Blog Topic: Restaurant News

Grub Notes: Alton Brown Coming to Town, Transmet Reopening and More

By Hillary Brown | May 13, 2014 10:34am

Have you always wanted to see Alton Brown in person but would rather pay for the privilege than stalk him at the suburban Atlanta grocery store he frequents (ot at least did when "Good Eats" was on the air)? Well, you'll get your opportunity Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Classic Center Theatre, for a cost of $38–$105. "Alton Brown Live! The Edible Inevitable Tour" will have participation opportunities, comedy, music and more. Standard tickets are $38–$58 (plus fees). Fancy shmancy tickets that include a meet-and-greet, an autographed photo and special seating are $105. Both kinds go on sale Friday.

More news below.

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Grub Notes: Preserve Coming to Broad Street Coffee Location

By Hillary Brown | May 5, 2014 3:45pm

In between frozen-custard stand and vegan restaurant, the space at the West Broad Street-Hancock Avenue intersection was a barbecue joint.

The nice little building still probably best known to long-time Athenians as The Arctic Girl and most recently housing Broad Street Coffee is finally getting another tenant and one doing something more ambitious than hot dogs. The new place, called Preserve, aims to open in June and is headed up by Ella Sternberg and Lenny Miller, of local band Cancers. Reached for comment, Miller said:

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Grub Notes: Aromas is Closing; The Pine is Coming to Five Points

By Hillary Brown | May 5, 2014 11:21am

Heirloom Café recently announced that Jackie Burton, who took over as its chef around December, is moving on, to be replaced this month by Sal Speights of The World Famous.

What's Jackie doing? Well, Aromas, in Five Points, which has operated successfully pouring wine, beer and coffee for 13 years now, will be closing May 25 and reopening as The Pine, with Burton in the kitchen. She describes the new venture as "wood-fired oven, casual Southern/fusion" and says it will open as "soon as we renovate the space… shooting for mid-August."

Lest you think Aromas is being booted out, owner Sachin Patel is still involved with the new venture, as is local wine dude Scott Parrish.

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Grub Notes: Skogies is Closed, Taziki's is Hiring and More

By Hillary Brown | April 29, 2014 11:21am

Photo Credit: Emily Hall

5&10

Food roundup below:

Although the news isn't yet reflected on its Facebook page, Skogie's on Baxter has closed. The seafood shack, the original location of which is on Lake Lanier, opened two years ago in the strip that also houses Domino's Pizza.

Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe, in the Bottleworks, is hiring, which suggests its projection of a May opening date was fairly accurate.

Junkyard Dawgs, on Commerce Road, is temporarily closed due to some water-treatment upgrades, but its second location, The Bunkhouse, should be opening soon (no official date) in the building formerly home to The Woods at the J & J Flea Market.

More after the jump.

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Grub Notes: J. Christopher's Is Open in Five Points

By Hillary Brown | April 21, 2014 2:45pm

Image via

After a sort of hiccup between announcing its first Athens location (back in July) and starting work renovating the interior of what was most recently The Local Jam (which closed in July 2012), J. Christopher's, the Atlanta-based breakfast chain, opened for business today.

There were some experiments with free pancakes over the weekend, but now you can go and pay for a plate of eggs, etc., from 7 a.m.–2 p.m. daily. The menu is here, and the place is a step up from national breakfast franchises, plus you can park in the Stiles building spaces to eat there.

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Grub Notes: Reggie DiSante to Open Eastside Restaurant this Fall, More Food News

By Hillary Brown | April 14, 2014 11:30am

Reggie DiSante, whom you may remember from his days at Harry Bissett's and more recently the man behind George's Lowcountry Table near the bypass on South Milledge, is planning a new venture to open in early August. The new place, Charlie Noble's, will be next to the space that houses Mirko Pasta in the Ansonborough mixed-use development on Gaines School Road.

The menu should be more straightforwardly Southern (but still on the upscale end of things) than the Lowcountry cuisine his current restaurant serves, and although it's still a work in progress, DiSante says he will have specialty mac and cheese. The restaurant, like George's, gets its name from the late George Davis, DiSante's mentor, who used to own a place by the same name on Prince Avenue years ago.

More news after the jump.

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Grub Notes: Big Family Cafe to Open Friday, Brewfest This Weekend and More

By Hillary Brown | April 9, 2014 4:08pm

As Glenda Brown searches for a new location for Peaches (sigh), the space in Homewood Hills that most recently played home to her delicious cooking (as The Camp) is about to be something new: Big Family Cafe, an American diner serving breakfast, lunch and early dinner. Opening day is this Friday, with 20 percent off everything through Monday to attract new customers. Big Family will operate from 6 a.m.–6 p.m. seven days a week and serve items including crepes, breakfast burritos and sandwiches.

More after the jump.

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Grub Notes: Cheddar's Casual Cafe Coming to Epps Bridge Centre

By Lee Becker | April 8, 2014 3:02pm

C&P Company of Macon has submitted preliminary site plans to the Oconee County Planning Department for a Cheddar’s Casual Cafe on Epps Bridge Parkway as part of Epps Bridge Centre.

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Grub Notes: Saucehouse Update; Hugh Acheson Book Signing Sunday

By Hillary Brown | March 28, 2014 4:11pm

Food roundup below:

Saucehouse Barbeque may not have broken ground yet on the spot that used to house Peaches and is now a dirt pit, but it should in the very near future, with hopes to open in August. In the meantime, the dudes who own it are focusing on catering, with a mobile smoker that can be brought to your event, should you want bbq, and a new business (Elegantly Southern Catering) that does more high-end events.

Hugh Acheson has a new book out. No, it's not the promised CSA-based cookbook that's still in the works (referred to informally as "what the heck do I do with kohlrabi?" and formally titled Eat Well) but a cute little packet of recipe cards titled Pick a Pickle. The man of style will be signing it at Five & Ten on Sunday from 2:30–4 p.m. His flagship restaurant also has a brand-new bar menu, with a burger, confit chicken wings, cookies and more.

More after the jump.

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Grub Notes: Little Bull, OK Cafe Close; More Spring Food Events

By Hillary Brown | March 19, 2014 2:58pm

Little Bull

Food roundup after the jump.

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