News for Restaurants in Atlanta September 2008 Archive
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Openings
Fuzzy's Place has been reincarnated as Zuffy's Place, named for Jefferson Michael Cawthon, whom everybody called Fuzzy. The sign also trumpets "Joe Dale's Kitchen," even though the chef, who outlived the younger Fuzzy, now is tending celestial pots and pans. His son, Paul, keeps the faith with his father's original recipes. Owners Keirsten Alexander and Montie Henderson and many familiar faces populate the staff. The old bands are back---Java Monkey and Mike Veal---and the silky, smoky, blues-y voice of Francine Reed will ring through the space in the near future. Dishes recapture the Joe Dale traditions, including red beans and rice, Joe Dale's salad, seafood Patsy, and crawfish etouffée. Zuffy's Place serves lunch and dinner daily; stays open until at least 3 a.m. every night; and serves brunch on Sunday. Lunch & Dinner daily, Brunch Sun. Zuffy's Place, 1860 Corporate Blvd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, 404-343-1171.
In Athens, Bischero has been transformed into 237 Prince Woodfire Grille serving contemporary American fare. 237 Prince Woodfire Grille, The Bottleworks, 237 Prince Ave., Athens, GA 30601, 706-316-1006.
Athens' Harry Bissett's New Orleans Café & Oyster Bar has long fed students and their parents from its vantage point right across the street from The Arch. It has now launched its long-awaited Atlanta operation. The menu is Cajun-Creole, with such classics as carpetbagger steak (stuffed with oysters), barbecued shrimp, crawfish tails and grilled andouille sausage. For now, the restaurant will serve dinner nightly. Dinner nightly. Harry Bissett's New Orleans CafĂ© & Oyster Bar, 360 Pharr Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30305, 404-816-6116.
Molly Gunn and Nick Rutherford---he does the cooking---have opened The Porter Beer Bar in Little Five Points. The focus is on suds, of course, with some 20 on tap and 100 in bottles, and none ordinary. But Rutherford's food also has center stage billing, and includes such munchies as crimini and portobello mushrooms in truffle oil, mussels in pale ale, bratwursts and a Reuben. A stout float is among the desserts offered. The Porter Bar serves lunch and dinner daily. Brunch Saturday and Sunday may be added shortly. Lunch & Dinner daily. The Porter Bar, 1156 Euclid Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30307, 404-223-9449.
Italy native Sandro Romagnoli has added a sixth location of his Figo Pasta, this one on Paces Ferry Rd. in Vinings. The concept, which opened in 2002 on Collier Rd., allows patrons to customize a pasta dish with a choice of sauce and pasta, enabling more than 100 different combinations and permutations. Panini, lasagna, eggplant Parmigiana, and desserts such as tiramisu are available, plus decent wines by the glass as well as the bottle. Lunch and dinner are served daily. Figo Pasta, 2941 Paces Ferry Rd. SE, Atlanta, GA 30339, 770-431-4988.
On Atlanta's north side, suburban Buford is becoming a dining destination. A new addition to the mix is Havana South Restaurant & Bar, by Alonzo and Carmen Borja. With executive chef Rey Díaz (assisted by his uncle René, a retired chef from Miami), the restaurant specializes in home-style Cuban cooking. Lunch Tues.-Sat., Dinner Tues.-Sun.. Havana South Restaurant & Bar, 4060 Buford Dr., Buford, GA 30518, 678-546-2252.
Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Games took place more than a decade ago, but their influence continues to shape the city that hosted this grandest of all street parties. The Grange is a direct outgrowth of that global event as owner Darren Comer, from Dublin, Ireland, and his wife, Amanda, met at the Games. Then his siblings joined him, and now all are in Decatur. Occupying the former Angel, the pub currently opens at 4 p.m. and rocks to midnight. Dishes come straight out of mother's repertoire, including the beef-based shepherd's pie. Lunch may be added as time goes on. Dinner nightly. The Grange, 426 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, GA 30030, 404-270-9950.
Anticipated for some time, Boston-based Legal Sea Foods has finally opened its cavernous (9,000-square-foot) spot in the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown. Its location makes it handy for visitors to the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola. John Piper serves as executive chef for the extensive operation, which serves lunch and dinner daily, and the Oyster Bar is open until midnight on weekdays and until 1 a.m. on weekends. Lunch & Dinner daily. Legal Sea Foods, Hilton Garden Inn, 275 Baker St., NW, Atlanta, GA 30313, 678-500-3700.
Lino and Dadita Crespo, who own a small store, Sabores de Portugal, selling Portuguese food products on Roswell Road in North Atlanta, have opened a Portuguese restaurant in Alpharetta, Steak & Stone. In addition to steak, they do traditional pork with clams, roast suckling pig, and bacalão (or salt cod). Lunch Tues.-Sun., Dinner Tues.-Sat.. Steak & Stone, 11105 State Bridge Rd., Ste 140, Alpharetta, GA 30022, 770-667-8171.
News
Bytes
Fall Flavors at Pura Vida Pura Vida has introduced its new fall menu, inspired by chef Hector Santiago's recent trips to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Peru, Argentina and Chile. The menu includes 12 new dishes featuring local ingredients infused with Latin flavor. Seasonal produce, local lamb, Berkshire pork and trout will join such Pura Vida classics as coctel de camarones, chicken empanadas and hanger steak pinchos (on skewers). In addition, guests can savor some returning favorites including hongos (mushrooms) in chipotle garlic butter and duck maduros. Pura Vida, 656 N. Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30306, 404-870-9797.
New Owners for SoHo Frank Smith and Susan Whitney Smith, husband and wife, are veterans of the Atlanta restaurant scene, and since mid-July are the new owners of SoHo in Vinings. Frank Smith has been the restaurant's managing partner for 11 years, "from day one," as he says. Susan has spent time in several organizations, including Buckhead Life Restaurant Group establishments. Chef Joseph Ahn continues to turn out his dishes, and Smith plans to grow the restaurant's wine offerings. SoHo, Vinings Jubilee, 4200 Paces Ferry Rd., Atlanta, GA 30339, 770-801-0069.
Fall Fun JCT Kitchen & Bar is kicking off the fall season with a three-course Fall Harvest prix-fixe menu available in the dining room every Tuesday night for $29. The menu will change weekly but may include dishes like goat cheese and corn filled pasta with brown butter and sage; pan roasted hanger steak topped with green garlic-preserved tomato butter, turnip gratin and crispy purple scallions; and warm brown butter-almond cake with white chocolate, huckleberries and maple ice cream. Afterwards, diners can enjoy "The Fall Sessions," a weekly live music event featuring local singer/songwriters performing on the rooftop bar. JCT Kitchen & Bar's Fall Harvest prix-fixe Menu and The Fall Sessions will end November 25. JCT Kitchen & Bar, Westside Urban Market, 1198 Howell Mill Rd. NW, Ste. 18, Atlanta, GA 30318, 404-355-2252.
Chef
Shuffle
Ben McPherson has taken over the reins at the Miami Circle Eclipse di Luna, known for its Spanish-themed small plates, wine selection and music. He promises to have a revised menu installed in short order. His joining Eclipse di Luna makes this the first chef change in that establishment in a long time. Eclipse di Luna, Miami Circle Design District, 764 Miami Cir., Atlanta, GA 30324, 404-846-0449.
Richard Blais has left Home Restaurant & Bar, and likely will devote himself to the opening of Flip, his gourmet burger concept on the West Side. Replacing Blais at Home is the restaurant's chef de cuisine, Jeff Wright. Richard Blais leaves HOME Restaurant & Bar, 111 W. Paces Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30305, 404-869-0777.
Closings
Both locations of Gaucho's Grill (Pleasant Hill Rd. and Jimmy Carter Blvd.) have closed.
Somewhat of an Atlanta icon, Kool Korner Grocery, specializing in the city's finest and most reasonably priced Cuban sandwiches, has closed. Kool Korner Grocery, 349 14th St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318, no phone.
Angan Indian Restaurant, which was a delightful source for good Indian food in Roswell, has closed. Angan Indian Restaurant in Roswell has closed, Holcomb 400 Shopping Ctr., 1475 Holcomb Bridge Rd., Roswell, GA 30076, no phone.
Despite major improvements following a change in ownership, Carro de Boi has closed. Carro de Boi closes, 8612 Roswell Rd., Atlanta, GA 30350, no phone.
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