I have a few biasses that make me a sucker for a restaurant (BESIDES having an interesting, well executed menu, of course). Granted, this trio of affections are relatively little things, but all three are surprisingly difficult to find in a single location. I've always supposed that it's too much to ask for great food PLUS:

Hassle-free parking
Thoughtful service
A drive under 20 minutes

However, the search for this dining nirvana was met by a relative new-comer, Double Zero in Sandy Springs. (Double Zero is an Italian term referencing ultra-refined flour.) The Southern Italian menu at Double Zero is so large it can be somewhat overwhelming. However, we like the options, and this restaurant has become our new default spot when we want a low-key, reliable, EASY, Date Night experience.

Sometimes, we go and split a pizza and a salad and we're happy as clams. However, recently we decided to switch things up and order ONLY small plates. After all, these are the people behind another favorite restaurant, the Iberian Pig in Decatur, which is known for their tapas, so we thought we could have fun experimenting off of the pizza selections.

Of course, when it came down to ordering, we couldn't resist getting the Insalata di Cavoletti - the Brussels Sprout salad that I've knocked off for my own kitchen. (Picture below is my version - click here for the recipe)Next up was the - Lamb Polpettine - which is Italian for delicious lamb meatballs (not that I speak Italian!). What this dish lacks in dramatic presentation, is more than balanced by the delicious tomato/basil jam and the very fresh mozzarella.

Our second plate was a special and not on the regular menu. I forget the Italian name for the dish, but our server described it as a beet carpaccio. I am a recent beet convert and LOVED the mix of beets with avocado and a balsamic reduction. Billy was less enthusiastic which left more for me (win!).

Naturally, if we see fresh tuna on a menu, we're in. Tuna Crudo - is a dish with Yellowfin tuna and a citrus emulsion that I wanted to bottle up and take home. Delish!The next dish we ordered was Chick Pea Frittelle. While I loved the cucumber yogurt topping, I found the chick peas too dry. I'll skip this one next time.Our next plate was Arancini - these risotto balls were cooked perfectly and gave us another taste of Double Zero's wonderful jams and sauces. The sauce for this dish was red pepper jam and a mustard sweet pickle puree.

Finally, we finished up dinner with a roasted Portobello mushroom dish - Funghi al Forno. The mushroom comes with arugula, roasted red pepper, cheese, and toasted walnuts. Absolutely nothing wrong with that lineup!

And so if you're stuck on where to eat and you live near Sandy Springs, swing by Double Zero. The place is a solid dining experience!