Cheap Eats - Go-go gourmet

So I’ve been trying to diet. Dieting is hard, as everyone knows, but it’s especially tough when it’s your job to go to restaurants and order lots of food. I know, I know — cry me a river. Sometimes, I’m able to take just a few bites without overindulging. But occasionally, my willpower is put to the test. As I walked into Buckhead Italian Market & Bakery, I could tell this place would seriously tax my willpower.

Temptation Station: This place could give EatZi’s a run for its money — the food was endless. One deli case contained an assortment of salads, from tabouli to Caprese. Another held prepared foods such as poached salmon and marinated vegetables. A third case showed off thick slices of homemade lasagna, and yet another held various pastas and homemade sauces. Along one wall was a deli counter filled with imported Italian meats and cheeses. The opposite wall was devoted to desserts: cookies, cheesecake, tiramisu, cannolis and gelato — just to name a few. Shelves were stacked with Italian goodies such as pignoli cookies, aged balsamic vinegar and imported espresso. Tell me, how is a person supposed to maintain her self-control under circumstances like these?

Massive Sandwiches: The charmingly chatty lady behind the counter walked around with us, making recommendations. We settled on a sampler of three salads ($9.25) and a couple of panini sandwiches. The “special” Italian panino ($9.50) was piled high with ham, salami, mortadella, prosciutto, provolone and marinated vegetable salad. This place makes its own semolina hoagie rolls, and they’re chewy and substantial enough to hold together this monster of a sandwich. I’m mad for garlic and couldn’t resist the chicken aioli panino ($8.50). The garlicky homemade spread had a kick, but the sandwich needed something more to round out the flavors.

Salad Days: Caprese salad ($9.95 per pound) tasted bright and summery. If it’s this good in winter, it must be fabulous when tomatoes are in season. Grape leaves were a little on the mushy side but had that powerful tangy flavor that makes them so distinctive. The only salad that turned me off was a penne pasta salad ($7.95 per pound) — all I could taste was dried oregano. In addition to the array of Mediterranean salads, there were bowls heaped with old-fashioned tuna and chicken salads ($9.50 per pound), which were mayonnaise-y and studded with bits of celery and hard-boiled egg.

Sweet Surrender: Homemade cannolis were the highlight, their crisp shells laced with chocolate and oozing creamy ricotta filling. For those looking for a small taste of sweet, check out the tiny bacio cookies (bacio means “kisses” in Italian). There were two flavors: vanilla with chocolate filling and chocolate with vanilla filling. Each one was barely a bite.

The food selection is truly exceptional at this hidden gem. So next time you’re hit with a craving for gourmet takeout, bypass the mayhem at EatZi’s or Whole Foods and try Buckhead Italian Market & Bakery instead.