Patio Brunch at Buena Vida

Buena Vida is a tapas restaurant between the Beltline and O4W © Anna Lanfreschi

Buena Vida is a tapas restaurant between the Beltline and O4W © Anna Lanfreschi

Not many things can compete with eating brunch on a lovely patio on a sunny Sunday. Buena Vida in Old Fourth Ward is the perfect restaurant to do just that.

Buena Vida’s beautiful outdoor patio © Anna Lanfreschi

Buena Vida’s beautiful outdoor patio © Anna Lanfreschi

Buena Vida’s interior is gorgeous © Anna Lanfreschi

Buena Vida’s interior is gorgeous © Anna Lanfreschi

The Spanish tapas restaurant is located right off the Beltline, and its expansive outdoor patio overlooks the Historic Old Fourth Ward Park.

There’s lots of the shade and the tables are well-spaced for social distancing. (The interior is also beautifully designed, but I’m waiting for a Covid vaccine before dining indoors). The whole place has calming, beachy vibes that make you want to reach for a refreshing cocktail and nosh on delicious small plates.

And Buena Vida’s brunch menu is chock-full of them. Think patatas bravas, pan con tomate, and croquetas – these tapas dishes are a great way to start your meal. But the menu also features more traditional brunch entrées with a Spanish twist, such as flan French toast, gambas and grits, or steak & huevos. Both sections of the menu have several clearly marked vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free items, should that be up your alley.  

Seasonal brunch salad topped with a poached egg; the Valencia spritz at Buena Vida ©Anna Lanfreschi

Seasonal brunch salad topped with a poached egg; the Valencia spritz at Buena Vida ©Anna Lanfreschi

If you’d like to start with a cocktail, try the Valencia Spritz – it is delectable and not too sweet. There are also more classic brunch drinks, like bloody Mary and mimosa.

Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am – 4 pm. Buena Vida also serves dinner (obviously) 5-10 pm Tuesday through Saturday, and until 9 pm on Sundays. And their dinner menu is certainly worth checking out, but now that the weather is finally starting to cooperate, I’m all about enjoying the great outdoors by drinking on a dreamy patio!

Regardless of when you go, be sure to make a reservation for Buena Vida on Resy. And let me know what you think of this restaurant – send me a DM on Instagram. I hope you enjoy!

Anna Lanfreschi is a digital content creator and strategist based in Atlanta. She posts about food and travel on her blog, AnnaFeasts, and on Instagram @AnnaFeasts

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Grana: Your new go-to spot for pizza and meatballs

Grana is an Italian restaurant in Midtown Atlanta known for pizza and meatballs © Anna Lanfreschi

Grana is an Italian restaurant in Midtown Atlanta known for pizza and meatballs © Anna Lanfreschi

Handmade pizza, from-scratch pasta, meatball flights, and make-your-own cannoli. These are just a few of the authentic Italian dishes you can expect from Grana.

Grana doesn’t just serve any Italian food: The Morningside restaurant specializes in true Neapolitan cuisine. If you’ve ever been to Naples, Italy, or met anyone from Naples, you will have undoubtedly heard that Neapolitan food is the best kind of Italian food. Afterall, Naples is the birthplace of pizza… and every Neapolitan dish, from antipasti to desert, tastes soulful, soothing, and oh-so-satisfying.

 And there’s no better person in Atlanta to bring the robust flavors of southern Italy to our city than Chef Pat Pascarella, who helms Grana’s kitchen (as well as White Bull in Decatur). Pascarella grew up tasting and cooking with the Italian matriarchs of his family, and you’ll see nods to his family recipes throughout Grana’s menu.

 Grana is known for its meatballs, and you’ll see both mom’s and grandma’s polpettes on the menu. Best not to choose through, and simply try one of each with the meatball tasting, which is a flight of all six meatballs on the menu and makes for a hearty start to your meal.

Crispy Brussels sprouts (R) and the meatball flight (L) at Grana © Anna Lanfreschi

Crispy Brussels sprouts (R) and the meatball flight (L) at Grana © Anna Lanfreschi

Before you move onto the pizzas and the pastas, get your veggies in. There are several options on the antipasti menu section, and the crispy Brussels sprouts with truffle honey and ricotta are divine.

Now, for the delicious carbs… you really can’t go wrong with any of the pizzas or pastas at Grana! The truffle pizza is a memorable option because it comes with three types of cheese, including burrata (mozzarella’s fancier cousin), and is topped with black truffle sauce.

The truffle pizza at Grana © Anna Lanfreschi

The truffle pizza at Grana © Anna Lanfreschi

Regardless of your main entrée selection, definitely, absolutely, categorically save room for dessert. There’s really only one item on the menu – cannoli – but your options are limitless because you get to fully customize your sweet treat. You can choose the type of ricotta it’s filled with (yes, there is more than one choice!), the various toppings to add to each side, and whether to top it with chocolate. Hands down, these are the best cannoli I’ve had in Atlanta!

Make-your-own cannoli (R); Grana’s rooftop patio (L) © Anna Lanfreschi

Make-your-own cannoli (R); Grana’s rooftop patio (L) © Anna Lanfreschi

Grana is open for happy hour and dinner nightly, and also serves brunch on the weekends. When the weather is nice, do check out their expansive rooftop patio, especially during happy hour. Reservations are not required, but highly recommended.

Anna Lanfreschi is a digital content creator and strategist based in Atlanta. She posts about food and travel on her blog, AnnaFeasts, and on Instagram @AnnaFeasts

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Where to brunch this weekend: Joy Café

The breakfast burrito and spicy chicken biscuit at Joy Café © Anna Lanfreschi

The breakfast burrito and spicy chicken biscuit at Joy Café © Anna Lanfreschi

Head to Joy Café in midtown Atlanta if you want to try the best breakfast burrito in the city. Yes, I said it: Joy Café has the best breakfast burrito in Atlanta!

This burrito is a generous serving of cheddar scrambled eggs with house-made chorizo, sour cream, pico de gallo, avocado, and a delicious tomatillo cream sauce, all wrapped in a tortilla and served with home fries. It sounds pretty straight forward, but it is precisely its simplicity that makes Joy Café’s the best breakfast burrito this food writer has ever had.

Something about it is incredibly satisfying. All the ingredients come together perfectly, without overwhelming your taste buds. The breakfast burrito is my go-to item on Joy Café’s brunch menu, but it certainly isn’t the only one worth mentioning.

The spicy chicken biscuit is a crowd favorite, and the avocado toast may be the prettiest one served in Atlanta. It is topped with chopped tomatoes, feta cheese, watermelon radish, and a poached egg – as well as microgreens and edible flowers – and served with beetroot hummus. It is delicious, colorful, and beautifully plated. Just look at this Instagram photo!

Of course, it wouldn’t be brunch without coffee and mimosas, and Joy Café has many options for both. There’s also a lovely patio for you to dine on, in case you’re not ready to eat indoors just yet.

Joy Café’s outdoor dining patio © Anna Lanfreschi

Joy Café’s outdoor dining patio © Anna Lanfreschi

Joy Café is known for their brunch, so expect to wait for a table during peak times. If you prefer not to wait, head in earlier in the morning (brunch service starts at 8:30 am on Saturdays and Sundays). Or you could also pop in for lunch, which is served Tuesday through Friday, 11 am – 2:30 pm. And the restaurant’s dinner service will resume January 12, 5:30 pm – 11 pm Tuesday through Saturday.

The Greek salad from Joy Café’s lunch menu © Anna Lanfreschi

The Greek salad from Joy Café’s lunch menu © Anna Lanfreschi

Let me know on Instagram what you think of Joy Café after you check them out – send me a DM with your thoughts!

I hope you enjoy your experience,

Anna.

Anna Lanfreschi is a digital content creator and strategist based in Atlanta. She posts about food and travel on her blog, AnnaFeasts, and on Instagram @AnnaFeasts

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Atlanta: Where to Order Easter Meals for Takeout and Delivery

easter brunch

For many Americans, this Easter Sunday will be an intimate family affair. Church services will be broadcast via video or TV and meals will be served only to the members in your household. Eater.com has been great about providing up-to-date dining information across the nation during these unprecedented times.  Beth McKibben has put together a list of Easter dining takeout options for Atlanta. This is what she writes:

As Georgians continue sheltering in place, this year Easter sees people gathering around the table at home and not over brunch at a local restaurant. But, many restaurants, bakeries, and catering companies around Atlanta still offer takeout and delivery, and are even serving up special Easter menus to-go this Sunday. Make sure to order ice cream and dessert, too.

This guide will continue to be updated until Friday, April 10 so continue to check in with Eater.com.

Easter Meals for Takeout and Delivery

Oak Steakhouse

The restaurant at Avalon in Alpharetta is offering a family-style meals comprising of a salad, bread, two entrees, like glazed ham or smoked chicken, two sides, and dessert. The meals feed between two to four people, and must be ordered by 2 p.m., Thursday, April 9. Pick up on Saturday between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., or on Sunday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Email Jeff Gates at jgates@theindigoroad.com to order.

Cru Wine Bar

Order Easter brunch with a mimosa kit at the Alpharetta wine bar. The three-course, prix fixe menu is only $24, with the option to add a mimosa kit for $25. Pick up on Easter Sunday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Call 678-248-5181 to order in advance.

Arnette’s Chop Shop

Preorder an Easter steak dinner that includes a 20-ounce beef Wellington and all the sides. The meal serves up to four people for $120. Call 404-969-0701 to order for pick up Saturday, April 11.

Haven

For $140, order an Easter meal featuring glazed ham or leg of lamb, fingerling potatoes and green beans or a salad or rolls. The family meal serves up to four. Call 404-969-0700 to order for pick on Saturday, April 11.

Local Three

Just as it would have done in the dining room on Easter Sunday, Local Three is offering family-style brunch and dinner for curbside pick-up on April 12. Brunch includes everything from cinnamon rolls and banana-pecan bread, to pancakes and bacon and Easter eggs filled with candy paired with mimosas and Bloody Marys. Brunch feeds six for $150. As for dinner, choose from turkey, ham, or brisket, and feast on sides like mac and cheese, a spring salad, and pimento cheese. There’s grasshopper pie for dessert. Meals range between $150 to $175 and feed six people. Call to order. Menu online.

Canoe

The restaurant is offering brunch and lunch packages for Easter. Brunch is $80 and includes pastries, fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, and Bloody Mary mix for pick up Saturday, April 11, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Lunch features entrees like prime rib, salmon, or pork rack served with family-style sides such as red bliss potatoes and glazed carrots. Prices range from $90 to $130. Pick up Sunday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Order online.

The Companion

The newly opened restaurant in Bolton is offering Easter supper for takeout. The menu features either pork loin or mushroom lasagna, broccolini or butternut squash, and strawberry pound cake for dessert. Call to order. Check Instagram for updates.

Star Provisions

While the market itself is closed, Star Provisions is offering ten themed Easter baskets in its online store filled with candy, games, activities, and other assorted treats and gifts. There’s even a basket for dogs. Order online for contact-free delivery within five miles of the market. Call 404-365-0410 (ext. 4) after purchase to schedule delivery.

The Southern Gentleman

Easter family meals available for curbside pick-up on Sunday, April 12, between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. Meals feature a main dish like whole roast chicken or pork loin, sides, apple pie, and a bottle of red or white wine. Call 404-939-9840 to order by Wednesday, April 8. Family meals $60 to $65 and feed up to six people.

Whiskey Bird

The Morningside restaurant is offering an Easter family meal for $96 that includes deviled eggs, pimento cheese and crudite, salad, glazed ham, scalloped potatoes, and red velvet cupcakes. The meal feeds up to six people. There’s even an option to order a four wines for additional $60. Order by Friday, April 10 for pick up on Easter Sunday. Click here to preorder and pay in advance.

South City Kitchen

Order Easter dinner comprising of entrees like smoked brisket or French toast casserole, along with salad, biscuits, and dessert. Order by Tuesday, April 7, for pick up on Saturday, April 11. Email sshaheen@fifthgroup.com to order. Pick up locations at South City Kitchen Midtown, Vinings, and Buckhead or at The Original El Taco in Virginia-Highland.

The Iberian Pig

The Buckhead location is offering suckling pig and tapas specials, while Decatur plans to offer brunch tapas special paired with mimosa and Bloody Mary kits. Check Instagram for details and order by emailing lauren@chgrestaurants.com.

Morton’s Steakhouse

The downtown Atlanta steakhouse is offering a special dinner for two, featuring a starter, one entree per person, and desserts like key lime pie and cheesecake for Easter. Dinner is $109 and must be ordered by Thursday, April 9. Call to order. There’s also “chef’s kits” for cooking and grilling steaks and chops at home. Details can be found online.

Empire State South

Easter dinner to-go at Empire feeds up to four people and includes a choice of honey baked ham or lamb with mint, five sides, and pound cake for dessert. Menu details are listed on Instagram. Meals are $125. Call in order or order online for pick up this weekend.

Oceanaire

The Midtown seafood restaurant is offering a four-course, to-go dinner at $150 this Easter. Think jumbo shrimp cocktail, family-style sides of grilled asparagus and lobster mac and cheese, crab cakes, center cut filets, and key lime pie. Order by Friday, April 10. Call to order and schedule curbside pick-up.

Cooks & Soldiers

Order a fried chicken dinner that feeds four for $125. The “Easter Picnic Basket “ includes a basket of fried chicken, four biscuits, two bikini sandwiches, three sides, six peanut butter cookies, and two bottles of wine. Call 404-996-2623 or email lauren@chgrestaurants.com to order for pick up on Saturday or Sunday.

Lyla Lila

The Midtown restaurant is offering an Easter menu featuring spring pea, butter lettuce, and radish salad, wood-roasted pork roast, scalloped potatoes, braised greens, cornbread, and French lemon cake. $75 for two people. $150 for four people. Email info@lylalilaatl.com to order by April 10. Pick up on Sunday, April 12, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Hampton and Hudson

Order brunch and family diners to-go for Easter. For brunch, the menu features a choice of quiches and a mimosa special. The “Build-Your-Own” Easter dinner is $80 and offers dishes like honey glazed ham, deviled eggs, sides like green bean salad and Brussels sprouts, biscuits or rolls, and tiramisu for dessert. Serves four. Order by emailing events@hamptonandhudson.com for delivery or pick-up. *Mimosa special for pick-up only.

Jen Chan’s

The Cabbagetown restaurant is offering Easter brunch or dinner for delivery on Saturday for $24. Think mushroom asparagus quiche, eggs, and ricotta pancakes with mimosas for two brunch or cornbread casserole, miso lemon ginger carrots and spatchcocked herbed butter Cornish game hen with a bottle of red for dinner. Order online.

Cremalosa

Advance order that Easter cake from the new Decatur gelato and treat shop. The Robin’s Egg gelato cake is filled with lemon cream strawberry gelato and iced with lemon buttercream. Six-inch cakes are $22.50. Eight-inch cakes are $45. To-go pints of gelato can also be purchased on Thursday, April 9, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Order online or call 404-578-2739 by Thursday, April 9. Pick up cake orders on Saturday, April 11, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. ⠀

Easter Catering

Alon’s Bakery

A catered Easter brunch from Alon’s includes mains like beef tenderloin and leg of lamb, as well as baskets that feed up to 18 people filled with bagels, pastries, quiches, crab cakes, and fruit. The bakery is also offering chocolate Easter eggs, boxed chocolates, and other assorted chocolate candies. Check out the menu and then order online.

Source: Eater.com

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19 Midtown Atlanta Restaurants Currently Offering Takeout and Delivery

restaurant takeout delivery list eater atlanta covid_19 fashionado

“Together we’ll get through this” means helping others out and our favorite local eateries are suffering and need our help. During this uncertain time of COVID_19 lockdowns so many industries are struggling and one thing we can do while quarantined is to support our local restaurants via takeout. Eater.com has comprised a list of Atlanta restaurants by neighborhood that are adjusting their services to provide takeout delivery.

Here is what Eater Atlanta published (and we’re so grateful they did!):

Cities like Atlanta have suspended dine-in service to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, with takeout and delivery now the new reality for restaurants. Eater Atlanta is breaking down a few restaurants now offering takeout and delivery, and hopes to provide a manageable list of establishments by neighborhood.

While not every Midtown restaurant offering takeout and delivery is listed here, do not assume a specific restaurant doesn’t offer these services. Please visit restaurant websites and social media pages for updates.

Tip well. Call restaurants prior to ordering from a third party delivery service like GrubHub or UberEats, which often come with fees added to restaurants and consumers. Some restaurants are currently offering their own delivery services.

1. Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft

1745 Peachtree St NW Atlanta, GA 30309

(678) 539-6181

Visit Website

Curbside pick-up and delivery via DoorDash. Call or order online.

2. NaanStop

265 18th St NW #4110 Atlanta, GA 30363

(404) 458-3500

Visit Website

Curbside pick-up and no-contact delivery at the Atlantic Station, Buckhead, and Downtown restaurants.

3. Sean's Harvest Market

500 Amsterdam Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30306

(404) 565-6698

Visit Website

Takeout and delivery via ChowNow. Piedmont Park location is takeout only.

4. The Nook on Piedmont Park

1144 Piedmont Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30309

(404) 745-9222

Visit Website

Takeout and delivery by restaurant staff member to Midtown only. Delivery outside Midtown via UberEats and Grubhub.

5. Tabla

77 12th St NE #2 Atlanta, GA 30309

(404) 464-8571

Visit Website

Curbside pick-up and delivery via UberEats, GrubHub, DoorDash, and Postmates.

6. DUA Vietnamese

77 12th St NE #6b Atlanta, GA 30309

(404) 254-4440

Visit Website

Takeout and delivery via DoorDash and UberEats. Order online at website.

7. Sam’s of San Fransisco

60 11th St NE Atlanta, GA 30309

Visit Website

Takeout and delivery via GrubHub.

8. Olive Bistro Midtown

1050 Juniper St NE #4 Atlanta, GA 30309

(404) 874-5337

Visit Website

Takeout or delivery via Zifty.

9. Triple Jays Pizza Bar

1020 Piedmont Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30309

(678) 712-8400

Visit Website

Takeout or delivery via Grubhub or Doordash. Hours currently 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Continue to check social media pages and website for updates.

10. 10th & Piedmont

991 Piedmont Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30309

(404) 602-5510

Visit Website

Limited takeout menu. Curbside pick-up, delivery via UberEats and Zifty. Call or email the restaurant to order.

11. Empire State South

999 Peachtree St NE #140 Atlanta, GA 30309

(404) 541-1105

Visit Website

Takeout only. Hot and cold to-go options. Check menu daily online. Order by phone or online. Pick up at the coffee window. Wine boxes in packs of six available. Open 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

12. MetroFresh

931 Monroe Dr NE a106 Atlanta, GA 30308

(404) 724-0151

Visit Website

Takeout and delivery. Please check website for daily menu.

13. Momonoki

95 8th St NW #100 A Atlanta, GA 30309

(404) 390-3025

Visit Website

The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the coffee cafe is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Takeout or delivery via UberEats and GrubHub. Call or order online.

14. The Lawrence

905 Juniper St NE Atlanta, GA 30309

(404) 961-7178

Visit Website

Curbside pick-up. Delivery via DoorDash. Check Instagram for daily menu. Call the restaurant to order.

15. Rreal Tacos

100 6th St NE #110 Atlanta, GA 30308

(404) 458-5887

Visit Website

Takeout and curbside pick-up of full menu. Open 12 p.m to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday. 

17. The Collective Food Hall @ Coda

756 W Peachtree St NW #225 Atlanta, GA 30308

470-312-4406

Visit Website

El Burro Pollo available for pick-up. Order online or call. Poke Burri is available for curbside pick-up and delivery via UberEats.

18. Lyla Lila

693 Peachtree St NE Suite 118 Atlanta, GA 30308

(404) 963-2637

Visit Website

Three-course family style menu featuring signature pastas, spring salads and soups and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Call restaurant after 2:30 p.m. for same day pick-up. Orders can be picked up curbside from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Payment by phone. Follow on Instagram and Facebook for daily updates.

19. Bon Ton Atlanta

674 Myrtle St NE Atlanta, GA 30308 (404) 996-6177

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Curbside pick-up and delivery via UberEats and Zifty.

SOURCE: Eater.com / Atlanta

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Comfortable Luxury at Agency Socialthèque Phipps Plaza

agency socialtheque vincent martinez fashionado

The comfortable luxury of Agency Socialthèque located at Phipps Plaza in Atlanta is the go-to place after a fabulous day of shopping, happy hour or just a mid-week date night.

Agency Socialthèque is the new byword for stylish hospitality and a reflection of its edgy neighborhood: iconic and one-of-a-kind, catering to the city-dwelling professional class by providing a beautiful space in which to be creative together.

Socialthèque, a made-up word, evokes everything we know about stylish environments where networking and play come together. More than great food and drinks, Agency is the place to freelance, enjoy live entertainment, or host a bespoke private event. Whether it be happy hour cocktails among friends or a vibrant hundred guest launch party, the dedicated team will cater to your every need. It also means experimental and revolutionary as they transform specialty ingredients into something truly unique, coupled with the city's hottest DJ's and musicians.

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Food for Thought | March-April 2019

Feature photo: Pork and ricotta meatballs at Adalina. Photo by David Danzig.

Feature photo: Pork and ricotta meatballs at Adalina. Photo by David Danzig.

In this issue, we stamp our gastronomic passports with the cuisine of Mexico, Italy, and South Korea; welcome new ideas into old spaces; and say goodbye to a slew of restaurants that did not survive the winter.

It’s all Food for Thought.


WELL DONE

Skirt steak taco with chimichurri garlic aioli and cotija cheese and Tuza Taco. Photo by David Danzig.

Skirt steak taco with chimichurri garlic aioli and cotija cheese and Tuza Taco. Photo by David Danzig.

Atlanta’s affection for tacos will find nurturing at the new Tuza Taco on the westside in the Berkley Park neighborhood. Owner Jason Sherman cooks up Mexican street-food-style tacos, all little $4 explosive flavor grenades with hyper-fresh ingredients. Carnitas (slow cooked pork), tempura-Modelo beer fried fish, skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, wild-caught American shrimp and chicken with cotija cheese, are a few of the varieties that you can wrap in a soft tortilla (corn or flour) or a hard, crunchy corn shell. Housemade salsa, guacamole, and queso with roasted jalapeño are great starters and are emblematic of the attention to detail put into preparation. Cervezas and margaritas are a-flowing and with a little spring sunshine, the kiddies and pets should join to enjoy the outdoor patio and small yard.

Wild rice salad with grilled shrimp at Adalina. Photo by David Danzig.

Wild rice salad with grilled shrimp at Adalina. Photo by David Danzig.

Italophiles willing to venture off the beaten path will find amore at the new Adalina off Northside Parkway by the Chattahoochee River and the new North Atlanta High School campus. Drive up the hill to the Post Riverside apartment complex and arrive at an immaculately landscaped town square. There, former Empire State South chef Josh Hopkins is creating exciting renditions of Italian food classics. Octopus arancini, pork and ricotta meatballs, lobster risotto and blue crab pappardelle are a few of the modern spins he has applied to time-tested Italian staple dishes. And, if you are craving pizza, try their artisan Neapolitan-inspired pies with a wonderful, chewy crust and toppings like bacon, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, and soppressata salami.

Korean staple dish, Bibimbap, at Dish Korean Cuisine. Photo by David Danzig.

Korean staple dish, Bibimbap, at Dish Korean Cuisine. Photo by David Danzig.

The expansion of Buford Highway eateries continues with Dish Korean Cuisine, a handsome new space from Hahn and Barbara Lee that sits next to the hugely popular Food Terminal. The restaurant is bright and clean, and the menu is in English and Korean with photos of each dish (something not ubiquitous on BuHi). Dish proudly takes a modern spin on classic dishes including a crispy potato pancake made with seafood and chives, beef ox-bone soup, and a raised pompano with spicy house sauce. Dish also offers some Korean fusion with burgers and tacos that will please both a Korean food devotee or a beginner.

SIMMERING

Mushroom Terrioir at Lazy Betty. Photo by Gianna Keiko, Courtesy of Lazy Betty.

Mushroom Terrioir at Lazy Betty. Photo by Gianna Keiko, Courtesy of Lazy Betty.

After buzz-worthy success as a pop-up concept, Atlanta favorite Ronald Hsu has locked in the space on Dekalb Avenue formerly occupied by Radial Cafe for a formal brick-and-mortar location called Lazy Betty. Hsu, the star of Netflix’s “The Final Table,” earned his cooking stripes at Michelin-starred Le Bernardin and Le Colonial in New York City. Lazy Betty will feature both a tasting menu option and à la carte options. Expect variations on globally-inspired cuisine that are, according to the Lazy Betty website, “guided by exquisite ingredients and a thoughtful approach where every part contributes to the whole.” Editor’s note: Chef Hsu and the team at Lazy Betty celebrated their grand opening on February 26th!

Gulf Snapper Tartare, Kholrabi, Herb Nage. Photo by Eric Sun, Courtesy of Lazy Betty.

Gulf Snapper Tartare, Kholrabi, Herb Nage. Photo by Eric Sun, Courtesy of Lazy Betty.

Could it be the wave of the future? Not one, but three “virtual” delivery-only restaurants are coming to Sandy Springs. Out of one shared kitchen will come a meat-and-three concept, Fatbacks; a gourmet burger concept, Top Bun; and healthy eating concept, Salad Hippie. It’s unclear which delivery services (i.e. Door Dash, Uber Eats, et al.) will handle the transportation or just how far-reaching their availability will be, but at this moment when many just want to “Netflix and chill,” maybe a virtual restaurant is just what the Instagram generation needs.

After much speculation on what would fill the void left by the defunct Decatur legend Cakes & Ale, Chef Terry Koval has announced that he will open The Deer & The Dove restaurant and Side Bar wine and coffee bar in the vacant space. The Deer & The Dove will serve “new” American cuisine and Side Bar will focus on grab-and-go breakfast and lunch sandwiches, bagels, and coffee. At night, Side Bar will transition to a simple bar with natural wines, cocktails, and small plates.

Speaking of big shoes to fill, the hallowed ground formerly inhabited by Anne Quatrano’s Bacchanalia off Howell Mill will soon welcome Redbird, a new effort from Zeb Stevenson and Ross Jones, formerly of Watershed. Redbird will cook up “free-spirited cuisine” that will be focused and balanced with fresh flavors and a reinvigorated commitment to time-honored cooking techniques” according to What Now Atlanta.

TOAST

The now-toast King Barbecue. Photo by David Danzig.

The now-toast King Barbecue. Photo by David Danzig.

The restaurant requiem has been playing steadily over the past few months with a dizzying number of casualties checking into the culinary morgue. Among the deceased are Perimeter Mall’s burger/sushi hybrid, The Cowfish Burger Bar; longtime French mainstay in Roswell, Pastis; Phipps Plaza’s Public Kitchen; The Battery Atlanta’s Feed Fried Chicken + SuchFirst & Third by Hugh Acheson5 Seasons Brewing in the Prado, Avalon’s King Barbecue; Little Five Points’ Tijuana Garage; several locations of quick-serve Pollo Tropical; quick-serve sushi eatery Maki Fresh; and Nashville import Blue Coast Burrito. Many of the operators’ parting shots to their customers included laments about rising rents and other costs, while some gave no reason for throwing in the apron. We wish them well in restaurant heaven.

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