The Most Anticipated Atlanta Restaurant Openings, Fall 2016

Georgia and Georgia Tech football return this week, the Falcons are back next week, and the Braves’ final season at Turner Field is winding down. That means fall is right around the corner. The weather will mercifully (hopefully) cool down in the not-too-distant future, but Atlanta's restaurant scene is expected to stay hot. Several big openings have already come online this year, but it's time to take a look at the fall tracking guide, running through the most anticipated restaurants set to begin service in the coming season. These are listed in alphabetical order, and we'll update progress as they open. If you have a favorite not listed, do leave it in the comments below.

8 Arm

Chefs Angus Brown and Nhan Le have plans to open a small seafood spot, Ama, in the Paris on Ponce space early next year. But first, the duo will launch an adjacent coffeeshop and restaurant. Lusca alum Matt Mullin is on board to run the coffee program at 8 Arm, breakfast and lunch fare will come from pastry chef Sarah Dodge, and Brown himself will man the kitchen for dinner service. Virginia-Highland: 710 Ponce de Leon Ave.

Status: Certified open.

B’s Cracklin’ Barbeque

Bryan and Nikki Furman are expanding their wildly popular Savannah smokehouse with a Riverside location. Taking over the former Hottie Hawgs BBQ space, B’s Cracklin’ plans to serve pork ribs, chicken, and brisket, but the main attraction will be chopped whole hog. Dress that smoky pork with South Carolina-style mustard sauce.

Status: Certified open.

Cafe + Velo

Local artist Jeff Demetriou and Atlanta BeltLine Bicycle owner Ben Boisson are opening a combined cafe and cycling shop, where they’ll serve Octane coffee and offer bike rentals and parts. Demetriou says "it's going to be a very different kind of place, the kind of place many people have been wanting." Sweet Auburn: 381 Edgewood Ave. SE.

Status: Certified open.

Cast Iron

In the space that previously housed Last Word, chef Evan Cordes will serve "seasonal dishes for all occasions or no occasion at all, nothing too fancy." Cordes has experience working under Billy Allin at Cakes & Ale and Scott Serpas at Serpas True Food, and he held a six-month stint running the kitchen at H. Harper Station in 2011. Cast Iron marks his return to Atlanta after a year in Savannah and three years away from a professional kitchen. Old Fourth Ward: 701-5 Highland Ave. NE.

Status: Certified open.

Char Korean Bar & Grill

From former Craft Izakaya partner and general manager Richard Tang, Char will serve "traditional stuff like bo ssam, sea snail, spicy noodles," along with kimchi-pork belly fried rice, sweet potato tempura, and more Korean barbecue staples. Craft Izakaya chef Jey Oh has consulted on the food, though he’s not a partner, Ryan Catherall is in as executive chef, and Shaun Byun is on board as sous. The beverage program sounds ambitious: "I'm not saying we're going to go molecular, but we're going to go outside the box a little bit," Tang previously said. Inman Park: 280 Elizabeth St.

Status: Certified open.

Double Zero

The Castellucci Hospitality Group has uprooted Double Zero Napoletana from Sandy Springs, dropped the "Napoletana," and will debut a revamped concept soon in Emory Village. Double Zero’s specialty pasta and pizzas will continue to be served, but chef Edwin Molina has updated the menu to focus on on small plates and large, shareable dishes. Emory Village: 1577 North Decatur Rd.

Status: Certified open.

Georgia Beer Garden

The folks behind Joystick Gamebar have been delayed for a while, but the finish line is in sight for their Edgewood Avenue beer garden. Johnny Martinez and Brandon Ley are in the process of getting the necessary permits. Once they do, Georgia Beer Garden will serve as a "Southern take on a classic biergarten." There will be an area designated to watch Georgia sports and plenty of outdoor space for warm-weather drinking. Sweet Auburn: 420 Edgewood Ave.

Status: Certified open.

Nexto

Local ramen chef Mihoko Obunai is leaving the pop-up game to open her own restaurant. Considering Obunai's reputation, the forthcoming eatery's BeltLine-adjacent location, and partnership with successful hospitality group Concentrics Restaurants, it's bound to be a hit. Poncey-Highland: 822 Ralph McGill Blvd. NE.

Status: Certified open.

Nine Mile Station

Ponce City Market's Central Food Hall is mostly up and running, so the next big project for the development is a rooftop beer garden. Developer Jamestown is partnering with Slater Hospitality, from husband-and-wife team Kelvin and Mandy Slater, to bring Nine Mile Station to life. In addition to the suds, the adjacent Skyline Park serves an "elevated concessions menu complete with snow cones, gourmet hot dogs, and more." Old Fourth Ward: 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE.

Status: Certified open.

Sarah Dorio

Scout

Chris Martha, chef Michael Semancik, and beverage director Nate Shuman, who have all spent time at The Georgian Terrace hotel, are reuniting at Scout. Semancik will serve modern Southern cuisine, but he’s steering clear of typical comfort food. Shuman wants to pour "a great version of your favorite drink — whether it’s a cocktail original to our restaurant or a classic that anyone could make at home." Oakhurst: 321 West Hill St.

Status: Delayed; projected opening: mid-December.

Suzy Siu’s Baos

Michael Lo and chef George Yu of Decatur’s Makan are planning a stall in Krog Street Market. Originally announced as Betty Hsu’s Baos, the duo decided to switch to "a more fitting and overall better name." But the concept remains the same. Look for Makan's popular steamed buns, including the pork belly and duck varieties served at the Decatur restaurant and "a number of new seafood and vegetarian steamed bun options." Inman Park: 99 Krog St. NE.

Status: Certified open.

Also tracking: American Cut, Ammazza Decatur, Highland Bakery Decatur and Downtown, Hudson FC, Indigo, Luca Varuni’s Krog Street Market venture, Poor Hendrix, Revolution Doughnuts Inman Park, Taco Bell Cantina, Taverna, The Halal Guys, the relocated Twisted Soul, Upbeet, Yumbii Taco Shop.

• All Eater Tracking [EATL]