The second you drive up to Canoe, romance is in the air. The quiet river flows by, the covered patio keeps you cool from the late spring sun, winding walkways meander around the lawn sending you down hidden paths—can you see it? The popular brunch spot is the perfect place to sit in an Adirondack chair by the Chattahoochee holding your honey’s hand. During our intimate Sunday brunch, we sipped on a Sparkling Mule, dipped a scone in the homemade preserves, crunched into the smoked salmon starter, relaxed with a glass or wine or Aperol Spritz, and even enjoyed a hearty half chicken with silky grits. We swear you can hear Frank Sinatra in the background. Canoe, where have you been all our lives?
We’re always on the hunt for the best patio drinks, and we may have found our new favorite: Sparkling Mule, one part sparkling wine, one part Moscow Mule with ginger beer, lime juice and vodka. It’s as refreshing as drinks can get, from the crispness of the sparkling wine to the coolness of the ginger and that perfect hint of lime. From there, we sipped on an Aperol Spritz that was refreshing as well, with the tartness of the Aperol adorned with a ton of bubbles. And what’s better than that crisp glass of white wine while you watch the river roll by?
Listen up. Let’s get real about the scones. From savory to sweet to spicy to nutty, these scones were the perfect addition to our meal. The favorite was the plain scone, which the staff calls “fairy dust.” It was a magical mix of flaky biscuit with a hint of sugar and cinnamon. The rest of them were unbelievably tasty too. One was the prefect mix of cheddar and jalapeño, one had a hint of chocolate, and the last one was nutty and rich with almonds—a great mix of flavors dipped in homemade preserves, jams, and honey butter. Dessert first should be our new thing.
If you know us, you know that we love anything that resembles a lox bagel. What’s not to love about some tender salmon, a crisp bagel, cream cheese and sharp onion? Canoe has a delightful starter, the house-smoked salmon, that was every bit of this but elevated with a crispy potato cake. The salmon was absolute perfection—slow smoked and tender—and the mix of cream cheese and goat cheese was the icing on the cake! Let’s dot it with some spicy onion and scallions and it’s one of the best little bites! Still can’t get over that crunch. We ended up eating the entire thing. Lick the plate? It’s a possibility.
When you think brunch, you think pancakes, French toast, hash, eggs, but what if we told you that we got a beautiful half chicken nestled on a bed of cheddar grits? Imagine chicken that's fall-off-the-bone tender, perfectly cooked, seasoned and beautifully presented. That’s what you get with the Oak Roasted Springer Mountain Chicken, a mouthwatering, juicy chicken dish with deep and rich grits with the light crunch of the green beans drenched in au jus and perfectly seasoned skin. We could not get over the flavor of the au jus and skin. Our tip: Take the au jus, mix it in with the grits, beans and some of the chicken, top with the saltiness of the skin and it’s such a memorable dish. Dreamy!
Come with us down the path that leads to the chairs by the river and relax in the shade with your favorite wine. That’s the feeling you get at Canoe. We could sit here a while. Join us?