Nhan Le Hopes to Open Ama This Summer

Following the death of talented and beloved chef Angus Brown, his business partner Nhan Le is moving forward with the duo’s restaurants. Le tells Atlanta Magazine he hopes to open Ama this summer in a Virginia-Highland space adjacent to 8 Arm.

“We’re waiting on the permits and talking to lawyers, but once we get the paperwork approved, it will go fast. The structure is there, so it won’t take us long to build. Our storefront will face the BeltLine, so there will be a view and a patio.”

It sounds like a menu focusing on grilled seafood is still the plan for Ama, and Le tells Atlanta chef Matt Blackburn — “one of Angus’s best friends” — will step in to run the kitchen at 716 Ponce De Leon Pl. NE. Le says Blackburn is currently an executive chef for a Florida catering company.

In the interview with Atlanta food editor Julia Bainbridge, Le also discusses how 8 Arm and Octopus Bar will operate moving forward, his relationship with Brown, and how the lifestyle that comes with working in kitchens can take its toll.

• Nhan Le Plans to Move Forward With Octopus Bar, 8 Arm, Ama [Atlanta]
• Chef Angus Brown Has Died [EATL]
• All Ama Coverage [EATL]