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Chef Hector Santiago is planning to open another eatery inside Ponce City Market in Midtown. His El Super Pan has been a runaway success with locations in the central food hall as well as The Battery Atlanta.
Now Santiago is planning to open a tapas bar inside Ponce City Market. The establishment will be the space formerly occupied by Biltong Bar, which closed down months ago.
When Will Hector Santiago’s New Tapas Bar in Ponce City Market Open?
The tapas bar will be called Le Metro, and is slated to open this summer.
Hector Santiago’s culinary odyssey began under the tutelage of Chef Giovanna Huyke in his Puerto Rican hometown. This early spark ignited a passion that led him across the globe, honing his skills in renowned kitchens under the guidance of culinary masters like José Andrés and Wylie Dufresne. Each stop on his journey added a distinct layer of technique and inspiration, shaping him into the chef he is today.
Le Metro will mark Santiago’s fourth restaurant in Atlanta following his two El Super Pan locations and his burrito shop, El Burro Pollo in the Coda food hall on the Georgia Tech campus.
Before any of those restaurants was Pura Vida, which Santiago had to close in 2012. It was on the ground floor of Pura Vida that El Super Pan, then a Cuban sandwich pop-up, was born. Now it is Santiago’s signature restaurant in Atlanta.
Final Bite
The best Mexican restaurants in Atlanta all have good customer service, if not good food. As of now, Hot Chicken is the rage in Atlanta’s dining scene right now. But so are chicken and waffles.
Check out 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.
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Little Rey, the Ford Fry restaurant that features Mexican fare with a twist, is set to open a second location in Atlanta.
Little Rey Opening Restaurant #2 In Atlanta
Little Rey Buckhead aims to open its doors in spring 2024 at the Northcreek Office Park on Northside Parkway.
What’s On The Menu At Little Rey?
Little Rey’s menu includes creative drinks and spicy dishes like wood-roasted chicken al carbon, al carbon tacos, traditional street-style tacos, salads and more.
Final Word
You might not realize it, but Mexican food is one of the best cuisines in Atlanta’s restaurant scene. Taco may be a Spanish word and a traditional Mexican dish, but Americans have fallen in love with it.
If you’ve had success with making tacos after reading this article, post a pic in the comments so we can see what you’re working with!
Tacos aren’t the only things you can make at home with great success. Burritos, tostadas and even chalupas can be make pretty easy from your own kitchen.
Atlanta restaurant are one of the hottest things happening right now. Hot chicken is the rage in Atlanta’s dining scene right now. But so are chicken and waffles.
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Detroit-based food critic Keith Lee has stirred up Atlanta residents once again. Lee, who embarked on his family food tour, which took five months to complete.
He said that he and his family went to eight different cities.
“My biggest issue with Atlanta is that it’s hard to get food,” he said, referring to the fact that it seemed like his status figured a bit too prominently for his tastes in Georgia’s largest city. “When he did eat, it was delicious.
And Atlanta Comes In Ranked As Number…
Here are the rankings of the 2023 Keith Lee Family Food Tour.
8. Atlanta
Lee and his family’s foray into Atlanta left much to be desired on both sides. Lee’s much publicized brush-up with The Real Milk & Honey restaurant was perhaps the largest incident in the city in 2023.
Things got so bad that Lee said his family received death threats — that’s not cool!
7. New York
In the Big Apple, Lee said that he tried his best to find the best places to eat, but wherever he went it never hit quite right despite his best efforts.
6. Detroit
Despite being from Motown, Lee said that his home city’slack of food diversity led to its ranking where it did.
5. Los Angeles
“Granted, we didn’t do a full food tour there, but he and his family traveled there “like, 20 times this year,” He said, the diverse food scene really made an impression on him.
4. Las Vegas
“Vegas opened the door for me when it came to different foods and different cultures.”
3. Chicago
Almost every spot in Chicago that Lee and his family went to had amazing food.
2. Houston
He said that he couldn’t think of one place in Houston where he didn’t enjoy the food.
1. New Orleans
“In my opinion, what set New Orleans apart — not by much — was the customer service. Everywhere we went, we felt like family. I’m talking about it felt like I was going to my cousin’s house. It didn’t feel like I was going to a restaurant. It didn’t feel like I was going to no established place. It felt like I was going to Auntie, Maw Maw, Paw Paw, whoever house you want to go to.”
With that said, make sure you check out the best restaurants in New Orleans. It also important to support the best black-owned restaurants in the Big Easy as well.
Final Bite
Finding a place to eat in Atlanta is never a problem if you know where to go. East Point 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.
More Food Coverage:
Here Are The Best New Restaurants In Atlanta
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Ammazza, one of the best pizza joints in Atlanta’s Inman Park, is closing its doors at year’s end. The pizza place recently shared the news that it was closing shop on Edgewood Avenue.
Ammazza has become popular for its housemade pizzas with cured meats from local charcuterie The Spotted Trotter.
Why Ammazza Pizza Is Closing Its Doors
Ammazza posted on social media the following message:
To all our loyal patrons, Ammazza Edgewood will be permanently closing its doors on December 31st. It has been an honor serving you the highest quality pizza for over 11 years. While Edgewood has been our home since the beginning. Our lease is ending and we must leave. Ammazza has been made possible by the efforts of so many people. Hundreds of individuals over the last 12 years sacrificed their time and energy to make Ammazza possible. The gratitude is beyond words. Thank You to everyone for all of your contributions. There’s still a few weeks left to come have a pizza and let us serve you before this chapter ends. We hope to see everyone in the future in a new location, but until then, Thank You to everyone for your long time support.
The new Atlanta restaurant closed for a spell but re-opened in March 2019 new and improved.
We’ll miss Ammazza, which specialized in wood fired, thin, crackly-crusted pizzas in an open, neighborhood-friendly space.
Where Can I Find Good Pizza In Atlanta?
With Ammazza out of here, you may be wondering where to find great pizza in Atlanta. We’ve got you.
Antico Pizza Napoletana
1093 Hemphill Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 | (404) 724-2333
Here’s what one Google reviewer says about Antico Pizza: “Pizza was delicious and freshly baked! Tried 3 diff kinds. Loved the side condiments- you can help yourself too incl fresh chopped garlic, grated parmesan cheese and more. So good on the pizza.”
Ammazza Pizza
591 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312 | (404) 835-2298
Here’s what one reviewer says about Ammazza Pizza: “Just the perfect ambience! You’ve tried the rest now try the best! The food will not disappoint! Didn’t even get a chance to take a picture because I started digging in immediately! GO NOW!”
O4W Pizza
3117 Main St, Duluth, GA 30096 | (678) 587-5420
Here’s what one reviewer says about O4W Pizza. “The classic pizza is pretty good. But the Grandma Pizza (with added shredded mozzarella) is absolutely outstanding! The flavor and crust is something I’ve never quite had before. The crust alone is so unique I’d say it’s magazine worthy. Give it a try!”
Final Taste
Pizza is an Atlanta staple no matter what side of town you’re on. Read our guide on Atlanta’s best pizza places.
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A Peri Peri Grill location recently opened in downtown Atlanta. The eatery specializes in Portuguese-inspired cuisine all cooked on a grill.
The restaurant is having a grand opening celebration from December 9-15, 2023.
To mark this special occasion, the Peri Peril Grill is offering a 10% discount on all meals throughout the week.
This is the second metro-area location for Peri Peri Grill. The original one is in Johns Creek, Georgia.
Peri Peri Grill Opens Downtown
The restaurant serves different styles of chicken on its menu, but it’s not the only thing you can get peri peri style. The menu also has wraps, bowls and pastas, not to mention an expansive list of burgers.
What’s On The Menu At Peri Peri Grill?
When it comes to bowls, Peri Peril Grill serves the following:
- Chicken Rice Bowl: Rice, corn, black beans, tomatoes, lettuce topped with flame-grilled chicken tenderloins.
- Chicken Salad Bowl: Garden salad topped with flame-grilled chicken tenderloins.
- Falafel Rice Bowl: Rice, corn, black beans, tomatoes, lettuce topped with Fried Falafel
- Falafel Salad Bowl: Garden salad topped with Fried falafel.
- Chicken Wrap: Chicken Tenderloin wrap. Choice of plain, spinach, or tomato tortilla.
Here’s what Peri Peri Grill says on its website about its food:
“Peri Peri is a seasoning and style of cuisine that revolves around the African bird’s eye chili pepper. The cuisine is bright and citrusy with a kick from the pepper. Peri Peri Grill proudly serves Portuguese-inspired, flame-grilled cuisine. Experience peri peri grilled favorites such chicken, falafel, lamb chops, and our signature Peri Peri Beef Burger. Paired with any of our eclectic sides, your meal is bound to be a memorable one. We invite you to dine with us at any of our locations or in the comfort of your own home.”
Where Is Peri Peri Grill Located?
Peri Peri Grill is located at 280 Luckie St, NW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Here’s a map to help you find it.
Final Bite
Aside from Peri Peri Grill, downtown Atlanta has some great restaurants that continue to draw big crowds.
Metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene continues to grow with no stops on the horizon. Ready to try something new?
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When it comes to new restaurants in Atlanta, you know that some select Georgia spots off any list. Esquire recently listed the year’s Best New Restaurants in America, an annual list of the most remarkable food destinations in the United States.
Atlanta placed two eateries on the list, which is featured in the Winter 2023 issue, available on retailer shelved by December 5.
Here’s what Esquire had to say about two Atlanta restaurants:
Gigi’s Italian Kitchen
1660 McLendon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 | (404) 371-0889
“The menu, executed by Jacob Armando and Eric Brooks, leaves little room for choice. Two entrees, one pasta, a salad, a beef carpaccio, polenta with caviar, creme fraiche and trout roe, and a tiramisu. Brooks and Armando are virtuosic, indeed obsessed, in execution. The food puts you in such good humor that you can’t help but make friends and end the evening sharing slugs of amaro passed down the bar by once and future strangers who, for tonight, are your paesans.”
Mujō
691 14th St NW c, Atlanta, GA 30318 | (404) 400-6832
“J. Trent Harris, the young chef who spent years at Sushi Ginza Onodera in New York and Tokyo before opening the 15-seat omakase restaurant Mujō, credits the Atlanta airport for the sterling ingredients. Hairy crabs, delivered live from Hokkaido, are split open, their meat mixed with tuna-infused sauce in an early meal zensai. As a practitioner of Edomae sushi, Harris isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel with his nigiri but rather ensure its smooth revolutions.”
How To Eat Atlanta
Yes, if you’ve got the gall and money, you can actually eat Atlanta. Eat it up. 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:
Here Are The Best New Restaurants In Atlanta
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Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar is shutting its doors at the end of 2023, the restaurant’s parent company confirmed in a news release.
Seed Hospitality Group said that it has “made the difficult decision” to close Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar on December 30, 2023.
Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar Closing Down
Sister restaurants Seed Kitchen & Bar and Stem Wine Bar will continue to serve the East Cobb Community.
“It is with humble gratitude that we announce the closing of Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar,” Chef Doug Turbush said in a written statement. “As we approached the end of our current lease term at the close of this year, we were faced with a difficult and challenging decision. After careful consideration and reflection, we have chosen to not renew our lease and will be closing our doors after dinner service on Saturday December 30, 2023.”
Turbush opened East Cobb’s Seed Kitchen & Bar in November of 2011. The eatery combines a modern playful approach to American cuisine in an atmosphere as casual as it is stylish. In 2013, the restaurant group expanded their culinary footprint and Stem Wine Bar joined the family as a restaurant that embodies inspirations from collective travels to the wine bars, tapas bars and restaurants of Spain, Italy, France, New York and San Francisco.
Three years later, Seed Hospitality Group welcomed Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar to Marietta in early 2016.
Since opening, Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar has become an East Cobb staple, boasting fresh fish and oysters flown in daily from the coasts, offering simple and elegant dishes centered around the restaurant’s wood-fired grill. Their patio transformed into Pop’s, a New England-style lobster shack pop-up offering takeout, curbside pickup, and outdoor dining every Saturday and Sunday in the summer.
“We extend immeasurable thanks to the East Cobb community and everyone that has dined with us. We are grateful for your continued support and loyalty, and we are truly honored to have served you,” Turbush went on to say. “You have trusted us with your most treasured memories, from birthday and anniversary celebrations to first dates and many other moments that we will continue to cherish. Although we may be closing, we are not saying goodbye to the memories and relationships that have been forged here.”
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:
Here Are The Best New Restaurants In Atlanta
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Hen Mother Cookhouse, a brunch and breakfast spot, is set to open in Alpharetta, AtlantaFi.com has learned.
The eatery will open in the space formerly occupied by Restaurant Holmes, which is set to close its doors.
Restaurant Holmes announced the news on social media, saying: “To all holmies everywhere First off i just want to say I love you all so much. The last 5 years have been the best years of our lives and i have to thank all of you for that. That being said Holmes will be closing and moving into the hands of some amazing people @hen.mother_cookhouse We thank all of you for letting us be a part of your life in food and in spirits.”
Hen Mother Cookhouse first opened in John’s Creek in the summer of 2018. The Alpharetta spot will be the eatery’s second location.
What’s On the Menu At Hen Mother Cookhouse?
On the menu you’ll find some tasty assortments of breakfast and lunch food.
Coconut pudding, Cookhouse granola and seasonal fruit.
BREAKFAST EGG SANDWICH: Parker House bun, fried over-medium egg, white cheddar, creamed greens, crisp bacon served with smashed herb yukon potatoes
MARKET HASH & CAGE FREE EGGS: Veggies, sweet and herb smashed yukon potatoes, balsamic onion, creamed greens, bacon crunch
+add cheese.
BREAKFAST TOSTADA: Cookhouse pork chorizo, two crisp corn tortillas, scrambled cage free eggs, crema, cotija cheese, spinach, first summer corn, black beans, peppers, avocado pic.The Johns Creek location has been getting great reviews. Here’s an example of one left recently:
“My favorite brunch place in Alpharetta /johns creek. It is a super busy place so I recommend going early.
You must try their house made cinnamon buns or French Toast. It is super fluffy & flavorful. They also serve 100% fresh squeezed OJ and it is delicious.
They have different menus for week days and weekends so check their menu on their website before you go.”Final Bite
We don’t know just yet when Hen Mother’s second location will open, but when we find out, we’ll let you know.
More Food Coverage:
Here Are The Best New Restaurants In Atlanta
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Another top West Atlanta eatery and bar is here.
Just weeks after Little Sparrow, the much-heralded new Atlanta restaurant from acclaimed chef Ford Fry began serving, its sister eatery Bar Blanc was set to open on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023.
Bar Blanc is located just upstairs from Little Sparrow in the Westside Provisions development.
What Is Bar Blanc?
Bar Blanc is a steak friterie from Fry’s Rocket Farms Restaurant Group. The eatery has a prix fixe menu heavily influenced by French and New York cuisine.
Where Is Bar Blanc Located?
Bar Blanc located at 1198 Howell Mill Rd, Atlanta, Ga. 30318.
The spot is closed on Sundays and Mondays and operates from 5-11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.
Final Bite
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.
Here are the best new restaurants in Atlanta
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Chick-fil-A is making plans to expand in Midtown Atlanta with a second restaurant on Ponce de Leon Avenue, AtlantaFi.com has learned.
The new eatery’s design will be innovative and different any other Chick-fil-A in that it won’t have drive-thru lanes, according to news reports.
New Chick-fil-A Slated For Poncey-Highland Area
Chick-fil-A has been tinkering with the designs of its new stores since the COVID-19 pandemic forced them and other eateries to serve customers in a contactless way. The Atlanta-based company has challenged its engineers to come up with new and innovative ways to serve customers quickly without long lines wrapping around the building and into traffic.
The new spot will be in the heart of Atlanta’s Poncey-Highland neighborhood, which has become a food corridor of sorts.
The building is expected to cost $6.5 million, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. which reports that Chick-fil-A boght the former Dugan’s in March 2023.
Dugan’s has since relocated to the Northlake Mall area.
The news comes just months after Chick-fil-A opened its first eatery on Ponce four blocks from Dugan’s.
Where Will The New Chick-fil-A On Ponce Be Located?
The new Chick-fil-A on Ponce will be located in the space formerly occupied by Dugan’s sports bar at 777 Ponce De Leon Avenue. Atlanta, Ga. NE 30306. Here’s a map to help you find it.
Final Bite
Chick-fil-A is an Atlanta institution, so another one in the city proper can’t hurt.
Here Are The Best New Restaurants In Atlanta