Atlantafi.com is bringing you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta under a state of emergency.
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Ready for another restaurant along the Beltline? Rina, the newest concept from Oliva Restaurants, is set to open its doors Monday, January 13, 2020.
The new Atlanta restaurant is located on the Eastside BeltLine in the Ford Factory Lofts.
Everything You Need to Know Rina, The New Atlanta Restaurant
Rina is an Israeli diner-inspired eatery that will serve classic Middle Eastern dishes, creative cocktails, and boozy milkshakes in a vibrant, casual setting. Think beach-side Tel Aviv.
The people behind Rina are the same ones that has brought Atlanta some culinary staples, including Bellina Alimentari, Aziza, and Falafel Nation).
The eatery is named for restauranteur Tal Baum’s grandmother, who instilled a passion for cooking in Baum.
“I wanted to expose Atlanta to the fun, lively, delicious part of my culture that is not always the focal point,” Baum says. “I want everybody to know what a magical and beautiful place Israel is and share the recipes that were first served at my family’s falafel stand in Israel in the 1950’s.”What’s On The Menu At Rina?
Rina will serve classic Middle Eastern dishes such as pita sandwiches, skewers, seasonal mezze, hummus, salads, Israeli-inspired milkshakes, and more.
The kitchen will be helmed by Executive Chef Brandon Hughes, who oversees all of Oliva Restaurants’ ventures (Bellina Alimentari, Aziza, Falafel Nation).
“This concept takes more traditional Israeli food offerings, and brings things up a notch, adding in an element of fun and color,” Hughes says.
As for beverages, you’ll get to try any number of frozen drinks, draft cocktails, boozy milkshakes, and house-made sodas. The beverage program will be run by Demario Wallace, who oversees the same at Aziza.
He says to look out for the best of Middle Eastern flavors and authentic ingredients such as harissa, tahini, turmeric and tamarind.
Where Is Rina Located?
The eatery will be tucked into the Ford Factory Lofts, directly across the BeltLine from Ponce City Market. The address is 699 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA. 30308. Here is a map to help you find it.
As for the decor, famed Atlanta designer, Smith Hanes designed the relaxed and family-friendly 2,700 square-foot space which includes an inviting outdoor patio with BeltLine access.
For the latest in metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene, stay with Atlantafi.com.
Here are the best new restaurants in Atlanta
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A new Atlanta restaurant is coming to fruition thanks to a nearly decade-long friendship that has turned into a culinary partnership. Renown chef Craig Richards and restaurateur Billy Streck are opening Lyla Lila in Midtown Atlanta on Friday, Dec. 6.
Lyla Lila will offer patrons a taste of elegance with a menu that focuses on southern European cuisine.
New Atlanta restaurant Lyla Lila opening in Midtown Dec. 6
Lyla Lila will initially open for dinner service seven nights a week. Here is the schedule:
- Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m.
- Friday through Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m.
There are also plans to extend meal services to lunch and brunch in 2020. Reservations can be made via Resy. In addition to valet parking, guests are encouraged to use rideshare car services.
Richards and Streck have ties interwoven with Atlanta’s dining scene: Streck owns Inman Park’s Hampton & Hudson, where Richards oversees the menu.
Richards also helms the kitchens at La Tavola, Ecco, and St. Cecilia, among other culinary adventures.
But nothing solidified the concept that would become Lyla Lila greater than when Richards and Streck found out that their daughters shared the same name.
“My daughter’s name is Lyla and Billy’s daughter’s middle name is Lila. It’s an interesting connection that we share, and by using both names it felt like a personal expression of ourselves and our families to the restaurant,” Richards says in a written statement.
Thus, Lyla Lila was born.
Here’s a rendering of the new Atlanta restaurant Lyla Lila.
What will be on the menu at Lyla Lila?
Given the strong reputations of Richards and Streck, customers can expect outstanding selections on the menu.
The dishes will be inspired by southern Italy and Spain. You can also expect Richards’ signature style of pastas.
Entrees will have their share of wood-fired meat and seafood along with as well as seasonally driven vegetables and salads.
As for the beverage program, Lyla Lila will concentrate on cocktails with seasonal ingredients and Old World wine selections that emphasize sparkling varietals.
Where is Lyla Lila located?
Lyla Lila is located at 693 Peachtree St. NE on the ground level of the 24-story lilli Midtown boutique apartment residence on the corner of 3rd Street and Peachtree. Here is a map to help you find it.
Atlanta is having a restaurant renaissance. Hot chicken is the rage in Atlanta’s dining scene right now. But so are chicken and waffles.
Fast-casual is also 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: 10+ essential soul food spots in Atlanta
Patrons typically order off a menu board like they would at a burger joint, but the convenience of sitting down to leisurely enjoy their food has made the segment a popular one with the restaurant industry.
The craze hasn’t escaped metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene, which has seen a fast-caz explosion in recent years.
Check out some of AtlantaFi.com’s best Atlanta restaurant stories
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The final installment of Night Market at The Home Depot Backyard is taking place on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 6-10 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Night Market, an artisan food and beverage experience, features some of the best food you can find in Atlanta and more.
Night Market at the Home Depot Backyard: What’s in store Dec. 7
The market offers attendees live music, bites from top Atlanta chefs in the city.
Restaurants that will be represented include American Cut, Brezza Cucina, Fox Bros Bar-B-Q, Hattie B’s, Hawkers Asian Street Fare, Holmes, Honeysuckle Gelato, Kyma, Shake Shack, Spotted Trotter, Sweet Auburn BBQ, Watchman’s and Wheelies Tiny Donuts.
There will also be beverages from local experts and an artisan market curated by Indie Craft Experience.
Food and beverage tickets are $25 in advance, $40 onsite. Get tickets here.
Where is the Home Depot Backyard located?
The Home Depot Backyard is located at 1 Backyard Way, Atlanta, GA 30313. Here is a map to help you find it.
Must be 21 years of age or older to attend. Parking is available and taking MARTA or ridesharing is encouraged. For more information about the Night Market series, please visit: www.thehomedepotbackyard.com/
night-market .Metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years.
Here are the best new restaurants in Atlanta
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Seafood restaurants are definitely on the upswing in the city. The latest is The Boiler Seafood and Crab Boil Atlanta.
The Boiler Seafood and Crab Boil Atlanta is having their grand opening December 5 weekend. The new Atlanta restaurant will occupy the space formerly Woofs Sports Bar.
The Boiler Seafood and Crab Boil Atlanta To Open
The soft opening will include some late hours, at least in the beginning. The eatery’s Facebook page says it is open from noon to 2 a.m.The Boiler Seafood is one of many changes that are set to happen in Lindbergh. MARTA officials are contemplating plans for a hotel, stores and some apartments in the area.But let’s talk food! What’s going to be on the menu at The Boiler Seafood?
What’s On The Menu?
Customers can expect all the trappings of a New Orleans restaurant, including dishes such as lobster, crab, shrimp and a full-service drink menu.
Here are some photos of some of the great food you can get.
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Where is The Boiler Seafood and Crab Boil Atlanta located?
The The Boiler Seafood and Crab Boil Atlanta is located at 2425 Piedmont Road NE Atlanta, Georgia 30324. Here is a map to help you find it.
We told you the city’s seafood craze isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Here are some of the best seafood restaurants in Atlanta.
Here are the best new restaurants in Atlanta
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If you want to travel from Atlanta to the Louisiana Cajun Bayou, you can fly or you can take the drive from Interstate 85 south to I-65 to Interstate 10. Either way, good eatin’ awaits.
Much has been said about the delights of New Orleans food, but there are other parts of Louisiana that don’t get the national recognition, but are just as good if not better. One such place is Lafourche Parish.
Want to know what’s cooking in Nawlins? Here’s more locally flavored news.
Cajun Bayou: What’s Cookin’ in Lafourche Parish?
Lafourche is in the southern part of the state, about 7.2 hours from Atlanta, Georgia. Louisiana is shaped like a boot — and in those terms, Lafourche would be considered one of the toes. But when it comes to great food, the parish may be head and shoulders in the state.
Atlantafi.com got to talk to a main proponent of Pelican State cuisine, Timothy Bush, president/CEO of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou tourism.
Cajun Bayou is the convention and visitors bureau for Lafourche Parish. Here is an edited transcript of our email interview.
Where are you from?
I grew up in West Monroe, Louisiana. My appreciation for Louisiana food is rooted in my upbringing. My mama cooked and still cooks gumbo, which is one of my favorite meals to this day! The food throughout Louisiana is so amazing. It’s flavorful and its soulful at the same time because Louisiana food is rooted in our culture and all the folks that settled here many generations ago.
Can you tell me a little about “Cajun Bayou,” what it is and what’s the message behind it?
Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou is the brand of Lafourche Parish. It promotes the parish as a community that is rich, natural and unapologetically Cajun in every way. Lafourche Parish sits along Bayou Lafourche and stretches 106 miles from north to south. The message that our brand pushes is that if you want to come to a place with authentic Cajun culture and experiences, then Lafourche Parish is that place because of our food, festivals and outdoor experiences. We aren’t the most polish of communities and we don’t strive to be. Here, what you see is what you get and the folks who live around the bayou are proud to share and showcase their culture to visitors.
How would you distinguish Southern Louisiana cuisine from, say, seafood from some of the other major port areas in the U.S. (San Francisco, Maryland, Boston, etc.)?
Food has always been a way of life down here. When people came down to settle in the area, they made their living off the land and the bounties it provides. Southern Louisiana and more specifically Cajun food, is full of flavor and culture. Seafood is used in so many different ways from gumbos and stews to boils and poboys. The way Cajun food is prepared is rooted deep in tradition and passed down from generation to generation, making our food such a big part of the story here.
What is the difference, in your opinion between Cajun and Creole, when it comes to food?
Creole food originated in New Orleans hundreds of years ago and really came about because of the city’s access to the port that brought in imported spices. It also has an influence from the African culture because slaves were also being brought in through the port. Creole tends to be a bit more spicy and usually starts with a tomato base in dishes. Cajun is a little simpler and more robust in flavor from things like onions and vegetables and herbs as the base. These are foods that were more accessible to rural areas outside the city and grown by farmers.
Now the big question: Where are some of the best places to eat in Lafourche Parish?
Here Are The Best Places To Eat In Lafourche Parish?
Thibodaux, Kajun Twist, etc.: Best Lafourche Restaurants
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Jinya Ramen Bar is set to open November 11 in Alpharetta City Center. The restaurant is widely thought of as having the best ramen in whatever city they’re in.
The eatery recently received a shoutout from Chrissy Teigen, who posted online about her favorite Jinya Ramen Bar dish.
“My pick is the spicy tonkotsu ramen,” she said. “It’s rich and tingly but not crazy-hot; the fire builds slowly with every slurp. Round out your meal with their buns, crispy chicken, and gyoza – if your kids don’t want ramen, they’ll destroy all of these and ask for seconds.”
For its Alpharetta debut, Jinya Ramen Bar is offering freebies as well. The first 50 people at 11 am. and 6 p.m. will receive a free ramen bowl.
The craze hasn’t escaped metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene, which has seen a fast-caz explosion in recent years.
Here are the best new restaurants in Atlanta
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Taffer’s Tavern, a new Atlanta restaurant, from businessman Jon Taffer, is set to open in downtown Atlanta in summer 2020.
The tavern is part of a multi-unit franchise agreement that will result in five locations opening in Georgia.
Taffer’s Tavern Atlanta: What you need to know
Taffer’s Tavern is a restaurant concept that features what is called a hoodless kitchen. The format is based on using technology to cook food of the highest quality without the need for a commercial kitchen.
The first of five Taffer’s Taverns in the state will be built in Atlanta, with construction to start soon.
Taffer’s franchise partner is Five Guys Taverns LLC, and hopes to capitalize on the fast-casual trend in the restaurant industry.
“We were immediately drawn to the idea of ‘tavern dining’ and creating a gathering place for people that provides unique, superior menu items at an affordable price,” said Hemant Suri, Taffer’s Tavern franchisee, according to franchising.com. “Jon has managed to engineer a restaurant concept that streamlines operations without compromising the food quality, and we are thrilled to be the first franchisees for this break-out brand.”
The craze hasn’t escaped metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene, which has seen a fast-caz explosion in recent years.
Here are the best new restaurants in Atlanta
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At Sweetwater Brewing, Atlanta chefs are partnering with SweetWater to benefit Giving Kitchen and other Atlanta restaurants.
The “Seconds Please” Food Festival is a special event sponsored by Sysco that’s devoted to delicious food, beer, live music and a great cause.
‘Seconds Please’ Food Festival: What, When, Where
The event is slated for Sunday, November 10 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at SweetWater Brewery.
Guests that attend to try a variety of dishes prepared by Atlanta chefs as well as SweetWater’s Second Helping, a beer brewed in conjunction with Giving Kitchen in which 100% of proceeds benefit food service workers in crisis.
General Admission tickets: $30
VIP tickets: $75
What Atlanta Restaurants Will Have Food At ‘Seconds Please’ Food Festival?
Food will be featured from the following local restaurants:
Porch Light Latin Kitchen
- Adobo Rubbed Smoked Pork Cheeks, Toston, Avocado, Lime Cured Onions
Loyal Q
- SmOAKed Wings + House-Made Pickles
Ormsby’s
- Pot Roast Pot Pie with G13
Wade’s
- West by West Pepperoni Rolls
Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
- Smoked Turkey Club Slider
Steinbeck’s
- Pork Vindaloo with Coconut Rice and Crispy Curry Leaves
Local 3
- “Spaghetti-Os” with Annellini and Meatballs
MTH Pizza
- Margherita Pizza with Tomato, Mozzarella, Scissored Basil and EVOO
Dos Bocas
- Chicken and Andouille Jambalaya & Shrimp and Crab Campechana
Rozina Bakehouse & Coffee
- Turkey Thighs Carrilladas, Olives, Migas Con Chorizo Puree, Espelette Emulsion
SweetWater Brewery
- BBQ Brisket Sliders with Fried Onions and Second Helping BBQ Sauce
For more information, visit SweetWater’s website, SweetWater’s Facebook page or Giving Kitchen’s website!
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The Popeyes Chicken Sandwich is making record sales once again across the nation. Go to nearly any Popeyes location and you’ll see long lines. You also may see customers berating Popeyes workers — and that has to stop.
There are other ways to handle your frustration besides making working conditions nearly unbearable for Popeyes employees trying to serve you.
5 Things to do besides yelling at a Popeyes employee over a chicken sandwich
Because the scenes have been so ugly, we wanted to show you some productive ways to handle your temper when problems or delays arrive due to the demands of the popular Popeyes Chicken Sandwich. Here’s what you can do:
1. Take a deep breath
If you think a chicken sandwich is worth your reputation, think again. Before you say something you regret, take a deep breath and think about it.
Seriously, take a chill pill and relax. It’s going to be OK.
2. Put things in perspective
Similarly, you’ll want to really consider some perspective: You’re acting out (or about it) over a Popeyes fried chicken sandwich. Then ask yourself the following…
3. Is it worth it?
If you ask yourself that question, you’ll begin to recognize that the relative worth of what you could lose if you blow up at a Popeyes worker, isn’t worth it. Not by a long shot.
It’s not worth being banned from the restaurant over something stupid. It’s not worth a visit from a security guard or a police officer who has been called because of you. It’s just not worth it.
4. Order online
If you feel yourself losing your composure because of the long line, consider ordering online. Not only can you skip a lot of people, but you can actually go to any location.
All you have to do to order online is download the Popeyes app for Android or iOS.
5. Politely ask to speak to the manager
Instead of going back and forth with a Popeyes worker, politely ask to speak to the manager about the situation. You’re more likely to get some resolution if you escalate it through the proper channels.
Oftentimes, trying to humiliate a worker is not going to go well for her or the food you’ve ordered.
Folks, remember, the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich is great, but it’s not worth the disrespect being shown to employees of the restaurant.
Those employees are people, too. And you never know when what you say may tip someone over the edge. So chill out and “love that chicken from Popeyes.”
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A second Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q is coming to Atlanta, this time to the Upper Westside project called The Works. The new Atlanta restaurant is set to open in summer 2020.
Twin brothers and owners Jonathan and Justin Fox have turned the Fox Bros. brand into the premiere barbecue restaurants in Atlanta. The Fort Worth, Texas natives opened the original eatery on DeKalb Avenue 12 years ago.
New Fox Bros. Restaurant Coming to Atlanta in 2020
The new Fox Bros. will be in The Works, an 80-acre mixed-use development being built by Selig Development.
“We spent nearly four years finding the perfect space and we knew immediately that The Works would work for us,” says co-owner and pitmaster Jonathan Fox. “We are thrilled to be a part of the project’s community of creative makers and are excited for our guests to enjoy a full experience, from retail to dining and more, while visiting us.”
The new location will be double the size of the first Fox Bros and will come complete with a smokehouse and gaming area.
Here are other features of the new Fox Bros. restaurant:
- More than 9,300 square feet of space
- An estimated 325 seats
- Two covered patios
- The Spur, a 970-foot linear park that runs along a former rail spur at The Works
- Large smokehouse
- Gaming area
Where Will The New Fox Bros. Be Located?
The new Fox Bros. will be in The Works development, which is roughly located at 1295 Chattahoochee Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30318. Here’s a map so you can see the area: