Kevin Rathbun prides himself on having worked with members of the Brennan family at their legendary Commander's Palace in New Orleans, but pretty soon, others will be bragging about having worked with Rathbun, who now commands his own palace, Rathbun's.  "Now that I am on my own, I can do what I want to do and go where I want to go, " he said.  Rathbun selected the industrial-chic location of The Stove Works and summoned architect Bill JOhnson to take the space to a new dimension.  Walking up, white-ish panels of fabric with large parthole-like windows provide a glimpse into the courtyard patio that's sexy and intimate.  The fuchsia door lures you inside to a light, open space where more fuchsia floats above in giant stovepipe pendants.  Rathbun even went so far as to find fuchsia peppermills!

The real focal point, however, in the friendly, open kitchen that allows you to see the culinary masters at work. 

A visit to Rathbun's is a departure from the ordinary, a trip to a unique spot where melting-pot flavors from all over blend with modern American cuisine.  Small plates include the fun-to share eggplant steak fries sprinkled with confectioners sugar and the ahi tuna "crudo" with citrus, serranos and cold pressed olive oil, which is superb.  We also loved the mock turtle soup with dry sack sherry (to clarify, it's veal in the stock for those of you who might have shied away) as well as a unique Gruyere-Caesar romaine salad, inspired by Rathbun's mother-in-law.  The first course selections certainly set a high bar for the entrees, which are also exceptional.  Topping that list are the rosemary grilled beef flat iron steak with hearts of palm, arugula and lemon oil, and the braised brisket in smoked tomato with poblano quesadillas.  And, yes, there's more.

Those of you who know Rathbun probably have tasted the lobster taco appetizers with cascabel cream that he made famous in Atlanta.  Well, at this eatery, the chef jazzes up the dish as a "second mortgage plate" with Main lobster in a roasted chile soft taco.

Rathbun's best buddy, Pastry Chef Kirk Parks, also has built himself quite a reputation here.  If you can't decide between the peanut butter cream pie or Fuji apple crumb cake with ginger cherry sauce, request a dessert sampler platter, which Parks happily will prepare.