NEW RESTAURANTS GALORE

Atlanta’s dining scene continues to explode with options

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

Atlanta’s boast of being an “international city” gets a boost from the diverse and eclectic restaurants that call the city home. There is, literally, something for every palate, especially in the crop of newly opened restaurants and those on the immediate horizon. As spring rolls on and summer approaches, we’ve done a roundup of eateries for you to check out. Don’t see your favorite on this list? Let us know at AtlantaINtownPaper.com.

Now Open

Atlas

A new chef-driven restaurant developed by restaurateur and consulting chef Gerry Klaskala and Tavistock Group, is now open at The St. Regis Atlanta, 88 West Paces Ferry Road, in Buckhead. The dinner-only restaurant features a menu of fresh ingredients from local farms with American and European influences. Information: atlasrestaurant.com.

Chama Gaucha

The Brazilian steakhouse concept has opened its first location in the southeast in Buckhead. Slow-roasted beef, marinated chicken, pork sausage, antipasto and charcuterie are all on the menu. The restaurant is at 3365 Piedmont Road, Suite 1350. Information: chamagaucha.com.

Community Smith

Chef Micah Willix is serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails at this “modern meatery” on at 866 West Peachtree in Midtown. Information: communitysmithatl.com.

Illegal Food

Originally began as a pop-up in the Joystick Gamebar on Edgewood Avenue, Illegal Food now has its own space in the former Bar Meatball space at 1044 Greenwood Ave. in Virginia-Highland. The restaurant is serving its award-winning burgers in addition to a full menu of appetizers, sandwiches, entrées, desserts and custom cocktails. Information: illegalfoodatlanta.com.

Diner

Ron Eyester reimagines the classic American diner in his latest concept at Atlantic Station. You can get biscuits and gravy or steak and eggs for breakfast, while the lunch menu has pork chops, beef tips, meatloaf and smothered chicken. Information: dineratlanta.com.

Doraku Sushi

The newly opened Japanese restaurant at Buckhead Atlanta draws inspiration from Asian and Latin flavors and is served family style. Information: dorakusushi.com.

Gu’s Dumplings

The latest addition to the eclectic mix at Krog Street Market in Inman Market is the Gu family’s fresh and fragrant menu highlighting Szechuan dumplings and noodles, many of which are a staple at Gu’s Bistro. Information: GusDumplings.com.

Hi-Five Diner

Villains sandwich shop might be gone temporarily, but fans of Alex Brounstein can check out his new diner at 903 Peachtree in Midtown, which serves up all day breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus a full coffee and espresso counter and a fully stocked bar with cocktails, craft beer and wine. Information: hifivediner.com.

Little 5 Corner Tavern

A fire in early 2013 caused major damage to the watering hole at 1174 Euclid Ave., but its back in business serving burgers sandwiches, along with pool, karaoke, trivia and weekend brunch with bottomless mimosas. Information: thecornertavern.com.

Saltwood

Located inside the Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown, the small-plate-style restaurant features a charcuterie-driven menu and craft cocktails. The casual dining concept – named for its emphasis on salted, cured meats and classically rustic presentation on wood blocks – merges the former Restaurant eleven and Bar eleven into one open space filled with reclaimed wood communal tables and modern, mismatched seating. Information: facebook.com/ SaltwoodAtlanta.

Kabob Land

Grilled skewers of meat, fish and vegetables served over salads, in wraps, atop flatbreads or heaped on platters, the new fast casual eatery is open at 3137 Piedmont Road in Buckhead. Information: kaboblandatl.com.

Le Fat

Guy Wong's Vietnamese restaurant in the former Yum Bunz space on the Westside is finally open after a nearly year of delays. Be sure to check out Art Huckabee’s review on Page 40 of this issue.

Red Martini

This upscale lounge is offering up small plates, sushi and martinis in the heart of Buckhead at 3179 Peachtree Road. Information: redmartiniatlanta.com.

Superica

Chef Ford Fry is a force of nature on the Atlanta restaurant scene and his concepts continue to be big hits with diners. Twohour waits at the “Mex-Tex” (tacos, enchiladas, fajitas) sitdown in Krog Street Market in Inman Park aren’t uncommon. Ford is also planning a new concept at Inman Quarter (rumored to be a sister restaurant to his Westside hit, The Optimist) and recently announced he’s taking over the old Abbatoir space at Westside Provision District. Information: supericaatl.com.

Scales 925

Rap star T.I. (Clifford Harris to his mama) has opened his upscale Southern restaurant in the former French American Brasserie space at 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard in Downtown. The menu includes shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, short ribs, triple duck meatloaf and much more. Information: scales925.com.

Victory Sandwich Bar - Inman Park

After its original space was bulldozed to make way for the Inman Quarter development, it’s been a long drive to Decatur for a sammie and Jack & Coke slushie waiting for Victory’s return. The wait is over. The local favorite has taken over the old Park’s Edge space on Bernina Avenue and was expected to open this month. Information: vicsandwich.com.

Coming Soon

American Cut and Lugo Cucina Italiana

The Manhattan “new American steakhouse” from LDV Hospitality and Iron Chef Marc Forgione will open a second outpost in the Buckhead Atlanta development soon. The team also plans to open Lugo Cucina there as well, offering up its own lines of prosecco, chianti and pino grigio along with homemade pastas. Information: buckhead-atl.com.

Grindhouse Killer Burgers - Decatur

Ground was broken in March on North McDonough (just next door to the Chickfil-a) for the new outpost of Grindhouse. In the meantime, get your burger and crinkle-cut fry fix out the original location at Sweet Auburn Curb Market or on Piedmont Road in Morningside. Information: grindhouseburgers.com.

Hampton & Hudson

Billy and Jenn Streck, creators of Cypress Street Pint & Plate and GRAIN) have their eyes set on Inman Park this fall. The “community driven bar and restaurant” will be located in Inman Quarter on North Highland.

Highland Bakery - Decatur

The Old Fourth Ward breakfast, lunch and brunch favorite has seen a fairly rapid expansion in the last few years with locations in Midtown, Buckhead and the Emory and Georgia Tech campuses. Decaturites will get their chance to see what the fuss is all about later this summer when the 3,000 square foot restaurant opens in the mixed-use The Place on Ponce development. Also planned for the development, according to Tomorrow’s News Today, are Taziki’s Mediterranean Café and I Love Juice Bar.

Linton’s in the Garden

Restaurant Eugene and Holeman and Finch creator Linton Hopkins is planning to open this “plant-to-plate” restaurant on the grounds of the Atlanta Botanical Garden in the fall.

Revival

Top Chef favorite Kevin Gillespie has his sights set on Decatur and plans to open Revival in the old Harbour House space on Church Street in June. In a recent interview with Decaturish, Gillespie said the menu will honor the cooking traditions of his grandmother and offer up family-style Southern meals.

Staplehouse

Created by Ryan and Jen Hidinger to support The Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit that supports members of the restaurant community in their time of need, is set to open this summer. Ryan lost his battle with cancer last year, but the restaurant is on track for a summer opening on Edgewood Avenue in the Old Fourth Ward.

Urban pL8

Chef Betsy Pitts will bring her “healthconscious new American food” to Krog Street Market in Inman Park this fall. Urban pL8 will offer a wide variety of prepared meals in addition to their popular Paleo offerings, which are part of her popular Paleo 2 Go meal delivery service. Information: urbanpl8.com.