Aziza, the Middle Eastern restaurant from Tal Baum, will close on April 6 after five years at Westside Provisions District. According to a social media post, the end of the restaurant’s lease prompted the decision to close at the Howell Mill Road complex.
A representative speaking on behalf of Baum says Falafel Nation, her other Westside Provisions District restaurant located next door to Aziza, will also close on April 6.
The social media post doesn’t clarify why Baum decided to forego renewing the leases on the restaurants. Baum declined to comment further on the closures.
Described as a “modern Israeli” restaurant, Aziza opened below Ford Fry’s steak house Marcel in 2019. Aziza resides in the space previously home to local goods market Preserving Place.
Translating to “happiness” in Arabic, many of the dishes served at Aziza center around the wood-burning oven in the kitchen. These include dishes like wood-roasted eggplant with smoked labneh, lamb shank with lentils and dates, and kofta kebabs. The bread service in the way of a buttery kubaneh complemented by a side of grated tomato topped with schug (spicy chili hot sauce) has become one of Aziza’s most popular dishes.
Falafel Nation opened days after Aziza in 2019. The quick-service restaurant offers hummus bowls, falafel, and sandwiches called sabich stuffed with eggs, tahini, chopped salad, and fried eggplant. Baum based the restaurant on her grandmother’s falafel stand in Israel which operated during the 1950s.
In 2023, Baum opened Carmel at Buckhead Village, considered an ode to coastal cuisine. Baum’s other restaurants include Bellina Alimentari and Atrium at Ponce City Market and Rina at the Ford Factory Lofts.
Rough Draft reached out to Baum and Oliva Restaurant Group for more details on the closure, including why the option to renew the lease wasn’t considered and the fate of Falafel Nation at Westside Provisions District. Check back for updates.
Update, March 19, 2:30 p.m.: This story contains new details on the closure of Falafel Nation.