Review of Tavernpointe in Atlanta

BY WYATT WILLIAMS

Drew van Leuvan is quietly building an empire along Peachtree.

After jumping ship from Concentrics to open the quirky Seven Lamps outside Lenox Square, van Leuvan has since gained a Midtown foothold with the lovely but little cocktail bar Grain, and now Tavernpointe, a large, casual restaurant in between the two. All of these bear the van Leuvan touch, which is European-styled (pastas, charcuterie), a touch globally minded (lobster ramen, curried caramel popcorn) and lightheartedly American (corn dogs, fried oysters, chicken wings).

Tavernpointe is van Leuvan’s quickest creation, opening only months after Grain, and his most conservative. It is a handsome room, featuring brick and blond wood, dimly lit, full of long narrow tables and with an open kitchen not unlike Seven Lamps. Instead of van Leuvan’s more cheffy quirks, the menu here is stacked with familiar, classic dishes: steak frites, Caesar salad, spaghetti with pesto, double-stack cheeseburger, and so on.

This is probably a smart decision for the neighborhood. Tavernpointe is located on the ground floor of an office building aside Ansley Park, a space that has struggled to find an audience since Bruce Logue abandoned La Pietra Cucina a few years ago to open BoccaLuppo in Inman Park. Perhaps van Leuvan will be the one to draw the crowd. Pop in for lunch and you’ll see more than a few office workers in pressed shirts and slacks dining on a quick salad or sandwich.

Click here to read Wyatt Williams' complete review of Tavernpointe, and scroll down to get a taste of what to expect if you go.

Tavernpointe

1545 Peachtree St., N.E., Atlanta

Website: tavernpointe.com

Smoked Chicken Caesar with baby gem lettuce. (Beckysteinphotography.com)

From the drink menu: Time Invested- tequila, pear, Aperol, lemon, green tea and choice of celery or locally grown wildflowers in a single ice cube. (BeckySteinPhotography.com)