In this week’s Quick Bites, get intel on some recent restaurant openings, a few Valentine’s Day events worth checking out, and new restaurants arriving later this year. We’ve also got details on Commune’s final dinner service, a Madeira Park wine tasting, and El Ponce’s Bad Bunny party in honor of his Super Bowl halftime performance. Check out the latest ATL dining news below.
Restaurant openings
PopUp Bagels opens its first Atlanta location at 661 Auburn Ave. on Feb. 6. The Connecticut-based chain is known for its “rippable, grippable, and dippable” bagels and currently has plans for four more Georgia locations, including an upcoming location at the Buckhead Landing shopping center.
Salted Melon Market & Eatery opens in Buckhead’s Andrews Square Feb. 11. The fast-casual sandwich, salad, and smoothie operation originally opened in Charlotte in 2022. The Andrews Square location is Salted Melon’s first restaurant outside of Charlotte, and fourth overall. Salted Melon Buckhead will celebrate its grand opening on Valentine’s Day. The first 100 customers will receive a free tote bag with any purchase.
The former Seven Lamps space at the Shops Around Lenox in Buckhead became Corbu’s Pizza in late January.
Alpharetta’s longtime Turkish restaurant Cafe Efendi rebranded to Efendi Mediterranean Restaurant, according to a press release.
Ramyun Gallery and Lucky Claw “clawcade” are now open at 2860 Lawrenceville–Suwanee Road in Suwanee. Ramyun Gallery, inspired by East Asian convenience stores, opened its first location in Duluth last summer and offers a selection of customizable instant noodles. The restaurant will host a massive grand opening party, including menu discounts, a “K-Pop Demon Hunters” cosplay, and a DJ after party on Feb. 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Restaurant closing
Suite Food Lounge on Luckie Street in downtown Atlanta announced it’s closing after 13 years, according to an Instagram post. Although a final service date wasn’t listed in the post, Suite Food Lounge is no longer taking reservations on OpenTable or orders on UberEats.
Coming attractions
Unkie’s Pizza + Bar will open at 3400 Clairmont Road in Brookhaven later this year.
Smorgasburg Atlanta returns to the intersection of Forsyth and Trinity on March 7. The weekly food festival’s Atlanta iteration originally debuted in South Downtown last October. Applications for food and retail vendors are now open. Check out Rough Draft’s favorite dishes from Smorgasburg Atlanta here.
South Korean bakery chain Paris Baguette will open at 1100 Peachtree St. in Midtown this spring, according to Tomorrow’s News Today. Paris Baguette currently has seven locations in Georgia, including one in Kennesaw, one in Chamblee, one in Dunwoody, and two in Duluth. A location at Vinings West is also in the works.
YAVA Kitchen and Brewhouse in Cumming is set to open on Feb. 17. That’s also Lunar New Year.
Atlantic Station recently announced a new wave of tenants, including Gocha’s All Day from Gocha Hawkins, which opens this spring, and Playa Bowls, which opens this summer.
Menu changes
Commune listening room and wine bar in Avondale Estates announced it will be doing away with full dinner service after Valentine’s Day. The announcement states that Commune will “still serve tasty snacks, just on a smaller scale.”
Buena Vida Tapas Bar on the Eastside Beltline is offering a new lunch menu, featuring $12 specials. Expect meal bundles like a chef’s salad, Caesar wrap, or grilled chicken pesto focaccia sandwich with a side and a soft drink.
Membership privileges
Starting this week, all High Museum members will receive a 10 percent discount at Chef Craig Richards’ new restaurant, Elise. The discount excludes alcohol and special event menus. Members just need to present their current digital member card to their Elise server.
Add to your calendar
Spend Super Bowl Sunday at El Ponce, which will host a Bad Bunny-themed party called “Que Rico, Puerto Rico!,” featuring food and drink specials, a set from DJ Zólcalo, and performances by Conchita Bimbo, Mr. Elle Aye, and Chichi Pa’la Banda.
Madeira Park will host a Finger Lakes wine event on Feb. 11, led by General Manager and sommelier Jade Palmer. Tickets are $65 plus tax and available now.
Little Tart Bake Shop’s Grant Park location will host two back-to-back nights of “Little Tart After Dark” Feb. 13-14, from 5-9 p.m. Expect a special menu and drinks. Tables and seats at the bar are first-come, first-served.
Manuel’s Tavern is having a fun Valentine’s Day contest that offers a first-place prize of a free meal in booth 8, a bottle of bubbles from Elemental Spirits, two movie tickets to the Plaza, a mead flight from Monks Meadery, and a night at Hotel Clermont. The second-place winner will receive a gift card for two DVD rentals from nearby Videodrome, $20 in Manuel’s Bucks, and a free flight from Monks Meadery. To enter, stop by Manuel’s Tavern to speak with a staff member. No purchase necessary. Winners announced Feb. 13.
Spiller Park Coffee’s Toco Hills location will host a Valentine’s Day Market on Feb. 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.