The Johnson Studio is in charge of recreating the space with the 5 Napkin look similar in all the restaurants: The owners call it “butcher shop chic,” and it includes white tile walls, meat hooks dangling from the ceiling, black leather booths and dark wood, and giant chalkboards.
If you were a Nickiemoto’s regular and are sad to have lost your Midtown sushi spot, don’t be too heartbroken: As with the other locations, this 5 Napkins will also serve maki rolls—along with comfort food entrees like mac-n-cheese (made with cheddar, gruyere, parmesan, and leek cream) and beer-battered fish and chips.
Details are still vague, but this location will emphasize a tricked-out patio, which will open two weeks after the interior dining room—just as the weather (hopefully) starts to cool down.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Buckhead. Speaking of burgers, Denver-based fast-casual chain Smashburger opened their first Atlanta location last week at 2625 Piedmont Road, in the former Fatburger spot. This is the first of a planned 20 locations slated to open in the metro area over the next seven years.
Urban Flats will relaunch in Lindberg City Center on Tuesday, July 26 under new ownership. According to the press release, Henry Hillenmeyer is the new franchisee who brings years of experience as CEO of several restaurant companies as well as owning the Nashville Urban Flats franchise.
Candler Park. Radial Cafe is adding dinner service and a bar, according to Creative Loafing. The planned renovations are expected to be complete by Labor Day.
Decatur. No. 246 will finally open its doors tomorrow, Wednesday, July 13. (It was previously scheduled to open today.) Check out the opening menu.
Trackside Tavern, closed since January 2009 when a fire destroyed the building where it is located, will reopen soon, according to Decatur Metro.
Downtown. Underground Atlanta is the latest port of call for food trucks, which will roll onto Upper Alabama Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Midtown. Korean-Mexican fusion resto Hankook Taqueria is planning to open a second location in the former Abrigo/Mitra location at 818 Juniper Street by mid-August, as pointed out by What Now Atlanta. Tomas Lee, owner of Hankook and co-owner of the popular Yumbii food truck, posted on Facebook that he was opening a new venture.
Roswell. The AJC reports that Barkers Red Hots will open a second store, featuring their premium charcoal-grilled hot dog this month at 725 Crossville Road. It will be a prototype store for future expansion plans. (Barkers started in 1984 as Atlanta’s first licensed street vendor in downtown’s Woodruff Park.)
Westside. Swit Bakery and Cafe, a European-style casual spot serving a breakfast and lunch menu featuring crepes and perogies, is planning to open this fall at 1000 Marietta Street in the Brickworks development.
Question of the Week: What ATL attorney counts Richard Blais, Grant Achatz, Steven Satterfield, and other celebrity chefs among his clients?
PS . The answer to last week’s QOTW-What recently closed Asian restaurant will be revived as a twice-a-month Buckhead dining experience this fall?- is Nam. Alex Kinjo is starting Taste of Nam this fall at Terminus.
Do you have restaurant openings, closings, or other news to share? Email James Oxendine at atldiningchatter@gmail.com
