The metro Atlanta restaurants we can't wait to see open in 2017

Lobster fried rice is set to be on the menu at Hungry Ghost.

Credit: Yvonne Zusel

Credit: Yvonne Zusel

Lobster fried rice is set to be on the menu at Hungry Ghost.

Out with the old, in with the new. 2017 will bring a spate of new restaurant openings, and our mouths are already watering. Here, the eateries that we can't wait to see open their doors in the new year:

Ama -- in 2016, Angus Brown and Nhan Le closed Lusca in Buckhead, opened 8Arm along Ponce de Leon Ave . and started work on Ama inside Paris on Ponce , which is set to open this year. The menu at the 45-seat restaurant, which will be accessed from the Beltline, will lean toward fish and seafood dishes.

Anh's Kitchen -- Fans of the now-shuttered Nam at Midtown Promenade will have reason to rejoice when this Vietnamese concept from Alex and Chris Kinjo -- who owned Nam -- opens at 855 Peachtree St. around March . Alex Kinjo also has two projects --  MF Bar  and District 3 -- in the works at the Avalon development in Alpharetta.

Barleygarden Kitchen and Craft Bar -- The first culinary concept from craft beer and wine retailer Hop City will offer a wide variety of beers, wines and cocktails, in addition to a chef-driven menu from Kevin Ouzts, who the project snagged after Ouzts' The Cockentrice closed at Krog Street Market . Look for the spot to open at Avalon later this year.

Bon Ton -- The former Top Flr space at 674 Myrtle St. NE in Midtown will reopen as a Vietnamese-meets-Southern concept in early 2017, with Hieu Pham of Buford Highway's popular Crawfish Shack and the team behind The Lawrence, including Darren Carr.

The Canteen -- Atlanta's food hall craze will continue into the new year with this micro food hall project from the team behind The General Muir that will take the spot of the now-shuttered Spence at 75 Fifth St. NW at Tech Square. The Canteen will include outposts of Fred's Meat & Bread and Yalla, both of which also have locations in Krog Street Market , as well as a spinoff of The General Muir called TGM Bagel, which will serve bagels, coffee and breakfast items, and Square Bar, which will serve juices and smoothies in the morning and will transition to a full bar featuring beer, wine, frozen drinks and cocktails later in the day.

Castellucci concept -- It doesn't have a name yet, but that doesn't mean we can't be excited by whatever the Castellucci Hospitality Group, which owns Double Zero, Iberian Pig and Cooks & Soldiers, has cooked up for the spot in Krog Street Market previously occupied by The Cockentrice . The restaurant is set to open in the spring

Coalition Food and Beverage -- The team behind the popular Osteria Mattone and Table & Main will unveil their third concept in 2017 at Teasley Place at 50 Canton St. in Alpharetta. Chef Woolery "Woody" Back is set to deliver "progressive and signature interpretations of American wood-fired classics" including steaks, sandwiches and salads, as well as a full bar.

Hungry Ghost -- Chef Calvin Phan of Poor Calvin's long delayed spot is set to open in 2017 at at 345 Edgewood Ave. NE. The Asian street food concept will reflect many of the offerings on the menu at Poor Calvin's, including lobster fried rice.

Mary Hoopa's House of Fried Chicken and Oysters -- One Eared Stag owner and chef Robert Phalen plans to bring his restaurant specializing in fried chicken as well as oysters every which way to the Hosea + 2nd development in East Lake in 2017. Hosea + 2nd saw the openings this year of Greater Good BBQ and Poor Hendrix .

N'Awlins -- The owner of Reel Seafood in Woodstock has plans to open this creole restaurant on the Marietta Square at 105 N. Park Square NE in early 2017.

Noona -- Michael Lo and George Yu, who own Taiyo Ramen in Decatur and Suzy Siu's Baos in Krog Street Market , have big plans for this "modern Korean" spot in the Parsons Alley development in Duluth, already home to O4W Pizza and the forthcoming Good Word Brew Pub from the Brick Store team . Noona, which means "older sister" in Korean, will focus on woodfired grilling and will feature a raw bar program. Lo and Yu also plan to open Ramen Station at Larkin on Memorial this year.

Upbeet! -- Better Brands, which also owns the popular Yeah! Burger restaurants , will open Upbeet at 1071 Howell Mill Road. The concept will allow customers to choose from a salad, grain bowl or protein plate on the serving line, which they can customize as they move down the line. The restaurant will also feature a smoothie, superfood bowl and juice counter.

Plus 4 stadium spots that already have our mouths watering...

FEED -- The restaurant from Chef Marc Taft of Chicken and the Egg in Marietta, will offer a menu featuring buckets of chicken, fried chicken tenders, Nashville hot chicken, catfish, country fried steak, meatloaf, macaroni and cheese and other Southern staples, as well as healthier options including grilled chicken and salads. FEED is set to open in March, a month before the Braves' first home game at The Battery, th entertainment development opening adjacent to the Braves' SunTrust Field.

Terrapin Taproom and Brewery -- This concept will see the Fox Bros. and Terrapin join forces to bring The Battery beer and barbecue.

Golden Brown and Delicious -- The Southern concept from Concentrics Restaurants, which also owns the new ramen restaurant Nexto , ONE. midtown kitchen, TWO urban licks, will open along with the Mercedes-Benz Stadium later next year.

Gamechanger from chef Kevin Gillespie, who owns the highly regarded Gunshow in Glenwood Park and Revival in Decatur, will feature "big flavors with playful riffs on American indulgence," according to a press release. The spot will also be located in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

 ...4 eateries we can't wait to see open their first Atlanta locations:

4 Rivers Smokehouse -- The barbecue spot owned by Chef John Rivers will open at 822 Marietta St. in the old fire station No. 16 in Spring 2017.

Bulla Gastrobar -- The South Florida-based restaurant serving modern takes on traditional Spanish and Catalan dishes, will open its first Georgia location at 60 11th St., the newest phase of the 12th & Midtown mixed-use development.

Halal Guys -- Fans of the New York food trucks that always have a line of people waiting to buy chicken, gyros and other halal items have been chomping at the bit for the chain's first Atlanta location to open . Look for it at 4929 Buford Highway in Chamblee at the beginning of the year.

Hattie B's -- The Nashville hot chicken spot will open its first Atlanta location at 299 Moreland Ave. NE in Candler Park by the end of the year.

...and 7 established metro Atlanta spots opening their second locations:

Ponce City Market's Spiller Park Coffee will open in Toco Hills; Candler Park's Radial Cafe will open in College Park; Varuni Napoli, which has a location in Morningside, will open at Krog Street Market; Rumi's Kitchen will open a second location at Avalon in Alpharetta; Decatur's Butter & Cream will open in Roswell; Wagaya will open a second location in Emory Village; and Roswell's Little Alley will open a second location in the former Aja space in Buckhead.

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