The remaining king

This past year, Emory Village has undergone a complete remodeling in regards to landscape and new restaurants. New walk paths, rotaries, and flowers have been added to increase the liveliness and attractiveness of Emory’s main entrance. Alongside the new construction, restaurants such as Chipotle and Tin Drum have opened up their doors to Emory students and locals. With all the new construction and additions, one would assume that Emory Village is a better place. But is it actually?

The closing of Wonderful World marked the start of a calamity, the one burger joint in Emory Village was replaced by Tin Drum, an Asian noodle house, conveniently located across the street from the renowned Doc Chey’s. This swap leaves Emory village in a crisis. The village now has two pizza places, Domino’s and Everybody’s, two Starbucks, two Asian noodle houses, Tin drum and Doc Chey’s, and even two places to get burritos and tacos, Chipotle and Bad Dog. However, Emory village still does not have a bar, it no longer has a place to get a burger, and there’s still no place to grab some late night dollar a slice pizza. With all do respect, I am a firm believer in an economic “survival of the fittest” for restaurants, but this occurrence still puzzles my mind. 

Curiously, I eagerly awaited the opening of Tin Drum, only having high anticipations and expectations for the new noodle house that is going not only have to surpass Wonderful World’s burgers, but also compete with the renowned Doc Chey’s. It was surprising to see that Tin Drum had been built, furnished, and operating only a week after the closing of Wonderful World. As one of the first customers inside the newly opened restaurant, I was treated to a free entrée meal, with the purchase of a fountain drink. Looking over their menu, I thought to my self, “Wow, this looks exactly like Doc Chey’s menu.” Ranging from Pad-thai, to edamame, the menus were almost identical. The one dish Tin Drum had that Doc Chey’s didn’t was the variety of curry-based entrée’s; one of which I ordered myself called the Masaman.

Edamame and pineapple fried rice

The Masaman consisted of a curry base, with carrots, potatoes, white rice, avocado, peas, and chicken. The meal was decent, but it was nothing that I’d be dying to come back for. Likewise, the curry itself was good, but it wasn’t eye widening. It makes for a better meal than the DUC and Cox, but it certainly doesn’t top Doc Chey’s or the reputation of Wonderful World. The prices were also expensive for the quality of the food. An appetizer, drink and an entrée costs around $17. I had a few bland tasting bites of my friends’ dishes and they too were not impressed. Nevertheless, Tin Drum definitely fills your appetite with very large portions, but a special quality and uniqueness lacks from their dishes. Then again, this was the first day of operation for the restaurant, so it would be unfair to make these claims without going back in a few more weeks. However in my opinion Doc Chey’s remains the best restaurant in Emory Village.  

Masaman and white rice