Big ATL barbecue news
Thursday, Oct. 29 — Hello, internet friends.
🍽️ This past weekend, my in-laws visited from Alabama. It was nice, but mostly it meant I worried about where to take them because they are picky eaters.
🍝 During their visit, we ate four meals together, three of which were successful. (That’s a win in my book.) Here are the restaurants my in-laws loved.
- Highland Tap — They were big fans of the steak basement’s atmosphere. They ordered the salmon and the half rack of ribs. I am absolutely ordering the ribs the next time I’m at the Tap. We split the beet salad as an appetizer.
- Storico Fresco — “When in doubt, Italian” is a good strategy. If you’ve ever been curious about the rigatoni at Storico Fresco, order it on your next visit. It’s a winner.
- Home Grown — My father-in-law is a breakfast guy. (He gets up early on the weekends to make biscuits and gravy.) Home Grown was the obvious move. He skipped the famous Comfy Chicken Biscuit for a regular order of biscuits and gravy and did not expect such a hefty portion. He said he would drive from Alabama to Atlanta just to eat here again.
👀 In this week’s Quick Bites, get details on a croissant pop-up in Reynoldstown, a Japanese grocery store’s upcoming Inman Park location, and a hot pot restaurant opening on the Westside.
Keep reading for my guide to ordering shared entrees and family-style menus at Atlanta restaurants, a deep dive on a historic piece of art on display at Manhattan Cafe in Athens, and some major Atlanta barbecue restaurant news, with the return of a critically acclaimed pitmaster.
🍩 Finally, read this week’s “Family Meal” for Beth’s restaurant recommendations in East Lake, Marietta, and Tucker, and also get a snack recipe for esquites, or “corn in a cup.”
See y’all next week,
🍰 Sarra
Quick Bites
Openings
🍔Whataburger opened in Conyers.
🥩 Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse is now open at the corner of Spring and 17th in Midtown.
🥐 Viennoiseries After Dark offers drop-off services for its croissants and French pastries at Mama Lin’s Chicken Delight and Honey Bubble Tea at Madison Yards in Reynoldstown.
🥤 Shake Shack opens at Medley in Johns Creek tomorrow.
Coming attractions
🍱Nori Yu Handroll Bar, from the chef behind Omakase Table and Ryokou, will open in Decatur next month.
🇯🇵 Japanese market Wagaya Groceries will open in the former A Haute Cookie space in Inman Park next summer.
🇨🇳 Blue Willow, a Hunan-style Chinese restaurant, will open in the former Hampton + Hudson space at Inman Quarter next summer.
🍲 Drama Hot Pot + Tea Studio will open in the former Bastone space on the Westside, Tomorrow’s News Today reports.
🍈 Salted Melon and Chastain Creamery will open at the Hillcrest development in Sandy Springs next year.
Community announcements
🏆 Congratulations to Wayne Saxe and Howard Aaron of Goldbergs Group on receiving the 2026 Grace Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Restaurant Association.
Add to your calendar
👻 Aria in Buckhead is offering a four-course Halloween menu for $90 per person through Oct. 31. Guests who order the special menu Oct. 30-31 will receive a complimentary glass of champagne.
🌍 Wontanara Festival returns to the Southwest Arts Center in South Fulton Oct. 30 through Nov. 1. Expect a multi-day celebration of West African music, dance, and heritage, featuring art exhibits, workshops and panels, drum and dance classes, late-night DJ sets, and a market with more than 30 Black-owned artisans, food vendors, and wellness practitioners. Grab tickets for select events here.
🍬 Daily Chew on Liddell Drive will host a Halloween block party Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to regular cafe service, people can expect a costume contest, face painting, pumpkin decorating, local pop-up vendors, and a market.
🎃 Virtue Bar at Colony Square in Midtown is hosting a 21-and-up rooftop Halloween party Oct. 31, starting at 8 p.m. In addition to a live set from DJ Montana, the party will include a costume contest offering a $1,000 cash prize. Tickets are available for $54.45.
🍸 Nakato on Cheshire Bridge will host a Japanese cocktail class Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. Learn how to make four fall cocktails with Nakato’s mixology team. Tickets are available for $70 per person and include small bites and take-home materials to recreate the cocktails.
🍓 Botanica Fruit Bar, a new pop-up series, will hold its first event at The Zero Co. on Highland Avenue Nov. 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vendors include Vinny’s Mutual Aid Bakery. A portion of the pop-up sales will benefit Second Helpings ATL.
Have you HERD?
SPONSORED BY THE FERNBANK MUSEUM
🐘 Fall at Fernbank Museum is packed with science, nature, and discovery. From fall leaves in Fernbank Forest to the new Elephants exhibit, it’s a great time to visit.
➞ Check out our fall events, exhibits, 3D films and more at our website.
Top Stories
Surprise! Pitmaster Bryan Furman is back in Atlanta
🍖 Award-winning pitmaster Bryan Furman is back in Atlanta, this time working alongside longtime friend and fellow pitmaster Robert Owens at barbecue joint Owens & Co.
With a Nov. 1 start date, Furman will begin rolling out some of his trademark “Bryan-style” dishes at the restaurant, including his popular South Carolina hash and rice, and his peach mustard sauce.
⏩ Learn more about Furman’s role at Owens & Co. here.
Five ATL restaurants offering shareable entrees
This Athens bar displays a unique piece of Highwaymen art
🖼️ Ever heard of Highwaymen art? You may not be aware, but you’ve actually seen it if you’ve been to Manhattan Cafe in Athens.
The painting (pictured) is an example of Highwaymen art, made by a group of Black Florida landscape painters who, starting in the 1950s, painted quickly from memory and sold their art from car trunks along the highway.
I chatted with owner Joey Tatum about the most recognizable piece of art on the walls at the Athens bar.
⏩ Read the story behind Manhattan Cafe’s piece of art history.
At the Market
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKETS
🍠 Rough Draft Atlanta and Community Farmers Markets partner each week to bring you two recipes that you can make at home using fresh ingredients from your local farmers market. For Halloween, try your hand at two fall recipes: pumpkin French toast and sweet potato mash. Check out both recipes here.
That Slaps
🧀 Do some dishes on menus ever make you do a double-take? That was me with the pimento dahi kebab ($19) at Pataaka in Midtown. I was a little unsure about it. But my philosophy is: don’t knock it until you try it! I’m glad I did.
This dish presents more like two cheesy croquettes than traditional kebabs. The kebabs come stuffed with roasted peppers and sit atop a passionfruit reduction. And the pimento cheese doesn’t have that waxy texture or artificial taste.
🤩 Creamy and tangy with hints of jammy sweetness, this combo just works.
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.
