ATL Food Chatter: March 16, 2010
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When speaking about his new YEAH! Burger project opening in the White Provision complex this May, Shaun Doty likes to address the “Why another burger joint?” question straightaway: “Burgers are the most frequently ordered menu item in America,” he says, quoting a study from Restaurants and Institutions. “If we make everything fresh, how can it be bad to have another burger option in Atlanta?”
Doty is going considerably farther than “fresh” in his approach—he’ll use Will Harris’s beef from White Oak Pastures in South Georgia (non-ammoniated meat is an important consideration for him) and organic ingredients as much as possible. He’s developed a bun to be made by H&F Bakery, as well as a gluten-free bun that will be supplied by Dough, the bakery that will soon occupy the former Son’s Place space next door to Doty’s flagship restaurant, Shaun’s. He’ll also offer salads and organic shakes, including “concretes”—thick shakes mixed with extra goodies such as crumbled cookies.
Green elements to Ed Seiber’s design include “sinker cypress” logs recovered from Southern rivers.
His goal is to make YEAH! Burger an accessible and quick meal option for customers, but he also sees the project as an extension of the quality and “American bistro” philosophy. Doty notes that, past YEAH! Burger’s first week, he expects to still be at Shaun’s nightly, and his staff from Shaun’s will rotate through overseeing the kitchen at the burger joint.
Don’t look for that staff to be making Shaun’s famous duck-fat fries, by the way, though Doty does promise the fries at his new spot will be hand-cut and great.
BREAKING NEWS: Just after posting this, we learned that the second location of YEAH! Burger is slated for a former service station at the corner of Virginia and Highland. More details to come.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Alpharetta. The AJC notes that Haveli Indian Cuisine has opened a location at 8465 Holcomb Bridge Road.
Buckhead. The Atlanta Business Chronicle first reported that Home Restaurant & Bar will become Coast Seafood & Raw Bar on April 1.
Wet Willies, the famed daiquiri bar chain, has opened an Atlanta location at Lindbergh City Center.
Tomorrow’s News Today is reporting that the owners of Vita are replacing the Italian concept with a sports bar called The Thirsty Dog tavern by the end of this month.
Pizza Fusion has closed.
Tim Stevens, who has worked for the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group in a number of executive positions, is the new general manager at Market in the W Buckhead hotel, replacing A.D. Allushi.
Grant Park. Look for Bucc’s BB Que to open in the former Just Loaf’n space at 313 Boulevard this spring.
Midtown. Look for The Daiquiri Factory in the former Acapulco Grill spot at 889 West Peachtree Street this spring. [Editor’s Note: What’s with the sudden daiquiri resurgence?]
Sandy Springs. Tomorrow’s News Today is reporting that Maryland-based Boardwalk Fresh Burgers & Fries is opening their first Georgia store at 5975 Roswell Road.
Smyrna. Hot Dog Factory has opened at 1529 Spring Road.
Westside. Bacchanalia regained its perennial top spot in the 2010 Zagat ratings for Best food and Most Popular. Sibling Quinones Room was ranked first in Service and second for Food.
Question of the Week: What innovative intown neighborhood restaurant is rumored to being heavily courted to open a location in the Ritz-Carlton Residences?
PS. The answer to last week’s QOTW-What two Atlanta restaurants were named to Opentables.com’s 2010 Top 50 Restaurants for Service list?- is Bacchanalia and Bones.
