We’ve rounded up some restaurant openings, closings, and other dining news you should know before the Thanksgiving holiday weekend begins.
Closings
Dos Burros appears to have closed a year after opening at the Ford Factory Lofts on the Eastside Beltline. Owners Nhan Le, Skip Engelbrecht, and Andy Tan did not announce the closure publicly. Instead, a press release announcing another Rreal Tacos would replace Dos Burros provided the only acknowledgment of the closure. The windows at Dos Burros are papered over on the patio facing the Beltline. Le and Engelbrecht also own Fishmonger and the longtime business partners are currently preparing to open a new restaurant called Small Fry at Atlanta Dairies next month. Tan owns Hopstix brewpub in Chamblee.
Steady Hand Beer on Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard closed on Nov. 24 after six years in the Blandtown neighborhood. It’s one of several small breweries that closed around Atlanta in 2024 following years of exponential growth in the local craft beer market.
Junior’s Pizza closed after a little over a year in Hapeville due to what appears to be a lack of steady business at this location. The original location in Summerhill remains open.
Bennett’s Market in Grant Park is under new ownership. Victoria Bennett and Claire Pearson sold the neighborhood market and deli after 11 years to local residents Tanya and Lehman Smith. The Smiths plan to make some improvements to the business to bring it back to full operation following a rocky few years post-pandemic.
Openings
Fried chicken restaurant and bar Mothers Best will finally open across from The Deer and The Dove in Decatur on Dec. 6. The restaurant will host a preview on Nov. 30, starting at 5 p.m.
Related Story: Smileys Burger Club opens in Decatur
Lucky Star, the all-day cafe and cocktail bar from the owners of Momonoki and Michelin-starred Brush, Jason Liang and John Chen, will also open on Dec. 6 at Star Metals on Howell Mill Road. Expect an all-day menu of pastries, coffee, and other dishes like Taiwanese fried chicken sandwiches. The bar located behind the cafe will include a cocktail omakase option. Look for a story soon on Rough Draft.
Dining News
Chelsea Fishman, the owner of pop-up Jolene Jolene, is close to revealing the permanent location of her upcoming women’s sports bar. In August, Fishman told Rough Draft that the new location would reside within the Perimeter but not necessarily in the city of Atlanta. Stay tuned!
Related Story: Jolene Jolene will bring Atlanta its first women’s sports bar
ICYMI the story on Instagram over the weekend, it appears Hop City West End supper club Bovino After Dark has a big announcement planned for the new year. Chef Chris McCord and his team hinted at an exciting announcement while asking for resumes to expand the Bovino After Dark staff. We’ve reached out for more details.
Ever wonder about the real story behind Thanksgiving and the foods we eat during the holiday? Learn about the holiday’s origins, history in the South and Atlanta, and Thanksgiving food traditions by listening to “Savory Stories” on WABE, hosted by culinary historian Akila McConnell and Chef Asata Reid.
Daily Chew over on Liddell Drive will launch Chrismukkah Bar, starting Dec. 6. The new holiday bar, which melds Christmas and Hanukkah, will operate on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. through Dec. 21. Expect latkes and caviar, holiday cheese balls and crackers, and sufganiyot (jelly and creamed-filled doughnuts) paired with holiday cocktails like eggnog, yuzu pine margaritas, and spiced hot toddies. Non-alcoholic drinks will also be served. Look for a Hanukkah party hosted at the holiday bar on Dec. 25.
