Though nowadays the area is marked by a big hole left by the monster Streets of Buckhead project, not that long ago Buckhead Village was the epicenter of nightlife in Atlanta — whether it was fine dining, clubbing or drinking at one of the myriad funky watering holes.
But while Buckhead was losing much of it’s walkable village appeal, several suburban nightlife destinations with touches of small-town charm were springing up far beyond Peachtree Street.
Here’s a road trip roundup, with stops around Main Street in Woodstock and Duluth and Canton Street in Roswell, and commentary from three of the entrepreneurs making it happen.
Woodstock
In May, chef Richard Wilt opened Century House Tavern, plugging into the energy of Woodstock’s burgeoning downtown community of condos, shops and dining spots, while preserving a bit of the past.
Situated in the historic Hubbard House, built in 1894, the renovation makes use of an atmospheric hilltop site, where crowds sipping drinks gather around a spreading oak tree in the entrance garden. Inside, the busy bar and dining room are accented with exposed brick and weathered wood, a fitting backdrop for Wilt’s “upscale comfort food.”
Wilt, who once worked for famed Atlanta chef Gunter Seeger, has lived in Woodstock for seven years. He served as executive chef at Salt Factory and Inc. in Roswell, while eyeing the Hubbard House property and trying to get his own restaurant off the ground.
“Woodstock is a great place to live and work,” Wilt said. “I’ve been watching the transformation, and the rebirth over the past three years has been remarkable. It has a kind of urban village feel now.
“For people around here, places like Pure, Vingenzo’s and the new Ice Martini Bar provide a kind of Buckhead or Midtown experience without having to go there.”
Century House Tavern — Look for lunch served daily with sandwiches and burgers, and entrees with international flavors and Southern roots at night. 125 E. Main St., Woodstock, 770-693-4552, www.centuryhousetavern.com.
Pure Taqueria — A downtown anchor open for lunch, dinner and brunch with tacos and other Mexican favorites and a happening rooftop bar with live music. 405 Chambers St., Woodstock, 770-952-7873, www.puretaqueria.com.
Vingenzo’s Pasta & Pizzeria — Friendly fine dining at lunch and dinner with Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas, mix-and-match pastas and an Italian wine list. 105 E. Main St., Woodstock, 770-924-9133, www.vingenzos.com.
Ice Martini Bar — Cocktails, sushi, good-looking young people and ice-cool decor make this new lounge the buzz destination of the moment. 380 Chambers St., Woodstock, 770-672-6334, www.icemartinibar.com
Duluth
Since January, Eddie Owen has been booking shows at the city-owned Red Clay Theatre in Duluth. Owen is the Atlanta folk and live music icon who created a scene at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, promoting the likes of the Indigo Girls and John Mayer.
But now, in addition to his Red Clay gig, which includes a new music school, Owen has plans to open a restaurant adjacent to the theater, called Eddie’s Tavern, sometime next year.
“That’s going to be a very simple community tavern,” Owen said. “Just a little beer and burger place.”
Owen is enthusiastic about the revival of Duluth’s downtown area, with additions such as the Town Green’s amphitheater and festival center, and more spots for dinner and drinks within walking distance of Red Clay.
“It’s a ‘build it and they will come’ kind of thing,” Owen said. “I like the pizza place across the street called Steverino’s. There’s a cool little coffee shop called Chocolate Perks, and when I can steal away with my wife, we have a nice dinner at Park Cafe on the Town Green.”
Red Clay Theatre — Monday night open mic and weekend concerts by singer-songwriters such as Patti Griffin and Michelle Shocked are the draw at the 250-seat venue acclaimed for its acoustics. 3116 Main St., Duluth, 678-957-7283, www.eddieowenpresents.com.
Steverino’s Pizza — Family-friendly dining with pizza, subs, burgers, beer and wine, a front patio on Main Street and backyard tables facing the Town Green. 3117 Main St., Duluth, 770-622-2110, www.steverinosduluth.com.
Chocolate Perks — Cozy Main Street coffee cafe serving breakfast lunch and dinner, pastries, chocolates, beer and wine, with live music on weekend nights. 3160 Main St., Duluth, 770-342-0037, www.chocolateperks.com.
Park Cafe — Southern-meets-French bistro with lunch and dinner, wine tastings and a wine market in the historic Knox House on the Town Green. 3579 W. Lawrenceville St., Duluth, 770-476-2989, www.parkcafeduluth.net.
Roswell
In late 2011, Ryan Pernice opened Table & Main on Canton Street in Roswell, in the historic heart of Atlanta’s most exciting suburban dining destination.
Pernice graduated from Roswell High but spent time in New York City working for restaurateur Danny Meyer before coming home to open his own place with partner chef Ted Lahey.
“I’d talked about opening a restaurant my whole life,” Pernice said. “I never thought I’d do it in my hometown. But, then, coming back and seeing all that Canton Street was becoming as a nightlife destination, it became apparent that this was a great spot.”
Table & Main has earned raves for its sophisticated but cozy atmosphere, deft take on Southern bistro fare, and bourbon bar. But Pernice has plans for another kind of restaurant up the street — an Italian-style osteria serving pasta, wood-fired entrees and wine.
“What’s great is that there’s such an incredible variety on Canton Street,” Pernice said. “For the most part, there’s not a concept that’s duplicated. We just got a wine bar, Vin 25, and there wasn’t one of those. But there’s everything, including sushi and Mexican, and that’s the strength of this destination.”
Table & Main — A “Southern tavern” serving homey but hip bistro fare in a 100-year-old cottage with dining on the front porch or patio, casual parlor or more formal back room. 1028 Canton St., Roswell, 678-869-5178, tableandmain.com.
Vin 25 Bistro & Wine Bar — The new addition to the Canton Street area is a chef-driven restaurant in a stone cottage with a cozy but contemporary feel and serious wine program. 25 Plum Tree St., Roswell, 770-628-0411, www.vin25.com.
Little Alley Steak — A full-on gourmet steakhouse with wet-aged, dry-aged and prime beef, and a modern high-energy atmosphere that draws a crowd at the clubby bar. 955 Canton St., Roswell, 770-998-0440, littlealleysteak.com.
Swallow at the Hollow — Beloved barbecue restaurant in an old pine barn on Green Street with pit-smoked meats and fresh veggie sides and live music some nights. 1072 Green St., Roswell, 678-352-1975, www.swallowatthehollow.com.
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