The To-Go Window Is Having a Serious Moment at Atlanta Restaurants

To-go and walk-up windows aren’t new concepts, but for many Atlanta restaurants and bars, these windows have suddenly become a creative and viable solution to takeout as more people avoid indoor dining for the relative safety of eating and drinking outside during the ongoing health crisis. Restaurants are tackling extraordinary challenges to serve the dining public safely these days, putting greater emphasis on takeout and delivery options. Bars have another set of challenges, including reduced capacity indoors, which is forcing some bar owners to reexamine how they serve their drinks.

Here are 10 establishments that have recently added a to-go or walk-up window to the mix in neighborhoods around Atlanta.

Sidepiece at 8ARM on Ponce

8ARM debuted its new outdoor kitchen and bar Sidepiece earlier this summer in the restaurant’s parking lot. Sidepiece features wooden benches and seating throughout the parking lot, along with an outdoor kitchen with a wood-fire oven next to the patio bar. Chef Maricela Vega’s menu changes weekly, but often includes roasted vegetables, meats, kabobs, and flatbreads for takeout. People order food and drinks at the kitchen’s walk-up window via QR codes scanned using their smart phone. 8ARM also provides people the option to leave their contact tracing information, which is scanned using a separate QR code. A 20 percent service charge is added to all checks, but people can also leave an additional tip. Masks are required.

Glide Pizza at Irwin Street Market

Glide Pizza, owned by Rob Birdsong, opened in late-July inside Irwin Street Market along the Eastside Beltline. While dining inside the market is currently closed, Glide serves slices and 20-inch Brooklyn-style pies from a window in the parking lot. There is some limited outdoor seating. Glide partnered with Atlanta-based Edison Bicycles to deliver its pies locally to the Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park neighborhoods. People can order online or at the to-go window, Tuesday through Sunday. Masks are required.

Brash Coffee at Westside Provisions District

Brash Coffee

Located in a repurposed shipping container at Westside Provisions District, Brash serves everything from pour-overs and lattes to drip coffee, along with selections from Emerald City Bagels. For now, people enter the shop one at a time through the front entrance and order at the counter, which has been retrofitted with plexiglass. Orders are then picked up at a retractable side window. Outdoor seating is available around Brash and throughout the complex. Brash includes coffee subscriptions and bags of beans for purchase in its online shop. Masks are required inside the shop.

Little Bird at Whiskey Bird in Morningside

Whiskey Bird in Morningside adopted the takeout window model early on in the pandemic. Born out of necessity, Little Bird has now become the restaurant’s permanent to-go service sidekick. People order online for pick-up at the Little Bird window in the front of Whiskey Bird, next to the UPS drop box. Masks are required at the window. Open Tuesday through Sunday at 4 p.m.

Nick’s Food To-Go on the edge of Grant Park

Located on the corner of MLK and Hill Street on the edge of Grant Park, Greek sandwich shop Nick’s Food to Go shifted its counter service operation inside to a to-go window on the side of the building in the parking lot. The 25-year old restaurant continues to serve some of the city’s best gyros, along with its famous “Greek lasagna.” People order at the window or can call ahead for pick-up. Masks are required.

Ticonderoga Club at Krog Street Market

The New England-style tavern inside Krog Street Market continues to serve a mean cocktail, even if it’s via Ticonderoga Club’s new to-go window on the patio. Dubbed Ticon-To-Go Club, the menu includes many of the Club’s classics, like the Ipswich clam roll, vegan noodle bowl, and Poh’s eggplant with jasmine rice, as well as brunch favorites such as the cheesy hash browns and BEC sandwich. Grab a to-go cocktail or frozen drink while waiting for food. Look for the weekly “TV dinner” specials, too. TV dinners comes with an entree, two sides, and a dessert for $20. Order online to pick up at the window. Masks are required inside the market. Remember, the Club is always closed on Wednesdays.

Bon Ton in Midtown

Owners Darren Carr and Eric Simpkins (The Lawrence, Wonderkid) describe Bon Ton’s mainly seafood-based menu as “Louisiana meets Vietnam paired with stiff cocktails.” That’s still the case at the to-go window. The Midtown restaurant on Myrtle Street offers a selection of boiled and fried seafood, as well as a Cajun shrimp burger, po’boys, a catfish banh mi and drinks from its new walk-up window out front. There is some outdoor seating located along the side of the restaurant. Order online or at the window. Curbside pick-up available. Masks are required.

The Window at the Met in West End

The Window, part of the first phase of La Bodega at the Met on Murphy Avenue in West End, is run by the owners of Buenos Dias Cafe in downtown Atlanta. To-go food ranges from pupusas and guava pastries, to pho, banh mi, and rice and noodle dishes from the newly opened Pho King Express. Everything is takeout only here, including the coffee, fresh pressed juices, and horchata. Follow the Window and La Bodega on Instagram for menu updates, pop-up launches, and hours. Be sure to check out Butterly Biscuits popping up at the Met with from-scratch biscuits and breakfast sandwiches every Wednesday and Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. To order Pho King Express, call 770-371-4612 or order online for pick-up at the Window. Masks are required.

Brick Store Pub in Decatur

Brick Store Pub has been a downtown Decatur staple for over 21 years now. The beer bar and pub reopened in late-May for limited dine-in service and still offers a lengthy, rotating list of local, Belgian, and hard-to-find beers, which are also available from a walk-up window on the side of the building. People can order drinks at the window while they wait for a table or order food and drinks for takeout. Simply ring the bell for service. Owner Michael Gallagher says he hopes to make the to-go window a permanent addition to Brick Store Pub. Order online for pick-up at the window. For curbside service, call 404-687-0990 upon arrival. Masks are required.

King of Pops just off of the Eastside Beltline

Open daily just off of the Eastside Beltline, mobile cart popsicle purveyor King of Pops now includes a walk-up window location. People strolling the trail can hop off and grab popsicles to-go from a side window at Melrose and McQueen salon. Owner Steven Carse says the to-go window features the largest variety of King of Pops flavors available in Atlanta, as well as a selection of the company’s new soft serve ice cream. King of Pops continues to offer online ordering for home delivery via its virtual marketplace Rainbow Provisions. Masks are required.

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