The restaurants brokers were out and about dining at Buckhead's latest on Saturday night and it was quite an experience.

Modern Restaurant has a premiere Buckhead address at 3365 Piedmont Road NE in Atlanta.  For locals, that's directly across from Disco Kroger and the old Copelands.

Speaking of Copelands, can you say out with the old and in with the new!  Gone is the 70's style decor, smelly carpet and awkward layout.   Those sights, smells and sounds have been replaced with a 5-star dining experience that doesn't break the bank and is drop dead gorgeous.  We restaurant brokers aren't the only ones who eat with our eyes, here's what The Atlantan had to say.  "12,000-square-foot resto comes complete with a 250-seat dining room, a sophisticated bar and a cushion-clad, 60-seat alfresco dining space—evoking the fourfold essence of a contemporary café, open-air bazaar, laid-back lounge and private escape. Retractable, floor-to-ceiling windows connect the buzzing patio with a luxe main dining room that promises to seduce on first blush. Conceived by Sandy Springs’ Retail Capital Group, its design elements make the grade: Contemporary globe lights, abstract art, staggered ceiling soffits and walls formed from both textured tile and diaphanous curtains. The environs are sleek and spare, yet not cold. Perhaps it’s the color palette? Soft, neutral shades of cream, ebony, rustic brown and café au lait keep it warm and inviting. "

These restaurant brokers assisted in the search to find Kane Xu of Greenwich, Connecticutt a space to highlight his own sense of style for the palate and we must say, he's delivered an incredible experience.  We started with appetizers.  Our first choice was Hamachi Sashimi with a canteloupe sorbet and lime-mint oil.  This was a decadent and light appetitzer that paired the freshest portions of yellowtail we restaurant brokers have eaten in Atlanta with an amazing canteloupe sorbet that was silky soft and slightly sweet.  We wanted to lick the plate on this one.

In a perfect foil to the cold appetizer, we tried the hot version of yellow tail by choosing the Hawaiian Yellowtail Tempura with spicy aioli and kimchi.  At least one restaurant broker at the table LOVED the perfect heat of the kimchi and spicy aioli paired with a perfectly prepared piece of tempura yellowtail. 

While the appetizers were being devoured, our bread service arrived and this was an incredible treat.  The bread is baked onsite and they have two - count them two - bakery chefs.  One puts out this delicious bread and the second handles desserts (which we'll get to!).

For an entree, the restaurant brokers split their choices, with Eric going for Duck while I went for the Chilean Sea Bass.  The sea bass was delicious (where are they getting this fish from?).  It was perfectly pan seared on the outside while meaty, moist and delicious inside.  It came served on a bed of jasmine rice and bok choy with a fermented black bean sauce surrounding the plate.  I must say I finished every bite and it felt like a very upscale deconstructed Chinese dish.  We totally recommend this choice.

Eric went for the Long Island Duck with a carrot-ginger puree, french beans and orange-soy glaze.  The glaze was so good for the perfectly crispy exterior and moist duck that he sent to the kitchen for more.

A meal for the restaurant brokers never ends without a look at dessert and when we learned that Modern has their own pastry chef, it was decided.  The napoleon was a delight, both rich and light.  The sauce was the perfect balance of sweet without an over-powering and cloyingly heavy approach one gets from an industrially prepared version of this treat.

The restaurant brokers ended dinner with cocktails - an expresso martini for me and another of their signature drinks for Eric.

All in all, this is the best part of a restaurant brokers job.  We saw the end result of a great journey with a wonderful client culminate in a fantastic dining experience for Buckhead.  If you haven't been there yet - make a call now for reservations.  There are two private rooms perfect for Christmas parties.

P.S.  Ladies only.  Check out the ladies room on the far side of the restaurant.  Let me know what you think.