Courtesy of Doug Hines
Honey Bubble owners Doug Hines and Mei Lin are opening a full-service restaurant called the Consulate sometime in March. Located next to the Federal Reserve Bank on 10 Tenth Street in Midtown, the restaurant will serve tapas inspired by a number of countries across the globe, including England, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, and Ethiopia. “I’m African-American, and my wife is Chinese, and we felt Atlanta needed more diversity,” Hines says. “The restaurant-scape was very segregated. If you wanted Ethiopian, you’d have to go to North Druid Hills. If you wanted Chinese, you went to Buford Highway. We would like to see more of a mix in town.”
Lunch and brunch will be served on a cart, dim sum-style, and menu items may include Long Island duck breast with ramp hash, sanuki udon with octopus tempura and dashi broth, chicken chutneywalla, and iron skillet shepherd’s pie. To drink, a full bar with an 85-bottle wine cooler will serve cocktails like the Winged Gargoyle (Earl Grey din, calvados, tiffin, apple juice, maple syrup, and lemon) and the Violet Beauregard (blueberry-infused buffalo trace bourbon, toasted pecan orgeat, lime black walnut bitters, and scotch aroma).
The Consulate will seat 120 inside, plus 40 more on the patio. Expect a mid-century modern decor. “The dining room will look like it’s from a circa 1970 James Bond movie with a slick, Hollywood feel to it,” says Hines, an interior designer. The bar will be constructed from a 100-year-old carved bed headboard with a 1926 cash register adorning it. “We will take reservations, but we want it to be casual and comfortable,” Hines says, noting that food will be served on trays. Once the Consulate is open, Hines and Lin will turn their focus to a new project: a second Honey Bubble (location TBD).
