DINING Nacho Daddy
Buzz-Worthy The latest and greatest on Gwinnett’s food and beverage scene BY JENNIFER SENATOR
winnett continues to thrive as one of metro Atlanta’s top dining destinations, where you can find craft beer, cream puffs, and everything in between. Be sure to check out these new and forthcoming spots—just a sampling of the many new restaurants, brewpubs, and homebrew stores opening this year in Gwinnett County. From the team behind popular Lawrenceville eatery Oyster Bay Seafood Cafe comes T-Ray’s Fire Grill, now open next door to the seafood hotspot. “T-Ray” is the nickname of owner Taylor Ray Green, who has partnered with her parents, Steve and Jo Green, to open the restaurant. The family-owned eatery offers premium Angus steaks and a variety of grilled meats and seafood, as well as artisan cocktails, craft whiskeys, and a 25-foot ice bar. Also in downtown Lawrenceville, Iron Shield Brewery,
G
66 • EXPLORE GWINNET T
makers of Ironshield Beer, will open in early 2020 in the 56,000-square-foot space formerly home to the Gwinnett Daily News. Planned to be among the top five largest breweries in Georgia, it will feature a taproom, biergarten, and production space. Gwinnett’s beer scene continues to grow with newcomer Indio Brewing opening this summer in the new E Center @ Sugar Hill, a New Urbanist–designed community in downtown Sugar Hill. Owner Jonathan Martinez plans to have at least six microbrews on tap and will hold “homebrew challenges” throughout the year to spotlight local homebrewers. Already a well-known name among beer enthusiasts, Operation Homebrew is billed as “The Best Darn Homebrew Store in Georgia.” It is now also home to Snellville’s first winery. In addition to the store’s popular line of Southern-style sweet wines, premium wines such as merlot, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, and chardonnay are also available. The store/winery will also hold wine tastings and lessons in winemaking in addition to its already popular beer-making classes. At least three new Mexican eateries have recently opened in Gwinnett. Agavero Cantina Parkside, housed in a bright red double-decker bus parked on the edge of
