and finely crushed pretzels swathed across the plate with another swath of chocolate. It was delicious! It's very rich. When I took my first bite of what's inside. it reminded me of a very, very creamy and smooth peanut butter. The saltiness plus the sweet was a perfect combination. We couldn't finish all of it! -- Lovely location. If we want to drop some serious coin, we'll be coming again for the rabbit and that smoked salmon.
(5)Jennifer N.
This is an update from my last review. Let's just say, they made me a believer.
(5)Emily A.
I went on a rainy day so I didn't get to experience the beautiful outdoors :( but it was really nice and the food was great.
(4)Nichole S.
Amazing service, food, and view! I highly recommend it! We had the smoked salmon appetizer, the fish specials for the evening, and a few cocktails- the Georgia peach tea cocktail was really good. The dessert was amazing - we had the chocolate grotto. The waiter even took time to talk with us during our experience there and wrote congratulations on the desert for our belated wedding anniversary and sons first birthday!
(5)Greg G.
You can't beat the location. Perfect place for a business meeting or romantic evening. Great food and impeccable service.
(5)Anuj C.
The best resturant in all of ATL is also the most romantic. This place is awesome, and please sit outside at eveing/night, there is nothing like it. Get apps and drinks and then take your drinks and walk around the canoe garden, see some fireflies, first time my wife has seen them, its really beautiful and romantic. Now to the food, bloody amazing. for apps we got the corn soup and the jumbo crab cake, corn soup was deliciously creamy and perfect amount of seasoning. the crab cake was on of the freshest crab cakes i have had and i come from SF were crab cakes are plentiful. For entries we got the scallop and Salmon, Scallops were incredible and can compete with the Michelin star restaurants in SF. the Salmon was perfectly cooked and deliciously seasoned as well. This is where i have to dock them a star, the deserts. we got the Popcorn Ice cream sundae, cause it sounded pretty interesting, and Chocolate Mint Panna Cotta. the sundae looked very cool but tasted not so good. I was just not a big fan of it, the saltiness in the sundae and the popcorn in there, it just didn't work for me. the panna cotta was good not out of this world, but good, the best part was the chocolate mint balls. The people that work here were very nice and FYI there is mouthwash in the bathroom, which i appreciated greatly. also the parking here is Valet only, don't have to pay extra but be sure to tip. This meal in SF would have costed close to $250, but the best fine dinning experience in ATL cost a $100 for two ppl(without wine), that sounds good to me.
(4)Rob Z.
What can I say about this place? Everything. Been here over 20 times (brunch, lunch and dinner) and you can't go wrong. Amazing staff, beautiful setting and most importantly that chef in the kitchen can cook his butt off. If you're a regular, you should always look for Chef Basford's specials, if you're new to this place- you can't go wrong with the Rabbit or really any entreé at all. Oh, did I mention the service is second to none? Beautiful people who work at this restaurant, and they really do work together well to orchestrate an incredible experience every time!
(5)Chris C.
Cant wait to return! Our group loved everything that was served along with the service. The only thing that could have been improved was the temperature of the coffee as it was barely warm (before pouring the Bailey's). Apps: -Charcuterie & Cheese Selection -Hickory Smoked Duck Pastrami Entrees: Rabbit New York Strip Grilled Breast of Duckling Dessert: Coffee with Bailey's (generous pour) Popcorn Ice Cream Classic Apple Tart
(5)Lisa K.
Came here for our 1 year anniversary and had a great overall experience. We ended up sitting at a table overlooking the Chattahoochee River. The ambience was perfect! We started off with the smoked salmon on top of a crispy potato cake. It was AMAZING! Hubby ordered the duck and beef burger with parmesan fries. I ordered the trout which came with sauteed greens and mashed potatoes. Both were delicious. For dessert we ordered the chocolate grotto with salted caramel and pretzel dust. The plate had "Happy Anniversary" written on it and I was happy to know the restaurant paid attention to detail because we only mentioned that when we made the reservation. I heard Sunday brunch here is great too so I will be back to try it out!
(5)Lee R.
Let's just say one of the best dining experiences I have ever had in Atlanta...or EVER for that fact. A friend and I went for my birthday and had a great experience. We had a reservation, but the place was so busy, we still had to wait about 10 minutes. I won't hold that against them as I know how unpredictable wait times can be. After being seated, the initial server addressed us by name, offered us waters, and explained the massive wine menu. (They also have their own wine shop next door with over 700 wines). We decided to start dinner off with cocktails instead of wine. Let's just say everything looked so great it was hard to decide. We had an awesome mussel appetizer that also featured crawfish and sausage all in a white wine garlic sauce. Let's just say that it was amazing. In addition to our appetizer, a server came around with a tray of about 4-5 different bread choices. I tried two of them and definitely had a second portion. For our entrees, I simply had to try to Rabbit. The flavor profile may have been one of the most amazing things to ever grace my mouth. As the waiter told me, "If you are even considering the rabbit again anything else, get the rabbit." It is simply something you just can't get anywhere. The portion size was great. My friend ordered the salmon and spaghetti squash. He enjoyed his dish, but didn't rave as much as I did. Honestly, If I'm going to a restaurant with a lot of unique options on the menu, salmon would be one of the last things I would order. After the entrees the waiter brought out the dessert menu, which looked great. They also had a huge list of after-meal drinks as well. We were so stuffed that we passed, but we will definitely save room next time. This is a great place for a special event or just a night out with friends. Be prepared to easily spend more than you would on a normal weeknight out, but it is well worth it, not only for the food, but the experience.
(5)Jordan H.
Thee best food experience my husband and I have ever had!! I'm not an adventurous eater at all but I decided to step out of my box and ordered the rabbit. Oh boy am I glad I did. It was so delicious as what was paired with it. My husband had oysters as an appetizer and then the monkfish. He said the oysters were to die for and that the monkfish was really good too. Our waiter was amazing. He knew the wine, beer, and food menus forward and backward. Unfortunately, I don't remember his name since we went last March. I also loved that a waiter would bring a basket of different kinds of bread around to the tables that were all delicious. This place is pricey and I would say you should go for a special occasion but you won't be disappointed. The service, food, and atmosphere was great. I can't wait to go back for brunch in the summer! I heard the outside area by the river is great. OH! I can't forget about the dessert. I got the chocolate ball thing. You have to hit it but then this delicious chocolately goo flows out. Oh man. Plus there is a strip of pretzel dust that you pair with it to make it even more yum :-)
(5)Jovan Y.
Canoe is an elegant place with a nice scenery. It is a great place for a family dinner. I had the duck it was very tasty. The specialty drinks were surprisingly good as well. If you want a more ambient scene with great service and delicate food try this place you won't be disappointed.
(4)Vj D.
Canoe delivers a five-star experience without the pomp and pretense. It felt like being in a down to earth family restaurant albeit a very refined family. I admit that this was more than what I am typically used to in Australia and for a while I had forgotten about the kind of service that ought to be bundled with a $30 dollar meal. Let's just say you don't see this level of service and attention to detail in places that charge $30 and up for a meal where I live. Quite sad really. I tried the Carolina Rabbit and it was lovely, this was also the first time I had rabbit. I also got to sample a bit of the halibut which was one of the specials for the evening. What the chef did to that fish was amazing. Great value for money, great place to have dinner with family or a loved one. Too bad it was raining and we couldn't really enjoy the outdoor garden. I suppose that merits another visit in the future :)
(5)Sharanya A.
Excellent scones! We even got to had our brunch on one of their tables that is outside bu the river which was a very pleasant experience.
(5)Ashley O.
I am writing this review about 2 years late. I just never found the time until now. We dined here only on special occasions. It is very upscale so dress accordingly or you will feel a little out of place. I love that they offer rabbit and duck as I haven't ever tried them prior to coming here. The service was always impeccable. The outdoor seating is tranquil as you watch the river flow in front of you.
(5)Tom C.
Alrighty, where do I start?? This place is great. At least, for brunch. I have not been there for anything else. OK, the pancakes. Amazing. Period. Eat them. The portion is enormous, so bring an appetite. The sticky buns. My god, the sticky buns. You hear a lot about the scones. But, trust me, just get the sticky buns. Did I mention they're good? The salmon eggs benedict is unreal. I mean, seriously, who was minding heaven when god himself was figuring this recipe out?? I'd go eat that every day if it weren't for my desire to keep my arteries from getting too clogged with hollandaise. Now, the view. You hear a lot about the view at this place. It's all right. Just beautiful. Make sure you make reservations and request a seat by the window. One piece of advice, though. Having sat by the window a couple of times lately, sit in a booth, not in a table up against the windows. When they get the AC going, it can be really cold against the windows.
(5)Robert L.
One if my favorite restaurants in the States. Period. Location and ambience with the river and the gardens are fantastic. Classy without being pretentious. Good for business dinners or a romantic night out. The servers and Sommeliers are knowledgeable and also unpretentious. The masterful blending of flavor from the Charcuterie plate to the Rabbit or Duck or seafood is sublime. Wine and beer selections are perfect. You get enough good to be satisfied without any guilt that you are depriving the third world and that my Catholic guilt of gluttony will not be visiting me. Truly a treat.
(5)Jessica D.
You know that show, The Best Thing I Ever Ate? Yeah, it was something like that. When your waiter comes by after clearing your plates with a crumb brush, you know you're somewhere swanky. Second time visiting, I made reservations for Sunday brunch with my family + beau as my treat. Confirming my reservation was a little.. annoying. A day prior, I missed their phone call, but they left a voicemail informing me that they would like to confirm (or cancel) my reservation. I called back about an hour later and they could not locate my reservation in the system. Eventually they cleared everything up though. My parents aren't used to nice restaurants like this, so it was a bit of a culture shock for them. The food was great, as expected. We ordered: - Large basket of assorted sweet and savory scones + Georgia pecan sticky buns - Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict - The Riverside - Smoked Chicken Biscuit - Grilled Atlantic Salmon - Duck N' Beef Burger The assorted basket was a big hit at the table. The sticky buns had a nice crunch and weren't too overly sweet. The scones came out with a variety of preserves and whipped honey butter. I ordered the Riverside and was disappointed that my eggs came out a little cold. They were, however, beautifully seasoned and quite possibly the best I've ever had. The bacon was plentiful and shared amongst the table. My sister mentioned that the parmesan truffle fries accompanying her duck n' beef burger were too overwhelming and I will have to agree. Beau loved his eggs benedict. I'm not a huge fan of smoked salmon though, but I'm glad he enjoyed his choice. Other than that, there weren't really any other comments on the food. The service was pretty good, but not as good as my first visit (with Terry as our waiter). When they brought out our food, they were really confused as to who ordered what and shuffled around a lot. One of the guys got pretty frustrated and just called our waiter over to clear things up. After brunch, we all went outside to soak in the warm sunlight and the cool breeze from the Chattahoochee river. There was a graduation brunch going on, so a large party was set up under a tent outside. I definitely recommend this restaurant as a nice treat every once in a while, or a restaurant to celebrate a special occasion. The first time I came to Canoe, it was for a birthday celebration for my beau two years ago and I would have given a full 5-stars had I remembered to review the place. They definitely bend over backwards for birthdays and anniversaries! Parking is complimentary valet only.
(4)Mikee R.
After reading a dozen or so many reviews, there is nothing I can add which has not already been said. If you are in the area and you are looking for a splendid meal like you have never had before, then try this place. The food is out of this world and the service treats you like royalty.
(5)JoAnn O.
One of the best lunches - salmon sandwich and dinners pork chops and fish in atlanta. I I came here 15 yrs ago on business and now we live here. Ambience food service w children or not. They are wonderful.
(5)Rebecca R.
This restaurant has amazing food and we a beautiful view of the river and nice ambiance. We came in 2014 while in Atlanta for a conference and made sure to visit again this year! We were really sad they did not have the BBQ shrimp again (seasonal) but everything we did have was very enjoyable. Definitely will be coming here each time I'm in Atlanta!
(5)Scarlett W.
The boyfriend and I had our 2 year here and we were not disappointed by the food nor the service. I'm going to ignore the topic of food prices because, well...pretty sure you know what you got yourself into, price-wise. Canoe's House Smoked Salmon - started off with this delectable appetizer which are slices of salmon on top of thin and crispy potato sticks bound together with goat cheese. Yum. Grilled Breast of Long Island Duckling - This was tender and flavorful, I loved the potatoes and the chanterelle made the dish very interesting. Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit - Bacon ravioli - how can the boyfriend resist. His one comment was that the rabbit was a little hard to cut through, but I'm assuming that that is because of the nature of rabbit meat. Despite that, he still managed to enjoy his meal. Maple Bourbon Creme Brulee - this had bacon brittle on top, which again, how can we resist. The bacon brittle was interesting and had enough sprinkles of bacon in it to make it sweet yet salty (and also sticks to your teeth). The creme brulee was carmelized on top and made a satisfying noise when cracked. There were also cocktails during our meal but unfortunately have forgotten their names. Service - Impeccable of course. Sidenote - I find their version of a "bread basket" to be very interesting, the bread server person essentially asks what kind of bread you want and serves it to you - I suppose it eliminates waste which is always good. Verdict - Would most likely only come back on special occasions (ugh fiscal responsibility).
(5)Tanna L.
Why are there so many rave reviews for this place, even by snobby foodies? Because it's freakin' awesome, that's why. Our last time to Canoe, unfortunately (because we waited too long to go back), I think was 6 years ago for me n the missus' 4th anniversary. We just hit 10 and I figured we should go back. We need to go back more frequently. Hoppin' for a Wednesday night. Not really any parking so you have to valet. Even the valet dudes are all nice. The hostesses with the mostesses are all nice. Everybody at this whole freakin' restaurant is nice. Seriously, the place just delivers outstanding service and food. Our server, Josh, was freakin' nice too. Soft-spoken, courteous, helpful. Brought out some bread (take your pick from the basket), nice room temp butter, nice olive bread for me. Got a Manhattan with the Bulleit 95 rye; kind of a small size but packed a punch. Of course the food is excellent. I won't go into too much detail. Wife had a Caesar, not really on the menu but they made her one. That's how they roll. A bit too much dressing for my liking but the taste was excellent. Anchovy-y too but in a good way. She had the chicken. Tasty, good broth. Tried the house cured salmon app. Fantastic. I had the quail special. Freakin' delicious with smokey bacon and sausage stuffed into it. Dessert: chocolate grotto. Pop the dome on that thing and some salted caramel oozes out. Wife not a huge mousse fan. It was filled with chocolate mousse. Truth be told we were heading to Flip for a Nutella milkshake (for her) afterward. She only wanted a bite but kept eating it, mousse and all. That's how good it was. Pretzel dust added a nice crunch. Thing is good. Get it. Chocolatey "Happy 10th Anniversary" written on the plate for a final nice touch. This place simply delivers. Look around, everybody is so freakin' happy and in a good mood, patrons, staff alike. Prices are obviously high for a joint like this but I thought reasonable for what you get.
(5)J. Christopher E.
Located in what the taxi driver told me was one of the nicest neighborhoods in Atlanta (crazy big nice houses nearby). From what the bartender said, Canoe is one of a very few restaurants located on the river in Atlanta (this is because the river periodically floods, and a few years ago a big flood did apparently destroy most of Canoe). Great restaurant. Menu changes as the seasons change. All the food we had was very good. Would definitely go back. Tip: If the weather permits I suggest arriving about 1 hour before your reservation and hanging out by the bar located aside the river for a few before-dinner-drinks. Forget the name, but I had a very good local IPA. Also, if the weather allows, sit outside on the patio for your meal.
(4)Anant S.
It's very little difficult to give this place 3 stars.The service is absolutely fantastic. The location is perfect. Right by the river with a nice patio overlooking it. Everything about this place makes you want to love it. Except for the food. I would call the food pretty good. Definitely not amazing, probably not great, but just above average. I tried a few dishes and they were all somewhat forgettable. Maybe I went with the expectation of being blown away and came back underwhelmed. I would still recommend this place if you want to impress someone special just because the service here makes you feel that way... Special! But if your main focus is food... It's a different story!
(3)Fiona H.
The venison here is AMAZING. Our waiter was super nice and helpful since it was our first time there. A lot of stuff is grown in their own garden in the back which is beautiful. Great views of the river with the lights. It's super romantic and much better than rays on the river.
(5)Derrick W.
Because of its proximity to the office, Canoe is a favorite to entertain clients for lunch. I should have have submitted a review about a prior visit. That day, they were serving an octopus dish that was divine. In fact, my colleagues and I all requested that dish upon our recent return only to be told that it was not available. I believe that service can make or break a restaurant and Canoe provides great service. The staff is very attentive and engaging. They also will provide honest feedback on the selections. I no longer eat meat so my menu is restricted to vegetable, fish and seafood entrees and Canoe does not miss a beat. My current favorite has been the cod fish sandwich to which I add the truffle fries for truly decadent experience. There were/are many wonderful dishes to try and I plan to try them all. Canoe provides great service and the exceptional food.
(5)Casey A.
Outstanding service! My husband took me here for my birthday dinner we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The menu here is incredible. I can't wait to go back to try their brunch menu.
(5)Alex M.
Canoe may be best dining experience I've ever had, and is definitely the best in Atlanta. My fiancée took me here for my birthday. We were running late but the restaurant was crowded anyway, so we ended up having to wait by the bar and get a drink. I got an old fashioned, which was awesome, and she got an Italian soda/Tom Collins like drink that she enjoyed. Great atmosphere and service. Hostess and bartenders were friendly and our waitress was knowledgable and outgoing. The bread was outstanding (they give you an option of four kinds whenever you run out- make sure you try the flatbread). I had the Carolina rabbit for the first time in my life, and it was incredible. The meat was perfectly cooked and seasoned, and it melted in your mouth. It was served on a bed of bacon ravioli, which was delicious, along with a sweet potato hash. I can't even really describe the flavor; it was just absolutely incredible. My date got the Springer Mountain Chicken, which she loved. Understand that this dish has a very Thai-like flavor to it, so adjust your expectations and taste buds accordingly. For dessert, we got the chocolate grotto, which was great; rich and tasty, but not overpowering (just don't eat it too fast). The only downside if the meal was 1) that it ended and 2) I didn't like my second drink (a Negroni), though that was simply a function of me trying a new drink that I wouldn't enjoy anywhere. My fiancée loved her second drink. Like I said earlier, this is either the best or second best meal I've ever had. It's hands down the best restaurant in Atlanta and totally worth the cost. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Jamie A.
We visited this based on a recommendation from Alton Brown. He mentioned that it's a favorite for a night out with just his wife. We were on a vacation with the kids, so they had to come along. Being $$$ and pretty sure it was a more dressy upscale experience, we did take the time to dress everyone up in dresses, skirts, ties and all. It sure helped us fit in a bit more and enjoy our experience at this nationally recognized restaurant. They had complimentary valet upon arrival, wasn't prepared for that and didn't have any cash :/. Made a reservation, which they were able to seat us early to which was great since we had three younger kids with us. The waitress addressed me by name and was so patient with us and the kids. The meal started with a complimentary assorted bread basket with what tasted like homemade butter. Also a flat flour crisp of sorts was served as well with a little herb spice going on, which my husband loved. We ordered their signature rabbit (which was wonderful) and the sweet potato ravioli and vegetables with it were very good, at $25 ish I recall. We also had the basil pasta with vegetables at $17. So good. Proportions were on the smaller side but still appropriately filling, expectable for this level of restaurant. The kids enjoyed generous portions of chicken strips and French fries and Parmesan farfalle noodles. Each I believe were $10. We followed our meals sampling two desserts included the chocolate grotto which is a chocolate ball shell filled with a chocolate cream and salted caramel sprinkled in pretzel dust and a rhubarb crisp with strawberry ice cream and oatmeal crunch. Each $8. The grotto was rich but delicious and the rhubarb crisp was one of my favorite desserts of our trip. Overall, I really enjoyed our visit. We took a short stroll out back after dinner to watch for fireflies and swing in the tree swings. Love the big lit up canoe sign. Just loved this visit. So wish I could go again.
(5)Mary Margaret B.
Excellent dining experience. TC was our server and he was attentive and knowledgable...we ended up ordering dessert without even wanting it because his descriptions were so enticing. For lunch we started with the Smoked Salmon appetizer, along with the Squash soup with pumpkin seeds and citrus foam, arugula salad with orange segments and parmesan shavings, the dish not on the menu-Fish tacos with a white bean salad, cilantro lime and guacamole on the side. Lastly a Grilled Salmon over spinach and spaghetti squash. I truly enjoyed every aspect of the meal, starting with a mimosa which was just a touch of fresh oj with pulp, I typically hate pulp but this was delicious! The salmon appetizer was probably my favorite part of our lunch. The goat cheese was gamey and had a nice punch of flavor. Salmon so tender and the potato hash stacks were crispy crunchy and seasoned just right. I loved the sour cream that had chives and tasted like lime. I split this with my Nana and sister but I ended up eating two pieces. We had some tasty savory bread--sourdough was so soft and crust was great. My favorite was the chilli flatbread. It's a bit spicy but a soft crunch and crisp I couldn't stop munching on it! The fish tacos were so fresh and tasty. The white bean salad had a slight red wine vinegar flavor that was cilantro and lime all day I enjoyed it very much. My grandmother ordered it after our server suggested it off menu. My sister liked her salmon but wasn't a fan of the spinach and squash. The fish was fork tender and had a smoked wood smell so delicious! I had the soup and salad. I lived the warm soup, creamy and tasted like pumpkin and fall! Maybe a hint of nutmeg but very little spices, it was a very large portion so I didn't get to much of the salad which was also very large. I wasn't a fan of the Parmesan shavings on the arugula. It made it gritty a bit and the salad is wet from the dressing but it's tasty regardless. For dessert I was coerced into getting a Chicolate Grotto with salted caramel, chocolate mousse inside and a hard dark chocolate shell, sprinkled with pretzel dust. My sister and Nana aren't into sweets much but wanted to watch me crack the shell with the back of my spoon so I ordered one. It was divine! Didn't like the chocolate shell but I'm a milk chocolate lover, the mousse was absolutely delicious much lighter than I was anticipating and the caramel was the perfect touch! It was all in all a very well rounded sweet, I barely ate but a few bites but I have to have a little sweet to balance myself out! Will be back for that Rabbit and Swiss chard soon!
(5)Kailey M.
Loved it! We had a triple date night at canoe and it was great! Everything we ordered was delicious! The duck was tender and moist. The rabbit was cooked perfectly and flavorful. The only complain I have is that I ordered the sundae for dessert, I saw it sit on the counter for a while before it got to our table. By then, a good amount of ice cream had already melted. Nevertheless, it was a great ending to an awesome meal. The service here was soo efficient. Every time we finished with our dish, the servers swoop in and clear everything immediately. Our server was super nice. She even offered to take pictures for us outside, in the backyard even though we were done and she had other tables to tend to.
(5)Randy H.
I don't often give places five stars but I think Canoe deserves it. This place is definitely a fantastic place to go for a special occasion or if you are feeling really fancy. The scenery is amazing. The outdoor area is awesome and it is fantastically placed right on the river. First, the waitress was very friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. She offered her insight and gave us options based on what she felt our taste was. I started with the BBQ'd Georgia White Shrimp, Worcestershire, Grilled Sour Dough. It was amazing. Such fresh ingredients gave for a great flavor. The shrimp were large and cooked with the shell on. Some may not be a fan of the shell but it holds in the flavor and gives a great taste after peeling it off. After the shrimp, I went for the signature dish. Yep - Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit, Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato, Candied Garlic Sauce. I know..poor little bunny. What can I say...it was great. Better than I thought it would be. It's kind of mix of turkey or chicken. Delicious. This is the one thing on the menu that never changes according to the waitress. Definitely worth trying once. Finally, the seasonal dessert was a Mango Sorbet. My guess is the Mango Sorbet is freshly made and mixed with fresh mango chunks. Words can't express how great it was. Just go try it. Even if you go just for that. Just do it. I hear lunch and brunch are great times to go. I may check that out soon!
(5)Lisa H.
I've been wanting to go to this place in forever, and we finally got a chance to go for a family birthday celebration. The service and staff were great, very friendly and prompt. However, the food was not as great as I had expected. We started out with the crab cakes, which are $16 for a crab cake. It was tasty, but way too much breading for the hefty price tag, and I've had way better all-meat-no-breading crab cakes for much less. We also had the duck leg ravioli for appetizer, and that was tasty but nothing too special. We also had the special blue crab soup, and that was very good. Entrees: Rack of Lamb - absolutely amazing and the best dish there. Flavorful and perfectly cooked Steak - a bit salty with the seasoning, but still tasty. Rabbit - we read reviews that the meat fell off the bone, but it was not the case on our entree. The flavor was ok, nothing spectacular. Cod - a nice big piece of fresh fish. not much flavor though if you just eat the fish, it's the sides and compliments that made the taste. Duckling - there must be a big difference between duck and duckling, because it did not taste anything like duck and it was just not good. The meat was very chewy and not that flavorful, and worst yet, the person who got the entree got super sick the next day with very bad stomach aches. We noticed that all of the dishes were on the overly-salty side. Desserts: We had 3 birthday celebrations (for the day we were there, a week later, and a month later), but no free dessert what so ever. Popcorn Ice Cream - super yummy Cheesecake - very tasty Creme Brulee - pretty standard Orange and Cranberry Bread Pudding - I think this is the first time I did not finish a bread pudding. The orange taste was just too strong and I didn't find it too tasty. Chocolate Grotto - amazing taste, and not too sweet, but still goes very well with a glass of milk (which they will bring you if you ask) Overall it was a good dining experience, and it was good to visit, even if it's just once.
(3)Nate B.
One of our favorite restaurants in Atlanta. The salmon appetizer is a must. Always great service with unique menu choices. Highly recommended!
(5)Richard R.
Everything I've heard about Canoe is absolutely true. This place is an oasis for the senses. THE SCENE I'm not what you would consider a classy guy. I'm in sweats or shorts and a t-shirt most of the time, I could care less about designer name brand clothes and I barely own any suits, shoes or jewelry. There is almost nothing about me that has "bling" and to top all that off, I rolled up to the valet in a minivan. "Be careful, it's expensive" I said as I handed over my keys. Meanwhile, the sum total of just three of the cars I saw in the parking lot would buy my dream house. (Bentley's, Ferrari's and Lamborghini's hang out here). But I will say that although I don't look the part of a well groomed gentleman, I enjoy beautifully thought out design and inspiring atmosphere... to which Canoe has in bucket loads. Here's what you need to know: * The decor and friendliness of the staff were as good (if not better) than I could ever ask for in a restaurant. * The valets were real pro's, the host staff were welcoming and our server Naisson was efficient and precise. However, he was a considerable bit slower than we would have liked in taking our order. * The interior design provides a wide variety of seating ambiances from romantic tables for two to brightly lit window seats for families and groups. Not to mention a lovely shaded outdoor patio that had a wonderful breeze on this day. * The well landscaped grounds behind the restaurant sit along the banks of the Chattahoochee River and are absolutely gorgeous. There are many venues to sit and talk while taking in the beautiful scenery. Truly an amazing place to impress a first date, out of town guests or a beautiful bride of almost 15 years. From the very moment we sat down I was eager to order and have my taste buds singing with happiness. Have you ever started writing a review in your head just based on the anticipation from watching plate after mouthwatering plate pass your table? -------------- - - - - - THE FOOD * The Chicken Biscuit ($18.50) was flavorful & the poached eggs were perfect. It was an off-menu special described by our server that had me salivating long before it arrived. Would have preferred the biscuit to be a little softer though. The hash brown potatoes w/onions were also very good. (4 stars) * The French Toast ($13) was practically a dessert. Loaded with sweetened fruits and stuffed with banana cream, it was delicious and beautifully presented. (4 stars) * Mixed basket of breads ($7) was a nice appetizer to our hungry crew. I really loved the jellies that came with the breads. (3.5 stars) * Truffle frites ($7) were ok. I guess I was just expecting more flavor. (3 stars) * Side of bacon ($3.50) our server encouraged us to order this by selling the fact they cure their own bacon and stating "it's amazing." We didn't find this bacon to be any better that what you find on a Golden Corral buffet. We expected a thicker cut and instead received these paper thin crispy strips. I prefer pan fried bacon instead of oven baked and I'm pretty sure this was oven baked bacon. (2 stars) NOTE: Our kids didn't really enjoy their pancakes from the children's menu and instead ate most of my wife's French toast. -------------- - - - - - OVERALL (3.75 stars) I've heard much ado about this place for a long time and I must say it IS deserving of all its accolades. My only slight problem: Although the food was good, it wasn't nearly as orgasmic as I had built it up to be in my mind. I wish my expectations hadn't been so high because I may have enjoyed my meal even more.
(4)Aaron H.
We made reservations for dinner with some friends at Canoe. We had an additional guest join our party of 6 so I arrived early to find out if they would be able to accommodate us. The hostess was very pleasant and told us that it would not be a problem. She also told us that our table would be ready closer to our scheduled reservation time and directed us to their lounge area to have cocktails while we waited. The decor of the restaurant reminds me of an upscale boat house with nice cider wood paneling and stone floors. We were seated in the section on the spit level with floor to ceiling windows. The ambiance was very much like Ray's On the River. There is a really nice view of the river and river bank areas. For starters we ordered the Smoked Salmon on Crispy Potato Cakes, four come in one order so it should be enough for a party of four or less. The salmon was fresh, the potato cakes were crispy with creme fresh which together made for a tantalizing treat. The majority of the guests in my party order the Springer Chicken Entree and they all loved it. I thought the portion size was good and it looked delicious. I ordered the Enchanted Rainbow Trout with Lobster Rangoon Ravioli, I only have great things to say about this dish and was so sad when it was all gone. The trout was cooked perfectly with a crispy skin and tender flaky inside. The Lobster Rangoon Ravioli paired perfectly with the fish and the white creamy sauce made everything so delicious! For dessert we all tried different things I had the Bourbon Creme Brulee with Bacon Brittle which was devine. The bacon brittle did it for me, made with bacon oil, reduced until it was thick and harden with chunks of embedded bacon pieces. I cannot say enough great things about our waitress Sarah, she was very friendly, attentive, provided great suggestions and was efficient throughout our entire meal. There was never a time we were "searching" for her because she always appeared at the right time. I thoroughly enjoyed our Canoe experience and cannot wait to return.
(5)Krys H.
Husband and I visited Canoe for our 2 year anniversary. What an awesome choice it was! The ambiance and view is amazing, the service was impeccable , and the food leaves you with much to talk about! Everything from the appetizers to the dessert were delicious. I'm not a big meat eater, but the braised beef was mouth watering and left me wanting more. My entree of rainbow trout was prepared to perfection and the dessert...OMG! Caramel popcorn ice cream sundae. It was sinful, but since it was my anniversary, why not sin a little! We can't wait for Spring to enjoy the outdoor bar area. I'm sure I'll be back to add an even better review!
(5)Nicky D.
4.5 stars?!? Really?? What a joke. This was an absolute 5 star experience. The food is incredible. The ambiance is pleasant. But the customer service is really what makes this place standout. WOW. They gave us 5 desserts for free. Just because they took a little longer on the food than normal. We didn't even complain. Before they did that I still would have given it 5 stars love this place and I recommend it to any out of towner or anybody who wants a classy place for a date. LOVE IT.
(5)Loren C.
Canoe receives three stars from me because although the ambiance and service was on point, the food just fell flat. My rabbit was very dry, although the mushroom ravioli it came with was good. I also had the crab cake for an appetizer; I enjoyed it, but $16 for one crab cake left a lot to be desired. Bottom line: there are better places in Atlanta if you're looking for high quality food.
(3)Marcus Z.
When searching for a truly outstanding brunch experience in Atlanta, look no further than Canoe. This extremely inconspicuous restaurant off Paces Ferry is quite possibly one of the best places I've ever been to for brunch. Whether you're coming for a date, a get together or a meeting, Canoe has everything to offer. The food is excellent, the service is wonderful and the overall atmosphere is almost unreal. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon with no reservation. My fiancé requested a table for 4 from the hostess. We were originally sat in the bar area. Not the best seats in the house but still nice. I suggested that he ask her if there were any tables available outside. Apparently, the restaurant is on the Chattahootchee River. We were in luck. A table was available for us almost immediately. While we waited the mere 10 minutes for the patio table, we ordered some Bloody Mary's. They were outstanding. Just the right amount of spice and tartness that I enjoy in a tomato-based cocktail. We were sat within our promised wait time and were greeted immediately by a server. He was very informative and had many suggestions for us. We ordered several plates of food including the cornmeal pancakes, the smoked salmon on potato cakes, the she crab soup, and the rock shrimp salad. Each dish was beautifully executed and definitely left our palates satisfied. After a few more cocktails, we received our bill, paid and walked around the restaurant grounds. The landscaping was quite beautiful and it was worth the money that we spent. Now you may be wondering why Canoe received 4 stars from me instead of 5 if I enjoyed it so much. 1) The hostess to whom my fiancé spoke about the patio was not exactly nice. She was actually quite snobby. 2) Our server, on numerous accounts, kept making us feel rushed. We kindly explained to him that we wanted to sip on our cocktails and munch on our appetizers before we ordered any entrées. We wanted a relaxing brunch. Afterwards, he came around at least 3 times within 15 minutes asking us if we were ready to order. While I understand the concept of turning tables to make money (I used to be a server), when the guests tell you they want to enjoy themselves, you do not haunt them endlessly. Overall, a truly remarkable place for dining. A- in my book.
(4)Lisandra G.
Went here for lunch and we were shocked at how much traffic this place generated on a Wednesday at 1pm (this had no reflection on the speed of service, just an indicator of the popularity of the restaurant) Let me say the view was fantastic and our server Sarah was delightful. We had the crab cake on a salad, I ordered 2. This thing is DELICIOUS! I thought Capital Grille had a great crab cake LOL! This is unbelievably good. They had these ribeye and short rib sliders with bacon onion jam- OMG!! I could drink it through a straw it was so good. I can't say I was in love with the bucatini alla vodka but hey, Everything else was exceptional.
(4)Donna M.
This is one of my and my husband's favorite places to go. Food is delicious and you can't beat the river view. It's a little pricey but worth it!
(5)Sean H.
Meal is good, the price is fair and the ambience is proper. I'm giving three stars because of our server of the night, Brandon. 1) spits all over my arm while explaining the menu 2) splashes water all over while pouring 3) when it was time to order,due to language barrier, I told him I'll be placing order on behalf of my parents. Brandon says "lady's first." and proceeds to talk to my wife. Wife tells him "take his order first." Brandon looks back at me with blank or slightly confused expression. I say "like I said, because my parents don't speak the language I'll be placing the order for them." Brandon approaches my mom and asks "what would you like? Ma'am." I had to tell him for the third time that that don't speak English and I'm ordering for them before he finally got it through his head. 4) I order a bottle of Chimay(beer). Brandon shows me the bottle(bit too much for a beer. I didn't order wine for god sakes) and pours it....4/5 foam and places on the table. I look at him with disbelief and he look back at me with the blank stare again and asks "is something wrong?" I get him to bring a new bottle and this time he still pours with good 2.5" head. I gave up and let it go, but he grabs the bottle that still had beer in and takes it away!!! Now one just simply does not mess with a man's beer, especially if I'm paying $11 for just a freaking bottle of Chimay!!! On a positive note, food came out in timely manner and Brandon was fairly attentive but the service definitely wasn't worth $80 tip, never mind $50. i still left 15% incase they split the tip with kitchen, but the experience did leave sour taste.
(3)Melissa M.
This place still soars!!! I really don't have anything new to say that hasn't already been said here. I'm just growing the chorus since I want one of my favorite places to be praised for making the effort to do all things well. This has been one of my favorite Atlanta restaurants for a long time. But I hadn't been here in a few years since I moved to a different part of the Atlanta area and worked through other life changes. Right before Christmas, I returned to the restaurant A friend of mine was visiting from out of town. The place had a nice electric vibe. And the food was delicious as usual. I always have their seafood dishes. Always perfectly cooked and flavorful. My friend was clear about his plans to visit this place again on future trips to Atlanta. And I know I'll be back for the river views!
(5)Cécile H.
Amazing! I was staying in Atlanta for a business trip and found this restaurant on yelp. It was one of the best places i got to eat in the US. I had the duck, it was so yummy and just enough so you don't end up completely full. The atmosphere is great and our waitress was super nice. Even the bathroom are not like any other place! And on top of all, it is not that expensive, very very good price-quality ratio. I told my colleagues to go there whenever they go to Atlanta.
(5)Mari B.
I've heard so much about this place BUT it wasn't as great as I had hoped. The service was 5 stars but the food was 3/4 unfortunately. Went for lunch today. I had the chicken tacos with white bean salad and mom had the salmon burger. Both were good but a bit overpowering. It was the type of scenario where almost TOO much is done to the food. So much sauce, flavors, too many elements. Sometimes less is more with me. The dill on the salmon burger was so loud that it was almost all i tasted and i didnt like the white bean salad with my tacos.
(4)Julia G.
This is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. First, there's the view. We ate outside and there was a mist over the river which was total ethereal beauty. Then, there's the food. I ordered the Roasted Springer Mountain Chicken which was totally delicious and I loved the basil whipped potato with peas and corn. My mom and brother both ordered the George's Bank Cod, and they both really enjoyed the dish. Our waiter came around with bread and there were four homemade breads to choose from. They were so delicious and I especially loved the raisin walnut bread. We split the Chocolate Grotto for dessert and it was just okay...next time I would probably try something else. I loved this restaurant and my family and I had such a great night eating at Canoe.
(5)Nanette J.
Great ambiance , great service and the food is amazing . Can't wait to go for Sunday Brunch June 7th
(5)Amy H.
After an impromptu little hike along the Chattahoochee river, my friend and I came to Canoe for dinner. This restaurant is the right mix of fancy fancy-date-night and fresh-Chattahoochee-mud-on-your-shoes, with a cozy vibe that makes everyone feel comfortable. Our server was a little intense and talkative, but he made some good suggestions and went so far as to split up a cocktail and an appetizer that we planned to share. It was a nice touch, but not necessary. I guess that sharing plates and stemware is not allowed at Canoe. The house smoked salmon on a crispy potato cake was melt-in-your-mouth fantastic; the bacon wrapped monk fish was good, but a little too peppery for my taste; and the slow roasted Carolina rabbit was the best meal that I've had since I left Chicago. Truly. The chocolate grotto was phenomenal for dessert, but skip the popcorn ice cream sundae. It's completely meh. If you feel adventurous, try the sorbet. It sounds like it would be boring but it's not and is a nice, light way to finish your meal. The wine list is, of course, exceptional and the cocktails aren't too shabby either. All in all, I would say that Canoe is a must-try and definitely a nice way to woo a lady-friend.
(5)Elizabeth K.
Went here for my sister's college graduation. Amazing food, beautiful atmosphere, and great service. One of the (very annoying) members of our party found a small piece of metal in the food (from the cooking method, totally not a big deal,) and the staff was apologetic and credited the entire (10+ person) meal, as well as giving us a $250 gift certificate. Entirely unnecessary but much appreciated. The rabbit ragout and house made pappardelle is a real standout. This is my definite go to for special events.
(5)M R.
I absolutely love this place. We went for lunch. The food was very good, and the atmosphere was Really nice. Also we sat outside after we ate and it Was not only peaceful but the grounds and landscape Are really nice..
(5)Jenn G.
Great service, great food, and great view. I really enjoyed dining at this restaurant. For appetizers, we shared the smoke salmon, which was very fresh, and the prawns. The sauce for the prawns was divine -- I'd recommend dipping your bread for extras! For my dinner, I had the sweet potato and clam chowder -- which was flavorful, but not what I was expecting. They should have named this a bisque because the texture and consistency was exactly what you would expect from a bisque, as opposed to a chowder. I ordered the venison which was cooked perfectly (oddly, the server who took my order did not ask me how I wanted it cooked). I would highly recommend Canoe. The atmosphere is also great for business dinners. Minus 1/2 star for the waiter who kept joining in on our conversation. I found that to be really odd. I have never had a server who listens to the table's conversation while serving/pouring and jumping in with his own contribution. Also minus 1/2 star for the lack of attention to detail. We let them know that it was someone's birthday but they did not do anything special. I saw that another table had a birthday as well and their server put a candle on the birthday boy's dessert -- but our birthday guest did not get a candle on his dessert.
(4)Stacy S.
I came here today for brunch and had a decent experience. The ambiance is lovely! I tried the sticky buns, scones, french toast, hash browns and scrambled eggs. The food is mediocre but you are mainly paying for the ambiance.
(3)Scott B.
It's pretty good. Different for sure.
(4)Michelle S.
Simply delicious. Warm ambiance, beautiful view of the river, OUTSTANDING food, pleasant service. An absolute "MUST" for anyone. Absolutely blown away.
(5)Kaaart F.
Reputable, super D-LISH The absinthe drink dun turn A BISH LOOSE
(4)Donna L.
Dinner function there last week for business. Started with cocktails by river. What a beautiful setting. Moved to private room for dinner. Nice seating arrangement. Two waiters were assigned to our group who were very attentive. Set menus of chicken or steak and am told that both were incredible. Desert was either a berry cobbler or this salted caramel truffle. I tried both and they were out of this world. Excellent evening
(5)Jamie S.
Love the atmosphere, but price is overrated. Location is random, but definitely a fun night out. Only a restaurant that I would go to once or twice, not a place that I will go to consistently
(3)Kiki P.
i love this place and definitely will come back. amazing seating area outdoor. went there for lunch. i spend some time walk around near the riverbank for a litte bit, see some ducks . they grow their own herbs and veggie in the garden area. it's very neat. the lunch is delicious! service was great. highly recommended.
(5)Katy L.
All it took was one meal at Canoe for it to become one of my favorite places in Atlanta. It was my birthday and my husband let me pick where we went for dinner. I had had my eye on Canoe for awhile so of course that's where I chose. It is just such a perfect venue for a meal. The inside dining room ambiance is perfect, just the right amount of intimacy but also some hustle and bustle. The outside area provides scenery you wouldn't think you could get at a city dining establishment. The weather wasn't the best when we went, but it didn't matter. Todd was our waiter. I rarely remember the names of waiters, but he was so good I couldn't forget him. He had great recommendations and had the right balance of checking on us occasionally yet still allowing us to enjoy our meal. We started out by splitting the short rib. It was so buttery and delicious. It basically melted in your mouth. I could've eaten a few plates of this -- which is the theme of the entire meal. For my main, I got the famed rabbit. Don't be frightened off by the idea of eating rabbit. It doesn't taste too much different than most poultry and it is so delicious. The star were the chard and bacon ravioli. Oh my gosh. Do delicious. The chard and the bacon played off each other so well. For dessert, we got the popcorn sundae. My husband was initially hesitant, but then I had to battle him for the last few bites (I won because it was my birthday). The combination of the homemade caramel corn and the cool and creamy ice cream is out of this world. You wouldn't think it would work, but it did. Canoe is just outstanding. I cannot wait to go back.
(5)Shaye B.
I had my dad take me here when he was in town and we were impressed! Everything was outstanding - food, drinks, atmosphere. We arrived about 15minutes before our reservation on a Saturday night, we had a table at 7, to grab a drink at the gazebo bar outside. However, we were informed that we could be seated immediately outside, so we opted for that. We started with cocktails - I remember I picked the one with absinthe in it and it was dangerously delicious. My dad just ordered his standard hendricks dirty but it was good. We then ordered salads to start, I got a standard house salad and my dad ordered the beet salad - which was amazing. After enjoying the refreshing salads on the hot summer night we got ordered our entrees. I forget which seafood dish my dad picked, but I remember I got the rabbit and it was phenomenal. To be honest I had never had rabbit before - but this dish turned me into a big fan! I have had it several other times but this was my favorite. We also ordered a bottle of pinot noir to go with our entrees and I remember my dad was impressed with their wine list. I look forward to coming back here - whether it is just for drinks and appetizers at the riverfront bar (to save money!!) or if I feel like splurging for the whole dinner (when I have visitors in town!). This is a dining experience I would recommend to anyone as it is a wonderful atmosphere and the food surely does not disappoint.
(5)Eduardo C.
Took my girlfriend to her birthday dinner here. The staff was amazing everyone wished her a happy birthday. The food was amazing the service was superb. Our waitress was on point but not too overbearing. We had the New York strip which was extremely tasty and tender. The mash potatoes were exquisite. We also tried the bucatini which was home made and was scintillating to the taste buds. I highly recommend for a date, hang out, or any special occasion. Ps fantastic ambiance
(5)S R.
We came here for a special occasion and it was definitely the perfect spot! My date pulled up to the front of the restaurant. A gentleman immediately opened the car door for him and offered to take his keys and valet park our car for us. Simultaneously, a gentleman opened my door for me. The doors to the restaurant were opened for us and we were taken to the patio as we had asked. The patio was beautiful. It overlooked a beautiful garden and a body of water. The restaurant was having its first night of music in the park so a band was playing. There was a bar located in the middle of the garden and a few tables as well as some straw benches. It was just wonderful. We were seated on the patio and our waiter came by and explained the specials. He also asked us if we had any questions about the menu and answered all of our questions clearly and completely. We settled on a bottle of GEWURZTRAMINER ($45) which was fabulous. You cannot taste the bottled wines but they will allow you to taste the wines that they sell by the glass. For appetizers we ordered a dozen oysters on the half shell ($30). They were absolutely fantastic and well presented. We also ordered grilled calamari which was also tasty. The offer a bread service. It is one of the best bread services I have seen. They had a cranberry (?) , olive, sourdough and two others that I cannot remember. We tried each of the ones that I named and they were all fabulous but we both liked the cranberry (?) best. For our entrees, my date ordered lobster. The lobster was served in a bowl (without the shell) over rice and a few other things. It was delicious. I ordered rainbow trout which was done very well. It was skin on but did not have a strong fishy taste which I was glad for. It came with a lobster rangoon ravioli. It was fabulous. I cannot remember the cost of these but they were reasonable. For dessert, my date ordered the popcorn sundae. It was very unique and absolutely delicious. Caramel popcorn over ice cream and cracker jacks (?). I don't care for popcorn but I loved this. I ordered the seasonal sorbet. It was an absolute treat. It came with fresh apple chips and was over a sliver of rum (?) cake and there was jim beam somewhere (in the sorbet or in dollops for decoration). We walked around the garden with what was left of our wine after we finished eating. It was very romantic. We also took some photographs in the garden. Our bill was about $175 after tax and before tip. It was well worth it! Overall, Canoe is a fabulous experience we will defiantly be back for dinner and hope to try brunch soon. Thank you canoe for a fabulous night! Your food, service, and ambiance are top notch!
(5)Sarah B.
wonderful view, lovely drinks. Service was on par with good recommendations.
(5)Bramfy B.
Yep love it. Nice bar in front for drinks This is the go to: smoked salmon appie with goat cheese followed by the rainbow trout from NC also with goat cheese. Trout was the best trout I've had in life! Dessert must get. Popcorn sundae is the best along with the truffle chocolate thing. Great look to this place - bet lunch outside on the river is deesh I heard the porkchop was great too
(5)Andrew M.
My favorite restaurant in Atlanta. You must try the North Carolina rabbit, the best I've ever had. Always go with the special, you can't go wrong with the fish. The view of the river is wonderful. Reasonably priced for the service and menu selection. A must try
(5)Gaby M.
Completely disappointed in the overall service I had today. I dined earlier for lunch for my sister and my birthday. From the get go the service was awkward and even though had us started promptly, the server then took about 20 minutes to ask for any appetizer orders (we were starving). It wasn't until after the apps finally came out until he finally remembered my husband's wine, which he ordered soon after the initial greet. He just kept apologizing for his forgetfulness. Entrees came and everything seemed fine, I then after ordered a desert especially for my sister (it was her first time dining there). I remembered how the time before the service was remarkable and up until this point I would always rave about how amazing this place was. The time before I was celebrating a friend's birthday and the server brought out a complimentary dessert for her. When I asked after the bill came out if it was not he said it was never a complimentary thing but would ask his manager. Upon returning he said "we have the right to decide who we bring complimentary desserts to" but we'll just do it this once. ? Totally unprofessional to say to a guest. Did not mind paying for it, just found it odd. Overall he made my family and my experience very awkward and unwelcoming and I will never dine with them again!
(1)Ada N.
My boyfriend brought me here as a surprise dinner for my birthday and the ambiance was lovely. The restaurant sits by the river which I thought was pretty cool although we were unable to be seated and the section near it. The customer service is great, our server suggested the 4th Rising Sun as a cocktail which was different but refreshing with a soft kick. For entrees I ordered the rabbit (my first time trying it) with mushroom tortellini and my boyfriend had the Grilled Salmon with spinach and spaghetti squash. The rabbit was pretty good, wasn't a fan of the tortellini at all but I dipped in his plate often because the Grilled Salmon and spinach was amazing! Not a fan of squash. I'd definitely dine here again.
(4)Alex J.
This is a very nice choice when visiting Atlanta. Setting is great and service is good. Food quality and service will no disappoint you. I have been at a Canoe multiple times, my experiences have been very positive.
(5)Renee B.
I bookmarked this place for a LONG time so i was excited when i was given the go-ahead to book it for Valentine's day dinner. We arrived a little late for our reservation(like 5 mins) and we're seated promptly with no issues. We sat at one of the tables by the courtyard and although it was dark, it looked nice. I ordered a drink(darn i don't remember the name) but it was good!!! SO got a sweet tea. I wasn't sure what to get as a starter and our waiter(very efficient by the way) suggested the salmon and it was so good. I ordered the Monkfish with potatoes, mussels and asparagus. The asparagus was the best i have EVER tasted in my life. I wish they had a whole plate of this!!! The monkfish and mussels were also good but man, that asparagus was out of this world(i really cant believe i'm going on about asparagus but seriously!!!) I was not able to finish my meal(i think from all the bread, appetizer and drinks i had) but i did save some room for dessert. As far as desserts go, I got something off the menu(some strawberry champagne yogurt thingy---sorry don't remember the name but pic is below) and he got the Chocolate Grotto. Overall, this was a great experience. The most important thing(food) was good, nice ambience and chill atmosphere. Will definitely return!!
(5)Jason C.
Such a fantastic experience! The location is so close to the city but transports you away to a quiet riverside with immaculate gardening. The waitstaff is attentive although it can be slow with drink refills. The food is fantastic. I had a dozen oysters in the half shell, which were so good. My BF had the roasted beet salad with goat cheese. I had a bite and as someone who doesn't normally like beets, it was very tasty! The goat cheese really makes a difference. We also split the kangaroo appetizer which was also excellent. The chefs here really know how to make flavor work! I had the rabbit for my entree and my BF had lamb. Both were excellent. Had I less breeding, I would have licked my plate. For dessert we had the chocolate grotto. Perfection on a plate! Hard chocolate shell with sea salt caramel and chocolate mousse inside with pretzel dust. Pastry chef Sarah goob has outdone herself.
(5)Swetha G.
Canoe has been on my wish list for weeks and I am thrilled to say I finally got my brunch wish fulfilled. I just went there last Sunday with two friends and it was exactly what I was hoping for. Love it when expectations are met! Service is terrific. I was soo amazed at how much our waiter had to say to us about the specials and he didn't miss a beat. He had to have memorized what felt like thirty ingredients for a number of dishes and he said everything perfectly! The food was fantastic. I had the Fried Green Tomatoes Eggs Benedict without the bacon and it was delicious. My only complaint was they did not give more! As others have pointed out, the atmosphere is gorgeous. It is really one of the nicest places in Atlanta and just showcases itself well on every front - setting, service, food. Words of advice if you go: They get pretty busy (clearly as I'm the 563rd reviewer!) so take advantage of Open Table and reserve ahead so you don't have to wait. Also they offer complimentary valet parking so you don't have to worry about driving around looking for a spot. Canoe is a GO TO venue in my book for residents and visitors.
(5)Kim N.
I love Canoe because of the delicious food, amazing view, and wonderful service. Brunch: - Georgia pecan sticky buns - absolutely amazing!! I can just eat these for brunch... maybe I'll do that next time - The Riverside - a little bit of everything: bacon, french toast, scrambled eggs, hash - Duck & beef burger w/ fried egg & truffle fries - smells and tastes amazing! cooked to the perfect temperature Everything on the dessert menu looked fantastic but we unfortunately did not have room for any dessert :( Dinner: -George's bank sea scallops - delicious!! -Slow roasted Carolina rabbit with swiss chard - interesting but yummy nonetheless There are so many other items on the dinner menu that sounded amazing! Will update my review after I try out other entrees :) Our servers knew the menu very well and were so friendly. Valet parking only. Did I mention gorgeous view? Beautiful garden next to Chattahoochee river right outside the restaurant.
(5)Preeti M.
Canoe can do no wrong. Service is always on point. Never had a bad red wine here (we got several bottles of the Willamett Valley Oregon Pinot Noir). The food changes seasonally but the staples remain constant. I got Watermelon salad to start, followed by Scallops (my friend had the swordfish special and it was heaven). 30 year Tawny to finish. Sheer perfection. Love this spot. For business dinners, it is ideal but personal dinners always a hit as well!
(5)Margaret T.
Came for brunch, finally! Came especially for the salmon appetizer. It was splendid! I think I'd like it w/o the crunch... Our waiter, Terry, was very hospitable and pleasant. His service complements the whole visit altogether. I think he was the best server I've had so far throughout my Canoe visits. He recommended to start w scones and GA pecans and they were awesome! OMG! My friend liked the salmon eggs benedict; I don't, but I liked the green beans a lot - fresh and tasty - and the potatoes. The outdoor seating is perfect for brunch. The atmosphere complements my meal. Well, at least today, the weather is gorgeous for August. Clear sky, sun shines, and the breeze! I don't like the double table - the leg of the table is really on my way. Grrr! :s A lady doesn't sit w an open leg. My first visit to Canoe was for my first job out of Georgia Tech. I've had tasted many great plates and enjoyed services by Canoe since then. I've had Canoe in Atlanta and once inToronto. The food I had in Atlanta was better. Canoe's rabbit, duck, and special of the day fish were the ones I remembered. I was disappointed with their scallops dish...the complements (salad, etc.). That might be the worst one, though their scallops were succulent. Almost made me think twice to go back, but salmon for brunch is long due, so I'm back. Additionally, they have good dessert, too... chocolate grotto and popcorn sundae. Canoe offers unique, new taste to my palates. I also think that the price for quality and taste of the food was reasonable. My kind of top notch restaurant. I am also not one that weighs on customer service, but Canoe's service made me see its value, exceeds my expectation. Outstanding! I'd remember to take my family here on their next visit and strongly recommend Canoe to anyone who visits Atlanta.
(5)Dee Dee C.
Canoe didn't meet up to my expectations. Here's the thing about a well established restaurant, sometimes it does not always live up to it's hype. Don't get me wrong, service at Canoe is excellent. I mean it should be for the prices of the portions sizes they give. Plus, any place that wipes your crumbs away is expected to have top notch service. However, the food. For one, I can eat. So when a waiter brings me out a plate and I look at it like, "Where is the rest?!" I immediately go into a "Womp womp!" Canoe has small portion sizes. Granted the portion sizes may be correct, and I just may be a glutton. However, if I'm paying good money, I feel like I should be full off my entree. Call it crazy, but that's just me. I will say the presentation of food is excellent. Again, you are paying for what you get. Presentation and customer service is one thing Canoe does well. However, I've experienced better food overall. The rabbit was fairly underwhelming and over cooked. Plus it was served in too much candied garlic sauce, and the paring of rabbit with a sweet sauce didn't jell well. My spouse's Créme Fraîche potatoes lacked seasoning, which was a shame because his steak was excellent. Now the oysters & lump crab cake were "slap momma" worthy, but again the portion sizes did not justify the price. I'll give Canoe another go, because I hear their brunch is excellent and I'm a sucker for someone to wipe my crumbs away. But until then, 2.5 stars for now.
(2)Amber S.
Canoe is a perfect combination of excellent scenery, wonderful service, and delicious food. There is no better place to enjoy a cocktail when spring comes to Atlanta than Canoe's outdoor garden that faces the Chattahoochee River. I've had a few of their dishes (the salmon, the duck and beef burger, and some of their specials) and I enjoyed them all. Canoe has been one of my favorite restaurants for years and it has become an even bigger favorite because I got engaged there recently! The staff was wonderful at helping my fiancé plan the big day from what he told me and it was just a beautiful experience for us. The chocolate grotto with salted caramel pretzel dust is an absolute must every time I go there. It is the best dessert I've ever had. Definitely save room for it and definitely make a reservation at Canoe. You will not regret your decision!
(5)Laura O.
Went here for my birthday and the made it wonderfull. We came in and the lady gave us a table inside I really wanted one outside and she made it happen . Service was amazing!!!! Everybody was so nice and sweet. The view outside is beautiful! Love the oisters and the rabbit! I Deff. Recommend this place .
(5)Veda R.
Canoe didn't really wow me like I expected it to based on all these awesome reviews. The service was "just okay" and I swear I had canned lima beans in my succotash thing (don't even remember what it was called, and they changed their menu so...). I dunno. It seemed pretty pretentious and just weird. Tons of bugs outside if you decide to be seated there. My beef was over cooked. I wouldn't go. I prefer Bacchanalia.
(3)Joel D.
Went here for our anniversary. I made my reservation through Yelp, and everything was perfect for our 20th. We were greeted by a "Happy anniversary" at the host stand. We were given a table with a front row sear of the river outside, and our sever made excellent suggestions. The beet salad was amazing. I enjoyed my venison, but the pork chop my wife ordered was all sorts of goodness. The pièce de résistance was the buttered popcorn sundae. Another of our server's suggestions, and one of the main reasons we will be back. Thanks for a great 20th anniversary dinner Canoe!
(5)Kim P.
I randomly discovered Canoe summer of 2011 when I was in town for work. The waitress sat me on the porch. My breath was taken away the minute I stepped out onto the porch. It's not an everyday experience to see a restaurant with such a gorgeous courtyard and it's on the Chattahoochee river! The food was delightful. I was here alone but loved it enough to eat a full 3 course dinner. The service was impeccable. Since then, I came here any chance I had when I was in town for work. My husband and I will also drive in from Nashville just to have dinner at Canoe. To top it off, he proposed in the courtyard June of 2013. This summer we returned to celebrate our year together and as newly weds. I made a reservation without providing any detail information. Somehow they knew! The hostess greeted and congratulated us on our anniversary. They sat us outside close to where we sat last year. The waiter greeted us as Mr. & Mrs. Wolff. Again, I didn't ask to be seated outside or made a note that we were celebrating our anniversary. This just makes us love Canoe even more. Great food. Great atmosphere. Great customer service.
(5)francisco c.
Ok, this place is just what a definition of great quality and service should be,,,I was there for lunch on monday,,,wow,,,the setting just amazing,,and there are no words to match the way i feel about their food,,just fantastic ,,,we had a gentleman a waiter ,,(i am so sorry that forgot his name), he has a slight accent (maybe french) and glasses with some blond strikes on his hair,,well,,the way he tends to you is just spoils you,,he does pay attention,,,he does not bother you,,seems he knows exactly when you need him,,he never interferes ,,its outstanding,,people like him set the standards very high for professionalism,,he makes waiting tables a real profession with extremely high quality standards,,,then again the food and setting is fantastic,,,the rest of the staff was just as kind and welcoming,,,
(5)Donald L.
If you marry a great restaurant with an equally great view of the Chattahoochee river in Atlanta you get Canoe. We made reservations for an early dinner before a show at cobb energy performing arts center except spelled with an "re" for some unknown reason. Because of the event, we were in a bit of a hurry so we ended up skipping dessert but otherwise a great evening. Upon arrival, we were seated next to a window overlooking the river. That felt like a win and you should request a table on the windows overlooking the river when you make your reservation. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable. They offered a bread plate that that allowed us to choose the various breads we were interested in and the wine selection was good. Plenty of bottles to chose from and a limited wine by the glass option. For an app we chose the smoked salmon. You should get this. It comes on what seems like a potato chip and is crunchy and salty and delicious. For dinner I had the special, which was skate. It was sauteed perfectly and was both buttery and tender. I would get it again. After our entrees we simply ran out of time and had to cut our meal short so we could make our show. The waitress was accommodating, hurrying our check out for us. Overall, it was a great experience. Canoe has been around a long time but it has aged gracefully. We look forward to returning.
(4)Liz R.
Brunch is sublime. The buttermilk cornmeal pancakes are delicate and fluffy and do just well alone, with only pat of butter. But if you're inclined to go all out: the pancakes are topped with warm berry compote [the good stuff, not that syrupy, bootleg nasty stuff] and cinnamon-infused creme fraiche. We weren't in the mood for salmon or rabbit -- the two Benedict options for the day -- but we were readily accommodated with steak instead. The corn soup was phenomenal and can heal all wounds.
(5)Steven C.
This restaurant is one damn fine restaurant. Very fine and the food was absolutely amazing! I had rabbit for the first time and was very impressed! Very luxurious and great service! Highly recommended for a special occasion or a fine date!
(5)Bill J.
This place is tucked away in a very upscale woodsy area along side a river. We came here for Sunday brunch. You can stroll or hangout along the river while waiting for your table. They did not give us a buzzer so we were impressed when the hostess tracked us down some 200' away to seat us. We started with the breakfast breads and found them quite good. The scones were among the best I've tasted. The main dishes were creative. The server recommended a sparkling wine and we were surprised to find on the bill that it was $20/glass. We felt the server should have mentioned this as was almost twice the price of most other wines on the menu. Only reason I dinged a star. Otherwise, great place for brunch and I look forward to having dinner here next time I am in town.
(4)David S.
Beautiful place with great service. It's upscale so not cheap for sure. Located by a creek/river and the location is simply stunning. Indoors was kind of loud (could use a sound engineer look over) but none the less a nice venue. Food is excellent, I'm sure whatever you get is completely off the chain!
(4)Daniel B.
Canoe is one of the best restaurants in Atlanta because it's got great food, great atmosphere, and great service. There aren't many places in town where you can dine on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Sure, there's Ray's, but Canoe is much nicer. It's classier, more elegant dining, and the river and gardens outside really set it apart. Whether you sit inside or out, the view is beautiful. Needless to say, this is a great date or special occasion venue (or if you just want a nice brunch too). The restaurant was flooded in September 2009 from torrential rainfall. Since then, the restaurant has been completely gutted and renovated from the inside-out. Markings on the brick wall inside show just how high the water level rose during the flood's peak. The ceiling was designed to look like the inside of a canoe. Interior seating near the windows, including oversized semicircular booths, all face the garden and river. Seating on the patio outside is just as nice as it is inside. Ceiling fans keep you cool. On certain nights, there's live music on the patio. You can take a leisurely stroll through the garden outside before or after your meal. The garden has several wooden benches and chairs for you to relax and enjoy the scenery. Hidden behind one of the outdoor private party tents is Canoe's herb and vegetable garden. A lot of people don't know about this. It has an outdoor fireplace and additional seating. If you're facing the river from the restaurant, just follow the small path left. Canoe's menu changes four times a year. Ingredients-wise, the produce is organic and grown locally (some on the aforementioned on-site garden) and the proteins are high quality. They feature some small game. It's quality over quantity here with about a half-dozen appetizers (around $10-15 each) and a dozen entrees (around $15 to $35 each). All the menu items look great and there seems to be something for everyone. However, If you still can't find anything you like, the chef may be able to cook something up on-the-fly to your liking. Ask your server. I came here for a pleasant Sunday evening dinner and enjoyed the following: Appetizers: Marinated Golden and Red Beet Salad with whipped Vermont's goat cheese, candied walnuts, and basil oil Baby Arugula Salad with spiced nuts, shaved Parmesan, and poppy seed vinaigrette Entrees: Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - bacon ravioli, sweet potato hash, and candied garlic sauce Sage Roasted Pheasant with brown butter whipped sweet potato, crispy pheasant croquette, and natural jus Dessert: Chocolate Grotto with salted caramel and pretzel dust Everything was delicious and each of the dishes had splendid presentation. A selection of breads, hard and soft, was offered by our server. The best one was a flatbread that was prepared with a pepper rub. A little bit spicy. The Beet Salad resembled tartare: a layer of chopped golden beets on top, red beets in the middle, and a base of goat cheese. The candied walnuts were hidden inside the cheese adding additional texture and flavor. This creation was topped with a sprout and the plate drizzled with natural beet juices and green basil oil. The Arugula Salad was a good mix of greens, nuts, and cheese. The arugula was used as the base with the cheese placed in the middle and topped with nuts, raisins, berries, and seeds. The cheese's hard outer shell was left intact. Soft middle. The Carolina Rabbit was very good. It's been on Canoe's menu for 14 years. I was expecting a lot of bones, but the cut Canoe uses yields only one or two. The rabbit meat came apart easily with fork and knife. It somewhat resembled chicken, but leaner and a bit more "stringy." Good flavor. I love leafy greens and the chard was magnificent. The best part, though, was probably the pieces of bacon ravioli on the bottom. They were amazing. Canoe should make a side order just of the ravioli. The Pheasant was nice because they prepared the bird in two ways: (1) white meat fillet pre-sliced on top of greens and sweet potato and (2) dark meat turned into croquettes. The spherical croquettes had crispy layer on the outside that covered up steaming, shredded, tender pieces of pheasant on the inside. It was good stuff. Buttered sweet potato had pretty much been pureed to a super fine consistency. Very smooth. The Chocolate Grotto was named as such because a mound of chocolate encased melted caramel. Once I broke open the hard chocolate shell, the salted caramel just came pouring out onto my plate like a small volcano had erupted. The grotto was incredibly rich and tasted just as decadent as it looked. Kevin T. was our server and he did a magnificent job. He was polite, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. He also offered to go out of his way to help us take photos in the garden afterwards. Canoe is located on Paces Ferry Road near the Lovett School and Tyler Perry's house. Complimentary valet parking.
(5)Kyle F.
Took my girlfriend here for her birthday. I am in the industry myself and it is nice to see classic service executed well. Our server Jess W. was the best I've had outside of NYC and the food was recited very well. I would recommend to anyone or a special occasion and I consider myself a tough critic!
(5)b t.
What a treat. I flew into ATL for a business meeting (came in the night before), and found Canoe with a quick mobile phone search. I originally had identified a different restaurant, but for some reason, i decided to keep looking and I'm very glad I did. My colleague and I were able to get into Canoe with a last minute reservation, so one minute we're getting off the plane, the next we're sitting next to the river where it was easy to instantly forget the 'travel' day and relax into a glass of wine and a menu that made me want one of everything. Canoe is very seasonal, and lucky for us, we were still able to sneak in to partake in the summer menu. Lucky, because the tomato salad was amazing (I'm guessing that may have been one of the last days/weeks of it's availability). I had the rabbit pasta, my colleague had the scallops, and everything was perfect. Very well balanced, flavors were spot on...everything in its right place, and the service to match. We were one of the last tables there, and not once were rushed. Wine list is as you'd expect and each expectations you could have is met. I hope I get sent back to ATL again, just so I can be afforded the opportunity to go to Canoe.
(5)Xiao W.
This place is one of my favorite spots for a special occasion. The atmosphere is really great and service is on point. I love their homemade bread (walnut is the best!) and desserts! The food is always good and if you haven't tried the rabbit, do it! Valet is complimentary as well which is always a plus.
(5)Nate T.
Top-notch. Favorite romantic dinner spot in Atlanta for me. Glorious view of the river highlights a truly unique dining experience. Food is on the more expensive side but I've never been disappointed. You go here to impress people.
(5)Arianna N Shaffer S.
This was such a great little find for my mom and I!!! We were on a road trip from Florida to Arkansas for my cousins graduation and we were passing through Georgia and we were getting hungry for dinner! We looked up upscale restaurants in Georgia and this was at the top of the list so we decided to give it a try!!! It is definitely a lovely and elegant upscale atmosphere! The decor is lovely, warm and intimate! My mother and I decided to sit and eat dinner at the bar! The air conditioning was a little bit cold inside but we had sweaters with us! My mom and I both had a glass of reisling! They let us taste test both reislings that they had on their menu which was a dry one and then a more sweeter one! My mom and I both decided to go with the more sweeter one! The Bartenders were super friendly and made the experience really fun! For dinner my mom had an arugula salad, which I took a bite of and it was so good, the dressing on it was amazing, and she also had the mussels which were the best I have ever had! The mussels were in a lemongrass coconut broth and they were just excellent! I got a Caesar salad and I made it super complicated by asking to add on beets, onions and extra tomatoes and no croutons but the bartender had no problem with making that happen for me! Unfortunately they put croutons in my salad which was not a big deal, I picked them out, but the bartender made sure that they took it off the bill, which wasn't necessary but he did anyway which was really really nice! I definitely recommend this place! I wish we could have tried everything on their menu because it all looks and sounds amazing!! This was definitely a great find for my mom and I while passing through Georgia, so maybe on our way back home to Florida we will try and stop in again! Whether you are passing through or you live in Georgia, this is definitely the go to place! It's right on a river, it's elegant, chic, classy, delicious food, drinks, and amazing service!
(4)Alexandra D.
WOW! I have to say that Canoe most certainly lives up to it's stellar reputation. My boyfriend and I went on a Sunday evening, and the place was pleasantly busy. Canoe's atmosphere is full of life. Our server was clearly very well-trained in fine dining, and was very knowledgable about the restaurant and attentive to our needs. One thing that we loved learning about while we were there was that Canoe has their own "kind" chicken coup, grows much of their own produce onsite, and that they have close relationships with all of their food distributor's, so if you have a question (I.E.: "Where did this cut of meat come from?") they have a legitimate answer to give you. I praise hem for not going the cheap route and buying from factory farms. We tried a Smoked Salmon appetizer that was to-die-for, the rabbit which was possibly the greatest thing that I have ever eaten, the duck, and two different desserts. Everything was cooked to perfection, was beautifully garnished, and was memorably flavorful. You can't go wrong with the homemade lavender ice cream for dessert, by the way! If you're in Atlanta, don't miss out on Canoe! You will not be disappointed.
(5)Luvs V.
Fantastic restaurant for fine dining. Eating on the porch area is best for full garden view. The menu is great and the chef takes on special requests. I am Vegan and I am always pleased with the food the chef creates for me.
(5)Adam A.
My wife surprised me for my birthday with a reservation for two at Canoe to enjoy a tasty dinner and luscious libations. We were promptly seated in a beautiful spot overlooking the river, and greeted with a subdued well-wishing on my birthday. We started with some delicious P.E.I mussels and a crisp, refreshing watermelon arugula salad along with their tasty fresh bread. For our main course, we were each given nice recommendations for white vino, and the misses enjoyed an amazing dish with Atlantic salmon and sides; I ordered a chicken dish that sounded good, but came out a bit too "fried" for my liking, and I ended up pushing most of it around my plate. At one of the check-ups, the waiter asked if there was anything wrong, and told him there wasn't really ... I just didn't know the chicken would be as 'well-cooked' in oils as it was. Now, I wasn't expecting anything from this comment. There was nothing wrong with the content, the presentation, or the flavor. It came out piping hot and right on time with my wife's meal. ...I just didn't like that it was fried. No big deal though, I've ordered meals at places that came out and wasn't what I was expecting. I eat what I can, take it as a learning experience and remember not to order it again... Well, they pulled out all the stops and after they cleared our plates, the manager came over to apologize about my meal, and sent out three (!) desserts as an apology. They even wrote a nice 'happy birthday' message, with a single candle for the all-important birthday wish, on a plate with their signature caramel popcorn sundae. The other two desserts (an all-new blueberry sorbet, and a triple death-by-chocolate thingy with caramel inside), along with some tasty cappuccino, pleased the palette and rounded out the end of a great birthday dining experience. Of course, we couldn't finish three desserts, but the fact that they wanted to ensure I enjoyed my big day with these offerings was a very nice gesture. We'll certainly be back for other celebrations or when guests are in town, to show them an amazing dining experience overlooking the 'hooch! I'll just remember to ask if the food is fried next time. :)
(5)Ayaka T.
An experience to remember. Reservations are highly recommended. My first time dining here was with a group of my lady friends in 2013. We started at the bar with a cocktail while our table was being prepared. Canoe is where I first tried Mussels and they were good. The waiter explained the menu and each dish to us. They cleaned the table after each portion of our meal. After eating we went out to the bar by the lake.....amazing and beautiful scenery!!
(5)Elmer P.
Took my wife here for our anniversary (13 yrs) and my only regret was not coming sooner! From valet to the overall experience was top notch!!! Our server (Michael) was very down to earth and fun to talk to. The Lunch menu is different from the Dinner menu, which I was kinda bummed cause I wanted to try the Rabbit dish. BUT, we already made reservation for December. It takes a lot to impress my wife and she was the one who made the December reservations. That alone proves I scored with Canoe! :-) Can't believe this hidden gem is on Paces Ferry Rd.... This review was in October 2014. Don't understand how it got dated 4/1/15.
(5)David B.
Great ambiance! Good food. Great place for a date, sure to express! My advice is try the rainbow trout; however, the quail never disappoints.
(5)Sean H.
I had wanted to try this place out for a while due to the stellar reviews by everyone else on yelp. I came here on a Sunday night with a reservation for 6 and we were seated promptly in one of the booth/chair seating arrangements near the kitchen. We started the night with crab cakes, duck ravioli, and she crab soup. The crab cakes were great, but not sure if it was worth $15 price tag for a single piece. The duck ravioli was alright nothing spectacular and not disgusting. The she crab soup was delicious and probably one of the best I've ever had. On to the entrees.. The family of 6 tried the cod, rabbit, steak, duckling, and lamb rack. I was fortunate to get a taste of these 5 entrees and I would rate them in the following order: lamb rack, steak, cod, duckling, and rabbit. The lamb rack and steak were perfectly cooked to their designated temperatures and the seasoning was perfect as well. I would have been happy with any of the entrees besides the two rabbit entrees we ordered. This was the first time I had ever had rabbit so I had no idea what to expect. The rabbit was rough and the portion was also tiny. I could not distinguish the taste of rabbit from a rough piece of chicken. Since I ordered the rabbit based off of reviews I definitely expected a lot more taste and tenderness. So obviously I was disappointed with the main part of my meal. Maybe the two order of rabbits we had were just off and not cooked correctly. We had a number of desserts and they were all good. I have a particular sweet tooth and I always need a glass of milk to wash down my sweets and Canoe provided a glass of 2% for free! That was probably one of the highlights of the night since the rabbit entree was way below par. All in all I do not think I would come back on my own accord and there are just many other restaurants in Atlanta that I would like to experience.
(3)Danielle D.
It's no surprise from other reviews that the food (and the view) at Canoe is amazing, but what really sets this establishment apart from others in Atlanta - particularly the trendy new hot spots in Midtown and Buckhead that also have great food - is the impeccable service (TC). My 3 friends and I dined at Canoe early on a Friday night and casually mentioned, in conversation as we were seated, that a friend in our party had recently gotten engaged. During the course of our dinner, the server, the sommelier and the manager came over to congratulate my friend on her engagement. When we ordered dessert, they spelled out Congratulations on the plate. It was not a dinner to celebrate her engagement, rather it was four friends getting together, but they made it a truly special occasion. After dining all over Atlanta, I will never balk at $12 for an appetizer or $26 for a main in a good restaurant. But to get not only fantastic food but also top-notch service for that price is a rarity. Canoe has both, which puts it at the top of the list here in Atlanta.
(5)Michelle Q.
Food is always delicious, service is perfect 99% of the time. It's usually a experience to eat here, meaning the course are brought out with time in between and you have a good time talking to you meal mates, but the last time we went the courses were rushed out, we had apps, dinner, dessert and coffee in one hour ten minutes, too fast. But food and service are perfect.
(5)Christina K.
It has been well over 13 years since I have been to Canoe, yet it's one of the first places I always recommend to friends who are looking for a great place to celebrate a special occasion. SO surprised me with an anniversary dinner there last night and the whole experience was beyond amazing from start to finish. We arrived a bit late (stupid ATL traffic) for our dinner reservation, but the hostess didn't give us any flak for it. She offered us either outside or dining room seating but the weather was perfect (not too hot or stifling with a cool breeze thanks to proximity to the river) so we sat outside. The table was large and sturdy (I hate having to use wobbly furniture), however the table legs were positioned in a way that when you sat, the legs were between your thighs. Not the best or most refined posture for dinner. For apps, we ordered the sweet potato soup w/ lobster and the mussels. The mussels were delicious and served with a light but flavorful coconut curry and some crusty french bread for dipping. The mussels were very well cleaned, no grittiness there! The only thing, I wish that they had put more of that broth in the bowl! The soup was my least favorite dish. The texture and flavors really threw me, I think, separately, the soup and lobster would be great, together not so much. It was basically baby food texture with lumps of lobster meat thrown in. Our entrees were the rabbit and the duck and beef burger. The rabbit was everything I remember delicious and well-cooked rabbit to be. I tried explaining it to SO before we arrived and the best explanation I could give was that it is heartier than chicken, with a very subtle gamey taste, like dark meat chicken with tons more flavor. It was served on a bed of bacon ravioli, which was phenom. At first glance, I was a bit disappointed because the bowl was soo huge, and my entree not nearly so. But the flavors were out of this world. SO was kind enough to split his burger with me and it was delicious as well! SO was hesitant to order it bc most high end places that offers burgers is kinda a hit and miss. But this burger was perfect. It is a combo of beef and duck, so my palate was going crazy when I ate it in that you can definitely taste the beef and then something else that was crazy good but definitely not beef. For desert we got the white chocolate coffee tart. It was a great way to end a delicious meal - light and not overly sweet. However, it did come with scone type cookies for those who want more texture and sweetness. There is also a bar in the back near the river. The bartender was great there. You can also take your drinks and stroll around the property or lounge in the many chairs scattered around. The service was just exceptional. Our waiter was attentive, but didn't hover and was actually pretty sweet, smiling tons! The hostess had asked us if we were celebrating a special occasion and that info was relayed to our server and the kitchen who drew out Happy Anniversary on our desert table. The price point is not something that you'd want to just casually stop by and have a meal, but for a laid back beautiful place to celebrate life's special occasions I definitely recommend Canoe!
(4)Elizabeth H.
Delicious breads. Tasty entrees. But, my Cod Fish entree came with a piece of breaded, fried fish on top of just a very few, tiny pieces of asparagus, along with four mussels and about three tiny shrimp. And maybe a slice mushroom. They use canola oil for frying, which is a highly processed and refined oil, not healthy as one is led to think. So, more vegetables, please. And a healthy oil for frying.
(4)David L.
Sunday evening, 7PM, party of 4. Would have tried to have come earlier in evening had there been a reservation available. Pre-meal: bread assortment w/ flatbread, sourdough, and rye. Rye was mild and flatbread had a little spice (pepper). Sourdough seemed fine, though I had none. Apps: African Squash Soup - I ordered because my good friend raved about this, and it was probably the best squash soup I've ever had. Flavorful but not overdone, with a bit of cream to balance out the medley. Crab Cake - good flavor (lots of crabmeat) with right amount of crust. Entrees: (Daily Special) Pan-fried Sole with cauliflower risotto - two filet pieces provided an ample portion with a not-too-creamy risotto underneath. Perfectly cooked. Duck and Beef Burger with fries - bun was good, duck flavor did not come out for my tablemates. Fries were good. Stuffed Vermont Quail - bird was prepared well, Brussels sprouts were deconstructed a little bit, unexpected but okay Rainbow Trout w/ Lobster Ravioli - sadly, the trout was undercooked slightly, only in the thickest portion of the fish. The ravioli was delicious with the texture of freshly prepared pasta. The cost of the Trout was taken off the bill. They did not prepare another fish, since the entree was pretty much finished, so our server brought an empty (clean) plate back instead of the remains of the entree. He did not explain what he was doing, so it was a little strange at first, but only because he beat the manager to the table. Dessert Chocolate Grotto - a fun chocolate, caramel, pretzel dust concoction that was plenty for four of us to share to round out our meal. Did not order any beverages other than water. Overall: the dishes were delightful and flavorful with top quality ingredients and intent. The burger can be skipped to try other great entrees and the trout's preparation was a little disappointing but the menu, meal, and service keep this a superior restaurant for special occasions in the north metro suburbs.
(5)Al M.
Bravo! Five big ones! We were drawn like a magnet to the lighted beacon of a sign pronouncing "CANOE" above the front entrance of one of the top restaurants in the Atlanta metroplex. The service was stellar throughout the eventing with a highly knowledgable wait staff. We enjoyed the view of the river as we sampled delicious appetizers of smoked salmon over goat cheese and potato latke, the creamy French Onion and the fresh oysters. Our party tried entrees including lamb, rainbow trout and the house specialty rabbit. All were outstanding. We left completely satisfied with a wonderful dining experience.
(5)Brian H.
Rabbit?! Yes, I'm a believer. You should too. The hype is true. Wonderful restaurant for special occasions. Food, service, vibe, ambience, romance, it's all there folks. Look to spend roughly $40-$70 / person depending on how you want to splurge. For the special occasion, I'd say go all in and just do it (ie. cocktail, appetizer, wine, entree, dessert). We ended up going with the smoked salmon, rabbit, beef rib, pinot noir, 2 cocktails the server recommended, and that caramel popcorn ice cream thing. Yelp recommendation nailed it on this one.
(5)Addy C.
Gosh it's been many years since I was at Canoe - I'd been a few times when it first opened but only for dinner. We went last wknd for brunch, and besides the great food and service, the highlight was sitting across from Michael Douglas. Our table was next to the window and while half of our table got a pretty view of the river, our half got a clear view of the famous actor :) Fortunately we behaved ourselves and no one took pictures or asked for his autograph - although I did a live tweet about it, haha :) Restaurant was packed - you definitely have to make reservations. We had a party of 6, and everyone seemed to enjoy their food. Our server was fantastic and attentive, and I'd never seen anyone split the check as good as her - she didn't do the easy "split evenly 6 ways" but was able to charge the correct items to each person PLUS split the shared foods and the birthday girl's dish. LARGE BASKET OF FRESHLY BAKED PASTRIES - $11 We got the "some of each" which included a delicious mix of GA Pecan Sticky Buns (best part was the puff pastry), and sweet & savory scones (my favorite was the coconut ginger). Served with vanilla butter and two different jams. Highly recommend getting the pastries! CRAB & EGGS - $18 Got this dish b/c the reviews were raving about it. Jumbo lump crabmeat (wish there was more), soft scrambled eggs (nice texture), hollandaise, and hash brown potatoes. Initially I really enjoyed it but it's a lot of food and I actually got bored later. I wouldn't get it again - but worth a bite if someone else orders it :) FYI - our server recommended the Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict, Chicken w/ Cheddar Grits, and Duck n' Beef Burger. I'd probably go for the burger next time. POPCORN ICE CREAM SUNDAE w/ HOUSEMADE CRACKER JACK - $8 Of the three desserts we ordered, this was my favorite. The presentation was beautiful, and I loved the sweet/salty combination. TRIO OF CREME BRULEE - $8 Bailey's, Kahlua, Godiva. Need I say more? CHOCOLATE GROTTO - $8 This dessert was just ok - impressive presentation but that was it. I do like salted caramel though. Overall great choice for brunch - wide menu selection, reasonable prices for a restaurant like Canoe, excellent service, and great atmosphere. FYI - parking is complimentary valet.
(4)Joe S.
This was by far the #1 restaurant in several different different aspects. I say, it's a must visit by far. The ambiance was very nice and romantic, dimmed lighting with a great view of the outside garden and river. Our server was excellent and very familiar and knowledge with the menu (sorry forgot his name but a newly transplanted Savanah resident). Our food was prepared to perfection! For the appetizer we had the shrimp, which came in a curry/spicy sauce that was great to dip with the bread. We had the trout and salmon for the main entree, both were excellent in taste and preparation. For desert we had the Chocolate Grotto and that was a great ending to our meal. Not too sweet or too huge but very tasty. We both had cocktails (No.5 and a Manhattan), which I must say, we're pretty strong and probably some of the better and strongest drinks that I've tasted around town. I like to taste my liquor in the drinks and these drinks definitely had alcohol in them to taste!!! Go and you will not be disappointed. It will make your significant other, let's just say, want to make you "very happy"!!!!
(5)Katy N.
I don't think I could say enough good things about this place. I made a reservation while friends were visiting from out of town last week. I don't think I could have picked a better place to take them. The food was excellent, service was phenomenal, wine was delicious and atmosphere was perfect. We started with oysters on the half shell - flown in fresh and by far the best I've had. We also tried the smoked salmon appetizer - fresh smoked inhouse and served on a crispy potato pancake with goat cheese. To. Die. For. For dinner I had the trout served with lobster ravioli. Delicious. I couldn't pass on desserts from their executive pastry chef and swooned over the popcorn sundae. All in all a delicious meal from start to finish. I've also been to Canoe for brunch and the scones are not to be missed. This is a must go in Atlanta.
(5)James D.
Amazing food and all around experience. Great setting on the Chattahoochee River with an outdoor bar and chairs to kick back in after an amazing meal surrounded by gardens and a fantastic view. Overall, I'd rate this as the best experience I've had at a restaurant in Atlanta. I look forward to making a return visit.
(5)Jenny H.
I came here for brunch and everything was really good. Their sweets basket in the beginning with various scones and their pecan sticky bun (which was FABULOUS) was good. Everything was freshly baked and served with jam, marmalade and butter. Their she-crab soup is REALLY good. Served with cream and sherry on the side that you pour over the soup, it has great texture and is heart-warming. I got their fried green tomato eggs benedict which was good. The salmon potato pancake was good too but too much cream on the pancake to be really good. Their burger was pretty good and flavorful, their steak and eggs I thought was the best dish (ribeye with just done soft scrambled eggs). My friend got their shrimp salad (batter fried shrimp) and a small pile of salad and the crawfish and grits dish which was just OK. All the dishes are pretty good, nothing stands out in particular. The ambience feels like a nice steak house and they do a good job topping off your water. Great views in the back by the river.
(4)Chris W.
Wife took me here for my birthday. It's been at least 5 years since we last came and I still remembered the first meal we had here. Once again Canoe did not disappoint, excellent service and the food was great. Wife had the crab cake and I had the smoke salmon app to start, clean plates! Main course was the rabbit and the pork chop, both plates were spotless when we were done lol. Finally we shared the cracker jack sundae which was excellent, we don't normally do sweets but this one was well worth it. Already trying to think up a reason to go here again.
(5)Ryan K.
One of the best waiters I ever had. Great atmosphere, great food. The rabbit is their signature dish and was very very good.
(5)Lindsay S.
Picked this for my birthday Thursday, and so happy I did! Loved it there. Salmon appetizer was amazing. Get the large portion, trust me :). Take pictures outside before dinner as well.
(5)Alison L.
This is one of my favorite special occasion restaurants in Atlanta. Canoe's location on the bank of the Chattahoochee River makes this a beautiful location for private events. They have walkways and an outdoor bar. Every time we've been to Canoe, we've seen large parties enjoying the outdoor space. Request a table outside and go to watch the sunset. Service is impeccable and the fresh, seasonal menu provides so many options, that it's always good to mix and match. My husband and I regularly request this place for our birthdays and anniversary celebrations. Tell the host and your server will bring you a beautiful customized dessert. If you have plans to see a show at the Cobb Energy Center, this is a perfect place to start or end your evening.
(5)Hailey P.
Grabbed an early brunch here. The food was amazing. We started with coffee and a sampler of the pastries. Everyone ordered something different and it seemed you could do no wrong. Loved sitting out by the river after brunch. I'd love to come back for dinner.
(5)Ashleigh P.
I have eaten here four times now and love this place. The service is impeccable. You HAVE to valet - which is a sore point for me, but there really is limited parking... I have always been greeted warmly by the hostess, the bar is a great place to be while you wait for your table, either inside or DOWN BY THE RIVER (sorry, had to) the inside bar is where you can get the concoctions, the riverside bar is were you can get a killer dirty martini. All the tables have a river view per-say and all of the servers work in concert to deliver some of the best service I have ever received. I love the food, which rotates seasonally, and the desserts are thoughtful and delicious. The strawberry rhubarb tart with house made strawberry ice cream was so so good. The flat bread is spicy... just so you know. The wine list is great, and the drinks are very good. I love this place... have I said that already?
(5)Léa R.
Never knew you could find such a beautiful setting in Atlanta. Calm, and beautiful, this restaurant is the perfect setting for a romantic lunch or diner. And of course, the food is amazing.
(5)Remi E.
Everytime I come to this restaurant I am always amazed at the view,the service and food. Great place to enjoy beautiful weather and food. Price is worth every bite, we love coming here and just sitting and talking, even saw someone get married outside one time.
(5)RJ C.
TL:DR -- Try to avert your eyes as you enter the strip mall, because the only bad thing about this place is the front door. Unless you're a vegetarian, I suppose. Lovely back lawn opening to the river, great views thereof while dining, attentive servers, great chops and fish. The cocktails were nice, but not quite up to snuff for a place of this caliber -- didn't think it worthy of removing a star, because Canoe, to my knowledge, does not profess to specialize in them. I don't recall if I've had a dessert here, but for your sake, dear yelpers, and for the sake of a better review, I am willing to take on this great task.
(5)Barbara H.
Let's start with the good... This is a NICE place. Free and friendly valet. The menu is atypical (in a good way), so I had a million questions, and server was incredibly knowledgeable. The food was pretty good. Beautifully landscaped property next to the river (but geese poop is everywhere so watch out!) The hostess and our server, pretty much killed our experience. As we were celebrating a special occasion, our party of 4 requested a table by the window, a "good" table, when we made the reservation over a month ago. Instead, we were seated in a not-so-great, high-traffic area of the restaurant (the kind where my chair gets kicked by everyone when they walk by). Although the restaurant was literally empty when we arrived, we were told they could not accommodate the table we requested. We watched as 2 of the best tables (one of them the exact one we had requested) go unused. One table of 4 was being used by a party of 2, and the other table of 4 sat empty the entire time we ate. Although the location of the table was annoying, we weren't going to let something silly like that ruin our evening. Instead our server, Jess. N. did that for us. She was rude and had a terrible attitude from the very start. When I asked if they had Coke Zero, for example, her response was "well our sodas come in bottles so you don't get free refills." Although she was very knowledgeable about the questions I had regarding the menu, she was clearly frustrated that I was even asking them. I realize this makes me sound overly sensitive, but I'm telling you, her negativity, eye-rolls, and strategically loud well-timed exhales made it awkward for all of us throughout the entire meal. We wanted to order dessert but it was clear that would put her out, so we paid as quickly as we could and left.
(2)Timothy D.
Sometimes saying less is more. The food is very, very good, though not excellent. My rack of lamb came with what I'll call a lamb pot pie. A lot of work in the kitchen, and it just did not deliver, except for heartburn. Place some quinoa & a generous portion of haricot vert on the plate, and call it a day. All the fish is good. The presentation is very good, even when it doesn't deliver. The service is solid 5 star, and the staff close to the same. The lowest staff member is managed well. These people know the biz. The ambiance is somewhere between 4 & 5. We were there in December, so no outside dining. Food pricing is slightly high, but no sticker shock. The wine list, however, is straight out of that old restaurant playbook that I now call totally lame, and a disservice to the consumer. 2.5 times and maybe more. Not everything, but many bottles. Some solid, nuanced wines. to be sure, and plenty of love & care is given to this side of the biz. But count me among those smart enough to bring their own wine. Be smart, plan ahead, break out the good stuff, and bring your own. Your wallet will be very happy. Your waiter might not be, but oh well. A very nice place, probably a little more special occasion than once a month, but very good. Kudos to the owners for their longevity in maintaining this quality establishment. The only reason I held back one star is the wine issue. To the owners I would say I have no problem paying for your first house but not your vacation home. At 100% markup, you'd do fine, and be client friendly. The world is changing. Get ahead of the curve.
(4)Loren B.
Out of ALL the places in Atlanta, I wanted to come here the most and now that I finally went, so upset. Maybe my expectations were too high.... who knows but all I know is someone will have to bring me here again for a very good reason. I came here for brunch, so maybe I need to come here for dinner menu or not at all. Shrug. Where do I begin, I had the eggs and crab. The eggs weren't that good. The bacon wasn't that good. My boyfriend had the duck and fried egg burger and he said it wasn't that good. You literally saw a pile of oil just collecting itself on the plate and not in a good way The soup was delicious....but that was the best part of the meal. Unfortunate. I need to come back here for dinner...that's all I was thinkingn in order to justify this bad meal. I think people love this place cause its high end and the ambiance, but to be honest there are a lot of places in Atlanta with a beautiful backdrop and flowers. When I go out to eat, I love food. I want to rave about it to all my friends and dream about going back. This place failed to do that for me. Tip: They won't serve any alcoholic beverages until 12:30PM. That's right no mimosas with those eggs. Think again! I'll try again yelpers....maybe for dinner...maybe if there is a yelp event there or maybe not at all. Best of luck.
(2)EJ P.
Fantastic food in a fantastic setting, and the service was phenomenal. Do not miss the popcorn sundae!!!!!
(5)Na L.
The hosts were friendly and our waitress was very knowledgable. I'd give the service 5 stars if it was a separate category. The reason why I can't give this place 5 stars is because the food. My boyfriend ordered the smoked salmon on potato cakes as our appetizer. The teaser was ok, nothing special. For our entrees, we ordered: duck N beef burger with truffle fries and the Carolina rabbit The truffle fries were my favorite out of both dishes. For dessert we had the popcorn ice cream and chocolate grotto. Eh. By the end of our dinner, the place was getting crowded and quite loud. Good thing we finished our meals before it got worst. Overall, this place is nice with lovely people. The food is mediocre.
(4)Cathy S.
I took my parents to brunch here and wowed them with food, decor and service. SCORE! However for me everything is just standard-good though, but their price is not ridiculous so i am totally OK with this. Be warned that their sticky buns are made of croissant dough, not the regular bread dough. Calorie bomb but so intoxicating! The service staff got my oder of pastry basket wrong, and they charged it wrong, and they found out the mistake before i signed the bill, and they apologized sincerely, and they offered us a complimentary order of pastry basket to go. Model in the service business.
(4)David M.
Enjoyed an excellent dinner at Canoe. I feel the food was thoughtful, expertly prepared and April's service was "Top Notch".
(5)Alexandra P.
One of the nicest restaurants in Atlanta. It has a large garden and river out back so it is a serene place. Would be perfect for a proposal or wedding! Definitely a good place to bring your extended family when they are in town. They have a delicious brunch and a romantic/classy dinner.
(5)Yohan N.
For those that can afford 30-40 dollar plates, this would be a frequent place to go. However, for those that stick in around in the 10s for average dinner price, this would be a special occasion restaurant. Came 30 minutes before reservation (Yes, reservation needed. Especially on Wednesday nights where live music happens and on the weekends). Went in the back and walked and sat in the garden that they have. The weather was perfect (fall) so it made the ambiance that much better. There isn't much lighting at night so I would not recommend if it's getting dark. Ordered the dozen oysters for some appetizers. The topping on the oysters was very unique and different. It didn't come with your typical garlic, tabasco, cocktail sauce. It had it's own fresh cucumber based topping which went very nicely with the oysters. Fresh - is all i got to say. yumyum. Recommend. For the entrees, ordered their famous rabbit dish and brisket. I gotta admit, the rabbit was just okay. It was good over the risotto on the bottom but I now can say I had rabbit. The brisket however was sooooo tender. So soft, it melts in your mouth (in a good way...) Would recommend the briskets over the rabbit. For dessert, ordered the three chocolate creme bulee and salted popcorn ice cream. The popcorn ice cream was heavenly, however, after half way, it was getting too sweet. The creme bulee.... o m g. i can't describe it. just get it. trust me. please? Price: For appetizer, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts, total bill came out to $140 If you live in Atlanta and have not gone here yet, definitely a place to check out. Go go go!
(5)E B.
A recent visit was all 5 stars again. Service was absolutely PERFECT.
(5)Mo F.
Amazing food. The she-crab soup is terrific as are the sweet rolls at brunch!!! Service was great, iced tea comes with simple syrup instead of sugar... Thank goodness
(5)Melanie B.
My boyfriend took me there for my birthday, and I was very excited. The view on the river was incredible and lived up to the hype. However, everything else was just ok. The food was good, not great. And compared to similarly priced restaurants, the wait staff fell way short. We barely had the opportunity to reorder drinks. Also, small thing, but they knew it was my birthday and they didn't bring out anything. I wasn't expecting anything huge, just a small treat. I thought that this was standard at these caliber restaurants, but apparently not at Canoe.
(2)Phuong N.
I chose Canoe because it was highly recommended by my roommate and I needed a special place to share my one year anniversary with my girlfriend. The staff were incredibly friendly and really made us feel special. They went so far as to spell out "Happy 1st Anniversary" on our dessert! (the popcorn sundae is fantastic by the way) Josh was our server and he was the man. Super friendly, did a great job walking us through the menu, and made great recommendations. My girlfriend also enjoyed it and we can't wait until the next time we can dine at Canoe!
(5)M G.
The food, the garden and decor: 5 stars Service: 1 star The food was great. The waitress was rude, mean, and humiliated one of the guests by putting a napkin over their part of the table, "to keep the presentation clean". Let me assure you, the table was not dirty. Putting a napkin in front of only 1 guest -- that's just weird, patronizing. When she came back to the table and saw that the guest removed the napkin, she stared at them, expecting explanation. At that point, the guest explained that they found it humiliating to be the only one sitting with a napkin on their part of the table. From the very first moment she gave us an attitude by arguing over the correct preparation styles when we just expressed our curiosity over how venison is cooked. Moreover, she got really defensive when we tried to pick out wine -- she was anything but helpful, and the worst of all was her attitude when we were just trying to pick something we'd enjoy. All this time our table was polite and respectful to the waitress, even through her rude attacks. I'd never come back to this place, not even for its good food. The management should do a better job training the staff, especially at a place that targets to be a fine dining experience. And replace the waiting staff after they've behaved in such a disrespectful way.
(1)Josh D.
Wonderful, tranquil setting with attentive and knowledgeable staff and really great selections (even wonderful breads). Some dishes were great (crab cake was just right), some tried a bit too hard (bacon wrapped grouper was just a bit too rich), and others were a touch too decadent. But we've been here twice now and will likely be back - they continue to experiment, churn out great dishes, and give us a chance to explore a southern influenced farm-to-table concept.
(4)Jason G.
Amazing food. Outstanding service. Vibrant atmosphere. Gorgeous views. Inventive cocktails. Just about everything you could look for in an excellent dining experience can be found at this picturesque location along the Chattahoochee River. We really had a wonderful time sampling the menu at Canoe. I will second the other reviews I've read, either here or on trip advisor, that they were running behind schedule even with reservations. The thing is, they were jam packed, the food is amazing, and everyone stays for dessert. So, I don't think it's a scheme to have you buy drinks, no, I think they're busy and they make quality food that people want to enjoy. We started off with an order of the house smoked salmon which comes on potato pancake. The large order came with four pieces. We also had the BBQ Georgia shrimp which are cooked with the head and tail still on. That was great as well. For entrees my friend had the beef & duck burger. It was a good size and cooked well. The fries that accompany it were great - you really taste the truffle oil, garlic and rosemary. My wife went with the salmon, and I can't say I've ever tried a better piece of fish. I had the slow roasted South Carolina rabbit. It was delicious. Legitimately, tasted like chicken, if you've never had it before. All of the entrees were amazing. My friend and I tried drinks throughout the night. They were good, but the menu stuck with more traditional cocktails. To wrap things up my friend and I went with the popcorn sundae and my wife the chocolate grotto. Delicious. This place was awesome, and we are glad we found it. The service was very friendly, and really had honest recommendations about the food. Make a reservation and enjoy!
(5)Morris M.
A great place for dinner. Quite business. Good for dating and business social. Service is good. Waiters and waitresses are very polite. #1. Menu is very attractive From the appetizers to entrees, of course the drinks. Cocktail tastes very good, and tried the rabbit and the lamb bolognese. Personally I prefer the lamb better. The reason I don't pick the rabbit is that I have tried a better rabbit in Canada. #2. Dessert Menu is even more attractive I am kind of old fashioned, in order to maintain the great experience of dining, creme brulee. Creme Brulee is very good, thick and thin crust. But the popcorn sundae and Chocolate Mousse, Bittersweet Flatbread, Jalapeno Jam ~~ Definitely will go for a second time!
(5)Danica K.
Pricey but definitely worth it. I liked every dish from start to the end. The salmon appetizer to the seafood risotto to the peanut butter dessert! I would definitely go here again.
(5)Caleigh R.
Yum!! We are in Atlanta for David's work and met friends for dinner Thursday night. What a great restaurant!! Ambiance is perfect, so don't be fooled when you pull into the parking lot and question why it's next to a weightloss center and dry cleaners. The outside is very relaxing...easy to forget you're so close to the city. Reservations had been made....accidentally for Tuesday, but the maitre d took care of us! We had drinks in the bar before a table outside became available. The zen zero was delicious!! David had whatever the first cocktail was listed and it was too fruity---but he liked my zen zero a lot :) We tried the smoked salmon and jumbo crab cake appetizers. Followed it with the fish special and lamb sirloin. All was delicious! Shared a dessert to top off our evening. Left happy customers. I highly recommend Canoe if you are in the Atlanta area...just make sure you get OpenTable reservations or plan on getting a cocktail ahead of time!
(5)Sebastien I.
The place was suggested by my boss: given the number if reviews, let's say one of the best restaurant in the SE USA: great tasting, very subtle Arctic char (trout from Iceland) with chanterelle mushrooms. The raw oyster sauce with cucumber is to die for. Great view on the river. BUT: if the cook knew that the outside bar server is serving his/her great tasting food next to pigeon poo (see picture), I bet he/she would teach him a thing or two about life...this is why I only give 3 stars: when you charge what you do for great tasting food, you want this to be perfect!
(3)Whitlee H.
I went here for brunch and the food was good. The service was fast and the menu was nice and simple. I will definitely come back for dinner one day it was crowded as well. Reservations I highly recommend. They have complimentary valet parking.
(5)Mallory Z.
Their food never disappoint me, meanwhile predictable every time. A bit more variety and more off the menu options would be great! I love every dessert of canoe that's made out of passion fruit, so delicate, fresh and sweet. The beet salad is lovely too. Entrees like Rabbit, quail, fishes and steak are good, but not exceptional. :) can't beat the dining environment! Btw the new Bordeaux blend is fantastic.
(4)Houdini J.
I wanted to hate this place. My initial impression - Canoe is where the well-healed eat during he week. Canoe may be special to me, but it's their version of Applebee's. Plus, when the valet took our new Honda, I noticed that most of the cars were luxury class and black or white in color. When I pointed this out to the parking attendant, he looked around, then smiled back at me. Apparently, this wasn't news to him. Once seated indoors, we noticed the beautiful garden setting that rests along what I believe to be the 'Hooch. We also noticed that the price was not out of line for the area. We ordered an appetizer and a 1/2 bottle of wine. All good. For dinner I had the quail stuffed with chicken andouille. Delicious! However, the side item was some corn and tomato concoction. I would have preferred some roasted potatoes. Regardless, the food was good as was the service. The portions were as expected, thus, I felt a tad hungry afterwards. I will remember to request more of that tasty bread, if and when I return. Overall, a good experience.
(4)ChauPha N.
A friend took me here for my birthday dinner. It didn't look like much when we pulled up but when we stepped inside it was a very nice surprise. The restaurant was welcoming and homey in a way. It was very packed on a Tuesday night. Since I came here in October it was a bit chilly to sit outside on the patio. We did take a walk after our dinner though. I ordered the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard and Bacon Raviolo, Sweet Potato and Candied Garlic Sauce. This is their most well known dishes i suppose. My friend ordered the Lamb Bolognese with Orecchiette pasta. We also ordered the Lump Crab Cake and Canoe's House Smoked Salmon with Crispy Potato Cake and Vermont Goat's Cheese. The rabbit meat was tender and melt in my mouth good. It didn't leave behind any bad aftertaste so that's very good. It kinda reminded me of chicken. My friend's lamb wasn't as good in my opinion. It did leave behind a bit of an aftertaste. The crab cake was really scrumptious and good. Not as big as a I would like but it will do. The Smoke Salmon was good too. Not as good as the crab cake though. :D For desserts I had the Maple Bourbon Creme Brulee with Applewood Bacon Brittle. I didn't like it as much because the Applewood Bacon Brittle was bitter. I told my server this but he kind of just say alot of people like it and thats that. lol. After dinner we took a walk outside. The view was pretty and the lights was nice. I can see the river and wished I visited when its summer time to enjoy the view during daylight. I will come back again. Overall, service was on point, except for the dessert part. He did check on us alot and that was good. I think canoe is a great restaurant for the summertime. I will come back.
(4)Dave L.
I came here for a business dinner. Service could be better and more attentive. I realize it is a Friday night and they had 2 large parties to cater to outside. The food was amazing however which is why I'm leaving review
(4)Steve B.
The Update.... There is a reason this is probably the best restaurant in all of Atlanta. The ambiance, the service, the food, the atmosphere, the setting. All across the board, it knocks it out the park. I would like to take time to give a shout out to our server Roland. I will have to call Canoe, speak with Management and inform them that this was the best server I ever had. He enhanced the service for his knowledge and politeness and with hard work should be celebrated. The cold smoked salmon with goat cheese as the appetizer was pretty good. My smoked roasted Carolina Rabbit was to almost die for. It was non-chewy, melted upon impact.. Then add the ravioli and Garlic sauce and the entree became an instant classic. My wife enjoyed her George's Bank Cod Lobster Etoufee. If you follow my reviews, she is very picky but recommended when I do this review that she hit on all points between great food, great service, great environment. The lemon zest shortbread dessert was beyond delicious. Great scenery along the Chattahoochie on a beautiful evening. Canoe doesn't disappoint, it's the go to restaurant in the Metro ATL. Overall: A+
(5)Aaron L.
Went there for the first time a few weeks ago. Loved it. Had a rabbit dish for the first time. It was great. I think I loved the bacon ravioli that came with the dish more, though. My wife and I loved everything we had. The servers were friendly and courteous. Loved the olive bread they offered. The highlight of the meal was the desert. Wow. I had this date pudding and my wife had a chocolate desert. Both were amazing, really. The ambiance was ok. Didn't think it was as fancy as they try to make it out to be. It's dark inside and fairly loud. Some people were pretty dressed up and there were some wearing pretty casual clothes. Hmm... This one table even had their children with them. Good for them, I guess. Also, they have a small garden/ outdoor area by the river. Super cool and romantic. It was a great over all experience. We'd go back there just for the deserts alone.
(4)Gabriel B.
Food is always amazing. Location in unbeatable. Service can be moody, so after last time stopped going frequently (was an once a month regular). There is nothing worst than a waiter who thinks is nobler that its guests, and insists on making that clear...so be prepared to be amazed by the food, stunned by the river and garden view, but watch out for the pompousness of some staff members. That, to me, ends up ruining the whole experience. And draining down 2 yelp stars...
(3)Lily L.
If you want to come, you'll need a reservation. I would recommend booking about a week in advance for good seats and a normal time slot. When I went I didn't get nice seats by a window and the lighting of the restaurant was really dim. The waiters are all nice and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. I was especially impressed by their incredible selection of bread (flatbed was my favorite). The food was pretty good, but I feel like the reviews on this page overhyped the food. It was good, but Canoe is not favorite restaurant in Atlanta.
(4)Steven B.
The best meal I've had in Atlanta in the year I've lived here. My wife and I go out pretty much every weekend to try a new restaurant, usually guided by Yelp recommendations. Some are great, some are not. Canoe is the best so far for more upscale restaurants. I ordered the quail, which is a few boneless breasts pieced together, stuffed with a chicken andouille stuffing, sitting on top of corn and fried okra, all covered in an amazing chipotle sauce. My mouth is now watering after typing those last few sentences. It was cooked perfectly, great portion size, and just fantastic. I wouldn't hesitate to order it again if (when) I return. My wife got the salmon, and it was also very good, although somewhat traditional. We didn't order an appetizer, but they bring a great selection of breads to your table and allow you to pick a few kinds. They're great, think Great Harvest type breads. We did order the Georgia Peach Crisp for dessert. The peaches and crisp were really good, albeit somewhat ordinary, but it came with a scoop of homemade honey flavored ice cream that was incredible. Seriously, I'm planning on sending them an email asking for the recipe. Additionally, the view from the outside is awesome. Sits right on the river, and it smells and looks great. As you can probably tell from the review, I enjoy trying unique foods rather than traditional ones. I can prepare a salmon steak at home or even go to Outback and get a good one for $12, so paying $30 for salmon seems a bit wrong to me. I prefer to have a very unique twist on ingredients, and Canoe provided that, in addition to traditional dishes. I was very impressed with everything. I would go again.
(5)Travis J.
Overall great restaurant the food is great, service is excellent and teh atnospohere is very relaxing.
(5)Eddie R.
We went for Easter brunch. My first thought was, what a great job with the valet parking cars. This was my first time there. What a fantastic view. Our group of 4 selected the sticky buns. What a start. We then ordered the salmon appetizer. Nice. We then ordered the special. Egg, bacon,potato,French toast. Also the panko crusted fish, and the salmon dish. Wow it was all great. The service was fantastic. The food was fantastic. The experience was awesome. If you were here one night, and you only get to eat at one place, canoe would be the place to select. It doesn't get any better than this. This is the kind of place you go to celebrate something special. I highly recommend.
(5)Melissa N.
A friend recently put me on to Canoe. I am a complete foody! I have been here 3 times in the past week. A few things I love about canoe 1. The setting, it's located on the Chattahoochie w wonderful landscaping and bar down by the river. The ambiance is unbelievable! Beautiful set up. 2. The service! Everyone treats you amazing here. From the time you are greeted at the door, to when you sit and are served. It's a very good feeling going somewhere you know you will be treated right. 3. Of course...the food!! Now growing up my dad was a chef, so I know good food. Things I would definitely suggest is the Smoked Salmon w goat cheese! They were doing a special on heirloom tomatoes from Alabama that were just delicious! Like the wonderful server Mitch said.."taste like sunshine" I would also suggest the rabbit of course, (I ordered side of plums to go with) the artic char is one of my favorites as well! Now the good part..hands down!! The Popcorn ice cream. I was hesitant at first. Trust me! It's amazing. A mix of sweetness w Carmel and salty goodness! Heaven in your mouth. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Margery C.
Winner! Winner! I'm having bugs bunny for dinner! For my 150th review, I'm so glad ill be writing about Canoe, this gem deserves 5- stars all the way around. Food: Marinated beet salad over goat cheese: An excellent to start the evening, the salad was presented similar to tuna tartare, the beets were ripened to perfection and had that cornerstone of crunch and smooth ripeness. The beets paired well with the goat cheese and the candied walnuts gave it a nice texture and sweet flavor with every bite. Lamb bolognese: Canoe has got game literally and I give it praise for their lamb, duck and rabbit dishes. The lamb bolognese though very simple in its presentation was filled with flavor and unlike its traditional form was lightly tossed in its sauce and served with orecchiette pasta and mint and top with freshly shaven Parmesan, this dish was surprisingly light in texture and high in flavor. Duck N Beef burger: This burger was served with a sunny side up egg, just the way I like my burgers, spinach pickled cabbage and cozied up with Canoe's homemade bun and served with a side of truffle fries. The pairing of a duck and beef burger topped with an egg makes this Hands down the BEST burger I have ever tasted. The BEST! Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Bacon Ravioli!!! Just like duck, rabbit can be either a very juicy and tender dish or a dry and chewy dish. I will say when I saw this dish on the menu, I got excited. Ever since my go to spot in Los Angeles, stopped serving rabbit, I've been at a loss for some good game. This fine dish is served boneless served with potato hash and a delectable candied garlic sauce over a bacon ravioli , which can individually stand on its own as a pasta dish. The rabbit was tender and moist and married well with the sauce and the bacon ravioli. Dessert: We had the home made sorbet, the makers mark creme brûlée, the highly acclaimed chocolate grotto with salted caramel pretzel dust and the popcorn ice cream sundae with house made Cracker Jack to name a few. The popcorn sundae was definitely the standout dessert that surprised all of us. Ambiance: Great Job of carrying the canoe theme from the bordering river through the restaurant. Lighting and acoustics were perfect, design was beautiful and welcoming. The outdoor garden bordering the river is a great place for an after dinner stroll and/or drink. Service: We drove in from Alpharetta and I swear Atlanta traffic is no joke! We completely missed our reservation and the GPS kept on updating us on how late we would be. Mid way through our journey, it was the unspoken rule not to talk as we were all fungry! The hostesses yep many of them were polite and displayed good ol southern hospitality. We were seated at the bar until our table was ready. Unfortunately the waiter at the bar was some what snooty and rude because we had moved a few chairs to be seated next to each other. He then rudely let me know that chair I was seated on, belonged to the Patron behind me who was seated in a booth. I knew where I got the chair from, duh. I politely asked the patron if I could use it, before the waiter decided to interject his rudeness before assessing the situation.This same waiter who was serving the empty bar didn't offer us a wine list or a menu either. He was just rude, and clearly having a bad day and was going to take it out on our group. Well lucky for us we got seated shortly with an amazing waiter, who did an excellent job of explaining all the dishes, and was attentive and added to the pleasure of our dinning experience and outweighed the bad day the other waiter was having.
(5)Nicole H.
Great food and service. Love how the menu is always changing and every time I go its a whole new experience!
(5)Liz V.
Canoe is a great restaraunt considering you have so many dining options. You can eat in the dining room that boasts one of the best views of the river in the city; get a drink and appetizer at the bar that is set up like a cozy living room or meet up with friends at the outside bar area along the river and sit in one of the oversized chairs under the stars. We did a little bit of everything, starting out our night in the bar area. Canoe has a stronger than normal moscato that only enhances my typical wine side effect of giggling and hair tossing. We moved on to a great dining table by the window with a river view. It doesn't matter where your sitting near the windows, the views are amazing. There is a seperate dining room right by the bar that has high wood ceilings and oversized fans. It was darkly lit as compared to the warm evening sun coming in from the windows. It looked more intimate and it definately was not as loud. My friend ordered the filet with wasabi potatoes, I ordered the fish special and we shared the crab cake appetizer. Canoe doesn't offer your typical bread option, they walk around with fresh breads brought in by Holeman and Finch and each night is a new variety. I had to try the sourdough and french bread. Both were deliciously crusty and were used to scoop the spicy sauce that was used on the crab cake. The crab cake was over an inch thick and crumbled perfectly on my fork, I knew it was fresh. Our entrees came and while he loved his steak my fish wasn't cooked. His steak was a thick cut porterhouse cut topped with shallots and creamy wasabi mashed potatoes. He became silent after his first bite so I knew it was good! My monk fish special came in an oversized bowl that was swimming in an odd fishy broth with mussels, clams and squid. I tried to use my fork to cut the fish and it moved like Jello. I tried to use his steak knife and it still didn't cut either. Thankfully the waitress stopped by to check on us and she took the plate away with no hesitation. A manager came over to discuss the fish. He offered to bring me something different but I declined. I was perfectly content with my wine, the warm bread and random bites of his steak. He graciously smiled and said "I will have something for you before you leave." Just as we were closing out our check to go to the outdoor bar area, I looked up and 5 desserts were heading towards the table. This is where Canoe really shines, the desserts looked like art! The manager went over every dessert with detail and it was poetry. Plate #1: Chocolate grotto hard shell with salted chocolate mouse, salted caramel and pretzel dust. Plate #2: Classic vanilla bean creme brulee and warm brownie. Plate #3: Banana nut bread with brown butter sauce. Plate #4: Assorted seasonal fruit and 2 scoops of sorbet. Plate #5 and my ALL TIME FAVORITE DESSERT EVER: Popcorn icecream sundae with house made cracker jacks. Let me tell you, I have a weakness for treats and enjoyed every dessert but the most amazing yet odd combination had to be the popcorn sundae. It was served in a deep rootbeer mug with vanilla bean icecream, melted caramel and caramel popcorn mixed in and scattered on the plate. The mix of salty and sweet caused a bit of a battle at our table where I ended up with caramel on my nose but I still won! Even if you don't go for dinner, you have to try this sundae. I appreciate the staff of Canoe turning a bad dinner entree in to a sugary smile. You can never go wrong with dessert whether it be one or five!
(4)Brad W.
This is the BEST restaurant in Atlanta, hands down. I don't care which magazine or website comes out with a list praising the next Top Chef winner's newest spot; year in and year out this is the best restaurant you can possibly find in this town. The service is top notch, with a staff that you can tell is paid well to be there, wants to be there, and enjoys what they do. Courteous but not stuffy, they're not old men like steakhouse waiters but they're not kids either, these are people who know how to take care of a table. The atmosphere is romantic, elegant, and classy. While they've never required a coat, you should wear one. This place is way too nice for jeans and it ticks me off when I see them here. This is the kind of restaurant you buy new pants for. The view is not to be missed and if you can eat here in warm weather and sit outside, you must. The food, I can't even begin to describe. If you want a steak, this is among the best. Fish, among the best. Sides, among the best. Wine, desserts, you name it. I usually get the specials here because they've never done me wrong. Good God, the food here is impeccable. I think the prices are very reasonable when you compare to the others in the routine top 10 here, Canoe comes in on the low end. I could spend all day singing praise to Canoe, but when my wife and I have something big to celebrate or are just dying to get dressed up and have a night out, this is always our top choice. Getting a table isn't always easy, so it's not for the spontaneous dinner plans, but if you can plan ahead, do it. You will not be sorry.
(5)Sarah M.
From start to finish, my experience at Canoe was remarkable. The hostess was very accommodating, allowing us to test tables both inside and outside (with our concern that it was too cold outside). The waiter was extremely professional, thorough, and efficient. The food was timely and exquisitely prepared. They were very accommodating to allergies in our party. Afterwards, we took our wine and walked along the path that follows the water. The lights were out due to power lines cut down during a recent storm, but our waiter gave us his flashlight to use on our walk. I highly recommend dinner at Canoe!
(5)Kristin B.
Great atmosphere. Had the salmon appetizer and rabbit main course which was so tender and delicious. Went for a birthday dinner and they encouraged us to get a dessert because it was our birthday, making us assume it was complimentary. Well it was a delicious peanut butter dessert but not complimentary. My boyfriend did call the manager to complain as he thought it would be included based on how the waiter had presented it and they said that is not typically included but due to the confusion they took it off the bill, which I thought was nice customer service. Would like to go back for brunch.
(4)Ginger J.
We thought the food was great and the price was good too! The salmon appetizer and truffle fries are worth going for!
(5)Jessica P.
I'm not a person who is convinced that a high price on a menu ensures that the food will be phenomenal. I signed on to Yelp and before I could search for a restaurant Canoe was at the top of the list, with a 4.5 star rating and glowing reviews. I made reservations and was shocked to see on a Monday evening the available times were almost non-existent. I was lucky to get what I did! Good timing...maybe this was a sign? We were sat right away and our waitress promptly greeted us with "Good evening Ms. Pratas, how are you?" Excuse you? She knew my name. They took the time to look at my name from my reservation and pass it a long to the waiter. I knew right off the bat that we weren't going to be just paying for the food but paying for the service. It might seem like a small detail, but they're no fools. When you're paying between $30-$40 a dish, it's the little details that matter the most, not just the food. Since it was our first time there, she took the time to go through the menu, highlighting dishes that Canoe is known for. She pointed out the House Smoked Salmon, Crispy Potato Cake, Vermont Goat's Cheese under the appetizers and the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit, which has been on the menu since the restaurant opened over 20 years ago. Our waitress set the mood for the rest of the evening...it was simply lovely. Now - to the best part! We started our meal off with the oysters on the half shell with a cucumber champagne mignonette. There were six in the order, and the cucumber mignonette was already on the oysters instead of on the side. I was hesitant about that...it's always disappointing when a sauce or condiment is slathered all over food that would have been better with out it! But Canoe has these reviews for a reason...they know what they're doing. It was a perfect compliment. Sweet and crisp thanks to the cucumber but not so strong that you couldn't taste the oysters, which were tender and buttery. Yum. For our entries we got the slow roasted Carolina rabbit with swiss chard on bacon ravioli, sweet potato and a candied garlic sauce ($29) and the venison served with sweet potato and blueberry compote ($32). The rabbit was tender and moist (which is a feat when it comes to rabbit) and the ravioli was ALL bacon. It was delicious because, I mean c'mon bacon is king. Although by the end of the meal the rabbit was gone and half the ravioli's were left. The bacon was overwhelming. The venison was cooked a perfect medium rare and the outside had a charred crust to it. The sweet potato was mashed and under the meat, with a small dollop of the blueberry compote. The sweetness was a nice compliment to the gaminess of the meat, but I'm glad they were conservative with it. I'm not a huge fan of fruit with my dinner, but it was perfect. Sure, the prices might be steep but the charming ambiance, the phenomenal service and stand up food makes Canoe a "must try" in Atlanta. It was worth every penny. I can't wait to get back there to try their brunch and hopefully get a seat outside over looking that beautiful Chattahoochee River.
(4)Chris C.
I took my fiance here lastnight and we were very impressed. Everything was awesome! From the smoked salmon and fresh shucked oyster appetizers, duck and venison main courses, and the crepe cheesecake, and sorbet desserts, we enjoyed every last morsel. The waitstaff and atmosphere were both perfect. Might just have to come back again for sunday brunch tomorrow.
(5)Niki C.
Exquisite! I was in Atlanta briefly for business but was able to free up my evenings to enjoy them catching up with a dear friend over dinner. My instructions to her: "Take me somewhere that I cannot find in NYC." And so here I am, writing a five star review, for this enchanted restaurant which is perfectly perched in a beautiful riverside setting. (*At least that is the sense you get once inside. Forget, for now, that when you pull up to the complimentary valet, that technically you are in a small suburban Atlanta strip mall...) Anyhow, service was not perfect but still very good, essentially from the moment we walked in. Food was amazing (I started with the Yellow Corn Soup then moved onto the Rabbit, with a few tastes of the delicious fresh baked olive and raisin breads in between since there was a bit of a lag.) There was no room for dessert, though I hear it is divine. Oh how I would love to host a dinner party outdoors overlooking the river! It looks so tranquil in that rustic-chic type of way!The setting was exceptional! Was not able to venture out there as there was a private corporate event happening the night we dined there, but the spectacular view from inside served me just fine! Highly recommended!
(5)Alison B.
My bf surprised me when he shared that he had made a reservation for dinner at Canoe to celebrate my birthday earlier this month and it was everything I had hoped for and more. Like many others, I consider Canoe to be a special occasion dining place, not just because it is expensive (although it certainly can be), but there is just a frission of excitement about going out to eat at Canoe- especially for dinner- which is best savored during a celebratory meal. We tried the raw oysters and smoked salmon over crispy potato cakes as appetizers. The salmon literally melted in our mouths and the potato stick base was a nice crunchy counterpart to the soft unctuous salmon. I loved both of these dishes, and most who know me realize that is saying something as I rarely eat seafood! The night were dined there (and we were lucky enough to get a riverside table in the front corner of the restaurant as we had a fairly early reservation and these highly desirable tables are not guaranteed), it was the first night of the King crab season, so we tried the entree which featured succulent chunks of the buttery crab and a scoopful of olive oil gelato. Interesting and memorable, but more to his taste than mine. Dessert was spectacular! We split the (quite large!) popcorn sundae with salted caramel sauce and housemade Crackerjacks. Perfect flavor and texture and it still makes my mouth water to think about it. They even decorated the plate with a Happy Birthday message in chocolate, but the celebration was thankfully low key for the spotlight avoiders! :-)
(5)Donald M.
Awesome place to eat or have a relaxing cocktail. We had dinner and it was amazing. Beet Salad A+ Scallops A+ Chocolate Grotto A++
(5)Anna S.
Awesome atmosphere! Last time I was here in 2008, but now I'm loving it! Definitely try the rabbit - yum! And their green tea with honey and fresh mint is a must-have. Service was extraordinary, couldn't ask for more...
(5)Paul V.
Can't say anything negative at this place, we were here for a wedding reception they had buffet and everything was good! They had cake for dessert it was so delicious, not too dry not too sweet. I asked the waitress were the cake came from, she says it was baked in-house. Ambience was perfect, specially at night perfect for couples!
(5)Karen P.
Visit #2 and I'll be back again. I am so glad that my son lives in Atlanta as it gives me an excuse to visit Canoe! Service was impeccable although Matt the sommelier lacked some personality that I would have expected...probably my own exhuberence made it hard for him to get a word in edgewise. The waiter was excellent - giving us time to make decisions and patiently explaining the dishes. The wine list was great - the North American Pinot list was exciting and after I found it, didn't look through the rest of the list too carefully. I recognized many of the top pinots as well as some that I had not heard of. We ordered a bottle of the 2010 penner ash - yum! I started with the yellow corn soup - which tasted like really good creamed corn. I do not like avocado but the avocado cream on top was a perfect accompaniment. We also ordered the calamari, an item from the specials which was not too greasy, had a nice batter that had a little kick. We then departed completely from the menu. I had the Swordfish which was tangy and firm. The table also had the rabbit dish and a fish which is like red snapper (we never did figure out the name). Both were excellent. After all that, could it get any better? YES it could! We shared a popcorn ice cream sundae - one of the best desserts I've ever had. It was layers of ice create and caramel, topped with popcorn. It was the perfect combo of fat, sugar and salt. Going back the next time I'm in Atlanta!
(5)Julie L.
We drove all the way from TN because of Canoe. First of all, our server Terry was amazing! The restaurant was packed and busy but he still gave us the tour of the restaurant. The BEST server ever! He is so friendly and answered all questions promptly. I had their famous roasted rabbit and my husband had their steak. My husband ordered his steak blue rare and it was perfect. Also, his old fashion was on point! Fresh cucumber oysters & calamari is to die for! FREE valet parking and FREE 3 different types of dessert because we drove all the way from TN. We will definitely be coming back to see Terry again! Thank you!!
(5)A W.
Here right now and I have been waiting for more than 45 min for someone who has a reservation. What is the point of making a reservation if they seat all the walkings first. Very upset, in a Monday. Thanks miss Kelly for the 45 min wait, who was managing all the seating...
(2)Whitney F.
I will preface this with that I did not show up to Canoe in full form. I was planning to surprise the parents here, and after a day of flight delays and missed connections, I crashed their dinner an hour into it. Needless to say, it was still a pretty amazing dinner. The service, considering we took over a table for 3+ hours due to my tardiness on a Friday night, never ever made us feel like we were extending our welcome. We had a beautiful table on the Chattahoochee, brought me additional bread after I swirled in from Harts field airport, and kept my wine glass full and steady. Granted at that point I would have been happy with the bread basket (mind you 4 different choices to pick from), our food was amazing. I had the pan-seared scallops with lima beans and bacon. Heavenly, amazing, and all I expected. My dad ordered the burger - a little out of his element - however it was the most exquisite "duck and beef" burger I have seen. The fries were out of this world. Finally we had a lovely birthday Rhubarb and "Georgia" strawberry crisp. Paired with Stag's Leap Chardonnay, we were two happy gals. Really excited for this to be a home visit staple
(5)Corey W.
I will never go to Atlanta and not spend at least one meal here before leaving the city. It is about as good as it gets. From the outside when you what up it is a little bit of a diamond in the rough, as it sits right next to a cleaner and a Chinese fast food joint. They really start to set themselves apart before you even walk in. During dinner hours complimentary valet service by friendly professional attendants. The hostess, waiters, everyone is super friendly and professional without being stiff. The food is as good as the service. The food is a 4.5 star but the 6 star service and 5 star setting makes up for in. My fiance' calls it the most romantic restaurant in the UR'S. How it earns that title is not only the perfectly designed interior but the outdoor gardens that create a beautiful foreground of a scenic river view. Their cocktails albeit expensive are amazing. Typically doing their own take on different classics. What even more crowned off the experience for me was when I called the manager a week before we went asking him what he could do to help me make the experience just a little more special since I was using it for a proposal he made sure he personally took an interest to help. Great food and just a real 1st class place that loves their customers. And yes my now fiance' said yes.
(5)Shannon H.
The setting is lovely, the staff is considerate, and the food is yummy. It's a real treat to dine here.
(4)Nikki D.
Friends, this was literally the best dining experience I've ever had. My mom and I came here for Mother's Day, and had a long, delicious, indulgent dinner that was absolutely worth splurging for. The place itself creates a great atmosphere: low lighting, warm wood overtones, clean table spreads. There's a giant covered patio around the back, and beyond that is a gorgeous space that looks like someone's spacious backyard... only, on a river. Flowers and benches are scattered along the pathways, and an outdoor bar leads down to the water. Even if you dine indoors there, make sure you stroll out back as well. It's worth it. I knew the food would be good because of how our server talked it up; we could tell she (and the other servers) had a real enthusiasm for the dishes Canoe serves. For an appetizer, we had the smoked salmon on a crispy potato cake with Vermont goat's cheese -- totally mouth-watering. Next, I had the Lamb Bolognese, which was a pretty hefty portion, but it was so delicious I was glad to finish it off. Mom had the Pan Seared Arctic Char, which was a really attractive and yummy dish as well. Our favorites, though, were the desserts. Mom opted for the Banana Nut Bread Pudding (swoon-worthy), and I had the Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée (AMAZING taste). Between dishes, our waitress tended to us before we even thought to ask for anything, which I've always thought is the sign of a really excellent server. She always made sure we had clean silverware, full glasses of water, and refreshed cocktails. Oh, and speaking of cocktails -- if you're not afraid of a little absinthe, try Canoe's Corpse Reviver. Sounds morbid, but it tastes light, citrus-y, and has a great balance of sharp and sweet. I'm telling you, when you get the chance to spend a little more on a nice dinner out, Canoe is IT.
(5)Sapna K.
Excellent ambience : Service par excellence : best time to be there would be spring / summer -- aah! Just to get reservations by the river for leisurely evening over drinks -- food is delicious ! Don't forget to take a walk and check out their garden :)
(4)Wendy S.
I went there for my mom 's birthday and she loves the lamb and they were nice to surprise my mom with a birthday desert. Too bad she is diabetic but it was tasty :}
(5)Alan S.
what an experience my wife, 5 yo daughter, and I had this evening. we absolutely loved everything about this eatery. it was quiet, beautiful, food was divine as was the wine. kudos to the chef for fixing something my daughter loved, steak, plain whipped potatoes, haricot verts. she devoured the meal, you even cut her meat up to chewable bites, impressed the heck out of us. ate out doors, amazing scenery. you can come casual, or dress up and feel like you belong. waiters were great, thanks josh, pain to serve kids but you kept a stiff upper lip, well done. The rabbit was off the hook. the black gratto, I was impressed. good job everyone.
(4)Lisa Y.
Tonight's experience has probably been one of the best dining experiences I have had in... years. My line sisters and I came in for dinner to celebrate our 3 years together, and we all fell in love with the place. Most of our birthdays are coming up this summer, and we're all planning to dine here again. I was recommended this place last year to celebrate my 21st, but turned it down, and now... I wish I hadn't. This place would of been perfect to celebrate a 21st birthday, especially during the summer time. We got seated immediately, and our waitress was with us shortly. She explained the menu in-depth, got us our drinks, and constantly came back to check on us. Perfect doesn't come close to describing how amazing she was. Once we decided on our entrees, she took our order, our appetizer order, and constantly came back with more bread for us to munch on. Shortly after, our meals came out, but we wondered about our appetizer, so I asked her about it, and it happens she forgot the put the order in. We were all okay with it, so it wasn't a big deal, but when she brought out our appetizer, she said that it was on her because she completely forgot about it, and she felt horrible about not having it come out to us on time. Completely unnecessary, and none of us had a problem with it coming out after our entree, but she insisted, so we all just shook our head and agreed. I was pleasantly surprised. Never in a million years would I expect customer service that like. She is amazing, and that is why I tipped her 30%. :] Anywhoo, the food is DELICIOUS. All four of us devoured EVERYTHING. It's slightly pricey, but when your meal is THAT good, you do not regret spending a single penny. After dinner, we walked around the back, and it is breath-taking. It is gorgeous. One of my line sisters said that it looked like it was right out of a fairy tale. This is a great place for a wedding/reception *hint hint* I'm highly considering it after walking around, and seeing how gorgeous it was. It'd probably have to be a small wedding, not in the middle of summer, but still, it's definitely a cute place to bring your SO. A very cute place to get proposed to, too. Valet parking seemed like a must. My BIL works valet at different locations throughout Atlanta, so he's told me a few tricks to valet. I normally hate valet, but on a rainy/cold night like how tonight was, it's VERY convenient. Overall, I LOVE this place. I can't wait to bring my boyfriend, and even my best friend here for a surprise birthday dinner!
(5)Han L.
Now is the perfect time to visit Canoe! The weather is lovely and the flowers are in full bloom left and right at there. Even though living at Walton on the Chattahoochee affords me a great view of the river, I enjoyed Canoe's view greatly because it presented the calmer side of the river. You are also surrounded by vibrant azaleas among other flora. There's also a path that leads you to a sitting area near an outdoor fireplace and a small garden. It's all very charming and picturesque. The outdoor space also has a small bar space which hosts live jazz music on Wednesdays. Brunch is very popular at Canoe. According to our server, Kevin, Canoe's busiest shift is perhaps the brunch shift. Reservations are highly recommended. I would make a reservation through opentable and earn some points while you're at it. We were there for dinner on a Sunday evening. I am incredibly impressed by their menu. Although there's a whole gamut of meats to select from, Canoe is well known for their game meats dishes. The pheasant dish is one of the restaurant's popular entrees. Even though the menu is seasonal ( it changes 4xs/yr), the pheasant dish has been on the menu 14 out of the 17 years Canoe has been operating. You don't have to worry about small pheasant bones because the white meat is presented in cutlets and the dark meat is used to make 2 croquettes. It's served with sweet potato puree and spinach. The pheasant was incredibly tender. It was very good. The rabbit dish is also very delectable. I have never had rabbit before and was hesitant to try it, but I'm so glad I did. The meat is quite similar to chicken, but more stringy and has a stronger flavor. It was served with bacon ravioli, which was amazing! I tried to dissect the ravioli to pinpoint the bacon flavor, but all I found was chard. How...the...h...?? The lamb portion was smaller than the pheasant dish, but it was as equally filling. Their appetizers are equally worthy of ravings. I tried the warm "Artisan Cheese Salad with Bacon, Baby Spinach, Golden Raisin and Wheat Berry Vinaigrette" and the "Marinated Golden and Red Beet Salad with Whipped Vermont Goat's Cheese, Candied Walnuts and Basil Oil". Both salads had a beautiful and artful presentation. The Artisan Cheese was served warm. It has a multidimensional taste. It's rich and creamy, and not too bold. The beet salad is not a traditional salad. It's a layer of pickled beets atop some really creamy cheese. I think a picture is more helpful than my description. The servers also brought us a selection of bread to pick from. There was olive bread, sourdough bread, cranberry bread, and jalapeno flat bread. There weren't served warm. My favorite was the olive bread and the jalapeno flat bread. Oh the the butta; it was incredibly soft. The service was great. Our server, Kevin, was attentive and helpful. Even though he's relatively new to Canoe, he was very knowledgeable about the establishment; citing noteworthy things about Canoe, including the flooding of the restaurant in 2009. If you look at the brick walls, there's a white marking to show how high the water flooded the restaurant. Because it was Daniel's birthday, Kevin presented him with a very indulgent treat. It was the "Chocolate Grotto with Salted Caramel and Pretzel Dust" presented on a dish with Happy Birthday in chocolate writing. After you crack the chocolate, caramel goodness oozes out. How did they make this dessert?! When you order this dish, you'll know what I mean. How did they manage to put the caramel inside the chocolate dome? AND HOW CAN YOU MAKE CHOCOLATE LOOK AND TASTE LIKE THAT?! It's magical. The servers here wear collared shirts tucked in dark jeans. You would be safe with dressy casual. Canoe has valet parking and the rest of the parking lot has a sign that states no Canoe parking.
(5)Anthony D.
I had a great experience here tonight. All staff were very polite, proper, and friendly. Our waiter Todd was a good server, was prompt, and knew the menu well. I got a special heirloom tomato Carpaccio, not on the menu, as an appetizer. It was delicious, the tomatoes were fresh and had fantastic ripe flavor. The bread is really interesting, they have 5 different kinds in a basket that is brought around and you choose what you want. All the bread was fresh and delicious. As an entree, I ordered the rabbit, which came with swiss chard and some ravioli, some sauce I cannot remember. The dish was perfectly executed, the sauce was a perfect tie, and the rabbit itself was cooked perfectly and had good flavor. The whole dish was a knockout. My date got the pork chop, cooked medium. The pork had fantastic flavor and was juicy and tender, not dry like a lot of pork chops I've had. For dessert I had the chocolate grotto. The first bite made me smile. Perfection. The rich but not overpowering chocolate, with a salty pretzel dust to counteract the chocolate. The dessert alone was enough to bring me back. My date had the popcorn ice cream sundae, again, very sweet but not overwhelming. The entire experience tonight was excellent, and I will definitely be back.
(5)Skipper W.
This is probably my top 3 romantic restaurants in ATL. Interior decor is very classy. Outdoor patio is very nice, especially if you are there during the day when you can see the beautiful garden & weather is nice. If you like lights on your food like my hubby, you might not like sitting inside at night, because most seats are dimly lit (think romantic). Just like other reviewers say, it's in the strip-mall & it is easy to miss it if you are not paying attention. Food: fantastic! They change the menu so it wouldn't be helpful to tell you which item was good, but we always enjoy the cheese plate for sure. We've had the rabbit, quail, lamb, fish...if you like this kind of stuff, you will enjoy them all! The sauce really complements the meat. Dessert is also interesting & amazing. Service: servers were very knowledgeable about their food & wine, and you feel like they really care about their customer. Although it's not the cheapest place to eat, it feels really down to earth. When we were eating early evening in the summer in outdoor patio, there was a family with about 3 young children, and they didn't seem to be dressed for special occasion (they were rather casual), but they did not look out of place at all. Outdoor Area: don't forget to take a little walk or have some drinks before/after your meal! Brunch: surprisingly, I was not too impressed, especially for the price. It is crowded, but I would not come here for brunch. A basket of pastries were ok. I think I had the smoked salmon eggs benedict, which was also ok. They would have got 5 stars from me if it wasn't for my brunch experience. I wonder how lunch is like...
(4)Ange T.
I would have to say that the combination of service, food and atmosphere made me a very happy diner. My family and I enjoyed a wonderful brunch experience. The basket of baked breads to start were fresh and tasty. The sticky buns were so delicious that we had to order extra to take home. The Brioche French toast and the Scrambled Egg breakfast were a hit at my table. I ordered a special seafood dish that is not on the menu regularly, but I sure wish it was. I will definitely be back to try one of their other specialties.
(4)Denise D.
Went yesterday for lunch. had a lovely server named Katie who was excellent. Valet parking was woefully slow both on arrival and departure. They didn't even open my friend's car door for her. I wanted to make this a special lunch date for a close friend and called every day to see what the lunch specials were. Every day the only off menu item was salmon with the same sides as dishes already on the menu. Is there no other fish out there than salmon? Shrimp egg rolls were soooo greasy and the Napa 'slaw" was right out of a bag. The fish sandwich was good and the popcorn sundae as good as ever. The lamb sandwich was dry as toast. Really chewy and tasteless. I don't know any other chef that would have sent that out to a diner. I hate to say it , but I will. The menu has been boring eve since Chef Carvel Gould left. The new Chef Basford is riding on her coattails and brings nothing new to the table. With so many great new places out there to dine, Canoe will be a one time event for most folks due to the same old tired lunch and dinner menu. Yes, they say they change it four times a year, but in reality, they add a new dish or two but pair it with the old tried and true stand-by's. Let's see some innovation here Chef Basford! I know you can do it! Sad, because it used to be my favorite place to go in Atlanta.
(4)Mo W.
A wonderful dining experience for all in our party. I usually stake out restaurants prior to entertaining clients and am glad I tried this place out. There was a big event going on at the same time as our meal, and there was a slight hick-up with one entree being delivered out of sequence, but the staff more than made up for it. We were able to sit outside (which is a must in good weather) and enjoy the view of the river and the river bar activities... The food was more than what was expected and the expectations were already high. The special was venison and was fantastic served medium - very tender - but for me my most enjoyable foodie experience was the beet salad. A simple dish, but very well done. I'll be back to entertain clients in the future.
(4)Winter W.
I would say that this is probably one of the best restaurants that I have ever been to. The garden is really beautiful and a nice view from the windows. Taking a stroll before and after dinner seems ideal and nice. The waitress was from SF and we got to chat a bit while she was serving our complimentary breads; the bread with cranberry was so delicious! We had a few oysters as starters and some soup. The main course I ordered was the rabbit with ravioli. I am not a big fan of any kinds of ravioli because of the cheese stuffing inside. But I must say that this one was extraordinary, and I ate all 3 of them! For dessert, I had the ice cream with popcorn and it was great; I didn't finish it due to its large portion size. Really happy, and had a great time! The price was obviously towards the high end, but I'd say it was worth it considering of the enjoyable experience.
(5)Emily D.
Went here to celebrate my graduation with my family. The ambiance is amazing, right on the river with many of the tables overlooking the river outside. The breads are very fresh and tasty. I had the salmon, which was delicious. All three of my dining companions had the monkfish. Two of them had to send it back because the fish was cold, but our waitress graciously deducted the price of these entrees from our bill. Overall great experience and a great place to celebrate a special occasion.
(4)Sid B.
Daughter said I had to write the review even though she was there. She had Brioche French Toast with Seasonal Berries and Brown Sugar Banana Cream . Only mistake was she didn't put the berries on son had "The Riverside" - Applewood Bacon with Scrambled Eggs, Hash Browns and French Toast. So big he couldn't finish ( NEVER happens). wife had for her belated birthday: Bacon & Egg Scrambler with Goat's Cheese, Spinach, Puff Pastry and Béchamel Sauce. I had the Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict on Toasted English Muffins with Citrus Hollandaise almost forgot: ALL had the Sticky Buns ( got without pecans) and scones . that was great start . ALL the food was fantastic. service was just right and view from window table was beautiful. Need more excuses to come to this side of town.
(5)Diana T.
I came here for my birthday. I was a bit surprise that the location was next to a cleaners, but when you go inside, it's like a whole different world. This is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Atlanta, so definitely two stars already for the landscape. it was a great experience dining here. Book a reservation in advance. I was not able to get a reservation until 10:15 on a Saturday night. The hostess was very friendly & greeted me at the door. We decided to sit outside. The waiter served the two gentlemen that came after us first before serving us. This made me a bit annoyed that I was not treated equally due to my age. This is the reason why I did not give the restaurant five stars. For appetizers, we got the full rack of oysters on the Half Shell with a Simple Cucumber Champagne Mignonette & the jumbo crab cake. The oysters were different but mediocre. I loved the slaw that came with the jumbo crab cake though. It was different and delicious. I recommend the crab cakes. For entrees, I got the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce. The rabbit tastes exactly like chicken. It was not all that. I was a little disappointed, but overall it was still good. the taste just has nothing special to it. However, my boyfriend got the Duck Breast with a Grilled Romaine and Duck Sausage Crêpe and Pistachio-Blackberry Compote. I loved his meal. The duck was cooked medium and was scrumptious!! Not sure why people do not recommend this, luckily our waiter recommended this to us. I highly recommend this. For dessert, I had the famous Popcorn Ice Cream Sundae, House Made Cracker Jack. It did not wow me. I would probably try a different dessert. Overall, I will give this place a try. It is a place you should dine in, at least once.
(4)Angel L.
This place is amazing. The food is very unique and the smoke salmon is very tender. The highlight was definitely the peach tart that was not out if a can. The service was too scale. The inside of the restaurant is business casual and very clean. While the outside was casual and very relaxing. This is the perfect date night place if you don't mind the price.
(5)Tasaday L.
Great food! Had the duck and smoked salmon appetizers. Wasn't a fan of the duck pastrami with pickled relish; it was too acidic and salty for me but I'm intermittently a pescetarian who never cared for pastrami or relish. The smoked salmon, however, was tasty and paired nicely with the goat cheese and potatoes. For dinner, I had the lamb shank with risotto. Such great flavors and the shank was hugh, tender and falling off of the bone. The mushroom-risotto was also perfect! My date had the rabbit with Swiss chard and was a little unhappy with the small portion of meat. Nevertheless, the rabbit was tender and rich with a slightly sweet essence that went so well with the entree. Overall, this place is amazing. The food is phenomenal and the service is outstanding. Sit by the back windows so you can get a view of the river. And remember to make a reservation in advance.
(5)Phillip D.
Great menu selctions, wonderful atmosphere and I appreciate how knowledgeable the wait staff is about the menu. Located next to the river, I look forward to returning in the spring when I can sit outside and enjoy the views. I dined here for dinner with some coworkersWho had been here before I was very impressed. Be sure to book a reservation in advance as this place gets very busy very quickly in the evening. The complimentary valet is a nice touch as the parking lot is not very large, so having this available allows you to begin your dining experience shortly after your arrival.
(5)Adrienne T.
Finally made it to Canoe. What a nice night out. The SERVICE here is absolutely OUTSTANDING! Other restaurants should OBSERVE the way Canoe does things and take notes. Really. The food is tasty. Nothing special, though. Problem is, I was expecting "special". Pretty place, stunning grounds, in a (wait for it)- strip mall. Quite pricey, save up for this one. Glad to have had the experience. Next!
(4)Rashida E.
Honestly, it was alright. I had the duck burger and it was cool. Maybe I need to go back and try something else because I wasn't that impressed. I expected more because of the great reviews but didn't see what all the hype was about. Like I said, maybe I just need to go back and get a second impression. We shall see.
(3)Kira O.
Love this place! Food is excellent, scenery is amazing, and service is upscale.
(5)Mark L.
I have been here a few times previously for dinner and had an opportunity to try their Sunday brunch here today. The brunch was truly exquisite. You can't turn down the basket of scones and sticky buns. These were delicious. The bacon accompanying the egg and potato dish was excellent; I have found it is hard to get bacon that is prepared just right, but theirs was. The service in the restaurant is outstanding and of course the setting is one of the best in Atlanta.
(5)Gerald M.
One of my favorites, but make a reservation! The selection of wines is excellent and the food is amazing. Would you believe if I said the the breads they serve with every meal are my favorites?!
(5)Georgia B.
Good food, good service and good ambiance. I've dined at Canoe at least dozen times and it's consistently good. It's good for business lunches, dinners, romantic dinners, special occasions, catching up with friends and just a good meal. Full bar with a solid wine list.
(5)Tiffany D.
I went here for a birthday brunch with Natalya S. and it was indeed, delicious. The restaurant is beautiful and wood furnished. The tables are draped in thick white table cloths. The waiter was friendly and accommodating. On the menu there are starters, appetizers, and entrees. (What is the diff between a starter and an app?) We ordered: Starter: A basket of sticky buns, a muffin, and a scone. In my opinion, these should be free. Murphy's offers free scones and muffins for the table with their brunch. But I digress. The sticky buns were awesome. They reminded me of a Greek pastry, made from rolled filo dough, drizzled in a delectable honey and sprinkled with pecans. The scone and muffin were forgettable, as in, I really can't remember what they were. I didn't really like them though. Next time I will order all sticky buns. This basket was served with a side of pear jam, honey, and butter. Entree: "Crab & Eggs" - Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Soft Scrambled Eggs and Hash Brown Potatoes. The whole dish was perfect, the hashbrowns were the little fried square potatoes, and added perfect texture to the entire meal. Also, you get a huge portion. Very pleasantly surprised! I forgot what my cocktail was called, but it was a version of a Mimosa with some passion fruit juice or fruit punch in it. It was light, effervescent, and refreshing. Plus, it had the perfect amount of alcohol. All in all, a delightful meal with great prices. I can't wait to come back in the summer and sit outside by the water!
(4)Ashley W.
Everything about Canoe is extraordinary. Our party included 10 diners. We arrived early to enjoy cocktails and strolling around the beautiful gardens by the river. This was a special occasion dinner and we thought it was the perfect place to take photos to remember the evening by. Service was above expectations, even for fine dining. Even the restrooms are amazing (featuring a canoe-shaped sink and special "Canoe" hand towels). Food was also excellent. We started with several appetizers including the smoked salmon and the grilled octopus. Both were delicious. The octopus, in particular, was the best I have ever had - smoky and tender in a delicious broth. I had the watermelon, feta and arugula salad which consisted of simple but beautifully presented, quality ingredients that together became a magical combination. Everyone in our party enjoyed their entrees as well. I had the slow-cooked NC rabbit (which is ironic, since I am from NC and this is Georgia!). I actually didn't love it, but I think it was more a personal preference than an issue with the preparation. Not to be cliché, but it tasted like chicken. Ho-hum. In any case, from start to finish, we had a wonderful and memorable evening. I would love to come back to Canoe again, either for a special occasion or just a special date night with my hubby.
(5)Lauren A.
Never lets me down. I came back to Canoe recently on a diet. I've always eaten their game and knew that fatty meat wouldn't be an option. The waitress put in my order for fish with a request for it not to be cooked with butter and substituted my sides for veggies with no issue. I expected a rather bland meal after taking away what I thought would be the "good parts" but the food was STILL delicious! We had a table of 6 and the service was great. I couldn't pick out a bad experience from the night, which is just what you want (especially when you are some place to celebrate) I was very happy with my experience, as usual.
(5)Travis J.
By far one of the best restaurants I've been too. Everything from the bread all the way to desert was amazing. I recommend the the watermelon salad and the scallops.
(5)Jana S.
There is a reason why Canoe consistently gets voted as one of the best restaurants in Atlanta. It just is THAT good! The food is fantastic, the atmosphere is wonderful, and the service is hands-down the best I've ever experienced. The wait staff is the creme-de-la-creme! Canoe should really be your go-to place for special occasions. We did. The hubby and I came here to celebrate a raise (yay!). Let me rave about the service some more. We had made reservations (a must!) and were seated promptly at our reservation time. We were consistently greeted by our last name by everyone who came to our table (i.e. they knew from the reservation who we were and made sure everyone serving us did too). Our server asked us if there were any specific foods we didn't care for or any food allergies and she let us know that they could leave off anything we didn't like. Again, never had this experience in a restaurant before. Top notch! The food is amazing! Meticulously prepared and flavor-packed! Appetizers: squash soup (wow, so tasty!!) and the celery salad. It was good, but I was hoping for a bit stronger celery flavor. The celery was shaved and not very over-powering. So, if you're not a fan of celery, this is probably great! The hubby had the short ribs, one of their specialties. Soooo tender, easily pulled apart with the fork. Really yummy!! I had the lamb shank! I absolutely love lamb, so I was loving this dish. The meat was incredibly tender and so flavorful!! I'm craving it just writing about it! Unfortunately, we got so stuffed eating our entrees that there was no more room for desert... boo! I hope I have something to celebrate again soon, so I can come back here again!
(5)Leanne E.
Canoe had been on my list of "to try" restaurants for a while. So this year my sweetie and I dined for valentines day. Swanky and romantic. We started with the potato cake and salmon appetizer. The dill sauce is a great compliment and reminds me of the locks and bagels from Goldberg's. Delicious. I chose the rabbit for my entree. I had never had rabbit before but canoe does it so well. If you've never had it the best way to describe it is like dark meat chicken. Not gamey or greasy at all. Served on a bed of bacon mascapone chard ravioli and a cream sauce from the Gods. The portions are perfect. For dessert we went with the cheesecake. Delightful and creamy. A perfect romantic Valentine's date night.
(5)Courtney R.
The food was delicious. I ordered the salmon and it was very flavorful. The drinks were delicious. It was a very romantic spot and upscale. My boyfriend took me on a date here. The server was the best. I really enjoyed it and plan to return.
(5)Bonnie B.
One of the best meals and the best service. We were delighted!! Thank you. Brittany! When you go you must try the popcorn ice cream!
(5)Joesph P.
This is a great place for a date night. It's right on the river and the scenery is excellent. Food is consistently great and so is the service. You do have to valet park, which I'm never crazy about. This is a 5 star place!
(5)Denada A.
Just had Sunday brunch here with my boyfriend's family. This restaurant is beautiful, the service is exquisite and the garden is breathtaking. I will be going back to experience dinner. If my budget allowed I would come here every weekend just for the atmosphere.
(5)Dustin S.
Oor favorite upscale restaurant to visit. The menu is very american. I had the South Georgia rabbit. It was incredibly tender. The chef mixes various tastes into one plate. The atmosphere is very inviting. A view of the river can make for a romantic evening.
(5)David D.
I dinned here my last night in Atlanta. The ambiance of Canoe is remarkable! Simply put, Canoe mixes natural beauty and class in a way few restaurants can accomplish. From the remarkable backyard with the trees all around to the wonderful creek that runs through the backyard, Canoe's setting alone is a treasure. Myself and my friend had the smoked salmon appetizer, which featured their homemade smoked salmon on top of a slightly crispy potato cake and topped with goat cheese. This was very good. For our entrees I ordered the Alaskan halibut with the pea risotto. The halibut was exceptional. Tender, flaky and perfect with the light curry sauce drizzled on top. The risotto; on the other hand, was disappointing! It was a little hard and lacked flavor. My friend had the rabbit. That was truly the winner! I don't know how they brazed it, but it was wonderful. I'd never tried rabbit, but it was like a wonderful mix of chicken and perhaps pork. And served with swiss chard, it couldn't be beat! Our server was also wonderful and explained his favorite items. Many servers try to gear you towards the most expensive items on the menu, but our server was very honest about what we should try and why we should try them. I'm definitely keen on going back to Canoe next time I'm in Atlanta.
(4)Tran N.
Yes, I agree with other reviews for Canoe, this place tops it all in Atlanta. I was taken here as a surprise for my 19th birthday, and I must say this was a great experience. The food is super fresh, ingredients and salad were straight from their garden in the back, and service is very excellent. For the entree, I got the salmon with the fresh veggies and pine nuts. The salmon was perfect, they grilled it to my request and had the lemon butter sauce over it of the right amount. The veggies were really good as well. The person I came here with go the duck i believe, and it isn't like the duck I've had on buford highway. it was actually quite tender and really full in juices and flavors. Even with the portions they give, I was pretty full and didn't know if I wanted dessert. However, I never go to a new restaurant without trying desserts, especially if they have stuff like Chocolate Grotto and Popcorn Ice Cream? When our waiter recommended the Popcorn ice cream, I was super curious as to how they would even blend that. It came in a nice portion with some caramel popcorn on the side. The first bite i had was amazing, it is really rich and indulging and taste like popcorn. lol. I got the chocolate grotto which was even more delicious. It is hard chocolate covered with hazelnut and caramel filling and a flour less chocolate cake. If you slice a bit of the Grotto, it cracks open and the stream of caramel pours out. I do miss this place, but it is only great to me on occasions. After dinner, we strolled through the garden and viewed the river, everything was just great that night, and I can't wait to come back again. They have complimentary Valet also. Overall, one of the BEST restaurants in Atlanta.
(5)Alexander M.
I have been wanting to come to Canoe for the longest time and I am sure glad that I was able to make it here last Sunday for Brunch! Reservations, Reservations is ALL I can suggest on a Sunday because they were PACKED and I can see exactly why! The customer service is without a doubt some of the best I've received so far! From the time you are greeted by the valet when you pull up to the time you're seated nothing but a great experience! Now for the food! Started out with a basket of the Georgia Pecan Sticky Buns! yummy!! The mimosa's were made to perfection as well! Had a nice buzz after two glasses! hehe! If you are a Salmon lover like myself please do yourself a favor and order the house smoked Salmon! It comes on a crispy potato cake with goat cheese! The She-Crab soup was another hit! For the entrees we went with "The Riverside" which comes with Applewood bacon, scrambled eggs, French toast and hash browns, the smoked Salmon eggs Benedict came on two toasted English muffins topped with a citrus hollandaise sauce! I will return to try out the dinner for sure!
(5)David R.
Went with my wife back in the Day for our first Valentine's Day. Great setting, good food, and yeah it was little over booked at the time.
(5)Benjamin T.
Went here for sunday brunch, tried the duck and beef burger with the she-crab soup as an appetizer. The soup was amazing and the burger was pretty good, but not great. If I was to visit again i'd probably try another brunch item. I would definitely lkke to visit for dinner though. The service was good and our waitress was very professional. The view of the chattahoochee is nice and after your meal, you get drinks from the bar near the river and sit on the river bank. I'll definitely be visiting again in the near future, probably for dinner.
(4)Nicki K.
My co-workers took me out for Canoe's because they love the atmosphere. As you could tell from my reviews, I had a really bad experience last time. This time it was for lunch and I could see the GORGEOUS view of the river. I ordered the Grilled Chicken Breast Sandwich with Avocado, Swiss Cheese and Oven Dried Tomatoes. It wasn't that bad, I honestly thought it would have more flavors. The experience was definitely better but food is still meh to me.
(3)Mary H.
Our new favorite "date night" restaurant in Atlanta! Lovely setting, inside and out. Walk the grounds if you haven't - it's like you are in a private garden. Gorgeous! Fantastic service and a menu from which I can hardly make a choice because so many offerings are out of this world. LOVE all the game... venison, quail, rabbit...and your morally responsible attitude about not using harmful preservatives like sodium benzoate in your scallops. Hats off!! We highly recommend your restaurant and will be back every chance we get. It's an hour drive for us but completely worth it!!!
(5)David H.
My wife and I had dinner here tonight. It was one of the better dining experiences we've had in Atlanta. I think it would be a fair perspective to say it was superior to Restaurant Eugene but not quite up to Bacchanalia...that's a pretty sweet spot to be, in my view. My wife had two daily specials for apps., one featured heirloom tomatoes, and the other featured three Ga. Whole head-on Shrimp. I tried one of her shrimp. It was quite good, but the shrimp weren't exactly Jumbo, so the shrimp ran out before the tasty rice it was served on. I would make that a 6 shrimp app. or use larger shrimp perhaps - tasty, though. I had three apps. The Crab Cake was very good. Large lumps of crab with the breading mostly on the outside of the patty and deep-fried crisp. The citrus flavors complimented the richness of the crab well. The Calamari was cooked perfectly but I thought the smoked peanut overwhelmed the sweet chili component. The House Smoked Salmon app. was every bit as good as other reviewers have said - this was absolutely an excellent app. Of the five apps we tried, I would consider the Smoked Salmon as the main "must repeat" of the apps for our next visit...and there will be another visit. Aside from the nice view and excellent food, it was very convenient to the Cobb Energy venue where we were seeing a show. (Whoopi Goldberg this particular night). The Crab Cake I would very probably order again next time also. For Entrees wife had a daily special featuring Red Snapper - it was very tasty. I had the Cod in Bouillabaisse. There were some issues with the other items in the bouillabaisse, but the Cod was cooked absolutely perfectly. For dessert, the Popcorn Ice Cream was crazy good. Our server and the manager were both assets to the restaurant and showed the desire for our evening with them to be a pleasurable one. And it was. One tip: check their website for an accurate menu. The one here bears little resemblance, and even on their site, there were several changes from just the previous day.
(4)Sam L.
Located on the edge of the lower Chatahoochie River on the Buckhead / Vinings border. A fine dinner shared with fine friends. Canoe has maintained a classy and sophisticated yet un-pretentious ambiance. The menu items will not disappoint. Service is a friendly, casual version of white table cloth. Not overly formal, just the right amount of class. Food is outstanding, desert is perfect. Had the roasted rabbit, rack of lamb, bread pudding.
(5)Nisha G.
Canoe is one of my top brunch restaurants in Atlanta. Let me describe the first time I ever ate here. I took the recommendation of my waitress and ordered their fresh scones basket which did not disappoint! My boyfriend and I devoured it quickly and took the waitress's second recommendation of the she-crab soup with sherry. We both were enamored with our choices that when it was time to order our meal we decided to do it all over again- that's right we ordered more scone and more bowls of she-crab soup! We both walked away full and happy! My second and third visits to Canoe have brought progress; the brioche french toast did not disappoint and was the perfect balance, not overly sugary. The blackened Georgia shrimp was light and satisfying; the spring chicken is also another hit on the menu. There hasn't been anything I tried that I didn't like. The restaurant sits on a beautiful piece of land and I recommend walking around outside all the way through the path and enjoy the view of the Chattahoochee river. If you are a brunch lover, then be sure to put Canoe on the list!
(5)Rachel T.
Enjoyed Sunday brunch with my husband here recently. I honestly cannot find any fault with this place whatsoever. The food is fantastic, portion sizes are generous, prices were reasonable (for the quality), atmosphere was polished and comfortable, service was top notch and the view/outdoor area gives the experience a magical feel. As a tip though, I would recommend requesting a booth with a view or a patio table when making a reservation. We weren't happy with the first table we were seated at and asked to move and were shortly upgraded to an oversized booth with a view of the river. This made a huge difference in our dining experience. I'm already itching to return for lunch and dinner.
(5)Laura P.
We finished off a surprise birthday weekend for my mother in-law with brunch at Canoe today. We had a group of 15. Many of us had flown in from NY & Texas, so this was our first visit. It is my mother in-laws favorite restaurant for not only the food, but the exceptional service. First, several of us had the crab bisque as an appetizer. It was the best we had ever had. Everyone loved the food and especially the cream brûlée. Perfection! The setting was gorgeous and provided the perfect backdrop to take beautiful family pictures. Can't wait for our next trip to Atlanta. Canoe will definitely be on the agenda.
(5)S E.
Wonderful. Great service. Great food. Comfortable atmosphere. Not the same type of place like Bacchanalia or Cafe Eugene where the food is very clearly the main attraction. Food is great, but the atmosphere is comfortable enough that you can enjoy spending time with friends or family. Rabbit is amazing. I highly recommend the caramel popcorn dessert--it's a bit sweet for everyday, but utterly authentic. Love it and given the opportunity, I will always return!
(5)Frank T.
Wife and I came here last night for our anniversary dinner. Our first time here, we didn't know what to expect. We were seated towards the back area looking out over the back lawn/patio area and the view of the Chattahoochee was amazing. Our server Eric was freaking awesome. He walked us through the menu and some of his recommendations. My wife got a crab cake appetizer and I went with salmon potato cake appetizer, mouth watering. My wife got the trout entree which was really good. One of our server's recommendation was the rabbit which I've never had before. I felt adventurous and ordered that. Let me tell you, that's one of the best meals I've ever had. We ended our meal with the popcorn ice cream crackerjack dessert and that was amazing as well. Everything about our meal experience was top notch from beginning to end.
(5)Bobby Q.
Awesome Experience! Took my wife there for her Birthday dinner. She had the Rabbit and I had the steak. Food was delicious and staff was exemplary. Well done Canoe. Hope to frequent often.
(5)Nicolas G.
Great food and amazing location for a romantic dinner on the Chattahoochee river. It was our special day, wedding anniversary plus my wife's bday and they took extra care of us with a personalized service. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Ida C.
We were initially perplexed by the strip mall housing Canoe. After driving through rolling hills and luxe, verdant neighborhoods, we were taken aback by a low key setting. Keep the faith ya'll...just beyond the free valet parking lies a gorgeously manicured riverfront setting with flawless service, backed by an excellent brunch offering. Arriving at 10:30am on a Sunday (opening time), we were able to have our pick of tables and chose to sit outside. We had a fantastic view of the river and gardens. Our waiter was charming, attentive and full of excellent recommendations. We let ourselves be guided and soon found ourselves with quite a feast: 1. Georgia Pecan Sticky Buns ($6): the love child of a perfect croissant and an exquisite pecan pie, these pastries are definitely the best way to kick off Sunday brunch at Canoe. The buns are flaky and buttery, topped liberally with chopped pecans and then anointed with honeyed syrup. Simply divine! 2. She-crab Soup with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat and Cream Sherry ($9): served with ample sherry, our waiter did mention that some guests find this soup too rich and although I doubted than anything could be too rich for my taste, this actually was a bit too rich. The cream portion is unabashed, but I did really enjoy the chunks of sweet, sweet crab. 3. House Smoked Salmon on a Crispy Potato Pancake with Vermont Goat Cheese ($12): my advice to you if you want the best possible brunch at Canoe for 2 people would be to order the sticky buns and follow up with the large version of this dish. Share both, and you'll be in perfect shape (read: fullness) to go on to conquer entrees. Each bite of the salmon is perfectly balanced and nuanced with the smoked salmon balanced by the creamy goat cheese and crispy, creamy potato. 4. Crab & Eggs ($18): a generous mound of lump crabmeat piled on top of soft scrambled eggs all over crispy diced potatoes, drizzled with hollandaise. What's not to love? 5. Steak & Eggs ($18): one of the day's special menu items. Exactly the same as the Crab and Eggs but with thinly sliced steak instead of crab. The crab reigned supreme, but this was still tasty. If you wind up extremely full (like we did), diners are always welcome to enjoy the grounds and take a respite in the ample chairs by the river after settling up. PARTING THOUGHT: If you are one to favor brunch cocktails over views, you might want to make a reservation for later in the day. Atlanta restaurants cannot serve alcohol on Sundays until 12p or 12:30p!
(5)Tamika H.
Great restaurant, fantastic view, and yummy food. This is my second timing visiting Canoe, and the experience did not disappoint. For my first visit, I had the rainbow trout which was cooked to perfection. The popcorn concoction of a dessert was also nice; it was a nice blend of salty and sweet flavors which worked very well. During my second visit I had the Rhode Island skate fish which was paired with risotto; this was one of the specials for the evening. ...This was also very good and cooked perfectly. My husband had the pork chop, which he thought was fantastic. ...He only wished he could have a bigger portion because it was so good :-). For dessert, we had the Georgia Crisp, which came with homemade honey ice cream! That ice cream is INCREDIBLE. I highly recommend Canoe, and look forward to visiting again soon.
(4)Candace L.
I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. Brunch? Fantastic -home made scones (huge) and fresh preserves from their backyard garden - make sure to make a reservation weeks in advance - Mothers day brunch requires at least a month in advance. Dinner? Wonderful. If you are on a romantic date, business dinner, or even large group reception. They can accommodate anything from large to small, and will execute flawlessly. The location is great - just moments from central Buckhead, and is a nice drive away on west paces ferry. Great for out of town visitors, this is a must go restaurant. The decor is relaxing and serene, and there's even a bar on the river, very majestic and a lovely place for dinner or any outing. Not to mention the food - food is creative, and delicious. A+++
(5)Julie F.
This review is only for brunch, but I hope to soon expand it and come back for dinner. All I have to say is: YUM. I came here with a small group and was able to sample a variety of Canoe's delicious weekend offerings. How was it? Well, let's start with the best Bloody Mary of my life (and I've tried quite a few, always trying to enjoy the drink and never before caring for it). Amazing cocktails. Buttery-delicious in-house smoked salmon. She-crab soup, stuffed with jumbo lump crabmeat, that comes with a sidecar of sherry for additional awesomeness should you wish to add it. The smoothest, creamiest scrambled eggs of my life. A burger crafted from beef and duck! Brunch is often overrated, but Canoe's brunch is truly worthwhile. I'll be back, and I can't wait to see what they've got for dinner. (And as a bonus, we were one of the later brunch reservations, and the staff packed up care packages with their amazing scones and cinnamon rolls to bring home, despite the fact that we hadn't ordered any. Talk about amazing service!).
(5)Dave B.
We had high expectations coming in and canoe met or exceeded all of them. We had our anniversary dinner there and the total experience was wonderful. We had two game dishes and both were outstandingly flavorful and delicious. The service was top notch even for a fine dining establishment. It seemed like all tables had a nice view of the river, which even on a cold and rainy day brought a romantic atmosphere to the restaurant. We will definitely be taking our out of town guests to canoe.
(5)L E.
I rated it two stars because the place was not that great. They had good food, but for the price, I was expecting to leave there and tell all my friends about what a great place it is. You can get better food at Garrisons(down the road) and pay half the price. I don't know why its rated that high. Its really not that memorable. Honestly, I can't even remember what I ate. Probably, some chicken based meal. The only thing I remember is the liquid sugar they give you to pour in your tea. It wasn't that good, just slightly unique.
(2)Sneha G.
My husband and I are from NY and we loved canoe for brunch. The scones and pecan sticky buns were delicious! They were freshly baked and warm. I ordered the pancakes with carameliZed apples and my husband ordered the French toast. We loved everything about this place. The decor was so nice and the scenery outside by the water was a perfect romantic setting. If you have not been here, make sure to go for brunch!
(5)Meredith R.
Canoe doesn't always garner the media attention it deserves. Our meal was impeccable! We started with lump crab cake -- yum! --- and the beet salad with goat cheese (a portion large enough for two.) I rarely pass up yellow fin, and Canoe's didn't disappoint, seared to perfection and accompanied by braised mushrooms and adzuki beans. I savored each bite. My husband had the bass special, which frankly didn't look wonderful to me -- but he said it was. The sommelier was a knowledgable and delightful woman who added a spark to the evening. I told her what I generally like, my price parameter --dinner was on me that night!-- and asked her to select an interesting and wonderful red. Her choice was spot on. We ordered the most decadent desserts: popcorn sundae with homemade cracker jacks and the chocolate grotto with salted caramel. (We like the combination of sweet and savory.) August 2014 Update: A celebratory meal for the four of us, and my rating remains five stars. The goat cheese beet salad is as good as I remembered it to be. T. tried the pork belly appetizer which he enjoyed, but commented that it was more like a roast than the fatty strips of meat he's come to expect. (Woodfire Grill he said, does pork belly the best.) My entrée was scallops, which were melt-in-your-mouth wonderful, mom raved about the duck breast, and the NY strip -- a large piece of steak -- was cooked perfectly. My daughter (who's been living on a budget in NY all summer) was on cloud nine. We split three delicious desserts: goat cheese cake - reminiscent of crème brule; the aforementioned chocolate grotto (love the sensation of sweet paired with salty), and a banana cream pie which was wayyyyy better than one would find in Picadilly's! The corkage fee is $15 per bottle, and the restaurant allows one bottle of wine per person. Service, as one comes to expect, is friendly and impeccable. And the view -- if you're lucky enough to sit by the window -- is from a Monet painting!
(5)Shii J.
Well I must say this place is quite an experience. As soon as you walk in your greeted and you will notice the decor is very fitting for the surroundings of the restaurant. It's very cozy but sophisticated. We went here for brunch on a Sunday afternoon and everything was great except that it rained and we wanted to take walk outside by the river. I had something like a duck sandwich with a very tasty sauce. We also a chicken Benedict entree with fries. The fries were nothing special but everything else was great. We also had a bread basket that had a cinnamon roll and other types of sweet breads with pecans. The bread basket came three different types of preserves/jelly. I would definitely try this place again and you should to. This place is sort of expensive so be prepared to drop at least sixty bucks for dinner
(4)Mahmoud A.
I had the rabbit and it was perfectly cooked. I have a huge sweet tooth and Canoe found a way to satisfy it.
(4)Megan M.
My husband made reservations here a month in advance, I thought it can not be that big of a deal. It was! The hostess were very thoughtful to ask if we were celebrating anything (sadly no) and quickly ushered us to our table. The menu is wonderful. We were sitting near where the food comes out and you could see the chef vetting every plate before they went out to dinners (win!), that is the kind of place I want to be at! We started with salmon (holy moly, this was way better than I thought it would be! I want this right now as I type) and we also ordered the crabcake. The crab cake was all lump meat, very little breading, but enough to brown the surface, it was really good. For dinner my husband went out of his comfort zone and got the rabbit, and he was impressed and it was also perfectly prepared. I got the scallops, and they were much more flavorful than I expected, lots of eggplant, peppers and capers. We used the sommelier to pick out a bottle that would pair with our dishes (rabbit and seafood are a little difficult to pair). He did a lovely job picking out a beautiful Italian wine in our price range! We had a chocolate pretzel dust desert, another yumm. Our waitress did a wonderful job and was very professional and had amazing timing. I know that waiting tables is not easy but she made it look easy. It was dark by the time we got to go outside to see the river, that was the only disappointment, the pictures made it look stunning. I also spied a bar out on the river, it would be a great place to meet for drinks pre date!
(5)David K.
Absolute top notch dining experience. One of the best meals I have had in Atlanta. The service was impeccable. The jumbo lump crab cake for an appetizer, the rabbit entree, and pb&j for dessert... As good as it gets for dinner. Enjoy.
(5)Brittiany M.
Were my expectations too high? Was it the weather or that it was Election Day? Unsure what was going on but this place is highly overrated! Our server became very inattentive when a group of 4 men bought expensive wine for her to present. Maybe she was new. My boyfriend loved the Rabbit. I liked the Trout...maybe I was full. Everything came out extremely fast that I felt I couldn't enjoy the items in it's entirety . Best part of the night is the drinks (wine, cocktail, and prosecco.., bread, and the dessert). Slightly disappointed.
(3)Liz B.
LOVE IT! My boyfriend took me there around Halloween for my birthday, and it was the best meal I've had in a LONG time. We had some cocktails before we sat down that were just ok, but from there the food was simply amazing. Our server was perfect - friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, and quick. I ordered the crab cake appetizer - best of my LIFE. I hate traditional crabcakes that are dense or mustardy, but this one was light and flavorful. I could eat 10 of those things, but sadly there is only one on the plate. My boyfriend ordered the smoked salmon with potato nests (or something like that). He said it was very good but not as mind-blowing as the crabcake. for the entree, he had the rabbit with brown butter bacon ravioli, and I had the lamb with a root vegetable tart and celery root puree. Words cannot even describe how good this food was. You just have to go and try it yourself. GO NOW, MY FRIENDS! For dessert we had the creme brulee. It was delicious but quite sweet, and since we were full we had a hard time finishing it. The atmosphere is cozy and lovely. Canoe is a great place for a dinner with close friends, family, or a special evening out.
(5)Rich V.
Canoe is what Rays on the River TRIES to be but isn't. I love Canoe. Canoe is understated hip with a great view. Execution has always been great when I've been there, usually personally but a couple of times for business meals as well. Clearly Canoe has a lot of great menu items. The wine list is solid, a little pricey but a good list. They've done some work putting it together. If you're still reading this review, then you're about to be rewarded, because I have a little secret for you I'll ask you not to share with just everyone: Canoe has the best burger I have ever had. There I said it, not flame away if you like (pun intended) but seriously. Before Canoe, my favorite burger was a kobe beef burger I had in the harbor in Tacoma, WA. How's that for random? Seriously though, that's how far and wide this competition was. I know many Atlanta people are going to point to Local [whatever the number is] or the place that only makes 60 burgers a night...all nice stunts, but Canoe has the best burger. I will grant you, the Canoe burger is not for purists, and for that, if you prefer the others, then we'll just agree to disagree. I can't do justice to what all is in the Canoe burger, but I'll tell you it ruined a date night. There I was all chatty and nice, when I took my first bite. Suddenly I couldn't focus on the conversation. All I could muster was..."this is so ********* good!" After each bite, that's all I could say, for 20 minutes. Date night didn't go so well that evening. So when my brother moved to ATL from Manhattan I took him there. Guess what? Same reaction. We just sat there looking at each other muttering, "this is awesome." Fortunately, that's about as deep as conversations usually go.
(5)Krystal H.
I just love this place. From the pheasant to the scallops to the rabbit, everything I've eaten here has been heavenly. Superbly prepared without being overly trendy, the food just tastes so darn good. The smoked salmon appetizer is possibly the best thing I've ever eaten. The flatbread is amazing. Although the food is the highlight of Canoe for me, the service has always been impeccable and courteous. The setting is serene and romantic. Canoe, will you marry me?
(5)Kate L.
I'm only a fan of Canoe because of it's Ambiance. It's calming and I loved the outside. I came here on a date and I came wanting the soup. He said he was going to take me here and I watched how they made the Squash soup online. I craved it all day. When we got to Canoe I went to the bathroom and he ordered for me. But no Soup!!! : ( He ordered the Grilled Breast of Long Island Duckling, Cauliflower, Chanterelle, Red Bliss Potato, Pistachio. I wasn't impressed. But it was okay. Still want the soup. lol Staff are great here! Very accommodating. I think I could eat Waffle house here and still give it 4 stars because I loved the outside. I may give it 5 stars if I get the soup.
(4)Michael A.
Add this Great restaurant to your list! Canoe is very romantic, has phenomenal service and a fantastic menu. Recommended to everyone!
(5)William K.
On a Sunday noon we 'brunched' at Canoe. 1. It's a magnificent location on the Chattahoochee River, with lush gardens, paths and seasonal outdoor seating. It's a visual feast. 2. The building itself is a fantastic and beautifully done interior with open spaces and intimate seating and booths. The mixture of iron, steel, brick and soft interior surfaces create a remarkable environment. 3. The service staff, fromt eh valet to the door, to the table service was impeccable. Our server Aga did a great job explaining the menu, popular or favorites, specials, and deserts and drinks. I love a knowledgeable server. The timing of everything was perfect. 4. The food... ahhh the food. I tried the Oysters Mignonette (FAB), then the smoke salmon on potato pancake and the spinach salad... (Yummo) Others at the table dined on the steelhead / ratatouille, eggs benedict, and brioche french toast. Deserts of sweet potato cheesecake and the amazing grotto of chocolate and sea salted caramel... sublime. It's my intention to go back and try every appetizer! Then, every main course. I WILL return.
(5)Sheena F.
Visited Canoe for a birthday dinner with my hubby and had a very good meal. We were there on a Thursday night, so the restaurant was on the empty side, making for a romantic, calm atmosphere. Started out the meal a bit on the wrong foot by ordering a half bottle of their pg that tasted like the bottle it came from had been open for a while. To be fair the waitress was great in recommending another wine (which was wonderful!) and replacing it right away. I felt a little bad returning wine at such a classy place, but I was glad I did. We started out with oysters on the half shell with their cucumber champagne mignonette and their signature house smoked salmon. The portions were huge...probably meant to share, hehe but it was my birthday dinner! When I eat oysters I'm a cocktail sauce and cracker gal, but I really enjoyed this preparation. The mignonette was unique and there was a kick to it that I enjoyed. However, the salmon was the clear winner here. So delicious! The waitress gave a whole spiel on how they smoke the salmon, I was half listening but now I wish I paid more attention! The goat cheese and crispy potato cake were the perfect additions to the star salmon. For the main course had their signature rabbit dish and the pheasant. Both very good. The bacon ravioli and garlic sauce that the rabbit was on top of were my favorite parts of the dish. I was guilty of making yummy noises. The pheasant dish featured roasted pheasant along with a croquette...I preferred the later, but everything on the plate was good. For dessert I went with their creme brulee trio because it's my favorite. I should have listened to the waitress and tried their signature popcorn ice cream sundae though, because the creme brulee was only so-so. Not the best way to end the meal. Overall verdict: the food and service were both very good, but Canoe is a bit out in the boonies for us, and with so many excellent options in ATL I'm not sure it will be top of my list for a trip back. I can't complain about anything :) but wasn't blown away either.
(4)Pushkara C.
My boyfriend took me here for our 23 months date! We went on a drizzly Sunday morning for a nice Sunday morning brunch. This place had both indoor and outdoor seating. We chose to sit on the patio. Our seat was on the corner of the patio closest to the lake. It was gorgeous. The waiters and waitresses were very attentive. My boyfriend and I are both vegetarian and they were kind enough to let us know what dishes are vegetarian and what can be made vegetarian. I got Cornmeal pancakes with roasted apples and toasted pecans! So yummy!!! He got "The riverside" minus the meat. It was really yummy and we both enjoyed it. Then we took a walk by the river, there was a cute outdoor ballroom so we went and checked that out and it was amazing. oh and the bathrooms were really cool looking too. :)
(5)Rachel W.
Had a great meal here on our trip to Atlanta, I would recommend Canoe to anyone! Wonderful drinks, flavorful and large entrees. My husband had the lamb pasta and I had the duck breast. We both wound up taking some of ours home, possibly to save room for the amazing desserts! Do not miss dessert! I had the fresh mint ice cream and my husband had the caramel popcorn ice cream sundae, both were to die for!
(5)Andrea R.
Sometimes I like pretending like I'm one of those ladies that lunch and Canoe is the perfect place to play that game... These days I'm too busy for nice lunches so a gorgeous restaurant like Canoe is a nice change from the peanut butter sandwiches, tortillas and cheese, and the popcorn I usually whip up in my condo back in Chicago. While the outside garden was calling my name the 105 degree report from the weatherman was telling me to stay inside because ladies who lunch don't have frizzy hair and sweat running down their face. Right? Ladies who lunch probably also don't eat every last bite on their place, but when served the best chicken tacos in the world (seriously) I had no choice. Our waitress tried to take my plate away several times, but I was determined to get every last drop....and it was beyond delicious. If I had access to Canoe year round I may just become a permanent lady who lunches.
(5)Roshanda P.
hmmmm the layout of this place.. is amazing... I was taking away. I think if/when I get married one day, I would love this outside setting. At first this place was a little difficult to locate, just because I remember it being in a different location, but once I found this hidden secret I didnt know how to act. I went for Sunday brunch and it was delish , The sticking buns are a must try, and the french toast ... yum yum yum yum ! So if your looking for something romantic this is the perfect location. So you looking for a nice outdoor brunch this would be the perfect location.
(5)Sterling L.
We had our 2012 office Christmas party here. Excellent choice. Friendly staff. A little bit of traffic getting there, but not as bad as buckhead.
(4)Arthur W.
This is a fun place full of glam, but it also has a nice cozy vibe. Popcorn Ice cream stood out as being creative and special. I would have given it 5 stars but I tend to reserve that for mom and pop joints this place doesn't need any favors or extra hipe.
(4)Paul N.
The restaurant is located a little out of the from Atlanta, but it is definitely worth the drive if you don't live by. The venue has a very beautiful scene, and parking is adequate. The back of the restaurant is tranquil and beautiful. There is a little lake with benches and artistic landscape. The restaurant can hold large parties, and the interior design is by far one of the better ones in the Atlanta area. The service is impeccable. The wait staff and the hosting staff are very attentive and really serve you very well. I had the pleasure of having a brunch in this restaurant. The pastries were really good, and they were not too sweet. I am not so sure about the price, but I am not a huge fan of sweet things. Some people love the pastries the restaurant serves on Sundays. She Crab Soup with Jumbo Crab Meat was delicious. It has a full flavor to every bite paired up with lump crab meats. The ingredients were very fresh and good quality. It's a rich creamy soup, and I enjoy rich creamy soups. House Smoked Salmon on a Crispy Potato Pancake with Vermont Goat Cheese is a good appetizer. It's not a lot, and it won't feel you up. It has very good qualities though. It's too bad the restaurant only give you three pieces. The salmon goes well with the goat cheese, and the seafood is fresh. The crisp potato pancake was a good texture to the soft and moist salmon. It's very light, and the seasoning on these crispy potato pancakes went very well with the overall smoked salmon and cheese. "Crab & Eggs" - Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Soft Scrambled Eggs and Hash Brown Potatoes is an entree that is pretty filling. One thing I did notice is that my taste buds got tired of the flavor half way through. The scrambled eggs with crab meat just started to taste blend or not as exciting anymore. I think if they added something to balance the soft texture with something crispy, it might improve the dish. Additionally, I think if the dish had a contrasting flavor to the egg, it will be better. The crab just became mundane with the egg because they tasted the same with no contrast to each other. Oak Roasted Local Chicken with Cheddar Grits, Spiced Escarole, Oven Dried Tomatoes and Natural Jus is a good entree. It's a heavy dish, and you're going to get full. The dish had more of contrast between flavors and the balance was there. The oven dried tomatoes brought the mundane grits out, and the cheese, well cheese makes everything taste good. The chicken was fresh and very well cooked, and I think this was better than the Crab & Eggs. I had the sorbet, and the sorbet was pretty good. I can't comment as much as the other dishes because I am not a huge expert on desserts. But, it's good! Overall, this place was a very good dining experience, and I suggest taking your hot match dot com dates. I am sure you can impress them very well with your selection of restaurant. I wouldn't recommend bringing your heavy dates because they will just run up the bill... this place is not cheap!!! Unless you like feeding big people and get a fetish out of it... I mean, people have the right to do what they enjoy and get a kick out of... It's America after all...
(4)George P.
This is one of the better restaurants I have been to recently. I wish I could have given it 5 stars. The food absolutely warrants it. The service however brought it down. Let's start with the good. Just to preface, awe were told all of the food at Canoe is locally sourced. They change the menu 4 times a year to adjust for the seasons. We ordered the Canoe's House Smoked Salmon on a Crispy Potato Cake with Vermont Goat's Cheese. It was good, not amazing. Amazing we'll get to in a minute! The appetizer was reminiscent of a play on a bagel with lox and cream cheese(sans capers.) I would have in hindsight ordered something else but was not disappointed with the appetizer. Amazing is what ensued. I ate Thumper. Bambi might have been a little bit upset but at the end of the day, it was GLORIOUS!!! Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce. For those of you who have never had rabbit, it is a slow roasted, tender sweet version of chicken. I have eaten many of Thumper's relatives over the years and the rabbit at Canoe may very well be the best I have ever had. For those of you who are environmentally conscious but still eat meat, it is one of the most sustainable sources of protein you can have. There is a reason why there is the age old adage of " ___ like rabbits." I gave my date a bite as she was leery eating rabbit as she thought they were "too cute to eat." Begrudgingly, she loved it. As a side note, I don't have to tell you how amazing the bacon ravioli was. Bacon makes everything taste better!! This is the only dish that has stayed on the Canoe menu since it opened its' doors in 1995. We also had fish special. Honestly, I was so engrossed with my meal; I forgot exactly what my date had. She said it was good though. For dessert we had a trio of Crème Brule. It was a Trio of Baileys, Kahlua and Godiva. As with anything it is a question of taste and your palate. I LOVED the Bailey's. The others were good as well and WELL worth ordering. The only reason this restaurant did not otherwise receive 5 stars is sadly because of our server. The valet, hostess, bartender( I had a drink before my date got there) and the person who sat us were extremely professional and friendly. The person who sat us even took the liberty of taking my dates coat and told her it would be waiting by the hostess stand. I usually give waiters the benefit of the doubt as I was a waiter for a number of years. She was courteous in the beginning and made recommendations. However, thereafter there were 3 major mistakes she made. The first and second were making us feel rushed. First, we ordered a bottle of red wine. Overlooking the generous 34 of a glass pour, she subsequently continued to pour generously throughout the meal. I even commented to my date and said, "If she pours more wine considering our glass is half full, I will be a little bit perturbed." She did not fail to fail me...Secondly, as we were eating dessert; she drops the check as we are having the 1st bite. I know what many people who have been in the industry are thinking now: We were sitting and she might have been 1st cut. Not at all.... We had reservations on a Friday night at 8:00 PM and she dropped off the check at 9:00PM. The last time I was rushed like that I was at a diner in New Jersey. The final mistake was my date was kind enough to pick up the tab. She has a very feminine name. Her name is not Pat, Chris or Jesse. The waitress handed me the slip to sign anyway and addressed me with her last name! I know waiters may have bad nights so I will not describe what she looks like. I hope this was an isolated event. Otherwise, the meal was absolutely incredible and would absolutely return. I would comfortably put this restaurant as a must eat restaurant in Atlanta.
(4)justin p.
this place was really good. the outdoor area was really pleasant. there is a cool bar near the river to hang out at and enjoy the pleasant weather. innovative cocktail menu. the menu is really great too. i had the pecan-crusted red grouper and the watermelon feta salad. both were great. also tried the smoked salmon (great) and the sweet corn chowder (also great). service was also on top of things. good food, great setting and, overall, a very pleasant evening.
(5)Jennifer K.
Always top-notch service, delectable food, and a cozy atmosphere. Canoe is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. It is perfect for business meetings or romantic dinners.
(5)Juv C.
*sigh* I fell in love with this restaurant, and best believe that as soon as I'm back in Georgia I will be coming right back here. The ambiance is incredibly inviting - nice for groups and romantic for couples. The service is true southern hospitality- our waitress was a sweetheart and so friendly. Smoked salmon appetizer with goat cheese on a fried potato cake was delicious. I'm not even a big fan of goat cheese but I loved this. I couldn't decide between the trout or the shellfish risotto, so thank god our waitress recommended the risotto. It was fantastic. Yummy creamy risotto in a bouiabase with fresh mussels, shrimp and scallop and a nice hunk of sourdough garlic bread. I was very happy with my meal. Some of the best risotto I've ever had. Even the after dinner coffee was fantastic. Made by Martinez. A true attraction for Canoe is the outside patio. It's beautiful! And that's just from me seeing it at night. I can't even imagine how gorgeous the land is during the day with the beautiful lawn of grass and flowers. You can sit out there, enjoy your dinner or brunch, and look out, or better yet, walk along the river. Yes, the river is right there. I wish we had more places like this in SF, but honestly, it probably wouldn't be as beautiful.
(5)Rob W.
I have to start off by saying that it has mandatory valet parking. I was kind of put off by that because I wasn't expecting it. The location by the river is awesome. We were seated and one of the staff noticed me taking a cell phone photo of the grounds from our table. She encouraged us to get outside right then and there for photos before we lost the light. She guided us out back and then took photos of our group of four with our phones. She's obviously done this before. That was a nice touch. We ordered our meal after hearing of the specials and the waitress's favourite items. She spoke like it was a memorized speech, but that's being picky. The food arrived in good time and it was well plated. I ordered the sea scallops and it was tasty. Proces were not too over the top. Service was very good.
(4)Andy A.
Decore was nice. Appetizer was great. Rabbit was nice, but slow cooked beef was so-so. Go for the salted carmel desert! It was a good value overall.
(4)Andrea H.
I loved this restaurant! Can't think of a thing that wasn't spot on: the lighting was dark, but not too dark; the noise level was quiet enough to hear everything in the conversation without yelling or straining, but it wasn't too quiet (read: great energy abuzz in the room), impeccable service (attentive but not overbearing). The food... was pretty darn good. I loved their basket of bread and butter. I know it sounds simple, but so many restaurants overlook this part of the experience and its just wrong to start your meal with stale, grocery store bread and tasteless butter. We started with oysters on the half shell with a cucumber champagne mignonette. It may have been one of the more memorable fresh oyster dishes I've ever had. Usually I eat fresh oysters with horseradish and tabasco... but the cucumber champagne was a light, refreshing surprise. It really made the oyster shine. We also had the beet salad, which they kindly split onto two plates so my husband and I could eat from our own plates. For entree, I had Gulf Red Snapper, Peruvian White Beans, Baby Collards, Roasted Eggplant Hummus, Melted Grape Tomato Vinaigrette. My entire plate was delicious. I devoured...everything. My husband had Newfoundland Steelhead Trout, Smoked Salmon Tortelloni, Blue Crab Bechamel. His fish was cooked nicely, but the tortelloni and bechamel sauce was "meh," as he put it. Unfortunate, since it was the dish our server recommended to him. We shared a creme brulee for dessert, and it was pretty standard. Overall, we had a great experience at Canoe and will return to try other dishes when visiting ATL!
(4)Samuel R.
Amazing service and amazing food!
(5)Denise S.
Everything about our meal at Canoe was fabulous! From the ambience to the food and the service. As many times as I've visited Atlanta I cannot believe I've never eaten here. Selected lamb ribs and shrimp stuffed calamari for apps. Delicious! Chose the rabbit as my entree and enjoyed every bite. Husband had the cod served over a coconut rice cake and I couldn't keep my fork out of his plate. But, the piece de resistance was the popcorn ice cream sundae. OH MY! Popcorn flavor infused ice cream with a Cracker Jack bottom and pieces on top. Wow. Bar and table service was fabulous. And the sommolier, Elisha, what a delight! Helped us select a very nice wine and then chatted with us about our recent wine tasting trip to Sonoma & Napa. We loved our meal so much we made reservations for the following evening but due to unforeseen time restraints had to cancel. Canoe- you better get used to seeing me each time I am in ATL!
(5)Rina C.
this restaurant is the best restaurant I've ever been to. I would give it 6 stars. the service is excellent. food didn't take long 3 kinds of bread and they are so good. (can't stop eating them) everything from appetizer, soup to main entree is super delicious the view? yes, the most amazing. pretty garden by the river, and you can sit on the patio and enjoy the view while you eat and take a walk in the garden before and after meal. my only complaint to this restaurant is that everything taste so good--I ran out of room for desert!
(5)Anna S.
Great atmosphere for romance but also casual brunch. Minus one star because the food has never blown me away. It's always just slightly off. If you go, I recommend getting the cheese plate. It's substantial and has an interesting mix of cheeses and breads.
(4)Badri N.
Went here for a business lunch with a couple of our top sales people. Lunch with sales people rocks since they like to keep us marketing folk happy and buy us nice expensive lunches :) Anyway, Canoe is "Upscale" feel and atmosphere but with very little overt pretentiousness. Never mind the three Bentleys in the parking lot. Never mind the hand carved wood bar with hand rubbed brass fixtures. Never mind the scenic waterfront location by the river, with a walkway and steps leading to the water's edge! Never mind the uber-attentive wait-staff that knows almost everyone by name (obviously they get a lot of repeat customers) Never mind the fact that they took my food and held it in a warmer when I had to step out to take a phone call. It's 5 stars and I haven't even got to the food yet!!! ~ 5 stars for location, ambiance, service! The house smoked salmon is a "can't miss" start to your meal - do it. Again, DO IT - comes with a lemony hummus and wonderful crisp bread (like a pita chip on steroids) - a steal for $7.95 (but not enough to share so get your own plate!!!) I tried the African squash soup (WAITER: "African squash tastes like regular squash but it's darker" Said with earnestness and a straight face so I won't make any "typical Southern comment" comments :) DELICIOUS. No other way to describe it - topped with a delightful lemon cream that was whipped so light that it would make a French souffle chef cry tears of joy!!! I could make a meal out of this soup - incredible doesn't even begin to do justice to it!!! $8.95 - and if you ask to share it with a fellow diner, you get nearly the same as a full bowl except two eat for the price of one! FTW :) I had the baby arugula salad - with candied walnuts, fresh parmesan shavings and a fresh citrus vinaigrette ($6.95) - this would be delicious inside a warmed or toasted ciabatta too - good option - and I'm sure they'd make it if you asked - this is THAT kind of place :) We all had the special (unlisted) - a panko encrusted dover sole filet on a bed of sauteed spinach with roasted red fingerling potatoes. Mmmmm, I can still taste it (which, for fish, would ordinarily be followed by EUWWWWWW, not so in this case!!!) I think this was about 15 bucks (not on the menu and I wasn't paying hahaha) ~ 5 stars for the food. What can I say? An unqualified, unreserved 5 stars. If you're in the area - you owe it to yourself to check this place out. You will not regret it, I promise! # 45
(5)Alex H.
Great food, great service. There's not much I can add that hasn't already been said. A must visit unless it's the weekend. It's a bit loud on weekend nights, which sours the atmosphere. They're also more harried, pulling the service from "great" to "good".
(4)Brandy L.
One of my favorite restaurants in Atl well Vinings! I have never had a bad meal or experience here excellent food & service.
(5)Michelle Y.
This restaurant was fabulous. I don't live in Atlanta, but brought clients for a biz dinner. Food, service, atmosphere- all top notch! Would definitely return if back in Atlanta. Particularly beautiful outside space with River view!
(5)Howard B.
always good with consistent service and ever changing and updated menu. great location.
(4)Kate B.
Excellent Food Beautiful Relaxing Atmosphere Great Service Perfect for a date!
(5)Kimi B.
Wow. Really, I should probably just leave it at that. SUCH an amazing dining experience was had at Canoe. First, the service. Christopher Williams was our server and he was one of the best servers I've ever had (I waited tables and bar-tended for 10+ years so I'm picky). He was present w/o hovering. Had amazing suggestions (although I suspect everything is good here). Had intimate knowledge of the menu. Never made us feel like he was trying to up-sell us on anything. Timed our food perfectly. Phenomenal. Second, the atmosphere. Modern, yet quaint and intimate. I would love to come back when it's warm enough to eat outside. Third, the food. Heaven. We shared the smoked salmon appetizer on potato latkes. I nearly forked my friends in the eye to get more than my fair share. We also had the duck pastrami. This was the only thing we had that I did not absolutely love, but I did love the pickled veggies on top and it was probably just a personal preference thing. We then shared the baby arugula salad which Christopher was gracious enough to have the kitchen split into thirds w/o us even asking. Delicious. I got the Sourdough crusted lemon sole for my entree. One of the best fish dishes I've ever had. Literally sopped it all up w/ my bread. My one friend got the Cornmeal Crusted Rainbow Trout which I tasted and it was nearly as good as mine. My other friend is a vegetarian, but is obsessed w/ eggs so she oddly got the Duck n' Beef Burger w/o meat. She literally would NOT stop going on and on about how it was the best sandwich of her life. Strange, but so is she. Dessert: we were stuffed, but shared the Chocolate Grotto and the Banana Bread Pudding. I was a CIA trained pastry chef for 6 years so I'm also picky about my desserts. The bread pudding was amazing, but the grotto was literally out of this world. The plates looked clean when we'd finished w/ them. The only possible negative I could even mention about my experience at Canoe was that our reservation was at 7:45 and we were not sat until 8:30, but I really did not care as we sat at the bar and shared an amazing bottle of pinot noir from Santa Barbara. I would have waited another 2 hours for the meal I had here.
(5)Rony G.
Canoe probably ranks on the top 10 places to eat in atlanta. That is a lot to say as Atlanta is a city that calls it self the Mecca of great restaurants. As soon as you walk in you will know that this restaurant is not pretentious but you must be aware that the people that frequent this restaurant have comfortable means ;) Dress up you will fit right in!!! Once in your table the service from all angles will be superb. Everything on the menu is great. Was with a party of 5 so we were able to try many things from the menu!!!! The best for last. Go to the patio!!!! Right next to the Chattahoochee river. You will be transported to a surreal ambience that you will not want to leave. Try it you will not regret it Tip, try the goat cheese wrapped by salmon. Wow!!!!
(5)Ben C.
I've been here about five times. Brunch on Sundays is always impressive. Crab bisque is awesome. Dinner has been hit and miss though. Jackrabbit was awesome, but I also had a Greek-type steak that wasn't that good and was fairly expensive. Atmosphere and view is near the tops in the city.
(4)Gay R.
I've had the privilege over the years to dine in many very good and extremely well thought of restaurants in a number of major cities in the US. I have rarely, maybe only once, had a better dining experience than the one I recently enjoyed at Canoe -- and that was at Pebble Beach's Spanish Bay Inn! While at Canoe, this past Thursday evening (21 March 2013) EVERYTHIG was perfect -- service, food, atmosphere, wine ...! We could not have been more pleased. My husband and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary and Canoe made it even more special. We'd be neglect if we did not give special recognition to our server, Mitch. He was extremely professional with a deep knowledge of the menu, accurate descriptions -- making every menu selection decision even more difficult :-) ... and fabulous service. On the appetizer menu, they had replaced the Squash Soup with a Parsnips Soup -- it was off the chart fab! I would never have thought a soup made with parsnips could be so good, but it was incredible; and the crab cake -- the best I've ever had. My ONLY compliant was there was only one! My husband, being a meat/potatoes kinda guy had the Hickory Grilled New York Strip and I had the slices of Lamb Sirloin which was one of their special entrees that night. His strip was perfect and my slices of lamb sirloin were unbelievable! Desserts -- his the Classic Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee, me -- the Banana Nut Bread Pudding. OMG -- both terrific! I highly recommend Canoe for anyone. We can't wait to go there sometime for the Sunday brunch!
(5)John G.
Fancy place. I enjoyed the meal but might be a little pricey for what you get. We had a party of roughly 8 and had to exponentiate the amount of appetizers as the portions were ridiculously lacking. It tries a little too hard to be elite. But for a company paid lunch, I found everything fine.
(4)Rhonda C.
We came here on Saturday for my girlfriend's birthday. The food at Canoe is awesome but what sets them apart is the detail. Example, bringing apps out in separate courses and plates, our waiter Andrew saying my name the first time he addressed the table and waiters helping out with tables that were not theirs and they weren't asked. Small touches that you don't get in most restaurants, I love it. After dinner we had a drink at the outside bar. Before we left my girlfriend was serenaded with Happy Birthday from a patron. I'm sure he had his share of cocktails but he did have a nice voice. We really enjoyed Canoe and we will be back. Apps: Salmon and Clams Entrée: Pork Tenderloin and Rabbit Dessert: Georgia Peach Sorbet
(5)Car Q.
I had a excellent experience here. The atmosphere was great. It was louder than I thought it would be and we sat out on the porch. The food and service was great.
(5)Scott W.
Had a 7 course wine pairing here. I am not much of a wine person, but all were very tasty and smooth. They were paired perfectly with the small plates that were served with them. I enjoyed this experience very much.
(5)Natalia C.
A place of choice for special occasions.
(5)Adam W.
Let me start by saying that I am by no means, a foodie. I haven't lived in Atlanta for very long and I haven't had a lot of finer dining experiences in the city yet. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed Canoe. The Good: I made my reservation using Yelp a day ahead of time for our 2 yr. anniversary. They have complimentary valet at the door which was nice because it was drizzling rain. The hostess took our coats and gave us a ticket. (Also complimentary) We were seated immediately. The inside of the restaurant was decorated very nicely. Our waitress appeared to be very busy but we had 2 people come to our table and ask if we needed anything and informed us our waitress would be there shortly. We were given a very large wine list and a menu to look over. Our waitress was very nice initially and explained every single dish in depth to us (even though we didn't ask). They seemed to have a pretty solid variety of entrees (fish, meat, etc). The restaurant has someone to come around with about 4 different kinds of bread for you to choose from. We both had the Rabbit dish. I can't remember the name but it was fantastic. The rabbit was extra tender and all the sides were very tasty. After the meal we were given a dessert menu but nothing really caught our eye. Then we went to the hostess stand and got our coats and the valet brought our car around. The Bad: Nothing was too bad, but for the sake of providing a complete review: We were at our table for 8-10 minutes before we had our drink orders taken. After explaining all the dishes (which took some time) we took a few minutes to decide. My girlfriend decided she wanted one of the fish entrees but when she went to place her order, the waitress informed her that they were sold out of that particular entree but she did apologize for not mentioning that earlier. We sat by the kitchen and didn't really get to enjoy the river view that I hear they have. The restaurant was a little on the loud side but nothing unbearable. They were very busy the night we were there but the waitress seemed to get a little snappy with us as the night progressed. She wasn't mean but just sort of lost the friendliness in her attitude. But like I said, none of that really took away from our meal. Any other useful info: 1 Glass of Wine, 2 waters, and 2 entrees with a 20 percent tip was $105 All in all it was a pretty nice experience and I will probably go there again.
(4)Chriss F.
Had a very nice meal with Red Snapper, Steelhead trout, Squash soup, banana cream pie, salted caramel chocolate dessert and a delightful pinot noir. The bartender was attentive. Seating was prompt..had an open table reservation. The server called us by a different name..wasn't sure if she was dissapointed that we were not who she expected. From that point on, she was not as polite as I thought she should be. Was kinda cold... Food was excellente !
(4)Matthew L.
Attended a wedding here on the restaurant property along the river. Setting for the ceremony was gorgeous. The reception was in an adjacent tent and was catered by the restaurant. Food was excellent as was the wait staff. Whole event was very well done.
(4)Brittany W.
I love this place. I took my dad for lunch one day and he fell in LOVE. We sat outside because it was warm and oh how gorgeous it is. Tons of flowers and right on the river, it was awesome. The food was DELISH. Like, legit both of our plates looked brand new when we were done. So awesome, 5 stars - totally worth it!
(5)Tricia W.
My fiance and I had a wonderful dinner here. The restaurant and its surroundings are removed but romantic so it is a great place for a more private date. The bread was delicious, try the cranberry (or maybe it was raisin) one even though it is a bit unconventional for a before dinner bread. Entrees were very good but we thought the real stand-outs were the dessert. I had tangerine sorbet with a lemon cake, so moist and refreshing! My fiance had the chocolate grotto with salted caramel and it was definitely one of the best desserts we have had. Extra pluses: Interesting drink menu, and the service is thorough without being overbearing. Overall, highly recommended for special occasion...worth the splurge and not snooty!
(4)Stefani P.
Wonderful food and beautiful scenery! We were there for NYE dinner so the outside area was not open, but we will definitely be returning to sit outside! My only complaint is we were slightly rushed through our meal. The waiter kindly let us know that they would be taking our order for everything right away, which i'm not a fan of. I'm sure the only reason for this at the time was because of the holiday and they were very busy. Oh! And our waiter looked exactly like Steve-O, haha :)
(4)Shawanda M.
Frolicked here last month for my birthday and the food was divine! The crab & eggs was so flavorful and filling, I cannot wait to head back to brunch just to have it again. The scones...ahhh. I generally don't do scones..not really sure why but considering I had been out the night before and was slightly hungover, the scones were a delicious prerequisite to a tasty brunch. my only downfall was that our service was odd. She started out amazing even telling a couple of my strict dieting friends that she'll be happy to get word to the chef so that they can come up with something delicious and healthy for them. Very nice of her. But she sort of lost her "mojo" a little later, which definitely left bad taste in my mouth. Despite our hot & cold waitress, I'll be returning to Canoe...hopefully sometime soon.
(4)Abbey J.
I have been to Canoe 2 times in the past and was not impressed. The setting, right on the river, is great, but I was not very impressed with the food for the price. With that being said, I went here again a few weeks ago and it was AMAZING. I had the pheasant and it was absolutely one of the best meals I have ever eaten. The service this time around was impeccable and we even had cake that they made especially for my friends birthday. Canoe is going back to the top of my list of restaurants for fine dining.
(4)Ming Y.
amazing place for romantic occasions. they have indoor dinning, porch dinning, and a outdoor bar by the river. the environment was very pleasant and relaxing, ppl have their wedding there as they were one wedding, and one rehearsal while we were there. the dish was very tasty, and the price is VERY REASONABLE. we had duck, rabbit, and a appetizer, and it was a good amount. we then went outside to have drinks at the outside bar next to the river, it was a lovely setting with very friendly bar tenders. they only thing was that the day we went was my birthday, i was hoping for a free desert, but there was none :p
(4)Ruchir P.
I had briefly glanced at Yelp and Canoe's website prior to attending, and the combination of fairly high reviews and appetizing menu made be fairly excited for our reservations. Background: The dinner was for an end of the year banquet with a group of 8-10. We arrived as a fairly casually dressed (most patrons where dressed in a minimum of business casual) and diverse racial party. The only reason I make note of these two qualities is because I saw other reviewers comment on the lack of diversity at the restaurant and fairly formal, elderly clientele. I must agree with their comments - the mix up is fairly older white individuals, but this in no way implies a negative. They were just as pleasant to our crowd as any other. Not to mention, we were definitely the youngest group at the restaurant. The Experience: Canoe's initial impressions where a bit mixed. Set in a mini-strip mall the exterior of the restaurant leaves something to be desired, but upon entrance you clearly see why it is so highly rated. The interior is amazing, but the view and garden are what make it worthwhile. Overlooking, the banks of the Chattahoochee River, Canoe's setting is truly perfect. The gardens are amazing to walk in while waiting for your appetizers or while sipping your first cocktail. There is no need for me to go into extreme detail to describe the delicious food (you can simply look at their on-line menu), but the portions, variety, and overall quality is definitely a distinguishing quality of the restaurant. Again to address other reviews, the prices are steep, but then again if you check the menu prior to arriving you are fully aware of this quality. Other Notes: Unfortunately, the night we went (yesterday) a slight storm happened to pass through Atlanta. As we were waiting on our check, the storm hit causing a giant tree in the garden to collapse on the outdoor seating and awning. As the emergency lighting quickly flicked on, we saw our waitress and almost the entire Canoe staff (everyone from the manager, bus boys, and even kitchen staff) jump into action to quickly help the people that were sitting under the outdoor awning. The paramedics and ambulances were immediately called for the outdoor patrons, but luckily it seemed that almost everyone was fine. The staff was extremely helpful and could have done nothing more in the situation. Let it be noted, that the storm was extremely intense and caused several other tress in the area to fall, and actually closed several roads in the area. Summary: Overall, I believe the setting, experience, and food are definitely what distinguish Canoe as a top-tier restaurant. It is extremely unfortunate that the outdoor awning was severally damaged, and I came to learn that only two years prior Canoe had actually flooded. I am glad that they were able to rebound from the flood, and have no doubt that their excellent food and service will keep patrons coming back (and hopefully the outdoor setting will be fixed as soon as possible). On a side note, I recently read that they have an option for a private menu in the garden for a small group titled, "Chef's Organic Vegetable Garden". Once I go, I will update my review!
(4)ash r.
The setting is real romantic and has a great view of the chattanooga river. The pheasant was cooked to perfection. The crotquiets were nice and crisp with tender pheasant meat inside. The sweet pototoes could of used more sugar but still wasn't bad. I would definetly recommend getting this dish. Another tasty dish was the beef short rib. The meat was real tender and didn't need a knife to cut it. I substituted the white beans for the risotto. The risotto was real good but was a little too salty for my taste.
(5)Christina T.
Went here last night for my birthday! I will start by saying my server Hope was amazing. She recommended her favorite dishes and was so pleasant and attentive. I ordered the steak medium well. The first few bites were cooked to perfection however the middle of my steak was extremely pink. I decided that I was not going to complain because the service had been so great and I would just take the remainder to go. When my server came back to the table she realized my steak was not cooked like I asked and was extremely apologetic and pretty much begged for me to send it back so that they could cook it to perfection. Not only did she take my plate back but she insisted on taking my friends plate also to keep their food warm while mine was cooking. When she brought it back she replenished the sides on both of our plates. Also to apologize she brought out three complimentary birthday desserts. My experience here was like none ever before. I give this restaurant five stars. I have dined at many restaurants in the Atlanta area an have not had service as good as this. I will recommend Canoe to everyone I know because of the above and beyond service.
(5)Barbara D.
I am in love with this restaurant. My boyfriend and I came here for date night yesterday and it was everything we could have asked for. We were seated in a semicircular booth facing the river and fully enjoyed the view the whole evening. For an appetizer, we ordered the oysters on a half shell with a simple cucumber champagne mignonette. I am a huge seafood fan and I have to say these were the best raw oysters I have EVER had, hands down. For dinner, I ordered the Georgia mountain trout which was fairly good - light and flavorful. My boyfriend ordered their popular slow roasted Carolina rabbit - for his first rabbit experience, he absolutely loved it. I hate bacon but I even loved the bacon ravioli that came with his rabbit entree. Our server was perfect. He was on top of everything without being overbearing. The only thing I thought was odd was the bread service. They don't give you your own basket of bread but instead, bring around a basket for you to choose from where they serve you 1-2 slices at a time with tongs. After dinner, we brought our drinks outside where you'll find a bar at the waterfront with plenty of chairs for you to lounge around on. It was really cute and a perfect romantic spot to spend some time at. It was fairly dark by the time we were finished dinner but we also took a walk and briefly looked around their organic garden which had me completely sold. This isn't a restaurant I'd regularly return to but it's definitely a nice 'special occasion' or 'date night' spot. For 1 appetizer, both of our entrees, and a total of 4 drinks, our bill came to $105 before tip. After writing this review, I may need to make a trip back just to order the oysters next week.
(4)Aaron P.
Right on the Chattahoochee River, in a beautiful wooden structure, this place is a get away. There is a patio (first come, first served) which was lovely to sit on. There is also a bar closer to the river (which you should sit at while you wait for a place on the patio). I cannot attest to the entrees but this place was pretty crowded on a Saturday night so they must be good. I did get desert, smoked salmon appetizer, and a bottle of wine. Their by the bottle wine list is one of, if not the best in town and their deserts were very good. The service was pretty good, I have had better but I'm not saying it was bad at all. All-in-all I will be going back.
(5)Isabel Y.
Since I reviewed Canoe two years ago, I've been back several times.. it's just a consistently awesome place. I love the new-ish outdoor bar on the river... great place to chill out after dinner and listen to some live music with a post-dinner drink or coffee. Food- they had this asian scallops special a few visits back that I just cannot get out of my head... it was amazing amazing. The trout I had a couple nights ago was sort of ordinary, so I wish I had picked something else, but I think I just really was wishing they offered those scallops again. I am obsessed with their corn soup. Also, their creme brulee is awesome, though extremely rich (it's not a splurge meal for nothing!). It's a great place for a business dinner or a romantic evening out-- and the staff makes you feel comfortable and relaxed, and is always attentive to your next drink. What more could you ask for (especially at a work dinner)? Kidding...!
(5)david w.
I really enjoyed just about everything about this place, and was very happy to stumble upon it in the Atlanta 'burbs. Took about 10 clients out for a dinner, and everyone in the group loved the entire experience. The decor is really nice and relaxing, the service was great, and the food outstanding. I had the pecan crusted grouper and a watermellon salad, which seems to be a hit based on other reviews, but around the table we covered most of the menue and all was amazing. Highly recomend this place anytime...and hope I can get back soon.
(4)L D.
My Husband took me here as a treat, and what a treat it was! As we walked in and sat at the bar(we were not fans of the drinks-my only complaint), I didn't think it anything special, but as I caught a glimpse of, and was led outside, I knew why he had brought me here, and it's not just for the food. The back of Canoe is a green wonderland with a river running behind it. It is, in my book, breathtaking, magic, heaven on earth! We sat down, and a thunderstorm started! Wonderful! We were covered and safe. Our server was lovely. Let the food begin. Marinated gold and red beet salad with Vermont goat cheese was gorgeous to look at and dee-lish! My short ribs were savory, tender-in short, they were scrummy. I'm a bread girl, and the selection of bread was varied, flavorful, and chewy/soft perfection. We shared the popcorn sundae, which was big enough for two, and quite tasty. I live in the Bay Area of California, travel quite a bit, eat in Manhattan, and New Orleans, and I think I know good food a little. Well, this was very good, and with the view, it can't be beat!
(5)Shamik M.
Amazing place for fish. Upscale ambience. Try whatever the fish they give as the fresh fish of the day - that always turns out to be very good. And dont miss out on the chocolate lava dessert - love the fact that you have whack it to get the creamy chocolate out of it.
(4)L S.
We loved this place. Our server was so nice and treated us like we were royalty (esp since they knew it was a special day). The food was great. The new York steak is amazing. The ambience is really nice as well, right by the riverside, the garden etc. WILL DEF recommend and go there again.
(4)Lauren N.
I went here with my family on graduation weekend, and am glad I did. It's definitely a nice spot for a special occasion. The scenery is beautiful, and we took lots of memorable photos outside prior to dinner. I found the food to be a little too southern and a bit disappointing for a restaurant with such built up expectations. Here is my reaction to what we ordered: - Wine = AMAZING. My dad picked out a nice bottle, haha. - Bread basket = AMAZING. Very unique and delicious. - Arugula Salad= eh. I like cheese on my salad, and the only kind they had was Parmesan. It was too basic. - Salmon= it was drenched in a buttery-type sauce. Definitely ask for it on the side. I was not a fan! - Duck n' Beef Burger-=My brother ordered this and sent it back. He said it was gross. - Dessert= They gave us about 7 complimentary desserts. Some were good, some weren't. None stood out in my mind as spectacular. Overall, it was a quality meal and an enjoyable experience. Good service. Ran into about four other families celebrating graduation at the same time. Side Note: Canoe is located in Bumblefuck, GA. Took me 30 minutes from Decatur.
(4)Dean T.
We ate there last friday night, very nice place, service was good. The food was good, and I liked that they use local produce. We went out to the bar area by the river after dinner, it was a great evening. I would definately recommend this place
(4)Terry F.
I took my lovely wife to Canoe for one of those rare nights out without the kids. I had booked the table thru an online service and ordered flowers and a romantic table. The staff at Canoe came thru with both. We loved the decor and ambience of Canoe from the moment we walked in. We were seated and our evening began. Service was good, although slow. Pretty much what I expected, after all this isn't a fast food place. The food was spectacular, as was the entire evening. We highly recommend Canoe!
(5)Dat L.
Most romantic place to eat and bring a date. Delicious food. We always get the rabbit entree plus something else to share. :)
(5)Carlos A.
Canoe you are swanky. Came here for wife's birthday and we were not disappointed. The food is delicious and the service is excellent. We had Shrimp Stuffed Calamari with Spanish Chorizo for the app and it was on point. Wife had the lamb and I had the NY Strip. I'm not going to lie, mine was better than hers and she was jealous. (I gave her some bites). We'll definitely be back, especially when it cools down so we can enjoy the view of the Chattahoochee.
(5)Fontaine C.
It is my second visit here for brunch. I enjoyed the food and service a lot at both times. We ordered a small basket of bakery. It comes with two sweet sticky buns , one blueberry scone and one cheese/bacon scone. Sticky buns are crunchy and not too sweet. Scones are decently baked. We also ordered a dish of "crab and eggs". This is extremely delicious too. I highly recommend this place for brunch. And I will come back to try other dinners and desserts next time.
(5)Paula S.
Canoe boasts Atlanta's most lovely setting for a restaurant. In a way the garden environment reminded me of Commander's Palace in New Orleans. Yet the food isn't astonishing. It's merely high quality ingredients, properly prepared but ultimately somewhat forgettable. We've dined there twice, once on the terrace at sunset with a wonderful friend. I remember our conversation and watching the sunset by the river far more than the cuisine. However, DH and I both recall my needing to decamp for a stroll because Canoe's cheese plate was skimpy! LOL There was barely enough for him and our host. (We were assured it was sufficient for 3.) The service was great one time though a bit sloppy during our initial visit. While we waited for our friend during that visit a bartender was surly because he wasn't knowledgeable about whether one of the 2 gewurtztraminers then offered was sweetish or off dry. He acted as though I didn't know wines. We ordered the Trimbach to play safe. If my treasure of a mother in law visited us we'd take her there for brunch. It's that kind of place.
(4)Katrina M.
amazing service, always. the she crab soup (brunch) is my fav. not one complaint.
(5)Chris I.
The view and meal was fantastic. Had the Grilled Atlantic Salmon, Spaghetti Squash & Carrot Saute, Pecans and Wilted Baby Spinach. The flavors and texture blended together perfectly. Will definitely be back for another meal the next time I'm in Atlanta area.
(5)Christie K.
Canoe is one of my favorite restaurants! The setting is absolutely gorgeous - it has a fantastic view of the Chattahoochee. The food is consistently delicious. The service is always top-notch. UNF. UNF. UNF. I've been to Canoe for brunch, lunch, and dinner and it's always been FANTASTIC. Try the cornmeal pancakes (or anything that has cornmeal in it) and any of their seafood dishes! PURRFECTION. All of their ingredients are top-notch (veggies are brought in from their own garden)! *ECSTATIC WRITHING* The place is great for any occasion~ I really recommend to anyone visiting Atlanta!
(5)Andrew C.
Impeccable restaurant. Consistently among the best in Atlanta, and has a better location than all of them.
(5)Jeremy A.
I went to Canoe with my girlfriend to celebrate our anniversary. The place has a beautiful decor and setting. We sat outside on the patio and the view over the river was very cool. I had a scallops dish and it was very very good, I also recommend the mussels appetizer. It's pricey so reserve your visit for a special occasion and definitely go check this place out.
(4)Jennifer S.
Great location on the river...scenic and cozy. The food and service were also very good!
(4)Megan C.
I was seriously excited to eat here after reading all the positive reviews. I definitely love a great meal- and the menu looked great. My friend and I came in late last Friday night, and started with a round of cocktails in the bar. The drinks, espresso martinis, were pretty delicious. We were seated at a table about a half hour later and both ready to eat. Our waiter came to the table, we had brought in our own bottle of wine(Chappellet Prichard Hill Cab 07-WS 96-YUM) and our waiter seemed irritated. Our bar tab was transferred and they do charge a corking fee so it wasn't like we were being cheap, we just brought a special bottle. I am not quite sure how to describe this fellow or his attitude, but by the end of our meal we were quite irritated by him. He was cocky, overenthusiastic and rude at the same time. He recommended we start with the Salmon appetizer, which we agreed sounded great and I ordered the Rabbit for dinner. The salmon appetizer came out, basically Lox over a layer of goat cheese on a potato cake, I was quite fond of the potato cake, it was light and crispy. However, the smoked salmon lox was cut thickly and placed on top of a very thick layer of goat cheese. When you bit into it, it was mushy. I am sure the kitchen just screwed this one up because I can't imagine it always tastes that way. The waiter came by and asked what we thought of the dish. I told him, "The flavors are there, but the texture is mushy". Apparently this personally offended him, he didn't apologize, he just kind of brushed it off and was short with us the rest of the night. The rabbit was OKAY, I had extremely high expectations for the dish. The meat tasted decent, my real problem was with the ravioli. The smoke flavor was extremely overpowering. It tasted like an entire bottle of liquid smoke was added to the filling. I couldn't even eat it, but since our waiter was already being rude because our appetizer was mushy I wasn't about to complain again. Here is my problem with the service I received at Canoe. Is it not plausible that a dish could have been prepared wrong? What happened to the customer is always right? And, if I tell you the food is not up to par, it is not a personal attack on you so please don't act that way and be noticeably rude to me the rest of the night. At least apologize and/or offer to remake the dish. I have to say, I probably won't eat here again.
(2)Marc T.
Excellent experience. Great, friendly service from the valet, hostess, and bartender as well as the servers who delivered to the bar. I was visiting on business and decided to eat at the bar. The burger (duck and beef) was very tasty, and the truffled fries were as well. I will be back for a full meal
(5)Maura H.
Definitely worth making a reservation on Open Table for this restaurant. We did and go the corner table overlooking the garden and the river and I couldn't have asked for a better seat. I love to hear everything about what is in a meal and how it is prepared. Canoe indulged me with every morsel of detail they could muster, right down to where the organic tomatoes came from. I was so impressed by the waitress and her knowledge of the meals, I could hardly focus on what to order. The meals were incredibly imaginative and diverse. Example of menu items: Organic tomtatoes layered wtih tomatoe salad and topped with a small scoop of ice cream. Sage Roasted Pheasant with mashed sweet potatoes, garlic sauteed spinach and dark meat pheasant croquettes. Vanilla Cornmeal Cake with Blueberry-Cilantro sauce and sweet corn ice cream. Bizarre combinations I admit, but perfectly paired. I even went with a relatively picky person and she loved her food. Expect to spend your savings on a meal, but who needs savings when you can be in food heaven?.
(5)Song S.
So far, the best contemporary American fare I've had in Atlanta. The location is great: situated besides the river with a small vegetable garden (heirloom tomatoes, okra, carrots, squash...) and a sizable garden to walk through, this isn't a place to just eat and leave. And walking was necessary after noshing through the appetizer, entree, and dessert. Here's a rundown: Appetizer: Mussels in curry-like, lemongrass broth. I like mussels, so I'm already biased. But I liked the suggestion from the server: dip your sourdough bread into the broth - it's like a meal on it's own! Entree: Australian lamb. Wow. This may have been the first time I've had lamb cooked medium-rare and I do not regret it. Not funky like lamb can sometimes taste, the outside was seared until crunchy and the inside was soo tender. I ate a chunk of fat and did not gag. Yummy. Served on a bed of risotto (double yum) with a tart-ish dressing. I could've done without the capers, but that's my only complaint. Side note: Heirloom tomatoes were extremely flavorful. Not on my dish, but recommended. Dessert: Semifreddo of blueberry sorbet, sweetened yogurt served with lavender sauce. I was hesitant about this dessert, but this sounded like the lightest thing on the menu. The syrup smelled so nicely of lavender that I wanted to bottle it up and sniff it all the way home. The greek yogurt was so delicious and it paired well with the sorbet (and I'm not normally a fan of sorbet). It was sizable enough to share. Is the pastry chef single? Our visit was pleasant and our server was extremely helpful and accommodating. We had to wait about 10min to get seated which kinda irked me since the lady at the entrance wasn't the warmest person, but the person who sat us made up for her. The servers were very friendly; we got smiles, farewells and greetings from other servers (maybe they can sense my grad student budget trickling away). I don't know what the other yelper was talking about - the place was pretty quiet and mellow for a Friday evening. And as always, bread service (recommend the flat bread!) and crumb sweepers impress me.
(5)Justin D.
What a pleasant drive up to see the elegant sign looming throught the trees and then to have my car parked for me. But this place is a total winner on every level. For me a good Vodka Collins is a difficult order, but I had 2 at the bar before dinner because they nailed it so well. Dinner was perfect, and I would go as far as to say that my Duck was prepared better then any other then I can remember having before. This is a large place so don't expect to have a nice quiet dinner, there are a lot of people all trying to talk too, so it may get a little loud in there. but the food it totally worth it. Wish I could've had desert while I was there, but will be back soon for that!
(5)Sarah E.
Canoe has it all: A classy yet comfortable atmosphere, excellent food and service that's above and beyond. This is one of those restaurants that I've been wanting to visit forever but haven't gotten around to for some reason. Well, no, actually... I know the reason. It's not every day that my husband and I can afford to drop $100 to $150 for dinner. But we decided to save up our Date Night pennies and give it a go. We were both very happy that we did. Now I know that most people seem to want to sit on the porch out back with a view of the river. But we were happy to be seated inside, with a view of the open kitchen. We got to watch the chef in action and smell the delicious aromas of the food she and her staff were creating back there. Our server Terry was also excellent. He was friendly and happy to explain anything and everything. He pointed out the chef and the executive sous chef to us, explained that the chef liked to use local ingredients when possible and that the soft shell crabs being served that night had been crawling around when they got there that morning. He was happy to make recommendations, and they were all on point. First, we tried the Lemongrass Martini and snacked on three different types of delicious house-baked bread while we mulled over the appetizer selections. My was the Kalamata olive bread, and there was also a very interesting chili-rubbed flatbread that had a surprising amount of kick to it. The menu at Canoe is always changing, so a lot of the items mentioned here on Yelp were not listed last night. Fortunately, our server was happy to make recommendations. I had the House Smoked Salmon with a Crispy Potato Cake and Vermont Goat's Cheese. For some reason, even though I love lox AND goat cheese, this item didn't catch my eye until Terry pointed it out. The salmon was bursting with flavor without being fishy at all (which is quite a feat for smoked salmon). The goat cheese was a perfect complement to it. Even my husband, who cannot stand lox, thought that the appetizer was delicious. Oh, and the portion was huge (although I believe it's possible to order a half-portion). My husband had the Fried Green Tomato with Local Egg (and some sort of ham I can't remember) as his appetizer. I had a bite of this, and the tomato was wonderfully crunchy and flavorful. Yummy! When it came time to order our entrees, I was very tempted to order the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard, Bacon Ravioli, and Candied Garlic Sauce. It's a house specialty and I really wanted to taste it after reading about it here on Yelp. The only problem was that the only time I'd eaten rabbit before, I really wasn't a fan. Fortunately, my husband also wanted to try the rabbit, so he ordered it as his entree. The main issue I had when I tried rabbit before was that it seemed very tough. This rabbit was not the least bit tough, though. It was tender and accompanied by the most beautiful garlicky, buttery sauce. Mmmmm. One thing to note about this rabbit dish is that it takes about 20 minutes to prepare. So you should definitely order a starter and be willing to take your time. Our server was very on top of things and gave us fair warning about this. I ordered the Chili Glazed Duck Breast with Foie Gras Sausage. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the sausage - I've never tried foie gras before because I definitely do not like liver in any forms I've tasted so far. However, either I do like foie gras or I just like foie gras that's made into delicious sausage. And the duck was rich and tender. Even though it was a reasonably small portion, I started to get full quickly. Despite our full tummies, we decided to order dessert because other reviewers had indicated that the dessert was not to be missed. My husband ordered the Valrhona Chocolate and Salted Caramel Grotto dessert - a dome of dark chocolate filled with salted caramel and hazelnut creme. As a Greek yogurt lover, I couldn't resist the Blueberry Semifredo with Greek Yogurt and Lavender. My husband's dessert was good, but mine was definitely the favorite of the two. The Greek yogurt was creamy without being heavy, the blueberries were simultaneously sweet and tart, and the lavender broth was just... heaven. Oh, and in case you are not in the know already (I wasn't), "semifredo" means it's half-frozen. Freaking awesome. We had a great time at Canoe. All of the staff made us feel welcome and at ease, and every single thing we put in our mouths was delectable. Would definitely go back and blow our paychecks there again.
(5)Sheena P.
Great experience here. The food was amazing and the view was great. I suggest getting there early and grabbing a drink at the bar and walking around outside or even getting a table outside and just hanging out for a while. Once you are ready then ask to be seated and enjoy the meal. The service was excellent and if you have time after walk around back and look at the mini farm they have and the swings-- its a great place for a date or just a fun night with friends!
(5)Crystal K.
I found this place thanks to everyone on Yelp. I like it because it is away from town and is unique and different. This place really has such beautiful atmosphere. While we were waiting for a table they invited us down to their garden area. It was a pretty walk down by the water with walkways lined with flowers. This place is a must see! Very impressive! The food was terrific. Starting with fresh bread made daily. I just had to try each type of bread. The sourdough melts in your mouth. The flat bread has a little bit of a kick to it. I thought both were really good. I went with couple of friends who also enjoyed the place. I ordered the Salmon, which was cooked to perfection. One friend had Pasta and the other ordered the Pheasant and both said that they were delicious I will without a doubt go there again. I highly recommend this place for entertaining clients, special occasion or if you just want great food and atmosphere.
(5)Kristie C.
Great restaurant - atmosphere was very unique, looking over the river. Service was pretty good - just the right pace, never had to search around for our waitress. 3 breads served: sunflower-whole grain, sourdough and chili-pepper crisp bread. All were fresh and seemed very home-made, something I really enjoyed. Appetizer: Smoked salmon was great - quite filling but delicious: served on top of a cream-cheese mixture, stuck to a thin layer of fried shoestring potatoes on the bottom that were crispy, not too oily and flavorful. Brick-roasted chicken was pretty good. Vegetables and sauce it was served with seemed more creamy than I had expected - also a bit more garlicky than I had hoped too. A lot of chicken in this entree - next time I'll try the Grilled Atlantic Salmon. Scallop entree was fresh as well, my boyfriend seemed to enjoy it. Will definitely come back - can't wait for the summer for the outdoor seating. Quite a nice, romantic ambience.
(4)Tom L.
Fantastic service, great wine selection, great food (locally sourced when possible), beautiful setting... You can get a great meal at Canoe that is worth the price ( 25-30 per entree on avg.). The ingredients are respected resulting in a fresh, well prepared dish regardless of what you order. The food is a creative interpretation of classic Southern cuisine, remaining respectful of traditional cooking techniques and ingredients. There are usually a couple of specials every night that don't appear on the menu, but typically the rabbit is recommended as the signature dish. The duck breast is also fantastic when available. The gardens are great for a stroll after dinner, and there is an outdoor bar within the gardens overlooking the river that makes for a great nightcap. All in all, you can't go wrong with Canoe. This is one of the best all around dining experiences in Atlanta.
(5)RC H.
I and two friends dined here on September 2. I and one of the friends had dined here several times before and were expecting a repeat good performance. It didn't happen. Though well-versed on the menu, the wait service was not as good as before. My friend had a steak which was very salty and he sent it back because he couldn't get past the all the salt. I ordered fish this evening, Skate, which was a special. It too was very salty, but I finished it because I was very hungry. My other friend had the rabbit which was good.
(3)Bob L.
You know a restaurant is good when you recall it fondly years later. I had the Home Depot account at the time and asked my contact for a wonderful place where we could celebrate in style. Canoe was right at the top of her list and rightly so. I loved it (and still do). Oddly, my Canoe experience started with the drive from Home Depot's HQ. I'm not sure what neighborhood we entered but the feel went from "business park hell" to "Nantucket niceness". Felt like someone was going to stamp my passport actually. As I recall, the road became all twisty (think Mulholland if you've driven that), the buildings turned white, picked fences sprang from nowhere ...and I thought I heard fairies giggling. Typically this happens to me after the 3rd bottle of Flowers (You need to try this wine) but my colleagues convinced me that I was not dreaming. The atmosphere was sublime and food was heavenly. So thanks Home Depot for Canoe (& for the free fence installation). :)
(5)DC C.
Tried the crab cake and shrimp stuffed calamari appetizers with the crusted cod entree. All nicely presented and good flavor, though it wasn't to the level of the pheasant on my first visit. Also quantity could have been a bit more. Service on my multiple visits were rather average - still very good food overall and worth a visit - 3.5 Also now tried the grilled duck breast entree with a grilled peaches, duck sausage & vidalia onions. It had potential but failed to deliver this time, four 2" slices of duck breast, parts quite chewy/sinewy. Flavor was good initially then became monotonous, oily and overwhelming by the end - 2.75. If you're looking for a poultry dish, go for the pheasant.
(3)Lindsay C.
Canoe is one of my favorite spots to have a pleasant, "working" lunch. The service rivals that of fancier joints like Blue Ridge Grill, and Canoe has a tastier menu if you ask me. You can never go wrong with the chicken tacos or salmon chips. Make sure you get the caramel corn desert. It's crazy good. The river (while brown and gross) provides a nice backdrop for a lovely lunch. I go here at least once a month.
(4)Jill C.
I NEED MORE STARS!!! Canoe is the best kept secret! We live less than a mile from Canoe and no one has told us about it?! We initially sat at the inside bar. Our plan was to have some drinks (on what we assumed would just be a patio) outside before heading out to dinner. The 'patio' we had envisioned was more like a backyard that backs up to the Chattahoochie. There are several places to sit outside if you don't want to reserve a table. Oh! And did I mention Live Music (Wednesday's) Needless to say, we ended up staying for dinner in which we ate at the bar ...Spinach Salad to start, A perfectly cooked NY Strip and Lemon Poppy Seed Cake for dessert...Each course amazing. And the Service? 'Best we've had in Atlanta' would not even be close to an exaggeration. One more thing that sets Canoe apart is the Elegant Casual atmosphere. We were able to wear a nice pair of jeans AND feel comfortable...As we moved from the inside & outside bar and finally back in for dinner our tab moved with us. No card, simply a name. No hassle, No Fuss...Pure Class. Thank You Canoe for a Fine Evening of Dining Drinks & Music
(5)Stuart M.
Amazing restaurant! The food, service, and atmosphere was outstanding!! I actually ended up eating here for dinner one night and then lunch the following day.
(5)Christine H.
corn soup = velvety sweet corn puree + bright corn salad + crispy fried clam bits stuffed calamari = bed of super crunchy fried tentacles + shrimp stuffed calamari braised rabbit = tender rabbit thigh/leg + beautifully curly strips of veggies + BACON RAVIOLI + one of the best sauces i've ever had duck = perfectly medium duck breast + duck crepe stuffed with mind blowing duck sausage + tangy blackberry pistachio compote caramel popcorn sundae = phenomenal caramel popcorn ice cream + salted caramel sauce + HOME MADE CRACKER JACKS hazelnut mousse = stiff chocolate hazelnut mousse + super crunchy dark chocolate shell + pretzel dust white chocolate cheesecake = standard flavors + lovely plating i've been dying to eat here for so many years, and just never made it. i was thrilled that my recent engagement finally brought me over. we received the royal treatment! champagne waiting on us at the table and we ended with a smorgasbord of desserts. the service was impeccable, and the manager came by at the end to congratulate us. our table was a raised booth overlooking their amazing back garden and the chattahoochee river. i couldn't have wanted a better setting. all the food was fantastic, but the corn soup was really something special. it was the corn salad and fried clams that totally put it over the top. the braised rabbit has been on the menu for over 14 years, and now i understand why. i could eat a giant bowl of just the bacon swiss chard ravioli and sauce. the stuffed calamari was a tad bit off, but the crispy bed of tentacles was just perfect. the duck breast was perfectly cooked, and the duck sausage was packed with flavor. i wanted a bit more blackberry pistachio compote, but maybe i'm just being greedy. and the caramel popcorn ice cream... if you closed your eyes and tried it, there's no question of what the flavor is. i was blown away by how much it tasted like popcorn. we took a stroll in the back garden after we ate, and it was the perfect end to a big meal. there's a little hidden vegetable garden off to the side, and it's not to be missed. they grow quite a few things, and there's a gorgeous wooden swing just begging to be leisurely swung. with all the hustle and bustle of restaurants downtown, canoe is practically a destination restaurant. all you "in-towners" need to get out to vinings and enjoy a special dinner here. i know you'll love it.
(5)Chuk V.
If you like game dishes or seafood, you're unlikely to find better in the metro area than Canoe. Its got a nice, dark, romantic atmosphere and in the summer months you can stroll around by the river with your cocktail while you wait for your table. The food is spectacular. I don't know how to say it much more eloquently than that... a brother has a tough time ordering due to the large number of delicious and interesting menu items, and the waitstaff are attentive and knowledgeable... almost to the point of too attentive. Do yourself a solid and get the PEI mussels and/or the salmon/goat cheese/potato cake.
(5)Danielle W.
Canoe- wow what a great way to spend an evening dinner with the family for a special occasion. My sister graduated from Emory and our recommended dinner night was to Canoe! We had a lovely evening. The night was gorgeous and we were right along the River. We started out with great service and a story about Canoe's recent flood and rebuild and we were all entranced and excited to try all the NEW things on the menu. My family and I were a table of 7 and ordering everything that was suggested to us by our server. It was phenomenal. I had the halibut with the wasabi sauce to cover it. My sister had the salmon, the trout was served to my grandma, my mom and one other had the Rabbit, my brother had the steak and my dad had the Duck. Everything was to die for. We had a superb time. Highly recommended! YUM!
(5)Thao N.
I went here for my birthday dinner. The food was okay, nothing out of the ordinary, but that was probably because I had the chicken. I wasn't brave enough to try the bunnies or the baby lamb. They were nice enough to hook me up with a free b-day dessert and that was delicious. Too bad I can't remember what it was :) We also came late so once we went outside to view the river it was too dark and foggy. Of what I could see, it looked beautiful. It would make a great place for a wedding reception!
(3)Julie N.
Wonderful service, amazing location (river view on the patio), and great food. Went there for brunch right when it opened at 1030a on Sunday and had a full choice of prime seating, but by the time we left the outside seating was full. All the servers were extremely attentive. We ordered the large mixed baked goods basket and our server told us that it may be too much for us since it was 8 pastries so we switched to the small basket. I really appreciated his honesty and thoughtfulness; many servers would have just taken the order. The scones and sticky buns were sooo good with delicious jams. I had the salmon eggs Benedict which was also delicious with substantial amounts if salmon. I will definitely be back to try dinner.
(5)Nicholas L.
Incredible place. The food, service, and ambience were all terrific!
(5)Brett H.
How did I forget to review here???? Liked it so much I got engaged here! The staff was beyond helpful. The food was perfect! She had the sole and I had the rabbit! We had desert in the garden, they kept it empty for just the two of us. It was a great night. Thank you Canoe!
(5)Brandon D.
This restaurant has the best ambiance of anywhere I have been in Atlanta. The wait staff was excellent. The food was pretty good. I just have come to expect a little bit more when I spend $120 on dinner for two. I would give the food 3 stars, the environment and wait staff 5 stars, which is why I rated 4. We enjoyed our experience as a whole and am glad we checked it out since this is one of the most popular Atlanta restaurants on Yelp, but I doubt we would go back.
(4)Katie B.
A truly amazing gem of a restaurant perched right on the edge of the "hootch". I've only experienced the brunch so far, which was out of this world. The pecan sticky buns they serve are one of the top five pastries I have ever eaten, the staff was polite and efficient, the coffee was strong and truly addicting, and the view was spectacular. This is my new favorite "special occasion" spot.
(5)Jason L.
There are places that you've dreamed about, and when you wander into a real "waking life" place, you suddenly feel this surreal sense of familiarity and comfort. Canoe is one of those places. On my last weekend of a 9-month project engagement in Atlanta, I flew my girlfriend in from Chicago to celebrate our anniversary. From the moment we were welcomed warmly by hostess and bartender alike, to when we stepped out into the riverside garden, everything felt in place and just right. The summer dusk stroll next to the Chattahoochee with loved one on arm can only be described as serene. With the sounds of birds and insects on a summer night, you really don't have to say much. A candlelit dinner ensued on the open patio, and over the hushed conversations of other tables in the distance, the girlfriend and I enjoyed some great dishes. + Sweet corn soup: out of this world phenomenal, creamy and naturally sweet + House smoked salmon with crispy potato pancake: delicious + Fried green tomato with poached egg: as good as it gets + Vegetable pasta: hearty yet light + Duck and beef burger with fried egg and herb/parmesan fries: sounds proletarian, but you'll love every bite eating this with a knife and fork Setting, food, loved one -- few combinations in life can be recreated like this one on a consistent basis. I hope you realize the same tranquility that Canoe affords when you visit.
(5)Estacy F.
Awhile back a family member decided to have a quiet dinner for her husband here. It was the first my husband and I, herd of the Canoe. The ambience was beautiful dinner was great. But the best was the after dinner stroll outdoors. The garden was beautiful even at night and the gleam of the river; i think it was the Chattahoochee, was picturesque.We made a promise to return for lunch just to take in the views during the light of day.
(4)Jesse M.
Sat at the bar with a great view. Had the roasted rabbit which was great! Our bartender Kevin was awesome! Def. A great place. Food quality is great! and service is even better. This is a must in Atlanta.
(4)smacksmackgulp K.
This place is an icon for Atlanta. Canoe was my very first "big" restaurant meal in Atlanta, over 5 years ago, even before I moved here. My then-bf had just moved down, and I flew in to help him celebrate his birthday. We were both in our mid-twenties, still fresh from grad school. And since I was still trying to pay off the lion's share of my school loans back then, this was a big splurge. But it was worth it. I remember how beautiful the setting was, how un-stuffy the service was, and how elegant and yet accessible the food was. Fast forward almost 6 years later -- even though I didn't return to Canoe again until this past Saturday (with my parents, who'd come in for a visit, and were agog over this place...yes, my "No place is better than Irvine/Newport Beach in CA" parents), I'd never forgotten Canoe, even after all these years. It was still wonderful, as it was then. Shannon was just a fabulous server, welcoming and helpful. With regards to food, definitely get the sausage-stuffed calamari and the halibut, if it's available. The popcorn sundae was a fun and nostalgic end to the meal. And yes, bring a loved one, go outside near the river at sunset and take a photo. You'll look back at that photo and remember how much you enjoyed being here.
(5)Alex G.
Wonderful. Setting, food, staff.
(5)soomy s.
When I think of Canoe, I think about the Food Network show "The Best Thing I Ever Ate". I imagine myself being a guest celebrity and talking about how the mussel dish from Canoe is MY best thing I ever ate. I seriously never had mussels like this before. They are not on the dinner menu but based on another friend's recommendation (Tulie L.), you can REQUEST them. Yes, my friends, you can REQUEST them. You seriously don't need to order anything else; but definitely do because everything was almost as delicious. If you come for lunch, you're in luck since it is on their lunch menu. First, the mussels themselves are succulent and plump and melt-in-your-mouth scrumptious. They are swimming in an asian-inspired cream based broth (not too creamy at all), flavored with lemongrass, ginger, garlic and other fresh herbs. This broth was so delicious it could have been a soup by itself. You must have their sourdough bread for dipping. Next, I ordered their Caesar salad which was delicious. You can really taste the anchovies. My husband ordered their signature "Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce". The bacon ravioli really complimented the rabbit. We were both a bit hesitant to order the rabbit because the waiter told us it tasted like chicken. Which isn't necessary bad, but we seriously eat chicken almost everyday. At any rate, we went with the server's recommendation and my husband was so impressed. The rabbit was so tender and was finished with a slightly sweet glaze. His only complaint was that he could eat the rabbit with maybe three bites. They only serve the hind legs with this dish. So you can imagine, even a large rabbit, would produce fairly small hind legs. Oh, and yes, rabbit does taste like chicken: very lean and can be boring, but when it's cooked right, it's out of this world. Onto my dish....absolutely loved the halibut. It was accompanied with a risotto side. To be honest I went to Canoe over three weeks ago, and I can't seem to remember much about this dish. One may assume, it's because this dish was not good; but that is not true. It was delicious and I was so impressed, but I can't seem to remember anything past those MUSSELS! So, run to Canoe and ask for the mussels. You won't regret it. I also forgot to mention that this restaurant is on the river so it is absolutely wonderful during this time of the year. And of course...always need to thank the servers. My server was a sweetheart and very attentive to our needs.
(5)R W.
The dining experience here is a serious matter, well attention to each and every detail. Canoe hits a home run in terms of its atmosphere, cuisine, and service. I've found a new favorite spot in Atlanta and I encourage everyone to visit here. Perfect place for foodies, special occasions or to indulge in a very enjoyable atmosphere.
(5)Victoria M.
My husband and I have been here many times, and we won't stop going. It's a special place to us because we had our wedding reception there. The food was good every time we went there, and the wait staff was very attentive. The view overlooking a beautiful garden and Chattahoochee river was spectacular. Alaskan Halibut, Sage Roasted Pheasant, Smoked Salmon, and Oysters (can't remember what other dishes I ordered) were very good. It's an awesome place to bring your date here.
(5)roxanne o.
The view by the river is gorgeous and the service was pretty impeccable - it's your white linen tables with someone who comes by to clear your bread crumbs type of place. It's also the kind of place that tells you about the day's specials "as it might influence your wine choices." I love the bread basket - they come by and ask if you like their flat bread, sourdough or cranberry - their flatbread has a nice spicy kick to it and it's crunchy. Sourdough didn't taste too sour doughy and cranberry was excellent. I had the crabcake which was out of this world. I love that the lump was true lumps (3 oz worth) and was baked with tartare. The accompanying slaw salad was pretty as it was delish. My entree was the buckwheat pasta with porcini mushrooms and seasonal veges - it was awesome! The pasta was perfectly al dente. My only quip was it's a bit too salty for my taste - but then it's Atlanta. Dessert was ridiculous! I havent been impressed with a dessert menu for a while. Because I was so damn full, I had to forego the Mocha Creme Brulee or Chocolate Grotto (apparently in a ganache shell you have to break into to get to all the amazing stuff inside) and opted instead for the coconut sorbet with lime and lemongrass. An excellent choice. I didnt care for the waffle that much but the sorbet was so so good. If your are a tea person they have a box of Harneys & Sons. When will upscale restaurants start realizing that Harneys & Sons makes horrible teas packaged like it is for royalty? I had my tea - which was the nadir of the experience. I would come back again. The chef really puts heart in the menu and it's all very, very well executed.
(5)Seth V.
This restaurant is amazing. Everything about the experience was exceptional. The food was spectacular. The ambiance and grounds are beautiful. And the service is the best I've experienced. This is a great location to celebrate a special occasion like an anniversary, and I've recommended the restaurant to several friends and they all had excellent experiences as well!
(5)Dean S.
We went for our 13 year wedding anniversary. Our visit to CANOE was memorable. It made the special occasion all the more special. The food, the service, the view were all fantastic. I would highly recommend a visit to CANOE for any special occasion. Thank you CANOE! I don't think you will find a bad thing on the menu from the appetizers to the desserts. It's all great! I WILL be returning to CANOE.
(5)D B.
I love love loveddd this place. My honey and I went on Valentines day and it was awesome! For apps, I'd try to smoked salmon with goat cheese, entree - scallops with shrimp curry and any of the desserts! I would most def. go back to Canoe! They have great customer service, the ambiance is delightful and the food is to die for. Have a great time!
(5)Sonal P.
My boyfriend and I came to Canoe for the first time to celebrate our birthdays. The menu was definitely unique featuring mainly fish and game. The food quality was excellent--not gamey at all. The atmosphere is lovely. I would like to come back when the weather is warmer and experience their outdoor space. The waitress was very nice. We shared an appetizer, each had an entree, shared a dessert and had a glass of wine and left with a bill less than $100. My only complaints are that despite having reservations we still had to wait to be seated. I was also disappointed by both of our cocktails. They lacked flavor and tasted quite watered down. I can't say that I'd frequent this place, but once-in-a-while it's nice.
(4)Marcus B.
Tucked away in the area between Vinings and Buckhead, Canoe was an absolutely fantastic choice for dinner. Everything from the decor, the single malt selection, the selection of food on the menu, to the staff was phenomenal. My girlfriend and I went for our 1 year anniversary and the choice was definitely well made. One of the things we both loved about it was that, as others have mentioned, it was very high class without being pretentious and snobby. Our server (Bryan) knew my name from my reservation as well as the fact that it was our first time there, I'd have to say, I was very impressed with his energy and candor about his job. I had Ostrich for my appetizer and Skate for my entree. The Skate truly was unique! It had the texture of fine crab but a flavor all it's own. She had the Salmon appetizer and the Lamb Shank for her entree. It's been a long time since I've seen Lamb as tender or well prepared as Canoe's. I can't imagine how nice this place would be on a nice spring or fall day when the view of the Chattahoochee river is much better than we experienced. We came on a day when it was pouring so we enjoyed a nice lightning show through the abundant windows. One very interesting tidbit about our evening though, which further reinforces my choice of Canoe, was this was the same night a tornado ripped through downtown Atlanta. We almost went to the Sundial instead, but due to the less than fantastic weather, decided for something a bit more subdued. Luckily, we did! Overall - highly recommended! One of my personal favorites was their list of over 30 single malt scotches - all reasonably priced!
(5)Mary S.
The trout is my personal favorite. The service, the various little breads--this is a really nice experience, we always celebrate our birthdays here. Glad they recovered from last year's floods. So nice that it is right on the river and you can walk around.
(4)Christopher S.
We visited Canoe after planning to for months (the flood shut them down for part of that time). When we finally visited, we were disappointed in the food. It was good, but nowhere close to the flavor we had experienced at Rays on the River, SoHo, or McCormic and Schmick's. It's not that the dishes were not thought out - the sauces matched the favors of the meat and vegetables well. Instead it seemed to be a lack of execution. Our pheasant was overcooked and dry, the steak and fries were so pungent my wife had to leave the table, and the rabbit while well-flavored, was very dry. However, the service was wonderful. Our glasses were never low, and our waitress was wonderful. I'm hoping the problems in the food are due to Valentine's
(3)Laura H.
I have been going to Canoe for years, always for special occasions, ranging from my junior prom to my last bday (24). Needless to say, I'm a fan. I love the impeccable, 5-Star service and food without the pretentious atmosphere that you get at a lot of other spots. Canoe is warm and inviting, like it's lodge-y decor. The food is amazing - I'm a big fan of game meats and there's not a whole lot of places where I can choose from ostrich, venison, duck and rabbit on the menu (all of which are good, by the way). Desserts are delicious as well, so save room. Go when the weather is nice and ask to be seated in the lower dining area overlooking the river. So pretty.
(5)ML V.
We've lived in Atlanta for 2 yrs, how have we not tried this place before? We went for our 5 yr anniversary and were given an amazing table with a view of the gardens and river. I was initially thrown off by the fact that the restaurant is at the end of a strip mall, not at all what I expected given the reputation for beautiful grounds. But once you're inside you forget all about the strip mall. Our server was wonderful - said we would not be rushed, the table was ours for the night. In short, we had one of the best meals of our lives. For foodies who eat out often, that is saying a lot. Sharing is encouraged, they will even give you half portions if you can't decide between dishes. We felt too full to order dessert after finishing our entrees so our server suggested we take a stroll through the gardens with our wine, then return for dessert. Thank goodness we did because the popcorn/cracker jack sundae is not to be missed! A must for anyone who loves food and appreciates good service.
(5)Chris B.
Hmm, I think it's hard to say anything new about this place because it seems like everyone and their brother has given this place glowing reviews... but that should tell you something! It's kind of an interesting location for such a classy restaurant, but hey, you can't judge a book by it's cover. It's a pretty cool view looking out over the lawn and the river if you sit by the window. As for the food and service, obviously amazing as one would expect from one of Atlanta's best restaurants. I was particularly impressed by my steak. Also, great wine to go with the meal. If you live in the city you should definitely make the drive out to check this place out.
(5)Rich H.
Summary: --good for solo dining --much better quality than the local alternatives --not cheap --valet parking --reservation through opentable.com I've generally been coming here for dinner one evening when traveling through the area on business. It's fine for solo dining and the staff seems to go out of their way to put you in a place in the dining room where you'll be comfortable with enough light to read a book, say. If there's a tasting menu offered with wine pairings, that would be my choice.
(4)Jason C.
All I can say is this place is amazing!!! Great food and awesome service!! Went there to take my best friend from college to dinner for her 21st birthday and had an amazing experience. We are definitely going back real soon... did I mention that I love this place??
(5)Holly H.
Fine dining with young children is never easy. Canoe not only made it easy but actually pleasurable! The staff was unbelievably accommodating and welcoming...at one point the pastry chef walked over to my son and offered him a chocolate chip cookie (not on the menu) when he was done with his chicken fingers (also not on the menu). This is only one small aspect of Canoe that makes it so special. The food, setting, and staff make this one of the best restaurants in the country.
(5)Emily S.
2.5 stars is actually our experience, but I will give Canoe the benefit of the doubt. Before dining there last night, I had not eaten at Canoe since June 2005. Both of previous experiences at Canoe (June 2005 and first in October 2004) had been fair. The first time the food was too gamy, and the second time everything was mediocre. After so many years, a change in chef, and several recommendations, we decided to try again. First, my husband had a large work dinner there. He came home raving about the meal. The food and service were far better than he remembered. Thus, we decided to go again, but this time, we would take my mother. The service was terrible. While the view and setting is beautiful, it was ruined by the disgusting and continuous assortment of flies at our table, on our food, and in our faces. The bread man came once, the waitress enjoyed long waits between returning to ask for questions or our order, and wee constantly needed more water. We were shocked at how slow and inattentive the service was. We started with the Blue Cheese salad and recommended Salmon atop a potato pancake. The salad was not at all what she described or what we had explained we wanted. The salmon was fair. It wasn't bad but nothing that I would race to order again. For dinner, my husband had the rabbit, I ordered the braised beef, and my mother had the salmon. The salmon was by far the worst of the dishes. She could not even finish it. The braised beef that I ordered was delicious but was served with undercooked cabbage. My entree was definitely the highlight of the meal. My husband enjoyed his rabbit, even though I found the bacon ravioli unnecessary and a poor addition to the dish. For dessert, the waitress highly recommended the chocolate with hazelnut and carmel. It sounded fantastic but was supremely disappointing. The hazelnut mousse was way too heavy and overpowered the thin chocolate. Overall, it was a very disappointing evening. I left there feeling even less enthusiastic than 5 years ago. Bad service, decent food, great setting (when not interrupted by flies). There are so many good restaurants in Atlanta, that I don't think we will be returning to Canoe any time soon.
(3)joe b.
Excellent food. Could not pronounce have the things on the menu but waitress was more then accommodating and food and service were second to none.
(5)tracy r.
Super romantic, the bar on the river is fab. Food was good, but ambience is amazing.
(4)Lisias A.
Delicious and flavorful food, very good service, beautiful sunset seen through the trees on Chattahoochee's riverbank, good background music and ambiance. Had the Local Yoke and it was terrific! It is a organic three-course prix fixe menu using ingredients from local farmers and wine pairing - also organic. To start, a Will Harris Beef Cheek Soup with Sourdough Crisps paired with Montinore Pinot Noir, Willamette '07. Then, a Tangerine Roasted Chicken with Baby Sweets and Baby Bulbs paired with Robert Sinskey Merlot, Napa '04. Man, the tangerines kicked butt. To finish, a Georgia Pecan Panna Cotta with Strawberry-Thyme Syrup. Creative three-course and well paired wines. Enjoy!
(5)Ashley W.
Ok. Let me just say that I really like this place. My boyfriend and I went here on a Sunday back in October for brunch. The place is located in a plaza which threw me off a little bit after looking at the pictures online, but no big deal. They offer complimentary valet parking. We had reservations so we were seated immediately. We were also lucky enough to get a table located on the outside of the interior right next to the big windows overlooking the Chattahoochee River and the back gardens. Our waitress (can't remember her name) was super cute and very knowledgeable of the menu. We started off with an order of the sticky buns. Omg! They were the best sticky buns I have ever tasted! Warm, flaky, and sweet. Mmmm. For my main dish I ordered scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns. My bf ordered the duck and beef burger with fries which he said was pretty tasty. My eggs were a little too soggy for my taste and my hash browns were too hard/over cooked, but the bacon was good. After brunch we walked out back toward the river which was nice. They have tents set up and sitting areas. Looks like I nice place to host an event. We will definitely be back again.
(4)Paul S.
I agree with the Brunch / Breakfast comment.. I wrote a review on evolutionatlanta.com and I was extremely impressed with there creativity.. This is a great restaurant if you like game food as well. I love Canoe... It's 1 of my top 5's in Atlanta.. It is one of Atlanta's more expensive restaurants but well worth it.... I love there focaccia bread! An if rabbit is on the menu I always order it.. :) Great for large elegant dinners or a black tie date!
(5)Chrissy A.
Canoe Review: Nestled in a quaint little locale right on the Chattahoochie, we have Canoe. I was very impressed with the creativeness of the appetizers (We sampled quite a few), the entree's and the desserts. The quality and presentation of the appetizers were beyond compare to any we've ever had.. I cannot say enough about the food, creativity, and presentation. Valet parking- Check Impeccable Service-Check Amazing & Creative Cusine-Check Unmatched Atmosphere-Check Good for Special Occasions-Check. All of that plus, they make a wonderful martini, have an impressive wine list, awesome bread and a menu that is unique and never dry. The staff is very knowledgeable of their food preperation and wine selection. After dinner, I suggest you take a little stroll out to the back lawn and enjoy dusk on the beautiful Chatahoochee river or an evening under the stars. It's perfect for a first date-if you are looking for the WOW factor....Its sort of lob-cabin/lake tahoe meets culinary genius. Great for luncheons, celebrations, or a refreshing night out with your significant other. You might miss this place as it is not in a very well known area of town...Between West Paces area of Buckhead and the historic Vinings district-Its definitely worth map-questing. Book your dinner around sunset and you'll sure to soak in all that is Canoe..Remember, the menu is heavy on the seafood!!! Save room for desert because the selections are amazing!!! Not inexpensive by any means... But worth it! Food: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Service: 5 Recommendations: Squash Soup Crab Cakes All in All: Seriously Delicious & Divine!
(5)Kat W.
LOVE Canoe, one of my favorite brunch places in the city. Always fabulous service, clean and reliable. One of the only restaurants you can find quiche on the brunch menu. Very good, definitely recommend.
(5)Annie H.
I took my mom here for her 84th birthday on the recommendation of a friend. I could not have asked for a better experience. 1st of all the staff is great. Obviously very experienced & well trained. The meal was wonderful. Their menu says they are trying to bring back the Manhattan, & they have succeeded. Being from New York, this was a big delight to us. They were chilled & just right. We started with she crab soup, which my mom was hoping they would have. They provide you with sherry on the side, but it wasn't needed. I had salmon with baby spinach & spaghetti squash, which was just delicious! Mom had a rib-eye. I ended the meal with bread pudding, which was as light & custardy as a bread pudding could be, with a nice slightly crispy outside. Mom had a light ice cream or sorbet, which was the perfect ending to a perfect meal. They also wrote "Happy Birthday" in chocolate on the side of the dessert dish. Nice touch.
(5)Christi L.
Just the grounds alone are worth a cool summer outing! I was with the wedding party and the staff were the best most attentive I have ever experienced at a catered event. Also, the rhubard pie - best ever. Served with toasted almond ice cream. I wasn't suppose to eat it with my wheat allergy, but eh... It was worth the stomach ache. I look forward to going back when I am in Atlanta again. Thanks!
(4)Stephanie S.
Fine dinning by the Chattahoochee River - for those who forgot that Atlanta has a river! This riverside cabin-like restaurant is one of Atlanta's prime dinning locations with paths leading through lush gardens lining the river to flawless flavored fish entrees to the staff's attention to detail and hospitality. If you have any reason to celebrate, whether it is an anniversary or a graduation, you should definitely treat you and your family and friends to a night at Canoe. The chef changes the menu daily so you know everything is freshly prepared and seasoned, and don't feel like you have to order fish, I've tried a decadent duck dish here before that was suburb. Most of the dishes have a gourmet southern flare with cream based sauces on top of grilled fish with a side of roasted vegetables or a bowl of Vidalia onion soup. Be sure to ask the waiters what wine pairs best with your dinner. And because you are most likely celebrating, my as well order dessert and coffee to finish the meal, or split a dessert if your watching your figure. After the meal, feel free to walk and take pictures amongst the flowers in the gardens or by the river bend. My family and I definitely got that perfect family shot to send to all my relatives when my brother graduated. The two other reputations floating around about this place are that celebrities, like Bono, like to dine here when in Atlanta and that occasionally Canoe closes because of potential flash floods.
(5)wandering j.
Everything is perfect. Only one complaint: I cannot eat here every day.
(5)Michelle A.
We LOVE their Sunday brunch. The food is alway absoutely fabulous, and as an added bonus they're lays so kind to our two girls (ages 5 and 8). They have a great garden out back by the river and the kids love to walk back there. Beautiful setting for brunch.
(5)Oliver C.
i'm in atlanta for work and had heard really great things about this place and i've gotta say it is pretty spot on. located right next to a river, it's a really nice relaxing atmosphere (would make for a really nice date night). very interesting menu, a more modern fancy pants take on classic, rustic comfort food. do yourself a favor and order the beet salad. i'm not really a fan of beet salad in general, but seriously, amazing. i also had the rabbit (poor little rabbit), which was slow roasted over a bed of bacon ravioli and swiss chard lightly covered in an amazing candied-garlic sauce. (yes, i did say bacon ravioli - freaking brilliant!) everyone at our table was extremely happy with their meals as well. service was friendly, however, timings in between courses were a bit slow. overall a great find in atlanta. crowd was a bit older/stuffy/mercades driving, but their prices were fair $20-$32 / entree... if you live in atl or are visiting, i really recommend this place. also, theres a bowl of those chewy mint things near the exit (i freakin love those things).
(5)Yolanda T.
This place is amazing. Not only is the food quite good, but just the location itself is enough reason for me to want to come here over and over again. The beautiful, romantic riverside location allows for the perfect after dinner leisurely walk. There was even live music present. Then there's the food. One of the most memorable things we ate were the mussles. They were large and succulent, and soo good, especially with that incredible sauce. I could have drank up that sauce. All in all, we had a wonderful romantic evening at Canoe.
(4)E M.
Impressive in all aspects. The place is beautiful, in a beautiful setting. The staff was very attentive and pleasant. The food and drinks were prepared with care and attention. Minor comment, the oysters were overpowered by the mignonette. Perhaps, the mignonette could be served on the side.? Thank you for a wonderful evening.
(4)Katie D.
Great restaurant! Although I loved my scallops, I was amazed when my boyfriend ordered the pasta (it was a Friday during Lent). His dish was amazing!! I would definitely order the ravioli next time. Drinks were great and it was way better than I remember growing up!
(5)Jason R.
Had my first visit back post flood on Wednesday. Same old Canoe...and that's a good thing. Great service. Ike was our waiter. We had a party of 10 and he managed it with no problems. For lunch I had the South East Cobb salad and it was perfect. No complaints. Overall, the lunch was great, and the food and experience was what you've come to expect. Highly recommend for business lunches or any other occasion. Jason
(4)Carole M.
Just had a wonderful Sunday brunch at Canoe. Highlights included the scones and a to die for pheasant-egg dish. Just amazing. Totally professional service. Pleasantly busy dining room that wasn't overwhelming. A class act, all the way around.
(5)derek m.
Great ambiance on the back deck, especially as the sun sets... As for the food, great all around. We had dinner, instead of organizing my review in order of courses, I'll organize in order of what you should get and what you maybe should shy away from. Good... House smoked salmon (we had it with crispy shoestring potato cakes, regardless of what it's with, it was DELICIOUS). Slow-roasted Rabbit- the sauce this was paired with was reminiscent of a barbecue sauce, and it was paired with applewood smoked bacon and swiss chard ravioli (I can remember this because of how good they were). I'd recommend this to anyone! Strawberry-rhubarb Cobbler- (this was on a locally sourced fixed menu for the night, thanks to the fantastic waitress we had it without the rest of the fixed menu.) This was the best strawberry-rhubarb dessert I've ever had; emphasis was put on the tartness of both the strawberries and rhubarb, while the cobbler served to calm the tart with sweetness. The ice cream that topped it complimented it perfectly! Alright... Some sort of Pheasant- the seasoning on whichever preparation of pheasant this was, was unremarkable... that said, it was moist and so, still delicious; it was paired with again unremarkable sides (maybe sweet potato puree and some sort of swiss chard or spinach?). By no means bad, but was blown away by the rabbit. Fried Green Tomatoes- there's a lot to be said for the simplicity of the preparation. I was a big fan of the fried egg and meat (thinly sliced pork of some sort?) that topped the fried/breaded green tomato... My only problem is that the tomato was so sparsely seasoned (very subtle) that the flavor was almost entirely lost... I would've voted these "Good" if they were able to make the tomato "POP" out of everything paired with it. Warm Ricotta Cheesecake- Again, another problem with subtlety of flavor... While the texture of the cheesecake was spot on I didn't feel like it was warm enough... also, the fact that it was paired with candied pistachios (which were delicious in their own right), only served to dry the cheesecake out in your mouth. As for the subtlety of flavor, I'm fairly certain it was a slightly lemon cheesecake... A little more lemon and I would've been thrilled with it. Bad... Nothing. Voted 4 for not living up to their full potential (certainly not for being bad in any way)!
(4)Surge P.
I can classify this restaurant, as the perfect spot for a great date. The environment is impressive and the food is delicious. Great variety of food. Nice environment for a great conversation. Call and make your appt only and ask the best corner seat in the house :). Hope that helps.
(5)Austin C.
Loved it. The wait staff was incredibly helpful. Our waiter in particular was attentive and knowledgeable. The ambiance was fantastic and the food was better. I definitely plan on going again.
(5)Vanessa T.
Brunch is sublime. The buttermilk cornmeal pancakes are delicate and fluffy and do just well alone, with only pat of butter. But if you're inclined to go all out: the pancakes are topped with warm berry compote [the good stuff, not that syrupy, bootleg nasty stuff] and cinnamon-infused creme fraiche. We weren't in the mood for salmon or rabbit -- the two Benedict options for the day -- but we were readily accommodated with steak instead. The corn soup was phenomenal and can heal all wounds.
(4)Anna F.
Very serene and upscale. I'd heard nothing but praises about the beautiful riverside view, and I definitely wasn't let down; it really is the most gorgeous restaurant. The food isn't quite as impressive as the atmosphere; during my last visit, I got the pheasant, which was extremely tasty, no complaints - but during another visit I, was hugely disappointed to get a pork tenderloin that was overdone and dry. The scallops/risotto entree (usually one of my favorite dishes) was also not as great as others I've tried. With that said, though, I definitely recommend that everyone dine here at least once for the experience and the view. Perfect for special/romantic occasions.
(4)Jeff M.
One of my friends was about to take a huge exam. I had a few long days at work. We were both looking for the perfect dinner spot. Canoe immediately came to mind. I was last here two or three years ago. The experience was so fantastic, I still remember it vividly. Not that I was surprised; my return experience was equally wonderful. Despite my friend running a good half hour late, they insisted I take a seat and were more than understanding and accommodating. Though we had settled on the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit and the Grilled Duck Breast, our waiter threw in the special of Pan-Seared Scallops. When I asked him what to do, he said, "Just get all three." That was the EXACT answer I was looking for! (I appreciate an honest answer!) The House Smoked Salmon was fantastic. The rabbit, duck, and scallops were brought out and were works of art. Delicious, flavorful, and filling art. The creme brulee: decadent, perfect. I know that Canoe underwent renovations because of water damage; this place hasn't skipped a beat, which is so good to see. The best part of the night? Enjoying wine while sitting along the river. This is always what makes the experience over the top. One of my favorite escapes in Atlanta is Canoe. Everything about it but especially that post-dinner relaxation period on the restaurant grounds, relaxing in the garden or on chairs on the edge of the river, that makes this place not just unique to Atlanta, but to any restaurant in any city. One of Atlanta's finest without a doubt.
(5)Sona S.
Terrible experience tonight! poor service, bad waiter and pathetic food! No attention to detail at all for being a high end restaurant. If you are anyone of color, forget going to this snotty place! What a waste of a wonderful evening! never recommend it to anyone!
(1)Annie R.
Please DO NOT take my 3 stars the wrong way! The ambience,location and service here are impeccable! The reason I didnt rate this place a 4 or 5 is because it always seems to be hit or miss! Ive been here a few times and sometimes I just feel 'meh' about it. For instance, I just ate here last night(monday), and my waitress kept forgetting me(it wasnt busy this night), and the food was just okay. Now the other time I ate here a few months ago everything was perfect! You must try the sage roasted pheasant with brown butter sweet potatoes, its the best thing there. Also, if your a solo diner the staff will treat you like a king or queen. So, give it a try. Maybe my three stars comes from me being a picky person but oh well, you decide. My other meal reccomendations are: Slow roasted rabbit, the mussels, and for dessert? the creme brulee or the peanut butter bar!YUMMMM!
(3)Christina D.
Located right along the Chattahoochee River, Canoe offers the perfect backdrop for Sunday brunch or a nice alfresco date spot. The "Yellow corn soup" and the "She-crab soup" was to die for, overall service was great and the bloody mary's weren't half bad either. Wasn't too crazy about the pheasant ragout in my "Pheasant & Eggs," but everything else met or exceeded my expectations.
(4)Carey M.
Excellent!! Outdoor patio is beautiful. The landscaping is very serene. Perfect on a spring or fall day. The service is great. Our server was polite and very knowledgeable of the menu. Smoked salmon is delish! Canoe is perfect for groups, birthdays, anniversaries, romance.
(5)Loren M.
Best dining experience I have ever had. This place is phenomenal. You could never tell just looking at the humble front of this restaurant. We arrived 30 minutes early for our reservation, and while they were very busy, they were still able to seat us immediately. Our server was the best part, I believe his name was Terry. He had wonderful knowledge of the menu when we asked for recommendations & being our first trip to Canoe he gave us a quick tour of the gorgeous riverfront garden outside. The food was amazing. All of the dishes were unique. I went out on a limb and had the rabbit & was stunned by how tasty it was, especially with the bacon ravioli. I could eat that stuff all day. The dessert was to die for. The blueberry cobbler with banana ice cream melts in your mouth. Canoe just moved to the top of my best restaurants in Atlanta list. I can't wait to go back. Oh, and I want to get married here. That good.
(5)Eric G.
I had the pleasure of dining here tonight with some co-workers. It was more than I expected. They started off with fab cocktails then on to the appetizer a cheese plate with 8 different cheeses from all over the world. I decided on Pheasant with sweet potatoe souffle. I certainly chose the right dish. Someone ordered rabbit which freaked me out but it tastes like chicken. My other half ordered the scallops no comment from me as i do not eat them but he said they were amazing. Desert consisted of white chocolate croissant pudding and a peanut butter layered kit kat type dish. Truly a great experience. NPWH
(5)Faridah S.
Canoe is a wonderful restaurant, that has mastered the art of maintaining impeccable service, food, and atmosphere. Set right next to the river, the view from inside or out is amazing, and the servers are incredibly well-trained and knowledgabel about both the food and the wine. My boyfriend and I each ate three courses, and none of them were a disappointment. The roasted pheasant was perfectly cooked, and the mussells were seasoned to perfection.
(5)Paul Y.
BRUNCH a must! Although we didn't try the sticky buns, they looked amazing as they continuously passed by our table. The crab soup, amazing! The salmon eggs benedict and the riverside, awesome! The services/staff were extremely pleasant. I can't wait to go back. Sticky buns here I come.
(4)Don R.
Had the opportunity to visit on multiple occasions for brunch and dinner and one of our favorite spots. Classy service, great seasonal menu, outside bar and setting along the river. Can't say enough great things and can't wait to visit again.
(5)Christina B.
I was in the Atlanta area yesterday hosting a very important business lunch, and several of my colleagues in the area suggested Canoe. I am so glad that I listened to their suggestions--we could not have had a more lovely meal. We started with the house-cured smoked salmon, which was absolutely fantastic. I had the cod, which was served with sauteed spinach and pureed potatoes and the most amazing butter sauce that I would have lapped off the plate if it had not been a business lunch. We all decided not to order dessert, but had a lot of questions about the unusual-sounding buttered popcorn flavored ice cream. Our server brought us out a tiny bit to taste, and we were all pleasantly surprised. Not only did it taste just like buttered popcorn (and not like the icky jelly-bellies of the same name), it was also delicious. All in all a truly delightful luncheon, and I think very reasonably-priced for the quality of the food and service.
(5)Marni G.
Canoe is the best! I lived in Atlanta years ago, and my mom (who lived in Los Angeles) and I would go when she came into town. It was our favorite restaurant because of the outstanding food and setting. Unfortunately, she passed away of breast cancer five years ago, and I have never been back since. Tonight, my boyfriend and I went to Canoe, even though I had some hesitation because it was one of the places that really reminded me of my mom. I requested in the reservation, and when we got to the restaurant, to sit on the patio, to truly re-experience what I had when my mom and I used to go to Canoe. Unfortunately, due to the somewhat cold temperatures, the patio was closed. But, about halfway through the first course, the manager came and offered us to not just move to the patio, but to move us to one of the few tables right by the river. We decided to just eat dessert down there, but it was absolutely perfect. I couldn't believe someone would take the time to offer us such an incredible experience. It truly made me feel like my mom was there with me, and made our whole trip (we now live in Los Angeles). Thank you, Canoe, for an experience I will always remember! (And our meal was excellent!)
(5)Kim W.
What can I say? AMAZING! We searched the internet for a nice dinner with friends on a weekend trip to Atlanta. We settled on Canoe because most other restaurants were closed for Labor Day weekend (why?). Canoe had the service, food, and atmosphere of a 5 star restaurant while their prices were very reasonable. The 4 of us had appitizers, coffee, dinner, and dessert and the bill came to $150. We even had a lovely stroll through their garden after dinner. We will definatly return, and will order the Halibut - texture like butter!!
(5)Sasha B.
The first time I went to Canoe (3 years ago) I fell in love and have been going ever month (almost) since then. The Sunday brunch is the best!! My advice would be to make reservations for it tho because it can get crowded on some Sundays (especially after church). They switch up the menus for all the meals often so you won't always get the same thing. I love the buttermilk pancakes and the sticky buns that they serve @ brunch. For dinner, I usually go with either brisket or chicken. The place is southern classy and its located next to the Chattahoochee River so in the spring time its REALLY nice to sit outside and eat. This place is great for big family/wedding dinners.
(5)Valerie B.
gorgeous atmosphere (right on the Chattahoochee river) , amazing service, fantastic food. will definitely be going back!
(5)Tracy L.
ATMOSPHERE: Awesome. Dimly lit. Nice booth seating - the semicircular kind which I love! Wish I could have seen the outside. We were right in front of the windows but too dark to see anything. FOOD: Awesome! I know it's a meat eaters place but you can make a great dinner from a couple of appetizers. 1. Assorted breads - comes with the dinner. Choice of: - Flat bread - had some spiciness to it. Good. - Poppy seed wheat - my favorite!! Good enough to eat alone without the provided butter. - Sour dough - average but good. 2. Ruby red and golden beet salad - I wasn't expecting much but this was actually great. Went well with the goat cheese. 3. African squash soup - has lime cream and toasted pumpkin seeds. Also very, very good. Went well with the wheat poppy seed. It's a big bowl - probably this along is enough for a dinner with the bread. 4. Pinot noir - wow, this was the best pinot I've ever had. I'm not a wine expert and probably wine naive, but I was impressed, so we got a whole bottle. I forgot which pinot though... They have a huge wine selection. 5. Chocolate peanut butter bar with chocolate sorbet - peanut butter bar was way too rich. Enough for 2 people. I think I should have chosen something lighter like the sorbet or something. PRICES: Pricey but correlates with quality. SERVICE: Very good. Server was VERY knowledgeable. Sometimes maybe too good? At one point was asked every other minute if they could take a plate off the table when we weren't done with it. PARKING: Valet CONCLUSION: Great place for atmosphere and food even for vegetarians! Will be back again.
(5)Kristi E.
Wonderful food, fabulous service, covered patio seating overlooking beautiful gardens and the river. A great place for a special celebration or just a delicious evening out. I love this place!
(5)Chris R.
Excellent for a family brunch, and one of my favorite spot for business meals. Be sure if you have a group of 10+ to request to eat in the wine cellar it is unbelievable. Great menu, exquisite quality and reasonable prices make this a top spot for business dining or date night.
(4)Robert M.
For some reason, Canoe always slips my mind when thinking of somewhere to eat...especially Sunday brunch. But Canoe is one of the best. I haven't had dinner here in years but remember it to be outstanding and creative, and I do know that the brunch is very good...all the bad stuff to get you going on a Sunday. The staff is 'on it', the space is charming and the outside setting is excellent riverside. We were trying to do our wedding ceremony and reception here before signing with Flint Hill. Consistent, mark of a winner. Highly recommend!
(4)Bob T.
Canoe is consistently one of my favorites in Atlanta. It's in a nice setting, they have valet parking, an inventive chef, and a one page menu, it has everything I look for in a restaurant. We went for my birthday and had great service and great food. We sat inside, near the open kitchen, which wasn't too loud like some places can be. I had the pork belly appetizer, and the grilled duck breast entree, which was smoky and delicious. Our service was great. All our food was served simultaneously, which is a sign that the wait staff is working in coordination with the kitchen. I like how instead of crowding the table with a bread basket, they bring a selection around and serve you what you want. It seems less wasteful. We will definitely be returning soon, this is the perfect spot for a special dinner.
(5)Juliet C.
I ate at Canoe with a party of 6 on a Saturday evening. We arrived an hour before sunset to have a cocktail by the river. First, the outside bar was closed, maybe because there was a wedding outside, so we ordered drinks at the bar and sat outside. It is so lovely riverside, probably the best and only reason to go to Canoe. We sat for our meal and boy was it slow. On top of that the waitress was sloppy, spilling water and literally throwing utensils at the table! I was not impressed by the service at all. In sum, the appetizers were generally good, the entrees were average or overcooked, and the desserts were very good. I would only return for a drink by the river, the wine list is very good. I would skip eating there unless I was really hungry and I would order an appetizer. I was disappointed by the experience because it was a special evening for us, and the food and service did not rise to the occasion. I still give it 4 stars because of the great outside setting, rare in ATL.
(4)live to nibble d.
According to Bourdain, brunch is every cook's worst nightmare. If this is true at Canoe, then the cook's nightmare translated into some day dream worthy stuff on our plates. I had forgotten how perfectly the eggs come out here. Both J's pheasant and eggs (photos may be found at livetonibble.blogspot.co… ) and my smoked salmon benedict got to the table with yokes wobbling. My hollandaise dripped off the eggs slowly into a pretty little pool, never showed any signs of developing that deathly congealed look. Seasoning came through every element, but managed to stay shy of being too much in combination. Also impressive was the she crab soup. It threatened to put us into a Sunday stupor. The viscous spoonfuls comforted with plenty of sweet cream. The awesome shot of good cream sherry on the side changed the taste profile entirely and sent the already decadent treat over the top.
(5)missy a.
Great menu and service. Specials are great and use fresh ingredients. Brunch and dinner are my favorites. Pastry chef is amazing as well.
(5)Rebekha J.
This is a five star restaurant so you will be spending a bit of cash. Canoe is my FAVORITE restaurant in Georgia. The first time I went there I was a veggie head. They didn't have anything on the menu that was 100% veggie but the waiter said that the chef would be happy to make me a vegetarian stir fry with mushrooms and snap peas. It was a wonderful dish but when the waiter brought out my check, the dinner was not on the bill. I asked if it was a mistake but the waiter said with a smile, "Because we could not offer you anything on our menu the meal is on us." Also, I took my parents there for their anniversary. I asked them to bring a small desert but they brought a huge beautiful cake and again...the cake was not on the bill. Again, the waiter said it was on us. Every time I visit this place I walk away thinking how wonderful the meal is but also how sweet they are to keep you satisfied. If you do go make sure to get there a bit before your reservation. Grab a drink and walk through the garden. BEAUTIFUL!
(5)James P.
Be sure to ask for a table in the lower level so you can enjoy the very pleasant riverside view, but don't forget your sunblock before the meal--there are no window coverings. The delicious food and amazing waitress (Amy) banished my angst about the potential UV-A exposure. Again, props to Amy--you should really consider asking for a table in her section--I've met few servers with her genuine enthusiasm, curiosity, and knowledge about food and delightfully quirky command of conversational skills. Don't meh-pass the granola starter (I can't remember what all came in it but it really perked me up on a rough morning) or the not really "old-fashioned" applie pie (it's a medium-thin applie pie disc, with sharp cheddar baked into the crust, and topped with rosemary ice cream (I was skeptical, but the ice cream was great)). My entree was fried chicken with grits and mushrooms--this obviously isn't a paradigm shifting concoction, but it couldn't have been done much better.
(5)Desiree Y.
whoa this place is amazing. the food was so good. the service was out of this world. the martinis were to die for. this is where you should take a date you really wan to impress.it was nice to take a walk after a long meal around the restraunt.
(5)JG S.
Well, it would be wrong to say that canoe was bad, but it was far from great, although our server was nice. I had the impression that this restaurant would be sort of hip with a stylistic atmosphere, but it wasn't all that hip and it had no distinguishable style really. Don't be fooled by the name or the menu, it's really not that special. Sometimes a cool name, a fancy menu, and high price can make a place seem better than it is. For the price, Canoe isn't really worth it. But it is on the river and it does have a garden and they do serve fancy sounding things like duck and quail, oh, and rabbit. So if you want to tell your friends you went to Canoe and they'll be impressed by all means go. I don't know, I really want to like this place, but it didn't satisfy. Sorry.
(2)Tricia C.
We went on a Friday night for "date night" and had a great experience. The bar is a little small, but very comfortable with yummy cocktails. We snagged a table right next to the windows so we could look out over the gardens and the 'hooch going by. The food was so good that we both stuffed ourselves so that I had to go home and but on my "comfortable pants". I would highly recommend this restaurant for out of town guests as they specialize in "wild game". My husband had the pheasant and said it was delicious! I'm not quite as adventuresome and had the steak which had the best flavor!
(4)Lacey A.
My BF and I made a reservation for this place based off of the yelp reviews and it did not disappoint! We were seated on time (what!?) and the service was top notch. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu which came in handy since we had a ton of questions. We are both pretty picky. The view was breathtaking! I felt like I was on a vacation sipping cocktails outside and people watching for hours. I had the slow roasted Carolina rabbit. The flavor of swiss chard, bacon, and sweet potato was divine. The candied garlic sauce sent me over the moon! It was a little pricey but I can see myself going there often just for cocktails and desert. They bad me at popcorn sundae.
(5)Lindsay F.
Went here a few weeks for a nice dinner. Unfortunately it was still hot outside so we couldn't enjoy the gorgeous patio. But the grounds are beautiful and it's a great setting right on the river. Dinner was delicious; I had the watermelon salad and the scallops, and both were great. I think everyone at the table liked their dinner. The only negative that night was the service. I had read reviews raving about the service so my expectations were high, but the service was poor by any standard. I think it's because we had a large party seated next to us, but for a $200+ dinner I'd expect them to adapt. Took a long time to order, once we had finished appetizers the empty plates sat there until dinner came out, and our empty dinner plates were never cleared. We had a leisurely dinner and were ready to pay at the end, but waited so long that we finally had to go find someone and ask to pay. We had hoped to walk around outside but by the time we finally got the check and paid it was dark. So, overall it was a very nice restaurant and great food, but service was not what we had hoped.... just an off night, perhaps.
(3)Benjamin J.
We went to Canoe as a part of the Yelp Eats week and it was awesome. We sat outside and the atmosphere was great, Lindsey...our waitress was fabulous and very knowlegeable about the menu. She suggested for my wife and I to each try something different from the Yelp Eats menu so we could try everything. That is what we did and every course was great! We cannot wait to go back.
(5)Cheryl B.
I've been to canoe several times before and really liked it. This past time I did not have a good experience. I ordered the Crispy Rock Shrimp Salad with a Napa Cabbage Slaw and Sweet Pepper Remoulade. I guess I didn't realize that crispy means deep fried with a giant onion ring on top. The Napa Cabbage Slaw was drowned in dressing - to the point of being inedible. I have never returned any item in a restaurant, but this was so bad I couldn't eat it. When the server came, I told her I really didn't care for the dish. She then asked me if I wanted to box it up and take it home!! She didn't offer to give me a substitution or try and rectify the situation. She just took it away. Then she brought the bill and there was the $16.00 charge for that horrible dish. We had to ask her to take it off the bill. As I was leaving I saw two other tables where that dish had been ordered and was sitting off to the side almost untouched. One mom I noticed was picking food off of her kids plate instead of eating that. It will be a while before I venture to Canoe again.
(2)Dee G.
I took my mom here for her birthday. The appetizers and entrees were all very good. The price was reasonable for everything that was ordered. Will go back again. Mandatory valet parking was not needed. Parking lot is right in front of restaurant
(4)Nancy R.
Yum, yum, yum!!! We came here for brunch and everyone was fully satisfied. FOOD: We started with the Georgia Pecan Sticky Buns and Sweet and Savory Scones combo(recommended by our server) and they were delicious! The scones with jam/preserves were melt-in-your-mouth good! For brunch I had the "Crab & Eggs" - Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Soft Scrambled Eggs and Hash Brown Potatoes. It came with Hollandaise sauce on it, which gave it a creamy flavor. It may have been a little heavy after the sticky buns and scones, but I finished it all! For dessert, we had 3 desserts, but my favorite was the Popcorn Ice Cream Sundae and House Made Cracker Jack.
(4)Goutami M.
I think this is my favorite place to eat in Atlanta for this past year. I don't eat red meat, don't like seafood, pork or turkey and chicken can get dull. When I tried the pheasant, I really thought, man if they served this as much as chicken in the real world, I would eat meat everyday. It was the best dinner dish I have had in Atlanta this past year. The location is quaint and the view is lovely. My parents, one is a strict veg, and the other is finicky and loves his Indian food, both loved this place too!!! One small thing, I asked the waitress a question about something written in the menu and she just pointed to the same word and said its right there in the menu. Kind of snotty, and since I have only seen one season of top chef, and cannot cook, I don't know what a gremolata is. Reading the same word I don't know twice isn't helpful. I think instead of saying she was snotty, its just the wait staff really knows their stuff, very professional about the food and a novice foodie like me might get annoying.
(5)Caroline K.
My BF brought me here for my birthday and everything was PERFECT!! No matter what you order it tastes amazing, and the service is stellar. We will for sure be back for all of our special occasions.
(5)Rose K.
We ate here for mothers day brunch and I was very disappointed. I ordered a shrimp salad which came in a small portion considering the $20 price. The shrimp on the salad came as is! and by that i mean legs, tail, eyes, EVERYTHING. I wasted so much time trying to remove all that stuff only to have shrimp parts all over my salad. Also, the shrimp was overcooked which tasted horrible. Our waitress was nice and friendly and she answered all our questions. I don't think I'll be giving this place a second chance.
(1)Kelli K.
Looking at the menu makes you wonder uh... " maybe I could get this same dish else where" or you may even feel that your not quite in a rush to visit this restaurant" Well.... let me assure you that if your feeling this way you should most certainly go to the "Canoe" not only is the food delightfully delicious the setting in this charming restaurant is one of a kind the nice sultry atmosphere will make you feel like staying and not going home! After dinner I enjoyed a glass of red wine with a bit of entertainment and laughter w/ friends all while appreciating this restaurant true gem their "charming landscape" where the river steals the show making this beautiful scenery hard to forget. If your wondering rather you should experience this restaurant you most certainly should. It's worth the try!
(5)Michael E.
Canoe is a five-star restaurant in every sense of the word. Our waitress was phenomenal--extremely friendly with a literally encyclopedic knowledge of the menu. I had the duck 'n beef burger and my wife had a swordfish special. Both were incredible. I also really appreciated the friendliness of the waitress and hosting staff.
(5)Chai S.
I am from out of town and this place was amazing. We sat near the window looking over the park and lake. My love and I were celebrating our two year anniversary and it was definitely one of the best experiences I've had in Atlanta. We started the meal with the salmon appetizer. It had a dill sauce that was amazing!! The crunchy piece that the salmon lied on was just delightful! I just wish I had the words to accurately describe it. :) I had the Venison and my love had the rabbit. Both dishes were delicious. My venison was perfectly cooked. It had huckleberries that worked so well with the mashed potatoes and veggies. The rabbit was moist and paired perfectly with the ravioli. It had mushrooms inside and the wine sauce was light and delicious. For desert, we had the chocolate grotto. We paired it with a couple shots of espresso and I was in desert heaven. The salted caramel was a dream and the nuts added a delightful crunch. I loved it. Thank you to the chefs and wonderful staff at Canoe.
(5)Erica M.
Canoe is one of the few restaurants I visited during my last days living in Atlanta. Canoe did not disappoint and reminded me of what I would be missing once I moved away. Not only is the ambiance and scenery of the place beautiful, but the food and service are excellent as well. If you're going here for dinner, definitely make reservations and request to sit by the window with view of the Chattahoochee river. Outside seating is great as well if the weather is nice and cool. Canoe is must go to if you're looking for a great "date night" restaurant. For my entree I had the Duck n' Beef Burger. This was one of the best burgers I've ever had. Everything was cooked perfectly with balanced flavors in a nice neat package( unlike a messy Vortex burger). My husband ordered the famous Slow Roasted Carolina rabbit. It tasted very good, but it's a pretty small portion. I wouldn't recommend ordering it if you're looking to get stuffed. My husband liked my burger better than his dish and was having plate envy. Canoe is definitely on the top of my list for "fine dining". Hopefully I will be able to try their brunch once I come back to visit Atlanta.
(5)Cherie W.
This place is the real deal, a real class act. The service was exquisite. I really appreciated the vivid descriptions our server gave us of some of their signature dishes. She made me want to eat everything! I had the salmon appetizer and my husband had the corn chowder appetizer, both were absolutely excellent. For dinner I had the rainbow trout which is served with lobster ravioli, it was fantastic. My husband ordered the chicken, which, while he admits was very unambitious of him, was still the best chicken he has ever had. The risotto with it was fabulous as well. I am still dreaming about the cracker jack ice cream; there is nothing like it! We shared a bottle of wine and had a third person in our party and still walked out for under $200. I was stunned that the bill was that low for the quality of food and service.
(5)Sandra B.
Taste buds and sensibilities can be lost effortlessly at Canoe. The cuisine, wine, and view all contribute to a short, yet spectacular, euphoria. I've only been here once-a week after I had broken up with my ex boyfriend and he decided he wanted to take me to someplace to smooth things over. I had the waitress order me my wine- it was probably the best pinot gris I've ever tasted. On principal I ordered the scallops, which were then the priciest thing on the menu (he needed to hurt). The point was, that while the scallops were slightly over burdened by heat (don't overcook your scallops!) they were cooked with in maple- something rarely seen outside of New England cuisine, and delicious. My then ex's seared tuna was perfection, and still the new thing. I ate most of it. Neither of these are on the menu currently, but the skill and imagination in their execution was clear. One important note- this place is tricky to find. Like Peach Tree, Pace's Ferry is everywhere! Bring a map! We didn't get back together, but we both love each other. And Canoe.
(5)Deandre L.
Whether like me, an average city boy who like to try new things and go way beyond the ordinary or someone who likes to stick to what they know, you will have an amazing experience at The Canoe. First of all I love how it is hidden away from the road. Canoe does a great job of making you feel exclusive. They start the experience off with valet parking. The staff is great. I especially like the formal atmosphere. Remember the part about trying something new... I had the roasted quail. I was looking for something different and ended up finding one of my favorite foods. If your looking at the screen with a weird face trust me that exactly how my babe looked at me when I ordered it but once we tasted it quail became the new chicken. If you have a special someone take them to Canoe... Bottom line. I did and now we have a memory that will last a life time. Indulge and enjoy
(4)Kim S.
I sat outside at Canoe and while the view was amazing, a few dozen small flies insisted on buzzing around our heads all night. There is not much the staff can do, but just be aware of potential swarms of flies in your face all night if you do eat outside. My friend had the sweet corn soup and I had the watermelon/feta cheese salad. Both were incredible. We both had the pork tenderloin, which was a bit over salted. I had the chocolate peanut butter bar for dessert and oh my. I hate to say I ate the whole thing, but I did. It was rich and tasty. My friend had the strawberry shortcake, which was good as well. The staff at Canoe is very attentive. Canoe is a wonderful place to bring a date you want to impress.
(5)Ben H.
Almost everything is great about Canoe: the space, the atmosphere, the staff, the food, the location. Dining riverside is really nice so the location is definitely enjoyable. The restaurant is nicely designed and decorated. It has an upscale yet relaxed and unpretentious feel (the servers wear jeans and are friendly, for example). I've been here for family dinners and romantic occasions - the restaurant has been great for both. For a birthday dinner they went the extra mile to make my lady feel special. The food has been consistently very good every time I've been, but not fantastic as nothing has every really blown me away or made think "Wow, I have to get that again!" If the food was just slightly better it would be a solid 5 for me. 4.5
(5)Alana E.
Good, but not great. I went here with a group of people for New Years, and although it has beautiful decor, I didn't think the food was the best. It is nicely secluded and has parking (bonus) and isn't in the middle of the city (so no traffic), but I thought it was a little overpriced and the wait staff wasn't 100% up to par.
(3)Courtney C.
Here's the thing about upscale cuisine in Atlanta. It's generally a bit more in love with itself than I am with its food. Canoe, though tasty, falls into this category. Although a tad snootier than tasty, I have eaten at Canoe three times--though each time I have been increasingly less impressed. The first time I frequented Canoe I made a point to try as much as possible. I was with a group of four for a dinner birthday, and we all tried different appetizers, cocktails, and entrees. The prosciutto wrapped rabbit was fabulous. It wasn't too gamey as rabbit can sometimes be. That was definitely the stand out. As an entree I got the striped bass with baby brussel sprout risotto. Fantastic. I know brussel sprouts are not for everyone, but if you have even the slightest interest, try them at Canoe. After this initial fabulous meal punctuated by copious amounts of inebriating beverages (try pairing a smoky cabernet with the rabbit), I was eager to return to Canoe. A year later, I went back twice in the same week. I was disappointed. I got a whole fish...I cannot remember the type of fish. It's not important. What is important is that the fish was overcooked. It was overcooked and fishy. Okay, it happens, but when I told my waiter about it, I was met with a bit of snoot. Yes, snoot. I was also not quite as inebriated during this visit as I was on the first visit, I should note. The moral of my Canoe story? Good food, hit or miss service, decent atmosphere depending on your table, tasty cocktails and decent wine list, appetizers are better than entrees (but I find that the case in many nicer restaurants), and a bit overpriced for the uniqueness and quality of the meal. But maybe I just wasn't drunk enough to appreciate the brilliance that is Canoe.
(4)Jeffrey s.
Sooooo perfect. The grounds were beautiful. I know, grounds. I come from southern cal where grounds are the parking lot and the shrubs in front. The architecture was also stunning. Well appointed, correctly lit, good acoustics (Monday night and the restaurant was full but it was easy to talk). The service was unforgettable. The funny thing is I am usually horrible with names but because of the experience I remember them all. Kevin the bar tender that was on the spot bringing us drinks before we asked. Love the paddle shaped stir stick and the pretty bottle of simple syrup. June our waitress. Awesome. I realized very soon she understood the menu and how it paired like nothing I had ever heard a server explain. I ended up having her pick everything; the bread (baked in the restaurant earlier that day), the salad, the slow roasted Carolina rabbit with swiss chard stuffed pasta, the wine to go with the dinner, and the desert a 70% coca hard shell hiding a flour less chocolate cake with camel and just the right amount of salt to make it sweet and complex (also prepared in house that day). There is no way I could have picked a better meal, everything was way beyond expectation. I have a more detailed review here with pictures: blog.proven3pl.com/2009/… The only downsides to the night were my wife was not present (work trip) but she would have LOVED this place and esp the desert!
(5)Candis B.
OMG!! I Love Canoe! This was my second visit in 3 days! My boyfriend and I dined here to celebrate my 26th bday and it was absolutely phenomenal. Our server, Lindsay, was awesome. Never once did we have to look for her or seek her out..she was on the money!! The servers at this place really are unbelievable. They don't stalk you, nor or they overbearing...but they are right there when you need them to be. They even come by and wipe the crumbs off or your table with a neat little sweeper before your dessert comes!!! The food at Canoe is ridiculously incredible! My guy and I chose the yelp 3 course pre fixe menu for only $25...hey, why not save a buck or two when you can?? You cannot beat the value, especially at a place as nice as this one...I had the watermelon salad, shrimp fettuccine, and the chocolate peanut butter bar for dessert. I have two words to describe the cuisine...SIMPLY DECADENT! This place will be one where we come to celebrate special occasions. It's soooo amazing...we don't want to over do it. My guy and I have dubbed Canoe to be our favorite restaurant in the city...and that's saying a whole lot because I am one serious foodie...and sometimes he's choosy when it comes to his likes and dislikes but hands down Canoe takes the cake by a looooong shot! Oh and BTW, the ambiance of the outside patio along will have you coming back for more!
(5)Jenny B.
Wow, what a wonderful time we had here. Canoe is a very romantic restaurant, and so pretty. We went on the night of a full moon, and the sight of the moon lighting up the garden area and river outside was magical, it didn't look real. We ordered the mussel appetizer and I couldn't believe how large the portion was! Usually with these fancy, expensive places you get such a small amount of food, but we had a very large platter of mussels to enjoy. I would love to go back.
(5)D. R.
I paddled my way over to Canoe one day and the tastebuds were delighted. The shrimp cakes with a sweet corn succotash, and basil, really impressive. But what set it off, was a squash soup with a lime cream---light, yet bountiful in the wonderfully flummoxing taste waves sent out by the lime and the squash. Impressed. The wait staff brought charm to the experience, along with an extra spoon when I dropped mine on the floor. They also pointed out a nice chard which marinated the afternoon into a smile. Thanks.
(4)Daniel A.
Canoe dominates, has killer service with obnoxious amounts of knowledge & menu items that will have you longing to return again & again. And do not even talk to me about THE Holeman & Finch Burger until you've had the Butter-Pop Ice Cream with House Made Cracker Jack. I shit you not, the single greatest thing to come out of Atlanta. Don't believe me, that's my thing - no lies. Prove me wrong. Please.
(5)David H.
4.5 My experience at Canoe was very memorable. The garden setting by the river is nice and scenic. Sure, you can still tell it's near Atlanta because you can see the bridge and cars crossing it, but it's a nice environment nonetheless. We sat outside at night and it was great -- very pastoral, or as close as you'll get dining out in the area. I like the concept of the very reasonably priced "Local Yokel" prix fixe three course menu with locally-sourced ingredients. I didn't order it this time, but my date did (with wine pairings). We started by splitting the House Smoked Salmon. I liked the smoked salmon itself, and the potato cake with goat cheese was pretty good, but it was all very rich together. Personally, I like the simple taste of smoked salmon by itself. With the cheese, I think it was too rich as a starter, so I didn't finish it. Also, since they pre-split it for us, we both got a relatively large portion. They also bring around a bread basket and let you choose from three different breads. The sourdough and spicy flat bread were awesome; I probably had five or six pieces of that flat bread over the course of dinner. The poppy seed wheat was also good but my least favorite of the three. Since my date got the three course prix fixe, they brought out a chilled white shrimp soup for his appetizer after we finished the salmon. I tried a bite and it was pretty good, but I don't think I'd order it normally. His entree was pork tasting consisting of pork loin and barbecue pork belly. Those were both very good. I had the George's Bank Scallops for my entree. The Leek and Bacon Risotto was really amazing. Very nice bacon flavor. His dessert course was a strawberry rhubarb cobbler with vanilla ice cream. He loved it so much that I only got a small bite, but it was really excellent. I'm not really a fan of fruit cobbler or pies but I'd have ordered this any day. I I had the Toasted Georgia Pecan and Walnut Pie with Spiced Forelle Pear Sorbet. It too was awesome. The pie crust was unusual and good; it was very flaky and had a texture similar to a puff pastry. The sorbet's flavor was unusual but I liked it. I'm still not sure if I feel it complements the pie filling or not, but it was good by itself. The service was all very good. My only (minor) complaint was the long wait between my appetizer and my entree. I attribute this, again (see my Aria review), to my date's glacially slow eating and the fact that they brought him a second first course after we had completed the appetizer we were splitting. I get the impression that places like this try to pace your meal, letting you finish a course before bringing out the next one; little do they know that he never finishes anything. He eats very slowly and they always end up checking back several times before asking him, "are you still working on that, sir?" /rant Anyway, overall, it was an excellent night and I'd happily return -- quality food in an excellent setting.
(4)M G.
Aside from Bacchanalia, Canoe is probably one of the best restaurants in the entire Southeast. I've been twice and both times were perfect. Every part of the meal from the bread, to the apps to the dessert and coffee were spectacular. Great atmosphere... and the pastry chef who invented the Chocolate Grotto with Salted Caramel and "pretzel" dust should be given a million awards. It was hands down the BEST dessert I've ever had anywhere. I'd highly recommend this place for a "romantic" dinner, to bring your out of town clients, or even just brunch. And why not "blow it out"? We did just to taste many of the dishes - still comes up way cheaper than Bacchanalia.
(5)lindsay t.
Canoe was recommended to me when I first moved to Atlanta, and it is hands down my restaurant of choice when having lunches and dinners with colleagues! On the banks of the Chattahoochee and a gorgeous, gorgeous setting. The service is impeccable, the food is amazing (I love the salmon appetizer, salmon entree, and buttered popcorn dessert!) and you will have a great meal and experience!
(5)Travis N.
A great upscale Atlanta dining experience in a unique location. I went there for date night a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, mother nature decided not to cooperate and the deluge kept our dining inside. I had heard about the views from the deck, and was looking forward to a table by the river. The food is a mix of neuvo-american and french. A lot of fish, but chicken pork, etc. All the food was HEAVY...the portions are not huge, but they are rich. This is a place where many have walked in and waddled out! The wait staff was attentive as they should be for this caliber of restaurant, and their wine reccomendations were spot on. In short it's a wonderful, romantic change of pace from Buckhead, that's just a few minutes up the road. I wish I could give it 4.5 stars, but unfortunately I reserve my 5 stars for EXTRA special places.
(4)Cousin D.
Some of the best food/dining experience I have had in the US, let alone ATL. The setting is great, decor, service, etc....all great! I heard they had damage from the floods and hope they are back open. Would highly recommend a dining experience here.
(5)Michael J.
The setting, ambiance and service are all as good as it gets but the food is uniquely incredible. We always can depend on Canoe as our go-to place for any important meeting or special occasion because everything will be executed flawlessly. For a key executive role, we opted for a 10-course chef's tasting menu with wine pairings and this 3 hour experience was at the chef's desire and not a single course disappointed. Imaginative, creative and outstanding are just three words that come to mind. This is no doubt among the best in Atlanta and sets the bar that everyone else should strive to meet. There may be only 2-3 other restaurants who can deliver on par with Canoe.
(5)S W.
I've had a couple of really good lunches and a dinner at Canoe. The cuisine, which is primarily seafood, is served with excellent service in an atmosphere of sophistication and nature. This is a wonderful place for a romantic evening. I have always had good meals and great experiences at Canoe.
(4)Tiffany L.
Time after time, I have the most amazing experiences at Canoe. My fiance and I go to Canoe for all of our special occasions and they never cease to amaze us. The food is a true culinary experience and the wait staff are so knowledgeable on all food and wine. The food is exquisite but the service is what blows my mind each time. Being in the service industry myself, I know how hard it is to create consistently high level of service so the staff at Canoe raises the bar each time.
(5)Carol G.
I really enjoy the atmosphere here, and like going there because of that. The food is ok, not stupendous
(3)Cindy P.
Best Special Occasion dinner! My husband and I tried Canoe after just moving to Atlanta and needing to celebrate our 10th Wedding Anniversary. Loved the atmosphere - warm, dimly lit, rustic wood, open kitchen. We also appreciate the seasonal and local menu. We shared the Oysters on the Half Shell and it was so large, we each received our own platter of 5 oysters on ice. Hubby got the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit. He thought it was surprisingly rich and tender. I had the Panko Crusted Cod. It was cooked perfectly and a good portion size. We shared the Chocolate Grotto for dessert and it was served on a plate where the chef had written "Happy 10th Anniversary" in chocolate drizzle. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and helpful with ordering advice. This is not just a place for pricey special occasions; we look forward to returning for drinks and appetizers while taking in the view of the Chattahoochee River at the bar out back. You can also stroll through their onsite gardens. So romantic!
(5)Kelly O.
Went for brunch last Sunday and left a happy camper. We split the smoked salmon with goat cheese - which I literally haven't stopped thinking about since then - it really is as good as they waiter/ress tells you (and believe me our waitress recommended we order half the menu for the two of us, slightly overkill? I think so...)! I had the quiche with mushrooms, bacon, spinach and tomatoes and it was solid quiche, but I would probably get the smoked salmon as my meal next time :)
(5)Roy K.
This is def a staple of mine when I have something to celebrate & someone special to appreciate. Always a new twist on the menu, you can trust that everything is great...not just good. I have had duck, pork, chicken, steak, pasta, & seafood and all of it has been exceptional. Lots of flavor in every dish. Ambiance - Outdoors is great, make sure you take a walk around the grounds. Inside - classic elegance. Staff - always had great service, never any complaints on this front except for the fact that I was on a date once and they once said "Hi Mr and Mrs _ _ _ _" - Whoa there tiger you just jinxed us! *Canoe also did the Yelp eats menu which I appreciated and it was a great value.
(5)Malinda K.
A friend and I had the most amazing lunch on the patio overlooking the water. It is fall in Atlanta and it really could not have been more amazing. We sat and lingered and were made to feel welcome and not rushed at all. The food was wonderful and it really could not have been a better experience.
(5)M D.
I went here for brunch and was disappointed. We had to wait quite a long time despite having a reservation. I expected the food to be much better. The coffee cups are very small and we rarely got a refill (in fact, our waiter was pretty MIA overall). I had a salad and the dressing was so sugar-y and heavy that I couldn't eat it. Biscuits are good, though. I probably won't be back.
(2)Jason E.
I was tempted to not write this review because it will surely just become lost among the other 5 red star reviews. But I simply must put in my two cents. I think it's important to point out that I myself am in the service industry and consider myself to be very good at what I do. At least I did until I went to Canoe. Wow. Perfect. From start to finish. EVAN did an incredible job of making us all feel welcome. Only 2 of our party of 4 had experienced Canoe at dinner - myself not being one of them I was extremely excited to finally pay witness to the storied perfection of their service. I was not let down at any point. We arrived fairly late on a Monday night at around 8:00 without a reservation and were seated immediately by the most polite and considerate host I've ever encountered in my life. We got the best table in sight on the patio right up against the low stone wall overlooking the garden. The fans were on, there was ZERO humidity and no bugs... and a thunderstorm was coming. We were all so excited to be safely covered with the comfort of fans, great music, incredible company, and what was about to be the best meal any of us have experienced in a very, VERY long time while mother nature went nuts in the background. We were in for a show and we knew it. Wine was a pain in the ass to even begin to think about so we all decided on a few classic cocktails that were all made by someone that clearly knew what they were doing and had a passion and respect for their craft. There was a mixologist behind the bar and I liked it :) My Manhattan was easily one of the tastiest I've had in Atlanta and that's saying something when there are people like Tres and Greg in this world. After a rousing first round and a quickly ordered and thoroughly enjoyed appetizer course of Calamari stuffed with shrimp and served with awesome andoulli sausage, and some Smoked Salmon, we settled into our dinner course decisions and our taste buds began thrilling us in anticipation. I don't remember what everyone else had but I know that there was Rabbit and Short Rib involved and it made my heart sing! My dinner was a glutinous and obnoxiously delicious Duck Burger (yeah, I ordered the burger. If you've had the Duck Meatloaf at Local Three you'll understand. If you haven't, you need to and then you need to have the Burger at Canoe).... with a side of the bacon and sweet corn risotto that was the side for the scallop special of the evening.... words don't, and cannot describe the emotions and sensations that went coursing through my body when my glutinous ass slopped some risotto onto the burger and took a massive bite. I was in heaven. Not just normal heaven, I'm talkin' fat boy inside of me dancin' on MDMA Heaven!!!! So juicy, and meaty, and salty, and porky, and beefy, and runny, and DELICIOUS! Nothing comes close. We went on a walk through the gardens after the rain ceased but there were still lightning bolts fighting quietly amongst themselves in the clouds above us. That burger wasn't going to burn itself off... I had to work for it, and what a walk we had. The property is on the Chatahoochee, which we couldn't really see since it was night time but we could hear the water going by. The gardens, the pathways, the trees, the LIGHTING.... oh the lighting... it was too good. Way too good. We made our way to the back where a small gate opened to what can only be described as the most seductive dining spot on the planet. A giant picnic style community table beautifully crafted by hand by someone that really took care to put some character into it. The table is right next to the river and sits right next to Chef's garden. It was absolutely breathtaking. I cannot wait to spend a ridiculous amount of money with my best friends eating out there one night. You can apparently get your own chef out there cooking just for you. That's beyond just going out to eat....that's an experience that you will ALWAYS remember. It's the kind of thing that makes life worth living. These people get 'it'. I get 'it' so it makes it so much better for me to be shown such an incredible evening by people that shared such a love and respect for this industry and the kind of experiences, like the one I had, that people remember forever. Thank you Canoe, and Evan, and Chef Carvel, and Sous Chef Nick (who I had the pleasure of meeting the next night while out with work buddies) I'll be back, many many times. We'll get to know eachother really well... I promise I'm pretty fun to be around and I like to help garden for free :) Stop reading this and go... now. It's something everyone should experience at least once even if it requires your lights getting turned off to pay the bill... it IS worth it.
(5)Janice F.
Great food!!! Great Atmosphere!!! Good service!!! Make a reservation!!!
(5)Evan G.
Overall a fantastic dining experience. We went with a small group of friends to celebrate a double birthday. Everyone in our party enjoyed their appetizers and entrees. The entrees took a little longer than expected after we were done with our starters, but the place was packed and in the presence of good company you hardly notice. They have a fairly large wine selection which most of my group took advantage of. I was looking for a good beer though that night. It always disappoints me when a nice restaurant doesn't have an equally nice high end beer selection to accompany their wine selection. Our waitress wasn't very familiar with their available beers but after some coaxing I was able to get a few higher-end beers from her and settled on a nice Chimay White. The quality of food, drink and atmosphere is fantastic without breaking the bank. We will be back to Canoe.
(4)Michelle C.
We had a great experience here. We came for brunch and had no idea how cute and romantic this place or location was! Our server was really fantastic. Very knowledgeable about the restaurant and menu in general and was very attentive to our needs. The rest of the staff is very efficient and well trained and I Iiked how they work as a team. The food was out of this world. I had the fried green tomato eggs benedict and my husband tried the crab over eggs. Both were excellent dishes, perfectly executed and well made. We also ordered the mixed basket of pastries to start wow! Everything in the basket was freshly made. I think the scones were the best I've ever had! The restaurant is very pricey for the average person, but we had a gift card so it was totally worth it for us. We will be back to try dinner sometime, perhaps for a special occasion.
(4)Steve O.
Consistently one of the best restaurants in Atlanta with a truly unique menu, great location and service. I'm even having my wedding here.
(5)Chloé C.
This is a bit of a drive if you are in Atlanta. It is near a lake, and there is indoor and outdoor seating. I would dress up a bit. People often come for breakfast or brunch, but we came in a group of about 8 for a friend's birthday. The rabbit was good, although I ordered the rib eye dish. The dishes in general were all very good and your server will probably help you choose a dish. In the back, there is outdoor seating and a lake. It is nice and could be nicer if they worked on it a bit more. I would recommend for a date.
(4)Kathy H.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Absolutely fabulous time at Canoe this past month. Victoria was the perfect server. She managed to select a lovely wine to accompany my meal just by asking a few simple questions as to my tastes. I had the Skate wing with sauteed sugar peas over red bliss potatoes. Hubby had the NY Strip with Applewood smoked bacon gnoche over swiss chard and wild mushrooms with a Worcestershire red wine reduction. My honey is a beer man, not a wine man, and they had a great selection on tap. Dessert was soooo good. Couldn't finish it, but layers of cake, chocolate mousse flavored with coffee, covered in ganache. Not so coffee flavored that is was overpowering either. YUM
(5)Felix B.
Very nice atmosphere and great food for dinner. I had a steak that was prepared perfectly (rare) and a cream of corn soup that was phenomenal. It packed a lot of flavor that was very interesting. I also had a blueberry tart with banana ice cream...delicious!!
(5)michael m.
There's so many incredibly good restaurants in Atlanta that it's tempting to be stingy with the 5 star ratings, but Canoe was just so perfect that I have a very hard time not handing one out. The ambiance is flawless. I worry about HOW they manage to keep it so insect-free, but it was nice to sit outdoors and enjoy perfect weather right next to the river. The service was perfect. Their timing was flawless and their knowledge of the food was amazing. The quality of the food was tops and the wine selection was beyond expectations. Again, the servers seemed to know every wine first-hand, which was really appreciated =) I can't think of anything negative to say, hence 5 stars =D Pricey, yes, but still good bang for the buck.
(5)Seyna B.
If a restaurant experience could be equated to the best 'O' you've ever had, then I'd gladly 'When Harry met Sally' Canoe every day. Yes! Yes! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
(5)Lin O.
You know, I hate to be the downer here, but I came to Canoe with high expectations and left pretty disappointed. I came in a large group, we sat outside. First off, the ambiance is gorgeous. The plantings are lush, the garden gorgeous, and the riverview fantastic. There were chairs out from a wedding that happened earlier and I was definitely jealous of that party! From the start, our waitstaff were very pleasant and informed, quickly taking orders and well informed about the wines on the menu. My cocktail was promptly fixed when I realized it was made with tonic and not soda water (always happens!). The wines we had with dinner (one white, one red, can't remember what they were) were excellent. So what was wrong? The food! One of my friends was a vegetarian and they didn't have any vegetarian entrees on the menu. No worries, in this case he normally has the chef just create something with items on hand. The meal he got was disappointing, boring, and looked like someone had just taken handfuls of whatever non-animal protein foodstuff in the kitchen and mixed it together. My appetizer (corn soup) was delicious. Flavorful, and a very generous portion. I was excited for the rest. Then came the hazlenut crusted cod -- so salty at first bite I almost sent it back, but my hunger won out. The rest of the cod was not much better and I ended up eating mostly the beans that surrounded the fish. Another girl had the scallops, and they also suffered from being "aggressively seasoned." Dessert was also a disappointment, with the table's best dessert being the three ice creams. My peanut butter chocolate dessert was rich, but definitely too sweet for my taste (I am not a fan of the American sweetness). The table consensus for dessert was, "eh, ok." Although I am critical of ambiance and service, when it comes down to it all, I go out to eat to... eat. I enjoyed a $7 sandwich at Papi's much more than my Canoe meal that night. I might go back to Canoe just to give it a second chance, but it would be a pricey test to try out!
(2)Liz T.
I was there for dinner on a Friday evening with couple of friends. We had pre-dinner drinks at the bar set by the riverside. It was a perfect setting. Just for that view alone is worth 5 stars. I can see why it would be a popular venue for weddings and debutante parties, if these still happen. Giving Canoe 4 stars overall because the food was that - it was good but not fantabulous. Our waiter told us their specialty was game and fish. We ended up ordering their pheasant and rabbit entrees. Both were very well-prepared, and came in good-sized portions especially the pheasant. We came away with doggie bags. We had 2 appetizers - the smoked salmon on what seemed to be more of a potato crisp versus croquette, and the calamari. I really loved the calamari ! - it came as a whole tender squid stuffed with shrimp and chorizo. It was a delightful starter. Someone talked about their bread, and I agree. Fresh and so, so good -- I had 2 slices of their cranberry nut bread and craved more. Service was top-notch. Everyone was so friendly and personable. I liked that no one put on any airs and just seemed like genuinely nice people who enjoyed working there. Our waiter Josh was very knowledgeable about the menu, and every dish and wine that he recommended were spot on. Except for the chocolate grotto; perhaps a bit over the top after a heavy meal. I loved my Jasmine rice pudding, and the many spoons of my friend's Blueberry cobbler with brown sugar banana icecream. I can't remember the labels of the wines we had, but they were deliciously paired with our food. The Chardonnay was buttery, and the Pinot was smoothly All in all, it was a delightful experience. I am inclined to visit for Sunday brunch so that I can dally and soak in the serene beauty of the Chattahoochee.
(4)Erica B.
BEAUTIFUL. I went with my mom for my birthday this year and being new to the area I wanted to try the best Atlanta has to offer. They asked the occasion and put in extra effort after finding out it was my special day, they placed us out in the garden and the view was breathtaking. I had the pheasant cooked two ways and it took all my strength to not lick the plate! Our waiter was so friendly and knowledgeable and it was truly a great, memorable, and tasty experience!
(5)Sam U.
This formal *5-Star dining restaurant is my personal favorite in the entire Atlanta area. IT serves all-American cuisine straight down to the meat choices and vegetables and ever since surviving the flood from a couple of years ago has flourished. If I had a higher income I would eat here every night if I could! The food is delicious! The ambiance is strong from being off a main road yet subtle enough to make the river the main ambiance of the restaurant even though it is closer to the road. A sunny Sunday afternoon between lunch and dinner in the fall or summer is the perfect time to have an outdoor sit here, with the sound of the river rushing by making the rush of the Atlanta atmosphere seem miles, if not decades away.
(5)Lena R.
Great place! They bake their own breads and all three of them were delightful. Smoked salmon appetizer was amazing. Ans so were deserts. Main dishes were good, but my tuna was a little overcooked for my taste, I like it seared just a little, almost raw. I will go back when I can though. Recommend this place. Beautiful atmosphere, music, view, and wonderful food.
(5)Mark K.
Rating: 8 (out of 10) Canoe, a restaurant in the Vinings area of Atlanta on the Chattahoochee River, is a wonderful place to dine when looking for a special occassion place or a semi casual eatery. I had the pleasure of trying their tasting menu, which was a treat given that I was dining alone. We start with a dill cucumber oyster appeitizer, then move into a smoked salmon on a potato cake. Then there is a beautifully arranged beet salad (which was amazing...by far my favorite course). Next comes a braised lamb lasagna. For the main course, it's heart of rib eye over organic spinach and shitake mushrooms. Desert was a trio of creme brulee, a peanut butter bar, and a strawberry banana shorbet. What an amazing finish. There was an intermezzo of rasberry gran marnier shorbet. This is the perfect palete cleanser. I've been there a couple of times, and I would also recommend the Grilled Berkshire Pork Tenderloin. I've been to a lot of great restaurants, and let me say, I would put this up there with the greats, easily putting this in the top 5. If you'd like, I have pictures posted of my meal. Enjoy! Bon appetit!
(5)Marie P.
Yum! I've been here several times now and all but one were for brunch. And honestly, the dinner wasn't as memorable. But brunch...I LIVE for Canoe's whole milk yogurt with berries, granola and honey. I wish I had gone later in the day because, being Sunday brunch in Georgia, I can't order a Bloody Mary until 12:30. Ugh. For my entree, I had the crispy rock shrimp salad with a spicy remoulade. It's absolutely delicious. The salad part is actually Napa cabbage, carrots, jicama, red onions and red cabbage so it's super crunchy. My boyfriend had the smoked salmon eggs benedict and Canoe's house smoked salmon is fantastic. Perfectly poached eggs and a fantastic citrius hollandaise sauce on an English muffin. I saw a plate of french toast walk by and it looked divine. The view is a completely different story. The building is on river-front property (hence, the name Canoe...) and features a beautiful garden with walking paths and benches behind the restaurant. And I saw hummingbirds feeding on the flowers! My party sat inside but overlooked the garden and the river and was the perfect view with out brunch. Service was pretty good. At first, the service was actually excellent. Our server was fantastic and very knowledgeable about the food. But we were also one of 3 tables in the restaurant. As it started filling up, our server was clearly getting bogged down and it took forever for someone to clear our plates and finally get the check. So, that's why I only give it 4 stars. Canoe is definately one of my favorite restaurants and it's great for any occasion. Dates, lunch, prom (oh yes...), family brunch, you name it.
(4)Heather K.
Smoked salmon app, Warm artisan cheese salad, truffle fries, and the rabbit... you MUST try them all. EXCELLENT!!!
(5)Ruksana H.
We were treated by a friend here and quite the treat it was. I love the location and the ambience, the wait staff were so very helpful. We had dinner and the chef was out to personally explain each dish and suggest something suitable for everyone's palate. The food itself was outta this world. I enjoyed every bit of the meal and I must say they have some unique food preparation here. I would suggest it for a great family dinner, or a romantic date too maybe. Enjoy!
(5)Michelle F.
The boy and I have always wanted to try Canoe, but have never made it there for some reason or not. Well, after almost 10 years in Atlanta, we finally went. Since we had early weekday opera tickets, our reservation was for 5:30. We were early for our seating, and the hostess suggested we have a cocktail or wander the gardens. We did both. The weather was cool and perfect, the sparkling white pinot we sipped was crisp and clean. The vista, charming, green and cheery. The boy's hand, soft and warm in mine. Though with all this waxing poetic I did struggle a tad in my 3 inch heels on gravel paths...c'est la vie I suppose, it meant more clinging to the boy's arm tightly... The service was attentive and knowledgeable. The bread delicious...soft butter, always a good sign. Black napkin for my black dress, white for the boy's khakis...always appreciative of that. Loved the view from our cozy and roomy booth, did not love as much the waiters hanging at the wait station directly next to us. There should be a law about wait stations in promximity to diners in restaurants. I remember when the boy and I worked in 5 star, we were foribben to hover and to congregate on the dining room floor. We were to "appear when needed and disappear when not"...magically. I appreciate these nuances of fine dining. Though it did not kill the expererience. Luckily, I was for the most part distracted by the food. We had: Duck stuffed crispy Georgia Quail with blackberries, roasted vidalia onion puree and cilantro: This was WONDERFUL. The tart of the blackberry,. the sweet of the onion, the fresh brightness of the cilantro contrasting with the crisp light crust and the tender rich complexity of the two birds...just wonderful. Salmon Creek Farms BBQ Pork Belly on english pea terrine and jicama vanilla slaw: I like pork belly. I think this could have been very good. But it was cold, and cold congealed fat is unsettling. Now perhaps a hot belly would pair nice with the chilly cool of the pea terrine and the crisp slaw...but it was not hot. Whole crusted sea bass with garlic, lemon, fennel, capers and olives with fresh green beans: Cooked perfectly, tender sweet flesh was light and firm, buttery in contrast to the bite of the caper...perfect. Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with swiss chard-applewood smoked bacon ravioli, candied garlic jus: I had rabbit about six months ago and was wholly disappointed. Inspired by some darlings romping about my yard this weekend, I decided to give them another chance. I am so glad I did. This was beautiful, meltingly sweet and tender. Redolent of rich dark forests bright with springs youth,heavenly and transporting, yet held to earth by the perfectly paired jus and ravioli. The boy had chosen a tempranillo for me to accompany, and it did so with grace. I was distressed that we had no time for coffee, dessert or aperitives. I was sure there would be a fascinating cheese plate just waiting for me to discover it. Overall, the place was lovely, romantic, the food and service top notch. I look forward to dining there again...hopefully that cheese plate will be there!
(4)Robert C.
I had to update my review after Brunch - it is amazing at this place. The scone basket is awesome. Coffee is great for a restaurant too. I would give it five stars, but requiring a Valet to move my car 30 ft is completely absurd!
(4)David J.
By far my favorite restaurant in and around Atlanta. The best food ever... The best service ever.... The best dining experience I have ever had... And I have had quite a few. Their selections across the board are amazing. They are willing and eager to bend over backward to make your experience a good one. Some may consider Canoe to be pricey but you get what you pay for in my mind. You will know it when you take your first bite. Creative cuisine, balanced flavors, bold choices, and very nice presentation make this my best and only choice for special occasions or just a great dinner out. One thing to note: the mixed drinks here are fabulous. They are well balanced and it is obvious that the mixologist knows what they are doing. Excellent! I recently was having dinner here with a friend when unfortunately, a table of unruly business associates with little respect for those around them were making much more noise than was acceptable for the atmosphere of this restaurant. I informed our waiter and was not surprised when, without fuss, the waiter informed the manager and our table was moved to a much more secluded and quiet area of the restaurant. I loved that. There was no, I'm sorry but there is nothing we can do... They did do something and it made my meal what it was intended to be. Relaxing and sharing conversation only with my guest at dinner. I compliment them on their customer service which every time has been exceptional. You know when you have been to a restaurant many times, you begin to see highs and lows in service and / or food. Not so here, every experience has been top notch across the board. It is not often that I am not able to find something wrong with a restaurant. When I do however, I say so and with Canoe I say Bravo!
(5)William S.
Anniversary dinner and overall a disappointment. Big foodies and expected an out of the park hit but a lot of swings and misses. Starters were beet salad for wife and green onions for me. She loved hers, mine was like a cheap breakfast dish at a hotel. Salmon for her was good, ribeye for me was a cheap cut of meat set in a cold sauce that made the meat cold and chewy, Desert was chocolate grotto for her....yuck and homemade crackerjack and ice cream for me, only home run of the night. Service was respectable to good and the grounds are beautiful or this would have been a 2. Pay the extra $$$ and go to Bacchanalia.
(3)Mikel M.
Typical southern American pseudo-upscale restaurant in an out of the way strip mall with valet-only parking. The menu has many bizarre combinations that just don't work (Ahi tuna with sliced potato, mango ice cream with thyme sauce). The blue jean wearing service is gruff and has no spirit.
(3)Jameil W.
Canoe is the restaurant for which you save your five star review. It is also the measuring stick for other restaurants. From drinks to appetizer (she crab soup), dinner (ribeye and rabbit) to dessert (outstanding panna cotta!), this restaurant was a dream. A note about the steak. I don't like steak. But here I tried my boyfriend's and couldn't keep my fork off of his plate! This. This is why people love steak. This is what steak is supposed to taste like. An animal can be grateful it died for this. Then we were on the river, too? I couldn't ask for a better experience.
(5)Samantha D.
Unbelievable dining experience!! The food is excellent and the ambiance is just as good. I highly recommend this to anyone living or visiting the Atlanta area
(5)Matt V.
Everything was great. Atmosphere, service, and the food, smoked salmon app was great, along with everything else
(5)Maureen R.
Great food, great service, and beautiful view. The smoked salmon app was super tasty with a crispy potato cake, a suggestion of our waitress. She also suggested the popcorn ice cream Sunday for dessert which was so yummy.
(4)F H.
Beautiful! The view from the dining room is gorgeous and the service was impeccable. Our entrees were a little under-seasoned, but were cooked well. Try to get the restaurant early so you can walk around outside before your meal. The true star here, for me, was the ambience - the good food was just an added benefit. We live downtown, so it's a bit of a drive for us, which means it's not a place we would go to on a regular basis.
(3)Alex R.
Perfect outdoor atmosphere and the food wasn't half bad either
(5)Robert S.
I will try to be brief (something that I am often not) since the restaurant is basically an Atlanta institution now, there are 105 reviews and the restaurant has a 4 1/2 star rating. There is no reason to ramble about this restaurant because, in a nutshell, the food, service and ambiance are all impeccable and one visit to the restaurant will prove that to even the most discerning diner. It is unfortunate it has taken me this long to get around to writing about Canoe. I first dined here in 2004 and had only been back sporadically until recently. Every meal I have ever eaten here left me with a feeling of complete satisfaction yet I could never seem to work it into a regular rotation. Recently though, things changed. A friend of mine wanted to have a birthday dinner for a larger group so I suggested Canoe. As with all my previous experiences it was perfect. The fact that we were with a group of 8 allowed all of us to sample practically everything off the new menu (devised by Chef Gould during the 60 day period Canoe was closed due to flooding) and I loved it all. Since that dinner party, which was approximately 4 months ago, I have become much more of a regular customer. I have eaten both lunch and dinner there about a dozen times over the last few months and when I finish one meal, I am already looking forward to my next one. I dined there last night and will be back again on Saturday. The ingredient centric menu can be a little daunting but I actually appreciate the heavy descriptions as they really bring life to the dishes you are about to be served. Last nights dishes for me consisted of the Crab Cake and the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce followed by their famous popcorn ice cream. Everything was beautifully presented (without being pretentious) and captured the essence of all the ingredients listed on the menu. Needless to say the plate was cleaned at the end of the meal. I am already anticipating Saturday's meal and cannot wait to try something different. In the end Canoe is a special place and well worth a visit for a simple business lunch, Sunday brunch, dinner with friends or a special occasion. The river that runs behind Canoe makes it a magical destination and the food will keep you coming back.
(5)Aroline A.
I yelped Canoe before going and was still blown away by how great the food tasted and the romantic setting. Its a great place to sit down, have a bottle of wine, great food, and wonderful conversation. I will definitely recommend to anyone! I suggest going right before sunset and sitting outdoors in the summer time.
(5)Jason K.
What can I say about Canoe, If it wasn't so damn expensive I'd be here every day. Best Restaurant anywhere in the states, though I've never been to every restaurant in the nation. 1 star crappy - 5 stars the best Creativity - 4 1/2 Presentation - 5 Service - 5 Atmosphere - 5 Flavor - 5(6 if you count the fact that I bit my tongue b/c their was a party in my mouth) Execution - 5 Need I say more?
(5)Jessica K.
This really is an amazing restaurant, from the valet parking to the dessert, it's an experience to say the least. You'll remember coming here, especially if you're from out of town like myself. During my stay, this is the only place where I didn't opt for a chicken dinner. Instead, I chose a twist on a classic I'm used to from home in Jersey: Bolognese. It was meat sauce alright, LAMB meat sauce. And while it was different, it was also delicious, rich & incredibly flavorful. I'll say it again, it's establishments like this one that remind you that dining should be an experience, not just the part where you eat at a table. Everything was incredible, the service, the atmosphere, the food, and the wine. Reservations are suggested.
(5)Jherine W.
I guess my expectations were either too high or my palate is too unsophisticated. After years of attempting to convince my husband we finally made it to Canoe. I'll never be able to look him in the eye again. The dim lighting was okay; it would have been nice to see my table but alas, one cannot win them all. Our server was abrupt and I had the distinct impression that I was keeping her from more important ventures. Indeed I was actually unable to even order a beverage--she brought me a water and without pause asked if we were ready to order. I guess I am now. . . I ordered the rabbit after reading the rave reviews. I have to assume that maybe my rabbit simply died of natural causes. At some point my noodles were stored in a refrigerator as they were like little cold cubes of something. The rabbit tasted like a cold, tough turkey. It's really difficult to find something more tough than a poorly rendered turkey, but there you go. My husband had the duck burger. It wasn't great but it was okay. His narrowed eyes suggested I would never live down the mistake, but he ate it. I wanted desert but my server didn't seem to want that, so we payed our tab and left. The bitter disappointment is the taste that I have now. I will not return.
(2)Lauren P.
I've frequented Canoe often over the past 10 years. It's always been a divine experience. From the valet down to the bussers, the entire team at Canoe provides great service. Carvel Grant Gould, the proprietor of Canoe, is truly the leading lady of her restaurant. As a Southerner, she has a keen sense of local flavors and a refined sense of hospitality. When I'm at Canoe, I feel like I'm in Carvel's house and part of Southern foodie history in the making. Canoe's property is beautifully "tucked away not far away" on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Y'all would never think this place flooded and had to be rebuilt just a few years ago. Definitely go when it's not brutally hot out (as mosquitos also like to dine at Canoe) so you can sit outside or stroll through the gardens. If you're only going to Canoe once: order either the rabbit or the fresh catch. That roasted rabbit with bacon ravioli is one of the best dishes in Atlanta. Also, the chocolate desserts are all crafted with sweet love in-house. Canoe also has a great wine list. Now I'm salivating and need to save up for another wonderful meal :)
(5)Sudhanshu K.
This was my second time coming to canoe, and first for brunch. First, you got to love the scenery, very picturesque, service was great as well. Food was disappointing, then again I came with very high expectations as this place had ridiculous reviews. We started off with scones and sticky buns. The scones were by far the best part of the meal. Sticky buns were dry, hard, seemed like they were leftovers from a previous day. The Greek yogurt was ok, nothing to write home about. For entrees I got the sausage scrambler which was good except the biscuit was not what I would call party in my mouth, but the eggs were spot on. My fiancé had the French goats which was good. Overall environment and service was great, food not so.
(3)Sport L.
A wonderful setting and a wonderful food experience. An upscale restaurant that delivers. So im not taken back when I get the bill.
(5)Denise W.
The ambiance was very nice. We went at night so we were not able to see the outdoors. Our waiter was good; although our first waitress had a bit of an attitude. The food was just okay. Nothing to go back and recommend to anyone. I had the New York strip and it was just blah; not flavorful. Nothing I had really gave me the melt in my mouth taste. Maybe I will go back, maybe not. Not worth the money.
(3)Lem M.
Canoe smashed my pockets into cosmic dust! The final bill was stooopid!.....But the "roasted rabbit" was a beast! (I wish I could start my own lil' rabbit farm in my backyard and breed these little critters because of this savory dish!) My wife and I really the enjoyed total experience! After I use my tax returns to pay off my debt!....I will be back for more! lemillions.com
(5)Mike L.
After my friend and I found out (from the nice valet at the Westin, kudos) that Sun Dial was under renovation, we proceeded to use the power of the Yelper to find the next best place that offered a top-of-the-line menu along with a I-gotta-post-this-on-FB-worthy view to go with it. So why not go with the #1 ranked restaurant on Yelp? And you know when you picked the right place when you call in for an appt & there's at least an hour-wait on a Thursday night. (We were willing to wait so that wasn't going to be a problem.) An awesome thing happened when we got there (complimentary valet, by the way), we immediately got a table even though we were a 1/2 hour early for our RSVP! Sweetness. Even better, we were seated with a view that was definitely 'I-gotta-post-this-on-FB'-worthy. Go see for yourself. About the service: some of the best I've experienced. Not much else to say except that it's exactly as advertised by fellow Yelpers. What we ordered: - Canoe's House Smoked Salmon on a Crispy Potato Cake with Vermont Goat's Cheese, - Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce, and - Hickory Grilled Ribeye, Wasabi Whipped Potatoes, Shiitake Mushrooms, Asian Barbequed Cipollini Onions Smoked salmon was okay only because I don't have a palette for goat cheese (my fault.) The rabbit was...interesting. Definitely a delicacy (like eating beef tongue or fertilized eggs.) But the ribeye? Straight-up delicious to the point where my date was eating off my plate (I think she liked the ribeye more than the rabbit!) In toto, a great place to take a special someone out for an excellent fine dining experience.
(4)Anne P.
I love Canoe - it is the best restaurant I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. The service is always amazing and the food is incredibly delicious. I always have to get the house smoked salmon and potato cake appetizer - even my boyfriend who hates salmon loves Canoe's smoked salmon. Entrees are always hard to determine - the rabbit dish is the first entree I ever had there and I still remember each bite I had of that meal. But they have so many other amazing entrees that I feel like my goal in life is to try each one before I die. The desserts are also amazing - I love cracking open the chocolate grotto to expose all the deliciousness inside. If I could live at Canoe, I would. But then I would be broke and they'd probably kick me out for stalking them. So instead I will go on special occasions and savor every bite!
(5)Miguel C.
Very nice. The location is right by the riverside in a quiet, quaint little suburb. The grounds on the riverside are beautifully landscaped. The interior has a beautiful, rustic look. The food is elegant and somewhat eclectic with a mixture of game and local favorites mixed with more traditional high-end fare. All was quite good. Very nice date place. A couple of considerations: The food is well above average and worth a visit, but I would not say it was the best I've had in this price range. However the ambiance pushes it over the top. The other thing I would mention is that the noise level inside was a tad high. If you want more quiet, taking a table outside might be a better choice.
(4)David M.
Fantastic restaurant. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was wonderful. Their garden by the river is a beautiful view.
(5)Daniel G.
Nice atmosphere, good service, and most importantly: every dish we ordered was top-notch quality. Fresh, perfectly cooked and perfectly seasoned. I recall ordering fish at another respected Atlanta restaurant after visiting Canoe and being disappointed that it was merely fresh and barely seasoned. If you know what you're doing like the folks at Canoe, you can combine freshness with flavor and zest and take the experience to another level. Of course, be prepared to pay for what you get.
(5)Addie A.
I met some friends here for brunch yesterday. This wasn't my first time at Canoe, but first time for brunch. The menu was wonderful. I ordered the breakfast with scrambled, eggs, french toast, potatoes, and bacon. VERY tasty. The service was great. The atmosphere was vibrant. The bacon was thick cut which was great. The restaurant was packed. It was a tad hot inside, but it later cooled off as the meal went on. I highly recommend the brunch. It has a wide variety of items. Definitely order the sticky buns. I'd return again!
(4)Pam C.
Dined here for our 5yr anniversary. We lucked out with the weather, a dry and humid free night spend on the patio. Had a wonderful server, Lauren. We started with the oysters, loved the mignonette sauce. Also had a special watermelon salad. Hubby hada pork chop special that was smoky goodness. I loved my Arctic Char with coconut rice. I was disappointed in the dessert. It was a trio of creme brulee, I remember the basil was good, the other two I dont even recall. Overall great meal and we would go back!
(5)Paul L.
We remember our Atlanta days fondly. Almost 9 years in the "City Allergic", and many great memories. The glory days of Delta expense accounts takes us back to the first visit ever, circa 1996 perhaps, entertaining our advertising research friends (Hall & Partners) from New York for dinner - and the New Yorkers and Brits were genuinely impressed. Incidentally, when we first moved there, we stayed at Calibre Vinings 2 miles away for almost a year - I used to run right past Canoe on those beautiful, hilly, twisty wooded hilly streets. AH! Those were the days! FF to this June - what better place then to celebrate our milestone anniversary, with our kids than at Canoe? After a slight snafu with the seating (taken to a table, and taken back out again, with apology), we were greeted by our server April. Cocktails involved some tough choices. This place is so high brow that, when it comes to sweet vermouth - forget your Martini & Rossi, Cinzano, or even Noilly Prat - those are for the great unwashed. Here, they only have Carpano!! He's the dude credited with inventing this concoction back in the 18th century. The modern day wine made supposedly from his old recipe costs about 3 times more than the afore-mentioned "peasant" varieties. Truth be known - while it was a nice diversion if drunk on the rocks (for my wife), in my Negroni, it was a bit of a distraction - a touch too floral and overbearing, instead of the perfect balance that a Campari-gin-vermouth is supposed to be. That said, I STILL haven't met a Negroni I don't like. We ordered 3 apps to share, but only 2 made it to the table - between going out in the last fading dusk light to take some pictures and too busy enjoying the other two, none of us called out the missing smoked salmon. The crab cake ($16) was good: fresh lumpy chunks of crab, good size for an appetizer (maybe not for $16), but I'd say I've had at least equally good ones elsewhere; the mussels ($13) on the other hand - they were out of this world. Perfect app to share as well, with delicious fresh bread for the dipping. If I have to do it again, we might order two of those instead. The wine list here will blow your mind. You may need help from the sommelier if you don't know your wines. I decided to settle for a tried and true and not be adventurous - plus, a Hall '08 Merlot at $50 is some attractive price point! We had the same that I paid retail very close to $30. Our entrees were all wonderful. For once, a duck dish did not disappoint, but my wife (bless her) didn't love it so much that she didn't share. Our daughter's slow-roast rabbit had just a remarkable flavor to it. My quail was stuffed, which may explain why it didn't look like quail at all (more like the size of a grouse!), but it was exquisitely blended with the side dishes. Just orgasmic fare all around. I mean when a lamb loin was arguably the least remarkable (our son's main course), that's saying something. This chef and this kitchen has a lot going for it. We ordered a half cheese course before dessert - delightful cheeses, but too tiny a portion for eight and a half, and I took a small issue with the order in which they recommended the tasting. Then came dessert. The chocolate grotto was fine, but you know what - just cut to the chase and get that ice cream sundae thing with the popcorn. OMG - talk about a perfect ending to a perfect day. Hope we won't have to wait 30 years for the next one!
(5)Laura B.
My honey and I celebrated our first anniversary at Canoe and were certainly not disappointed. I was quite surprised to find it located in an ordinary-looking strip mall. The parking lot is problematic, even with valet, there were too many cars trying to pull into the small lot. Suffice it to say that from the front, one would never guess how lovely the inside of the restaurant and the garden really are. We arrived a little early for our reservation and enjoyed a round of well-crafted cocktails from the outdoor bar while lounging in chairs next to the river. The garden is beautiful and quiet, with two event tents set up on either side of the building. In a secluded corner of the garden we saw a table for two, complete with candle, roses, and white tablecloth - guys, if you're looking to impress a lady this is the way to go. Sadly, it wasn't for me...but anyway, on to dinner. Our waiter was excellent, congratulating us on our anniversary without us mentioning it, in a way that came across as genuinely friendly. I was pleased with his wine recommendation, and he discussed the beer selection with my guy without a hint of the haughtiness that sometimes accompanies a great wine list. I ordered the vidalia onion soup and the rabbit. The soup was delicious; I'm not sure what else was in it, but it really captured the sweet and tangy flavor of the onion. The rabbit was also well prepared, very tender and perfectly complemented by the sauce. The ravioli tasted delicious but I didn't care for the texture. Overall, our dinner was delightful. I don't remember what my honey had, but he loved it as well.
(5)Brittany C.
I took my husband here for his birthday and it was exquisite! The service was fantastic, atmosphere beautiful, and food to die for! Will definitely revisit. Very romantic setting.
(5)Brian E.
Please keep in mind this restaurant is hard to get into during peak hours but well worth planning to go. Food and service was great! Food was prepared uniquely but was full of flavor. Sometime I feel like expect to much from nicer restaurants and just think the meal was ok however I left feeling like this is a great place. Would highly suggest dinning here on your next night out because I know we will be back
(5)Venkat R.
Overpriced.. check. Snobby waiter.. check. food was Meh.. All in all, i've eaten in better places in atlanta than Canoe.
(2)Bill C.
We spent our 20th anniversary at Canoe based on a friend's suggestion. The scenery and the service was fantastic. The food was exceptional. Only drawback was the place was packed and loud. I may not return for an intimate, romantic escape; however, definitely a first class dining experience.
(5)Lucia M.
That is my second time here, first for brunch. First of all, the restaurant is placed in an amazingly beautiful natural setting. This will always be 5 stars. Service is impeccable. I was very impressed at my first visit, for dinner, and food was delicious. No complaints. But I was not very excited this time about the brunch menu. Too ordinary for the kind of restaurant that Canoe is, and that is why I am taken one star from my review. I will certainly be back (many times) for lunch and dinner and I am sure the 5 stars will shine again.
(4)Suzanne W.
I've been meaning to write a review about this place. I really like this place. I've been meaning to go back. Their service and presentation was immaculate. Our server (wish I remembered his/her name) was very on point with everything. I went there for a family dinner and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. My fahsha ordered a fish dish and boy was the presentation pretty cool. It was a huge whole fish. The server even debones it for you! I can't remember what I had, but my sister had the rabbit dish. Now, I was a little hesitant about that dish (seeing as how it was a little bunny =( haha...my weird humor) ... but I wanted to try it from her plate. Oh ... my ... goodness... it was SO delicious!!!! I am definitely ordering that next time ... if it's still on the menu. Oh yeah ... the scenery behind/on the side of the restaurant is gorgeous. If you catch it on the right day with the perfect sunlight ... it will def set the mood for dinner or after. ;)
(4)Bianca C.
Went for my birthday the staff was great always and nice. The food was GREAT! A bit on the expensive side but it was good. Not sure if I would go back again on my own doing but would join others if they went.
(4)Andra F.
My wife took me here for Father's Day 2013. Previously I tried to take her there for special occasions but they were always booked. Finally I got to go there. I love the unique menu selections like the Duck, Quail and Rabbit. My wife isn't a fan of wild game so she went with something safe and ordered the Roasted Springer Mountain Chicken with Oven Dried Tomato, Thyme and Goat Cheese Risotto. I went with the Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce. The rabbit was flavorful but was slightly dried. I've has rabbit before and it was more tender and moist. Other than that, everything was great and well priced. I tasted the chicken my wife ordered and it was great. Moist and tender. Next time we go I'm trying the Quail or Duck. If you're on the adventurous side, this will be a great place to go.
(4)Alexandra A.
My husband and I went to this restaurant for our third anniversary. I really liked the place. The waiter assisted us like no other waiter has before. He explained the menu in detailed and helped us pick our drinks. I enjoyed the apperizers but I wasn't too crazy about the food. My favorite part was the dessert, we had the Creme Brulee Trio. It was amazing! I might go back again but next time I have to reconsider my food choices.
(4)Anna B.
Canoe is my favorite go to for important celebration dinners or in law visits. The food never disappoints and usually is truly delicious. As long as you are prepared to spend the money you will leave satisfied. And it's always worth it. Plus if you want to save a little you can bring a bottle of wine for a reasonable corking fee.
(5)James S.
A 50th wedding anniversary, a surprise dinner for my parents. My brothers and I flew in from around the country and surprised our parents with a dinner at what I was led to believe was a nationally acclaimed restaurant. An experienced diner, I make allowances for mishaps, mistakes and less than perfect events but by the end of this night I was absolutely fuming. I cannot warn people enough to stay away from a place so clearly resting on past laurels. Early in the afternoon I dropped off an expensive, custom made "wedding style" cake we had had made (see a separate review of Cakes by Darcy / Roswell, GA. Fabulous.) --- pursuant to the directions given to me by a hostess the day before. I told the person who received it that it needed to be refrigerated and that I would like it placed on the table immediately prior to being seated. She appeared confused at first and then subsequently 'bothered' or 'annoyed.' Arrival was fine; the grounds are lovely and well kept, and cocktails along the Chattahoochee were pleasant. It was after being seated that things went south. Our original party of seven had dropped to five before arrival. I called the restaurant and informed them of the change. I again told the hostess of the change upon arrival, before spending time at the bar for pre-dinner cocktails. When we were brought back into the restaurant, we seated at a table for seven. As the waiter was filling water glasses I told him our party had changed to five and he expressed surprise. Two settings and two chairs were subsequently removed after we were seated and the party shifted. The cake had been placed on the table, but had been left unrefrigerated; the fondant was glistening in sweat as it appeared to melt to the side. We ordered appetizers, soups and entrees. Appetizers and one order of soup were served simultaneously (to the same person), while another was served separately as a separate course (after the first individual's double course was finished and removed.) The first soup was served cold and was sent back. Entrees were standard fare and served cold. I mean, really cold. The plates were hot and the food cool, as if they sat under an insufficient heat lamp for some time. A steak ordered "medium" came to the table "rare" and even after pointing it out to the server and re-fired, it was still underdone. Four of the five entrees needed to be sent back for different reasons. Service in general was slow and inattentive; food, with the exception of the signature rabbit dish, was underwhelming. After being seated the cake was taken away and later sliced for desert. The vast majority of it was left over and was re-boxed to take home. And this is where a less than mediocre night became infuriating. Despite no managerial comment or table visit during the repeated mishaps and although my family requested nothing, at the end of the evening our server told us the entire meal was comped. The entire night was a remarkably slipshod, amateurish experience but our family is a positive one and we enjoyed our time together despite the overwhelmingly disappointing food and service. We accepted the restaurant's response; we weren't looking for a 'freebie' and between the three sons we tipped our waiter a total of one hundred sixty dollars ($160), and left. The specially made cake was a beautiful creation from Cakes by Darcy in Roswell, Georgia. An edible copy of my parent's wedding photo from fifty years ago was mounted in a fondant frame above it. Five slices were taken from it. When we received the boxed leftover from our server, I noted that the box was excessively taped shut, on all sides, top and bottom, which I thought odd. It wasn't until we got back to my parents' home that I found out why. Opening the box at home I found the fondant frame broken in pieces with the photograph itself literally shredded and the remaining cake placed on top of it. This was not merely a mistake or slip up; the photo was actually torn in pieces, the frame broken up and the cake placed on top by either our server or someone in the kitchen. (See the attached photos.) I was infuriated. I called Canoe immediately and asked to speak to a manager. The hostess requested my name, which I provided, and then placed me on hold. After a moment she came back and told me a manager was not available. After explaining the circumstance, the hostess apparently tried again and a manager again refused to take my call. I was, and still am, furious. In short, the place is mediocre at best; service terrible and vindictive at worst. A once in a lifetime event was enjoyable solely because of the blessings and good nature of my family. Canoe did nothing but work to thwart that --- even after the fiasco was over. Absolutely terrible.
(1)Chloe B.
Delicious food, great atmosphere. Come here for brunch, too! Best in Atlanta, but a tad pricey.
(5)Tyler R.
Simple: Amazing service, amazing food, amazing scenery. Damn near perfect for any occasion.
(5)Ana M.
Last time I came here was over three years ago (a girl can't afford to Canoe that often), and they just keep doing it- having the best service in the ATL. I mean, they clean up the crumbs on your tablecloth BETWEEN COURSES. Water and bread keep being replenished without you even noticing. And the servers are just so knowledgeable. Our server, as expected, knew everything in the food menu and described it to us flawlessly. But then, we turn to this multiple page wine book (not list, but book) and ask for a comparison between two Malbecs, out of maybe 10 they offered. DId the server call the sommelier? NO NEED. Girl had it down. She's telling us about the different altitudes of where the grapes were growing, region, and palate. I mean that is awesome. Some of us decided to share appetizers or entrees and the kitchen seamlessly split the dishes for us, they looked like they were meant to be that way, still perfectly presented. Even red beet salad, that was served to look like a round cheesecake type thing, when shared was made to look like two smaller cheesecake like things- no semi-circle appetizers at this table. Anayways, moving on... The food is great and I would recommend the smoked salmon, the lemon sole and the rabbit. The sole is fillet'ed at the table by your server so that it stays nice and moist til consumption. I ordered the rabbit, which was good, but the bacon stuffed raviolis that it came with were the star in my opinion. Finally, I would recommend getting there early and sitting at the outside bar- adirondack chairs overlooking the river never work as well as when paired with a glass of their sangria. Oh and quick note about the sangria- Best I had in a very long time, definitely the best in the ATL. There's this smokiness to it- it may be the brandy (?) they add to it. Delicious. Perhaps next time I will just go to the bar, order an appetizer and drink those awesome sangrias...
(5)Jason M.
This place had great service! The staff was very knowledgable about the menu and offered great advice on selecting what to eat. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a nice place to eat with exceptional food and service!
(5)N. Y.
Amazing. Fantastic food and service and a beautiful and serene atmosphere. Loved it. Went for a business meeting and it was perfect as we did not feel rushed and we received just the right amount of attention. I had the cod, which was made to perfection. Valet parking was nice too as the lot in teeny, but is seems a bit odd as they literally park your car less than 20 feet away from the drop off spot.
(5)Emily Y.
June, our server, was FABULOUS. We were a HUGE group, compiled of picky eaters and vegetarians - and she *happily* accommodated our every need. SO cute. The food was delish. We had almost every app - the salmon was my favorite. And I LOOOVED the corn soup. My cousin devoured the crab cakes - and doesn't even eat crab. :) We were impressed. I will absolutely return upon my next visit to ATL.
(4)Lyndsay K.
I hope this wasn't just another case of our expectations being set too high by yelp reviews, but - seriously - I wasn't as blown away as I'd hoped to be. We have had reservations 3 times in the past 6 months and had to cancel for scheduling problems. On our one year anniversary we decided to make sure to go. The service was great and I'm a service junkie, so this made me happy. Attentive, but not annoying. Just great. I started with the artisan cheese salad and it was awesome. If my entree had been half as good as this salad I probably would have gone with the 5 star rating. But sadly it wasn't. I had the rabbit and it was so dry it hurt going down. I'm not even exaggerating. It wasn't my first bunny, so I know it shouldn't have been like that. I didn't even manage 3 bites because it was so damn dry. My lovely boyfriend had the smoked salmon appetizer and loved it. Had we stuck with the first course we both would have been huge fans. He had the duck breast for his entree and -next to my way dry rabbit it was amazing. But on its own? It was ok. Nothing to order again. In the end - as we drove away with our dessert of Banana nut bread pudding packaged to go - we both commented that it just wasn't as good as we expected. In fact, we both said we wouldn't go back. Before going I read the negative yelp reviews more than the positive ones and I thought the people leaving bad reviews were just hard to please, annoying people. Sorry. It's what I thought. But after experiencing it? I totally understand. The setting is lovely. The service is just as great as I'd expect when spending that much. But the food just didn't live up to 4.5 stars. Sorry.
(3)Katherine K.
After whining a little bit that he no longer made me feel impressed or whatever, muhaha, Paul decides to finally take me here. When I say finally, I mean he kept mentioning the place, but it wasn't until I was all "impress me!" that he threw down the gauntlet. We did update to casual dinner wear and showed up without a reservation, but decided to sit down immediately in the bar area. There's an actual bar for serious people waiting to impress other serious people, and then there's little tables and low couches spread around the perimeter for fat fuckers who just want to eat and don't care about how they look. Obviously, we went with the latter. The bread, needless to say, is stellar. We did the jumbo lump crab cake, excellent. I had the rabbit and he had the duck burger which he thoroughly enjoyed. The truffle fries were very good. The rabbit was AMAZING. I highly recommend. Usually I order unusual gamey stuff just to try new stuff and often times it's a miss, but this was really good and soft and flavorful. mmmmmm We ended the night with a coconut rum cake. Not really my favorite, not sure why I picked it, still ate it all and the table next to us also ordered it and were raving about it. damn. awkward. It says Atlanta, but it's quite a ways from Midtown. I really liked the prompt service and the food really blew me away. It wasn't until later I found out it was so highly rated so my experience was not biased. We didn't drink, but they seem to have a very good wine list.
(5)Laxsamee L.
Outstanding service. Highly creative delicious food. Beautiful setting along the river. Tried beet salad with goat cheese.
(5)Wendy G.
This restaurant has been around for many years and people always seem to forget about how amazing it is. Nestled right next to the Chattahoochee River, this is a the perfect spot for brunch or a romantic dinner. We revisited dinner there on a cool summer night and it was great. We started with the oysters on the half shell and their signature starter - the house smoked salmon on a crispy potato cake with goat cheese. So tasty! We also enjoyed a special heirloom tomato salad, love that they offer seasonal plates. One of the dishes they are most known for is the slow roasted Carolina rabbit, but we went with two seafood specials since they were in fresh, but there are so many tasty entrees on the menu to try out from Rainbow Trout and Halibut to Quail and Duck breast. For dessert we indulged in the Popcorn Sundae, which was absolutely amazing and definitely big enough for 2-4 people to share. It comes with house made cracker jack - which is really tasty. We sat outside on the covered patio, which was really nice. After we enjoyed a view of the river from the lighted garden. There is also a bar right on the river if you want to end your night with a libation. Free valet parking.
(4)Dillon O.
Beautiful setting, excellent service, food so-so (at brunch, haven't been there yet for dinner.) I'm not a big breakfast fan & Canoe's brunch menu has very few lunch-type entrees. I had the sausage scrambler which is basically scrambled eggs mixed with some veggies over a small brioche bun. Not bad but nothing to get excited about and very expensive at $15. One of my dining companions had the pancakes and he raved about them and the smoked salmon Eggs Benedict were a hit with the other two diners at my table. The lunch/dinner menus look way more appealing to me than the brunch menu so I'll probably go back for dinner sometime. One more thing: the dining room was FREEZING so when I go back I'll definitely bring a jacket & wear long pants.
(4)Alan T.
Best dining experience in the Atlanta area. I'd recommend it to anyone
(5)Tristan A.
You gotta hot date? Don't know where to go? Better put this place on the top of your list. I went for lunch, sitting next to doctors on a lunch break tells you the clientele they have up in there. Had me feeling a tad bit underdressed. I listened for the special...it was a bbq pulled pork sandwich. The sauce had to be homemade because it was some of the best I've ever tasted. The appetizer? Shrimp rolls? Almost fell out my seat. This place will see my face again...and again...and again..
(5)Will Y.
Excellent location and fantastic food.
(5)Brian M.
Service and food are second to none! The smoked salmon appetizer was delightful and the rabbit rocked my world. My wife ordered the Niman Ranch pork chop and loved it. Their manhattans were strong and delicious. Dessert consisted of banana cake and chocolate grotto... INSANE! The banana cake was par for the course - but the grotto was killer. A bit pricey for my lifestyle but we had an amazing anniversary dinner.
(5)Cameron G.
Upfront Disclosure: I'm a vegetarian, and my rating here is somewhat influenced by that. Canoe was not amazing. Sure, it had a lot of good things: knowledgeable wait staff, beautiful property, and service that makes you feel like semi-royalty. But, for the prices they're charging, that stuff is usually par for the course. I just didn't see anything that separated it from the other $$$-restaurant pack. Most importantly, though, the food I got was underwhelming. I got the vegetable pasta because it was the only vegetarian entree on the menu. I knew I was in trouble when I saw only one acceptable meal and that meal was far less glamorous than the meat dishes (e.g., rabbit and north-GA trout). It didn't taste terrible, but it did taste like something that could easily be whipped up at home. Overall, from the menu and the taste of my meal, I got the impression that Canoe couldn't care less about the business of a vegetarian, but only put one (minimalist) veg meal on the menu to avoid losing the business of omnivores who eat with vegetarians.
(3)Fatina B.
This is the second time I review this place. I think it is one of the best if not the best in atlanta. The garden setting outside is beautiful. Sit outside if you have the chance. The service is first class. Our server Leslie was very affable and knowledgable. The choices of home baked bread were great. We had the beet appetizer which they split for two very elegantly. For entree , we had their special for the day, halibut dish prepared over pea with risotto. We also had the venison plate on their menu prepared over sweet potato and an amazing sauce. Both plates were split very nicely for us. For desert we shared their chocolate groto. That was amazing but heavy. Will be back again
(5)Jess C.
SO. FREAKING. GOOD. I LOVE CANOE's bread. All are fresh made every afternoon by the pastry chef (sourdough, olive, and flatbread). I wanted to just eat bread for dinner! APPS: I had the salmon cakes which were a generous portion of salmon and a goat cheese cream sauce, on top of a crispy home made potato chip. It was good but very rich and creamy. ENTREES: The beef tenderloin was amazing, perfectly cooked and seasoned with a crunchy salty crust, on a bed of some amazingly rich seasoned mushroom potato mash. I'm running out of synonyms for the word "amazing." The Striped Bass, the special for the evening, was also good, and it sat atop a medley of fresh corn and vegetables from their garden. DESSERT: I thought I would be a fan of the chocolate bombe which tasted like hazelnut goodness with a crunchy hazelnut cake on the bottom. While it was beautifully made, I thought it was too rich for my taste. I loved the chilled lavender greek yogurt dessert topped with flaky crunchy biscuit. I never like lavender in my food (it tastes like soap usually). THIS was truly AMAZING. I wanted to come back every night for dinner here!
(5)Jermaine W.
Absolutely fantastic! Definitely top three of all time when it comes to service. We had a table of nine and the staff took away all clean plates, the food was just awesome! From appetizer to dessert, two thumbs up.
(5)Carrie Neal W.
"Sham - to - the - WOW!!" Lately, *shamwow* has been a popular expression in my circles. And, really, I can't think of a better word to describe the simply amazing, impeccable brunch Emily R. and I had at Canoe today. It was - yeah, really - THAT good. I hadn't been to Canoe in quite awhile, and not since the repair-and-reopening, and was delighted when Em suggested it for our brunch meet-up. I'd been wanting to try the brunch I'd heard such good things about, and I honestly think this might be the best brunch-y meal I've had, possibly ever! A recap for you - and if you haven't tried it either, go and go soon - like next Sunday!! - Service . . . everyone who works there was most gracious and welcoming and our server Leah was spot-on. Friendly, funny, knowledgeable and just all-around terrific. The kind of server I'd ask for next time I go, to see if I could sit in her section. She and Emily even talked tomato plantings and such, we enjoyed and chatted with her that much! Atmosphere . . . simply lovely. And that is a favorite word and high compliment in my book, for something to be "lovely." We went early, about 10:45, and it was just such a pretty day and the restaurant looks wonderful - even the gardens and patio area outside are delightfully lush and blooming, despite the heat we've had this summer. I love a good "comeback kid" and Canoe's definitely (back) on its game. I've saved the very best for last . . . Food . . . I almost don't know where to start! We pretty much had the most perfect brunch, ever . . . This part definitely gets its own "paragraph" (or several!). We started with the warm summer corn soup - smartly, Canoe offers the choice of a half-serving (for only $3.50 - how can you not try it?!) and it is delicious. A bit of avocado and cream and a little parmesan crisp . . . mmmm, yummy. Next, we shared the simply amazing smoked salmon app - with goat cheese and served on a crispy potato "cake," this is a dish that I will crave and make a point to return to Canoe just to order. Leah even split it for us on separate plates, each with their own pretty set-up, without being asked. It's those extra touches that make this such a wonderful place! For our "entrees," Emily went with the day's special (which I totally would have ordered if I liked shrimp, because it was just bound to be good) - the shrimp and (Anson Mill) grits. With arugula and several types of beautiful and delicious tomatoes, it was a gorgeous dish that was equally divine to eat! I opted for the fried green tomato "benedict" and got my eggs scrambled - shamwow!! It was perfect. Served with tiny diced hash browns, haricot verts and a few juicy heirloom tomatoes, my eggs were perfectly scrambled and delicious, everything on the plate was excellent - I didn't even think about touching the salt or pepper! Emily got the chocolate something dessert that looked like a hard-shell chocolate egg waiting to be cracked open, and when she did - voila! - caramel or cream or something inside was revealed and just waiting to be enjoyed. I sampled the Butter Pop ice cream - it even had its own little Cracker Jack topping! - and can honestly say not only was it yummy but totally original. Never have tasted anything like it before! Oh, what a nice meal. And a wonderful start to my "birthday week" - a lovely brunch with a dear friend, amazing food in a beautiful environment, impeccable service . . . Happy (early) Birthday to me!!
(5)Katherine P.
Brunch, brunch, brunch. One of my favorite things about Sundays. Came here to brunch (duh) during my visit to ATL and had their salmon eggs benedict. Oh yum. Yum, yum, yum. Service was also fantastic! Our waitress was so sweet, funny, and just overall really great. When we left, she even gave us some of their pastries since the restaurant throws them out at the end of each day. I'm sure all the servers do that but it was just still a nice touch. Check this place out. Scenic view, great service, and delicious food. Can't ask for more, right?
(5)S. L.
Canoe? Cannot. No can do. Sigh... I really, really wanted to adore this place. After all, fellow Yelpers have ranked it so highly. The setting is pretty good, but did I miss the fact that this place is in a small STRIP MALL? Something about fine dining and strip mall just don't go together in my brain. The wait staff is top-notch, A+. (They can get a little hyper about removing things from the table, though. Some items were literally swiped in assumption that the things were no longer wanted.) The best part of the meal was the bread basket. Trust me, get as much bread as you want the first go-around because "bread guy" only makes ONE stop at your table. If only I had known that I wasn't going to care for my meal, I would have stocked up on bread as if Pillsbury was headed for bankruptcy. My trout was tasteless; the baby spinach was over seasoned, and the parlez-vous francais mashed potatoes were absolutely nothing to write home about. (While I'm on the subject of mashed potatoes, the hands-down BEST I've had were Smith and Wollensky's.) So, I've read fellow Yelpers howling and drooling over the "famous" popcorn ice cream sundae. Since I was making my first and final trip to the place, I simply couldn't leave the premises without seeing what all of the fuss was about. My reaction? Here are a few choice words that came to mind: Um... Yeah... Okaaaaaay... Hmmm... Seriously??? Really??? What in the world was all of the hootin' and hollerin' about? Let it suffice to say that one could do just as well by swinging by the local grocery store for a tub of Blue Bell and a 59-cent box of Cracker Jack. Seriously. Take it from me, if you've never been, you can certainly go enjoy the bread basket and the view of the Chattahoochee.
(3)Nan B.
Love this restaurant, hate their reservation policy. For a 91st birthday lunch they will not promise any seating location whatsoever and the best they can do for a special effort is if you order a dessert they will write happy birthday on the plate.
(1)Kevin A.
When I find my way home to the ATL - for family and for business - Canoe is my ace card. If I wanted to impress you, for instance, I'd take you there. Yes - you. What to say? The chef is brilliant. The service has always, always, always been top shelf. And they're COOL, btw. It's those places that balances high-end with low-key with complete ease. Go here. I'll have to write more about it later. For now, I'll simply tip my cap to this most special place down by the river.
(5)Alyx K.
I came here a few months ago for a date night dinner. The place is really very nice and has a wonderful ambiance. I did not have reservations on a Friday night, but we grabbed a drink at the bar and were seated rather quickly. Service was polite and attentive and the food was good. It wasn't a very memorable place and there's nothing that really makes it stand out, but it is definitely a good go to restaurant if you have a friend in town or need a quick date night idea. -A
(4)Latoya W.
I happened to be looking through my reviews and realized that I did not see a review that I left for this place back in November 2011. Almost two years later I still remember my experience at this restaurant. I tend to like profiling my experiences via a Yelp review, and this is the ONLY restaurant that I have ever given 5 stars. I'm admitedly a bit picky. Yes, I will own it. This is hands down the BEST SERVICE I've ever received in LIFE period. From drinks at the bar to actually being seated in the restaurant the service was on point! The food was dare I say AMAZE BALLS!!! I took my boyfriend here for his 33rd birthday (patting myself on the back for the selection, not the check!!!) and we both really had a great time. The rabbit was delicious. I probably would'nt have ordinarily ordered rabbit, but I tell you this was the best Peter Cottontail ever. And the dessert, some popcorn ice cream fusion... yummmm. I'm still thinking about that dessert. Gosh, I'm salavating right now.... OK, so I'm a bit fuzzy on the rest of the details, but I will say I can only imagine this place to be amazing during the spring and summertime. That outdoor bar looked super cute and can you believe this place has like a chicken coupe. Very interesting. That's all I got folks. If you're trying to score big, then you will invest in this place, I'm giving it a "5 star rating" what I like to call a "lights out" date night spot. You get my drift. LOL!!!
(5)Liz M.
I'm so sorry to say, but Canoe was really underwhelming! If my review was based on decor, ambiance, and customer service alone, it would definitely be 5 stars. However, after hearing how AMAZING the food is from yelpers and friends and everyone in between, we had some pretty high standards! Maybe that's the problem--our standards were too high--but could that really be a problem for highly-touted Canoe? We ordered the salmon on potato cake appetizer, as it reminded us a bit of the salmon chips at Serpas which we love. Again, possibly a mistake by setting unreasonably high standards. They had good flavor, but not the mind-blowing, earth-shattering experience we were expecting. Worst of all, I ordered the duck breast as my entree. I had never ordered duck breast in a restaurant before, so maybe, again, this was my mistake, but I figured if I could order it anywhere, it would be a place like Canoe. I watch a lot of Food Network, and I'm familiar with how a duck breast is supposed to look like when cooked properly. The inside of this duck breast was very, very rare, and the texture was rubbery and just not appealing whatsoever. Womp womppppp. Not sure I would try Canoe again, as it is fairly expensive and a bit far from where I live, especially when there are SO MANY amazing restaurants closer in the city.
(2)Juichia C.
I won't lie, the food here is definitely the best among the restaurants of its style and caliber in Atlanta. Everything was very good. However, not being a "new American" cuisine aficionado, I really can't say that the food was jaw dropping or better than anything I've ever had. Nothing personal really. We tried the below: Duck pastrami (i think) - really tasty and smokey Crab cakes - best ones I've had in a while (outside of Maryland) Duck - pretty good, on the rawer side if you like that type of thing Rabbit - very tender, tastes like chicken, I liked this better than the duck Popcorn sundae - caramel corn goodness Perfect service. Definitely a nice place to go to for impressing someone. Place is extremely loud, had a hard time hearing.
(4)Angela D.
The view here is awesome, and so is the ambiance. Our server was really knowledgable and on her mark all night. But the food was not as good as I'd expected it to be. We shared the salmon appetizers, the scallops and the duck. The salmon was good, but we had better at another restaurant the previous night. The scallops were fishy (Fishy? At an upscale restaurant?? Big no-no.) but the duck was good. For the price, I felt that we would have really been wowed by the food. Next time, we'll head straight to Two Urban Licks. They really knocked it out of the park on every single item we ordered for around the same cost.
(3)Katie T.
By far best & lives past the hype! The scallops were wonderful and the duck breast was enjoyed by the hubs.
(5)Eric G.
I went to Canoe for my birthday 1/8/13. We had read good reviews on Yelp and heard good things. My girlfriend and I are from California and we are new to Atlanta. We have eaten at some amazing places all over the US. Our expectations were pretty high for Canoe knowing Atlanta has some great restaurants. We had a poor experience at Canoe. - The service was very poor. We waited for over 10 mins before we got any water. Cocktails took longer. After we received our main course, we never saw our waitress again until plates were cleared. - No bread was ever offered until we asked. No bread ever offered again. - My girlfriend was charged $20 for a vegetarian plate that was just terrible. Risotto was overcooked and too creamy. Greasy collard green and squash. - I had Lamb Shank with Risotto. My Lamb tasted good, but it was very dry, the worst I have ever had. I don't know what three grain Risotto is supposed to taste like, but the Risotto was all hard and barely tasted cooked. - I ordered a $19 dollar glass of Pinot Noir and it barely filled a quarter of my glass. The worst pour I have every received. - We skipped dessert fearing the worst. I really wanted to like this place, but every step of the night we just felt it got worse and worse. We are not ones to complain usually. We feel this place is WAY over priced for the quality of food and service received. I felt it was barely a step above a steakhouse. Unfortunately we will not go again.
(2)Matt O.
Beautiful place and good food. Romantic if you have a hot day with a great selection of wines. Had the duck burger, cold smoked salmon, and rabbit. All of which were tasty. Portions were also decent so you won't go home hungry.
(5)Kevin M.
Sitting on the banks of the Hooch with a glass of wine in hand, the only thing that can top that type of atmosphere is great food. And this place did just that!! Their food is spectacular. The rabbit, the trout w/ grits, squash soup, salmon cakes appetizer, it was all incredible. I've lived in Atlanta for 6 years and just went here for the first time. It immediately became my favorite restaurant in Atlanta. The entire experience was perfect.
(5)Ryan M.
Perfect for Celebrations My wife and I have dined at Canoe a number of times over the years and especially enjoy the restaurant for celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. - In the fall or spring (before it gets to cold/hot) sit outside with a river view - Excellent food - Top notch service without being stuffy - Great atmosphere for celebrating a special event
(5)Brett S.
I've dined here at Canoe twice, both thoroughly enjoyable experiences, and both tied to an Atlanta based friend (I life in Columbus, OH). The first time we dined there for dinner, and it was excellent. We sat inside, as it was a December evening a few years ago, and dark outside. I was impressed by the wine selection (my Atlanta friend is an expert), this was his choice for a not-cheap-but-not-over-the-top dinner with a great wine selection with good service and quality associated with the wine and the food as well. This was a few years ago, so I am not confident in my memory of what I ate, but I believe it was trout. I do remember being quite happy with it. The second time I dined here was last weekend at the same friend's wedding. This time, we dined outside after an open air ceremony in the early evening next to the river. The setting was picturesque, and the event very well organized. It was a warm June day (in Georgia), and the ceremony was hot, but the staff seemed to both keep things moving through good organization and provide ice water. The reception was in a tent cooled with fans, and was quite comfortable. Service was exceedingly friendly and never stiff. We dined on roast beef and shrimp, which was quite good, particularly for banquet food. So, I've experienced Canoe from two very different perspectives, and would return again the next time I'm in town.
(4)Christine L.
I went back here and though was a bit disappointed I didn't get the stellar waiter, the food was still salivating-ly delicious. I decided on the crab cakes to start, meticulously fried and cooked with an excellent tangy yuzu sauce , a perfect appetizer. The pheasant cooked in au jus was spectacular however there was a bit too much sweet potato for me, it ended up overpowering the subtle sweetness of the bird. For dessert, the chocolate grotto with a hazelnut mousse and salted caramel inside with dusted pretzel, was divine. Seriously, bite into this you'll see the God in this dessert. Nothing was too overpowering, the hazelnut worked beautifully with the salted caramel but didn't over power the chocolate. Still a stellar place to go, treat yourself and your special friend to a night of wining and dining.
(5)Candice M.
Everything about this place is wonderful. From the atmosphere to the food to the staff.
(5)Josie M.
The service here was great but for the prices the food was blah! Atlanta has a lot of culinary delights but this was not one of them. We were not impressed by the food at all.
(2)Jin K.
My friend and I went on a Sunday so we had a 45 minute wait. We didn't mind at all because the waiting area was in the garden right by the river. EVERYTHING we ordered was so delicious. My favorite was the crab bisque. You may want to taste the soup before you put the sherry in it instead of what I did and dumping all of it in at once. But it was still very good. I will be going back to Canoe again very soon. The only option to park for canoe was to valet and I'm not really a big fan of that.
(4)Saam G.
Seriously this place is great. I got the NC fluker (sp) it wasn't great, but my date got the halibut and it was incredible as was everything else we ordered. Great romantic setting too. You can walk right up to the river after dinner and relax.
(5)Ashley T.
Great dinner, but they didn't have the reasonably priced bottle of wine that we ordered.
(4)Angel N.
HIIIIYA! here I am once again, your favorite foodie Ninja with awesome review. Canoe! oh Canoe I love thee. Now you must be saying "really? that good?" YES, THAT GOOD, how dare you question my ninja skills of pure awesomeness? Anyway, let me tell you a bit about our experience here. From the moment we walked in we were treated with respect (to be expected for a ninja) the staff was very cordial and attentive; I hate the snobbiness of some upscale restaurants that judge you as soon as they see you at the front door, I didn't feel that here. The staff was also extremely knowledgeable of the menu items; It felt like if I asked at what time was the fish caught they would give me hours, minutes and seconds. The food was truly amazing, I died and went to ninja heaven. We had a couple different apps, the oysters stood out for me. The fish uber fresh and delicious and dessert was great too. This is the kinda experience you expect when you go to an upscale restaurant. Like my uncle Confucius said "The ninja is in the details" and Canoe didn't oversee any. Canoe, you are high up in my places of awesomeness and I expect you to remain there for quite some time, but I warn you, I'm no softy ninja, do not ever relax, let your guard down, keep doing what you are doing and my katana will never be un-sheathed. out! *poof*
(5)Jason F.
I ate here this past week with two other dining companions. We were sat immediately in a booth with a view overlooking the water which was beautiful. After being seated we were served from an excellent selection of breads with the spicy flatbread being my favorite of the bunch. I started off with the shrimp stuffed calamari. Half of the calamari was fried with the other half having been cooked and stuffed with a shrimp and chorizo mixture. It tasted fantastic even though I couldn't taste the shrimp which was probably overpowered by the chorizo. For my entree I decided upon the duck with blackberry and pistachio compote with romaine crepes. The duck was the best that I have had in a while with the compote imparting both salty and sweet to the savory meat. The crepe was also nice until I got to the part that soaked up all the soy sauce that was the garnish at the bottom of my plate. That portion of it was way too salty. The bottom line for me is that I would definitely head back here again. The food was wonderful, the soy sauce withstanding, and the service was world class.
(5)K V.
Took my out-of-town friend here for his last night in Atlanta. The food exceeded our yelp-hyped expectations including my LA foodie friend and very picky eater mom. After dinner (table inside, away from mosquitos but still with a great view of the river) we walked down to the water among beautifully lit trees and benches and this normally unimpressed friend exclaimed: "This feels like a perfectly southern evening". The service was impeccable. Worth every penny.
(5)Astrid P.
This is one of The best places i ve eaten. We has The duck breast, The bass and The pork. Really amazing The view is very pretty. Great grden with spectacular flowers! The only thing that was missing for me was some music. It would made The place younger but un general is am amazing place
(4)Phoebe T.
This is a review for Canoe's brunch. To be honest, I did not like their brunch one bit. Our tables shared the scones/muffins mix and it was not that great although the accompanying jams were quite good. However, I would expect that at a place like this, the scones/muffins mix should be included, not an extra charge. I got the pancakes and it was DRENCHED in syrup. I hate my pancakes drenched in syrup! I guess I should have asked for pancakes that weren't drenched in syrup, but we were on a tight timeline and you can't really take syrup off pancakes..you'd just have to make new ones. (and I was not asked beforehand if I wanted drenched pancakes!). There were bacon pieces on my pancakes which just did not go with the sweetness of the syrup. Overall, I hated these pancakes. My husband's crab egg dish looked good but again, his was more expensive than mine. Most likely I will not be coming back because for this price point, I really expected more.
(2)Asma A.
I came here to celebrate a birthday and it was really really good.. service was great, ambiance was great and the food was great... We came in, got seated immediately, we had a table right in front of the river just in time for sunset, we were able to walk around the garden and walk towards the swing and sit on the swing for a few minutes... In that sense, this place is very romantic! We ordered the seafood and it was very good... I enjoyed this place from the moment we walked in to the moment we left... I definitely would come back here for a special occasion.
(5)Tommy D.
Fantastic. Great for a special occasion if you're poor like me. Great service, amazing cocktails, delicious food (get the rabbit), and the ambience is delightful. I can't wait for an excuse to go spend that sort of money again.
(5)Daniel G.
Nothing but great things to say about Canoe. Service and food were both 5 star! Looking forward to going back in the spring when they have outdoor seating open and live music. The Rainbow Trout was awesome!!
(5)Steve J.
Call me a simpleton but I wasn't impressed with supposedly the best place in the city. I'll say the service was excellent and the restaurant decor and ambiance very nice. My biggest complaint is portion size. I paid $30 for what is an appetizer size plate. I'm not an overweight person but I definitely left hungry. Hey Canoe I think you've got plenty good margins on the food so just give me a salad or something. If you've got tons of money to blow then by all means go here and order two entrees for yourself. The food was excellent but I won't be back. On the pet peeve side, don't have your wait staff recite every detail of every entree to me. Although it is helpful info, it took her 5 minutes and I'd rather just ask her about a specific entree instead of hearing the whole menu.
(3)Cassandra K.
My wonderful experience with Canoe began before ever laying eyes on the place. It started with Emily on the phone. I'd called to see about making a last minute change to a reservation for last Saturday night and she was very kind and happily accommodated my request. When we arrived, the valet was kind and efficient. Upon walking in, the 3 women at the host stand greeted us with a "Happy Anniversary!" (Hubs had dropped off the top tier of our wedding cake a little before our reservation so they recognized him) and everyone called us by Mr. & Mrs. D**** all evening which was a welcome acknowledgment. We were promptly seated at one of the rounded booths overlooking the river. Hubs had also brought in a bouquet of roses which they had laid on the table to greet me. :-) Leslie was our server and she was very welcoming and informative (even gave us an apartment referral for our relocation search!) We started with a bottle of wine while perusing the menu. Ordered the crab cake and smoked salmon for appetizers. The crab cake was good, but I've had much better in Savannah (duh!) so I don't think I'd order that again. The smoked salmon was delicious and I could go for some more right now! The bread that Leslie came by with was very good, I especially enjoyed the cranberry/walnut bread. For dinner, Hubs ordered the infamous rabbit and he liked it. Said he would try something else next time, but wouldn't rule out ordering the rabbit again. I ordered the scallops which were perfectly cooked and melted in my mouth. The bits and pieces of bacon mixed in with the asparagus and potatoes were soooo good, I must go back for brunch and get a whole piece of bacon! For dessert, Leslie brought us out a slice of our wedding cake and had written "Happy Anniversary!" on the plate along with some fresh berries. Our cake was still delicious after a year in our fridge (in case you were wondering.) The whole night was a terrific experience and I look forward to dining at Canoe again once an Atlanta resident.
(5)Abe H.
Perfect. Perfect food and service. Hope was our server and she made it an awesome experience. We will definitely return and we look forward to it.
(5)R R R.
Great atmosphere. Went here for dinner with my coworkers. Food was awesome. Our server was very attentive and top notch. I had the burger and fries which was certainly the most tasty combo of this kind I'd ever had. We also shared several desserts which were not at all disappointing. I'd definitely recommend this place to others,
(4)Biao C.
Brought my girlfriend there for her birthday dinner. Absolutely loved this place. I am really a fan of seafood, and they do seafood right. Their baked salmon is tender and flavored, not so dry and tasteless as those you will find in a lot of restaurants. The service staff there were friendly too. Same as some other places, Canoe also charges several bucks for brought-in birthday cakes. Five dollars, if I remember correctly. I would say those several bucks were well spent at this place. They cut it for us, and nicely re-decorated it with chocolate and fruit.
(5)Chin Chin J.
Ambiance and service are excellent except the noise level was a bit high. I can't stand why people like to raise their voice when dinning like they are in a bar. This is why I can't give 5 stars. We ordered Crab cake and Heirloom tomatoes carpaccio as appetizers. Both are excellent. The crab cake was coated with panko result not much breading. The outer layer is crispy and inside is soft and moist. The tomatoes also very tasty. My husband ordered the rabbit stew but he wasn't impressed with the meat after first bite. He stated that it's chewy do he changed to cod. I didn't taste the rabbit because that is the only meat I won't eat. I even tried kangaroo meat but not rabbit. His cod came out very fast. I taste the cod and it is good but the alkaline of the fish is quite strong. The source is like bouillabaisse which is also strong. I guess the chef is trying to cover the strong fish taste. Mine was rainbow trout. It was very good. Crispy on the skin and meat is soft. Finally the dessert to complete the meal. We ordered chocolate grotto. It was surprisingly good. I was afraid it's too sweet but it wasn't. It's delicious. I would give 4.5 stars.
(4)Leslie N.
Hubby & I spent Fathers Day here with family, and we loved it! On first glance, the front of the restaurant is unassuming, but once you enter, the interior and lakeside sitting area will blow you away! The ambience is perfect- romantic with a laid back elegance thats very enjoyable. The menu was great. At our table, we did the 1 rabbit & 3 steaks. The steak was delish! The rabbit was tender but a small portion. The desserts were to DIE FOR! I had this molten lava chocolately goodness, that I still think about today. Great place for a special night out with ones you love.
(4)James P.
The best service I have had in a restaurant - ever. Every need was met, the expressed and unexpressed. The food was spectacular, the scenery was gorgeous and the evening couldn't have been better. I recommend Canoe to everyone that asks for a special place to go in Atlanta.
(5)Catlady F.
Came here for my birthday dinner...Delicious and nice restaurant...Expect to spend $100 for 2 people, which I think is great for 2 people at this style restaurant...Quality food..I had the rabbit which was absolutely delicious (combination taste of chicken and turkey, not gamey at all) and my Husband had the Trout...he enjoyed it and even went home the next day to try to duplicate the style...beautiful scenery as well...we will definitely be back.
(4)Taylor R.
Very very nice restaurant with great atmosphere! they also have delicious food and great service! Our waitress was very helpful and nice. It's a perfect place for a date night! Definitely will come back!
(5)sarah w.
This place was really lovely. We had a wonderful dinner outside on the patio and really fantastic service as well. We started dinner with some great cocktails and appetizers. We also had some fantastic bread (a raisin loaf and a sourdough). They were all made that day at Canoe and were just awesome. Our main courses were very well done as well but the dessert was probably the best of the courses. After dinner we walked around the grounds and checked out their little garden in the back with the beehive and also their chicken coop. Great place.
(4)Boyd H.
Canoe is literally the best restaurant I've ever eaten at. Period. The service and wait staff are excellent, the food is delicious, and the location is romantic and unique. My girlfriend and I recently returned here for the 2nd time for our 2 year anniversary so we knew what we were getting into right away. We made reservations for 7 pm and were seated promptly once we entered the door at this time. We were first sat at a booth on the far end of the upper dining room near the kitchen area. After Ken, our waiter, arrived and talked to us about the menu did we decide that it was far too noisy at this spot and requested to move to a quieter spot. This was taken care of with no issue at all as we got moved to the other side of the upper dining room - a far quieter location for this special occasion. I ordered the duck pastrami as an appetizer, the rabbit as an entree, and the popcorn ice cream sundae as dessert. My girlfriend ordered the smoke salmon as an appetizer, the lamb shank as an entree, and a special pineapple, curry sorbet as a dessert. The duck pastrami was pretty good but ultimately not too my liking (too vinegary/salty). I don't blame the dish as I probably should have got a salad or the salmon instead. My girlfriend's smoke salmon on the potato cake was mouth-watering and basically melted in your mouth like butter. The rabbit was absolutely, mindblowingly ridiculous in terms of taste and quality. The bacon ravioli underneath the rabbit only added to the awesomeness of the dish. I was literally trying to use my fork to somehow scrape up all the juices on my plate when I ran out. My girlfriends lamb was also very good but I preferred the rabbit still. The popcorn ice cream sundae was incredibly unique and very tasty. It literally tasted like cracker jack popcorn and was pretty massive. My girlfriends sorbet was also very delicious and fresh tasting. Finally, I would also like to mention that during our dining experience, my girlfriend stated in passing that it was our anniversary and that we had tried the chocolate grotto last time. So for dessert, her sorbet came with "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate and a free chocolate grotto. Awesome service from Ken!
(5)William H.
Went there last night and had a great time. If you like oysters, Canoe's oysters were the best dish of the night. I also ordered the vidalia onion soup - it was just ok. I was kind of expecting more like an french onion soup and this dish was totally different; very creamy. I ordered the burger which was excellent. The service was also great. If you have a large group, expect to wait. Our dinner lasted around 3 hrs last night even with reservations for a group of 12. If you decide to go, you MUST go outside and walk for a bit. It's really pretty.
(4)Anita C.
I LOVE this place and I wish I could go every weekend. I ordered the Duck and beef burger and we shared an assortment of breads. Although bread is extreely bad for you, I highly recommend you order both!! The duck and beef burger was AMAZING! I'm drooling just thinking about it. And the breads were like eating dessert. I came here before for dinner but I have no recollection of it. But I will never forget their brunch. I also love their location. It is right on the river and we got seats right by the window. It was a perfect brunch and made my day!!!
(5)Dawn L.
The details they put into their food is unreal! NOTHING is overlooked, and they are tough to beat! Atmosphere is AMAZING, quality service, and best of all, INCREDIBLE food!! The menu is consistently changing, but a personal favorite staple of mine is the rabbit dish!! {Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce} Talk about cooked to perfection yumminess!! My mouth waters each and every time this dish crosses my mind, which is quite often! Another is the Beef Carpaccio with Crisped Capers and Parmesan Many of my other favorites I no longer see on the menu, which makes this place even that much more exciting!! I recently went to brunch and was NOT disappointed! Table favorite? 1|She-Crab Soup with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat and Cream Sherry! (My boyfriend is still talking about it! smooth, rich, and DREAMY) We also ordered : 2| Smoked Salmon "Eggs Benedict" on Toasted English Muffins with Citrus Hollandaise (our second favorite!!) 3| Wild Mushroom, Bacon & Goat Cheese Quiche with a French Bean and Grape Tomato Salad (The salad was an excellent addition to the quiche, Mmmmm) 4| Brioche French Toast with Banana-Mascarpone, Walnuts, Maple Berry Syrup (Delicious "dessert" portion of our brunch!) 5| Crispy Rock Shrimp Salad with a Napa Cabbage Slaw and Sweet Pepper Remoulade (We were least impressed with this dish, while good, was just over shadowed by the other dishes...)
(5)Connie J.
Great atmosphere and views. Service and food were exceptional.
(5)Julia S.
One of my favorite restaurants I've ever been to--and I'm a big foodie :) The waitstaff is incredibly friendly and knowledgable, and left us laughing more than once. The food was superb--every dish we ordered we loved, from the heirloom tomatoes and crab cake to the rabbit and atlantic salmon AND the dessert--chocolate salted caramel grotto and a creamy ginger pudding of sorts with hazelnut toffee. YUM. The pace is leisurely so that you can really enjoy the food, wine, and view. The gardens are wonderful to take a stroll in afterwards, sit by the river, get a drink at the bar... I really have to say I loved this place, and would absolutely recommend it to others. I am surprised to see a few less-than-enthused reviews... some are about the price. Yes, it is expensive! But not really more so than any other fine dining restaurant--apps between 8 and 16, entrees around 24 each, give or take, and desserts 8. Pretty reasonable for the generous service (our waiter gave us two extra servings of their housemade bread to go home with some of my leftovers!), delicious food, and lovely ambience. P.S. To the person who complained they had no WiFi... well perhaps you shouldn't go to fine dining with a great view if you're going to be on your phone the whole time anyway! :)
(5)Andrew H.
Canoe was top notch. The service was outstanding, the food was impeccable, even their take on standard cocktails were uniquely delicious. It's not cheap but it is well worth the experience, especially given that many restaurants in Atlanta are just as expensive but far inferior.
(5)Michelle S.
My husband surprised me for our 1 year anniversary with reservations at Canoe. I had heard great things about the restaurant, but never been. I was a little concerned as I had thought this restaurant would be a little to "stuffy" for us. We started with drinks at the bar and then took a walk near the river. It was a little chilly outside, so we couldn't enjoy the outdoor space for very long, but we will surely be back in the Spring/Summer to do so! We were seated near the window and started off with the poached pear salad and one of the their appetizer specials; pork tenderloin with bacon jam -- wow! melt in your mouth! Our server was fantastic. He was able to describe each item that we asked about and even convinced us on how delicious the rabbit entree was. I tend to eat pork or chicken, while my husband is a red meat and potato guy. I decided to go out on a limb and order the duck and my husband ordered the NY Strip. He said he wouldn't have ordered the rabbit if i didn't!!! The rabbit was so tender and delicious and was not gamey at all. The rabbit came with a bacon ravioli and butternut squash - holy moly it was divine! And of course we couldn't leave with out dessert - Mocha Latte Cheesecake. It was okay. The consistency was a little too dense and not as creamy as I would have liked. But it still tasted delicious! The best part of our dinner was the service. We had no idea that our server, Darren was in fact in training and that the "back server", Evan was in fact the server who had been there for years. Darren was so professional, yet he was able to communicate and adapt to us. There was a business dinner table right next to us who were very dry and rude, but when Darren approached our table, he did not let the other table bring his attitude down. Great food and great service. We will be back!
(5)Elaine L.
The restaurant is really good. When I went it was really packed, so get a reservation if you are going! The food was pretty good. My date and I got the oyster and smoked salmon (half) as our appetizers. He liked it but I feel like they cover up the natural taste of the ingredients too much. All I got from the oyster is the spoonful of pickles and salmon the cottage cheese (? it was something heavy and creamy). The actual entree was pretty good, it's a bit heavy. I feel like it needs better pairing for the vegetables that goes with it. I got the rabbit, I just feel like it's really greasy and needed something that will soak up the grease and make it not so greasy. It was good at first bite but eventually I got a bit tired of it. My date's was really good though, he got the short ribs and paired with mashed potato and pickled cabbage (this was a good pairing, though heavy but it wasn't greasy). All in all, it's pretty good. They have good food I have to say, but it's just not my cup of tea. So I'll give it a 3.5/5 (I rounded up lol) because I feel like if meat heavy food is your thing, then this would be great.
(4)Mick D.
A friend of mine introduced me to Canoe specifically for some soup they have on the menu. And she was right. But everything they do here is done with intent and attention. Breads and pastries are baked daily. Food is meticulously crafted and presented. The atmosphere is comfortable and welcoming. Situated next to the river, the whole place provides a relaxed, yet polished ambiance. I need to check out their brunch. I hope you'll meet me there.
(5)Adnan D.
After dinner make sure you take a walk around the restaurant. great scenery.
(4)Anjali S.
With so many reviews written already there is not much I can offer. I visited for brunch and I have to say I was pretty impressed with the view sitting on the patio facing the water. It was really quaint and actually relaxing. It made me feel totally removed from the city. The star rating would have been 5 just for the incredibly scrumptious baked goods! (but i have other issues detailed below) I am still dreamily reflecting on the texture and taste of a savory herb cheese biscuit included in our mixed basket (you can get a basket of savory goods or sweet or both- we chose both)...I will admit here that even after brunch on my way home I could not contain myself and ate half of a sticky bun that was leftover from the basket. I also have to be honest and say that if I were to ever return for brunch it would only be for the baked goods. Other than that, I think the brunch items are overpriced breakfast items I could get elsewhere. I also think service can be spotty. They either want to be very respectful of your space and leave you alone or service is slow. It seemed there was a forever wait between looking over the menu, ordering, getting coffee, getting the meal, getting the tobasco I asked for etc. But all in all, based on the menu and other reviews, I am interested to give dinner a try as well.
(3)Fitz M.
Folks, Canoe is the kind of place you bring friends and family for that special dinner. I suppose customers would enjoy it too but I like that it feels like my personal restaurant. I start with a martini (vodka) and walk through the garden down to the river. After the edge is off I check on my table and usually it's time to sit down. The wait staff does a great job of welcoming you and asking you a few particulars to get a sense of what your occasion is. The complimentary mixed bread appetizer is delicious and gives new guests confidence that the other menu items are going to be great too. I have to admit that I'm not a foodie, so I rarely remember what I have to eat here. Then why do I love this place??? The service and the atmosphere. So eat at Canoe but take the time to enjoy the experience.
(5)Tonya C.
Best date night ever. So romantic. And the food was devine!! I had the steak and we also had the daily special appetizer of smoked salmon. AWESOME. Creme brulee was great too Dine outside... This is my fave place period!!
(5)Parker D.
I went here for bunch and ordered the crab and eggs. So good especially with the bernaise sauce drizzled all over it.
(5)Allison S.
I love this place!!!! Amazing food with unique flavor profiles! Now- this place can be quite pricey, but it is so worth it!!!
(5)Anna D.
Canoe deserves its reputation as one of the top restaurants in Atlanta. I've only had brunch and lunch here, both of which were excellent. I think every single one of my out-of-town visitors has been taken to brunch here. While I typically steer clear of the pastries and go straight for mimosas and pheasant and eggs (or duck and eggs... they usually have some variant of this on the menu), my latest visitor ordered us a basket of the pastries and they were amazing. I can't believe I've been missing out! There's pretty much nothing better than brunch out on their patio, overlooking their gardens along the Chattahoochee.
(5)Sean M.
I decided to try this place, being someone who had never been to this restaurant had advised me to try it. The restaurant is located in the middle of a more affluent area in northwest Atlanta within the perimeter. There is only "complimentary" parking at the restaurant. Once you enter the establishment you will be pleasantly greeted and deluged with a darkly lite romantic decor. As you are guided to your table you will notice each table has its own personal energy and casual lighting. Each table possesses just enough personal space enticing one to engage in romantic play. My server was named Jenna, she introduced herself professionally and cordially handed me the menu and began to describe all of the entree's and appetizers in great detail. After her dissertation of the menu, I had expressed to Jenna that I do not partake in red meat and pork, so she then recommended of the menu that which is tailored to my diet. After pondering her recommendations and glancing the menu I then decided to try the Calendar Island Mussels with Housemade Andouille, Sofrito Broth, Grilled Sourdough and Cornmeal Crusted Rainbow Trout, Peruvian White Beans, Eggplant Hummus, Collards, Grape Tomato Vinaigrette with a glass of white wine. Before receiving my appetizer and entree, Jenna had introduced me to a choice of six different kinds of complimentary in house freshly baked bread. My god, i have never tasted breads that tasted this delicious in my life. My toes were curling, I could not get enough, I was in utter disbelief of the perfection of texture and taste of these breads. Of the six choices of bread, one of them was a raisin sweet bread and the other more like a spicy cracker, I cannot remember the other three. As far as I am concerned the bread was the most impressive appetizer dish I had that evening. When I received my Calendar Island Mussels I was quite disappointed, The "Andouille" that came inside the appetizer was actually a pork based sausage. Unfortunately Jenna overlooked this by mistake , and did not inform me of the sausage .Jenna did offer to take back the dish to have it remade without the sausage, but I declined. I did not want her to get in trouble, not that she would, but who knows, I just ate around it. Nonetheless it kind of dampened the experience, after eating the toe curling breads with butter. The Mussels were tasty but nothing really special. When I received the entree of Rainbow Trout it was excellently presented, perfectly cooked and encrusted, it was very tasty, but nothing really special also. All together outside of the bread, my other two dishes did not justify the price in my opinion. If I am going to pay this kind of price , I expect the food to be toe curling like the in house made bread, and the entree's must be of a much larger portion. The restaurant itself is beautiful being located on a serene river with seasonally changed outdoor landscaping. There is also a outdoor bar with strategically placed seating designed to take advantage of the landscape and river scenery . Jenna was excellent and she also gave me a short tour of the outside area including their herb garden where the restaurant derives a lot of its seasoning from. Ending I would recommend Canoe as a perfect experience for a outdoor wedding, romance dinner or a special date.The people who work here are very professional and attentive, everyone greets you and makes you feel like royalty.
(4)Simon C.
This is quite simply one of the best restaurants in metro Atlanta... Amazing food and impeccable service. The rack of lamb was to die for
(5)Brian K.
I just had the opportunity to dine at Canoe for the first time and I can unequivocally state that it was among the very best dining experiences I've had in Atlanta. Everything from the service to the ambience and food was simply impeccable. Food: The delightfully varied menu of Canoe blends expertly-executed American and Continental fare. Every offering is characterized by innovative flavor combinations and only the freshest of ingredients. During my first visit, I opted to start with the warm artisan cheese salad with bacon, baby spinach, and dried cranberries; the dish was accompanied by a pecan vinaigrette dressing, which nicely complemented the warm baked brie that topped the salad. Based on the recommendation of our waitress, I opted for the roasted rabbit as an entree, which was served atop bacon ravioli, sweet potato hash, and candied garlic sauce; the dish was absolutely superb. For dessert, I ordered the orange cranberry bread pudding with white chocolate chunks; the dish was light and delicious, but I would have preferred if the white chocolate flavor was more pronounced. Service: Every staff member our party came into contact with, from the valet to the waitress, was professional, courteous, and efficient. It was particularly refreshing to have a waitress with a personality and the ability to recommend dishes that weren't necessarily the most expensive on the menu; I've personally found that this quality is becoming rapidly extinct in the Atlanta restaurant scene. Atmosphere: Sophisticatedly upscale, yet not pretentious. The clientele is mixed, but mostly comprised of middle-aged to older individuals. There were a few patrons that were underdressed, but for the most part the dress is business casual; ladies would fit in nicely with a cocktail dress and gentleman would be well advised to avoid jeans. Cost. Expensive by most standards. Appetizers cost between $8 and $15, entrees cost between $20 and $30, and desserts are all $8. For the most part, full dinner and drinks for a party of two will exceed $100. Other: Canoe is attached to the end of a strip mall, but that doesn't necessarily quell the overall dining experience. The restaurant is directly adjacent to the banks of the Chattahoochee River, which affords a tranquil and natural aesthetic that most reasonable individuals would find pleasant.
(5)Josh S.
Wonderful food, great service but a little loud. Our waiter Justin made great recommendations and every one wished my partner a happy birthday! Made it a ver wonderful night.
(5)David S.
Truly one of the top restaurants in the Atlanta area! Great service too.
(5)Sarah M.
I finally came to Canoe for a baby shower a few weeks ago. Wow - what a stunning place - the views are truly breathtaking. I need to come back on a date! Our meal was fantastic - I had grilled salmon over spaghetti squash with orange and pecans and greens. Healthy, great texture and flavor. The bread we had before was also delicious and I only wish there had been more of those flaky pecan buns! For dessert, I had a raspberry cheesecake - yum. Canoe delivers great food with a beautiful setting!
(5)Annie L.
I can see why this place continuously receives high ratings. Canoe is a cute restaurant, with an upscale vibe without the snootiness. You can come here and dress up (cocktail dress) or dress down (jeans with a dressy top). Parking: The restaurant has complimentary valet parking. Entrance/seating: Upon entering, you're instantly greeted by a hostess who directs you to your table. We requested indoor seating next to the large windows and received just that. It really is the best seat in the house. You get the view of outside without really being outside. Service: What really blew me away was our server. She was bright, cheerful, and extremely accommodating. I believe "Hope" was her name. She always came at the right moments without being too overwhelming. Food: They offer complimentary bread. They come by and offer you an assortment of bread slices, including sourdough, cranberry (my fave), olive, and some crispy cracker looking bread (don't know). Foods that we ordered were: * Beet salad: We had it split between us. It was DELICIOUS. While it was tangy, it wasn't overpowering at all b/c of the creamy goat cheese that complimented it well. It had a tangy/savory aspect to it. * Duck burger: Cooked to perfection. It was juicy and flavorful. There was an egg that came on top of the meat patty, and it oozed creamy goodness. The fries had flakes of parmesan cheese on it. Fries tasted like fries. * Duck breast with crepe: The crepe wasn't my favorite; it had an off taste to it. The duck was very tender and juicy, though. I liked the blackberry that came with it. * Popcorn ice-cream: GET THIS. It is sooooooo good! Words cannot describe the heavenly explosion in my mouth. It was creamy, sweet, with a bit of crunch. YUM. * Chocolate grotto: This wasn't my favorite dessert, but I can see why people who love chocolate would enjoy this. It's a chocolate shell with a creamy, overly sweet filling inside. Pricing: A bottle of wine, an appetizer split, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts was a little over $100. Definitely worth the price. I adore this place and will come again soon...probably for a "special occasion."
(5)Cloe A.
This place is amazing, and the staff is very nice! There was a round table with 8 very loud people next to me and my friend when we went for my birthday. Our waitress apologized to us, it did not bother us very much, but it was appreciated. At the end of our diner, the general manager came to us with 3 different deserts and offered them to us as an apology for the uncontrollable noise our neighbors did during our diner! They did not have to buy us deserts, neither three, but they were so good that we did not feel bad after all!!!
(4)Jenna B.
Went here for brunch this past weekend after making a reservation on Open Table. The group I was with goes out to eat all the time and we are very familiar with the Atlanta dining scene. That said, I don't think we have ever had such a positive dining experience! The service was over the top wonderful, everyone loved the dishes that they ordered (including a very picky vegetarian), and we were all blown away over how delicious the Bloody Marys were. We even made reservations to come back next weekend before we had finished our meal. P.S. If anyone who works at Canoe reads this....you should definitely consider bottling and selling your Blood Mary mix!
(5)Mimi C.
When my friend showed me Canoe about a year ago, I made him promise to take me here when I visited. We chose to eat here before my flight back which was a good call after having a full weekend. Canoe is easy on the eyes and relaxing - in a private retreat kind of way. We picked brunch so we could enjoy the wonderful views (though, I'm sure it's equally beautiful at night). They sit right next to a secluded river which you can walk up to and the outside seating area (includes a classy bar) has a wonderful view of the river and the surrounding gardens (gardens belong to Canoe). They even have a little side secret garden if you walk a little further -- you can see planted veggies, a wooden swing, comfy lounge chairs. We ordered a basket of their morning buns and scones (SMALL) -- VERY sufficient for 3 people.. I would not recommending eating too much of this (difficult) before your entrees arrive. We also ordered the sea crab bisque -- it's one of their signature dishes but I thought it was too creamy (if that's possible). Entrees (taken verbatim from menu) -- "Crab & Eggs" - Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Soft Scrambled Eggs and Hash Brown Potatoes* 18 Fried Green Tomato "Eggs Benedict," House Canadian Bacon and Chipotle Hollandaise* 15 Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict on Toasted English Muffins with Citrus Hollandaise* 15 ....I think we were quite full from our pastry basket that we didn't have much room for our bennys. But they were good -- I think the fried green tomatoes were the best (and it is their signature) -- the extra crunch helps! Otherwise, they all tasted very similiar given all that hollandaise (in retrospect, I should've asked for easy on the sauce). I have had better bennys elsewhere at a cheaper price but you are paying for ambiance here. They do have weddings here!! BEAUTIFUL location!! It's the kind of place to get engaged, married, or have any kind of special occassion happen. =) It is really really quite special and unique here. Valet parking only in their lot but I think you might be able to get away with parking at their neighboring lot. When we walked out.. we found a Ferrari, Porsche, Maserati parked outside. I guess the rich know how to eat well.
(4)Laura A.
Service and food were both wonderful. The menu is varied and everything we tried was delicious
(5)Scott N.
We celebrated our anniversary here in June 2010, and the food, view, and service were excellent. We had a table at the window overlooking the river. The place can be very noisy, though. The table next to us was a larger party of 6 or 7, and had no respect for people around them. I don't understand why people feel it is normal to yell in restaurants these days. As soon as one table starts, everyone has to do it to hear the person across from them :-p If you can stand the noise inside (or eat outside), the place is nice, but...Make reservations!
(4)Stephen F.
My wife and I came here about 3 weeks ago and I was disappointed. Maybe I built it up by reading so many great reviews. My wife had the duck and beef burger and it came out bloody and had to be sent back. I ordered the trout and thought it was so so. The food is over priced compared to some of the great restaurants in Atlanta. The service was good. The ambiance and bar by the river made the night much better. If it wasn't for the service and ambiance I would of given the experience 2 stars.
(3)Carol H.
I went here recently for a friend's wedding and thought the place was great. The food was interesting and very tasty and the wait staff was incredibly nice and very attentive.
(4)Brandon M.
I really wanted to love Canoe, but I cannot. I've relegated it to "Sunday brunch only" status, because I do believe that it is the nicest brunch in Atlanta. For brunch only, I would give it 5 stars. Throw in my 1-star dinner experiences, though, and it averages out to 3 overall. Brunch: Besides the phenomenal menu (more later), brunch affords you the luxury of a nice view of the Chattahoochee that just isn't really there later at night. The garden & the river are a nice backdrop, and the restaurant seating is aligned to show this off. Brunch has been a "never had anything less than 'good'" experience for me, but the duck burger, shrimp-crawdads-eggs-&-grits, & at least 2 different flavors of their eggs benedict have all been big winners that I recommend. The sweet rolls are good too, but don't bother taking them out of the restaurant...they're only good fresh. Service has been pretty good, as well, even when it's quite busy which is pretty much always at brunch. It does get pretty noisy there at brunch in the main area, but at night it's been much quieter. Dinner: I've had dinner here 3 times, and each experience has been "bad". Not just "bad" like "disappointing", but bad from a "can you believe they just did that?" bad. On 3 different occasions I've had experiences pretty much ruin the dinner. The worst was when we told the waitress that we wanted our main courses boxed up (we had multiple appetizers and salads to start, and no one had even eaten half of their main course). She picked up the plates, SAT THEM ON TOP OF EACH OTHER, and then said "Huh? What was that?" After being told a second time that we had asked to have them to be boxed up, she said "You still want them?" as she pointed to the stack of plates, and after we understandably said "Not now", she said "Oh, ok", and then left! Wow. The thought that someone like that could even be employed there made me shake my head. But the service has been relatively bad every time. We were eating there relatively late, and there is a general malaise in all of the workers. Maybe management steps out around 8:30 or 9pm so they all relax? I can't come up with any other reason, but as it is they've lost a dinner customer.
(3)Dynomutt F.
So, perhaps Canoe used some manner of telepathy to learn that my birthday is about as important to me as that cute bee costume is to my cat (for which I paid $5 so you're gonna wear it whether you like it or not, you always-wakin-me-at-five-a.m. harpy). Even so, someone wanted it to be a special night for me, and although the experience was pretty good, it was nothing close to a 5-star meal, unless we're operating by Applebee's standards. Most of the people at Canoe are great: the hostess friendly and effervescent, the wait staff well-trained and attentive, the runners efficient. The setting, especially on this evening, was wonderful. I was led to a table on the patio, which is not screened, but has fans set to a sufficient speed to keep mosquitoes away. Mist hung low against the Chattahoochee and as the sun went into hiding and the outdoor lights flickered into life, the fog thickened and began to blanket the river banks. Hummingbirds flitted to and fro, enticed by the feeder a few feet away. I was not alone in celebrating. Most guests around me were there for birthdays or anniversaries. My server was Ken, who seemed a bit green but was nonetheless well-practiced in the menu. The first thing to annoy me about the experience was that Canoe has the typical in-and-out American restaurant feel. From the time I was seated, it was clear that, although there would be no explicit pressure to speed the meal along, all of the servers have either been directed or see it in their interest to whiz through as many tables as possible. In such ambience, and with the expectation of a wonderful meal in store, I had no desire to be rushed through the process as though I was party #132 at Macaroni Grille. In the words of Mallory Knox, "Next time, don't be so fucking eager!" I drank water, though I'd been craving ginger ale, because Canoe has only bottled Seagram's. I have a dream that, one day, great restaurants will put as much focus into serving wonderful non-alcoholic beverages as into beer, wine and spirits. A selection of fresh bread was brought - sourdough, cranberry raisin and walnut, olive, and a peppery flatbread. I tried all but the sourdough and they were very good. I don't know why it is so uncommon to find untoasted bread with a meal, but I was glad to have it that night, served with softened butter. The olive bread was my favorite. I started with the warm cheese salad and the corn soup. The salad of spinach and endive was topped with a thick slice of slightly melted sheep's milk cheese from Spain, chopped bacon and pecans, and a sweet and tart cherry vinaigrette ($12). I loved it. The savory bacon and brie-like cheese went well with the nuts and the sweet bite of the dressing. The soup, however, did not impress me. It was a velvet blend, with the subtle flavor of sweet corn and an avocado cream that did little to enhance the serving ($8). All I could imagine as I ate it was that it was probably little different from what is served in a typical nursing home. I was allowed no time to rest and appreciate the surroundings after finishing the soup and salad. The main course arrived within moments. The scallops ($30) were served over a creamy concoction that I forgot to ask about, and were topped with potato sticks, and diced asparagus and bacon. The scallops themselves were firm and had a strong seafood flavor. Personally, I prefer them to be buttery and to melt in my mouth, but this wasn't my plate and I was alone in my dissatisfaction with them. I ordered the quail ($26), which was stuffed with a foie gras and brioche dressing and served atop greens, with a couple of bites of roasted plum. Though cooked to a medium-rare temperature, the quail was quite dry on its own. Together with all of the other ingredients, each bite was much better, but the flavors that I'd have loved to have detected - the creamy deliciousness of the liver, the buttery richness of the stuffing - were overpowered by the sweetness of the plum and dryness of the bird. Perhaps too much subtlety, again. Sure, there are times when we love the subtle sensuality of 1940s film noir, but also times we want to hear Asa Akira beg to have her rectum damaged. I'd have liked to have had a better blend of the two from Canoe. Luckily, the latter was exactly what I got for dessert, in the form of the Chocolate Grotto (although now on second thought I'm reconsidering the previous sodomy reference given the context of cacao) - a small chocolate torte topped with a hazelnut and caramel crème, encased in a hard chocolate shell, and then dusted with salt and pretzel crumbs. Amazing. I restrained myself with such small bites, savoring each with such delight. This would have been a 4-star meal at $60. Unfortunately, it cost twice that, so I must raise the bar substantially and Canoe didn't deliver at that level. Another five bucks to the valet to drive my car fifty feet and not even open the door for my guest was a final disappointment. Overall, 6/10.
(3)Kristen M.
Just as everyone else has said, the food/service/decor is amazing. Try the popcorn sundae!!!
(5)Susan C.
One of my favorite restaurants....food is great, service is attentive but not overbearing and the setting is beautiful
(4)Kendra M.
The best food and customer service I've ever had.
(5)Steven B.
I was looking for a nice restaurant to take my wife and daughter. Canoe fit the bill perfectly. The food was sublime and Kevin, our waiter, was attentive, knowledgable, and funny. Our experience at Canoe could not have been better, unless of course, it was free. Speaking of which, Sunday brunch for the 3 of us including tips, was $100. You will not be disappointed if you go to Canoe.
(5)Dori C.
Great food, location, service - my favorite in Atlanta
(5)Alison G.
Buckle in, y'all, 'cause this is gonna be a long one! A friend gave Boyfriend and I a gift card to Canoe last year. We kept putting off going because we're not really fancy people, but with Boyfriend turning 30 this year (and reading all the excellent ratings on Yelp), I finally made our reservations on Open Table. As always, I made sure to compliment the restaurant in the Open Table "special request" section ("I have heard nothing but wonderful things about Canoe and am so looking forward to coming!"), and I mentioned it was Boyfriend's 30th birthday. When we arrived, the hostess wished him a happy birthday, and so did everyone else for the entire evening. It definitely made him feel special, and I was glad that they cared (especially since Open Table sent me an email saying no special requests could be honored). Our waiter was friendly, fun, and knowledgeable though I'm pretty sure he had the A Perfect Circle logo tattooed on his arm, which seemed weird for such a pricey place. I don't really care, I just thought it seemed worth mentioning. The thing about Canoe is, it can't seem to make up its mind about what kind of place it is. Cloth napkins and $30 entrees, but no one pushes in your chair or wipes away your crumbs. I can't decide how I feel about that, because on the one hand I hate when people are all up on my nuts, but at the price point I was kind of expecting it. We sat outside, which was gorgeous, but the interior could have been Houston's or something--nothing was really unique about it. I ordered a raspberry soda, which was strong and delicious. The bread guy came around and I grabbed some sourdough and flatbread. The flatbread was wicked freakin' good and I was so tempted to ask if I could just buy some to take home. I would have liked to have a personal basket of bread on the table, because no one wants to be like, "Hey bread guy, more free food over here please!" We ordered the smoked salmon and the crab cake for our apps. Both were INSANE. Best versions of both of those dishes I've ever had, hands down. After those, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the panko-crusted cod. Well, I kinda could. In all honesty there was nothing on the entree menu that screamed, "ORDER ME," but the server really sang the praises of the cod so I went with it. When it arrived I was struck by two things; 1) the portion size was pretty measly and 2) It didn't really taste like anything. Boyfriend was smitten with his rabbit, which came with bacon ravioli. For someone like me, who loves plain ol' American fare, I kept thinking if I could just mix and match some of the dishes on the menu, I'd be happy. Bacon ravioli is up my alley, but rabbit isn't. Cod is delicious, but I'm not a fan of beans, which is what the cod was resting on. Scallops sounded delicious, but sweet potato puree really doesn't do it for me. I guess despite my efforts to be classy, I'm really more of an Outback kinda gal than a Canoe one. Sad trombone. For dessert we split the creme brulee, and it was ZOMG so good. I can't even. I don't. No words. Best. Mmmm. I really hate to say it because I know everyone else loves this place, and the service was awesome (well it started out awesome at 7, but as the night wore on we became less of a priority), and I had been looking forward to the meal for so long, but the main course at Canoe was the downfall of the meal. And I think for a $30 piece of fish, it should be pretty damn good. I'd say stick to apps and desserts, or maybe come for brunch or lunch. And bring a couple bucks for the valet, because we hadn't really planned ahead for that. I guess we are not really Canoe-level clientele and that's fine since I'll never be able to afford going there again. We were treated very well and had a great time, I just wish I wasn't hungry an hour after paying $150 for dinner.
(4)Alice L.
Definitely one of the best restaurants in Atlanta. Consistently good food, excellent service, and gorgeous ambiance. One time, I saw a wedding reception taking place in the back --- can't think of a more romantic place to get married in Atlanta than on the river banks at sunset, with amazing food. We came here on two separate occasions (both for our anniversary). Note: no self parking here, only valet parking. First time (Sept 2010): Appetizers - shared Canoe's House Smoked Salmon on Potato Cake, and summer corn soup. Both amazing and delicious... I think I preferred the corn soup, but that's just my taste. Waiter graciously split the appetizers onto 2 plates for us --- how nice! Entrees - got 2 of the favorites: slow roasted Carolina rabbit and grilled Atlantic salmon. The rabbit certainly sounded amazing, but it was bit too gamy and dense for us with meaty rabbit taste, bacon, and a heavy sauce --- we had a lot of trouble finishing the dish. The salmon, though, was what brought us back the second time --- they cooked it medium-rare, and the middle was reminiscent of high-grade sashimi. On top of a bed of spaghetti squash, this salmon dish was light, flavorful, and hit all the right spots. Surprise dessert! - Waiter was nice enough to offer us a complimentary berry sorbet for our anniversary --- even had a little message on it in chocolate drizzle! We couldn't finish it (way too full from all the delicious food), but still an unexpected and happy surprise for us. Second time we came (Sept 2012): Appetizer - shared heirloom tomatoes appetizer. These fresh tomatoes apparently are transported from Alabama daily, so I had to try them! Wasn't particularly impressed by the taste (I thought fresh tomatoes were supposed to taste amazingly different from average grocery tomatoes), but very light, fresh tasting tomatoes for a good start to dinner. Entrees - Of course, the salmon again, and the grouper. The grouper came on a bed of mashed potatoes and some veggies (i.e. corn, carrots, etc.) -- really delicious. However, I was disappointed by the salmon. It's not that it wasn't well cooked --- I was just expecting that same lightly-salted sashimi-centered taste, but I think they used smoked salmon instead of fresh salmon? It was overwhelmingly smoky, which is good if that's what you like, but the smokiness weighs down the light salmon taste. I'm not sure if they changed the way they cook the salmon, or if this was a fluke, or if I was just mistaken the first time. All in all, still a must-visit restaurant for the serious foodie visiting or living in Atlanta. As for the bread service, but the cheesy flatbread (more like a cracker) is hands down my favorite.
(5)Vonda D.
I went to Canoe one year for my birthday and had a very pleasant time. The service was fantastic and the view of the river was great. They were setting up for a wedding, so that was fun to watch. Overall a great experience!
(5)Ann C.
Leah was our amazing and beautiful server. She took excellent care of us. Canoe is fabulous. We celebrated a birthday today. Food was great, service was superb, view was really nice. HIGHLY recommend. Worth every penny. Innovative, varied menu. Great chefs.
(5)Elana R.
Very memorable and delicious! Impeccable service, beautiful ambiance. I especially loved the beet salad that was presented like a tartare and the trio of creme brulee, which included chocolate, basil and passionfruit mini creme brulees. The cocktails are also inventive and delicious - I had the ginger cocktail and would definitely recommend it.
(5)Paige N.
I can't say enough good things about Canoe, really I can't. This place is just beyond wonderful! "Double cool with knobs" as the Brits might say. The two times I've come have been with my family for special occasions; once when my parents came down to visit me at Emory for Parents' Weekend and the second time when I graduated from Emory. And both times were immensely memorable. The setting couldn't be more grand with a luxurious view of the Chattahoochee River flowing by, which people can wander down to while waiting for their tables in warm weather (I spied a lot of people having their pictures taken by friends posing in front of it). The restaurant itself is all class and elegance inside and the staff is top-notch. Each time I've been the waiters have introduced themselves, told us the daily specials from memory and always, always had this bread basket of multiple freshly baked breads circulating so your plate was never empty. I opted for the raisin bread (so good!) both times and had to remind myself my main course of rabbit was coming soon. I went for it because it's something not normally available, and it was a great choice. My mom had scallops with ravioli and my dad had trout, and both cleaned their plates as well. Then, for dessert our server brought out a slice of chocolate deliciousness with the words "Congratulations on Graduation" written around it in chocolate syrup. The perfect end to a perfect meal. While we nearly rolled out of the restaurant afterwards, it was so well worth it. I certainly can't eat so richly on a regular basis, but for special occasions, Canoe can't be beat.
(5)Rick F.
Best Brunch it Atlanta! From the valet to the hostess, to Hope our server and Aga who lent an assist as needed. Love the teamwork with the staff. The decor was great, warm, very comfortable and what's not to love about the river and all the great seating areas to pass the time away. I'm very impressed with the chef's garden and the use of homegrown ingredients when possible, the honey from the bee's in the back is amazing! Now for the food! Scones and Sticky Buns, WOW! fresh, warm and tasty! Gazpacho soup was just right on and warm day like today. Crab and Eggs were the best brunch food I've ever had! I need to find out where they buy the eggs! Perfect in every way!
(5)Marge L.
If you are a fan of brunch on the weekends, then be sure to hit up Canoe for some of the best brunch that I've had in a long time. The brunch is great, but what I enjoy the most is the variety of options that they have available for brunch. The view is awesome and it feels super cozy and romantic overlooking the riverbank. I'm a huge fan!
(5)Esther K.
Disappointed experience- Horrible service overshadowed the food and experience... I was really excited to finally dine at Canoe due to the immense recommendation and reviews. My experience was sub par. Highly disappointed from start to end... We went there for a birthday party for two individuals' birthdays and for a table of 11 people we only had 1 server. On top of only having one server for a large party the server was extremely unfriendly and poorly skilled in representing Canoe. She was condescending during our whole dining experience. The appetizers and meal was above average but nothing spectacular. It was well prepared but flavor was not memorable. Also, a manager never came by to check to see how our dining experience was. (Probably due to the foreshadowing of individuals voicing a negative dining experience). I called later to speak to a manager about our experience and he was extremely aloof and unapologetic, and did not call me back as he said he would. Despite the relaxed countryside and beautifully landscaped area in the back and cozy appearance of the restaurant I would not recommend this restaurant to my large network of colleagues and friends. Another case of "don't judge a book by its cover." There are plenty of other spectacular and mouth orgasmic restaurants in Atlanta that deserve and appreciate Atlanta's Foodies' business and experience!
(2)Honest A.
Pricy excellent food and service with a pleasant view of the river. It's hard to be disappointed here.
(4)Fuk Y.
Beef and Duck burger was good, but not 16-dollar worth good (should had listened to my wife).I have had plenty of burgers for about 8-10 dollars. I also ordered Prince Edward Island Mussels, Ginger, Lemon Grass, Thai Coconut Broth to go. My wife did not like it. I sat at the bar. The service was very good.
(3)Catherine C.
food was delicious. get the African squash soup to start and split it because it's so good you can't stop yourself and won't have room for your amazing dinner! will definitely go back when the sun is still up next time to see the view of the river!
(5)Jie Y.
Food: absolute ambrosia Service: very warm and friendly atmosphere: decent Price: reasonable.except 30-40 per person
(5)Jacqui C.
Brought my boyfriend here for his birthday and he loved it! Food and service were excellent. I had the rock shrimp salad and he had the lamb sandwich. Their bread was fresh and unique. The view was beautiful and the restaurant is spacious. Afterwards, we walked along the creek in the back patio part of the restaurant.
(5)Michael L.
A (very generous) friend of ours treated us to this spot a month or so ago- Don't know why it took me so long to actually write this review- but here's what we had. Slow roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss chard and bacon ravioli- This was my entree- and though it was pretty decent, it was actually the "worst" dish among all the ones we got. The sweet sauce that the rabbit was swimming in was just not very complex- the rabbit itself was tender (as it should be), and the chard and ravioli were pretty good. This dish wasn't bad at all (there's a reason why it's one of their signature dishes), but it just didn't shine the night we were there. (3.5) Striped bass with bacon risotto- In contrast to my dish, this one was phenomenal. The bass held together very well, but flaked upon a gentle push against the flesh- I forgot the ingredients used to flavor the fish, but it was really good. Bacon + anything usually means it's going to taste good. And the risotto did not disappoint. (4.5) Pheasant and pheasant dark meat croquettes- I got a bite of both the pheasant and the croquettes- and man were they tasty! The croquette was perfectly fried, not too salty, great texture. (4.5) Grilled duck breast- Again, another phenomenal dish. I never knew duck breast could be cooked medium-rare- and still taste great! (4.5) We really liked taking a walk into their vegetable garden and around the rest of the waterfront- this is just a great spot to have dinner with good friends and/or family. Definitely a special occasions type of place for us. (4.25)
(4)Alex C.
Always a place to visit again and again. The duck and beef burger is the most value dish upon these kinds of restaurants.
(4)Tim D.
Absolutely incredible dinner! My wife had the rabbit and I had the lamb, two of the most incredible dishes we have eaten since being in Atlanta! The restaurant was beautiful and the service was top notch. This is the kind of place that sets the standard from amazing restaurants. The bread was awesome and we have found another place to spend our time and money to eat the finest!
(5)Daisy B.
I went with a large group for a birthday party (usually a recipe for disaster). The servers were great--although this is the kind of service where, when you ask where the restrooms are, they walk you all the way there, so sometimes a little intense. I am gluten-free, and they were well-informed about all the menu items and what I could have. I ordered a steak, which I almost never do, and it was possibly one of the best I've ever had in a restaurant. Cooked to perfection. The popcorn ice cream sundae was also delicious. Overall, a very nice experience.
(5)Taylor A.
Is that Fonzworth Bentley? Goddamn right it is! When Fonzworth is somewhere you can bet your ass it's a classy joint. On the night my arm candy and I were at Canoe he rolled in wearing orange pants, and not in that Clemson frat-boy look, but in that smooth, put-together way only he can pull off. Anyways, on to the review. This place really is almost perfect in just about every way. The location, on the delicious, is this really Atlanta?, banks of the Chattahoochee river is picture perfect. They even have a waterfront bar if you want to be within an alligator bite of the water. I'm going there first the next time I'm here for dinner. Our waiter was that perfect balance between "I know everything about the menu, including the paternal lineage of our fennel seeds" and "You don't know what a veloute is?" There were some random long pauses between drink and order taking and checking in on us, but other than that our server was perfection. The food is world-class here. My ladyfriend started with the corn soup special and it was out of this world. This needs to make it onto the permanent menu. I was truly jealous I didn't order it, though the shrimp stuff calamari from their regular menu was amazing as well. Soft, not chewy calamari with some random sauces that complemented fantastically well. I had Peter Cottontail over some bacon ravioli and sweet potato hash. This is by far the best rabbit I've had, though my rabbit eating experience is rather limited. I'm certainly going to try it other places now, though I'm doubtful any place can top Canoe in this respect. My date had the duck which she mightily enjoyed, saved for a couple center pieces that were way undercooked. Mmmm, raw poultry! The veggie crepe wasn't anything special to either of us. The chocolate grotto as a finishing dessert was superb as well. It certainly warranted the, "get it" from the waiter. My date had a special dessert with pomegranate ice cream that tasted way too sour to me. She did like the cookie that came with it. Overall Canoe is an amazing restaurant for any special occasion. It's the kind of place you should go all out because it's really worth it. I expected it to be much more expensive for everything you get with the experience. Wonderful!
(4)Shanon W.
My husband and I went here for our anniversary and we can't wait to go back. Everything from the food to the drinks to the ambience is spot on. The wait staff is very knowledgable in the wine selection, of which there is plenty to chose from, as well as the cocktails. The food is delicious and the deserts are worth "saving room for".
(5)Adam C.
We had heard a lot about this place and wanted to check it out. The perfect occasion presented itself in the way of a business luncheon. It was lunch time, yet we were once again greeted by my latest pet-peeve of the Atlanta Valet Mafia. You know what I'm talking about: you pull into a lot and before you can even think about where you're going to park it, some young punk who just got his driver's license runs up to your car and politely demands you let him park it for you. That would be the Atlanta Valet Mafia that seems to be worming its way into every dining establishment that I've been to as of late. This place gets an A+++ for location and scenery. Located right on the banks of the river, you are literally watching the water flow slowly on by while you dine. You would be hard pressed to find a prettier view while dining anywhere else in the entire metro area. The decor is also really nicely done. If I were to call it anything, it's like rustic cabin chic. The service was flawless, polite and attentive to our every need. Multiple people came to check on us while we were enjoying our meals. I ordered the Turkey Burger, which was incredibly juicy, flavorful and tender. It was served with a cranberry spread on the top and bottom which enhanced the taste of the turkey. It was a bit overly salted in some places and I actually winced during one bite when I got a particularly salty note on my tongue. The french fries were perfectly cooked and tasty...and just the right serving size. My wife ordered the salmon and said it was not good at all. The texture was very chewy and the flavor wasn't nearly as good as it should have been for the level of restaurant that Canoe bills itself to be. The goat cheese was runny and overseasoned. The salmon also had way too much vinegar, as did the salad that was ordered with it. I don't think we've written Canoe off entirely. It's far too beautiful and romantic of a place to be forgotten as an option. I just think we'll try some other items on the menu next time.
(3)Jessica B.
Venison, service and price were all perfect. Take your hot date here.
(5)Min Y.
I dined here recently and had an amazing time. The service here is amazing, very attentive and they get little details down. The hostess seemed to know who I was right as I walked in and also made sure to pronounce my name correctly. She asked for the reason of our visit (anniversary) as well. They also knew I was a first-time diner, so i'm sure they're keeping track of visit dates as well. We started out with two cocktails, both were excellent but on the pricey side (minimum $10 no matter your selection). We then moved to our table and our waiter instantly knew my name and the fact that it was our anniversary. Our guy was a little off on his descriptions of the menu items (stumbled a few times), but I have to give him some slack since he basically has to memorize 20 different item descriptions. He was very attentive and also swept any food crumbs off the table at various points throughout the night. The food was excellent. I had the sage-roasted pheasant with sweet potatoes, which was both filling AND extremely tasty. We finished off the meal with a dessert (i forget what, something chocolate but that's not my thing) and they wrote "Happy Anniversary" on the plate, which was impressive. Other miscellaneous notes: 1. We were the only non-white people there that I could see. 2. Dress was not strict, but mostly people were wearing a nice shirt and pants (guys) or a dress (women). I don't think they would have kicked anyone out for not dressing up though. 3. At one point, I felt like dining at places like this all the time would make me very Patrick Bateman/American Psycho-esque. Reservations for Dorsia? I want to give it 5 stars, because it's probably the best restaurant I've dined in Atlanta... but the price is ridiculously expensive. I already mentioned the cocktails, and the entrees were all minimum $27. Desserts were all $8 too. I spent a ton of money here. I know that you have to pay for quality, and I do like this place a lot, but I just have to reserve 5-star reviews for restaurants which are amazing and have reasonable prices. Another negative about this place is the valet parking. Canoe is in a little mini-mini mall, and you have to valet your car. This is common in Atlanta, but most of the time somewhat necessary because nice restaurants in the city are in the middle of high traffic areas with limited parking. But in this case, the other shops next door are strict about not parking there, and the only parking lot for Canoe was literally right outside the door. The parking was complimentary, but you obviously have to tip the guys for the valet. This meant that I had to pay a tip to watch a man get in my car, close the door, and drive FIVE FEET and park it. When I saw that, I was laughing my ass off. Thanks, dude. I gave him 3 bucks which isn't a lot but I computed a $0.60 tip/feet driven cost. Anyway, 5 stars for food, service, atmosphere. -1 star for the exorbitant prices and the ridiculous valet situation. A very high quality 4 stars.
(4)Elizabeth H.
Canoe is the perfect spot when you're looking for a romantic dinner. The interior of Canoe was recently re-vamped due to the floods a year ago - the décor is rustic/chic and reminds me of Houstons (but way better)! The entire experience from valet to dessert went so smoothly. We arrived early for our table and headed to the bar. I had the Raspberry spritzer and the boy had whiskey. I liked that instead of paying the bartender, our drinks were automatically added to our dinner bill. We headed to our table out on the patio- I highly recommend sitting outside when the weather permits and walking the grounds to the river & vegetable garden. The food: Salmon Chips: salmon on a potato pancake with goat cheese and chives - absolutely amazing! The salmon was so fresh! Pheasant with sweet potatoes- out of this world! There were two pieces of perfectly cooked pheasant plus a pheasant croquette - basically breaded & fried pheasant- yummy! Rabbit (in the spirit of Easter) served with bacon ravioli - OMG! The taste of the bacon was strong but not overhwleming and in perfect contrast with the sweet potato hash - delicious! Dessert: the Valhrona Chocolate with Salted Pretzel - I recommend this if you're in a bad mood and need to get some aggression out! It's served as a chocolate dome- so the server had me take the back of my spoon and hit as hard as I could- chocolate went flying! A great spot for a special dinner with your special somebody!!
(5)Leilani M.
I have traveled to many places in my life, and I have eaten on great places..., but, I have never...NEVER... imagined that food could make me laugh the way the food in this place did. What I am trying to say is, the taste of the food in this restaurant is so amazing, that each bite you eat, will cause an inner joy... I can't find the words to express my experience in this place. I ordered NY Steak and this steak was by far, the best steak I have ever eaten. It was so amazing, my co-workers had to try it and we all started laughing because we couldn't believe how good it was. Until this day, we are still amazed with the food we ate at Canoe. Overall, the food is so good, that if I find out I have only 1 day left to live, and I had to choose my last dinner, I would definitely go to Canoe...and then..rest in peace. Highly recommended!
(5)Christina G.
Maybe I'm the only person in the city who isn't completely in love with this place. The atmosphere is bit stuffy for my taste. Pros: Everyone was very friendly and accommodating. We had excellent cocktails. The view of the river and property is really nice. The outdoor bar is unique. Our dessert was excellent. We had the creme brulee trio and enjoyed each one. Cons: Parking is difficult. You must valet your car, and even with that service it's still a little hard to maneuver around in the strip mall parking lot. Our food was very underwhelming. I had a steak. It wasn't cooked to my specifications. In fact, I thought it was overcooked quite a bit. My boyfriend ordered lamb and really enjoyed it. Our server NEVER asked if we enjoyed our food. He just assumed it was amazing and went about his business. That kind of rubbed me the wrong way. Had he asked, I would have told him that I thought the steak was just ok. Things are pricey here. I feel that if I'm at a certain price-point I want things to be amazing...and this wasn't. I doubt we'll ever go back. In this price range, there are FAR better restaurants in Atlanta.
(2)R C.
Absolutely loved the experience. I took my girlfriend here for our anniversary and had the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, the lemon butter sauce paired the flavors perfectly and came with a vegetable salad that was a good contrast from the crab cake. For our main courses I had Cod and she had rabbit, hers was so good I didn't get to try any... Haha, but my cod was seasoned and crusted well, it came on a bed of spinach and a sauce containing bacon, potatoes and carrot cubes. The atmosphere is joyful and energetic and awesome. The staff was extremely accommodating. We got the Chocolate Grotto for dessert and it was perfect, it had a peanut butter cream in it and some chocolate ganache. Every bit of the experience was perfect. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)SAJJAN S.
Update a year later: still excellent..still my favorite restaurant in Atlanta..
(5)Derrick P.
Client travel to Atlanta, checked out the reviews here for the ATL area and was absolutely blown away! The oysters were out of this world, some of the best I've ever had. The rabbit was outstanding as well. I highly HIGHLY recommend this place. The atmosphere also is a huge part of my 5 stars.
(5)Gail F.
This was a very disappointing experience. The first disappointment came when we were told to wait in the bar(fine) , ordered a drink but as we were just about to take our first sip we were approached and told our table was ready. Not a problem but the individual sensed my discomfort and said it was no problem for us to enjoy our drink and then go to our table. Not true because ten seconds later we were retrieved by the head mistress. We had an excellent table with the perfect view. The best part of our meal. I had a beet salad with goat cheese that was good but certainly nothing as spectacular as I would anticipate from such a highly rated establishment. My husband had oysters on the half shell that he enjoyed but missed some heat. For entrees he had rabbit that was fair at best while I had trout served over garlic grits.The only thing I could taste was garlic. It was truly awful and the absolute worst way Ihave ever been served trout. It ruined a nice price of fish. We will never return. It is not worth the money nor the hurry up we need this table to make more money feeling we had. There are many more restaurants that our money has been and will be better spent.
(2)Ruth L.
5 stars everything! Food, check! Service, check! Atmosphere, check! I want to come back!
(5)Ashley M.
This is a great little gem of a restaurant - perfect for a date or if you're looking to wine and dine business partners. It sits right on the river, has fabulous views and the services is even better. Listen to your servers, they have great suggestions. However, if you want my personal opinion, you can't go wrong with the rabbit. It's been on their menu since the place opened and for good reason - it's tender and juicy. Great selection of wine and nice size portions. I left satisfied and not overly stuffed. Didn't have room for desert but have heard great things about the popcorn sundae. Next time!
(5)Angel L.
With my wife we were looking for a nice restaurant to go eat and checked the reviews on yelp before to place the reservation. I am so glad we did, this place was totally worth it. It is not cheap, but you eat good and real fresh. Fresh at the point that they get delivered their tomatoes from Alabama (?) in the morning without being refrigerated... If that's not called fresh! I had the Lamb Bolognese with Orecchiette Pasta and Mint and my wife had a salad specially prepared for her (fancy hu ?) with some seasonal vegetables. Mine was just perfect, the sauce, the pasta... everything was a perfect match and cooked to perfection. I ordered a seasonal sorbet (peach was the flavor), and it was awesome. The kind of dinner that fills you up but doesn't make you feel sick because you ate too much. The waiter that took care of us was pretty knowledgeable and very nice. They also have an outside sitting are near the river, very nice. You should try it if you are in Atlanta and are looking for good food.
(5)LouAnn C.
I made my second trip to Canoe for lunch today, the first having been a lunch about six months ago. This lunch was definitely better than the first. There isn't much that can go worse than having a cockroach slowly make his way across the white linen tablecloth of a table with eleven guests and the ensuing embarassment as management comped everything but our drinks. Today I ordered the she-crab soup, I guess left over from yesterday's brunch. Don't confuse this with a bisque; it is not the lovely rich butter-cream-pureed shells-and crab meat version, it's bechamel with large chunks of crab, served with sherry, and good, if slightly gloppy and colorless. I ordered the lamb bolognaise with oricceiette pasta and mint. Ugh. This dish was so salty it was barely edible. I dug in and eventually found ground lamb mounded in the center under the pasta. But I sure couldn't eat much and saw two other nearly full bowls being bussed. There was so little mint that it should not even have been mentioned on the menu description. The bread here is wonderful, the view absolutely lovely, and the service impeccable.
(2)Ed F.
Sat at bar Great food and good chat with bartender Always great
(5)Amanda L.
My husband proposed to me here and it was wonderful. The staff was great and the food amazing.
(5)Bonnie B.
Alfresco dining at it's finest! My boyfriend & I dropped in last night & headed straight to the River Bar for wine & appetizers. The setting cannot be beat! Our Greek wine, Santorini, was crisp & so delicious! Perfect minerality without the citrus bite of a Sauvignon blanc. We snacked on smoked salmon on crisp potato cake, shrimp stuffed calamari & the most delicious crab cake ever ! The hot & friendly bartenders helped make the evening enjoyable.. Especially when Chris insisted we try the Popcorn Ice Cream with Cracker Jack garnish! WOW!!! Who would have guessed?
(5)Scott Y.
Everything is quality about this restaurant. The food, service, decor, and location. I'm going to keep it short because there is already a wealth of praises from other reviews. It is by the Chattahoochee River and the outdoor view is spectacular. It's valet only. The service is warm, friendly, and helpful for a newbie like myself. The support staff knows what utensils are needed and their timing on delivery is impressive. A sign of great organization and communication. They have interesting, sophisticated cocktails. I'm all about novelty drinks and their selection is delicious as it is unusual. A few of the drinks are taken from the 19th century. It's like a trip to the past! Their food presentation, while not the best I've seen, is pretty good. Their food uses vegetables and herbs from their own raised bed gardens. Anyone growing their own vegetables should take an after dinner stroll to view it! My date and I got the rabbit, seafood fettuccine, crab cake, and oysters. All very delicious, but at $18-28 per dish it is expected. Overall, a memorable dining experience that stands above almost all. Bring someone here to impress.
(5)Jody R.
Incredible arrogance ruined our anniversary. The food didn't help at all. For all of the hype and pompous attitude at least they could do is serve a good quality meal. It was overpriced and really disappointing
(1)E L.
This was one of the most infuriating experiences I've had recently. Came in for brunch. They told us we could sit at the bar since we were walk-ins and the wait was extremely long. No problem. We would have put our names down, but we were happy to sit at the bar. We went over to the bar and the barstools had been taken away. We politely asked if we could have some barstools. A server very dismissively said "no." We were like, "Ummmm, there's a bunch of space right here where the barstools have been taken away." "No," she says while eyerolling. Ummmm ????? Her attitude was so upsetting that we left immediately. It's a shame. We love fine dining, spend a not insignificant amount of money on it, and Canoe has been on our list to try. Never can I recall that kind of inexplicably mean treatment--and we are from NYC. We went over to South City Kitchen Vinings and had a lovely meal . . . at the bar . . . sitting on barstools.
(1)Lee C.
Overall great experience. Great view of the river. Polite valet and maître d. Waitress fully explained specials. Waiters step aside as you pass. Don't see these little things anymore. Food was excellent. Wife started with smoked Arctic char and I had the octopus. Both were well done. Never had octopus that tender. I then had the bacon wrapped monkfish with mussels. Broth that it was served in was buttery but not greasy. Very good dish. Price was reasonable. In California, easily double the price.
(5)Matt C.
Had dinner at Canoe for the third time last week, my first visit since 2010. I have always enjoyed it, as the setting is one of the best in Atlanta; but this particular meal was far better than past experiences, and definitely put it back 'on the radar' for me. Our server was a little odd, with corny jokes and too many check-ins, but we never wanted for a drink refill, so I guess I can't complain too much. All the food we ordered was wonderful.. one of those meals where everyone tries each other's plates. Standout for me was the duck breast.. probably the best duck dish I have ever tasted.
(4)David D.
My wife and I had the good fortune of finally visiting Canoe last night. We've lived in Atlanta for almost 8 years, and I can't believe it's taken us this long. But we were going to see a show nearby at the Cobb Energy Centre and went on a friend's recommendation. The show started at 7pm, so we made the earliest reservation, at 5:30. SInce we were a bit anxious about getting to the show on time, we got there a half-hour early. The hostess was more than accomodating, inviting us to sit in their lounge until our table was ready. My wife had a cinammon-apple flavored cocktail called Pomme (which she loved). Mine was called Las Ventas, and it was a variation on the old Blood and Sand that matadors traditionally had to celebrate their Bullfights in Spain. It was a mix of Spanish Brandy and Vermouth with a dash of Jamaican bitters and a splash of Orange Juice. The hostess then showed us to our table promptly at 5:30. She sat us by the window with a wonderful view of the Chattahoochee River. We had an awesome server named James. His style is a pleasure for foodies like us, he makes recommendations based on his own personal tastes, patiently describes how the dishes are prepared, and puts no pressure on us to hurry with our order. I highly recommend him for his great service. My wife went with Canoe's staple dishes. For an appetizer, she chose the House Smoked Salmon which comes on a crispy potato cake with goat cheese sandwiched between them. For dinner she selected the roasted rabbit with bacon ravioli and sweet potato hash. She was very happy with her dish especially since, having never tried rabbit before, she went into it with some trepidation. I took a taste and found it to be very tender and without the gamey taste that makes many people, including her, quite nervous about trying it. Bacon Ravioli is not my thing, but she loved it so much she texted her friend about it while we ate dinner. I went a bit farther afield. I had the duck pastrami appetizer. Thinly sliced, it comes with pumpernickel toast, pickled radish and blood orange, all perfect accompaniments. For dinner, I was delighted to try what they call the Fork-Tender Lamb Shank. So often Lamb can be prepared incorrectly, and it's not a fun meat to try when that is the case. But this lived up to it's name, falling off the bone with little pressure from my utensil. The risotto, Kale and Mushroom hash at the bottom of the plate was equally delicious. Anyone who visits Canoe should save room for their wonderful desserts. I had their popular Chocolate Grotto, a chocolate dome shell that when cracked, gushes with a mousse-like concoction of hazelnut-salted caramel goodness. It's all finsihed off with liberal helpings of crunchy pretzel dust. Here, it was my wife who eschewed their traditional dish to try the warm, cranberry-orange bread pudding with white chocolate sauce. It's hard to believe that any dessert can top the one I had, especially since I'm a chocoholic. But somehow, the bread pudding does it. Both fantastic ways to finish the meal. Now, Canoe is not inexpensive. But given the location, romantic atmosphere, fantastic service, and most of all, excellent food, it is a perfect demonstration of the oft-used expression, "You get what you pay for." In this case, we got one of the best dining experiences we've had in quite some time. Thanks, Canoe.
(5)Average G.
1st year dating anniversary with my lady was amazing. We had early evening reservations on a Sunday night and the food, drinks, and service were all impeccable. Service: Our server was spot on...not over attentive and not too uptight. He made great recommendations on food and drinks. He split up our 2 apps and ended up making the dinner a long, 3 course affair that was perfect. Drinks: We had the Absinthe and the ginger based gin/vermouth cocktails...both smooth and well put together and surprisingly strong. Food: This is what we came here for and being Iron Chef/Chopped fans, we finally got a chance to eat a legit Atlanta eatery that served high end style of food. We went with 2 apps: "Smoked Salmon on a Crispy Potato Cake" (probably our favorite thing all night) and "Baby Arugula Salad with Spiced Nuts, Shaved Parmesan and Poppy Seed Vinaigrette" (delicious dressing). Our 2 entrees: "Duck Breast with a Grilled Romaine and Duck Sausage Crêpe and Pistachio-Blackberry Compote" (duck was smoked perfect and the compote was spot on) and "Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce" (the rabbit was tasty and ravioli full of flavor). For desert: "Popcorn Ice Cream Sundae, House Made Cracker Jack" (the ice cream was so rich and buttery and the cracker jacks were a perfect textural complement to the ice cream). Overall the food was fresh, full of great flavor combinations, and well executed. I think many of the items are smoked in their smoker out back and it really has this nice down south feel to it even though it is finer dining. Next time we will hit up this famous brunch of theirs, but the dinner was well worth the price. It was a great way to celebrate a year with my love. Thanks Canoe!
(5)Phil W.
There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said recently. I'm just on here to give them a 5 star to see if they can pull off a 5-star average. The food was incredible, the service amazing, and the atmosphere unbeatable. This is THE place to bring a girl you've been seeing for a while and really like (or a first date if you're a high roller).
(5)Victor O.
wow what can i say the food at this place is amazing
(5)Mary-Nevin H.
My fellow's parents were in Atlanta for the weekend from France and my parents had one chance to impress them with a restaurant, enter Canoe. We went here on Sunday for brunch and it was really good. We had a nice table by the river and everyone's dish was happy with their order .They have a nice mixture of sweet and savory essentials(a must do for brunch) In addition, they have interesting pairings(for example, never though crab and eggs would mix and it was amazing) We had a party of 6 and our order was out shockingly fast. Our waitress was nice enough, a bit chatty but that's way better than being surly so i'll take it. Although she did say to my french in-laws that the only thing she learned to say while in france was "don't touch me". Awkward but it gave the whole table something for all 6 of us to laugh at, so if nothing else we were united in making fun of her. The location is a bit out of the way, but is worth the short trek. Also could have finally become one of those insufferable ITP people and the restaurant may not actually be that far. It's pricey, but here thankfully you get what you pay for, that tends to take the string out of an expensive adventure. The location is beautiful with a nice area to walk around\enjoy the river. Next time I'm in the mood for an upscale night out or making my husband pay, I think Canoe will be the spot.
(5)Ana G.
So I needed a place to celebrate my parent's 30th anniversary as well as my birthday and boy was this the perfect place. Yelp has not steered me wrong thus far! We were promptly seated near the bar... all nice tables with the view of the river were taken at this point and it was very crowded, even for early dinner time. Anyway our server was excellent, she had great suggestions and was always on top of it. Meaning our wine glasses were never empty...she called herself jokingly as the inebriator. We started off with some appetizers, they were the shrimp and chorizo stuffed calamari with fried tentacles on the side. Man they were delicious! I wish there were more! I also had a taste of the arugula salad which was really good despite its simplicity. The dressing was out of this world, it was a sweet vinaigrette topped with a white sharp cheese. Yummy!!! For the entree, I decided to go with the tuna cooked ahi/rare style. This was delicious. It had shitake mushrooms and sat on a bed of black rice with carrots. The tuna was cooked on a wasabi glaze which made the tuna a little spicy but not overpowering, it actually had a tinge of sweetness to it. When they served this dish they actually poured some broth on the black rice, which gave the dish another dimension to it. It was absolutely delightful. I also had a taste of the rainbow trout with lobster succotash. This dish has some delicate, subtle flavors. Not always a fan of trout, but this was amazing as well. The salmon was perfectly cooked, it was nicely seared on top giving it this crusty texture, while maintaining uniform texture and taste in the actual "meat" oh so gooood!!! Probably the best salmon I ever had. I also had a taste of filet, which was also one of my favorites. It tasted beautifully!! This steak melted in my mouth. Probably one of the best steaks I've had....it ties with the Bistro 491 in Augusta. I would definitely come here for the steak, even though they specialize in seafood and game. Overall this place was outstanding. The attention you get form the staff was excellent. The atmosphere was nice, very romantic and classy without being pompous. I can't wait to go back!!! #365Yelp 30/365
(5)Kat in the House s.
What a disappointment! I had heard so much about this place from magazines to friends... I was very excited when my boss offered to take our small group there for her holiday gift. I ordered a mixed green salad that I can only describe as being prepared- dressing and all- a day or so before it was served to me. The leaves were a clumped, damp mess and very cold. Ice chips held them together. My entree was about the same- I ordered the grilled shrimp. I typically don't order seafood out unless I can see water from the restaurant's window but this was CANOE they are written up in every magazine in the south... The shrimp was dry, sponges and over cooked. Wow... I nodded politely when asked about the meal. If I hadn't been a guest and in front of coworkers, I would have gotten up and talked to the waiter one on one. I won't return to this over priced have to be seen in place...
(1)Melody M.
Canoe makes everything to order and they have a very clean flavor combination palate at this restaurant. Everything we ordered from the steamed mussels in creamy, bacon and leek broth to the rainbow trout with white beans and the rabbit were just perfectly blended in terms of flavoring. Not too sweet, not too savory and not too salty. I recommend the rabbit very very highly. We did not have dessert, but the menu looked delightful. Great wine selection. Great for outdoor dining along the water. We will be returning!
(5)Ray L.
I'd say a 4.5, so take the extra half star as tip. This is a great place for a nice dinner. It's sophisticated and upscale without being stuffy (not if you're hanging out with my group, anyway). From inside, there's a gorgeous view of a river out back. If the weather is nice, you can even sit out there on the patio, which extends almost all the way to the water. The service is superb. Our waiter was knowledgable, helpful and friendly. To start, they bring out a fancy basket of all kinds of bread. Nice and fresh. The crispy flatbread had a nice kick to it. We also ordered a few appetizers: Smoked Salmon on a Crispy Potato Cake: so delicious, great flavor on the salmon, potato cake was delicate. Shrimp Stuffed Calamari with Spanish Chorizo: good, but I would have preferred just a regular fried calamari. All that stuffing made it kind of soggy and the flavors were a little confused, I think. Jumbo Lump Crab Cake: I only had a bite, but seemed like a solid crab cake to me! Marinated Golden and Red Beet Salad with Whipped Vermont Goat's Cheese: really good and refreshing. The beets were fresh and goat cheese was very light. My entree: Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic The rabbit was slow-roasted perfection. It was so tender and delicate. Flavor was great. Portion was just right. The ravioli didn't do so much for me. The pasta was a little dense, maybe a little too firm. It was tame on flavor, but that was good because the rabbit was so flavorful. I think I would've preferred some kind of rice instead. Dessert: Caramel corn ice cream on top of some caramel corn. Need I say more? Self-explanatory concept and it was delicious. They give you a lot of ice cream too. I didn't finish it, despite wanting to.
(5)Autumn S.
I love brunch-it is hands down my favorite meal. So this review is for brunch only which Canoe excels at, executing breakfast and lunch-y standards with its own little twists. It doesn't hurt that outdoor sitting is available in a quasi-bucolic setting (I can't think of very many places with lake/riverside dining close to ATL). So...my favorite part of brunch (and the best bang for you buck in my opinion) at Canoe are the appetizers. Crab bisque with sherry and the warm, sticky rolls glazed with yummy, butterscotchy- caramel are a great way to start a Sunday morning. Followed by the smoked salmon on potato cakes with goat cheese and capers-you pretty much have a complete meal right there. If you have enough room for entree's, I'm an Eggs Benedict girl and I love the citrus hollandaise sauce they use in their dish. I would stay away from the chicken and grits dish-its pretty blah. Now, you should be completely stuffed (and you already had dessert with the sticky buns) so lounge around the park-like setting and relax while you savor your meal.
(4)Valerie S.
This is easily in the top five restaurants I've ever eaten at in my life. We had lunch here while on vacation from Chicago. The outdoor patio is amazing. The service was perfect-they even give you fresh silverware between each course. The best thing of all, of course, was the food. We tried the salmon appetizer, soup (I believe a clam chowder with sweet potato) and the fish sandwich. All items were incredible. When done we took a little walk around their mini botanical gardens by the river. If I lived here I would be a regular!
(5)Michael K.
One of the best restaurants youll find in ATL, or anywhere else. Great farm to table concept with excellent seasonal menus. Go to place for my fiance and I!
(5)Megan E.
We went to this place for a winter meal in December and enjoyed it very much. Quiet, good food, and quick service. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we decided to hold our wedding there the following May. We had great service from them, the cost was reasonable, the food good and when it rained, they were able to move the whole group into a tent with no issues so our wedding wasn't ruined. Bonus for us: when they ran out of appetizers before we were able to get out of the greeting line, they brought more just for my husband and me! The biggest problem we had was that, when designing our wedding cake (part of the package, we didn't want to pay more), we sent several designs that were rejected, but they couldn't tell us why so we went through 5-6 iterations before finally picking a very simple version, no flowers or anything, and when we got there, the colors weren't exactly right. So you may want to consider hiring out if you care about your cake a great deal - we didn't and a little photoshopping fixed the colors for posterity ;-) Even though it's in a strip mall, this place is worth a shot for a special occasion and they do events and dinner equally well.
(5)Becca D.
Amazing! My boyfriend took me here for my birthday and we couldn't have had a better meal or experience. We sat outside and the garden atmosphere and view of the river is wonderful. The inside looked perfectly nice and romantic, but their outdoor seating was truly a highlight. It's a dressy place, but I promise it doesn't give off a pretentious vibe. The staff was friendly and informed. They were happy to make food and wine recommendations in detail. Since it was our first time here, our waitress took the time to tell us about some of their most popular features and her favorites, I never felt rushed. We ordered a bottle of wine, two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts. Not one thing we ate was sub-par. The portions are normal, nothing too small but nothing was egregiously large. If your bread obsessed like me, you'll be in heaven when the bread man comes around with several bread choices on his tray for you to indulge. It seemed like a lot of guests around us were also celebrating special occasions. The staff must've been used to it because they were sure to recognize what we were celebrating and I saw them taking a few pictures for their tables. Definitely make a reservation. We'll be back when we're ready to splurge and/or celebrate!
(5)Olivia H.
Everytime I come here, everything is outstanding. Every meal is memorable. Servers are always helpful and knowledgeable. I try to come here to celebrate events, wish I could eat here more often!
(5)Robert M.
Canoe is a beautiful venue. The problem is, the food is super pricey, and it's not that good. If your standard is Outback Steakhouse, this is an upgrade in both price and quality. Otherwise, there are much better meals in Atlanta at a similar price point. Try Chops or Bones or Capital Grille. If you want to experience the setting, come here for some cocktails and appetizers and have dinner elsewhere. The food sounds great on the menu, but the quality is not that good. My New York Strip was tough, I could have done better at Kroger. And the service was super-slow. Again beautiful venue, worth a visit once on a date. But don't expect too much from the menu.
(2)Jinny Y.
Shrimp stuffed calamari - 3 stars. I liked the fried calamari legs more than the grilled stuffed calamari rings. The sauce that came with the appetizer was good. New York strip with mashed potatoes and broccoli rabe - 3 stars. Not the best NY strip I've had, but it was cooked well not over cooked not under cooked. You could taste the hickory in each bite which was nice. It just wasn't super flavorful... truthfully I like the NY strip my husband grills better. Also, I now know that I'm not a fan of broccoli rabe. I don't like the bitterness. The mashed potatoes were good. The special for the night was a miso/soy marinated black cod pan fried with veggies. - 4 stars. This was really good. Two people in our group got it and it was yum! Desserts: Chocolate grotto with hazelnut mousse? salted caramel filling and pretzel dust. our waitress described this as a flourless chocolate cake with caramel and mousse filling covered in a hard dark chocolate shell. However, she failed to mention that the "cake" was a milimeter thick, so I was disappointed. More my fault for assuming it was a cakey dessert than hers. Creme brûlée trio - 5 stars!! So good! The creme brulee came in 3 small bowls: Almond, pistachio, and hazelnut. You could distinctly taste the different flavors and they all tasted natural, not some artificial flavoring. Soo good! I would come back just for this dessert. =) Our waitress was June. She was really nice, kind of quirky, but fun. =)
(4)Kelly C.
This culinary gem hidden in the woods. It was years ago, the last time I ate there but I think about it all the time. The menu was small and yet I had a hard time deciding what would be the most delicious when I knew it all would be. I wonder what I'll try next time...
(5)Tiffany H.
I love this place! Romance, Romance Romance.....The outdoor dining experience is outstanding. You can enjoy a nice stroll through the garden while awaiting your meal or enjoy a drink...The ribeye and wasabi potatoes are my favorite...
(5)Dina C.
I went for brunch and it was an enjoyable experience overall. The atmosphere is very nice although infused with lots of testosterone flair. The sample basket of scones and pecan rolls was a pure treat. The appetizer of the potato pancake topped with smoked salmon and chives was just stellar. I ordered a traditional breakfast of eggs, applewood smoked bacon, potatoes, and french toast. The service was excellent. The potatoes were tiny, diced, and deep fried...not impressed. I like to think that they were fresh, but they looked like something that would go into a deep fryer from a frozen "diced hashbrowns" bag. They also topped the bowl of eggs and bacon with the french toast and berries...very strange. French toast with berries should not be placed on top of eggs, potatoes, and bacon. A significant portion of my eggs had berry drippings on them....berry eggs. They should plate the french toast on a separate plate and provide maple syrup as the bread was rather dry. I will say that Canoe is a nice place to take Grandma and out of towners for a special occasion brunch.
(3)Sangeetha I.
First things first, get June as a waitress. She's fantastic! Next..go get drinks by the bar on the river before your meal. Sitting on the adirondack chairs and sipping a Southern cocktail creation looking at the river...quite priceless. Lastly, if you can, get a table that faces the water enveloped in the famous Atlanta foliage....because let's face it...the restaurant is gorgeous but the water...that's just pristine. Based on the fact that Canoe offers rather upscale Southern riverside eating, I took my college roommates here on a recent visit they had made to Atlanta. Two of us are vegetarian, one is an omnivore. Canoe has no vegetarian menu but they offer 3 selections for vegetarian entrees: 1. a vegetable plate made with your choice of sides (3 I think), 2. a vegetable plate made at the whim of the chef and 3. a vegetable pasta. Nothing too interesting but when I came here, I came for the experience and not really their food. I ordered the vegetable plate that was to be made at the whims and fancies of the chef. Usually, veggie plates are obligatory offerings made at meat-centric restaurants that reflect the listlessness of the restaurateur's disdain for a vegetarian. Not so at Canoe. That plate was bursting with at least 5 different sides meshed together in perfect harmony. There was a tangy cabbage-like slaw, crisp green beans, smooth potatoes and a few other vegetable that really were delicious. My vegetarian friend ordered the pasta dish which was chockful of fresh veggies and al dente pasta. Yum! My other friend ordered a crusted fish dish of some sort and cooed in exhilaration as she took each delicious bite. We shared a beet and goat dish appetizer which was fresh, beautifully presented and quite excellent! The dessert blueberry tart was a little un-overwhelming but the sorbet trio more than made up for that little snafu. Each entree is upwards of $20 and appetizers are around $10. I highly recommend this place to anyone who values primo service and quality food baked in a gorgeous setting. Also, I very much appreciate Canoe's sensitivity to various dietary needs.
(5)Beavan B.
Incredibly overdue review, so I'm going to keep it short, had an insanely good experience there, the staff was attentive, helpful and just really helped to make a dinner for two there into an even more special occasion than it already was. Our server was Leah, she was GREAT, she was incredibly friendly and had wonderful suggestions! definitely check this place out, and if they have it, GET THE POPCORN ICECREAM! It'll make you see heaven.
(5)Naz G.
this restaurant not only has great food and customer service, it has a breathtaking view. we came to this romantic restaurant for brunch and it is truly a beautiful place. We ordered the arugula salad with spicy walnuts, the cornbread pancake, a small basket of the scones, crab soup, and their trout dish that was not in their menu. Each one of the dishes were spectacular. I loved how fresh their fruits were and how they make everything there themselves including all of their sauces, breads, etc. They have great customer service. I wish I had more room to try more stuff on their menu, but hopefully I will go back to this place very soon. The table next to us had ordered truffle fries and it looked and smelled delicious. I loved everything about this restaurant. It is a very relaxing, beautiful, sophisticated restaurant with amazing food and customer service. I can't wait to try their desert and their dinner menu next time.
(5)Jorge O.
Easily my favorite restaurant in Atlanta. The food here is always top notch as well as the service. My (now) wife and I enjoy it so much that we had our wedding reception there in September which was a great experience not just for us but for our guests as well. The food for the reception was very highly received and is definitely not your average wedding fair which you normally see to be dried out or overcooked. Everything we were served from the hors d'ouevers to the sit down dinner was fantastic and one of the things speak most about our reception besides the great locale. As for the restaurant, I can't speak highly enough about them. The service you get is worth the dollar you pay. I haven't had one bad experience with any server, they are prompt, knowledgeable of the menu and drinks. Some of my favorite things to get are the cheese plate as an appetizer, the oysters and usually my wife and I will split some small plates but if not then I'll go for the short rib which is phenomenal. Also, I could go there and fill up on their olive loaf alone (and I hate black olives). Eat here if you have the chance, I've been to most of Atlanta's "Top 50" restaurants and this is at the top of the list.
(5)Bonifacia B.
I really like the ambiance of this restaurant outside; the garden is so cute and cozy. I found that the appetizers and table breads were much more nice then the entrees itself. I would love to come back and sit right on the riverbed.
(4)Tony G.
This was my second visit to canoe. The first visit was great food was good and service was prompt. Which was the main reason we decided to go back. But that was a huge mistake. This place like many over hyped restaurants in atlanta lacks consistency. Have people forgot about that? The crab cake is good but a bit too salty this time around. I think it was the slaw that was a bit salty. The duck pastrami was harder to eat than I remember form last time. The smoked salmon was good but the potato cake was the best part of the dish. Rabbit was amazing last time I had it. So I suggested to my friend. This time around it was tough and the ravioli was totally overcooked. I was so embarrassed. I tried the duck and beef burger this time and it was good and juicy but had no wow factor or uniqueness I have had better burgers at flip for half the price. Our other friend a ordered the New York strip which she thought was too garlicky and the steak was not medium like she wanted and was too bloody. Last time I had the German chocolate mousse with coconut nougat and it was extraordinary. This time around I had the vanilla poached pear with ginger rice pudding and it was awful the pear had no flavor and there was too much ginger to taste anything else. It was almost like they made a mistake or they would have had several complaints about the strong ginger. My friend had the chocolate gratto and thought the pool of caramel was not appetizing and the chocolate ball was too hard to break gracefully. Over all I must say I won't be back. I go to such highly rated places for consistency and sometimes want to have the same dish again like rabbit since It was delicious last time. But this place is overhyped and way too expensive to hope that you may have a good meal. Please do yourself a favor and go some place else where you know the food is going to be great as always. Sotto, The Spence , Aria and rathbun are hands down my top choices in atlanta.
(2)Keitha D.
Sunday's are perfect for brunch so I decided to try Canoe today. Oh my wow! I hadn't made reservations so once arriving we had to sit at the bar as there was no seating. But it was still great! The bar staff was extremely nice and personable and made menu recommendations that were awesome, they also had our drinks ready at exactly 12:30 once it was legal to serve them. We ordered the sticky buns to share and each had a bowl of the she-crab soup. First of all I wanted to bathe in the sticky bun glaze it was so good. Omg! The soup was delicious as well however didn't stand out among a city of great she-crab soup options. I was so full at that point I didn't order an entree but my date had the duck beef burger and it looked amazing! He said it was delicious and would definitely have it again. Overall I loved the place. The scenery was great too. Very picturesque. We sat so long we didn't realize they had closed! I will definitely be back!
(5)Lucy W.
Absolutely delicious. App: Smoked salmon with dill & goat cheese creme fraiche on crispy potato and onion cakes- bursting with flavors and completely scrumptious. Entree: Fresh papparadelle-like (thin wide ribbons) of pasta tossed in light cream primavera sauce with fresh peas, beans, baby asparagus, mushroom slivers and shaved parmesean. Hearty yet light & smooth at the same time. Decadent dessert of a dark chocolate dome, with chocolate, caramel and crushed hazelnuts inside. So yummy and my favorite part of the meal. I tasted my friends' meals too- the silver queen corn soup was so full of flavor, the truffles fries that came with the duck beef burger was perfectly crisp and truffley, and the caramel popcorn ice cream wwere great complements with each other...what a great idea! The restaurant is gorgeous- giant windows of the patio overlook the Chattahoochie River, beautiful landscaping, upscale but still cozy and comfortable ambiance. Servers were attentive but not overbearing, friendly and answered all questions that we had about the menu. Glad I got to finally try Canoe!
(5)Christa L.
Inventive and well executed menu. Friendly, knowledgeable wait staff. Crazy fun dessert selection. Perfect setting. Magical bread basket. You won't be disappointed. The smoked salmon and potato pancake appetizer is pitch perfect...as is the trout. Ask for Justin, exceptional service.
(5)Jane B.
This place never falls short. From the moment you walk in the door they take great care of you. I took my grandparents for brunch. They loved it, I loved it. Really, Really, a great place to go and know your going to have a great time. Hope was our waitress. She was so knowledgeable and really helped us have a good time. Thank you!!!
(5)Ashley E.
Me and a couple girlfriends went here for a birthday brunch and it was well worth the drive from Midtown. The food and the service was on par and the ambiance was upscale but still homey, if you can believe that. This is definitely where the Vinings clique goes, but I'm a cameleon, I can blend in. No rachet talk here! We had the cinnamon bun appetizer and it was perfect. The texture, the sweetness, and the fruit--perfecto. For my entree I ordered the bacon and egg scrambler. It was good, but I tasted my friend's friend green tomato eggs benedict and wish I would have gotten that. The basil hollandaise made me weak in the knees.
(4)LRenee H.
We (myself, my boss and some co workers) went to Canoe last night for dinner..there was 6 of us total and even though we didn't have a reservation, they accommodated us very quickly. From the start, the service was top notch and the waiter always addressed my boss by her last name. He also told us a very funny story about his mother and brother lol. To start, we had the smoked salmon, calamari and crab cakes and they were all great. For dinner, I had the steak which was pefect and didn't even need steak sauce as the sauce that was on top of it and on the plate was fantastic. One of my co workers had the chicken and she said it was moist and delicious. The rest of the diners had the trout and they raved about it. Because of where I was sitting, I could see our waiter checking on us numerous times from afar and always came over at the right time to refill drinks, etc. For dessert, we had the sundae and strawberry short cake and they were both excellent. You cannot beat the view and at one point there was even a rainbow outside of our window. It was a great dinner at a great place. I am looking forward to returning.
(4)Jina M.
Don't know what's so great about this place besides the location and the atmosphere of the restaurant. As far as service, our server did not come off too friendly and she just came on a little off towards us...I don't know why I got that feeling but yea. Anyways....took my husband here for his birthday.... We ordered the mussels and crab cake for the app. The mussels were really salty and creamy ...I didn't like. It lacked true flavor. The crab cake wasn't anything to rave about it...it didn't have much flavor either and I was disappointed it didn't come with any dipping sauce..just fried crab cake. I ordered the scallops...which I thought was also really salty and a little too undercooked for my taste. It wasn't that great. I ate 1 scallop and couldn't eat any more. My husband ordered the rabbit. I didn't try it but he did say it was really good. He also ordered duck to go which he said that was also really good. But I don't eat either of those ...so I couldn't say. The portions are super small...which is no surprise. Not impressed with the food. I was disappointed that our server brought like 3 tables around us dessert with a candle on it...but she didn't bring us anything...I guess we have to order a dessert? I don't know....but she said happy birthday about 3 times before and after bringing us the check. That's lame when an overpriced fancy restaurant can't just bring out a little something for birthday celebration guests. Anyway, don't think I'll be coming back here.
(2)Amy G.
Overpriced for what it is. Great ambiance, awesome location, good service but the food was just 'meh'. We went for brunch and I had the recommended smoked salmon Benedict. It literally wasn't worth the calories and had very little flavor. Same review for the food of the other 4 in my party. I would definitely come for cocktails on the river but wouldn't bother eating here again.
(2)nava w.
My husband love this place I will say that the overall treatment is great. The view is great . Some of the dishes are grand names. We will come back for sure. Love the olive bread .
(5)Andrew E.
The best food and service I have ever encountered at any restaurant, hands down. Knowledgable, friendly staff. You can trust their recommendations! If you are going to spend this kind of money, you might as well get an experience like this!
(5)Jeff F.
If you're in the Vinings area, this place is a great call. First off, let's get service and atmopshere out of the way. Angela was perfect - helpful without being overbearing and there when you needed her. The atmosphere...well, I'm not going to do it any justice. Trust me - you'll like it. Here's the rundown on the grub: - Oysters - Wellfleet and some CT topped off with Cucumber Champagne Mignonette - Highly recommended, but the mignonette has a kick - Salmon ceviche - meh, completely underwhelming - Mussels were very good, but not mind blowing. Not sure why everyone raves about them...Maybe I just eat a lot mussels in different broths... - Pheasant - solid - Rabbit - exceptional - Cowboy rib eye - tasty - Dessert: Valhrona Chocolate & Salted Caramel Grotto with Pretzel Hazelnut Dust....Translation: One of the most memorable desserts I've had 4.5 stars, because some of the food was off, but the litmus test for rounding up is that I really want to go back next time I'm in town. Highly recommended if you're in the area. BTW - if you come here and don't try the pheasant or the rabbit, you're blowing it.
(5)Lorie D.
I dined here with visiting family and friends for dinner in summer of last year. It was actually my sister's birthday. The location and atmosphere were absolutely wonderful. Overall the food was good with great presentation. We had the canoe house smoked salmon as an appetizer which was very tasty and a few other appetizers which I cannot remember. For my meal I had the duck burger, someone else in our party had the rabbit, I found both quite good. The night turned a bit strange at dessert, after a few appetizers, dinner and drinks I was stuffed, but 4 of our party of 7 decided to order dessert. At that point I took it upon myself to ask our server if they did anything "special" for birthdays, the server gave an assuring yes and wink stating that she would "take care of it". With that I expected a complimentary dessert or something "special" for the my sister (the birthday person). As the desserts arrived my sister received a dessert with Happy Birthday in chocolate syrup and whip cream added. We were all wowed and waiting for all desserts to arrive before eating. After several minutes my brother in law still had not recieved his dessert, we then realized and confirmed with the server the "special" dessert given to my sister for her birthday was actually the dessert my brother in law had ordered for himself! lol Instead of a complimentary dessert, they took his dessert (without his knowledge or permission) wrote happy birthday in chocolate syrup and whipped cream and gave it to my sister...on purpose. Why would any restaurant take a dessert ordered by one patron, ruin it with chocolate syrup and whip cream and pass it off as "special" for another patron? It was ridiculous to the point of total hilarity. I think it would have been fitting for the server to at least disclose of such an arrangement so an extra dessert could have been ordered for my sister. I found it shocking, bordering on insulting. Completely unexpected that a classy place of this caliber would have such a ghetto tactic in place but it made us laugh really hard :-) But for this faux pas I would have rated a 5.
(3)Nana M.
Very nice atmosphere and helpful servers with great suggestions. Had their rabbit dish and scallops dish which were both excellent. The popcorn ice cream was good but a little too much, as it came in a pretty large portion and I was already quite full by then.
(5)Melissa H.
Oh, Canoe. My parents are visiting from out of town, and I was so excited to take them to see you. Why did you let me down? We had reservations for tonight (a Saturday) at 8:00 PM. They were completely slammed, and our table wasn't ready right away. That was fine. We walked out back to the river bar and got some drinks. My parents really enjoyed looking at the river. So we get to the table a little after eight. The service was rushed and slow at the same time. Every single step of the meal took forever. We waited ages for water. Ages for our waiter to take our appetizer order. Ages and ages for him to come back and take our entrée order. Excruciatingly long for the food to arrive... just sooo much waiting! By the time he came back to ask if we wanted dessert, I was ready to bolt. Then he made us wait even further because he didn't pay attention to our response, which was that we didn't want dessert. He brought us menus anyway and darted off, so we waited even MORE for him to come back so we could get the check! I feel so conflicted. On the one hand, it's not our waiter's fault the place was crowded. I really do think he was doing his best and he was just overwhelmed. Maybe someone called out sick? Who knows. But in the end it is my experience which matters most. And I was most displeased. Everyone except me loved their food, so that was the saving grace. My father ordered a pecan-crusted fish, my mother had lamb chops, my husband had pork tenderloin (the special of the day) and I had the chili-glazed duck breast. I ordered the duck medium. It was verging on rare. I've had duck before, but not like this. So I don't know whether it's my own lack of experience, but I did not enjoy it. It was far too rare for me. I'm just so disappointed. As you can see from my initial review, I had an absolutely fabulous night the first time around. If I return to Canoe in the future, it will be on a weeknight. I don't think you could drag me back on a Saturday even if you paid!
(3)Chris H.
It really does not get much better than this. The atmosphere, food, and service all for a descent price! We started outside at the awesome river front bar with some live music playing. The bartender was very friendly and more than willing to tell us about the history of the place as well as about the flood from last year. Once we were inside, the server was just as friendly and infomative. Told me details (that only a foodie like myself would care about) on how the meals were prepared. So I took the servers advice and went for what they are best known for. Appatizer I got the Smoked Salmon with goat cheese. It was so good it gave me goose bumps. And for dinner I tried the rabbit. Can't remember if I ever had rabbit before so I gave it a shot. It was awesome as well. We had a bottle of great wine and after we were done our bill was almost half of what I end up paying at other high end places. Stop reading about it and go!!
(5)Chris S.
Great, upscale place for brunch. We got the sticky buns, scones, and smoked salmon to start. I got the Riverside - eggs, bacon, french toast, for my main meal. Everything, including the service, was excellent.
(5)Miggy F.
Amazing lamb and salmon!
(5)Tasha A.
Fantabulous...yes folks, I said fantabulous! The boyfriend and I went to Canoe for his birthday dinner date. I wasn't expecting it to be in the middle of nowhere, but honestly, it was way in BFE (to us) lol! We arrived & had the car parked by valet. We were just in time for our reservation, but were asked to wait while the table was cleaned. While we waited, we went to the bar & had a few drinks. The wine list is great, every wine enthusiast will find something they either like or would like to try. 5 stars for ambiance. Since we were a party of 2, we were seated in a booth. The lighting set the mood perfectly for our date night. Let's talk food! For a starter I ordered the crab cake, absolutely delicious btw, I was impressed! The boyfriend had the artisan cheese salad which he absolutely loved. For our meal, I went with the Jerked Berkshire Pork Tenderloin & him the Gulf Red Snapper. The pork tenderloin was super super tender & extremely flavorful. What surprised me was that after a few bites, the seasoning on the pork tenderloin started out quite sweet, but ended with a kick. I LOVED it! The entire staff at Canoe was friendly from start to finish; we couldn't have asked for better service! Canoe was pretty impressive, it tops my list of awesome places to eat in Atlanta!
(5)Eliza B.
When I used to live in the Vinings I always wanted to visit Canoe but never really made it around to going, so when my brother and I were in town recently we were driving by and I knew I had to stop in. I didn't really know what to expect because I've never actually read any reviews, I just lived so close and it looked like such a neat establishment. The ambiance is oh so romantic! ( I'd rather have been there with my boyfriend, but hey I love my brother too and we could appreciate the stunning Chattahoochee river seating nonetheless.) The server recommended the rabbit entree and the mussels appetizer and I can't tell you the amount of times I've taken a server's recommendation, only to regret it once the meal arrives, but he absolutely nailed it! The chef created a work of art in their ability to turn my gamey entree into pure elegance. Awe inspiring atmosphere, a staff who almost literally knows what you want and need before you even have to ask while catering to your every whim, and exceptional cuisine. I'm glad I finally stopped in!
(4)R B.
Exquisite Brunch! The Server went above and beyond. Even with members of our party arriving late. They accomodated us. If you would like to alter the menu (which is not something I do), they'll ask the chef, who usually will ablige. I will definately return in the near future.
(5)Sarah F.
One of my favorite places hands down. Food is always amazing they have the best desserts which I have found lacking many places these days. Every time I have been here I just really loved my experience. Consistently good , service is always great and wonderful atmosphere. Perfect for a romantic date night.
(5)Michael F.
Everything about Canoe is what an upscale restaurant should be. From the tasteful and comfortable decor to the expertly prepared and reasonably priced drink menu. I have yet to try a single item from this menu that wasn't excellent. This is what a restaurant looks like when the staff has their heart is serving others and succeeding in business. Kudos!
(5)Joanna G.
I was surprised to find that a restaurant as lauded as this one was essentially the tail-end of a strip mall, but as soon as you step inside, it's quite obvious that you've stepped into another realm. This restaurant uses a model that is becoming more popular (seasonal, local, sustainable), but their execution is top-notch. It's one thing to have a server tell you that a restaurant cold smokes their own salmon in-house for three days with a variety of spices, it's something else to have to restrain yourself from shoveling that salmon on a potato pancake into your face hole because OHMYGODITISSODELICIOUS. Heracles Strengths: From the moment we set foot through the door, Canoe offered excellent service. The food is amazing, but again, the experience is what really put this place over the top. My date was quite enthusiastic about his shrimp-stuffed calamari with Spanish chorizo, which thankfully kept his fork from straying too often towards my own appetizer of the aforementioned smoked salmon. He also ordered the trout with salmon tortellini and blue crab béchamel, which again, kept him happy and me from being forced to stab him so that only I might eat all of my rabbit with bacon ravioli. Try the chocolate grotto for dessert. I was a little wary initially, thinking it might just be another chocolate/sweet/salty dessert, but I could not have been more mistaken. It has a delicious balance from the rich chocolate and the light mousse. Aphrodite Factor: TOTALLY a great date night spot. This is definitely an upscale place, so you don't have to worry about a toddler throwing cheerios at you while you're trying to talk. Hermes Rating: Pacing is everything with a menu like theirs. We spent about 2 hours enjoying our appetizers, entrees and desserts. Nothing felt rushed, and we had plenty of time to enjoy each course. Refills were quick, but not such that you felt like someone was constantly hovering the instant you took a sip. Achilles Heel: They have valet? Yes, I know that's not a question, but I really cannot think of any negatives about this experience so I am forced to use a question mark to reflect the change in tone for my internal dialogue when attempting to find a flaw with this place. It doesn't bother me, but I have friends who find nothing more annoying than being forced into valet service. Libations: EXCELLENT cocktails here. I had the zenzero, which was pleasantly spicy and sweet, without being too overpowering. Very reminiscent of cocktails I've had at Holeman and Finch. For a second drink I had the Moscow Mule, also delicious, made from ginger beer and vodka. Both of my drinks were ginger-based, but very different from each other. There's an extensive wine and beer selection as well, for those of you who don't like the hard stuff. Offering: I hate saying a place is "expensive" because it makes it sound like it wasn't worth it. Is Canoe more expensive than Captain D's seafood? Yes (duh). Is this place overpriced? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
(5)Natalya S.
I went here for brunch and it was delicious! I ordered the Salmon eggs benedict with the citrus hollandaise sauce, as well as the sticky buns (amazing!) and scones. All the options on the menu sounded good as well. Our waiter was very friendly and had just the right balance of checking in on us without being overwhelming. The ambiance inside the place is nice, but it is the outside that is particularly pretty (and I don't mean the entrance which is underwhelming since it is in a plaza). There is parking valet service, but that seemed unnecessary. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience there and look forward to returning next time I am in Atlanta.
(4)Charles G.
Okay, I'm sure many of you Atlanta elite will scoff at my backwoods Alabama mentality, but my wife and I are definitely in love with this restaurant! We come to Atlanta fairly frequently for my wife to get her hair done or just to stock up at H-Mart with Korean goods we can't get at local Korean markets, and each time we try to find at least one new good place to add to our favorites. This time we are here for my wife's birthday, and while I was pretty in love with the idea of going to Pampas or a Brazilian BBQ place (haven't been to one since I lived in China... odd, I know!), she got to pick because it was her day. I was not thrilled with the menu when I saw it at first, mostly because I had dreams of whole herds being slaughtered for my culinary enjoyment, but once we arrived I warmed up to it. The service was excellent. Our waiter knew our names when we arrived due to our reservation, which was odd at first but definitely added an element we had never had before in being made to feel like they had been expecting us and were glad we were there. The waiter knew his menu well, not just for the food but for the drinks as well. I'm just delving into this world, so I'm open to and often in need of guidance. I told him what I like and he came up quickly with something he thought was similar but better. I didn't agree that it was better, but it was good and I enjoyed trying something I had no access to in Huntsville. For an appetizer, we had the smoked salmon on the potato cakes. I don't normally care much for smoked salmon, but this was prepared excellently and was absolutely delicious! The flavors balanced each other very well. My wife had the trout and I had the New York strip for our entrees. I was all on board with the rabbit until he mentioned the beef was a much larger portion, and since I had foregone lunch in anticipation of good food I went big. Next time I'm definitely getting the rabbit! Anyway, my steak was cooked perfectly to medium as requested. The mashed potatoes and broccoli rabe were great as well, and the bitter was a welcome taste to balance out the savory steak and creamy potatoes. The trout was not my favorite, but my wife thoroughly enjoyed it. We were both surprised that it was a red fish because we are accustomed to white fish trout, and when we discovered it was slightly undercooked we didn't even have to tell the waiter because he had noticed it when walking by. He apologized and sent it back, and for the first time ever in my dining experience it came back perfect. Normally they end up overcooked or ruined, but they did a great job saving this cut! We didn't ask for or get any discount for this error, but since it was remedied we were more than okay with the apology of the waiter. For dessert we listened to the waiter and got the cracker jack ice cream. I don't normally care for salty sweet, and I'm not particularly fond of cracker jack, but hearing the whole process explained from start to finish and knowing that it was all made in house I was convinced. It was one of the best desserts we've ever shared. This is of particular significance since my wife hates ice cream, but ate almost half of the ice cream in the cup! All in all, this is a great restaurant! The ambiance is very nice with low lighting and lots of decorative wrought iron work and, of course, the obligatory canoes and paddles that fit the name. It appeared that on one side of the restaurant there may have been a view of a creek of some sort, but due to my wife's love of booths we were too far away to see what was out there. It also appeared there was outdoor seating for those who love a fine misting of pollen for those lovely spring evenings, but even as indooraholics, it did look quite inviting.
(5)Errol G.
The waiter we had made it all come together, starting with a great welcome and an excellent explanation of what we could do to change things a bit on certain items. The wine list is good with a nice selection of single servings. The bread selection was also very good. For starters I really enjoyed the calamari, and the beet salad was second best. The rabbit is amazing, and the duck wasn't far behind. That chocolate grotto was the crowning glory. If I wasn't so full I would have had a couple. The wait staff were very attentive and made sure that we had everything we needed without being intrusive. The only thing that really pissed me off was that I hadn't read the reviews and my son didn't tell me about the outdoor section. What an incredible place to sit and enjoy a glass of something and a great stogie. We ran out of time but next time, I know how to do it. And there will be a next time
(5)Josette D.
It was a Birthday meal and, I'm sorry, there is just something about the entire staff wishing you a Happy Birthday without prompting! This foodie was impressed - I ordered the special Rabbit Confit over sweet potato ravioli in a beurre blanc - Yeah it was THAT good. Portions weren't large but in ordering an appetizer, entree and shared desert, I wasn't stuffed! I was perfectly comfortable taking an after dinner walk by the river. What can I say? It was thunder storming! Sit on the patio during a thunder storm, it's uber romantic while you enjoy the humming birds were at their feeders... yeah, humming birds!
(5)Laura F.
Amazing!!! I went here for my birthday, and loved everything about it!
(5)Mandy L.
I absolutely LOVE this place, and after trying many restaurants and knowing the best ones, I can confidently say this really is the best one in Atlanta. I love the location on the river, the herb garden, the elegant romantic atmosphere, the menu....and going there for Sunday brunch is sooo good. It's so good that when my Grandmother visited my spouse and I took her there. I also appreciate that the chef is responsible with her food, creating things that are balanced AND delicious. I also love that they change the menu with the seasons, using seasonal ingredients, and they also change up the dessert menu a bit. We went for the first time during an anniversary vacation to Atlanta and fell in love with it. We found out about it by looking at area restaurants on the trip advisor website. We usually reserve a table on OpenTable for the points.
(5)Adam M.
Perfection in Atlanta. You don't find it often, and when you do, you return.
(5)Jarrett P.
excellent. Food was amazing. Service was great. Comfortable atmosphere.
(5)Marnie R.
This is my all time favorite restaurant in Atlanta. Incredible setting on the Chattahoochee, impeccable service, warm welcoming atmosphere, and wonderful menu. It is clear from the moment you walk in the door that this is a very special place - not just a restaurant but a sensational experience. This is a perfect setting for life events such as engagement, birthday, anniversary, celebration, or just a unique evening out with a date, friends or family. Highly recommended.
(5)Akiko I.
I think it's more like 3.5 stars... So when I went back to ATL for few days, we decided to try this place because my best friend heard good things about this place and the rating on Yelp. The location is really interesting. It's about 10miles away from Emory U in a very quaint area of ATL. Since we went for dinner, it was too dark to see the river but I'm sure the view would have been really beautiful during the day. The interior of the restaurant is very spacious and has a very lovely ambiance. Very spacious and cozy but classy. We were there a little early so we had some cocktails at the bar to pass the time. They seated us promptly soon after. * Shrimp stuffed calamari = umm....not all that like we expected. It was pretty bland and nothing special. * Canoe's house smoked salmon = this was delicious. all of us loved it. * Rabbit = our least favorite. It sounded interesting so we ordered it but it was just like a regular chicken with very heavy sweet sauce. Not so appetizing. * Duck = this was my favorite but my husband and my bff both thought it was just soso. I thought it was very tender with right amount of flavor, not gamy. * Lamb = 2/3 loved this dish. I personally thought it was soso. Just ordinary lamb dish to me. We had some cocktails...all of them were delicious but there was one cocktail that was just purely delish! The bad thing is I don't remember the name... It was a smoggy pink cocktail...I'll try to find out the name from my bff... * Service = very good * Price = average * Location = very nice * Ambiance = wonderful * Food = interesting but soso
(4)Dan H.
I adore Canoe. I've been here a dozen times, and each time - it's been a treat. The food has never failed to impress me and the waitstaff has been the benchmark against which all others should be measured. My only complaint is that it can get loud in there. If you're looking for a quiet, intimate setting for dinner - you may want to look to the patio, or elsewhere, because you're not going to find it inside.
(4)H. M.
Fabulous, local, very very tasty. I love that they have a garden and include fresh ingredients as much as possible. It is such a pleasant and wonderful surprise on the north side of Atlanta. The service is fabulous and they REMEMBER you from previous visits. Just fabulous, just go.
(5)Mimi T.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta. Everyone is very nice that works here and are very accomodating if you need to make any dietary changes to the menu options. The atmosphere is AMAZING! I highly suggest you come early when its light outside to walk the grounds and have a cocktail on the stacked stone bar near the water. Then you can go enjoy the wonderful food that is about to enter your body. Guys if you are trying to impress a lady, you need to come here but make sure you walk outside first and make it romantic. Also make sure the girl is not a vegan or grossed out by different meats as it has many amazing dishes (i.e. pheasant, duck, lamb, etc.) that they might not like. HIGHLY RECOMMEND: Warm artisan cheese salad as appetizer and rabbit entree.
(5)Tina R.
I've only been for brunch and it was terrific each time. Seat outside if possible, its beautiful to see the river. Go with friends willing to share so you can try lots of different treats. All the salmon dished are great. If they are serving the popcorn ice cream, save room. Great service too. Skip the creme brulees, not worth it.
(4)Lydia L.
Fantastic. Both times. Service here is impeccable. The brand new outside patio area near the river is gorgeous. The first time I went here it was for New Years Eve, and I was terribly ill. Sad. I know. Yet, I still thought the food was delicious. The real review: Came back to give it a shot while I was in good health. I was NOT disappointed. Started out with the beet/goat cheese appetizer with basil oil and little pieces of basil on top [note: I love basil], and it was great. Scrape the plate with your fork great. Also got the smoked salmon on potato cake appetizer. Those were quickly demolished. Entrees: Sole, Salmon, and Cod? That's a lot of fish. Done well. Drinks: Martini specials. Dessert: Chocolate and Salted caramel grotto. Great meal.
(5)Jaz R.
I'd been hearing about Canoe and finally got to go-- I am so glad I did. The waiter said "if you're thinking about getting the rabbit, get the rabbit.' He was right. I'm not much for gamey flavor (don't care for vennison, turkey, pork), but the rabbit was so well done, cooked and prepared to perfection. The drinks were impeccable, and the dessert-- Now, I'm not a dessert person, don't really like sweets, but I am a big fan of lavender. They had a lavender ice cream over pound cake au poivre. I was shocked, au poivre? Peppercorn encrusted/interspersed pound cake? You must be joking. The waiter again advised me to go for it and it was one of the best desserts I've ever had. The lavender ice cream was superb and as it melted into the pepperred pound cake the flavours mixed to create an exquisite experience. The location overlooking the water and the beautiful gardens are wonderful additives to the Canoe experience. The wait staff is friendly, knowledgeable and professional, and allowed us to walk around the gardens in between dinner and dessert. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)Art V.
Hosted a business dinner. Bar waitress delivered our drinks and vanished. We got up and returned to the hostess so as to be taken to our table. Asked for our tab to be carried fwd. For some ridiculous reason they sat us (2 men) at a banquet built for 4. Either we scooted together and look like lovers or sit far apart and shout out our conversation. We chose the latter. Very nice waitress. Each course of food was delivered by a different food runner. Lamb rib appetizer was a fat-fest. My guest had to continually expel chunks of gooey fat from his mouth. I had very good oysters served with a stupid amount of useless garnish. I had to remove the garnish to make eye contact with my guest. My entree of Cod was good- but served over too much soggy panzanella salad. Guest's rabbit was ok- but the ravioli beneath the rabbit were very good. Highlight of the meal was the cobbler dessert. The creme brulee was way overcooked and had the consistency of jello pudding. Poor quality tea. 2 bags of english breakfast couldn't produce a decent cup.
(2)Nona Y.
Love this place, great service and atmosphere. The river bar is amazing at dusk in the summer. Great great restaurant. Try the rabbit.
(5)Mark J.
The food and the staff here are top notch. Suggest a table outside and enjoy the view of the river and the gardens.
(5)Jane A.
The food here is excellent. I had the salmon. I forgot my server's name but she was wonderful as well as everyone else that I spoke with there. I'd definately come here again. I had a Manhattan after dinner. It was the bomb.com
(5)Ferdinand H.
I've been here twice now, and I've enjoyed each visit. Given the high marks, everyone else seems to give, I expected at earth shattering experience, but I could only get "darned good" out of my meal. The sommelier was excellent -- and despite only having visited twice, half a year apart, he remembered what he recommended our last visit. Note, he correctly remembered it! A nice Cristom Estate 2005 Viognier to go along with Turkey Ravioli, Crab in a Gazpacho, Yellowtail Snapper, and Cod. The crab was perhaps the best highlight of the meal. Canoe is a well-heeled establishment with warm beech-wood tones and maritime pariphanalia decorating the walls. Wide glass windows look out onto foliage, river and the parking lot, contrasting well with the gentle candlelight and wan overhead lighting. Decor, thus is prim, and modern, with a taste of something of the south-pacific. The fare is excellent, with constantly changing selections of fresh seafood. I really enjoy canoe, and desperately want to give it a 5, but... can only manage a 4.5 Definitely going back, however...
(4)May Y.
Came in from out of town and found Canoe on Yelp. It's certainly an odd location, but I'm glad we made the drive. The ambiance was nice (didn't get to see the outside area), the service was excellent, and the food was great! I'm a big crab person (can't imagine life without em), but have always been let down by crab cakes. The idea always sounds amazing, but every time I order them I get disappointed by a salty lump of over spiced sadness. I didn't order them at Canoe because my heart has been broken so many times, but luckily my boyfriend did. Hands down, best crab cake ever. It was juicy, seasoned just right, and had a great breading (panko?). So good. We also got the smoked salmon with goat cheese which seems to be popular. It was a great twist on lox and cream cheese, and while not what I expected, it was certainly delicious. A great blend of flavors and textures. I'm salivating now just thinking of it. Definitely worth checking out, and coming from a larger city, it was all at a very reasonable price point.
(4)Randall S.
Great reception and the availability of outdoor seating was a real plus! We picked a perfect night for weather and the ambiance outdoors was superb. Out table light did not stay on steadily--not a big deal at first, except as the night grew it was our main source of illumination; promised to replace it, but never done. First inclination that all was not perfect. The mussel appetizer was the "Best Seen to Date"! Generous portion, exquisitely seasoned, absolutely perfect! Not so much the salmon entree (though VERY good), or the pork loin special entree (a bit undercooked from the order). The swordfish special was good, but lacked a bit on the portion size (however, after the mussels, certainly adequate). The desserts were outstanding! Major points lost on the "Irish Coffee" which did not include cream (or whipped cream) as is the apparent way it's done at Canoe. All in all, a very nice meal and worth the expense, but not an eye-popping experience. It is always nice to receive a service or culinary surprise that is more than you anticipate; this experience was good, but expected.
(3)B. C.
Don't let Canoe's appearance from the street fool you. I have a wonderful experience every time I visit. Really liked the Rabbit, Duck and several of the seasonal specials. Sit outside if the weather permits. Bugs get a little annoying on the patio but it's well worth it being right on the Chattahoochee.
(5)Eric M.
We took my dad to Canoe for his birthday, and we started the dinner by taking a walk and taking some pics out by the river. Beautiful location. Going inside, we had a round table for 11 right be the window. Perfect. The food was really nice (I had the delmonico - very well done), and overall it was a nice meal. Food was appropriate in quality for the One thing I did have an issue with was the faux-friendliness of some of the staff. A couple of our requests (birthday cake / cupcake with a candle, etc) were met as what appeared to be an inconvenience. A pity, because that kind of ruined the occasion in some ways. However, tip reflected. :) I hope if you go there you don't get the server we got. Otherwise, this is a 4.5 star in my rating scale.
(3)Hector M.
The setting of this restaurant is beautiful and unique. I love nature and had dinner in a garden next to the Chattahoochee river...Outdoor patio is one of the best in Atlanta for sure. Service at Canoe is friendly, prompt, personable and professional. Service to me has become critical besides obviously the quality of the food and how interesting a menu is in choosing which restaurants I patronize. Canoe gets 100 points for quality of service. We dined at the outdoor patio bar and our server/bartender extraordinaire was Philip. He was very knowledgeable about both the wine list and the menu so he offered some solid recommendations. I appreciate a restaurant were the staff is knowledgeable and can make recommendations. The food itself was ok - I'm afraid I can not say I was impressed...I had a delicious corn soup yet after that the appetizer I ordered (calamari) was not memorable at all and felt like an appetizer you could have at one of those hideous chain restaurants you find all over Atlanta... For my main entree I ordered the scallop fettuccine. The scallops were quite good I have to say yet the dish was bland overall and it appeared that it needed a richer sauce to complement the homemade pasta and the scallops/shrimp/mussels that came with the pasta. Don't get me wrong - the dish was not bad but I have had much better (think La Tavola where they always have great pasta/seafood dishes). The highlight of the meal might have been the delicious chocolate grotto I had for dessert. I love dark chocolate and this really hit the spot. Total bill for two exceeded what I was willing to pay and I am not cheap by any stretch of the imagination - I guess you pay for the ambiance and unique location of the restaurant. I may go back in the future yet would reserve this restaurant to entertain out of town guests or for a special occasion.
(3)Nichole K.
I was there pre and post flooding of Atlanta and I must say before the flood this restaurant had my approval all over it. The martinis excellent. Five girlfriends of mine went and we all swapped entrees - and all were to die for. When the in-laws were coming into town I couldn't of been more excited to take them there. When I left I had disappointment all over my face not because everything was bad, but because everything was just so awesome before and did not meet my expectations. But the in-laws loved it. They are coffee lovers so there was a coffee rub on a steak that made their day. Along with a coffee flavor dessert. Things I DO love about it. The view and the outside bar. The constant changing of the menu. The service. The atmosphere. I will revisit, but not anytime soon.
(3)Dio S.
Canoe feels like a resort restaurant far away from the city. Beautiful wood accents, two sides open onto a terrace that goes all the way down to the river. Tranquil and elegant. Fantastic service and food. Southern themed menu is full of premium, small production ingredients lovingly prepared and well seasoned. Great smoked salmon, crab cake, and an African Squash soup that's velvety and perfect. The fowls can get a little dry however. Desserts are again beautiful and delicious. When you express an interest in sharing food with your companion, the chef will try to portion it as it's being plated. A few places do this and it's very considerate, but I found I didn't like it too much--the intended presentation is inevitably compromised--and I advise you to not take up on the offer. Finally the brunch. It's famous and I think rightly so. But I am not a huge fan. They've priced and portioned the entrees too high and large, and I have had a hard time finishing it, especially if the Pastry Basket is ordered. The pastry items are great, not perfect, but great. Usually lots of "stately", conservative looking regulars can be found at Canoe. Overall I prefer the brunch at Watershed better. Of note is that there is a small but very nice bar area. Might be great for stopping by for a drink and small plate if it's not so out of the way. I've never dined outside on the terrace but I'll take a stroll after the meal.
(4)Kris P.
What can I say that hasn't already been said? The place is wonderful. It's a haven for us foodies, but it's never pretentious. The service is always attentive, but never bothersome. Not a big wine drinker, but Canoe has converted me. The food? Excellent. I'm making my way through the menu, and having eaten there about ten times now, I've NEVER had an issue, however minute, with the food. I love the rabbit, the seasonal pastas, the mussel appetizer they served last Friday night... you can't go wrong here. Desserts are amazing as well - butter-pop ice cream, red velvet cake - all delish. I just love coming here. It's exciting and comforting all at once! My cares slip away once I walk in under that C*A*N*O*E sign because I know I am going to be well taken care of and well fed. Love it.
(5)Scott B.
Canoe is one of those places that stays with you and becomes a benchmark. I haven't eaten there in quite a while but the experience is still fresh in my mind. Canoe is situated on some beautiful property literally right on the edge of the Chattahoochee river and is surrounded by beautiful landscaping. If you get there early, take a minute to walk around out there. This time of year (March to May) has some of the best colors when everything is in bloom. Inside, the decor is spacious, rustic modern with warm brick and old wood. The food and service are equally tremendous. The servers are some kind of dream team...extremely knowledgable, friendly and always on their "A" game. Last time we were there, our server was great to deal with. He also expertly de-boned a whole Snapper for my father-in-law in about 30 seconds with 2 spoons, like some kind of cross between McGuyver and a surgeon (nice entertainment value). The dishes are beautifully prepared and include creative, top quality ingredients. If you have a penchant for the unusual, you can often find it here - I've had Skate, Pheasant, and Rabbit which were all excellent. There are no holes in the menu, no matter what you like you will probably find it here in some form or another. Portions are decently sized. The wine list is expansive and overwhelming, so it's best to ask for assistance from one of the capable servers when choosing. 5 stars. I can't think of any reason to not give this the highest recommendation.
(5)Jen S.
wow what a journey to even get to the restaurant. im from out of town, so these sprawling mansions where making me look look left and right in amazement. huge acres of land with huge lawns. anyways.... the restaurant was right passed the bridge and we almost missed it. but entering the restaurant was a nice contrast to the hot air outside. i love that the back of their restaurant has huge windows to let the sunlight in and they have a really pretty decorated patio area as well as a large grassy area where a wedding or a nice reception can be held. the waiter was really helpful and provided us some great suggestions on food. we decided to skip appetizers so we could save room for dessert instead. we were a table of 7 and i tried only a couple of dishes but we shared all the dessert! we were uncertain which wine to get and the waiter was very helpful and provided us a sample of two of their wines so we could get a wine we really wanted. -- entrees -- - Local Rainbow Trout with Lobster Succotash and Whipped Potatoes: the skin of the trout was my favorite part. very tasty. the succotash was corn and beans with a lobster sauce was very good too! - Miso Marinated Alaskan Halibut with Edamame Hummus, Grilled Baby Bok-Choy and a Shiitake Wasabi Vinaigrette: the halibut was okay. not as soft as i would like but it was okay. the mushrooms were good but the sauce surrounding the halibut was very interesting and not to my liking... - Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard: their signature dish. not what i was expecting. but it had a similar consistency to chicken but the meat was a bit darker and tender. good. -- dessert -- - Strawberry-Rhubarb Cobbler with Toasted Almond Ice Cream: our favorite. perfect mix of warm and cold. the cobbler was very good and the filling delicious!!! - Valhrona Chocolate & Salted Caramel Grotto with Pretzel Hazelnut Dust: you had to break the chocolate shell and the hazelnut filling with cramel was inside. a bit too rich for me - Butter-Pop Ice Cream with House Made Cracker Jack: homemade ice cream and cracker jacks. yum. the cracker jack was a bit hard to get into though. - Simply Vanilla Crème Brûlée: nothing too special for me. your normal creme brulee.
(4)Brian L.
Yes, this lives up to all of the reviews posted. amazing, lovely location, over the top attentive service and food that is just first class all of the way. We were there with a huge group (40 total I believe) and although we were at separate large tables of 10, we were treated as if we were a small table of 4. Our menu was pre-selected and we started off with a lovely Baby Arugula Salad with Spiced Nuts, Shaved Parmesan and Poppy Seed Vinaigrette. We then had our choice of either the Salmon or the Beef Tenderloin. I chose the Beef and it was about 8 oz of medium rare beauty, nestled on a bed of super-creamy mashed potatoes and mushrooms, with a lovely burgundy reduction sauce. For desert we had an option of either the creme brulee or the blueberry semifreddo. Either was heavenly but I did inhale my creme brulee. Service was top notch and really attentive (i said that already) but if I have time when I'm back in Atlanta, i'm surely heading over there. It IS difficult to find (use your GPS) but once there, you'll never forget it.
(5)Antoinette F.
One thing Atlanta does well is make the attempt at nice restaurants - Canoe delivers where the rest of Atlanta fails. This place is right on the mark. The service is impeccable - all the waiters are extremely knowledgeable about each and every menu item, as well as the extensive wine list. While being extremely attentive and professional, they don't come off as high-brow, unlike a lot of "nicer" restaurants I've been to in this city. The food is phenomenal. I highly recommend the rabbit - it may be my favorite meal I've had in Atlanta. Also, the smoked salmon can't be beat. From the appetizers through dessert, the food is consistently delicious, fresh, and cooked perfectly. Each time I've gone, I've sat outside - which I highly suggest. The view over their grounds and the river is great, and provides atmosphere hard to find in Atlanta. It gets a little dark, but you can manage. While most people are in what I'd call business attire, the waiters/waitresses wear dark jeans with long-sleeve button up shirts, so a guy in similar attire wouldn't be completely out of place. I'd suggest a dress/skirt for women. Simply put, you can't go wrong with Canoe.
(5)Katie N.
I would give Canoe a 3.5 stars if I could. Here are the reasons behind the 3.5 stars: the sear tuna entree was salty for my liking; the crab cake was delicious but the sauce left a funky after taste due to a flowery aroma; the smoked salmon with goat cheese appetizer was very heavy; steak was awful because it was so chewy that my husband reported jaw pain and he ordered medium rare (I can imagine if it was well done); and Carvel mint ice cream cake with marshmallow dessert was over empowered with mint flavor (yuck). Other than that, the shrimp stuff calamari, Caroline rabbit, and creme brûlée trio were delicious. Service was friendly, attentive, and informative. I wish I could give that 0.5 star for the scenery.
(3)Katherine S.
I went to Canoe a few weeks ago with Brian and my friend Amanda. I was up in East Cobb for the night and wanted to go out to dinner. In East Cobb, there are NO good places to eat, so if I want good food, I head over to Vinings. I had never been to Canoe, but its reputation precedes it. Canoe has 26/26/25 from Zagat, and it's a go-to place for nice evenings. The menu had lots of delicious-sounding options, and I loved everything I had. It is a bit on the pricy side (my mom was thanking us for bartending her party), so I wouldn't recommend it for an average night. The landscaping is beautiful, and people often have weddings here, except recently Canoe was hit hard by the rain and had some issues with flooding. We sat in the bar, but still got excellent service. The wine list, in particular, is fabulous. When I was in Napa this summer, I spoke to a winery that told me the only place they distribute in Atlanta is at Canoe. But don't be scared, I was still able to get one of my favorite bottles (a Qupe Syrah) for just $30. Canoe is a bit of a hike from downtown, but if you ever find yourself craving an elegant meal in northwest Atlanta, I would definitely recommend stopping in Canoe.
(4)Oscar G.
It's been some time since i've been to Canoe but the memory stands out. I had the Slow Roasted Carolina Rabbit with Swiss Chard - Bacon Ravioli, Sweet Potato Hash and Candied Garlic Sauce. The rabbit was tender and not gamey. overall a really pleasing meal and experience.
(4)Michael S.
Great food. Expensive but definitely worth it. The Carolina Rabbit is amazing.
(5)Aneece K.
I took my girlfriend out to Canoe to celebrate our first year together. As a thrifty college student, this is the most that I have ever spent on a meal so expectations were pretty high. I was disappointed with the food but everything else was simply perfect. In my opinion, the food is nothing special and I would not recommend this place for the quality of the food. But if they're looking for an incredible dining experience (whatever that means) then checkout Canoe. The view from the "patio" and the landscape are absolutely stunning. We later walked through the garden along the river bank and let me tell you there is nothing like seeing your girl's eyes sparkle with joy (I choose to believe its because of me and not because of the silly colorful flowers). The service was royal. I almost felt like a king, all that the waitress needed to do to complete this experience was to start feeding me grapes and praising my good looks (oh and give me a shoulder massage as well). So go check out Canoe for a great dining experience but as for me I won't be there again before the food gets better and I become a millionaire :)
(3)Michelle C.
I know this is one of the top rated restaurants in Atlanta which was precisely the reason I wanted to take hubby for his birthday dinner. Upon entrance, we decided to wait 30-45 minutes for an outside table versus barside immediately. The wait was actually 20 minutes. We had a great table with a wonderful view of the chattahoochee. The server gets most of the stars here. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and just overall great. We ordered the crab cake app - DELICIOIUS. Best item I had. Waiter recommended the rabbit. I chose that and the hubby ordered the short rib entree. My rabbit (never having had rabbit before) was... ok. Like rabbit. I can see how cowboys of the western days were lean and wiry. The rabbit leg was about 3/4 my palm over a bed of julienned veggies. It was ok. The meat was very nonflavorful which usually means that the accompanied gravy or veggies have a standout flavoring but that was not the case. It tasted like unseasoned meat with a little au jus and the veggies had no real seasoning. It was "eh". My husbands short rib was tender and delicious. It was very good. They placed it over mashed potatoes. The server recommended a pinot noir that didn't taste as smooth as some I have tasted. It was ok. It had a little tang aftertaste that I didn't particularly care for. The dessert choice was based off of a nearby tables choice. Their dessert looked very good. So I ordered the chocolate dome and hubby ordered the apple cobbler. Not sure what I thought the dome was filled with but I didn't like the fact that when I broke through the super hard shell that there was just a caramelly/creamy filling that filled it about 1/4 of the way up the tennis ball sized dome. It was ok. I wish I'd have ordered something else. Hubby said his apple cobbler wasn't seasoned and wasn't really sweet. Just tasted like sliced apples. Said they could've seasoned the breading more also. More sugar & cinnamon. To finish, we are not food snobs in the least bit. I just thought that a top rated restaurant was be infinitely better than it actually was. I would like to go back and try different entrees and dessert. The view is the biggest wow factor here and even that is ok. It's just the Chattahoochee.
(3)Shelly J.
This is such a beautiful place! It is right beside the river and they have their own garden you can visit! We started with the shrimp stuffed calamari which was wonderful! We ended up soaking up the sauces on the plate with the delicious varieties of bread they gave us. After much deliberation, I ordered the rabbit (you have to try everything once, right?) and my boyfriend ordered the burger (without the egg). Both of our dishes smelled and looked amazing! The rabbit was very tender and served with beautifully cooked vegetables, delicious sauce, and amazing homemade bacon ravioli! It was so delicious! The burger was very delicious as well, but he kept reaching over and eating my dish because it was that good! For dessert we had the caramel popcorn sundae! Wonderful! There was caramel popcorn on the plate and vanilla ice cream and salted caramel in a glass with whipped cream on top. It was yummy! Visit this place! It is upscale, the service is wonderful and the food is even better!
(5)Jeff L.
For our most recent anniversary, my wife and I wanted to go out to a top-notch restaurant. After lots of researching on Yelp and elsewhere, we settled on Canoe. In sum, neither of us could have been happier with the choice. We both absolutely loved our experience at this place. To start, the ambiance of the restaurant is magnificent. Everything is soft, from the lighting to the color palette. On top of that, it sits right on the Chattahoochie River, adding a level of depth to the experience. It kind of takes you out of the city in a great way. We had the option of sitting outside, but chose instead to sit inside, but facing the river. A wonderful view while eating! On top of that, service throughout was excellent. In terms of their food, they seem to specialize in seafood and gamier meets, which suit my wife and I perfectly. For our first courses, my wife ordered the Shrimp Dumplings and I had the Duck-Stuffed Quail. The shrimp dumplings are served in a bouillabaisse. My wife (an avid seafood lover) was in heaven with this dish. The shrimp dumplings were clearly hand-made, and were expertly prepared. The bouillabaisse itself was also wonderful, and packed a bigger seafood punch (=loaded with seafood) than we expected given it's smaller size (being a first course). My duck-stuffed quail was also amazing. The duck was chopped into smaller pieces and was cooked (I believe) with bacon, all stuffed inside some quail. Stuffing two of my favorite meats inside another one of my favorite meats will always make me a happy man! We were certainly off to a great start. For our main courses, my wife ordered the Sage Roasted Pheasant, and I had the Rabbit. Just like with our first courses, we loved our main courses. Where I liked my first course a bit better, I did like my wife's main course just a hair better than mine. That's not to say the rabbit wasn't excellent, I just thought it was among the best pheasant I've ever eaten. On top of that, one of the sides for the dish was pheasant croquettes, which were (almost) better than the pheasant itself. Overall, both main courses were cooked perfectly, and the accompanying sides seemed to compliment our dishes as well as one would hope they would. I honestly cannot remember what we ordered for dessert. It was fine, but was served in a shallow pool of frangelico (hazelnut liqueur), which kind of overpowered everything else. About the only misstep of the evening for Canoe, and neither my wife nor myself are big dessert people, so not a big misstep. Overall, we both loved this place. In the end, I'd probably say it was a solid 4.5, but I'll round up to a 5. It wasn't the absolute best food we've ever eaten, but everything we had was consistently wonderful. We're planning on going back for our next anniversary...and probably the one after that as well!
(5)Susan D.
We've been going to Canoe for years and have always had a excellent and consistent meal. I went there last night with my 81 year old aunt and was very disappointed with our meals. We ordered the octopus salad. The waiter said it was big enough to share. He was so wrong about that. The potion was so small and maybe there was 4, 2" pieces of octopus. The waiter said that it was cooked in a sealed plastic bag for 7 hours, and would be very tender. It was not tender and. It was dry, probably because the pieces were very small. It was very lack luster. My aunt ordered their famous salmon potato cakes... as she always does. She said the dish was sloppily put together and lacked the presentation of prior years. We've had it too and we agree because we've had it in the past. For my main I ordered the duck breast with duck spring rolls on bok choy. Where was the bok choy? There was 1 leaf of bok choy, not a whole bok choy, only one leaf. The duck spring roll was a bit greasy and the duck was ok but noting great and lacked in flavor. On a different note, our waiter Terry was fantastic, and the service impeccable. We've heard that there is a new executive chef... hmmm. Is that the problem.
(2)Trip B.
I was here for New Year's Eve 2007 and had one of the more memorable dinners of my life. I thought, perhaps it was the company and the ambiance but those thoughts were laid to rest quickly once the tasting menu started. From scallops to pork belly to swish chard and bread pudding, I was hooked and after hearing about this place for ten years I finally "got it". I'll be back to this place but it won't be as special as the firs time I was there, I got a flat tire and celebrated New Year's on the shoulder of I-85.
(5)Billy F.
This place is amazing. My co-worker and I both had fresh oysters and rib-eye steaks. One of the best rib-eyes I've had to date. The food is not only what makes this place outstanding, the service is phenomenal. It was our server's first night on the floor and he was amazing. I went to the restroom and he waited until I returned to pour my glass of water. The plates were cleared promptly and drinks were refilled before the glasses hit the table. We shared 2 different deserts, a red wine reduced cherry stuffed ice scream and a chocolate sphere impregnated with salted caramel and pretzel crumbs. Both were under priced and ridiculously good. If I'm ever back in Atlanta I'm definitely making another trip to Canoe.
(5)Ivy S.
4 people from my table threw up after this meal. Not because it was bad or because of food poisoning, but because there was so much good food that we overstuffed ourselves. Nuff said
(5)Jay H.
Great Restaurant! Their outside space in the back of the restaurant is amazing! Looks like the back of a large estate...and it's on the river! The outdoor bar is the coolest! Someone was playing the guitar and singing ever so faintly in the background. It was a very rich experience. Oh yea..the food... the slow roasted rabbit was awesome! This is the perfect place to celebrate something special!
(5)Brian C.
Located in a odd little shopping center on the Chattahoochee River, we would have been a little sketchy on Canoe had it not been for the positive reviews we had read beforehand. Overall, the place had a great, upscale charm - and its grounds and little gardens were quite nice. If we lived closer we would be coming back for wine and cocktails just to stroll around the outside. Inside is also nice, with a small bar area to hang out in before you get your table. The cocktail menu was solid and appealing, although not large. The wine list had a GREAT selection by-the-bottle, and quite a decent one by-the-glass (maybe 25 total?). The hostess, the bar staff, and our server were AWESOME. We arrived much earlier than our scheduled reservation, but were able to be seated much sooner than expected. Our server was overflowing with personality, which we like - and was VERY helpful with food selection. The menu was extremely interesting and varied, with many dishes you won't find almost anywhere else - rabbit, pheasant, duck, etc. Fresh artisan bread kept us happy while we perused the menu - it was hard to make an entree choice - I wanted 5 of them... We settled on the raw oyster appetizer, pork loin with butternut squash, and pheasant with sweet potato and pheasant croquettes. The oysters were VERY fresh, although the cucumber relish they put on top really overpowered anything else - I certainly appreciate the attempt at a cool oyster-topper...but that one's not quite there yet. Both of the entrees were excellent. Both bone-in, and accompanied well with their starches and veggies. The pheasant's outer coating added a nice peppery crispinees - and the dark meat pheasant croquettes were INSANELY good - I was told you can order them separately...and if we are back in the area I will. The herbs and spices on the pork were also superbly done. The desserts sounded really good (I wanted the killer sounding bread pudding)...but at that point we would have been hospitalized if we had eaten any more. The only thing even slightly negative is the proximity of the tables to each other. Many are so close together the servers can't even walk by - which doesn't really lend itself to a romantic venue, if that's a reason you're going. Some of the tables are nicely located, however - maybe just a luck-of-the-draw thing. Overall, a great experience that we would recommend to anyone living in or passing through the area.
(5)Frances O.
Went last Saturday for an early b-day dinner with my hubby. We've never been to Canoe but heard a lot of good things about it. It was THE most absolute best dinner ever! Food was absolutely delicious and the service was great. Our waiter (Laura, I think!) was extremely knowledgeable and all the recommendations she made were spot on. We split 2 appetizers, the smoked salmon and the warm goat cheese salad, both outstanding. For entrees I had the rabbit and my hubby had the short ribs...DELISH!!! For dessert, we had the Valrhona dessert with salty caramel. Bottom line: a MUST-visit place in ATL!!! My hubs and I will definitely go back, hopefully in the spring!
(5)Chris P.
My wife and I have been to Canoe several times and it has been fantastic every time. I already want to go back! I want to be constructive and find some things to say that need improvement but I just can't find anything. You really do have to eat here. Love to hear your thoughts when you do!
(5)Bridget A.
This is my go to place for a special night out!!! The service has ALWAYS been top notch! I love the everything on the menu plus great choices of wine. For the foodie folks out there...THIS IS THE PLACE!
(5)Cornelius J.
Went for brunch today and the experience was great. Had the Crab & Eggs and a spicy bloody mary which were both great items. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very inviting and the staff was very helpful.
(5)Kathleen M.
After leaving the Elite event with ears ringing from the, um, jovial Yelpers, we needed somewhere quiet to enjoy. Miriam W had bookmarked Canoe ages ago so we made our way along the gorgeous residential streets of Buckhead and over the river to the lovely little spot. It was about 9:15 on a Sunday so the place was pretty cleared out with a few of the typical Buckhead elite clientele finishing their meals. Our ebullient waiter quickly greeted us, unfortunately informing us that due to the Valentine's rush they were all out of scallops. I had decided upon the warm cheese salad and the mussels, but oh, happy day, we were about to receive mussels gratis thanks to my wonderful chef-friend Maggie who works here. On the waiter's recommendation, I went with the veal and portobello tortelloni. The mussels were great, with the perfect amount of bite in the sauce. The breads that were served paired wonderfully. The warm cheese salad was quite possibly the best salad I've ever tasted. My dining companions may have noticed my lack of offer to share, it was that good. The tortelloni was properly cooked al dente and reminded me just how bad of a cook I am, as I can't manage to make boxed penne properly. I've always loved Canoe. The atmosphere is perfect for any date or special occasion and the menu is varied enough to suit pretty much everyone. The view and setting is obviously best for daylight hours, so be sure to check it out for lunch or brunch-- you will be pleased!
(5)Hambri Enta M.
I had my Bday diner there with the Dirty dozen, and I loved everything. Everyone played it safe with the salmon, or the beef, including me. Waiting at the bar was a delight, the drinks were stiff, just like I like my man! We got seated outside (it was March 7, not too cold, kind of pleasant) because we are an embarrasing bunch and I knew that talks of T & A and C*ck and racial jokes would be shared outloud. My table ordered the House Smoked Salmon w/ crispy yukon potato cake, vermont goat's cheese 11.95 that was awesome! so was the Panko Crusted Lemon Sole Roulade scallop mousse, yuzu 12.75. I can eat a shitload of that! I had the Grilled Heart of Ribeye, celery root whipped potatoes, creamed cipollini onions, tarragon 32.95, and got some dessert I cannot recall. In any case, it was fucktastic and I recommend it. Stop being a Sissy and get out of your zip code comfort zone and venture out this way....is beautiful and worth it!
(4)Mari E.
Wonderful food, wonderful service, gorgeous view! A++ all around.
(5)Holy Guacamole M.
LOVE THIS PLACE! The ambience is captivating and the food is intoxicating and the service is honestly the best there is in this city! Love, love, love this place! When you go, make sure you try the smoked salmon appetizer and the rabbit dinner entree. Their Sunday brunch is pretty awesome too!
(5)Nikki K.
The first time I went to Canoe was for a rehearsal dinner and it was truly lovely. The restaurant itself is very nice, but the tent they put on their back lawn for the event, against the Chattahoochee River, with white strings of light all around, was breathtaking. The food was delicious, and since the groom was vegan, they went out of their way to accommodate him by coming up with special foods he could eat, as well as the many vegan guests that were there. This is definitely a restaurant you have to go to at least once, if not many times! Just the view outside the windows is worth the trip to Vinings!
(4)Shireen B.
Sunday Brunch at Canoe had a romantic touch to it...I think it was the delicious french toast. The food was well cooked and the wait-staff was polite and courteous. The atmosphere right near the kitchen wasn't very accomodating, though it was interesting. This is a hidden surprise I wouldn't have found without Yelp.
(4)Brooke B.
Canoe is an Atlanta classic and, in my opinion, absolutely deserves its 5-star reputation. There is nothing not to love about this place, unless you hate food. And love. And life. Perhaps the most impressive part of my Canoe experiences has been the service. Every waiter has been spot-on, with excellent manners and great personalities. They seem to be proud of their establishment without being arrogant. The dishes at Canoe are upscale American, and they cook up classic, homey food with their own personal twist. One of their claims to fame is they make everything in house, including the spicy flatbread and the quirky ice cream in the flavor of the day (literally). The menu is varied and interesting and just plain delicious! I recently tried Canoe at lunch for the first time. I was surprised at how affordable their lunch menu is! It is such a good deal. My friends and I remarked that it was no more expensive than going to the Cheesecake Factory, but leagues above any chain restaurant out there (that is such an understatement... I will think up a better hyperbole later). The crab cake on a citrusy watercress salad was pure heaven. Plus, this was the first time I had been to the restaurant during daylight hours, and my, are their gardens gorgeous! I'd like to just go sit on their patio by the Chattahoochee with a glass of wine. I may just have to make lunch at Canoe a monthly staple... Though it will be very hard to get back to work for the afternoon.
(5)RadioCobb R.
Great turkey burger for lunch and also enjoyed the salmon appetizer. The view from the outside patio was wonderful. Higher priced than your average lunch, but comparably priced to other Vinings Village restaurants and much better. Try it for lunch.
(5)Sanket S.
Definitely one of the better restaurants in atlanta, though not quite as good as equally priced (and rated) meals in some other cities. Service was impeccable, as was the ambiance. The garden seems fantastic as well, weather permitting.
(4)Amrita J.
Love Love Loved it.....can't say enough about this place!!! So every "big celebration" day that I have, I like to try a new place that I've never been before, whether it's a birthday, an anniversary, a holiday. It makes it that much more exciting. Well this Valentine's day, led me and the boyfriend to Canoe. Settled along the Chattahoochee river, it's a beautiful place for a nice date or romantic evening out with your love!!! The pictures on the website looked amazing, so I was super excited b/c I knew there would be some great photo-ops, and I was SO on the money with that. Well we were seated, and I was so happy to be seated right near the back glass windows, overlooking the outside patio and river. We ordered some wine, and also ordered our food and while waiting for the food to be made, we took our wine outside and walked along the trail out back, and they have benches for you to sit on, and tables out there, and it was nice to see the couples out there sharing an intimate moment or conversation. I mean it's really just a beautiful setting. The only negative with the back area that I had, were that the trails were gravel/dirt. I mean as classy a place as this is, they could have paved them up or put some wood planks or something down, I mean I imagine most women coming here will be dressed up and have heels on, it's a real struggle walking through there with the rocks and dirt eating up your heel. Ok so back to the review......the food was delicious, and well worth the money, the portions were pretty large and definitely able to fill you up, which is great to see, because often these swanky restaurants skimp on the meal and still charge you an arm and a leg for it. The service however was not up to par, which was disappointing for such a nice restaurant who probably prides itself on the classy factor, you would think the service would have been right up there with it.......our server literally checked on us ONCE and that was when she gave us our check. (hence the lack of a 5-star rating) I can't describe to you the great food, you just have to go out there and taste it for yourself.
(4)Jeremy M.
It was like that movie, you know the one that all your friends loved and raved about and then you went to see it and it was just ok... That was my experience with Canoe. I appreciate what they were trying to do, highlighting locally available items and stressing freshness, but when it came right down to the taste of my meal, it was just ok. If not for the impeccable service this would have been a three star experience but the 5 star service averaged it out.
(4)John U.
A purely awesome dinning experience and great setting right on the river.
(5)Andrea S.
I took my boyfriend here for his birthday this past Friday night and OMG, awesome dinner, wine, dessert, service! The atmosphere was beautiful with an outside small bar with seating along the chatahoochie river. I wish it wasn't so humid so we could enjoy it but not a chance. Any questions we had the server was quite knowledgeable in how everything was prepared and what type of wine we could have with it. I DEFINITELY plan on returning soon.
(5)Lauren R.
I went here for the first time last night after wanting to try it for years and had a great experience. Despite not being able to sit until 30 minutes past our reservation time (the party in front of us just wouldn't quit!), from start to finish, the staff and the service was impeccable and the setting was absolutely beautiful (loved being in the city but not IN the city) . So why only four stars? The food was very good, but I was not blown away like I expected to be. The appetizers were the highlight of the meal for me. The chefs treated us to some to make up for our wait (duck, smoked salmon and crab cake, which were all excellent) and our table of 7 devoured all of them, along with the selection of yummy breads to much on while we we waited for our entrees. My African squash soup was creamy and delicious, but I was a bit disappointed in my main entree, the lamb shank, which was a bit too salty (and a little greasy) for me. I was full, but had to get dessert to round out my experience, so I took some chocolate mole to go and I look forward to devouring it later tonight. I would definitely return (but perhaps choose another entree) and look forward to sharing this place with someone special. :)
(4)Michael V.
Finally had dinner at Canoe last weekend and was highly impressed. This was a meal that happened by accident as a result of the fact that the wait at Local 3 was too long and Canoe was right nearby. We arrived and were lucky enough to be seated immediately in the lounge. The service was overall very good, despite the initial oversight of a napkin which was remedied quickly. I definitely must give kudos to the sommelier, who was very knowledgeable and fun to talk to. She guided us to some great wines that I probably wouldn't have picked and it really helped make the meal that much more special. And the wine list is out of sight awesome. Can't say enough about it. As for the food, overall I was wowed, and not necessarily in the dishes I expected. The apps we got were the Warm Artisan Cheese Salad with Bacon, Baby Spinach, Dried Cranberries and Toasted Pecan Vinaigrette and the Shrimp Stuffed Calamari with Spanish Chorizo, Crisped Tentacles and Laurel Aioli. The Warm Artisan Cheese Salad was a home run. Perfect balance of opposites (sweet/savory, warm/cool, soft/crunchy) made for a very well balanced and delicious dish. I could eat a bigger version of this as an entree no problem. The Shrimp Stuffed Calimari was good, but a bit pedestrian overall on the flavors. The chorizo flavor was not very evident and while the dish was good it did not wow me as I expected it to when I ordered it. The entrees were both insanely good. We had the Newfoundland Steelhead Trout, Smoked Salmon Tortelloni, Blue Crab Bechamel and the Sage Roasted Pheasant with Brown Butter Whipped Sweet Potato, Crispy Pheasant Croquette, Natural Jus. The Trout dish was decadent and rich and could have ended up being a mess of heavy cream without the thoughtful hand of Chef Carvel Gould. The real uniqueness of this dish was in the details, with the hints of dill and onion that really rounded out the flavor of this dish. I was hooked from the first bite. The Pheasant dish was totally different flavor but another rock star dish for sure. Big, rustic flavors were the theme of this dish from the sage preparation on the pheasant to the decadent jus and sweet potato mash. The croquettes were amazing. I could eat them every day and be a very happy man. Overall an excellent experience and one I will hope to have again.
(4)