Just three weeks after Lucian Books & Wine received a semifinalist nod for Outstanding Wine Program from the James Beard Foundation, owners Jordan Smelt and Katie Barringer announced they will open Sargent next spring along the Eastside Beltline.
Named for American portrait artist John Singer Sargent, the couple’s second Atlanta restaurant will become the latest edition to the New City development in the Old Fourth Ward. The sprawling Beltline complex is also home to MailChimp, plant shop The Victorian, Burle’s Bar, and the Forth Hotel with its restaurants Il Premio, Elektra, Moonlight, and Bar Premio.
Located in a ground floor space beside 3 Parks Wine Shop and seating around 150 people, Sargent will feature a full bar serving cocktails, an expanded retail section selling books, a private dining room, and a covered patio. Expect wood-fired dishes influenced by American cuisine from Lucian executive chef Jason Paolini and a wine list from Smelt leaning heavily into domestic producers.
While the couple is still in the beginning stages of planning for Sargent, expansion beyond Lucian in Buckhead was always in the cards.
“We have been thinking about expansion for a while. Most of our dedicated regulars live more central to the city, and so we had our eye on the area,” Smelt said. “When we saw the New City space, we were just really energized. It feels good and really grown up. It all came together very quickly after that.”
Like Lucian, Smelt and Barringer named the Old Fourth Ward restaurant for one of their favorite artists. Lucian takes its name from British painter Lucian Freud, with the food, wine, and ambiance in Buckhead inspired by establishments the couple enjoys visiting when traveling in the UK and Europe. Smelt and Barringer see Sargent as an “everyday” restaurant rooted in American cuisine, cocktail culture, and wine.
Barringer will expand upon the book selections currently offered at Lucian, which include titles on art, music, architecture, food, and fashion. She also plans to offer magazines at Sargent, something Barringer once sold at her former Marietta Street bookstore, Cover Books
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“Books will definitely be in a distinct space but also part of the hybrid concept like we built at Lucian,” Barringer said. “I want the books to always have a voice visually and on an interactive level. But our expansion will allow for magazines. I think the OG Cover Books people will be very happy with what we’re envisioning for books and magazines at Sargent.”
The couple wants the design and vibe for Sargent to feel modern and fresh, a comfortable spot to enjoy wine, food, and cocktails any day of the week, not just on special occasions.
And, while Lucian favors European vintages, Smelt said the wine list at Sargent will center on American producers as well as those from countries such as Australia and New Zealand. Expect cocktails based on classic recipes from the bar, along with a selection of fortified wines, including sherry and vermouth
Smelt has worked in wine for more than 15 years, serving as wine director for Chef Billy Allin at Cakes & Ale and Bread & Butterfly and then in sales for Rive Gauche. At Lucian, Smelt meticulously curates a deep bottle list each month in the form of a booklet comprising nearly 250 wines. Accessibility is key to the wine list at Lucian, as it will be at Sargent, Smelt said, who categorizes bottles by varieties like chardonnay, pinot noir, or cabernet sauvignon and forgoes the often subjective and esoteric tasting notes.
“It’s important to us that wine at Lucian remains accessible and we hope to expand on that at Sargent,” said Barringer.
“It feels good to be recognized for what we’re doing at Lucian with wine,” Smelt said of the James Beard semifinalist nod for Outstanding Wine Program. “There seems to be a big shift in wine happening right now in Atlanta, and for Lucian and Sargent to be part of that, it feels wonderful.”
Sargent, 405 North Angier Ave., Old Fourth Ward. Opening spring 2026.