The owners of Sweet Auburn BBQ in Poncey-Highland have opened Gezzo’s Coastal Cantina in the former Juniper Cafe space in Westside Village at 2260 Marietta Blvd., Eater Atlanta reports.
The restaurant, backed by Howard and Anita Hsu, is an expanded version of sister restaurant Gezzo’s West Coast Burritos, with locations in McDonough and Locust Grove. The menu features tacos, burritos, bowls, starters and sides, as well as an extensive selection of mezcals, tequilas and rums and several margaritas, wines and beers.
Dishes from culinary director and Sweet Auburn BBQ chef Cam Floyd and head chef Wainer Isidor include ceviche, a coconut curry rice bowl, Baja chicken egg rolls, and tempura fish tacos. The restaurant also has Mexican-style ice cream from La Michoacana and several other desserts, as well as a kids menu.
The 150-seat space includes a fully enclosed patio and an indoor dining room with an eight-seat bar, as well as an additional 30 seats on an uncovered breezeway.
Juniper Cafe, owned by the Hsus’ brother Ron and chef Aaron Phillips, closed earlier this year, with plans to relocate.
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The Citizens Market food hall is now open at 3480 Peachtree Road NE as part of the Phipps Plaza expansion plan that began in 2018.
The 25,000-square-foot hall, accessible from either the outdoor courtyard or from inside Phipps Plaza, includes a culinary market with eight brands and a full indoor and outdoor bar.
Vendors include burger spot Umami Burger; Sam’s Crispy Chicken, a concept offering a variety of battered, cornflake-crusted chicken sandwiches; Krispy Rice, which offers handrolls, maki cut rolls and nigiri; Sa’Moto, a collection of Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s Pan-Asian dishes; Ella Mia, a coffee shop that serves breakfast, lunch, and early dinner; Cicci Di Carne by Dario, an Italian deli and butcher concept from Dario Cecchini; El Pollo Verde, which serves roasted chicken and Spanish-inspired salad bowls from chef Dani Garcia; and Soom Soom Fresh Mediterranean, which offers pitas and wraps packed with flavor in dishes like Chicken Shawarma, Kabobs, ClassicHummus, and Falafel served with housemade tahini
Citizens Market’s opening hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, with EllaMia open 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. for coffee and breakfast.
The space was designed by architect David Rockwell, who also designed Citizens New York at Manhattan West that opened in 2020. Design elements include geometric food counters and and low lighting, with a marketplace that opens onto a courtyard with seating and a greenspace. The bar opens onto the courtyard, and the hall also has its own dedicated patio seating.
Phipps Plaza opened as the first multi-level shopping mall in Buckhead in 1969.
Citizens Market is one of many food halls that have opened in metro Atlanta over the past few years, including Chattahoochee Food Works, Politan Row at Colony Square and Ph’east at Battery Atlanta.
Other restaurants at Phipps Plaza include the recently-opened Nobu, Ecco, Alon’s Bakery and Davio’s.
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Sankranti Indian Kitchen has opened its second location at 1569 N. Decatur Road in Emory Village.
Sankranti Emory Village serves customizable curry bowls, kathi rolls, pulao, and traditional Indian appetizers for lunch and dinner daily. Guests who dine at the location during its first three months will receive a 20% off coupon that can be used during a future visit.
The 2,200-square-foot space features floor-to-ceiling windows, an open kitchen and counter for ordering, indoor seating for 40 guests, and additional seating outdoors.
The restaurant comes from Srinivasa Nimmagadda, who opened the first Sankranti in Dunwoody in 2022 and also owns sister concept Sankranti Restaurant and Jalsa lounge in Alpharetta.
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Emilio’s Kitchen & Cantina is set to open in 1105 West Peachtree, Atlanta Business Chronicle reports. The restaurant will be located in one of three towers that is part of the project, which comes from Atlanta-based Selig Development. The Epicurean Atlanta hotel is also part of the development.
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Mochi donut concept Mochimee, is set to open at 63 Broad St. NW, What Now Atlanta reports. The concept comes from local franchise group Boxete, which is also opening a which is also behind a forthcoming location of similar brand Mochinut and Jaws TPK, a Korean street food concept set to open in Duluth later this year.
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A new location of Grits & Eggs Breakfast Kitchen is opening in Buckhead Crossing shopping center at 2625 Piedmont Road NE, Tomorrow’s News Today reports. The restaurant has an existing location in Vinings and recently announced plans to open locations in Summerhill and Midtown.
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Sean and Amber Germain, who own Sean’s Harvest Market, Sean’s Heart of the Park and Sean’s Candler Park, have signed a lease to open a 24-hour diner in the forthcoming mixed-use development on Moreland Avenue in Little Five Point, Atlanta Business Chronicle reports. The menu will feature traditional diner fare with potential dishes including skillet hash potatoes, pancakes, burgers and BLT sandwiches.
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Jack Huffey, the owner of restaurant Jack’s New Yorker, is set to open takeout spot Burger Crush in the coming weeks at 871 Concord Road in Smyrna, Tomorrow’s News Today reports.
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Popular Candler Park restaurant Gigi’s Italian Kitchen is set to expand into the adjacent space on McClendon Avenue, Atlanta Business Chronicle reports. Jacob Armando and Eric Brooks started Gigi’s as a pop-up and opened it as a full-service restaurant last August.
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Dessert shop I Scream and Cake, featuring specialty cakes and ice cream, is set to open in late summer at 510 Fairburn Road SW, What Now Atlanta reports.
More restaurant news
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux opening in Avenue West Cobb
Automated pizza vending machine PizzaForno opens in Buckhead
Delbar opens next week in Alpharetta
Uptown Test Kitchen opening in Uptown Atlanta
Mike Reeves, who powered Atlanta’s music and restaurant scenes, dies
Carmel opening this month in Buckhead
Message in a Bottle opening in Dunwoody
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