ATL Food Chatter: November 9, 2009
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Atlanta’s food fanatics and trendsetters were feted in grand fashion at the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group’s soigné affair last Tuesday evening celebrating the opening of Bistro Niko, their first new restaurant since Kyma in 2001. The preview party, which featured bites, bottles, and bonhomie, festively set the stage for the highly anticipated French bistro. Guests noshed on caviar, champagne, and assorted menu items such as gruyere cheese puffs, moules “gilbert,” and crevettes en pate de brique (white shrimp crisped in thin pastry).
Bistro Niko will offer a seasonal menu created by Chef Gary Donlick. It features regional French comfort cuisine that seeks to strike a balance between sophistication and comfort. For the past six months, the BLRG, the Johnson Studio, and a veritable host of contactors and artists have been working feverishly to transform 8,000 square feet of raw space on the first floor of the dramatic 3344 Peachtree building. The Johnson Studio’s design imparts a timeless elegance to the space with antique fixtures, a scalloped ceiling, the clock set above the zinc bar and the wall art that evoked the grand brasseries of Paris.
Pano Karatassos and his group hope to attract not only the Buckhead crowd but destination diners from across the Metro area as well. And based upon the oohs and ahhs from those in attendance, they may royally succeed.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Brookhaven. Sugar Shack, the retail bake goods and sandwich shop from Atlanta-based Metrotainment Cafes (Hudson’s Grill, Einstein’s) is slated to open next month at 4046 Peachtree Road.
Buckhead. As first reported by Kessler, look for chic sushi spot Tomo to relocate from Vinings to Buckhead’s Ritz-Carlton Residences.
Downtown. Truva (Turkish for the city of Troy), featuring Mediterranean cuisine, is slated to open this fall in the former Steak & Ale spot on International Boulevard.
Grant Park. Painted Table Cafe—featuring color-splashed chairs and vegetarian-friendly breakfast and lunch options in an art-lined gallery space—has opened in the former Zocalo space at 465 Boulevard.
Inman Park. Pure Taqueria has opened (reportedly to immediate popularity) in the former Grape location at 300 N Highland.
Midtown. Atlanta’s fourth Hudson’s Grille opened over the weekend at 942 Peachtree Street.
Question of the Week: What former ATL bad boy chef has—for now—returned to town?
PS. The answer to last week’s QOTW—What local pizza place was named number one in Atlanta by the 2009 Zagut survey?—is Camelli’s.
