Persian Restaurant Rumi’s Kitchen Is Finally Opening That Long-Awaited Midtown Location

After nearly two years of delays stemming from the pandemic, the long-awaited Midtown location of Rumi’s Kitchen finally opens January 24 at Colony Square. This is the third location of the popular Persian restaurant in metro Atlanta, and its first in the city.

Set at the corner of 14th and Peachtree streets in Midtown, expect a menu from chef and owner Ali Mesghali similar to the Sandy Springs and Alpharetta locations, including the stewed eggplant, kebob platters, and plates of lamb shank and Cornish game hen. Mesghali also added a vegetable section of family-style appetizers and entrees to the Colony Square menu.

Joining Rumi’s in Midtown as beverage director is veteran Atlanta barkeep Julian Goglia, one of the partners behind former restaurants the Pinewood in Decatur and the Mercury at Ponce City Market, now home to Bar Vegan. For the Midtown location, Goglia is serving new takes on some of Rumi’s most popular cocktails, along with several original drinks using Persian flavors and ingredients.

First opened in 2006 along Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, Rumi’s Kitchen quickly became known for its elegant Persian dining experience paired with wines from countries throughout the Mediterranean region and Middle East. The menu runs the gamut, from labneh, falafel, and dolmeh to stews and kabob options served with lentils and fragrant basmati rice. A second location opened in 2017 at retail and dining development Avalon in Alpharetta, followed by the debut of a Washington, D.C, location in 2020.

Rumi’s Kitchen joins Saints and Council, Brown Bag Seafood Company, Establishment, Sukoshi, Sweetgreen, and dine-in theater iPic and its Italian restaurant Serena Pastificio at Colony Square. Food hall Politan Row and cocktail bar Jo Jo’s Beloved opened last summer at the development, which is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation.

The relocated Holeman and Finch Public House and an outpost of King of Pops should open this spring at the Midtown complex.

Lunch: Monday - Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Dinner: Monday - Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Patio dining available. Order online for takeout and delivery.

Public transit information: Colony Square is accessible via the Arts Center and Midtown MARTA stations, although Arts Center Station is closer. Also accessible via MARTA buses #27 and #40.

Disclaimer: Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here. It is highly advised people wear masks indoors or when in crowded situations, regardless of vaccination status, to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

• Persian Restaurant Rumi’s Kitchen Moves Into Midtown’s Colony Square Next Spring [EATL]
• Restaurant Brings All-Day Dining and Heated Seats on the Patio to Colony Square [EATL]