By Collin Kelley

While it may seem that restaurants are constantly closing in Atlanta, there are always new ones ready to open and become the next dining destination.

Over the next few months, some of Atlanta’s most notable chefs and restaurant groups will be opening new outposts. We round up what’s coming soon and what’s recently opened to tempt your tastebuds.

Coming Soon

Yard House
The California-based Yard House will open its first Atlanta location at Atlantic Station in April with a large selection of draft beers, American fare and classic-rock wafting from the sound system.

Watershed
When Watershed announced it was closing in Decatur after 13 years, there was an outcry from longtime patrons who were concerned it would rise again. Fear not, because the new incarnation of Watershed will open this Spring at The Brookwood condo building on Peachtree Street. Owners Ross Jones, Indigo Girls’ Emily Saliers and Chef Joe Truex said the new, 175-seat space will offer private dining space, a patio and plenty of parking to realize their dream of growing the business with private dining, a patio and a wealth of parking. And, yes, Fried Chicken Night is still on the menu.

The Optimist
Fans of JCT. Kitchen are optimistic about Ford Fry’s new restaurant in West Midtown on Howell Mill Road, which is slated to open this Spring. The menu will focus on sustainable seafood prepared in a wood-burning oven. Adjacent to the new restaurant, Fry will also be opening Oyster Bar at The Optimist, a more casual “fish camp” style venue, featuring an outdoor patio, live music and an oyster bar.

Pano’s
The saga of Pano Karatassos’ – half of the famed Pano’s & Paul’s – new restaurant and lounge may finally have a resolution as it was announced that it will now open later this year in the 103 West building in Buckhead.

The Spence
Bob Amick, Todd Rushing and Richard Blais have teamed up to open The Spence at Technology Square on 5th Street in Midtown (the former home of The Globe and short-lived WaterHaven). Expected to open in March, the menu will feature family friendly items like cheeseburgers, steak and pasta.

East Paces Tavern
East Paces Tavern, featuring Mexican and Southern California cuisine, is taking over the former Abbadabbas shoe store on East Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead. An opening date had not been announced at press time.

F&B
Fans of French American Brassiere (FAB) in Downtown will have a new destination this spring when F&B opens on the ground floor of the Ritz-Carlton Residences in Buckhead.

Lure
Fifth Group Restaurants is planning to open seafood restaurant Lure in April inside the old Vickery’s space on Crescent Avenue in Midtown.

Now Open

Red
Located inside Philips Arena, this restaurant was expected to open this month and be open before, during and after ticketed events at the Downtown venue. The menu includes contemporary American fare like crab cakes, burgers and wings. The big draw will be the tiered seating with views to the Philips Arena floor. philipsarena.com

Modern
This new contemporary American restaurant was expected to open this mnth in the old Copeland’s spot at 3365 Piedmont Road. modernbuckhead.com

The Pullman
Serving up a classic American menu, The Pullman opened in January at 1992 Hosea Wiliams Drive in Kirkwood. thepullmanatl.com

STK
If you’re hankering for a hunk of meat, STK is now open at the 12th & Midtown development. The hip space features high quality steaks and seafood along with innovative and exciting side dishes, appetizers, desserts and cocktails. togrp.com

Alma Cocina
The latest restaurant from Fifth Group Restaurants opened in December in downtown’s One Ninety One Peachtree Tower. The contemporary Mexican menu is prepared by Executive Chef Chad Clevenger. fifthgroup.com

Barcelona
If you can’t get to Spain, just head to Inman Park and check out the newly-opened Barcelona Restaurant & Wine Bar on North Highland Avenue. The menu features large and small plates of tapas. barcelonawinebar.com

Cardamom Hill
The popularity of Asha Gomez’s popular Spice Route underground supper club meant it was time to open a restaurant, and Cardamom Hill is already pleasing critics and diners alike with its Indian cuisine. cadamomhill.net

The Lawrence
The owners of Top Flr and The Sound Table have opened their latest concept, The Lawrence, at 905 Juniper in Midtown. The menu features bites, small and large plates with items like Duck Tongue Camitas, Trigger Fish, Roasted Monkfish, Beef Calotte and more. thelawrenceatlanta.com

White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails
Alan LeBlanc, owner of Max Lager’s Wood-Fired Grill & Brewery, was expected to have this new contemporary Southern dining restaurant open by the time our February issue hit the streets. The eatery is in the former All Star Café Space on Peachtree Street in Downtown. whiteoakkitchen.com

Olde Towne Tavern & Grille
The former Saskatoon space at 360 Pharr in Buckhead is now part of the local Olde Towne chain, serving up pizza, burgers and beer. ottavern.com

You sent in your nominations, we tabulated the finalists and now it’s time to to vote for Atlanta INtown’s Best of the Holidays 2011.  Voting is open now through Oct. 31 and the final results will appear in our December edition.

Following our new KEEP IT INtown campaign, we asked readers to nominate local businesses, events and restaurants rather than the usual national chains. Best of the Holidays is designed to showcase what our unique Intown neighborhoods have to offer. Those receiving the most nominations are on the final ballot.

Some of this year’s categories include Best Place for Last Minute Gifts, Best Global Cuisine, Best Place to Ring in the New Year, Best Salon or Spa, Best Pet Care and Boarding and many more.

“Part of our awesome success since we started in 2009 at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market is the fact that we are owner-operated,” says Brounstein. “Our downtown hit led us to open our second wildly popular restaurant on Piedmont earlier this year, and I simply do not have the time to continue to manage the downtown location. For that reason, I am looking to sell the business to a like-minded individual who is passionate about food and delivering a quality product, understands the exciting potential of the Sweet Auburn Curb Market – and loves burgers!”

“Buying Grindhouse Killer Burgers lunch-only counter at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market is an amazing opportunity for someone who has always dreamed of owning and running his or her own restaurant, but is not interested in working late nights and grueling hours, or risking the potential failure of a new concept,” says Brounstein. “I am looking to train and set that person up for long-term success and build a lasting relationship.”

Brounstein is offering owner financing in order to find the right buyer who may not have the up-front capital to open his own restaurant.  The sale of this business would include the right to continue to operate Grindhouse Killer Burgers at the Market, use of all logos and recipes, and the ongoing training and support that is typically provided to franchisors. For more info, contact Brounstein directly at info@grindhouseburgers.com.

Taste & Tour hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. each day.  The event is accessible via the MARTA Lindbergh Station and bus route 27, which stops at multiple locations on Cheshire Bridge Road. Designated parking locations are at Antiques & Beyond (1853 Cheshire Bridge Road) and The Center for Spiritual Growth & Meditation (1893 Piedmont Road NE).  A trolley will transport attendees along Cheshire Bridge Road with stops at several locations (TBA) and within walking distance of participating businesses.

Many of the participating businesses have called Cheshire Bridge Road their home for decades while others have recently joined the diverse Cheshire Bridge mix.  Participating businesses include Alfredo’s, Antiques and Beyond, Barking Hound Village, Caroline Budd Picture Framing, The Colonnade, Décor Professionals, Habersham Gardens, Johnny’s New York Pizza, Las Margaritas, Nakato Japanese Restaurant, Nino’s, Perla Taqueria, Photography Center of Atlanta, Region’s Bank, Rhodes Bakery, Roxx Tavern, Tailor’s Art Cleaners, Roxx Tavern, Ursula’s Cooking School, and Woodfire Grill.

Ticket prices are $20 each for a one-day pass or $35 each for a two-day pass Children ages 12 and under are admitted free. For a full list of participants and to purchase tickets, visit www.tasteandtourofcheshirebridge.com.

By Sydia Bell

We all know people – or have seen them at airports, shopping malls,  movie theaters and in cars – who constantly check their phones for updates, texts and emails. Since the inception of Twitter, those “phone addicts” have become even more noticeable.  A few years ago, no one knew what Twitter was except for the tech geeks. Then tweens, teens and adults realized the social capabilities and it instantly became a way to interact, promote business, events and make connections. And in Atlanta there are some great people tweeting away. Here are some of the people I follow and check up on regular basis.

Atlanta Events (@ATL_Events) aggregates daily events including arts, culture, food, film and much more. This one is a must! Another one is  365Atlanta.com (@365Atlanta), which provides 365 things to do in Atlanta for newcomers and natives. Or, get all the information on openings and closing on Atlanta’s restaurant and retail scene WhatNowAtlanta.com (@WhatNowAtlanta).

Filling your day with activities found on Twitter is just one part of this platform’s appeal. It also provides links to local personalities, such as outspoken Chef Ron Eyester (@theangrychef), who runs Rosebud and the newly opened  Morningside eatery, The Family Dog (@thefamilydogatl). He’s no stranger to controversy and his Twitter feed is a “love/hate” thing, but he’s truly committed to the local food movement.

Top Chef fans can follow champ Richard Blais (@RichardBlais), the owner of Flip Burger Boutique (@flipburger), as he gives followers insight into his life and his love of food. Popsicle purveyor The King of Pops (@theKingofPops) tweets where his cart will be set up and what flavors are available, while Atlanta Street Food (@ATLStreetFood) gives you up-to-date locations of all the popular  food trucks like Yum Yum Cupcake (@yumyumcupcake), Yumbii (@Yumbii) and The Fry Guy (@ATLFRYGUY).

Literature lovers can also interact with their favorite local authors. Susan Rebecca White (@susanrebwhite), an Atlanta native and author of  the acclaimed novel Bound South, and Isabel Wilkerson (@Isabelwilkerson), author of the New York Times best seller The Warmth of Other Suns, both use Twitter as a way to keep their fans informed on upcoming events. Sure, following people that are already famous is great, but following people on the brink of discovery is even better. Local writer David Lee Simmons (@davidleesimmons), the communications director of Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and self-proclaimed Twitter enthusiast, provides his followers with worthy topics of discussion, links to his events and even engages in conversations. Gray Chapman (@Grayhchapman) – SCAD alum, reader of books, cooker of edibles, editor for Scoutmob (@scoutmob) – tweets about great local articles and unlikely happenings around Atlanta.

If you follow Hub Atlanta (@HubATL), a member-inspired place for meeting, working and connecting with other entrepreneurs, you will find some local events that could help you grow your business. You could even follow local business like The Sound Table (@theSoundTable) an Old Forth Ward restaurant and music lounge, Poor little Rich Girl (@Shop_PLRG), a vintage store located in the historic College Park area, or Urban Cannibals (@urbancannibals), a true mini-gourmet market disguised as a corner store.

At the end of the day, Twitter is not about what you know, but who you follow. Tell us in the comments below who our readers should be following on Twitter!

By Bernadette Constance

In 2010, PETA ranked Atlanta No.4 on their list of “The Most Veg-Friendly Cities in North America.” Restaurants from more seemingly obvious choices like San Francisco, Seattle and New York rated lower on the list.

As a relative newcomer to the city, I embarked on a mini-culinary odyssey to find out why. Being a 17-year vegetarian, I chose to take along my more carnivorous friends to form more balanced opinions. Here are five vegetarian restaurants inside the perimeter worth checking out.

Healthful Essence
875 York Ave., Atlanta, 30310
healthfulessence.com
Called “the spiritual creation of Chef Princess Dixon and partner Kwadwo Kephera,” Healthful Essence unites a delicious Caribbean style menu with a joyful customer experience in the heart of West End. With a big selection of raw vegetables and cooked dishes – like their famous Unfish Cakes, BarBQ Tofu and Jerk UnChicken – there is always something new to try and come back for. All foods are prepared and cooked vegan, using organic ingredients and fresh spices.

The helpful staff did not allow my friend and me to stand around and look clueless for long. They happily fed us samples and explained the offerings behind the “hot bar” at the counter. Reggae music and a laid back décor lend to the island atmosphere, and live music is available for special events. There are cooking and healthy-living classes, catering is available, and they offer free Wi-Fi. Special discounts on certain days of the week for students and senior citizens are just one way they show customer appreciation.

Café Sunflower
2140 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, 30309
cafesunflower.com
Located in an unassuming Buckhead strip mall, Café Sunflower is known as the veggie restaurant to take ones’ non-veggie loving friends. They have a menu that makes you forget that standard “veggie burger” even exists (while still having one of the best ones I ever tried). It’s filled with Mediterranean, Asian, and American Southern and Southwestern influences, as well as delicious desserts. The décor is earthy but modern and they offer cooking classes, special events, catering and a shop full of Café Sunflower merchandise, including their popular cookbook, Atlanta’s Celebrated Vegetarian Restaurant, Café Sunflower: Recipes You Can Cook at Home.

Soul Vegetarian II
652 N Highland Ave., Atlanta, 30306
(404) 875-4641
In Virginia Highland or Poncey Highland (depending on who you ask) is a vegetarian restaurant with some unusual awards. Soul Vegetarian II’s mac and cheese just won “Madea’s Restaurant Wars,” a promotional contest for the Tyler Perry movie, Madea’s Big Happy Family. They received an overwhelming 38 percent of the votes against three other local non-vegetarian restaurants. Obviously, soul food fans don’t mind if it’s healthy, just as long as it tastes great. This affordable and cozy spot is a great place to meet up with people for a casual down home-style meal. While the mac and cheese certainly lives up to the hype, don’t forget the lentil burgers or the velvety soy ice cream for dessert. There is also another Atlanta location in West End.

Chat Patti
1594 Woodcliff Drive, #F, Atlanta, 30329
chatpattiatl.com
Next to an Indian grocery store and fashion boutique in Druid Hills, is Atlanta’s only Indian vegetarian restaurant. It features delicious, spicy and authentic home style cooking. North and South Indian, Chaat, Punjabi and a traditional Gujarati style buffet is available every day. They also have snacks and desserts, with a take away bakery section. For the uninitiated, the pictures on the wall and the in-restaurant menu containing only the name of each dish can be a bit daunting. But, the online menu has a vivid description of each menu option, so you can always check that out before going. Also, the staff is very helpful with recommendations.

Green Sprout
1529 Piedmont Avenue, Suite D, Atlanta, 30324
greensproutga.com
This Midtown/Lenox Hill area restaurant has a well-earned reputation of being one of the most authentic Chinese restaurants in Atlanta. If you like your Chinese food spicy and robust, then look no further. The Stuffed Zucchini with Chili Garlic Sauce is life-altering and they will make Kung Pao Chicken as hot as you like. All dishes are vegetarian and most dishes are vegan or can be made vegan upon request. Huge portions, smiling service and affordable prices also make this place a “must visit” destination.

By Krystal Roberts

The next time you’re the lone vegetarian amongst carnivores, and a vegetarian restaurant is out of the question, make your way to one of these five “vegetarian friendly” restaurants. Prepare yourself for more than just boring side items, uninspired salads and hit-or-miss veggie burgers. Go ahead – have a taste!

Doc Chey’s Noodle House
Morningside, Grant Park, Emory
doccheys.com
(Asian) Doc Chey’s offers 15 different vegetarian dishes and just as many non-vegetarians ones. You’ll have your choice of stir-fries and noodle bowls complete with veggies, tofu, chicken and beef. This should keep everyone satisfied and make for a tasty and satisfying dining experience. Happy noodles!

Pricci
500 Pharr Road, Atlanta, 30305
buckheadrestaurants.com/pricci
(Italian) You’ll be happy to know that while your friends, family or colleagues are digging into their veal and rib eye steaks, you’ll have the wonderful task of choosing amongst five different salads, along with four vegetarian pizza and pasta options. No more disgruntled chewing.

Café  640
640 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta, 30306
cafe640.com
(American) You’ll find at least two vegetarian options for each part of your meal, in addition to the antipasto plate full of savory goodies. There’s also more than enough chicken, salmon and steak on the menu to gain the favor of your carnivorous companions.

Pasta De Pulcinella
1123 Peachtree Walk, Atlanta, 30309
pastadapulcinella.com
(Italian) With three salads, six different veggie-friendly entrees, plus their classic linguini dish as backup, it’s possible to just close your eyes, point and order. But play it safe and take a quick peek because the menu is subject to change on a daily basis.

Seasons 52
Buckhead and Dunwoody
seasons52.com
(American) Here, it’s all about the flatbread and fresh vegetables. Every meal is less than 475 calories (don’t tell your dining buddies until afterwards, they may assume the food is unfulfilling), but they never sacrifice flavor. True vegetable lovers, this will be the one time you’ll be glad to order a vegetable plate because they’re farmer’s market fresh, and the dish comes with wood-grilled ponzu tofu. Yum!

By Sydia Bell

Finding an Atlanta native is harder than ever as the city continues to grow and evolve. With all these newcomers, moments of homesickness are not unnatural.

Inquiring minds wanted to know exactly what people do when they find themselves missing the comforts of home. Is there a restaurant that reminds them of a dish from their childhood? Perhaps a special place where they find comfort amid the hustle and bustle?

We took to the streets and Twitter to ask newcomers in this city, where they go and what they do in Atlanta when missing home.

Yahshimah Blake
Hometown: New York City
When I miss the city, I find myself driving down I-85 south so I can view the Atlanta skyline. Whether I stop at the Glenn Hotel rooftop lounge (glennhotel.com), the Sundial (sundialrestaurant.com) or a friend’s high-rise condo, I lose myself in thought while staring at the lights. I also frequent Caribbean spots like Nice Mon in downtown Stone Mountain, Royal Caribbean Bakery in Decatur (royalcaribbeanbakery.com), and the reggae club The Royal Peacock (theroyalpeacock.com) right here Intown.

Richard “Freedom” Byrd-Harris
Hometown: Oakland, California
Food reminds me of home, so when I find myself missing the California life I usually head to the farmers market to pick up some oxtails and make a dinner for myself. I grew up in a culturally diverse family and enjoy an array of different foods. I recently stumbled upon Beignet Connection (thebeignetconnection.com), a new restaurant located in downtown Atlanta on Decatur Street, which specializes in New Orleans Creole cuisine. After I dine, I make my way to Apache Cafe (apachecafe.info) to hear live poetry and music from local artists.

Einat (via Twitter)
Hometown: Israel
Suggests they people go to a hipster joint like The Porter in Little Five points (theporterbeerbar.com) or The Righteous Room on Ponce De Leon and order the Mediterranean platter and enjoy. After people should find walk able blocks in the city and people gaze and conclude the day with a great place to watch the sunset.

Professor Robin Kemp (via Twitter)
Hometown: New Orleans
A native New Orleanian, Kemp recommends buying Zatarain’s red beans and rice and putting on that famous Saints swag and listening to WWOZ via live stream. And for you hardcore New Orleanians, Kemp says that there should be a crawfish bowl cooking in your backyard.