Daniel B.
Yelp
KarmaFarm gets a solid four stars out of me. This is another great, fast-casual, healthy food option in Atlanta. The food served is local, organic, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
While KarmaFarm has been around since late 2018, I didn't learn about it until recently after the restaurant showed up as a top search result for takeout near my home. They moved into their current space, where Holeman & Finch used to be, at the end of July 2020. This is a great addition to south Buckhead. Previously, KarmaFarm was located further north at Savi Provisions on Pharr Rd (a temporary pop-up location).
KarmaFarm is located on the ground level of the Aramore condominium building, same as longtime sushi restaurant Starfish and the newer Bun Mi Vietnamese Grill. A great thing about the Aramore is there's plenty of free parking in the attached deck.
If you ever went to Holeman & Finch, you know how small the space is. KarmaFarm did a nice job "opening" the interior up and making it feel bigger and brighter. They have both indoor and outdoor dining (the latter, H&F never had). Seating is limited and this is still more of a takeout place than anything. Brown Bag Seafood, gusto!, and Upbeet are comparable.
The restaurant has a live, dynamic menu: https://www.eatkarmafarm.com/. Once the restaurant is out of a particular item for the day, they remove it from the online menu.
I ordered and paid with my phone. The menu was easy to navigate and the process to select and pay was straightforward. My order was prepared quickly in only about 10 minutes. Foods are prepared fresh daily and sit on the counter (see my photos). My order was ready shortly after I had arrived around 5:40pm on a Monday.
The menu changes daily. Here's what I got:
Karmivore Kombos (Protein + 2 Sides):
* Local Free-Range Mustard BBQ Chicken Breast ($16.00) - Springer Mountain Chicken slow-cooked and smothered in KarmaFarm's house tangy organic mustard BBQ sauce
Protein Base: Chickpea Smash | Sides: Sesame Rainbow Cabbage Slaw, Roasted Organic Maple Brussels
* Local Grass-Fed Meatloaf in Local Ellijay Organic Shroom Glaze ($16.00) - local Brasstown, NC grass-fed beef, house herb mix, and organic shiitake Shroom Gravy
Protein Base: Braised Ginger Cabbage | Sides: Savory Vegan Turmeric Mac, Chilled Pesto Green Bean Partay
* "Creamy" Southern Chicken Salad ($16.00) - shredded Springer Mountain chicken breast in KarmaFarm's dairy-free mayo with organic grapes and organic celery
Protein Base: Organic Massaged Greens | Sides: Spicy Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Warm Roasted Organic Beets with Organic Sesame Oil
Karmabowl:
* Smoked Salmon Avocado Bowl ($18.94) - Patagonian Verlasso smoked salmon, Haas avocado, braised cabbage and sesame oil, tamari, sesame seeds, and lemon served over organic massaged greens with organic white rice
In general, the food was fresh, flavorful, colorful, and high-quality. I enjoyed everything, but to varying degrees. The "Karmivore Kombos" are inspired by Southern "meat and twos."
My favorite proteins were the "Creamy" Southern Chicken Salad and the Local Grass-Fed Meatloaf. My favorite sides were the Savory Vegan Turmeric Mac and the Warm Roasted Organic Beets with Organic Sesame Oil. I'm glad I got the "Creamy" Southern Chicken Salad because the next day, it was off the menu. Holy cow, was it good. I think it might be the best chicken salad in the city. Step aside, Chicken Salad Chick. Seriously though, I couldn't stop eating it. If I didn't know it was dairy-free, I'm not sure I would've been able to tell a difference. The chicken salad was creamy, tender, and delicious.
The Local Grass-Fed Meatloaf was leaner and and chewier than I'm used to, which is not a bad thing. This was dense, hearty, and tasty meatloaf that had a wonderful mushroom glaze that was rich in umami. Brasstown grass-fed beef is popular and you can tell by its taste and texture that it's a better-quality meat. As far as the Savory Vegan Turmeric Mac and the Warm Roasted Organic Beets with Organic Sesame Oil, like the chicken salad, I couldn't stop eating them. "Savory" was the right word to describe the mac. Its consistency was softer than average mac, approaching mushy, but I liked it. It was lip-smacking good. As for the beets, I'm generally a fan and these were ripe and sweet.
Some bites of the Local Free-Range Mustard BBQ Chicken Breast were a little dry and chewy, but that's chicken breast for you. Still, not bad. The Smoked Salmon Avocado Bowl was yummy, but got salty at the end, especially at the bottom where the white rice and greens had soaked up the tamari (soy sauce) that found its way to the bottom. I loved the greens; Swiss chard, I believe. Now these are the types of fresh, raw, and nutritious leafy greens I like to eat.
I missed out on the 16-hour Brasstown brisket they had on the menu the next day.
Owner Scott and his son Alex served me. Both were welcoming and friendly. This is the definition of small, locally-owned, family business.