Longtime Kirkwood Bar Changes Names and Offers Its Kitchen to Pop-Up Chefs

Name change

Starting October 1, longtime Kirkwood neighborhood bar and restaurant Ration and Dram will be known as Dead End Drinks and its kitchen will be dedicated to serving food from roving Atlanta chefs and pop-ups. But don’t fret, cocktails will continue being a focal point here.

Owners Andy Minchow and Caitlin Crawford announced the name change and kitchen rebrand on social media, stating that popular Ration and Dram dishes like the chicken and dumplings, McDowell’s breakfast sandwich served during Sunday brunch, and pantry board items will still be available for takeout.

The shift to operating as a pop-up kitchen isn’t particularly surprising. Over the years, Minchow and Crawford have often opened the restaurant to pop-ups and chefs and hosted a number of themed dinners and brunches throughout the year, especially during the holidays.

“While our current FOH staff will continue to serve up our amazing cocktails, we will be handing over our kitchen to talented Atlanta pop-up chefs in need of a space to showcase their delicious food,” the post reads. “What does that mean? It means that the old R&D faves won’t be available after October 1st, but that you’ll be able to enjoy some new and exciting food from a variety of chefs in the city.”

Since opening in 2014, Ration and Dram has drawn the cocktail faithful to the bar on Arizona Avenue, a dead-end street in the heart of Kirkwood. Under the direction of Minchow (a Holeman and Finch alum,) the bar has been dedicated to serving cocktails containing everything from whiskey, genever (Dutch malted gin), and agricole rhum to brandy and pisco, along with rainy-day drink specials and boozy brunch cocktails on the weekends. Follow on Instagram to keep updated on resident pop-ups. [IG/FB]

Coming soon

Painted Pickle

Justin Amick and William Stallworth, the team behind boutique bowling alley the Painted Pin and duck pin bowling and gaming parlour the Painted Duck, plan to open a new venture dedicated to pickleball. Painted Pickle will center around the game of pickleball, a paddleball sport combing tennis, table tennis, and badminton. While an exact location hasn’t been nailed down, a representative tells Eater Amick and Stallworth are in negotiations for an industrial warehouse space in Atlanta and are also looking for an additional location outside the Perimeter. Like Painted Pin and Painted Duck, food and drinks will also be served as part of the experience at Painted Pickle. [Official]

Scoville Hot Chicken

The sign is up at the newest location for Scoville Hot Chicken. The Nashville hot chicken restaurant takes over the former P. Red’s BBQ space at the corner of Chattahoochee Avenue and Defoor Circle in Underwood Hills. Owner Justin Lim (Okiboru) opened his first Scoville Hot Chicken restaurant last December in Sandy Springs, followed by locations in Buckhead and Athens. Lim wanted to replicate his experiences eating at Howlin’ Ray’s restaurant in Los Angeles, where people wait in line for hours to partake in Nashville hot chicken sandwiches. Scoville Hot Chicken serves varying degrees of hot chicken on its menu, ranging from totally spiceless to the overwhelming heat of the Reaper topped with coleslaw, pickles, and Scoville sauce. Two more locations are slated to open in Decatur and Marietta. [EATER]

Google Maps

LaRayia’s Bodega

A location of LA-based vegan market LaRayia’s Bodega opens this fall on the first floor of the central food hall at Ponce City Market. Owned by LaRayia Gaston, founder of nonprofit organizations Love Without Reason and Lunch on Me, expect a takeout menu focused on vegan versions of overnight oats and parfaits in the morning, with dishes like Jamaican jerk jackfruit tacos and vegan ceviche and chili at lunch and dinner. According to the press release, some dishes will also contain edible glitter. In addition to food, expect organic teas, such as Moon Tea (a vegan take on chai), a selection of fresh juices, and lemonades, like Black Girl Magic with activated charcoal. Continuing her philanthropic work here in Atlanta, Gaston plans to provide free vegan food at Woodruff Park downtown every Friday through her nonprofit Lunch on Me. [Official]

Alex Kim Kenealy

• It Appears This Establishment Is Replacing Parish in Inman Park [EATL]
• Scoville Hot Chicken opening in Sandy Springs [EATL]
• All coming attractions coverage [EATL]