These are the stories that created buzz on the metro Atlanta dining scene this week:
•Houston-based Turkey Leg Hut is expanding to Atlanta this spring, Eater Atlanta first reported.
The restaurant is eyeing the space at 907 Marietta St. in West Midtown previously occupied by Figo Pasta, What Now Atlanta later reported.
Turkey Leg Hut’s menu features turkey legs stuffed with dirty rice and topped with ingredients such as cajun crawfish mac and cheese and alfredo shrimp. Options also include salads, sandwiches, appetizers such as boudin balls, entrees such as a fried fish basket and wings and desserts.
•Mary Hoopa's House of Fried Chicken and Oysters appears to be closed at the 2nd and Hosea complex at 2371 Hosea L. Williams Drive in East Lake. What Now Atlanta first reported the closure, which owner Robert Phalen has yet to confirm.
Landlord Nathan Bolster of ReDevStudio told What Now Atlanta that the restaurant could still reopen, but all tables and chairs had been removed from the dining area and equipment appeared to have been removed from the kitchen when the AJC went by earlier this week.
The AJC reached out to Phalen -- who also owns One Eared Stag in Inman Park and is set to open Woodward + Park next month in The Larkin in Grant Park -- last week for comment.
Mary Hoopa's was set to celebrate its first anniversary this month. Former AJC food writer Wyatt Williams gave the restaurant a two star rating when he reviewed it last year.
•The Madison Yards development in Reynoldstown has added several more tenants, Tomorrow's News Today reports. Joining Hooters-owned concept Hoots will be Marietta-based Taqueria Tsunami, Marlow's Tavern, frozen pop purveyor Steel City Pops, fast-casual Indian chain Curry Up Now, salad chain Salata, breakfast chain First Watch plus an Asian seafood restaurant from Richard Tang of Char Korean Bar & Grill in Inman Park and Mike Yang, former chef at Ba Bellies in Peachtree Corners.
•The Juicy Crab is slated to open at 4349 Lawrenceville Hwy. in Tucker, in the space previously occupied by a Papi’s Cuban & Caribbean Grill. There are also Juicy Crab locations in Smyrna, Duluth, Conyers, Douglasville, East Point, McDonough, Kennesaw and Fayetteville.
•Wet Willie's has closed in Lindbergh City Center, Tomorrow's News Today reports. It's set to reopen as bar B51 in the coming weeks.
•Nate Sanders has been named the general manager of Amalfi Pizza in downtown Atlanta. He previously worked as training coordinator for Ted's Montana Grill, general manager and beverage director for Battle & Brew as well as bar manager and beverage director for Metrotainment Cafes' Hudson Grille.
MORE METRO ATLANTA RESTAURANT NEWS:
Read more stories like this by liking Atlanta Restaurant Scene on Facebook, following @ATLDiningNews on Twitter and @ajcdining on Instagram.
