Atlanta Restaurant Openings – Eater Atlanta

Spring is a busy opening season in Atlanta. Here are the latest news.

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Chef Kevin Gillespie’s new restaurant, Nàdair, begins reservations

In one of the most anticipated restaurant openings of the year, chef Kevin Gillespie’s new venture, Nàdair, has begun taking reservations with first-place seats on May 24. Gillespie, who is behind the popular Gunshow restaurant in Glenwood Park, made the announcement on Instagram and Facebook. Nàdair replaces chef Anne Quatrano’s Floataway Cafe in Woodland Hills, which closed in 2022. Expect to see Gillespie’s Scottish influences on the menu, including in the name, which is the Scottish Gaelic phrase “dòigh nàdair” or “the way of nature”.

Commune, a wine bar and listening room, opens in Avondale Estates

What is a listening room, you might ask. It’s a national trend, where bars play records and playlists of deep underground music. And now Atlanta has its own spot. Commune, the brainchild of Zopi Kristjanson and DJ Chris Devoe, opened at Olive and Pine in Avondale Estates on May 8. The first of the tracks features Hammond organ, as well as ’70s and ’80s pop and disco. Former Empire State South sommelier Steven Grubbs is behind the wine list and a Small menu is available for bar bites.

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar opens third location

With two popular locations in Buford and Doraville, the national chain opened a third Atlanta location in the Interlock Tower on Northside Drive in West Midtown on May 2nd. Here, diners can pick up their sushi order on a conveyor belt.

Rreal Tacos Opens Seventh Location in Buckhead

Crowd favorite Rreal Tacos opened another location in Buckhead on May 1, just in time for Cinco de Mayo. They will occupy the former Farm Burger in Tower Place. This will be the restaurant’s seventh location and can already be found in Midtown, West Midtown, Chamblee, Sandy Springs, Cumming and Sugar Hill.

April

Vegan pizzeria Pizza Verdura Sincera opens in former Zesto space

The old Zesto spot in Little Five Points finally has a new resident. Pizza Verdura Sincera is officially open, two years after announcing its takeover. Owners David Smith and Paul Jones opened the doors to April 27. Expect vegan pies with toppings like vegan pepperoni and seasonal vegetables like squash, zucchini, and sweet onions.

The team behind El Valle and Oaxaca opens Casa Balam in Decatur

Casa Balam is the newest Mexican restaurant in downtown Decatur, where the former Ted’s Montana Grill was located. It opened on April 23 and comes from the same group behind popular Mexican fine-dining restaurants El Valle in Midtown and Oaxaca in Chamblee. Chef and co-owner Luis Damian has created a menu of traditional and modern Mexican dishes, including tacos, empanadas and family-style meat options of duck confit, birria beef and Chilean sea bass.

Auburn Angel Opens on Historic Auburn Avenue

The new restaurant opened in the Auburn Avenue Rib Shack space. Led by owner Asa Fain, executive chef Robbie Pacheco and accompanied by pastry chef Pamela Moxley, Auburn Angel opened its doors on April 19. Expect indoor and outdoor dining, with dishes like grilled octopus, striped bass over spring peas and marinated enoki mushrooms, and almond and rhubarb tart.

Decatur’s new wine store, Vine Fine Wine, is now open

Owners Sam Pilch and Madeline Long celebrated the grand opening and grand opening of their downtown Decatur wine store on April 19. The store focuses on minimal intervention wines from small producers around the world. Look for organic and biodynamic wines and lots of wine books at this neighborhood store.