Johnny Esposito Jr's Buckhead Tavern Opens December 18

From Johnny Esposito Jr., Buckhead Tavern is scheduled to open in the Eclipse Buckhead Condominium development on Thursday, December 18. Esposito is the son of the late Johnny Esposito Sr., who opened Johnny's Hideaway in 1979.

Executive chef Nicole Christner created the menu and will oversee the kitchen with her culinary team led by chef de cuisine Roberto Barth. Look for dishes such as pan-seared wahoo with coconut red curry broth, forbidden black rice and grilled baby bok choy; Asian-braised short ribs; brined thick-cut pork chop with rosemary apple jus, truffled cauliflower/potato mash and broccoli rabe.

"My family has been in this business for nearly half a century," Esposito Jr. said in a prepared statement. "Hospitality is what we love, and that passion has been the driving force behind the development of Buckhead Tavern. We have a great team of established restaurant veterans on this project and are excited for Atlantans to see what we have to offer."

Buckhead Tavern is located at 264 Pharr Road. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to midnight, and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday brunch service will begin soon, according to a release.