Renown local chef Kevin Gillespie is set to open a pop-up concept in downtown Atlanta in June. The new Atlanta restaurant will be called Ole Reliable and will serve coffee, breakfast and lunch.
Old Reliable will be located at 133 Peachtree St. NW in the Georgia Pacific building in the space formerly occupied by Aramark.
Kevin Gillespie opening pop-up Old Reliable in downtown Atlanta
“I’m really excited about setting up shop downtown and providing the hard-working folks at Georgia- Pacific Center with a morning pick-me-up or a midday meal,” Gillespie said in a written statement. “This is our first foray into coffee which I love and have been obsessed with for years. It’s also fun to have a chance to serve our guests during the day, as currently we only serve dinner at our restaurants.”
Gillespie is chief ideas man for Red Beard Restaurants LLC, his operations and management company. He rose to fame after he was a finalist on “Top Chef” in 2009. In 2013, he opened Gunsmoke in Atlanta.
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: 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.