The Six Most Anticipated Restaurants in Atlanta, Winter 2019

The year is almost over, and Atlanta experienced a steady stream of highly-anticipated restaurant openings, including 2018 Eater Award winners, Tiny Lou’s at the Hotel Clermont and Watchman’s Seafood from the Kimball House crew, the return of Ammazza to the pizza scene (at least in Decatur,) and Banshee, from four longtime friends in East Atlanta Village. There’s still a lot to look forward to opening during the early months of 2019. Here, now, are six of the most anticipated restaurants slated to open this winter in Atlanta.

Aix and Tin Tin

When: NOW OPEN—Read more about Aix and Tin Tin, and take a peek inside

Where: Westside, 956 Brady Avenue

What: French provencal restaurant Aix and its neighboring wine bar, Tin Tin, owned by former Saltyard executive chef Nick Leahy, hopes to open before the end of 2018 at the Stockyards on Brady Avenue in Westside. The menu at Aix focuses on dishes from southern France, such as shrimp Provencal, grilled lamb loin with chestnut dumplings and cabbage puree, and a pork belly cassoulet. Wine bar, Tin Tin, features a menu comprising of mainly small plates, and includes a L’Apero (French happy hour) between lunch and dinner with cheeses, crudo, and olives. The bar will offer mostly French wines. Both Aix and Tin Tin will be open daily, with Tin Tin open for lunch and dinner.

Aix

Lazy Betty

When: Early winter

Where: Candler Park, 1530 DeKalb Avenue

What: Lazy Betty, the forthcoming restaurant from chef Ronald “Ron” Hsu and his siblings Howard and Anita (Sweet Auburn BBQ,) is set to open in the former Radial Cafe space on Dekalb Avenue. The dining room seats 28 people, with an additional 18 seats in the lounge and at the chef’s counter, and seating for 25 on the patio. Lazy Betty’s menu will include three tasting menus. A vegetarian menu and the “Lazy Betty” (a mix of meat and seafood) will be six courses each. The nine-course chef’s tasting menu will incorporate more extravagant dishes, such as foie gras, lobster, and sea urchin. The restaurant will also offer à la carte options. Hsu, who served as executive sous chef and creative director at chef Eric Ripert’s Le Bernardin in New York City, was recently featured on the Netflix cooking competition, The Final Table.

Lazy Betty [Official]

The James Room

When: Early winter

Where: Old Fourth Ward, SPX Alley, 661 Auburn Avenue NE

What: After a few delays, it looks like the opening of the restaurant and cocktail bar from Missy and Kristin Koefod of 18.21 Bitters is in sight. The James Room is located just two doors down from Billy Streck and Anthony Spina’s new pizzeria and Italian joint Nina & Rafi at SPX Alley on the Eastside BeltLine. The Koefeds released renderings last spring of the interiors, which show a cafe located in the front of the James Room, a back bar and lounge, and an opulent ‘den’ slated for private events. The all-day restaurant and lounge is planning to serve coffee, baked goods, and pastries in the morning, and lunch and dinner later in the day. Aperitivo cocktails and wine are expected on the menu in the evenings.

Rendering by RWDS

Pancake Social

When: Late January/early February

Where: Ponce City Market, North Avenue

What: Eater Atlanta readers seem over-the-moon about chef Anne Quatrano’s new restaurant venture, an all-day breakfast and pancake spot and coffeehouse located next door to Mountain High Outfitters at Ponce City Market. Pancake Social’s menu features eight varieties of savory to sweet pancakes made from multigrain and sourdough pancake mixes, rather than just the traditional flour-based mixtures using milk, eggs, and sugar, doused with real maple syrup and real fruit. Quantrano also plans to offer gluten free pancakes as well as breakfast bowls, sandwiches, and a burger or two. The 150-seat restaurant and coffeehouse includes a covered patio facing Historic Fourth Ward Park along North Avenue.

Pancake Social

El Tesoro

When: Winter

Where: Edgewood, 1374 Arkwright Place SE

What: El Tesoro, a small, counter-serve Mexican restaurant and coffee shop on Arkwright Place, could open some time this winter in the Edgewood neighborhood on Atlanta’s east side. It plans to offer coffee and espresso drinks, along with breakfast tacos and burritos throughout the morning, and tamales, quesadillas, and “other Mexican treats” during lunch. Owner Alan Raines says dinner and a bar are in the works, too. El Tesoro is located about a half mile from Coan Park.

El Tesoro

Ammazza-Old Fourth Ward

When: Winter

Where: Old Fourth Ward, 591 Edgewood Avenue SE

What: Will it or won’t it reopen on Edgewood? That’s been the question Eater Atlanta readers have pondered for well over a year and a half since the widely popular Neapolitan pizzeria closed after two cars crashed (on separate occasions) into its building. The accidents also delayed the opening of Ammazza’s second location in Decatur, which finally opened in November on East Howard Avenue across from Kimball House. But, word on the street is Ammazza will reopen in its original location at the intersection of Edgewood and Randolph Street this winter. Fingers crossed.

Frank Lazaro/Facebook

• The 2018 Atlanta Restaurant and Bar Openings to Know [EATL]
• All Coming Attractions coverage [EATL]