Atlanta Restaurant Updates: new places & faces

[micropundit]

The ever changing Atlanta restaurant scene will have some new places and new faces coming this fall.

SHOUT, the latest entry from the Here to Serve group- TWIST, GOLDFISH and NOCHE, will bring 18,000 square feet of dining excitement to the former COUNTRY PLACE location in Midtown's Colony Square. It will feature a bi-level layout with two kitchens; a tapas bar and a 4,00 square foot roof top bar. A hot spot at 14th@ Peach.

Speaking of 14th @ Peach, look out for a Bob Amick, Bill Johnson collaboration in the sleek 1180 Peachtree Tower (aka Symphony Tower) by spring of 2005.

The former COMMUNE location at 14th and Howell Mill (Westside) is being renovated into a Thai restaurant, slated to open in 6 weeks.

The Intercontinental Hotel Buckhead's AU PIED DU COCHON top toque, Chef Pery, is the former head chef at the Intercontinental Houston.

[Gifted Gourmet]

The ever changing Atlanta restaurant scene will have some new places and new faces coming this fall.

The Intercontinental Hotel Buckhead's AU PIED DU COCHON top toque, Chef Pery, is the former head chef at the Intercontinental Houston.

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details on the new Au Pied du Cochon in Atlanta

[micropundit]

New news on the Atlanta scene:

1. Look out for a possible HereToServe, Bill Johnson collaboration at Atlantic Station.

2. Word on the street is that Gary Meenie of CANOE fame is looking at a Brookwood Station location-WOLFGANG PUCK EXPRESS-on the developments third level.

3. CASSIS, a tapas bar, located at 511 Peachtree Street, across from Crawford Long Hospital, is under construction at a former niteclub site.

[therese]

3.CASSIS,a tapas bar ,located at 511 Peachtree Street-across from Crawford Long Hospital-is under construction at a former niteclub site.

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Interesting choice for a name, given that there was a restaurant of the same name in the old Nikko/Grand Hyatt not so very long ago. But then the target demographic is unlikely to know that.

Location very close to Django, a restaurant/nightclub sort of affair that on our single visit a couple of months ago was serving pretty terrible food and worse drinks.

[micropundit]

Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison, the chef/owners of BACCHANALIA and FLOATAWAY CAFE, are set to open their latest restaurant in the former COMMUNE office space in January 2005.

QUINONES ROOM, named for James Quinones, the FLOATAWAY manager who was killed by a drunk driver several years ago, will raise the Atlanta fine dining bar yet another notch.

There will be one seating for 25 to 30 people, per night, with several servers who will mix drinks, serve, and generally take complete care of diners' every need. Depending on the wines, the eight or nine course dinner will run from $80 to $200 a head. The menu will change daily and the tab will be paid upfront.

[micropundit]

The next entry to Midtown's increasingly hot dining scene could be THE WATERHOUSE.The restaurant is slated to open across from the Metropolis condominiums in a 2 story building to be constructed by Spring 2005.The eclectic menu promises to add even more energy to the mix.

[micropundit]

The High Museum of Art expansion is opening it's $130 million expansion on November 12, 2005 which will include a Renzio Piano designed restaurant.

TABLE 1280 RESTAURANT and TAPAS LOUNGE, a restaurant and tapas bar, will face the piazza and sculpture garden which will highlight the expansion's urbane village of the arts. It will have a dramatic glass front that will allow people watching from within the restaurant, as well as a patio. A family-oriented cafeteria will take over the current museum dining space and the lobby of the new Wieland Pavilion will offer a coffee bar.

[micropundit]

The opening chef at Here to Serve's SHOUT will be Ian Winslade, formerly of Buckhead Life's BLUEPOINTE.

Chef Winslade is returning to the fold as he was the opening chef for TOM TOM.

[Gifted Gourmet]

Ian Winslade chef profile from Atlanta's Finest Dining

Profile on Chef Winslade from Buckhead Life Restaurants

Bluepointe and Chef Ian have been featured in USA Today, The New York Times, Nation’s Restaurant News, and numerous regional and local publications and broadcast programs. Chef Ian also was selected as the “2000 Chef of the Year” by Atlanta’s Creative Loafing, was named “Rising Star of America Cuisine” by the James Beard Foundation and cooked at the Beard House in February 2001.

[micropundit]

The latest rumor floating around Atlanta is that Richard Blais- yes, that Richard Blais- will be working, starting in January, at TWO URBAN LICKS.

The bigger rumor is that it is in preparation for heading up Bob Amick's third resto under construction, 1180 Peachtree Tower (14th@Peach), a French brassiere tentatively titled TROIS.

[micropundit]

The new year is starting off with several new places and faces:

Raving Brands, the parent corporation of MOE'S, MAMMA FU'S et al, will be rolling out two new brands.

BONEHEAD'S, a seafood concept and a still developing bar-be-que concept.

FOGAO GAUCHO, a Marietta based Brazilian steakhouse is planning a downtown Atlanta location.

PERI PERI, a unique roasted chicken fast food concept from Here to Serve, has opened in midtown's Colony Square next to it's soon to be opened sibling, SHOUT.

THE REAL CHOW BABY, a create your own stir fry resto and bar, will open this month in the hot Howell Mill corridor in West intown.

Edited January 11, 2005 by micropundit (log)

[micropundit]

A new addition to the Midtown dining scene is being constructed from a former firestation:

THE SPOTTED DOG, a gastropub, will open this spring in the former Fire house no. 11, next to the North avenue Marta station.

SAMPAN will be the name of the upscale asian restaurant that replaces COMMUNE in the toney Westside shopping district.

Word on the street is that uber chef Kevin Rathbun is already eyeing a second location site. It may be right across the street from RATHBUN'S.

[Collins]

Just curious if anyone has been to TWO.urban licks to see if Richard Blais is there? I'm very curious to see how he would impact the menu they offer - which is definitely a Southern/New Orleans lean.

[blueapron]

Yeah, He is there, but I don't think he will be changing too much there cause that is and will be Scott Serpas show. Heard he is consulting now and workin on their next place possibly.

[micropundit]

There are a few notes on the Atlanta dining scene that are interesting riffs on the usual blockbuster, national attention grabbing items:

Joel Antunes of JOEL will be opening FORUM SUNDRY SHOP, a food, beer and wine shop in the Forum development where the restaurant is located. A Buckhead version of STAR PROVISIONS?

The Atlanta Braves are opening CHOP HOUSE II at Turner Field. It will be several levels above the original both in terms of location and offerings.

Watch out for MILLTOWN ARMS, a gastropub, opening this Spring in the increasingly trendy Cabbagetown neighborhood.

Last, Patti Roth, the opening chef at Downtown's LUXE, has moved on.

[micropundit]

THE GRAPE,an Atlanta based upscale bar/restaurant and store,is expanding from it's Vinings base to posh Phipps Plaza and 999 Peachtree(10th@ Peach) in Midtown this spring.Looks like ENO and VINOCITY will have company

.

FATBURGER,a long time LA mainstay,has opened it's first ATL location in the Buckhead plaza,Piedmont & Sidney Marcus.

Before they land in Atlantic Station,in a location directly across from New York fave ROSA MEXICANO,the Here to Serve group is intereted in opening a pizza joint on Monroe Drive near I-85 called PIEBAR.

Edited January 27, 2005 by micropundit (log)

[micropundit]

SEEGER'S is revamping it's look.This spring, the 5 star,5 diamond standard will re- do the interior color scheme in the dining room and revamp the lounge.The color scheme will feature a palatte of yellow,gold,and dark blue.According to media reports,Chef Seeger will unveil "a special rose" to toast his remodeled restaurant.

Chef Doug Turbush,late of NAVA,has been tapped to replace Ian Winslade at BLUEPOINTE.Chef Winslade will be the opening chef at the highly anticipated SHOUT,which is scheduled to open in February.Chef Turbush will be replaced at NAVA by Atlanta native,Tom Harvey.

Restaurant Associates-a renowned New York firm that developed such hotspots as BRASSERIE-will open TABLE 1280 RESTAURANT and TAPAS LOUNGE at the High Museum in September.Renzo Piano,the world famous architect who designed the High's $130 million expansion,will design the exterior and Bergmeyer Associates,Inc. of Boston-RADIUS-will work with Piano on the interior.The restaurant will feature white walls,light wood floors and charcol banquettes to match it's cool, American brasserie cuisine .TABLE 1280 will also stock it's cellar with cases of select vintage finds from the great American wine regions,as featured in the High's annual wine auction.

Edited February 1, 2005 by micropundit (log)

[micropundit]

Today's unveiling of the design of the new,$300 million Atlanta Symphony Center has a possible treat for diners as well as music lovers. Santiago Calatrava,the acclaimed architect,who designed the latest addition to Atlanta's emerging arts complex may also include a restaurant in the 13 story,279,600 sq ft ediface located at 14th and Peachtree streets.

The 14th @Peach corridor has seen several new dining options emerge recently. Local media accounts of the soon to be opened SHOUT,an 18,000 sq ft tapas bar/restaurant/lounge,and the still in design 13,000 sq ft restaurant in the 1180 Peachtree tower(aka Symphony Tower) ,which will look directly into the new Symphony Center,have fueled a sense of excitment about the emerging dining scene there. A Calatrava entry would hit an even higher note.

Edited February 9, 2005 by micropundit (log)

[micropundit]

A reported expansion by Nieman Marcus at Lennox Square Mall has the owners of BRASSERIE La COZElooking for new digs.The owner was quoted as looking for a"non Lennox "location.The long time mainstay for Atlanta's ladies who lunch crowd is a sibling to New York's famed LA BERNADINE.

Gary Menne,opening chef at CANOE,has left to head his own 9,000 sq ft restaurant in Brookwood Station.The chop house style resaurant will be named TAURUS,Chef Menne's astrological sign.

If you are in the downtown area around lunch, do youself a favor and drop by LES FLEUR De LIS CAFE. It is located in the lobby of the Healy building on Broad street and is truly a taste of France in downtown Atlanta.

Edited February 11, 2005 by micropundit (log)

[micropundit]

The battle for dining supremacy in the hot Midtown Atlanta is on.SHOUT,the Here to Serve Restaurant Group's latest, has opened.It is to early to compare it to the current champion,BobAmick's TWO:URBAN LICKS but the the respective companies are locked in a battle for the hearts,minds and wallets of Atlanta's trend setters.Early reviews are mixed,primarily because the highly anticipated roof, with it's separate bar and cabana's,will not be open until this weekend.Rumor has it that Mr. Michael Vick has already reserved one of the cabanas.

Speaking of Bob Amick,press reports out of Orlando have him opening a restaurant in the suburb of Winter Park this fall named LUMA.

Downtown Atlanta could add another upscale restaurant to its expanding roster.The owner of the LANDMARK DINER,an Atlanta based chain-it is now up to 6 locations-of 24 hour diners,is slated to open an upscale restaurant featuring Greek cuisine in the Georgia Pacific tower this fall.

In other downtown news,NIKOLIA'S ROOF has welcomed back Herve Pennequin as sommelier after a 5 year absence.Mr.Pennequin worked in New York,LA and Athens during that time.He is currently one step away from being designated as a Master French sommelier,a first for an American.

CHE,the Buckhead tapas restaurant has closed.Many will remember it as the location of the short lived BLAIS.

Edited February 22, 2005 by micropundit (log)

[micropundit]

Have just experienced the SHOUT! phenomenon and it's a combination of NOBU(a spacious and seperate shushi bar);SPICEMARKET(an upscale multi- asian themed menu set in an urban bistro setting);and,when it is completed a South Beach meets Las Vegas bar/lounge/club roof top deck.The food is good,so far,and according to those in the know ,improving.Management feels as if they are hitting their numbers and the deck has yet to open. (You have to check out the cabanas.) So the traffic on 14th@Peach looks like it will be getting a tad heavier,soon.

Catleberry Hill,Atlanta's emerging downtown arts district,will get some new dining options to go along with its growing gallery roster.The owners of No Mas Productions,the Midtown West Mexican art and furnishings warehouse,will be moving their main warehouse along with two restaurants-WASABI,a Japanese restaurant and NO MAS CAFE- to Castleberry Hill this summer.

Word on the street is that the SIA's team-SIA's,an outside the Perimeter hotspor and MITRA,a Midtown newcomer that is keeping them coming back for more-is looking to Midtown's industrial district for its third restaurant.

[micropundit]

The faces of Atlanta's restaurant scene are always changing,some come and some go but the beat continues :

Phillip Haddad,long of Peachtree Hills favorite PHILLIP'S,has moved on.After a parting of the ways at the eponymous restaurant,Chef Phillip is working at Midtown's MADISON GRILL.He is also offering private cooking lessons.

Former bad boy Paul Luna-LUNA SI,LUNATIQUE-has left the building.After several stints beginning in 1992 with BICE,Paul has packed up his toque and moved to Washington,DC where plys his trade at the OVAL ROOM.

An Atlanta face may be showing up in Charlotte soon.According to reports coming out of the Queen City,a Charlotte outpost of the Here to Serve Restaurants PRIME-a Steak/Sushi spot located in the toney Lennox Square Mall-is in the offing in a proposed Uptown mixed use high rise slated for completion in 2007.

[micropundit]

Two new concepts are on the drawing board for Atlanta diners.SEASONS 52,a sophisticated ,health conscious,grill and wine bar out of Florida,will debut here in early 2006.The menu ,which is seasonally adjusted,will be changed weekly;hence the name.

According to local press reports,the dynamic brother duo who produced MF SUSHI and NAM-which was just named to the top 10 restaurant listing for 2005 by AJC dining critic,Meridith Ford-is planning a new concept called RED BOWL.No additional information is currently available.We will be following this closely,so stay tuned.

Finally,the proposed tapas bar originally reported to be named CASSIS at 511 Peachtree St now has a sign that says VERVE coming soon and is sporting the steel framing of what should be a killer roof top experience.

[Gifted Gourmet]

In the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Dining Guide, Meredith Ford mentions New and Notable Restaurants opening here .. check it out! As an Atlantan, I am pleased to pieces with these new options to our growing dining scene!

[micropundit]

Ladies and gentlemen,all ships at sea:The Ritz Carlton Buckhead's DINING ROOM will be without only the third chef in it's 20 year history this summer.Bruno Menard,who has kept the DINING ROOM's 5 star tradition alive,is leaving this summer to return to Japan.Chef Menard will become head chef at an exclusive Frech restaurant ,where one of his closest friends is retiring,according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.The Ritz Carlton has started an immediate international search for his replacement.

While I am on the topic of departing chefs: William Koval,formerly head chef at Dallas'THE FRENCH ROOM,will be cooking with chefs in Atlanta and other cities to hone his skills before he takes the helm at the under construction,Joule Urban Resort's restaurant in downtown Dallas.His mission:to create"the best restaurant in the Soouthwest".

Edited March 25, 2005 by micropundit (log)