Avondale Restaurant Arepa Mia Suspends Patio Dining as COVID-19 Cases Rise in Georgia

Arepa Mia suspends patio dining as COVID-19 cases rise

Avondale Estates restaurant Arepa Mia reopened for takeout in mid-May and just reopened the patio for dine-in service on June 14. The restaurant’s dining room has remained closed since late-March. As cases continue to rise in Georgia, owner and chef Lisbet Hernandez is once again temporarily closing the patio for the health and safety of her staff and patrons. Arepa Mia remains open for takeout. People can order online for pickup.

Adding to the financial pressures already being felt by Atlanta restaurant and bar owners, several establishments are choosing to temporarily close after learning employees have tested positive for the virus. This includes Little Rey in Piedmont Heights, Firepit Pizza Tavern in Grant Park, Redbird on Howell Mill Road, Gusto at Chastain and in Chamblee, and the Brookhaven outpost of Pure Taqueria.

Westside Pizza closes its original location and is reopening down the road

After 16 years, Marietta Boulevard pizzeria Westside Pizza says goodbye to its original location on Saturday, June 27. Owner Ryan Ferrara is closing that location and relocating it a half mile up the road to the new Westside Village complex. No reopening date is given. A third location of Desta Ethiopian Kitchen, an outpost of American steakhouse chain Ted’s Montana Grill, and a brand new restaurant from Sweet Auburn BBQ owners Anita Hsu and Howard Hsu called Amar Bien are all slated to open at Westside Village. Anita Hsu describes Amar Bien as a “vegetable-driven” Mexican restaurant. It expands upon the menu from their West Coast-style burrito restaurant Gezzo’s in Henry County.

East Atlanta Village food stall and popup Mushi Ni launches breakfast

Mushi Ni, the Asian-American comfort food stall run by chefs Tanya Jimenez and Michael Le inside East Atlanta’s We Suki Suki: Global Grub Collective, now serves breakfast. Breakfast runs from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Curbside pickup is available, and people can order online ahead of time. Take a look at the breakfast menu, which features ube muffins, breakfast baos with a choice of egg or tofu and meat or vegan bacon, Japanese hotcakes, and crepes filled with a choice of meat or a vegan option.

Prior to the pandemic Jimenez and Le had just begun a year-long takeover of the kitchen at Victory Brands bar Little Trouble on Howell Mill Road. The couple are also opening their first full-service restaurant called Braise at the Pinewood Forest development in Fayette County. The ongoing health crisis has put those plans on hold for now. Once open, Braise will serve a menu of European, New American, and Asian-influenced dishes. Jimenez plans to lead the kitchen, while Le runs the day-to-day operations at the restaurant.

Other dining news from this week:

• There’s Now a Weekly Biscuit and Breakfast Sandwich Popup at the Met in Adair Park
• Two Atlanta Restaurateurs Step Up to Help the Family of Rayshard Brooks