Elaina Eakle
ehe001@marietta.edu
Emanuel’s Bakery & Diner, an international restaurant that offers street food from around the world as well as breakfast, baked goods and coffee, is increasing the variety in Marietta’s downtown dining options.
I found Emmanuel’s intriguing when I first looked at their menu. Where else in Marietta can you get falafel, fish and chips, spring rolls and picadillo all in the same location? For those who are curious, falafel is a Middle Eastern food, made of chickpeas or fava beans and fried, and picadillo is a South American street food, made of ground beef rolled in a tortilla with peppers, onions, garlic and oregano.
When I entered Emanuel’s Bakery & Diner, I was greeted by a sign stating that their food wasn’t good, it was amazing, and that they also served the best coffee in the world. Needless to say, my expectations rose considerably. So, was the food amazing as promised? I opted to try the Japanese street food, an inside-out sushi roll. However, though I thought it was good, I would not call it amazing. I was also able to try “Mr. Generous,” a combination of German and Middle Eastern street food, meaning schnitzels in a pita wrap with vegetables, hummus and tahini, and it was quite good. Being a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur, I also had to try what was promised to be the best coffee in the world, and I must say I was pleased.
I also appreciated the atmosphere of the restaurant; with funky décor including strands of colorful lights and pictures from around the world, a wide variety of international music, and an energetic staff, it certainly was not a boring place to be, and I could imagine it becoming an ideal college hangout. However, the seating area is quite small, so if Emanuel’s becomes very busy, you may need to place your order to go or plan time to wait.
All in all, I think Emanuel’s Bakery & Diner will fit in well in downtown Marietta. It offers a variety of food that cannot be found elsewhere; it was certainly not what I expected from a bakery and diner and surprised me in a very refreshing way. Though I wouldn’t call it “amazing” as promised just yet, it was certainly good enough to want to visit again.
