Atlanta Restaurant News-August 2008, From Dorsey Alston Realtor

A couple of new places to check out in the Atlanta area. Happy Dining.

Buckhead. Atlanta Magazine has honored HOLEMAN and FINCH as 2008 restaurant of the year.

Decatur. What I have to assume is the metro area's first Somali restaurant [unless perhaps you count the taxi holding area at Hartsfield] has opened at 4746 Memorial Drive, DARU SSALAM. Watch for an upcoming review in Creative Loafing.

THE BRICK STORE PUB has begun cellaring many of its "home" bottled brews in the basement of an adjacent bank (old Trust Building?), taking a page from pubs in Belgium. Reportedly, there's talk of hosting small meals down in the vault at some point in the future as well.

Downtown. If the newly erected awnings in the front of the building are to be believed, there's a new MELLOW MUSHROOM coming to the Twelve Bldg at the corner of Spring St and Ivan Allen.

A few more details are emerging as the LEGAL SEAFOODS under construction in the Hilton Gardin Inn at 275 Baker St nears completion. According to Atlanta Business they're building out a 9,000-square-foot restaurant on two floors. The first floor will feature Legal Sea Foods' Oyster/Lobby Bar, while the main restaurant will occupy the second level.

COOPER BLUE JAZZ BAR, a 4,500 square foot multi-purpose facility, with full kitchen scheduled to open in Underground Atlanta late this year.

The Georgia Dome has hired a new executive chef, Frank Abbinanti to overhaul the dining options in the Club and Suite levels. Chef Abbinanti is former executive chef at Disney's Animal Kingdom [zebra burgers?].

If you live or work downtown in zip codes : 30313, 30303, or 30308, STATS is offering 10% off you lunch (food only).

Midtown. And not to be left out... residents of zip codes 30306, 30307, 30308, 30309, 30312 or 30324 will receive 10% off their dinner at ONE MIDTOWN KITCHEN Sunday through Thursday during August. Proof of residency required.

Rumored that the GLOBE is about to undergo a makeover to become more of a casual dining spot.

Northside. Lots of buzz about a new project from the folks who own MUSS & TURNER'S, bringing in Chef Chris Hall (CANOE, SUN DIAL) as a partner. I'm not clear if the location will be on Northside Drive or Northside Parkway.

Old 4^th Ward. In a daring move of urban gentrification, the owners of the STANDARD BAR on Memorial Dr are opening a new pub, BUREAU to be located on Edgewood a couple of doors down from the newly opened NONI'S ITALIAN DELICATESSAN.

JUICEEZ & ETC, a juice bar with a limited menu, plans to open later this summer at 20 Jackson Street.

Toco Hills. MAMA FU'S in Toco Hills Plaza closed abruptly last Monday, according to the sign on their door, a pizza joint is coming in it's place.

Not really Toco Hills, but I couldn't think of a neighborhood to assign in to... Chef Frank Ma has returned to the delight of his cult-like following among Atlanta dining scene, opening FRANK MA SOUTH, 2088 Briarcliff Road [near Whole Foods].

Westside. SLICE on Howell Mill Rd, just up the street from CHOW BABY, has closed and the building is for sale. And finally I cannot fail to note that Metromedia Restaurant Group's national chains BENNIGAN'S and STEAK & ALE closed their doors last Tuesday and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, shuttering more than 150 company operated locations and letting go thousands of employees. Don't worry though, Chief White House economist, Edward Lazear says things could be worse. The Associated Press quoted him discussing recent economic results saying, "the numbers reflect the resilience of the American economy in the face of significant shocks". There now, don't you feel better?


written by
Eric Harvison