Tyler Williams Is IN as Executive Chef at Tap

Tyler Williams is back in an Atlanta kitchen, and Midtown restaurant Tap officially announced his hiring as executive chef on Thursday. Williams has "big plans" for the restaurant, according to a press release, and he'll debut his new menu sometime this summer.

"I am looking forward to showcasing the best of my expertise at Tap," the chef said in a prepared statement. "The two floors and spacious patio offer a lot of potential to wow Atlanta's diners. It's going to be fun."

Williams's most recent project was Byhand, a pizzeria and organic farm on Lake Burton in Rabun County, but last month he announced plans to move on from the venture and return to Atlanta.

"Faced with the realization of opening my own restaurant in an area of north Georgia with limited staffing options available and a seasonal clientele, it is beyond good conscience for me to further invest my time and money into a venture with so many caveats," Williams said in a Facebook post on March 22. "I feel it is time for me to make a tactical retreat to my strengths and the true core of my passions."

Williams's last full-time job in an Atlanta kitchen was serving as executive chef at Woodfire Grill, which he left in May 2014. His cooking experience also includes time at Bacchanalia, Abattoir, and pop-ups around town.

Tap is one of seven Atlanta establishments operated by Concentrics Restaurants. The hospitality group has seen an influx of culinary talent recently, bringing on former Cakes & Ale sommelier Melissa Davis as beverage director and Matt Weinstein, Williams's replacement at Woodfire Grill, as executive chef at One Midtown Kitchen. Mihoko Obunai, known for her ramen exploits all over Atlanta, is partnering with Concentrics to open Nexto in Old Fourth Ward.

Williams replaces former Tap executive chef David Connolly, who took over the restaurant's kitchen last August. Details on Connolly's departure weren't available.