With warming weather, the relaxation of state safety guidelines and a bit more guidance about the situational risks for contracting the coronavirus, a deluge of metro Atlanta restaurants reopened for in-person dining this week. Others announced plans to open in the near future, or partially open for patio dining.
The list of restaurants reopening includes some headline-grabbing names like Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, Lazy Betty, TWO Urban Licks and Miller Union. The latter, a James Beard Award finalist this year for Outstanding Wine Program, is notable because it was one of the first Atlanta restaurants to fully shut down; its last dinner service was on March 14. The kitchen at Miller Union has kept busy by feeding healthcare workers through its partnership with the Atlanta Hawks and Emory Healthcare, and with many enhanced safety precautions, the restaurant will finally reopen its dining room on June 1 for dinner only.
>> RELATED: A list of metro Atlanta restaurants that have reopened dining rooms, patios amid coronavirus pandemic
Though so many restaurants are reopening, many have altered their service formats. Despite the state issuing updated safety guidelines that allow slightly more people into restaurants, most restaurants are not set up to be profitable with less than half of their normal occupancy. Restaurants that converted to takeout-only, including upscale destinations like Miller Union, will continue their takeout programs to help make up for the inevitable revenue shortfalls from their dining rooms. Takeout menus will continue to include alcoholic beverages through the month of June thanks to the Atlanta mayor’s extension of an earlier administrative order temporarily decriminalizing sales of unopened wine, beer and cocktails.
>> RELATED: Coronavirus has Atlanta restaurateurs rethinking menus
Below is a partial list of metro Atlanta restaurants that reopened dining rooms this week, as well as restaurants reopening soon.
Opened this week:
- Buena Vida Tapas & Sol
- Butcher & Brew
- Colletta
- Corner Bakery
- Flip Burger
- Flying Biscuits - all locations
- Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
- Good word brewing (patio only)
- Gypsy Kitchen (brunch returning June 6)
- Hudson Grille
- Joe's on Juniper
- Leon's Full Service
- Monkey 68
- Oak Steakhouse
- Pisano's
- Ray's Restaurants
- Seed and Drift Fish House
- South Cobb Diner
- South Main Kitchen
- Southern Gentleman (brunch returning June 6)
- Storico Fresco
- TWO Urban Licks
- West Cobb Diner
Opening soon:
- Second Self (May 30)
- Miller Union (June 1 - dinner only)
- O-Ku (June 2)
- Lapeer Seafood Market (June 3)
- Lazy Betty (June 3)
- BoccaLupo (June 10)
Atlanta-based Krystal is the latest fast-food brand to try out plant-based meat. After widely successful launches of Impossible meat at chains like Burger King, Krystal will cut the Impossible burger down to size, fitting it between the buns of its diminutive slider as the chain tests the Impossible Krystal in Atlanta and Columbus, Ga. Though the Impossible patty is plant-based, it will not be prepared on a separate grill and is not intended to be part of a strictly vegan diet. The Impossible Krystal is available at Atlanta-area stores for a limited time for $1.99, and as part of a combo that includes three Impossible Krystals, fries and a drink for $8.99. Learn more at krystal.com.
If you've found yourself in a takeout ordering rut, Atlanta startup Feed ATL can help pull you out of it. The ordering platform creates virtual, in-home food tours of Atlanta restaurants by building multi-course meals with each course sourced from different restaurants. The restaurants involved include some acclaimed local names like recent James Beard Award finalist Kimball House and brand-new places like Grana. Menus are updated daily and meant to feed two people, with meals typically costing $60-$80. To learn more and order a virtual food tour for yourself, visit feedatl.com.
DBA Barbecue, notably conceived during the 2008 financial crisis, is celebrating its 11th anniversary with a special menu of stuffed burgers and a tagline, "DBA Barbecue… Somehow since 2009." The five-burger menu will be available only on June 2 and features the Death Watch, made with a beef patty stuffed with smoked brisket, hot sauce and minced habaneros, then topped with spicy pimento cheese. The other burgers, simply numbered one through four, are similarly decadent. Though DBA Barbecue's dining room remains closed, the burgers are available for takeout all day next Tuesday. Learn more and order online at dbabarbecue.com.
UberEats is hosting a nationwide burger contest featuring local tie-ins and celebrities galore. Dubbed Burger Showdown, the contest features celebrities and chefs discussing their favorite burger combinations in an online web series, with those burgers available to order in their specific city. Atlanta's celebrity is Jaleel White who created his burger in partnership with Cypress Street Pint & Plate. Atlantans who want to participate can order the burger and vote this weekend, with the contest set to conclude on May 31. Proceeds will be donated to Frontline Foods, an organization that supports both local restaurants and healthcare workers. To watch White's video and order the burger for delivery, visit theburgershowdown.com.
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