News for Restaurants in Atlanta May 2008 Archive
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Openings
Tastings: A Wine Experience has opened a unit in Decatur, offering more than 100 wines by the glass, half-glass and taste. A large wine dispensing apparatus has room for more than 50 bottles at a time. A menu of light tapas, including a cheese plate, flatbreads, sandwiches, salads and desserts, complements the experience. Beer and spirits, sparkling wines and flight-structured tastings are offered. Tastings: A Wine Experience, 335A W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta, GA 30308, 404-373-3244.
Chima Brazilian Steakhouse closed for extensive renovations after having morphed from Boi na Braza, also a Brazilian churrascaria. Now re-opened and buzzing again, it serves 16 varieties of meat in an elegant, modern setting with a décor that emphasizes gaucho traditions. As is standard with churrascarias, Chima offers a full meal deal with all the meats and salad bar, called the "Rodizio," for $46.50, or just the salad bar for $26. On Sundays, when the restaurant opens at 2 p.m., the "Rodizio" is $35 and $22 for just the salad bar before 4:30 p.m. Normal pricing resumes after 4:30 p.m. Children 7-10 may dine at half price, and children under 6 dine free. Chima Brazilian Steakhouse, 3215 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30305, 404-424-8281.
Chef Linton Hopkins and his wife Gina partnered with team members from Restaurant Eugene, Greg Best, Regan Smith and Andy Minchow, to open Holeman & Finch Public House right across the breezeway from Restaurant Eugene in the Aramore Condominium building. Named for Hopkins' and Best's maternal grandfathers, Eugene Holeman (whose name adorns the first operation) and Frederick Finch, the serious gastropub produces its own charcuterie, which hangs in temperature controlled circumstances within full view of patrons. The interior design, by the architectural firm Ai3, features reclaimed Georgia wood on the floors and natural finishes throughout. Serving dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. Holeman & Finch Public House, Aramore Condominiums, 2277 Peachtree Rd. NE, Ste. B, Atlanta, GA 30309, 404-948-1175.
Converting the former Seeger's-turned-POSH into something more comfortable and homey, Here to Serve Restaurants CEO Tom Catherall re-launched POSH as HOME on April 22 with talented Richard Blais in the top toque spot. The restaurant emphasizes farm-to-table freshness, and will include such dishes as spring pea soup with pulled ham hock and lemon verbena. Snacks, priced from $2-$8, appetizers and main dishes will go to the heart of familiar regional cooking. But always, with Blais in the kitchen, with a twist. Look for a peach-and-coffee barbecue sauce. The restaurant serves lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner nightly, and brunch on Sun. HOME, 111 W. Paces Ferry Rd. NW, Buckhead, GA 30305, 404-869-0777.
Ted's Montana Grill, the work of media mogul Ted Turner and restaurateur George McKerrow Jr., opened its 13th metro Atlanta establishment on May 19 at the Avenue Forsyth, Cumming. Ted's Montana Grill serves lunch and dinner daily. Ted's Montana Grill, 410 Peachtree Pkwy., Cumming, GA 30041, 658-945-3530.
Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and chef-owner Chris Yeo have partnered to open STRAITS Restaurant, launched after an extensive renovation to the former Spice space. The restaurant specializes in the flavors of Singaporean cuisine, which melds the cooking of Thailand, Indonesia, China, Malaysia and India, among others. A wide selection of small plates and main dishes romps through a virtual panoply of flavors. Dinner nightly and brunch on Sun. STRAITS Restaurant, 793 Juniper St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30308, 404-877-1283.
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Bytes
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Chef
Shuffle
Todd Immel has left Table 1280 to work with Anne Quatrano at Bacchanalia. Replacing him at Table 1280 is former sous chef Tracey Bloom. Immel is the toque who nearly single-handedly put College Park on the dining destination map when he cooked at now-closed Oscar's (replaced by The Pecan). Bacchanalia, Star Provisions, 1198 Howell Mill Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318, 404-365-0410.
Ian Winslade, who has been at the helm of several Atlanta restaurants, was named the chef de cuisine at Jean-Georges Vongerichten's new Atlanta venture, Spice Market, in Colony Square. Spice Market, 188 14th St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309, 404-549-5450.
Closings
Emeril's Atlanta operation closed, the only restaurant the noted New Orleans-based hospitality magnate has ever closed. Purchased by Tom Catherall of Here to Serve Restaurant Group, the cavernous Buckhead space is due to be changed into a Pan-Asian operation. The suburban location of Fire of Brazil closed.
Meanwhile, Here to Serve Restaurants Tom Catherall pulled the plug on one of his own operations, replacing POSH with HOME, which opened on April 22. HOME is designed to be less expensive and more familiar in cuisine. For the purpose, he hired "Top Chef" contestant Richard Blais, whose cooking style isn't exactly down-home (unless, of course, he's making some kind of witty statement about down-home cooking---such as turning coleslaw into a nifty sorbet and pairing it with a morsel-size Carolina-style barbecue sandwich).
Lorenzo Wyche opened The Social House, a breakfast and lunch spot in the North side, almost the same day he saw his Rare go up in smoke when somebody mishandled a candle. Repairs are underway, however, so the popular tapas lounge should be up and running shortly.
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