Blog Topic: Restaurant News

Grub Notes: Bain Mattox Plans to Expand Normal Bar, Open Pizzeria in Normaltown

By Hillary Brown | January 28, 2014 1:07pm

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.

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Grub Notes: Little Italy Scraps $5 Lunch Special

By Hillary Brown | January 28, 2014 9:52am

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.

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Grub Notes: Beer Brunches at The World Famous; See the Cinco y Diez Menu

By Hillary Brown | January 17, 2014 4:40pm

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.

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Grub Notes: Normaltown Cafe Has Closed; Cinco y Diez Is Opening Soon

By Hillary Brown | January 10, 2014 11:19am

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.

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Grub Notes: Four Brothers to Open in Former Los Coyotes on Mitchell Bridge

By Hillary Brown | January 6, 2014 1:14pm

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.

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Grub Notes: Oglethorpe Transmetropolitan to Close Sunday

By Hillary Brown | January 6, 2014 12:12am

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.

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Grub Notes: Yes, Echo Is Definitely Closed

By Hillary Brown | January 3, 2014 11:29am

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.

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Grub Notes: New Chefs at Heirloom, 5 & 10, Georgia Theatre Rooftop

By Hillary Brown | December 19, 2013 4:06pm

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.

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Grub Notes: Rashe's Cuisine to Open on Tallassee in 2014

By Hillary Brown | December 10, 2013 10:48am

The always promising but also always problematic space at Tallassee and Mitchell Bridge still best known as the former Caliente Cab (Google Maps screenshot above) is about to get a new tenant. Rashe Malcolm, who has been running a personal chef service for a while, both in Athens and elsewhere, is opening up Rashe's Cuisine, a Jamaican restaurant, in the new year.

In a phone conversation, Malcolm related her travels from St. Mary's Hospital, where she worked in food service, to North Carolina, where she worked for Marriott, to a stint doing contract work for the EPA. When her contract was up, she decided to "take a leap of faith," as she put it, and dive into the restaurant business.

More after the jump.

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Grub Notes: Always Baked Returns in a New Place and Form

By Hillary Brown | December 10, 2013 4:22pm

After leaving its location in Athens Bagel Company on Jackson Street (ostensibly to focus on delivery but coincidentally closing on the heels of chain Insomnia Cookies opening around the corner), Always Baked is returning to a walk-in location, this time in the former YoDawgs on Baxter. Brian Gamsey writes:

Always Baked Goodies is very excited to announce we will be opening a new store front at 723 Baxter Street (the old YoDawgs). The menu will include all of the old favorites cookies, fried goodies and other munchables. We will also have an expanded menu including "Get Baked Panini's" - creating your sandwich with your choice of cheese and meat grill pressed on Texas Toast and "Pack a Bowl" - french fries with your choice of cheese and/or chili. The store is scheduled [to] be open around the beginning of this coming Spring semester.

So… they're not abandoning their clientele.

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