Ida’s Kitchen Counter coming to South Downtown, and more from Atlanta’s dining scene
The South Downtown neighborhood will soon add another new restaurant, Tip Top Proper Cocktails launched a new drink, multiple restaurants raised money for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and more of the week’s happenings on the metro Atlanta dining scene.
Chef Todd Ginsberg’s South Downtown restaurant opens soon
Ida’s Kitchen Counter, the forthcoming restaurant from the group behind The General Muir, Fred’s Meat & Bread and more, will open soon in South Downtown, according to a social media announcement.
The small breakfast and lunch restaurant at 185 Mitchell St. SW is backed by chef Todd Ginsberg and restaurateur Josh Kim. It joins another recent, high-profile restaurant opening in Mule Train, the fine dining restaurant from chef couple Mike and Shyretha Sheats.
Originally slated to open in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ida’s is now targeting mid-October, though a specific date has not been confirmed. According to the restaurant’s website, Ida’s will serve bagels, sandwiches, soup and salads. Breakfast will be served all day, with lunch items such as a tuna melt, burger and bibimbap grain bowl available starting at 11 a.m.
185 Mitchell St. SW, Atlanta. 470-567-0853, idascounter.com
Tip Top Proper Cocktails launches limited-time tiki drink
Atlanta-based beverage company Tip Top Proper Cocktails launched a new cocktail this week that also kicks off a series of limited-time offerings that honor legendary bars, according to a news release.
The Tia Mia is a tiki cocktail was created by bartender Ivy Mix, who opened the Brooklyn bar Leyenda with partners in 2015.
“We kept coming back to Leyenda when we were first falling in love with cocktails in New York,” Neal Cohen, Tip Top’s co-founder and chief brand officer, said in a news statement. “You’d grab a seat at the bar, and the bartender would walk you through mezcals and rums you’d never seen or heard of, then show you what they could do in a cocktail. It was a revelation, never intimidating, just fun. When we started talking about which bars to honor, there was never much debate about where Proper Establishments should begin.”
The Tia Mia is a mezcal-based twist on the classic mai tai. Although Leyenda closed in 2025, Mix still serves it at her newest bar, Titàn, which opened in New York in June.
Other items of interest
Botanico Cocina & Social Club, the Midtown Latin restaurant that opened in August, will begin offering Sunday brunch this weekend, according to a news release. The brunch menu will be completely gluten-free — including biscuits and gravy made with Colombian chorizo, pancakes with mixed berry coulis and a Spanish tortilla. Brunch begins at 11 a.m. each Sunday.
1106 Crescent Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-975-3403, botanicoatlanta.com
Several restaurants around metro Atlanta are offering specials this October for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month:
- Joey D’s Oak Room and New York Prime, both owned by CentraArchy restaurant group, are running a promotion called Pink Kiss for the Cure, featuring a special martini. The group will donate 50% of proceeds from the martini sales to breast cancer research and care.
- Joey D’s Oak Room, 1015 Crown Pointe Parkway, Dunwoody. 770-512-7063, joeydsoakroom.com
- New York Prime, 3424 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta. 404-846-0644, newyorkprime.com
- Le Colonial in Buckhead Village will offer a special drink menu that will provide donations toward breast cancer research. The menu includes a cocktail called la vie en rose, made with sparkling rose, a mocktail called violet moon and rose wine from Whispering Angel. The restaurant will donate $2 for each drink sold in October.
- 3035 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta. 404-341-0500, atlanta.lecolonial.com
- The Salty, an artisanal doughnut chain, is running a weeklong campaign benefiting the Breasties, a nonprofit that helps many groups of people affected by breast cancer. Through Oct. 18, all Salty locations will sell a strawberry and white chocolate gem doughnut, with $2 donated for every one sold.
- Three Atlanta-area locations. saltydonut.com
Kelly’s Market & Deli in Decatur has been sold, according to Atlanta restaurant broker the Schumacher Group. The announcement did not provide any details about the market’s new ownership.
308 E. Howard Ave., Decatur. 404-996-2925, kellys.market
Openings and announcements
Whiplash Comedy will open at Ponce City Market on Monday, according to a news release. The new venue from longtime Atlanta comedy promoter Marshall Chiles will feature a full food and beverage program. Whiplash will also feature a variety of other programming, including comedy classes and late-night jazz.
650 North Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-201-2424, whiplashcomedy.com
Buckhead Butcher Shop is now open in East Cobb, the business posted on social media. The shop opened its second location, in Marietta, on Sept. 29.
1062 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta. 770-758-3856, buckheadbutchershop.com
Stir, a cocktail and oyster bar chain from Chattanooga-based SquareOne holdings, will debut with the grand opening of the Medley Johns Creek on Oct. 29, the company announced this week. Stir is known for carving ice for its cocktails directly from 300-pound blocks at the bar.
3165 Medley Blvd., Johns Creek. 470-206-8689, stirmedley.com
Hawaiian Bros Island Grill, a chain with more than 80 locations, has signed a lease to open its first Georgia location in downtown Atlanta, according to a news release. The franchise offers Hawaiian comfort food, such as chicken, glazed pork, macaroni salad and rice, and the new location is set to open in the first quarter of 2027.
112 Courtland St. NE, Atlanta. hawaiianbros.com
Myth & Legend Coffee will open a fourth metro Atlanta shop, in Kennesaw, next month, the company announced on social media. The small chain already has locations in Clarkesville, Cumming and Johns Creek, as well as St. Augustine, Florida.