Authors | Flagpole Magazine | Athens, GA News, Music, Arts, Restaurants

Blog posts by Hillary Brown

Brixx Opening March 17; Even More Events

Blog: Grub Notes

The Athens branch of Brixx Wood Fired Pizza, a Charlotte-based chain that will be opening in the West Washington Street parking deck downtown, is slated to start doing business Monday, Mar. 17 (probably). It also has its own Facebook page, distinct from the corporate one.

By Hillary Brown | March 11, 2014
Spring Break: Restaurant Closings, Temporary Hours, Pi Day

Blog: Grub Notes

Thanks to spring breakers, it's a little harder to go out to eat this week.

Spring break always means a super-quiet Athens, which means it's a good opportunity for restaurants to do some spring cleaning, close for a day or two or just cut back hours for the week. Here's what's going on that we know of:

By Hillary Brown | March 10, 2014
Korean BBQ Opening in Echo/Farm 255 Space

Blog: Grub Notes

After sitting empty for a few months, the space at 255 W. Washington Street downtown best known for housing Farm 255 and home to Echo most recently, has been leased, this time to Diane and Jay Suh of Shokitini, who plan to open a Korean bbq restaurant there as early as May.

By Hillary Brown | March 6, 2014
Holy Crepe Food Truck Opening in April

Blog: Grub Notes

This is what a crepe looks like.

Saphir Grici is still pretty new to Athens, and he moved here not for career reasons or school but for love, having met his now wife (an Athenian) during her studies in Paris. Now, inspired by a visit to Los Angeles, he's starting his own business: a food truck called Holy Crepe.

By Hillary Brown | March 5, 2014
Taqueria Tsunami is Open; Spring Food Events Multiplying

Blog: Grub Notes

By Hillary Brown | March 4, 2014
Always Baked Is Open; Other Upcoming Events

Blog: Grub Notes

By Hillary Brown | February 27, 2014
Noodle Bowl is This Saturday

Blog: Grub Notes

Sun Taro via Wikimedia Commons

Do you regularly make the drive out to Umaido in Suwanee just to get a bowl o' ramen? Do you wait all week just to see if Pulaski Heights BBQ is doing ramen on special? Did the news of Five & Ten's Tuesday-night ramen pop-up fill you with joy? Oh, and also, shouldn't you be contributing more to charity?

Even if the answers to all of those questions aren't "yes," you should for sure invest your $35 for a ticket to this Saturday's Ramen Bowl at Ciné, organized by André Gallant of the Athens Banner-Herald and benefiting United Way.

More after the jump.

By Hillary Brown | February 24, 2014
Four Brothers Opens Feb. 25, La Puerta del Sol Possibly in March

Blog: Grub Notes

Four Brothers Sports Tavern (Photo via Facebook)

Four Brothers Sports Tavern, which is slated to take over the space on Mitchell Bridge Road that started out as a Harry Bissett's and has since been a couple of other things, has a soft opening set for Feb. 25. Its website is up and running, complete with menu, which features some vegetarian options a cut above most sports bars.

Lots more news after the jump.

By Hillary Brown | February 18, 2014
Real Paraiso Is Open on North Avenue

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Photo via Facebook

Despite the Icepocalypse, new Mexican restaurant Real Paraiso is opening today in the Piggly Wiggly shopping center on North Avenue, where it replaces El Paisano.

Details after the jump.

By Hillary Brown | February 14, 2014
Where to Eat (and Drink) During the Icepocalypse (now with Thursday update)

Blog: Grub Notes

If you were not among the throngs treating local grocery stores like a cloud of locusts, and you somehow missed planning for the Snow/Ice/Sleetpocalypse that is now upon us, what can you do to fill your belly and get your drink on? Here are the places we know of that are open Wednesday.

By Hillary Brown | February 12, 2014
Troubadour Is Open, Free Fro-Yo at Menchie's Thursday and More

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Photo via Facebook

Troubadour Pub & Grill

If you have not driven the particular stretch of Baxter lately where Locos used to have its sign, you may not have realized that Troubadour Pub & Grill is now open in that location and has been for a week or so. The old UGA scoreboard remains up, but the interior has been somewhat made over, with a more streamlined look (still including plenty of sports memorabilia).

You can get a look at the inside here, in its Facebook photo album, and the menu is available on the official website. The front of it reads, "Nachos - Wings - Salads - Chicken - Burgers," which is a fair representation, but you can also get a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, grilled salmon, "Doug's Almost Famous Half Fried Chicken," loaded potato skins, wings, kids' meals, carrot cake, milkshakes, smoothies and veggie sides such as green beans with "smokey pepper" and collard greens. The place has a full bar and does live music.

More news after the jump.

By Hillary Brown | February 5, 2014
Bain Mattox Plans to Expand Normal Bar, Open Pizzeria in Normaltown

Blog: Grub Notes

Bain Mattox

Feeling like you need some elbow room at Normal Bar, especially after that whole Southern Livingthing? Wondering what's happening in the space next door, which most recently housed the Sew Normal Studio but is currently empty? Owner Bain Mattox is here to serve.

By Hillary Brown | January 28, 2014
Little Italy Scraps $5 Lunch Special

Blog: Grub Notes

Look, minor menu modifications are not usually cause for an entire Grub Notes blog post, but Little Italy has recently gotten rid of its amazing $5 lunch special (half a sub and a drink or two one-topping slices and a drink), and a knee deserves to be taken in sadness. Here's what the Facebook post says:

The cheese market rise is due to the global economy. Search out info on it on the web. Long story short, high corn prices for feed, Chinese demand for milk, drought in Austrailia and New Zealand (exporting milk powder). Worse of all, a 1940's-50's Farm Bill still has yet to be re-negotiated by our Government. Farmer subsidies are at risk. Little italy lunch special is over but now you can get any half of sub for $4.00 all day every day

Even though the drinks in question were (and remain) Pepsi products, it was one of the best deals in town. Canada is apparently in the same boat, according to Canadian Pizza magazine.

By Hillary Brown | January 28, 2014
Farm Cart Is Coming Back from the Dead

Blog: Grub Notes

Does it still bring a tear to your eye every time you think about the poor old Farm Cart, no doubt rusting away in someone's backyard, unused and unloved? Well, dry your face because the cart is coming back, at least to the Athens Farmers Market. Michael Farfour and his wife, Iwalani Farfour, both of Full Moon Farm Coop, plus mother-in-law/mother Carole Brucato, of Backyard Bread, which was already a regular vendor at the market, have rescued it and are trying to get it up and running when AFM opens up again in April.

Details after the jump.

By Hillary Brown | January 27, 2014
Beer Brunches at The World Famous; See the Cinco y Diez Menu

Blog: Grub Notes

Hey, fellow old folks who have come to believe nothing good happens after midnight, New Belgium Brewing and The World Famous have planned something for you. And by you, I mean me. Starting Feb. 9 and continuing Sundays through at least Mar. 2, the downtown bar/eatery will have beer and brunch pairings, plus live music starting at 12:30 p.m. (the current confirmed lineup is Ruby the Rabbitfoot, Josh Perkins, Wieuca and Madeline, in that order).

Details after the jump.

By Hillary Brown | January 17, 2014
Normaltown Cafe Has Closed; Cinco y Diez Is Opening Soon

Blog: Grub Notes

After a few short months in business out in Danielsville, the revivification of Normaltown Cafe is at at end. Judy Johnson posted a statement on its Facebook page reading:

Dear Normaltown Friends, It seems as though the unusual weather is appropriate on this day [Jan. 7], as I must announce that today will be the final day of operation for the Normaltown Cafe-Danielsville. Since the departure of my business partner in mid-December, the Normaltown staff has dedicated themselves to keeping this venture going. I cannot express enough gratitude to Alicia, Summer, Stephanie, Sean, Jenica, Samantha and Rebekah for all of their hard work and dedication. In spite of all of our hopes and wishes to continue to serve all of you at the current location, we've been unable to come to agreement with the necessary parties in order to do so. Thanks so much to each and every one of you out there who has given us your support, encouragement and patronage over the past five months. May God bless you, every one. --Judy

More after the jump.

By Hillary Brown | January 10, 2014
Four Brothers to Open in Former Los Coyotes on Mitchell Bridge

Blog: Grub Notes

Andrew Miller

Since The Arbor mixed-use complex was built on Mitchell Bridge Road, the restaurant space in it has been a Harry Bissett's, the Iron Grill and Los Coyotes, a casual Mexican eatery. Now, making perhaps the most sense of all, it's slated to become Four Brothers Sports Tavern, a family-friendly gastropub/sports bar headed up by chef Andrew Miller.

More after the jump.

By Hillary Brown | January 6, 2014
Oglethorpe Transmetropolitan to Close Sunday

Blog: Grub Notes

It is, unfortunately, that time of year. Co-owner Brian Colantuno confirmed that the Oglethorpe Avenue branch of Transmetropolitan, which opened in 2008, will close permanently Sunday, Jan. 12.

More after the jump.

By Hillary Brown | January 6, 2014
Yes, Echo Is Definitely Closed

Blog: Grub Notes

Flagpole is still waiting on official word from owners Juan and Vanessa Molina, but a staff member at vegan eatery Echo (Flagpole review), which opened at the beginning of September in the former Farm 255 space on West Washington Street downtown, confirmed that the Molinas told employees the restaurant was closing permanently. The staffer also says there are no plans to move back to the original Broad Street Coffee location.

Reports had previously come in from diners who said the staff told their party it was quits and from former employees.

More after the jump.

By Hillary Brown | January 3, 2014
New Chefs at Heirloom, 5 & 10, Georgia Theatre Rooftop

Blog: Grub Notes

Heirloom Cafe and Fresh Market

After about a month with the Four Coursemen's Eddie Russell running the kitchen, on a temporary basis, Heirloom Cafe and Fresh Market has a new official full-time chef: Jackie Burton, formerly of home.made Catering, 5 & 10 and Farm 255.

Russell is working on some other Athens projects, which he's keeping under wraps for now, but look for his cooking to pop up elsewhere. Heirloom also successfully applied for a full liquor license, so cocktails are coming in the new year.

More restaurant news after the jump.

By Hillary Brown | December 19, 2013