Chops Lobster Bar coming to ATL suburbs
Thursday, Sept. 24 — Hello, internet friends.
🍂 This isn’t exactly breaking news, but I can’t help but marvel at the fact that it doesn’t feel like the devil’s armpit outside. We’re approaching one of Atlanta’s prime outdoor seasons, as indicated by all the activities gearing up this fall, including East Atlanta Strut and the Ponce City Market 100 community celebration on Saturday. There’s also my personal favorite, Georgia Ren Fest’s Fall Fling.
Now on to the food news.
In this week’s Quick Bites, get updates on openings in Avondale Estates and Lawrenceville, a food stall closure at Westside Market, and extended hours at a Duluth coffee shop. We’ve also rounded up several food and dining events to attend, including Halloween pop-ups and an anniversary party for Rebel Teahouse.
Keep reading for Beth’s story on the new Chops Lobster Bar location coming to Johns Creek and intel on two big fall dining events.
🍇 Finally, read my story on Concrete Jungle’s adventure picks in this week’s “Family Meal.” I attended one recently and harvested muscadines in Norcross. You can also read Beth’s musings on the Mexican Spro Mule (think espresso tonic meets Moscow Mule) now served during Sunday brunch at La Semilla.
See y’all next week,
🍰 Sarra
✨ The Atlanta Greek Food Drive-Thru returns tomorrow, Sept. 25 to 27! Pre-orders are open now, or order directly on-site all weekend. Learn more and pre-order now. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Quick Bites
Openings
☕ Beverage chain 7 Brew opened a location in Lawrenceville.
🌮 Green Coyote Cantina opened a second location in Avondale Estates.
🍢 Atlanta-based Rumi’s Kitchen opened a location in Los Angeles.
⏰ Chef Jared Warwick’s (Octopus Bar, Wick & Nicks) Clockwork pop-up residency launches on Oct. 1 at Babygirl in East Lake. Clockwork will offer dinner at Babygirl Thursday through Sunday, from 5:30 to 11 p.m., for the foreseeable future. Reservations encouraged.
Closing
🥧 Pie Bar announced on Instagram that it will end its residency at Westside Market on Sept. 30. The Marietta Square and Woodstock locations will remain open.Coming attraction
🍦 Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams will open a scoop shop on Roswell Road in Marietta later this year.Community announcements
🔑 Congratulations to the Forth hotel in the Old Fourth Ward on being awarded a Michelin Key designation again this year.
☕ The Coffee by Hand in Duluth extended its Friday and Saturday hours to 1 a.m.
🛒 Food pantry The Grocery Spot on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway added Wednesday shopping hours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. No appointment is necessary, but registration is required at the door.
Add to your calendar
🇰🇷 Spring 2nd Branch in Marietta will host Hana Makgeolli founder Alice Jun tomorrow night from 5 to 9 p.m. Expect curated beverages and cocktails. Tickets are not necessary, but reservations are encouraged.
👻 AltaToro’s Wicked Hideaway Halloween pop-up returns to Midtown on Oct. 1. Expect themed cocktails, tapas, photo opportunities, and live fire shows on Friday and Saturday nights. Reservations encouraged.
🧋 In honor of its fourth anniversary, Rebel Teahouse in Decatur will throw a multi-day celebration from Oct. 8 through 11. Festivities include one-day drink pop-ups, neighborhood pop-ups, limited-edition merch, and giveaways.
🎃 The Spookeasy cocktail bar returns to Chattahoochee Food Works on Oct. 2 and will be open Thursdays through Sundays in October. General admission is free. For $19.44 per person, a VIP ticket guarantees a bar seat.
🍇 Volunteer space is still available for Concrete Jungle’s muscadine adventure pick at Adam’s Vineyard in Norcross on Oct. 3. The harvest runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Carpooling is encouraged and volunteers are welcome to harvest their own grapes after the event. Sign up through Concrete Jungle’s online calendar.
♨️ General admission tickets are still available for Big Green Egg’s EGGtoberfest at Gwinnett Field on Oct. 3. Tickets without drinks are $73.64 per person. Tickets with drinks are $94.69 per person. Kids 12 and under get in free.
🌿 Plant market and event curator The Greenhouse Social will host the inaugural Dirt & Glitter Plant Show at the former Forever 21 space at Atlantic Station from Oct. 16 through 18. General admission tickets to the show are $10 per person, per day and include access to local plant growers, artists, and makers at the market. VIP tickets are $35 per person, allowing access for the entire weekend, along with admittance to a party featuring a performance by Atlanta drag queen Gigi Diamond.
A Taste of Community
SPONSORED BY URBAN RECIPE
🥒 Do you ever choose sleep for dinner because the groceries are too expensive? Urban Recipe Food Co-op members don’t need to make that decision. Mary helps with her grandkids, and the free food she receives routinely at her Food Co-op has been making a difference. “It’s making me eat more! Minus zucchini,” she shared, “they give a lot of zucchini.”
Mary has found her co-op to be a place of community. “It’s been helping me a lot.”
➡️ Learn more about Mary’s Food Co-op that’s centered on dignity.
Top Stories
Ponce City Market building turns 100
🎂 This Saturday, Ponce City Market will celebrate 100 years of the Sears, Roebuck & Co. building with the Ponce 100 Community Celebration.
The free event at the Scout Courtyard runs from 2 to 8 p.m. and will feature live music, food and drink specials from Ponce City Market restaurants, and interactive workshops.
⏩ Learn more about the centennial here.
Chops Lobster Bar will expand to Johns Creek
🥩 Good news for suburban steak lovers — Chops Lobster Bar will open a location in Johns Creek in 2028 at a hotel coming to the Medley development.
Located on the hotel’s ground floor, Chops will join a roster of restaurants at Medley, including Rena’s Italian Fishery & Grill, Fogón and Lions, CRÚ Food & Wine Bar, Fadó Irish Pub, Five Daughters Bakery, Summit Coffee, and Shake Shack.
⏩ Read Beth’s story on Chops in Johns Creek.
Sandy Springs Wine Festival returns Oct. 11
🍷 Join fellow oenophiles at City Springs on Sunday, Oct. 11 for the fourth annual Sandy Springs Wine Festival.
The event will offer a general wine tasting ($75) and a reserve tasting ($135) benefiting local nonprofit Solidarity Sandy Springs. Both tastings include complimentary bites from restaurants including Bocado, il Giallo, and Tre Vele.
⏩ Find out more about this year’s festival.
That Slaps
🫛 I stayed up way past my bedtime on a Sunday night just to nab a reservation at So. Fox, which opened in the old Farm Burger space in Virginia-Highland in July. You may have seen that The New York Times named it one of the best restaurants in America.
I split a few items, including the lady peas with leather britches (dried, strung green beans), chervil, caviar, and kombu. I’m not going to pretend I understand the chemistry of this dish, but what I can tell you is that it truly impressed me. The liquid mixture at the bottom of the bowl gave the slightest briny essence, I’m guessing from the kombu, that mixed beautifully with the firm peas and lump of caviar.
🤩 The hype on So. Fox is definitely warranted, especially if you appreciate a good vegetable.
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 email me.
