Closures
All locations of Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant abruptly closed nationwide last week due to ongoing financial challenges, leading to the company filing for bankruptcy. Iron Hill included a location in Dunwoody.
The Perimeter location of Lazy Dog Restaurant is temporarily closed due to a kitchen fire a few weeks ago. The Alpharetta location is still open.
Coming Attraction
Shake Shack will open next year as part of the new lineup of South Downtown restaurants opening ahead of the World Cup matches at nearby Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2026. The popular burger joint will join distillery and brewery Wild Leap at Centennial Yards.
Food News to Know
Longtime AJC senior food editor Ligaya Figueras retired (subscription) this week after 10 years with the paper. In her farewell letter to readers, Figueras reflected on a decade covering the Metro Atlanta food scene, which included the struggles restaurants faced during the pandemic, reviewing numerous new restaurants, and overseeing and editing food and dining content written by AJC staff and freelancers. As of publication, the AJC has not announced her replacement.
Martini Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Research
For October, the pink martini is back again at Joey D’s Oak Room in Dunwoody and New York Prime in Buckhead, part of the annual Pink Kiss for the Cure campaign to raise funds for breast cancer research. Simply order the Pink Kiss martini, with proceeds from the sale of the cocktail benefiting nonprofit Living Beyond Breast Cancer.
Gas Station Sushi: Yea or Nay?
What’s your take on gas station or grocery store sushi? Is shelf-ready sushi safe to eat? Give this a watch to learn more about why gas station sushi might be safer than you think and, in some cases, just as safe as a restaurant, depending on quality and temperature control and how it’s handled. You be the judge.
Add to Your Weekend Calendar
Grant Park’s Bomb Biscuit Co. kicks off its monthly Soulful Friday Fish Fry this Friday, Oct. 3, celebrating the food and culture around the African-American tradition. Tickets are $25 per person for an entree, two sides, and dessert, from 5-8 pm.
The Decatur Book Festival takes place Oct. 3-4, featuring dozens of authors and literary events. Be sure to check out the culinary events at the book festival this year, including cooking demonstrations at the Georgia Grown stage and discussions with cookbook authors like Mary Bryant Shrader, Chef Duane Nutter, and Hank Shaw. Peek the full schedule of events here. And, on Oct. 5, Shaw will be at Chicheria Mexican Kitchen at the Works in Underwood Hills for a special dinner and discussion on his latest cookbook, “Borderlands: Recipes and Stories from the Rio Grande to the Pacific.”
Taste of Tucker returns to Main Street on Oct. 4. Starting at 1 p.m., people can enjoy food from a number of Tucker restaurants, including Bite of Korea, Fresca Trattoria, Ford’s BBQ, 1910 Public, Bambinelli’s, and Grecian Gyro. Taste of Tucker also features a beer garden, live music, arts and crafts vendors, and a kids’ zone. Click here for more information.
Outdoor grilling event EGGtoberfest returns to Coolray Field in Lawrenceville on Oct 4. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., enjoy food and cooking demonstrations from more than 400 national and international chefs and pitmasters. Tickets start at $89 per person, with proceeds benefiting Atlanta Community Food Bank.
The South’s largest Korean festival, hosted by the Korean Festival Foundation, takes place Oct. 4-5 at Sugarloaf Mills in Lawrenceville. Beyond performances and demonstrations, live music from a K-pop group, and vendors selling everything from crafts to skincare, the festival will include a Korean food bazaar. Tickets start at $20 per person. Read more from Rough Draft reporting partner Atlanta K.
The annual Sandy Springs Wine Festival takes place on Oct. 5 at Heritage Green, from 2-5 p.m. The afternoon includes more than 175 wines provided by Georgia-based distributors. Tickets start at $90 per person.