ATL Food Chatter: May 15, 2009
As the market-deifying new-restaurant parade continues in my favorite economic capitol of the South, a trend is emerging that augurs well for the both the restaurants and the neighborhoods that they are reviving, even when the restaurant takes a former hot spot’s place. From the sophisticated cuisine and atmospherics offered at spots such as Livingston and Pacci to the thread bare elegance of the ultra-modern sandwich shop Noon, Midtown is proving to be a neighborhood that offers culinary excellence at all price points—the hallmark of a great food-centric area.
Now comes WaterHaven, stepping into the former Globe digs with a new design and menu that aims to capture the current wave with a mantra of “farm-to-table” cuisine. [Editor’s note: The menu looks full of familiar dishes; I’m most interested to try the braised oxtails. —BA] In an interesting twist, the owners have done away with an ai3-designed space and replaced it with Dogwood-goes-collegiate vibe that seemed to please nearly everyone at the preview party. The menu represents a clear down shift from Globe’s uh, global cuisine with an emphasis on American bistro fare. As much as I loved Globe, WaterHaven is no student /faculty hangout ;it is a for-mature-audiences addition to not only Technology Square but the whole of Midtown’s dining scene.
NEWS and NOTES:
Alpharetta. Total Wine & More, the nation’s leading independent wine distributor, has lunched its 3rd Atlanta location at 380 North Point Circle with a 20,000 square foot store that carries 8,000 varieties of wine and 1,000 varieties of beer.
Buckhead. A rumor has emerged that Dallas-based Consolidated Restaurant Operations may delay the opening of their two Terminus development concepts, III Forks Prime Steakhouse and Cantina Laredo, from the scheduled fall 2009 to a later date. This rumor is accentuated by other murmurings that existing Terminus restaurants are struggling.
Downtown. Look for Tula’s Lounge—which will offer tapas and other light fare—to open at 142 Mitchell Street this summer.
Look for Tino’s Pizzeria to also open this summer, at 186 Auburn Avenue.
Druid Hills. Sprouts Green Cafe, featuring organic locally raised fare and a seasonal menu, has opened at 1579 North Decatur Road. (Don’t confuse it with Chinese vegetarian spot Green Sprout in Ansley.)
East Atlanta. Morelli’s Ice Cream was named by Bon Appetit magazine as one of 10 hot ice cream shops in America. Ginger Lavender was cited as the must try flavor.
Question of the Week: What intown restaurant/gastropub has revamped its menu to include barbecue grilled on site every Monday?
The answer to last week’s QOTW—What popular in town restaurant’s web site was named best of 2009 by an international internet association?—is Parish Food and Goods. The restaurant’s site was awarded the 2009 Webby award by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a 550-member body of leading Web experts, business figures, luminaries, visionaries and creative celebrities.
