The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Restaurants
music videos and films play on TV screens. A storefront window will provide a view into the kitchen.
■ 113 Church St., Marietta.
Ela
Fifth Group Restaurants closed long-time Mexican restaurant Real El Taco in Virginia-highland last year, with plans to open this Mediterranean restaurant in the same space. The menu will feature a variety of Mediterranean cuisines including Greek, Moroccan, Israeli and Turkish, with a kitchen led by executive chef Darragh Dudley, a native of Dublin, Ireland, who previously worked in Michelin-starred restaurants in New York City before moving to Atlanta.
■ 1186 N. Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta.
Fawn
Fresh off his James Beard Foundation award win for Best Chef: Southeast, Terry Koval has plans to open amaro bar Fawn this spring in the former Sweet Seed Salad space on the Decatur Square, just steps away from his restaurants Deer and the Dove and B-side. The 40-seat restaurant, which includes 10 bar seats, will feature small plates, available a la carte or as part of a tasting menu, with a focus on charcuterie and crudo. Beverage director Matt Watkins will design a small cocktail menu of stirred and amaro-forward drinks.
■ 119 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur. instagram.com/fawn. wine.amaro.bar
Gene’s
Avery Cottrell will turn his pop-up into a brick-andmortar in the former Salaryman space in the 2nd + Hosea development in East Lake this spring. In addition to his smoked meats, Cottrell will showcase dishes like fish sauce caramel sticky pork ribs garnished with herbs, peanuts and fried shallots; fish dip; and “stuffed eggs,” a version of deviled eggs that Cottrell plans to serve with a cracklin’ gremolata. Beverage offerings will include frozen drinks and Jell-o shots.
■ 2371 Hosea L. Williams Drive, Atlanta. genesgenesgenes.com
J’ouvert Caribbean Kitchen
Tasha Cyril, who owns Belle & Lily’s Caribbean Brunch House, is behind this forthcoming Caribbean concept that will be part of the Uptown Atlanta development (formerly Lindbergh City Center). Expect to see items like jerk wings and chicken, pina colada French toast, curry mushroom roti, passion fruit pancakes and Trinidadian doubles, as well as a weekend brunch with live music. Look for J’ouvert to open in February or March.
■ 500 Lindbergh Drive NE, Atlanta.
La Metro
Chef Hector Santiago has been a mainstay in Atlanta for more than 20 years, with restaurants including El Super Pan (with locations at Ponce City Market and The Battery), El Burro Pollo in Midtown and the now-shuttered Pura Vida. His latest Spanish-inspired concept is expected to open in the former Biltong Bar space in Ponce City Market this summer. The menu will feature small plates like patatas bravas, croquetas, endive with anchovies and grilled mushrooms, along with bigger portions of bocadillos (sandwiches), canelones (stuffed pasta rolls), lamb with olives, fideua (paella made with pasta), and seasonal paella. Patrons can also expect a selection of Spanish wines and cocktails.
■ 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta. lametroatl.com
Lucky Star
The team behind popular metro Atlanta restaurants Momonoki, Cafe Momo, Brush Sushi and Cuddlefish is set to open cocktail-focused Lucky Star in the Star Metals development this year. The L-shaped front bar will serve coffee, matcha drinks and draft cocktails throughout the day. Food offerings will include Momo Cafe-style items including filled croissants and mille crepe cakes, as well as Taiwanese fried chicken sandwiches. When patrons walk down a hallway and through an archway, they will find a reservation-only back bar that will likely offer a cocktail omakase experience.
■ 1055 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta. instagram.com/ luckystaratl
Mothers Best
Ean Bancroft and Ross Winecoff plan to turn their fried chicken pop-up Mother’s Best into a brick-and-mortar this spring in the former Calle Latina space in Decatur. The menu will feature fried chicken buckets and chicken sandwiches served with housemade sauces and sides. For this business venture, they are partnering with Donald Durant and Armando Celentano, the owners of Argosy in East Atlanta and Sceptre Brewing Arts in Oakhurst.
■ 406 Church St., Decatur. instagram.com/mothers.best
Nadair
Local celebrity chef and former “Top Chef” contestant Kevin Gillespie has taken over Anne Quatrano’s storied Floataway Cafe space. Gillespie, who also owns Gunshow, called Nàdair “the next chapter in a story we began many years ago at Woodfire Grill,” referring to the now-shuttered Atlanta restaurant where he started his career as a restaurateur. While the concept is expected to open in 2024, a specific opening date has not been announced.
■ 1123 Zonolite Road NE, Atlanta.
Okay Anny’s and Politan Row at Ashford Lane
Slated to open in the coming weeks, food hall Politan Row at Ashford Lane will be home to food and beverage concepts including Bucatini Ristorante, Mamacita’s Cuban Cantina, Pretty Little Tacos, Smokehouse Q, Chef Viet and Delilah’s Everyday Soul. An ’80s and ’90s-themed bar called Okay Anny’s will also be part of the lineup. Politan Group is also behind the food hall at Colony Square and a forthcoming hall at the Form at Peachtree Corners.
■ 4500 Olde Perimeter Way, Dunwoody. ashfordlane. politanrow.com
Pendolino
Chef Kevin Maxey, who spent several years working for Ford Fry’s Rocket Farms Restaurant Group and was a driving force behind the group’s Superica restaurant, plans to open his own eatery later this year in the Chastain Market development in Sandy Springs. The Italian restaurant will be located in the former Santorini Taverna space.
■ 4279 Roswell Road, Atlanta. instagram.com/pendolinoatl
Redacted Basement Drink Parlor
It’s been five years since Judy Ho and Jake Karmin announced plans to open a conspiracy theory-inspired bar on the Georgia Avenue restaurant and retail corridor in Atlanta’s Summerhill neighborhood. After several delays, the bar is expected to open this spring.
■ 63 Georgia Ave., Atlanta. instagram.com/ redactedbasementdrinkparlor
Skol and Valhalla Social
Craft brewery Skol and Valhalla Social, an “eatertainment” concept with games, food and drinks are both set to open in the coming months on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta. Skol will feature eight beers and a Nordic-inspired menu from Rich Rosendale, a certified master chef who also oversees culinary operations for adjoining restaurant R3 Rosendale Concepts, catering and events business Rosendale Events and Southern Exchange Ballrooms event operations. Located above Skol, Valhalla Social will have its own food and drink menu along with ax throwing, pool tables, shuffleboards, basketball, skeeball, foosball, ping pong and darts.
■ 200 Peachtree St., Atlanta. instagram.com/skolbrewatl
Switchman Hall
Slated to open this spring, Switchman Hall food hall in the Terminal South development will bring more than 15 food stalls to Atlanta’s Peoplestown neighborhood. Food hall tenants will include Life Bistro, Original Hot Dog Factory, Perfect Seasoning, Southern Grace, Tiger K Cup Bob, Sabu K Ramen and The Cream, along with dine-in concept Pur Zen Mimosa Wine Bar.
■ 1155 Hank Aaron Drive SE, Atlanta. terminalsouth.com