Linton Hopkins’ Botanical Garden Restaurant Is Being Rebranded as Longleaf

Changes are coming to Linton Hopkins’ venture at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Opened as Linton’s last spring, the restaurant is being rebranded as Longleaf, according to a Wednesday announcement from the garden. Hopkins will continue to serve as “chef advisor,” and Jason Paolini will remain on board as executive chef.

The new name, which becomes official this month, is inspired by the Georgia longleaf pine. Hopkins is taking a step back, and Paolini “will be stepping up to play a larger role in menu concepts,” a representative for the garden tells Eater Atlanta. The chef will continue to source some ingredients from the garden, and he’s expected to debut new dishes “in the next couple of weeks.” Paolini’s cuisine will stay in line with the restaurant’s “plant-to-plate” concept.

“We are transitioning the garden restaurant into very capable hands, and I look forward to not only continuing our collaboration as consulting chef but also continuing my strong relationship with the garden as a whole,” Hopkins said in a prepared statement. “Chef Jason’s connection to the garden and its plants and visitors will continue to thoughtfully drive his menu creation as executive chef of Longleaf."

Hopkins is taking a reduced role at the restaurant so he can continue to “build his successful businesses throughout Atlanta and the Southeast,” according to the announcement. The restaurateur already operates Restaurant Eugene and Holeman & Finch Public House in Buckhead and H&F Burger at Ponce City Market, and he’s working on a steakhouse at the Atlanta Braves’ new Cobb County ballpark. There’s no word on any other projects Hopkins might have up his sleeve.

Longleaf’s hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Inside Linton Hopkins' Sparkling Botanical Garden Restaurant [EATL]
• All Linton’s/Longleaf Coverage [EATL]