Will 2014 be the biggest year in Atlanta dining history? It’s hard to argue, considering the number of new restaurant destinations.
Krog Street Market in Inman Park stirred excitement in August with the opening of the Luminary and Craft Izakaya. Buckhead Atlanta followed with much anticipated Shake Shack in September. And the Avalon development in Alpharetta is set to debut in late October, with a slew of restaurants, including Antico Pizza, Bocado Burger Bar and the El Felix.
While the Central Food Hall at Ponce City Market is running behind as far as openings, award-winning chefs such as Anne Quatrano and Linton Hopkins will be part of the scene there.
In terms of trends, what does it say that the Peachtree Road anchor of luxury Buckhead Atlanta is a Manhattan hamburger stand — even if it is the most successful restaurant in Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group? Or that the chef-driven, Charleston-bred Oak Steakhouse holds a freestanding space of honor at Avalon?
Even if it seems investors love restaurant IPOs, and fast-casual franchises are key players, the real heroes of Atlanta dining are still chef restaurateurs like Ford Fry and Kevin Rathbun, who have managed to find both popular and critical success with multiple concepts.
With that in mind, here’s a look back at five recently opened restaurants, and a preview of four coming attractions.
What’s New
Craft Izakaya — The second spot to open at Krog Street Market is a loud and lively Japanese-style bar and restaurant that's a spinoff of Sushi Huku in Sandy Springs. Headed by executive chef Jey Oh, there's a full sushi bar and a yakitori menu with skewered meats, seafood and veggies cooked on a charcoal grill imported from Japan. Bar manager Nate Shuman, recently of Proof & Provision, created the beverage program, featuring sake, shochu, craft beer and cocktails. 99 Krog St., Atlanta. 470-355-9556, craftizakaya.com.
Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall — Owner-managing partner Michael Lennox opened what's billed as "a base camp for the urban explorer," the first bar-restaurant concept specifically designed with Atlanta's Beltline in mind. Decks and a screen porch with picnic tables offer outdoor seating with a view. The campfire-inspired cooking includes the likes of Navajo-style fry bread, shellfish roasted in a cast iron skillet, and a whole spatchcock chicken for four with sides and accompaniments. 684 John Wesley Dobbs Ave., Atlanta. 404-458-6838, ladybirdatlanta.com.
The Luminary — The first restaurant to open at Krog Street Market generates its buzz from executive chef Eli Kirshtein of "Top Chef" fame. Kirshtein describes the concept as a French American brasserie, which translates to white tablecloths and a casual vibe. The classically inspired menu takes a few regional and contemporary turns — think chicken wings and shrimp toast. There's a raw bar, craft beer and cocktails, and a party patio. 99 Krog St., Atlanta. 404-600-6199, theluminaryatl.com.
The Pig & the Pearl — The Atlantic Station smokehouse-meets-raw-bar concept from chef Todd Richards of the Shed is all about two of the hottest dining trends. On the lunch and dinner menus, smoked beef brisket, pork shoulder, lamb, duck and sausage join raw and smoked seafood and shellfish. Pastry chef Megan Brent re-creates down-home favorites like bourbon banana pudding. At the full bar, there are classic cocktails, punch bowls and 16 draft beers. 1380 Atlantic Ave. N.W., Atlanta. 404-541-0930, thepigandthepearl.com.
Shake Shack — The better burger chain evolved from a hot dog cart restaurateur Danny Meyer set up in Manhattan's Madison Square Park in 2001. Since then, the franchise has gained a major cult following, with more than 50 locations worldwide, including Dubai and Moscow. Sure enough, on opening day in Buckhead there was a crowd ready and willing to wait in line to order the signature ShackBurger and frozen custard shake. 3035 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta. 470-809-9201, shakeshack.com/location/atlanta-ga.
Spice to Table — In July, chef Asha Gomez closed Cardamom Hill, her critically acclaimed Indian restaurant. But in August, Gomez opened a new bakery-cafe concept in the Old Fourth Ward she calls an "Indian patisserie." The breakfast-lunch menu changes daily, but staples include samosa pockets, flatbreads and sandwiches, hot or iced chai, and spiced carrot cake, along with assorted savory, sweet and spicy goodies in the bakery case. 659 Auburn Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-220-8945, spicetotable.com.
Coming Soon
Atlas at St. Regis — A new $5 million restaurant called Atlas will replace shuttered Paces 88 as the main restaurant at the swanky St. Regis hotel in Buckhead. The dinner-only destination from chef Gerry Klaskala, co-owner of Canoe and Aria, will feature American seasonal cuisine "accented with gracious Southern hospitality." Christopher Grossman will serve as chef de cuisine. The Johnson Studio of Atlanta is is in charge of the design, which aims to create the atmosphere a private club. Opening is planned for January 2015.
Best and Smith — Though they haven't revealed the name or the concept, Greg Best and Regan Smith are set to open an anchor restaurant at Krog Street Market in late 2014 or early 2015. "The full-service location will certainly offer food and drink in a comfortable manner," Best has said. In 2008, Best and Smith partnered with Andy Minchow and Linton and Gina Hopkins to open Holeman and Finch Public House, the bar-restaurant that brought craft cocktails to Atlanta. Best and Smith parted ways with H&F in 2013.
The Cafe at Linton's — Atlanta Botanical Garden is partnering with Atlanta chef Linton Hopkins, 2012 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Southeast, with a "unique plant-to-plate concept." Hopkins' Resurgens Hospitality Group, which includes Restaurant Eugene and Holeman and Finch Public House, will assume management of the garden's cafe in November, now dubbed the Cafe at Linton's. In late 2015, the cafe will be replaced by a new full-service restaurant, Linton's in the Garden, in a two-story contemporary glass structure.
Hector Santiago — Recently, former "Top Chef" contestant Hector Santiago announced that he was leaving his post as executive chef at Abattoir to open a new Latin-style restaurant at Ponce City Market. Santiago was the chef-owner of a trio of popular Poncey-Highland Latin concepts, Pura Vida, Super Pan Latino and El Burro Pollo, which closed in 2012. More recently, he was involved in Big Sky Buckhead. Look for the new concept sometime in 2015.
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