Midtown Could Finally Have a Restaurant Serving Exceptional Pasta Next Fall

The “culinary partnership” between restauranteur Billy Streck (Hampton + Hudson, Cypress Street Pint & Plate) and former St. Cecilia chef Craig Richards does indeed include a new restaurant opening next fall. The yet-named establishment will be located on the ground floor of the 24-story Lilli Midtown apartment building at the corner of Peachtree and 3rd Streets, one block north of the Fox Theatre, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reports. Richards says it’s still too early to talk menu, but it will likely include his pasta.

Chatter from within the Atlanta restaurant industry indicated that Streck was toying with the idea of opening a more fine dining-type restaurant when he partnered with Richards in September.

“We just signed the lease, so we don’t have a name and are still formulating what we want the restaurant to be,” Richards tells Eater Atlanta. “There will probably be some pasta on the menu, but we’re still a long way out from opening. Both of us are just excited to be in Midtown.”

The addition of Streck and Richards’ restaurant should breathe new life into the dining scene in this portion of Midtown. This particular stretch of Peachtree is a bit of a restaurant dead zone, with options skewing more pub and fast-casual. The few exceptions include fine dining restaurant the Livingston at the Georgian Terrace hotel across from the Fox and Negril Village Caribbean nearby on North Avenue.

Before moving to Atlanta in 2005, Richards worked in restaurants throughout Italy and with Lidia Bastianich (Italian celebrity chef, restaurateur.) Pasta is his specialty. It’s what Richards is known for as a chef in Atlanta.

Richards departed Ford Fry’s Italian and seafood restaurant St. Cecilia in Buckhead last month to enter into the partnership with Streck. The move includes leading the kitchen at Streck’s Inman Quarter sports pub Hampton + Hudson. Richards is currently retooling both the staff and menu at the restaurant. In addition to St. Cecilia, he’s worked at Fifth Group’s Italian restaurant La Tavola in Virginia-Highland and Ecco in Midtown.

Streck is also opening the Italian restaurant Nina & Rafi with O4W Pizza owner Anthony Spina at SPX Alley on the Eastside Beltline. It’s expected to open in November.

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