🇹🇹 Trinidadian street food
Thursday, July 9 — Hello, internet friends.
🍉 I’ve got some very important news to share — I learned about a new type of watermelon over the holiday weekend! It’s called a Black Diamond watermelon, and it’s only grown in Cordele, which is apparently the watermelon capital of the world.
What’s so special about these watermelons? The fruit’s interior is the same consistency throughout — same texture, same sweetness, from edge to core. That flesh is so red it almost looks like a cut of prime rib. And as an added bonus, Black Diamonds don’t contain very many seeds.
😋 In this week’s Quick Bites, get updates on Atlanta restaurant openings in Reynoldstown and Decatur. Learn how to become an investor in an upcoming South Downtown restaurant. Plus, we shout out a couple of recommended dishes to order at new Avondale Estates restaurant Last Dance.
There’s also a roundup of June restaurant openings and a story on how World Cup watch parties brought big business to some metro Atlanta restaurants and bars.
Don’t forget to read this week’s “Family Meal,” where Logan breaks down the drama surrounding a new Reynoldstown karaoke bar, Beth gives a few Central and South American restaurant recommendations, and micro-bakery Lonely Sweets shares a recipe for white chocolate matcha cake with two frosting options.
🤠 By the way, if you have any international friends in town for the World Cup, please inform them about ranch powder. (For those unfamiliar, international tourists are absolutely smitten with the beloved American condiment.) TSA probably won’t confiscate it like they have with bottled ranch. Let’s be honest — ranch made with the powder is much better. Or, at the very least, get your friends a bottle of Ken’s to enjoy before their World Cup vacation ends.
See y’all next week,
🍰 Sarra
Quick Bites
Openings
🥟 Michelin-recommended Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings opened at the Mall of Georgia in Buford.
🍗 Mama Lin’s Chicken Delight, a new restaurant from Chef Mei Lin and Douglas Hines of The Consulate, opened in Reynoldstown.
🍔 Che Butter Jonez officially opened a new location in Decatur. The original location on Lavista is now closed.
Coming attractions
☀️ Breakfast and lunch restaurant Summerland, backed by Chef Anne Quatrano, will open at Upper West Market on July 22.
🌭 New York-inspired pop-up Bodega Bar plans to open as a permanent location in Sylvan Hills.
🇵🇪 Peruvian restaurant CVI.CHE 105, founded by Chef Juan Chipoco, will open at Phipps Plaza this fall.
🇧🇷 Florida-based Adega Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse will replace Iron Hill Brewing at Dunwoody’s Twelve24 development in December. Iron Hill closed last September after the company filed for bankruptcy.
🥢 Asian fusion restaurant KAI Fusion will open at The Block at Phipps in Buckhead next summer. According to a press release, the menu will offer a mix of Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and pan-Asian dishes.
Temporary closure
🇨🇳 The original location of Xi’an Gourmet at the Jusgo Supermarket in Duluth has temporarily closed, according to a representative from the Asian grocery store chain. However, it appears that the popular Xi’an-style food stall will eventually reopen. The Midtown and Johns Creek locations remain open.
Community announcements
🍽️ Mule Train, the upcoming South Downtown restaurant from Mike and Shyretha Sheats, is currently seeking investors. Those interested are encouraged to send an email to theplatesale@gmail.com.
Recommended
🍸 Love martinis? Do you also love the various garnishes that often come with martinis and martini riffs? Check out the martini plate at new Avondale Estates restaurant Last Dance. The $19 plate comes with a gin martini accompanied by snacks of citrus-sherry-marinated Castelvetrano olives, vermouth-cured pearl onions, house pickles, pistachios, and slices of Shakerag blue cheese served on a silver platter.
🍨 Got a sweet tooth? Try the blondie ice cream sandwich with house-made mixed berry ice cream and holy basil from the garden of one of the Last Dance owners.
Add to your calendar
☕ Radio Roasters in Decatur will host a free public cupping Friday at noon. DM on Instagram to RSVP.
🍹 Barrel Proof will host the Girl Bar x Spirited Sistas Crossover Collab at its Westside Provisions District location on July 13, from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
🍷 Chef Rodney Smith and Oregon’s Sealionne Wines are teaming up for a collaborative seven-course dinner with wine pairings on July 26. Tickets are $150 per person.
🇰🇷 Tickets are now live for the Korean-ish Summer Picnic at D’Best Urban Farm in East Atlanta on July 26. Expect a four-course dinner, drinks, dessert, live jazz, and a DJ, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $73 per person.
🎥 The Town at Trilith has rescheduled the Taste of Trilith to Aug. 15.
🥂 Grand Tasting Alpharetta returns to The Hotel at Avalon on Aug. 27, from 6 to 10 p.m. The event features more than 25 restaurants, chefs, beverage brands, and culinary experiences for an all-inclusive evening of food, drinks, and live music. Tickets are $95 per person.
Stomp Grapes at Crush Fest 2026!
SPONSORED BY YONAH MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS
🎉 Join us at Yonah Mountain Vineyards for our annual Crush Fest.
🍇 Experience the excitement of traditional grape stomping with live music and food trucks all day long. Sip our award-winning wines while enjoying beautiful views of the mountains. It is the perfect summer day out for wine lovers and families alike.
🍷 Grab your tickets now before they sell out and get ready to make some unforgettable memories.
Top Stories
June openings roundup
😋 June may have seen the most metro Atlanta restaurant openings by far in 2026.
Nearly 40 restaurants and bars opened last month, and there are still a lot more to come before the year ends.
⏩ Read Beth’s roundup of openings here.
World Cup fever fuels restaurant boosts
⚽ If you can’t catch a major sporting event in person, a watch party at a sports-oriented restaurant or bar is the next best thing.
Atlanta’s soccer hubs, including Brewhouse Cafe, Brick Store Pub, and Manny’s, are enjoying extra business this summer, thanks to the World Cup. Over in Decatur, the city’s World Cup WatchFest has helped boost sales at restaurants like Belen Bistro and Siam Thai just off the square.
⏩ Read the story from me and our summer intern, Ansley Kelly.
At the Market
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKETS
🥒 Each week, Rough Draft Atlanta and Community Farmers Markets partner to bring you two recipes that you can make using fresh ingredients from your local farmers market. This week, we’ve got a zesty salad and a twist on spring rolls. Check both recipes out here.
That Slaps
🇹🇹 Reporting burns a lot of calories, especially when it involves attending World Cup fan marches in 90-degree-plus weather. Nothing prepared me, however, for the over-the-top Argentina fan march from Underground to Atlanta Stadium on Tuesday. It really was quite a sight. Anyway, on to the important part: the meal that restored me afterwards.
Trinidadian food truck BARA ATL is currently posted up at the Global Grub Alley, and I might have screamed with delight when I saw it. I first tried BARA back in October when I previewed Smorgasburg Atlanta and finally got to taste doubles, a classic Trinidadian street food.
🍗 I ordered the doubles topped with curry chicken. Puffy fried chickpea batter provided some much-needed carbs, while the curry chicken added spice and savory notes. An herby cucumber chutney on top brought a cool burst of freshness. I paired my doubles with a sorrel drink, which was slushy from being in the freezer. I kind of prefer it that way. Instant revival.
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.
