Openings
Atlanta’s oldest Japanese restaurant reopens on Oct. 15 after a big renovation. Longtime Cheshire Bridge restaurant Nakato closed in June for a renovation that included adding a new hibachi dining room, a lounge, and a spruced-up entrance with streetscaping. The Japanese restaurant will also debut new dishes and cocktails on Oct. 15. Here’s a sneak peek inside the renovated Nakato from Fox 5 reporter Paul Milliken.
Barrel Proof, a New Orleans-based cocktail and whiskey bar, will open later this month at Westside Provisions District. The bar will take over the former Little Trouble space beneath Ford Fry’s Marcel at the Howell Mill Road complex. Owners Liam Deegan and Robert LeBlanc first opened Barrel Proof in 2013 in the Garden District of New Orleans. In 2023, they expanded Barrel Proof to Nashville. Atlanta becomes the third location of the critically acclaimed bar.
Coming Attractions
Remember when we told you last year about a new bar from Death & Co. opening near the Forth Hotel on the Eastside Beltline? It appears Close Company may open by the end of October or early November on the plaza Level of Tower 2 at the New City development along Angier Avenue.
Speaking of coming soon, the new Thai street food restaurant and bar, Some Luck, from the chefs behind Talat Market is making progress in Poncey-Highland. Some Luck will open beside Madeira Park in the former Highland Ballroom space. A counter-service sneak preview of the food and cocktails takes place at Talat Market in Summerhill on Oct. 21 at 5 p.m.
Halloween + Waffle House
Waffle House just dropped some limited edition merch on its website this month, including Halloween t-shirts and a tote bag.
Add to Your Calendar This Weekend
Atlanta Pride kicks off Saturday at Piedmont Park, with events taking place all weekend long. The festival culminates in a parade down Peachtree Street to Piedmont Park on Sunday afternoon. Staff members from Georgia Voice (our LBGTQ+ publication) and Rough Draft will be marching in the parade. Wave to us, or stop by our booth along Charles Allen inside the park.
Check out this events guide to Atlanta Pride from Georgia Voice, starting with an opening party on Friday night at the Georgia Aquarium. For ideas on where to dine around town this weekend, turn to page 54 of LGBTQ+ travel guide “Destination Gay Atlanta”, a collaboration between Georgia Voice and The Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, for restaurant suggestions.
A location of South Carolina-based Lewis Barbecue will open at Ansley Mall along the Beltline by the end of the year, joining two other locations in Greenville and Charleston. To celebrate, pitmaster and owner John Lewis will host a meet-and-greet on Oct. 11, from 1 to 3 p.m., at The Cook’s Warehouse, located next door to his future Atlanta barbecue restaurant. The menu will include “hot guts” sausages, slow-smoked ribs, and Hatch chile corn pudding among the dishes to try. The tasting event is free to attend.
Also on Oct. 11, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., The Cook’s Warehouse at Ansley Mall will host a book signing and baking class with cookbook author Annette Joseph. Expect Joseph to share some of her favorite Italian recipes from Northern Tuscany, such as lemon ricotta cake. The $20 fee includes a signed cookbook and class.