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Alma Cocina Buckhead opened a second location in Atlanta on Tuesday, Feb. 4, bringing another upscale Mexican eatery to Atlanta’s priciest ZIP code.
The new Atlanta restaurant is now serving all meals in the Terminus building at the corner of Piedmont and Peachtree. Staff are being trained up now and they’re hiring.
“We’re serving delicious weekday lunch and weekend brunch menus — both featuring our much-loved mushroom & hominy veggie burger with bacon jam and a side of craveworthy masa fries,” the restaurant recently posted on Facebook.
Alma Cocina Opens Second Location In Buckhead
The eatery is run by Fifth Group, a restaurant company that has brought Atlanta such great eateries as South City Kitchen, Lure, La Tavola Trattoria and The Original El Taco.
The original Alma Cocina opened in Midtown Atlanta nearly a decade ago, giving Atlanta’s an upscale Mexican concept in the middle of the city.
What’s On The Menu At Alma Cocina Buckhead?
The menu consists of some of the best Mexican dishes you can try, such as Cauliflower chilaquiles with eggs, salsa verde, cashew crema, pico de gallo & queso cotija.
Where Is Alma Cocina Buckhead Be Located?
The new restaurant is located at 3280 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30305. Here is a map to show you how to get there.
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
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.
For the latest in metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene, stay with Atlantafi.com.
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So many good Atlantans have been affected by the partial government shutdown, but many good people and establishments are responding with big hearts. Many Atlanta restaurants are providing complimentary meals and other free food for furloughed government workers.
Furloughed in Atlanta? Here’s how to eat for free at Twisted Cookhouse & Pours
On Jan. 21, Twisted Cookhouse & Pours served a delicious free lunch to federal workers affected by the government shutdown. Twisted Cookhouse & Pours isn’t the only generous business we have here in ATL.
Atlanta Restaurants Offering Free Meals and Food Deals to Furloughed Workers
Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium says on Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 21) the Old Fourth Ward bar will give furloughed government workers a free shot.
R. Thomas Deluxe Grille: If you are a government employee show your government ID to receive 20% off your food and drink!
High Museum: To support federal workers, the High Museum is offering free general museum admission to any government employees with valid ID.
HodgePodge and Buteco coffee houses are both giving federal workers a free cup of coffee with proof of government ID.
HoneySuckle Gelato in Ponce City Market is giving federal workers a free scoop of ice cream with proof of government ID.
Pine Street Market: FREE Smoked Chicken Quarter & a PSM side to Furloughed Federal Employees w/ U.S. Government ID. Limit 2 Chicken Quarters & Sides, Per Employee, Per Day.
Spiller Park Coffee: On Thursday the 31 from 2 to 5 p.m. the Toco Hill location of Spiller Park Coffee and Hugh Acheson will serve furloughed government workers a “damn fine lunch,” the eatery said on its Twitter. All you need is your government ID. Spiller Park Coffee is located at Toco Hill Shopping Center, 2929 North Druid Hills Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30329.
SweetWater Brewing Co. is giving furloughed federal workers free beer. The Ottley Drive brewery recently tweeted: “If you’re a furloughed federal employee, we think you deserve a beer or two. Show your govt ID to our bar staff and your first two are on us.”
Publico Kitchen & Tap on Jan. 14 began giving 50% off the food bill to any furloughed federal worker with ID. This deal is good until the shutdown ends.
Saltyard Atlanta is giving furloughed federal employees a complimentary item from the farm share section of the menu!
Sweet Hut Bakery: Government employees get 50% off their beverage Mondays through Fridays @ all locations.
Know of any other Atlanta businesses giving furloughed workers a helping hand? Let us know in the comments.
Read more: Another Whole Foods is popping up in Midtown -
A new food joint in Midtown Atlanta is proving to be a welcome respite from the new age “fusion” food that is cropping up around the city. In Old Fourth Ward, Nina And Rafi, an Italian-American restaurant, opened its doors fresh for 2019.
Check it out: The AtlantaFi Nina and Rafi review
In December, the Belt LIne-adjacent eatery teased its entry into the Atlanta dining scene before Christmastime.
Now serving in Midtown Atlanta: Nina And Rafi
“We are having a soft opening at Nina & Rafi…which means we will be serving a limited menu & will have limited hours for a couple of weeks,” Billy Streck, an Atlanta restaurateur who has brought the city Hampton & Hudson and Cypress St., said on Twitter.
Nina and Rafi’s hours are 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. during the week.
Now that it’s open, the restaurant and bar located in Studioplex at 659 Auburn Ave., has quickly caught on with Midtowners.
Where did the name Nina & Rafi come from?
Streck and Spina named the new spot after their grandmothers – Nina and Rafi – and their upbringings in New Jersey and New York. Both were raised eating grandma-style pies in their family pizzerias. Spina was schooled in the art of crafting Jersey-style pizza side-by-side with his uncle in Red Bank, New Jersey.
The dynamic duo have taken what they’ve learned growing up and transformed it into a beloved restaurant that serves pizza, Italian snacks, dessert and even has a full bar.
Where is Nina & Rafi located?
Nina & Rafi is located at 661 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312 along the Eastside Beltline. Here’s a map to help you find it.
Visiting Nina & Rafi? Here’s where to park
For parking options, patrons can park their vehicles on Auburn Avenue or pay to park in the parking deck at SPX Alley or in the corner lot on Krog Street and Irwin Strett. Street parking is also available on Edgewood Avenue – to access the restaurant, guests can walk down the steps to the BeltLine.
Atlanta has turned into quite a restaurant town, with new spots popping up by the week it seems. Follow AtlantaFi’s Restaurants tag to stay up on all the latest.
Nina and Rafi review: The down low on delicious and hearty pizzas on the Beltline #OTW https://t.co/NWDwLjN6R3 pic.twitter.com/vdK9tHUPhL
— ATLHAPS (@atlhaps) February 8, 2019
Read more: 5 metro Atlanta places to ride horses
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Movie stars are flocking to Pinewood Studios in Fayetteville. Soon they may be flocking to Pinewood Social, the new breakfast spot opening in late 2019.
Pinewood Forest is a 235-acre mixed-use development near the studio, which has become famous for producing big-budget Hollywood films. Pancake Social’s space will span 3,500 square feet.
Pancake Social opening at Fayetteville’s Pinewood Forest
Pancake Social’s all-day breakfast and coffee philosophy will work well with crew members and others on movie sets that work around the clock. The eatery, which will serve patrons eight different types of pancakes, will be joining a coffee shop and outdoor seating area.
The Pinewood location would be the second metro area Pancake Social, which is set to open its doors soon at Ponce City Market.
Backing the restaurant is culinary heavy hitters such as chef Anne Quatrano (Bacchanalia and Star Provisions), who has won a James Beard Award. Also involved are Tony Riffel, co-founder of Octane Coffee Company and Elevator Factory, former Chick-Fil-A executive Dan Jacobson, who owns Steel Wave Ventures and Steven Chan, founder of Tin Drum Asian Kitchen.
When it comes to restaurants, Atlanta is quickly gaining ground on some of the dining capitals around the United States.
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: 5 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.
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UPDATE: The Colony Square restaurant at 14th Street and Peachtree will now be filled by Rumi’s Kitchen, a Persian eatery.
If you’ve ventured anywhere near 14th Street and Peachtree recently, you couldn’t miss the orange construction barrels and traffic cop directing people out of harm’s way as one of the city’s most prominent corners endures yet another renaissance. This time, in the form of Iselle Kitchen + Bar.
Iselle, the latest new Atlanta restaurant to join the revitalized Colony Square development, is getting readied for a fall 2019 opening, according to a press release on the new Atlanta restaurant. The eatery comes to us from the rich creative mind of Chef Chris Gentile, who has made a name for himself by preparing West Coast-inspired Italian cuisine among other culinary delights.
Iselle Kitchen + Bar opening in Midtown’s Colony Square
For Gentile, whose family lives in metro Atlanta, the opening of Iselle is a homecoming of sorts. “I can’t wait to cook for my parents when they come in,” Gentile said a written statement. “It already feels like home for me.”
Menu favorites from Iselle will include such dishes as Seared Ora King Salmon, Ricotta-Stuffed Squash Blossoms and Burrata Gnocchi plus mouth-watering desserts.
Atlanta’s dining scene is taking off in pockets of the city far and wide. Gentile said that his decision to plant roots in Colony Square is indicative of what he sees happening in Midtown.
“There’s a level of urban vibrancy here that you just can’t find elsewhere,” Gentile said. “Colony Square is in the midst of an incredible renaissance, and we’re eager to introduce our own take on Italian to the area while we’re right here in the center of the action.”
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.
Read more: Another Whole Foods is popping up in Midtown -
Atlantans love to eat out, so it’s no surprise that some lovable restaurants in the city have made another distinguished list. This time TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, announced a new ranking of the top restaurant chains in the U.S. for 2019.
The list is based on millions of reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor diners, who span across the country. The rankings include those of the fine dining variety as well as casual dining, quick service and fast casual.
TripAdvisor’s top restaurant chains in Atlanta
“Chain restaurants are integral to the American dining experience as they offer consumers convenient and satisfying meals for all occasions,” Bertrand Jelensperger, senior vice president for TripAdvisor Restaurants, said in a statement.
“For the first time, TripAdvisor is ranking restaurant chains that provide exemplary food, service and value to diners. Every company featured in these rankings should be proud of the recognition they are receiving from TripAdvisor’s community of millions of travelers and locals searching our site for a great place to eat.”
Here are the Best Restaurant Chains in the U.S.
Top 10 Small Chains (10-50 locations)
- Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
- Seasons 52
- Houston’s
- Ocean Prime
- J. Alexander’s
- Fogo de Chão
- Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
- Half Shell Oyster House
- Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano
- Maggiano’s Little Italy
- Top 10 Medium Chains (51-100 locations)
- The Capital Grille
- Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
- Texas de Brazil
- Yard House
- BRIO Tuscan Grille
- Portillo’s
- Morton’s The Steakhouse
- The Melting Pot
- Sweet Tomatoes
- Another Broken Egg Cafe
Top 10 Large Chains (101+ locations)
- When it comes to restaurants, Atlanta is quickly gaining ground on some of the dining capitals around the United States.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: 5 essential soul food spots in AtlantaPatrons 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.
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Photo credit: @holmes restaurant instagram Holmes, the recently opened neighborhood restaurant in Alpharetta, released a new dinner menu featuring some of the best fare you can get in the Southeast.
Small plates include Sweet Potatoes, with fluffy blue cheese and salted cashews, horseradish and brown butter. Pork Belly comes with proper glaze, smoked poblano, pineapple, advocado and salsa verde.
Holmes, from Executive Chef Taylor Neary, also updated its beverage. Favorites include Boneshaker Zinfindel, Juicy J (vodka, purp syrup, coconut and lemon) as well as Danny Trejo (smoked tequila, tepache, lime and agave).
Holmes is located inside the historic Jones House at Alpharetta City Center. The restaurant has quickly made a name for itself for its offerings of eclectic dishes made with locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients from farms including Levity Farms in Milton, Georgia, Tucker Farms in Rome, Georgia, and Loud Mouth Farms in the North Georgia mountains.
Holmes opened in July 2018 in North Fulton, which has seen a restaurant resurgence with the opening of The Avalon mixed-used development.
See Holmes’ food menu here and their drink menu here.
Read more: 40+ free things to do in ATL
Best new Atlanta restaurants for 2018-2019
Best strip clubs in Atlanta
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A new popsicle shop has taken metro Atlanta by storm, to the delight of customers in Decatur. Steel City Pops, a gourmet pops company, opened in October 2017. Steel City Pops in Decatur is shaking things up.
The goodies initally opened a pop-up shop at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta in mid-June, getting a taste of the metro ATL market. The business specializes in natural ingredient frozen treats and all-gluten-free treats sweetened with raw, organic cane sugar ( no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives).
“We are a family-owned, all-natural, gourmet popsicle company that opened in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2012 and have since grown to 19 locations across Alabama, Texas, and Kentucky,” general manager Jack Roberson said in a statement.
The shop has gotten rave reviews from customers as Decatur residents and their kids often opt for a sweet treat after dinner.
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Serving to-die-for cornbread, greens and choice meats, a new eatery opened in metro Atlanta in 2018 and it’s been kind of a big (and good) deal.
Ms. Icey’s Kitchen & Bar, a restaurant from Sim Walker, the proprietor of Midtown’s Negril Village, opened in a modest shopping center at 1371 Clairemont Road in Decatur, 30333.
It quickly became one of the best black-owned restaurants in Atlanta.
The restaurant has a lively, familial atmosphere. On Ms. Icey’s Instagram page, there are several pictures of close friends, family and associates.
When I visited I had the brown stew chicken and rice, which were exceptional. Most of the dishes come in a black skillet, giving the customer a down-home sort of vibe about the kitchen, as if your Grandma was cooking in the rear.
I also had a margarita, which was a spirited cloudly drink made fresh from the bar. I had another.
The eatery’s Instagram page says, “ms.iceyskitchenThis is Marva, Ms. Chan, and Ms. Karlene on one Carrot Juice! Plus they made Ms. Icey’s recipe. You don’t get this just like that. This is years of tradition and experience going into one Carrot Juice! Trying to tell y’all. This a magic moment and plenty more are coming. @ms.iceyskitchen.
We look forward to going to Ms. Icey’s again and experiencing it once again.
Final Word
Atlanta continues to be a place with plentiful things to do, see and eat! If you like that part of town, don’t sleep on College Park either.
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. -
Ammazza pizzeria is opening in Decatur on Tuesday, Nov. 13, AtlantaFi has learned. The restaurant will be housed in a 2,500-square-foot space just across the street from Kimball House.
Ammazza will open daily for dinner, with lunch service to come in early 2019. For now, the eatery is BYOB until they secure their liquor license.Once that’s taken care of, Ammazza will feature a beverage program of craft cocktails, beer and small production wines.
Running the kitchen will be Executive Chef Sean Dwyer, whose big on fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
The new restaurant will feature an expanded dinner menu borrowing heavily from Italian culinary pillars, such as antipasto, pasta, dolces and made-from-scratch pizzas with cured meats from local charcuterie The Spotted Trotter.
Guests can expect a rotating palette of seasonal insalatas, pastas and delightful dolces for dessert. Patrons can also choose vegan pizzas, topped with housemade cashew cheese.
Ammazza hours of service:
Sunday – Thursday: 5-11pm
Friday – Saturday: 5-12pm
Lunch to follow
ADDRESS:
314 E Howard Ave
Decatur, GA 30030
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.