Simon’s Restaurant Opens in Midtown Next Week

Simon’s Restaurant will make its debut next Friday, September 1, at 793 Juniper Street NE. The restaurant takes over the space once held by Atlanta rapper Ludacris’s old restaurant, Straits.

Initial plans called for celebrity chef Marvin Woods, who previously cooked at shuttered Downtown restaurant Asante, to run the kitchen. But, a spokesperson tells Eater Atlanta Woods recently departed for a new job in South Carolina. Instead, Allysa Storms is on board as executive chef. At Simon’s, Storms will attempt to give patrons an “original New York dining experience” filtered through a Southern lens.

Storms’s menu will include dishes such as a Niçoise salad, Guinness-braised short ribs, red snapper, and Dr. Pepper-glaze pork belly. Simon’s will also boast selections from a raw bar. A press release describes the cocktail program as “Midtown-themed,” which is a bit vague.

The space will cover 4,500 square feet, and the main dining room will seat 69. A second level will offer seating for an additional 50 and a 14-seat private dining room.

“The vibrant atmosphere and innovative menu are a natural fit for Midtown’s eclectic dining culture,” owner Simon Guobadia said in a prepared statement Wednesday. “The stylish culture and people coupled with the exciting evolution and development of the area are a great match for Simon’s Restaurant.”

Dinner is served Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Daily happy hour runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Late-night service runs Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to midnight. Scope the dinner and beverage menus below.

• Asante Chef Marvin Woods Will Resurface With Simon’s in Midtown [EATL]
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