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Pinky Cole, the empress of Atlanta’s vegan food empire known as Slutty Vegan recently got $25 million in Series A funding from Danny Meyer’s Enlightened Hospitality Investments and Richelieu Dennis’ New Voices Fund, AtlantaFi.com has learned.
Meyer is the proprietor of Shake Shack, which partnered with Cole’s Slutty Vegan in 2021 to offer a burger with the vegan restaurant’s signature sauce, has been a big fan of the Slutty Vegan chain since being introduced to it a year earlier.
“I had never seen vegan food presented in such a fun way,” Meyer told Forbes. “Leaders are often defined by the degree to which people want to follow them, and I saw people following the leader.”
Cole, who routinely brings her food truck to U.S. cities to test the market, has been in the expansion mood for more than two years now.
The former TV producer made the leap into the food business in 2018 when she started a food truck that sold “vegan junk food.”
In 2019, she opened her first brick-and-mortar eatery in Atlanta’s historic Westview neighborhood on the city’s southwest side.
Now she’s a multi-millionaire with major expansion plans, including plans to open up 10 restaurant locations this year and another 10 next year.
How Many Slutty Vegans Are There In Metro Atlanta?
Here are all the Slutty Vegan locations around Atlanta
Slutty Vegan Location Address Westview 1542 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW. Atlanta, GA 30310. Old Fourth Ward 76 Edgewood Ave SE. Atlanta, GA 30312 Clayton County 164 N McDonough St. Jonesboro, GA 30236. Gwinnett County 2131 Pleasant Hill Road Duluth, Ga. 30096 Athens-Clarke County 700 Baxter Ste. 800, Athens, Ga. 30605 Georgia Tech 351 Ferst Dr. NW Atlanta, Ga. 30313
Slutty Vegan is one of the best black restaurants in Atlanta, and there are plenty others. If you like barbecue, see our list of the Best Atlanta BBQ Restaurants.
As for eateries below I-20, these Southside Atlanta restaurants have developed quite a following.The craze hasn’t escaped metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene, which has seen a bar explosion in recent years.
Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Holla: CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our news alerts here, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
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When it comes to casual eateries, the Peach State has a reputation when it comes to downhome Southern food.
TOP Data, a market research firm, just announced its list of the 50 most popular casual dining restaurants.
Here Are The Top Casual Restaurants In Georgia
In Georgia, TOP gave us their top five list.
1. Waffle House
View this post on Instagram2. Chili’s Grill & Bar
View this post on Instagram3. Cracker Barrel
View this post on Instagram4. IHOP
View this post on Instagram5. Olive Garden
View this post on InstagramFinal Word
Casual is good but “fast-casual” is the dining trend du jour around metro Atlanta restaurants. The concept involves mixing the quick accessibility of fast food with the casual dining experience. Food in Atlanta is also adapting to the various tastes of the migrants that come here to live.
Read more: 20+ Essential Soul Food Restaurants In Atlanta
The city has some good restaurants in each quadrant of the city: East, West, North, South. All you need to do is think about what you have a taste for. Italian? Soul food? Tex-Mex? Atlanta has it all.
Metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene continues to grow with no stops on the horizon. Ready to try something new?
Here Are The Best New Restaurants In Atlanta
- Where to eat in Atlanta
- The best Cajun-style restaurants in Atlanta
- Best date night restaurants you have to try right now
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If you enjoy an elegant, soulful dinner with a twist, you’ll love Oreatha’s at the Point.
The founder of Midtown’s Twisted Soul Cookhouse and Pours recently opened her second restaurant in the city. Restaurateur and Executive Chef Deborah VanTrece helms Oreatha’s at the Point, which is named after her mother. Real estate investor Shea Embry is also a partner in the business.
Oreatha’s at the Point began serving customers on March 31, 2022 in Cascade Heights. The eatery adds to the growing stable of restaurants opening on Atlanta’s Southside (under I-20) and may be the most anticipated.
Chef Deborah VanTrece Opens Oreatha’s At The Point
The theme of the new Atlanta restaurant is centered around a mother’s love, something VanTrece knows about very well.
Here’s what it says on the eatery’s website: “From the care that goes into the selection of the ingredients to the thoughtful preparations, this is food that nourishes the body and nurtures the soul. It comforts and reassures us. While Oreatha’s is named after VanTrece’s own mother, the restaurant is really a celebration of hard-working moms everywhere. The dishes are all inspired by different regions of the world, but all of them share one secret ingredient… a mother’s love.”
What’s On The Menu At Oreatha’s At The Point?
While the eatery hasn’t opened just yet, a preview from Oreatha’s at the Point’s Instagram shows Moroccan chicken tagine with vegetable saffron rice pilaf in all its glory.
Another menu item the restaurant is teasing is a turkey burger on a brioche bun complete with fresh herbs, over a bed of spring mix & tomato, topped with cranberry mostarda.
Check out Oreatha’s menu here.
When Is Oreatha’s Open?
As of now, Oreatha’s is open Wednesdays through Fridays from 5 to 10 p.m.
- Saturday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ( Brunch) and 5 to 10 p.m. (Dinner)
- Sunday 11 to 6 (All day brunch)
The restaurant is currently closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Where Is Oreatha’s at The Point Located?
Oreatha’s at the Point is located at 2287 Cascade Rd, Unit C, Atlanta, GA. 30311. Here is a map to help you find it.
Final Word
Chef VanTrece’s take on global cuisine will no doubt be a hit in Cascade Heights. The eatery will add to the great black-owned restaurants you need to know about in the city.
More Food Coverage:
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For some fresh produce, you should consider going to the Fresh MARTA Market at various stations around Atlanta.
Since mid-April, the Fresh MARTA Market has been open and serving customers.
The farm stand is up and running at five MARTA stations: Bankhead, West End, Five Points, College Park, and H.E. Holmes MARTA Stations.
When Are Fresh MARTA Markets Open In Atlanta?
Fresh MARTA Markets are open from Tuesday to Friday at a different station each day.
Market Open day End Date West End Tuesdays Dec 6 (closed Nov 22) HE Holmes Wednesdays Dec 7 (closed Nov 23) Bankhead Wednesdays Dec 7 (closed Nov 23) College Park Thursdays Dec 8 (closed Nov 24) Doraville Fridays Dec 9 (closed Nov 25) Five Points Fridays Dec 9 (closed Nov 25) Kensington Coming this summer Dec 9 (closed Nov 25) The market is a partnership between the following entities:
- Community Farmers Markets
- Organix Matters
- Atlanta Community Food Bank,
- Open Hand
- Wholesome Wave Georgia
If you’re a health nut and want more local healthy food choices, perhaps you’ll be interested in our Guide to Local Farmers Markets.
We also have special coverage of Black Farmers In Atlanta as well as How To Keto In Atlanta.
More Food Coverage:
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If you’re looking for something fun to do in Buckhead on a Sunday, there’s only one choice when it comes to great food, upscale atmosphere and outdoor dining. Gypsy Kitchen has a new Sunday series strictly for the food and drink crowd.
Gypsy Kitchen has long been one of Buckhead’s coolest restaurants, now with the warmer weather, the eatery kicked off its Sunday series in April.
Gypsy Kitchen Kicks Off Under the Mediterranean Sun
The restaurant’s theme for the event is “Under the Mediterranean Sun,” which features a celebration of Moroccan-inspired foods and beverages.
When Does Under the Mediterranean Sun Begin?
Under the Mediterranean Sun will begin each Sunday at 12 noon. At 4:30 p.m., you’ll be treated to live music from a flamenco guitarist.
Where Is Gypsy Kitchen Located?
Gypsy Kitchen ATL is located at 3035 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305. Here’s a map to help you find it.
What Else Is There To Do On A Sunday In Atlanta?
Glad you asked! Atlanta has a bevy of fun events, parties and cool things to get into on Sundays.
See our full list of Sunday activities here.
Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Holla: CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our news alerts here, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
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Ready for some fancy eats and cocktails? The new upscale restaurant, Brassica, recently opened its doors to Atlanta patrons.
Diners can expect brasserie-style French cooking coupled with regionally-grown ingredients that capitalize on the best sources that the South has to offer.
Now Serving: Brassica Inside The Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead
When it comes to drinks, Brassica offers excellent American craft cocktails in its Peacock Alley lounge, which is an ode to the flagship hotel in New York. The space features a modern, gently-curved sofas and chair.
The kitchen is helmed by Executive Chef Christophe Le Métayer, who has classical French training that will no doubt infuse the dishes.
The vaunted beverage program was designed by Brassica’s lead bartender, Cara McInerney, who utilizes spraying glasses with rose water and fresh flowers still on the vine that are cut to order.
What are some cocktails you should try at Brassica? Try these:
- City within the Forest: Mixed with Toki whiskey, peach vinegar, orange phosphate, orange flower, and a splash of seltzer.
- Spicy Margarita: Ingredients include Casamigos Blanco tequila, Anaheim chili, rose, agave, orange, and lime.
- The Waldorf Cocktail: A fresh take on Dale DeGroff’s version crafted with Rittenhouse rye whiskey, Carpano Antica, Pernod absinthe, orange bitters, and lemon.
What’s On The Menu At Brassica?
The Brassica menu is categorized into three sections:
- “Growers & Producers”: These are starters that specialize in locally-sourced produce.
- “Butchers & Fishermen”: this is the entree section, which is where you’ll find the finest cuts of regional meat and seafood.
- “For Two”: These are shared dishes that riff off of the hospitable Southern food tradition the region is known for.
Check out Brassica’s Lunch and Dinner Menu.
“We are delighted to bring Brassica to life within our community and to offer an innovative take on brasserie-style French cooking, infusing regional cookery and ingredients into our menu. Brassica will serve as a keystone location in the Buckhead neighborhood where hotel guests and locals alike are offered innovative gastronomic programs unlike no other,” Christopher Guidice, director of food and beverage, Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead, says in a news release.
Where Is Brassica Located In Atlanta?
Brassica is located inside the Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead Hotel. The address is 3376 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326. Here’s a map to help you find it.
Final Word
Make sure you stop by Brassica for a proper meal and good cocktail. Aside from Brassica, here are some other upscale Atlanta restaurants to try.
Metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene is the best in the American South and it continues to get better. Ready to eat?
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Grits are one of those staples of a Southerner’s diet. Atlanta restaurants have turned the dish into an art form.
One local eatery that is taking their grits Gabe up a notch is Nouveau Bar & Grill, which has two metro Atlanta locations (College Park and Jonesboro).Nouveau Bar & Grill To Sell Their Stone Ground Grits For Retail
The eatery, owned by local entrepreneur and restaurateur Ebony Austin, has garnered high praise for their stone grits,
Here’s what one reviewer says about Nouveau Bar & Grill’s grits: “The food here is top of the line!!! The ultimate Cajun seafood and grits in the margarita glass just took the cake….lol….and the grits were so creamy and delicious. If you are town, you must stop by. I’ll definitely be coming back. I think I have found my favorite shrimp and grits in A-town!!”
The grits, which will be the first product under Ebony’s “Nouveau Creations” umbrella will come in three flavors:
- Original
- Garlic & Herb
- Jalapeno & Cheddar.
Austin says she inspiration behind the grits come from someone very special to her.
“The initial date of the launch, March 12, is a tribute to the date of my grandmother’s passing, which happened when I was only nine years old,” says Austin. “She is the one who taught me how to make grits, so the launch of Nouveau Creations is a full-circle experience.”
Nouveau Bar & Grill To Launch Food Truck
Also on this year’s agenda for Nouveau Bar & Grill is a food truck, according to a news release. The eatery will open a Nouveau Creations food truck in April.
The 20-foot truck will be stationed at Nouveau’s Jonesboro location at 103 W Mill Street in Jonesboro.
The truck will help service quick and to-go orders on an open green field, directly behind the restaurant, according to the release.
Final Word
Nouveau Bar & Grill is one of the best black restaurants in Atlanta, and there are plenty others. If you like barbecue, see our list of the Best Atlanta BBQ Restaurants.
As for eateries below I-20, these Southside Atlanta restaurants have developed quite a following.The craze hasn’t escaped metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene, which has seen a bar explosion in recent years.
Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Holla: CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our news alerts here, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
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Famed chef Scott Conant is set to open an upscale Italian-inspired steakhouse restaurant in Buckhead in April 2022.
The Americano will debut inside the InterContinental Hotel Buckhead Atlanta.
The Atlanta location will be the second iteration of the eatery, which has its original restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Americano Opening In Atlanta
Conant burst on the restaurant scene in 2002 when he opened the L’Impero in New York, which recieved the coveted honor of “Best New Restaurant” from the James Beard Foundation.
What’s On The Menu At The Americano?
If Conant’s original eatery in Arizona is any indication, Atlanta is in store for some delicious fare on the menu.
According to The Americano’s website, the eatery serves “fine steaks, such as prime and American Wagyu beef, to freshly made pasta, organic salads, Italian antipasti and Mediterranean seafoods including Italian crudi.”
No doubt, we’re looking forward to The Americano in Atlanta.
Final Word
Perhaps you know Buckhead as a prominent shopping district. Buckhead has many eateries that you might not know about.
If you want to check out some other food spots in the area, here are the best restaurants in Buckhead. Or you might like to read our Buckhead Steak Guide to find all the best eateries offering mouth-watering prime cuts.
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You may know Cultivate Food & Coffee for their latte and brunch offerings, but the breakfast spot is expanding in the Atlanta area.
The cafe bills itself as a place that boasts a “hip blend of a European Café, an Art Gallery and the Great Gatsby era.”
Since partners Johnny Liu and Ryan Bowersox opened the first Cultivate opened in Atlanta’s Wildwood neighborhood, the eatery has leaned into expanding around the city.
Where Is Cultivate Food & Coffee Opening?
A new location for Cultivate Food & Coffee is set to open in The Battery Atlanta this spring, according to a news release.
“The Battery Atlanta continues to evolve and provide an enhanced experience to our guests with every new tenant that we welcome,” said Braves Development Company Executive Vice President of Development Jeremy Strife. “We are pleased to announce that the popular Cultivate concept will join the development, and Mac McGee has quickly proven to be a popular destination for visitors from around the area.”
Woodstock later in fall 2022. Another location will open in Alpharetta in 2023, according to the company’s website.
What’s On The Menu At Cultivate Food & Coffee?
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”19″ display=”basic_imagebrowser”]You can expect some classic takes as well as refreshing twists on timeless morning dishes that we love.
Try the following menu items:
- Buttermilk Biscuit Box (Vegetarian)
- Cultivate Chicken Biscuit
- Salmon BLTA (GF)
- Shrimp & Grits (GF)
- Nashville Chicken Biscuit
- Ashville Hot Chicken & Waffles
Final Word
Cultivate is one of the top brunch spots Outside the Perimeter because of its trend-forward brunch & coffee concept that focuses on fresh from scratch farm-to-table dishes.
Brunch is a big thing in the Southeast, and Georgia’s largest city is no exception. Here are the best brunch spots in Atlanta.
The ATL has other cool eateries as well. If you’re gluten-free, there’s plenty of options. Same goes for keto-friendly restaurants or Asian fare in Atlanta.
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Reality TV star Kandi Burruss and husband Todd Tucker are giving us a lot behind the dining room of their Atlanta restaurant brand Old Lady Gang.
The Old Lady Gang TV show is actually called Kandi and The Gang. It is premiering on Bravo TV on March 6, 2022. Here’s everything you need to know about the show.
Old Lady Gang TV Show: Everything You Want To Know
The Old Lady Gang has been a soul food fixture in Atlanta for the past four years. There are currently three locations of the eatery.
- Castleberry Hill: 177 Peters St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313| (404) 748-9689
- Camp Creek: 3650 Marketplace Blvd Suite 950, East Point, GA 30344
- Downtown: Mercedes Benz Stadium: 1 AMB Dr NW, Atlanta, Ga. 30303
The restaurant, like many of Kandi’s songs, turned out to be a hit and is one of the best black-owned restaurants in Atlanta.
Although Kandi and Todd get much of the limelight for the restaurant, the real stars of the show are the “old ladies” who the food empire is named after.
Who Are Old Ladies In The Old Lady Gang?
The lovely trio who makes up The Old Lady Gang are Kandi’s mother Joyce Jones, and her two aunts Bertha Jones & Nora Wilcox.
Many of the signature recipes served at Old Lady Gang come from those women along with some chef-inspired dishes and Southern staples.
When Will Kandi and The Gang Come On TV?
The premiere for Kandi and The Gang is set for March 6, 2022 at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo TV. The show is part of a production deal struck between Bravo’s Andy Cohen imprint and Kandi.
Here’s the promo for the show:
Final Word
On social media, Kandi says she really appreciates the love the teaser for the new show has been getting.
“We are working at the moment but we just wanted to say thank you to all the love that y’all have been giving us about our new show #KandiAndTheGang! It means so much & we appreciate you!” she says on Facebook. “Thank you for your post, shares, comments, & everything!
If you love reality TV and if it’s as good as the restaurants, then you’ll really enjoy the Old Lady Gang TV show.
Kandi and Todd are just two celebrity restaurateurs that call Atlanta home. Here are some other celeb restaurants to visit.
Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Holla: CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our news alerts here, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
