QUICK BITES

Ponce City Market’s Central Food Hall will expand this summer, adding over 5,000 square feet of space on the first floor. The expansion will move into the Onward Reserve space (which has relocated to the second floor) and a former property management office. The new wing will house six restaurants and retail shops, plus communal seating throughout, including Nani’s Rotisserie Chicken, Vietvana Pho Noodle House, and JJ’s Flower Shop.

Sarah Pierre of 3 Parks Wine will curate a special tasting at the Burns Mansion to benefit the Grant Park Conservancy on June 5. There will be two socially distanced seatings of no more than 50 people held from 4-6 p.m and 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $125 per person at gpconservancy.org.

Staplehouse has transitioned from award-winning restaurant to a neighborhood market offering pastas, pastries, beer and wine along with Chef Ryan Smith cooking up favorites like chicken liver tart, smoked brisket and grain bowls for takeout or to enjoy on the patio or garden space. Staplehouse is still at 541 Edgewood Ave. in Old Fourth Ward. Visit staplehouse.com for more information.

offering java, grab-and-go pastries and breakfast sandwiches. Visit thevictorianatlanta.com for more.

Chef/owner Joey Ward has reopened Southern Belle in Poncey-Highland offering sociallydistanced four- and seven-course tasting menus for dinner, served in the restaurant’s dining room and on the patio, weather permitting. For more, visit southernbelleatl.com.

▲Patronize Downtown restaurants and then enjoy Lunch in Woodruff Park, where café tables and chairs are set up Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A park attendant will be onsite to sanitize tables after each use. Check out atlantadowntown.com/experience/ dining to find Downtown restaurants.

Mexican restaurant Chido & Padre’s has reopened at 128 East Andrews Drive in Buckhead after being closed during the pandemic. Executive Chef Thomas Goss has put a modern spin on traditional Mexican recipes from Oaxaca, Puebla and Sinaloa. Visit chidoandpadres.com for more information.

▲Atlanta-based artist and cookbook author Matthew Terrell has launched his latest project, “Living the Dream,” a new cooking and lifestyle show sponsored by a grant from Fulton County Arts & Culture. Episodes of the show, which Terrell describes as “Martha Stewart meets Peewee’s Playhouse,” will be streaming at GoddessBlessYou.com.

High-tech kitchen and classroom Epicurean Theatre, which will be located inside the new Epicurean Hotel in Midtown, will host both educational and entertaining forums for the open discussion of a wide range of topics from cultural trends and cooking techniques, to the art of mixology, wine-tasting and more. Events will include immersive demonstrations, tastings, and pairings all led by notable local and regional chefs and beverage professionals.Visit EpicureanHotelAtlanta.com.

Intowners were distraught when Marchet Sparks announced at the end of March that she would close her Le Petite Marche eatery in Kirkwood. A few weeks later, Sparks announced a reprieve. She’s sold the cafe to the owners of Atlanta Breakfast Club and ABC Chicken & Waffles. Sparks said the new owners are committed to keeping Le Petit Marche exactly as it is: so it’ll be the same place that you know and love! And you’ll see me stopping by frequently!” The restaurant is expected to reopen June 1.

Farm Burger has taken over the former Yeah! Burger space at 1017 N. Highland Ave. in the heart of Virginia-Highland. Serving “100% grass-fed beef,” the Atlanta-based burger joint also has locations in Decatur, Grant Park, and Midtown. The restaurant’s parking lot will also be playing host to the brand new Virginia-Highland Community Farmers Market, which will be open every Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. selling fresh produce, artisan goods, and more.

►Tickets are on sale now for dining-in-the-dark event Pitch Black, which will be held in a secret location in Atlanta this July. Each dining experience lasts 90 minutes, giving diners ample time to get comfortable with their new surroundings, and enjoy a two-course meal with a drink – blindfolded. A live host will be entertaining diners with multiple games and challenges centered around the sensory experience. Tickets cost $80.00 per person. Visit hidden.com and select Atlanta from the menu to purchase tickets and get more details.

▲If you love plants and coffee, then you’ll love the new shop slated to open this month at 1336 Glenwood Avenue in East Atlanta Village. The Victorian and Bellwood Coffee are joining forces for this new shop featuring rare plants with the coffee bar at its heart

Restaurant RIP: Golden Eagle in Reynoldstown, One Eared Stag in Inman Park, Bocado on the Westside and Botanico Bar & Kitchen in Buckhead. Both Bocado and Botanico said they plan to reopen in new locations.