Izakaya is the new omakase
Jan. 15 — Hello internet friends, Sarra here!
🍷 Maybe it’s the news cycle, or the fact that I’ve had access to good wine, but January 2026 is not shaping up to be a very dry one. To quote esteemed Atlanta food journalist Mike Jordan, Atlanta is embracing “Juicy January” because, quite frankly, these are not dry times. Maybe that’s what the press release on “liquid maxing” I received earlier this week is actually referencing.
In this week’s “Side Dish,” I gush about a very good – or as my Babajoon (grandfather) would say, “very, very, good” – meal at Commune in Avondale Estates. And I predict what might just be metro Atlanta’s first big restaurant trend of 2026.
👉 You’ll also find updates on some recent restaurant hubbub, like Palo Santo’s upcoming Midtown location and Saffron Darbar, a new Indian restaurant in Sandy Springs. Read stories on El Tesoro’s upcoming West End location, as well as Rough Draft contributor Laura Scholz’s excellent piece on ways restaurants are pivoting in an economy that threatens dining out.
ICYMI, here’s a link to Tuesday’s “Family Meal,” where Beth gets real about the cyclical nature of restaurant closures. Plus, Marlow’s Tavern shares its recipe for the V&G Buddha bowl.
One last thing: Do loud restaurants make you want to bury your head in the ground like an ostrich? If so, you may have hearing loss or sound sensory issues, and I would love your thoughts for story on the alarming number of decibels present in Atlanta restaurants. You can email me at sarra@roughdraftatlanta.com.
See y’all next week,
🍰 Sarra
👟 Lace up and join the Beltline Thursday Run Club. This free, social run welcomes all paces and rotates to a new Beltline location each week. Come for the miles. Stay for the community. More info here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
Quick Bites
🆕 Opening
Indian restaurant Saffron Darbar opened in Sandy Springs last week at the Hammond Spring Shopping Center on Roswell Road. The shopping center is also home to BeThai Restaurant, Clay’s Sports Bar, and Jinya Ramen. Take a look inside.
👀 Coming attractions
Rosetta Bakery will open a second metro Atlanta location at High Street in Dunwoody on Jan. 19. It joins a location in Buckhead, which opened last year. On Jan. 24, Rosetta Bakery in Dunwoody will host a grand opening event from 3-5 p.m.
Japanese snack connoisseurs will be delighted to know that Japanese lifestyle store TESO Life will open a location in Chamblee this spring. It joins a location in Duluth.
Felipe Rivera and Eduardo Rivera, the owners behind Palo Santo in West Midtown, will open a new Mexican-style steakhouse in the former Lure space on Crescent Avenue in Midtown, according to a listing from The Shumacher Group. It’s unclear whether the new Midtown restaurant will be a location of ORNO Cantina & Parrilla, the Mexican-style steakhouse the pair own in Bogotá, Colombia.
Busy Bee Cafe will open a third location at Mitchell Tower at Centennial Yards in South Downtown in 2027. A second location at Atlantic Station should open later this year.
Wyld Bird, a Miami-inspired chicken spot, will open as a restaurant-within-a-restaurant inside Homegrown next month. Wyld Bird will open for dinner in the evenings at the Reynoldstown diner. Homegrown owner Kevin Clark teased offering dinner at the restaurant last year when speaking to Rough Draft about purchasing the Memorial Drive property.
🐟Closures
Pat Pascarella announced the closure of Alici Oyster Bar at Midtown Promenade this week in an Instagram post. However, Pascarella mentioned he’s already at work on a new restaurant. It’s unclear if that new restaurant will take over the Alici space. Alici’s adjacent cocktail bar, Bar Pilar, also closed temporarily for upgrades. Rough Draft reached out to Pascarella for more details on the new restaurant and Bar Pilar.
A representative for Ponce City Market finally confirmed to Rough Draft that Chef Hector Santiago’s La Metro closed at the food hall. Rough Draft reached out for more details on its replacement. La Metro took over the Biltong Bar space in November 2024.
🍵 Add to your calendar
Love It Gluten Free will be popping up with siu mai (open-top steamed dumplings) at Rebel Teahouse in Decatur on Jan. 17, from noon-3 p.m.
il Giallo in Sandy Springs will offer an Italian wine tasting on Jan. 17, from 3-5 p.m. The tasting features six Italian wines and small bites. Tickets are $30 per person.
El Ponce on Ponce de Leon Avenue will host its January drag brunch this Sunday at noon. Tickets are available for $15.
Chef Rodney Smith of The New South will host 2026’s first 1619 SOUL dinner on Feb. 1 at 3979 Buford Hwy, Suite 120. The meal includes eight courses exploring the South and African diaspora. Tickets are $146 per person, with the option to add wine pairings for $59. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
Chicheria Mexican Restaurant at The Works in Underwood Hills now offers a $12 lunch special that includes an entree with rice and beans and a soft drink. Available weekdays only, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Johnny’s Hideaway offers team trivia on Mondays, starting at 7:30 p.m. Ladies night takes place on Wednesdays, from 7:30-8:30 p.m., with complimentary cocktails.
Architectural masterpiece overlooking Candler Park Golf Course
SPONSORED BY ASHLEY BYNUM, ANSLEY REAL ESTATE
🏡 Completed in 2022, this four-level home is a testament to modern luxury, blending sophisticated design with an unbeatable location and lifestyle benefits. Listed for $2.3 million, this 3,687 sq. ft. property offers 5 bedrooms, 4 full baths, and 2 half baths.
Features include seamless white oak flooring throughout, a floor-to-ceiling fireplace, custom accordion glass doors, a chef’s kitchen with Wolf appliances, a spa-inspired primary suite, a flexible wellness and leisure space, and a large rooftop terrace.
👉 A rare opportunity in Atlanta’s most coveted neighborhood, this unparalleled modern residence is truly a work of art.
Top Stories From the Week
El Tesoro, meet Best End
🥑 Eats may be moving into El Tesoro’s current space at Wild Heaven’s taproom, but the taqueria will remain at the Lee + White complex. El Tesoro will relocate in March to the massive former Best End Brewing space, which features two kitchens and more room for activities.
⏩Read more about El Tesoro’s upcoming West End location here.
New year, new Grindhouse
🍔 Grindhouse Killer Burgers started off 2026 by opening an Underwood Hills location. Grindhouse debuted as a stall inside Sweet Auburn Curb Market all the way back in 2009 and now has locations at Truist Park and even the Atlanta airport. The newest location features a patio and 21-and-up second-floor bar that may just rival the Memorial Drive location of the burger joint.
⏩ Read more about the Underwood Hills Grindhouse here.
The key to restaurant success? Adaptability.
🍽️ Atlanta restaurants are adjusting operations and menus to meet diners where they are, especially as people scale back on eating out due to economic uncertainties. New items, seasonal themes, and budget-friendly menus are just a few strategies meant to keep restaurants these days relevant.
⏩ Read more about how restaurants are adapting here.
At the Market + Two Recipes
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKETS
🍠 Each week, Rough Draft Atlanta and Community Farmers Markets are partnering to bring you two recipes you can make using ingredients from your local farmers market. This week, we’ve got fun and fresh flavors on deck with sweet potatoes dipped in a satsuma glaze and curried turnips. Check out both recipes here.
👟 Lace up and join the Beltline Thursday Run Club. This free, social run welcomes all paces and rotates to a new Beltline location each week. Come for the miles. Stay for the community. More info here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
At the Market + Two Recipes
🎵 In case you’ve forgotten, Commune in Avondale Estates has a food menu that’s not to be overlooked at the listening room and wine bar. My hard-to-impress family dined here over the weekend and loved it.
Anyway, starter highlights included the solid cheese plate with a hunk of Saint André and “green beans,” or white beans cooked in pistou, a French sauce made with herbs, garlic, olive oil, and sometimes cheese (think pesto without nuts). It’s served with focaccia. A Caesar-ish salad featured chicory leaves. For entrees, the red snapper came served with thinly sliced potatoes and a creamy caper sauce, while a salad and ultra-crispy potatoes accompanied the steak au poivre.
🥟 Trend-recognition time! Have you noticed a recent uptick of izakaya restaurant openings? I have. Enso Izakaya in Avondale Estates and Ozuri Izakaya in Duluth both hard launched last year, while Bobo Izakaya opened in Toco Hills. The restaurant is currently in soft opening mode. Maybe by the end of 2026, every other restaurant opening will be an izakaya instead of high-end omakase? Next, I’d love to see more character-themed cafes opening (like Chamblee’s Sonic Speed Cafe pop-up last year) so I can live out my slice-of-life anime dreams.
We’re always looking for recipes to highlight on Rough Draft. If you have a favorite dish from a restaurant you want the recipe for, please send me an email to sarra@roughdraftatlanta.com.
