The Imperial open in Oakhurst
The Imperial has softly opened in Oakhurst, and neighbors are already packing the place, taking full advantage of the free-for-all seating policy. The pub is located in a small building on West College Avenue, and includes two dining areas and a front patio. There's a full bar with bargain-priced draft beer and grub like a dressed roast beef po' boy on Lee's Bakery bread, plus starters, salads, wings and burgers. 726 W. College Ave., Decatur. www.facebook.com/ARestaurantToBeNamedLater.
Kirkyard Public House open in Kirkwood
For neighborhood residents, it might feel like deja vu as Kirkyard Public House has quietly opened in the two-story Kirkwood Station space on Hosea L. Williams Drive that's been home to Vinocity, Kirkwood Public House and Kirkwood Bar & Grill. Urban Daddy reports that the sports pub from owner Dano Kirk features "chili cheeseburgers, a dozen draft beers and flat-screens everywhere you look." 1963 Hosea L. Williams Drive S.E., Suite R105. 404-500-1357, www.kirkyardpub.com.
Hector Santiago and Big Sky Buckhead
In addition to helming the kitchen at Abattoir, chef Hector Santiago and the team from his former Latin sandwich shop, Super Pan, will create the menu and man the kitchen at Big Sky Buckhead, opening in early 2014. Santiago, a former "Top Chef" contestant, landed at Abattoir after closing his Poncey-Highland tapas restaurant, Pura Vida, last year, along with the adjacent Super Pan, beloved for the likes of pork buns and Cuban sandwiches. Big Sky will serve lunch, dinner and brunch. www.facebook.com/BigSkyBuckhead.
More Buckhead restaurants in 2014
Several other restaurants are set to open in Buckhead in 2014. St. Cecilia from Ford Fry's Rocket Farm restaurant group takes over the former Bluepointe space with an Italian seafood and pasta concept by chef Brian Horn. Look for three new concepts in the Buckhead Atlanta development, Smokebelly, the Southern Gentleman, and Gypsy Kitchen, from the team behind Tin Lizzy's, Big Ketch and Milton's. And New York City Neapolitan pizza makers Roberto Caporuscio and Antonio Starita are set to open Don Antonio by Starita in January in the former STG Trattoria space on West Paces Ferry Road. donantoniopizza.com.
