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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.
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In late July 2018, a Mexican restaurant opened in the freshly minted Beacon business development located in Grant Park.
Patria Cocina prides itself in serving what it calls comfort food, and that’s just how you feel after one of their delicious dishes.
For those keeping score, Patria Cocina comes to us from the owners of El Mexicano, which used to be the place to go on Moreland Avenue. Run by the Aguirre family, Patria Cocina has a handsome patio that looks out on the front side of the Beacon development, which is Grant Park’s answer to Krog Street Market as well as Ponce City Market.
When I visited Patria Cocina, the place was not busy and easily accommodated me. Although I almost went with fish tacos, I decided to try the enchiladas. Covered in green sauce, the enchiladas were so good and soft, they seemingly melted in my mouth.
Instead of refried beans, I went with black beans, which was a good choice. They had shredded cheese sprinkled on top of them, giving the black beans two contrasting flavors that melded together perfectly.
Other menu favorites are Torta a la Mexicana and Guiso Mexicano, which will fill you up no doubt.
Beacon is a $20 million development that refurbished a series of warehouses in a sleepy corner of Grant Park. Thanks to Patria Cocina, the area is waking up.
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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There are few festivals in Atlanta that command our total attention like the ATL Cluckfest 2018 Fried Chicken Festival. The event is slated for Saturday, October 6, 2018. It runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Candler Park Dr. , Atlanta, GA 30307.
Aside from the creative name, fried chicken is a rite of passage in the South, and a festival of such proportions is something that calls to mind all kinds of finger-lickin’ delight.
ATL CluckFest 2018 Fried Chicken Festival: What you need to know
The event will bring together numerous restaurants from all over the South to bring their best fried chicken dishes to Candler Park. More than 25+ restaurants will be vying for the crown of Atlanta’s Best Fried Chicken!
Entry is pre-sale tickets are $15.00 at the door $20.00 GA. Each GA will receive a three token wristband redeemable at all restaurants for samples.
VIP Gold is 35.00 and pre-sale $45.00 . Each VIP member will gain early entry ,
6 token wristband redeemable at all restaurants for samples, private bar, climate controlled bathrooms, phone charging stations, seating area, and private DJ.There are so many Atlanta events popping off every week it’s hard to keep up with it all. That’s why I suggest you subscribe to AtlantaFi.com to get all the freshest gatherings, Atlanta happenings, parties and more delivered to your inbox.
Things to do in Atlanta on a weekly basis can range from going golfing mid-week to checking out the latest restaurant openings. At AtlantaFi.com, we curate the city for you!
Read more: The best soul food restaurants in Atlanta -
Thursday, September 20th is Free Sushi Day at more than 200 participating P.F. Chang’s restaurants across the country and the three locations in the Atlanta area. This one-day-only event invites dine-in guests to enjoy a free Spicy Tuna Roll or California Roll with no purchase necessary. The only strings attached to this offer are the ones used to catch the fish.
“Free Sushi Day is one of many ways we thank guests and introduce them to something new and delicious that’s great for lunch, happy hour or dinner,” said Dwayne Chambers, P.F. Chang’s chief marketing officer. “Last year P.F. Chang’s served nearly 93,000 sushi rolls across the country on Free Sushi Day – this year we hope to surpass 100,000.”
The participating P.F. Chang’s in Atlanta are:
- P.F. Chang’s
Cumberland MallAtlanta, GA · (770) 803-5800- P.F. Chang’s
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International AirportAtlanta, GA · (404) 481-2146- P.F. Chang’s
Atlanta, GA · (770) 352-0500Every roll of P.F. Chang’s sushi is handcrafted, hand cut, and made with 100% U.S. grown rice. In addition to classics like the Spicy Tuna or California Roll, other favorites include the Kung Pao Dragon Roll, Lobster Avocado Roll, and Shrimp Tempura Roll.
Guests can take advantage of P.F. Chang’s Free Sushi Day at participating restaurants by mentioning the promotion to their server. This offer is valid all day, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018, with no purchase required, for dine-in use only. The Free Sushi Day offer is limited to one 8-piece Spicy Tuna or California Roll per guest but is not limited to a maximum per table. It cannot be combined with any other offer. A limited number of P.F. Chang’s locations are not participating, including airport, Atlantic City, Puerto Rico and Hawaii restaurants, and P.F. Chang’s restaurants that opened within the last 30 days.
The Atlanta restaurants scene is booming. The city’s suburban outposts, including places like Brookhaven, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek and Alpharetta are all experiencing a restaurant rebirth as developers look to branch out beyond Atlanta’s core. There is also a generous scattering of burger joints, coffee shops and more around the Perimeter. Atlanta restaurants can be found in each quadrant of the city, trading on their respective environments to offer something truly unique to the community.
Read more: 5 really cool coffee joints to check out in Atlanta
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One of Buckhead’s best-kept secrets opened in August in Phipps Plaza. Grand Lux Cafe is from the same people that brought us the Cheesecake Factory.The new restaurant comes on strong with hipness, contemporary decor and an atmosphere that’s a lot more relaxed.The eatery clear caters to the upwardly mobile and affluent, something that was clearly evident in the day AtlantaFi sampled a few items on the menu.Grand Lux Cafe opens in Buckhead
The restaurant borrows heavily from the grandeur and luxury of European cafes, including French bistros and Italian pastry shops, but with the contemporary sensibilities inherent in the American dining experience.Grand Lux Cafe first opened in Las Vegas at the famed Venetian Resort, Hotel and Casino, and was such a hit that the parent company sought to expand the idea. Now, there are Grand Lux Cafes in eight states, including Florida, Texas, New Jersey and New York.When I visited, for starters I tried the Chicken Lettuce Wraps, which includes minced Sauteed Chicken Breast and Vegetables in a Delicious Asian Sauce. Served with Cool Lettuce Wraps.The lettuce was crispy-fresh and served as a fitting shell for a heaping of shredded chicken laced with Asian sauce.For my entree, I went with the Stacked Chicken Quesadilla, which features tortillas Layered with Melted Cheese, Chicken, Tomato, Black Beans and Green Chiles. Served with Sour Cream and Salsa. It was heavenly.The help was exceptional. Each waiter or waitress tended to my needs as they were evident.As for the beverage program, was okay. I had a Moscow Mule that was on point. But a margarita was on the weak side. I’m sure it was just a hiccup.Grand Lux Cafe is open 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursdays. On weekends, the hours are 10 a.m. to midnight (11 p.m. on Sundays). Weekend Brunch is on Saturdays and Sundays 10:00AM – 2:00PM.The Atlanta restaurants scene is booming. The city’s suburban outposts, including places like Brookhaven, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek and Alpharetta are all experiencing a restaurant rebirth as developers look to branch out beyond Atlanta’s core. There is also a generous scattering of burger joints, coffee shops and more around the Perimeter. Atlanta restaurants can be found in each quadrant of the city, trading on their respective environments to offer something truly unique to the community.
