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Carmel Brings the Food and Sunny Vibes of World Coastlines to Buckhead May 16

Look for a breezy bar serving rum and pisco cocktails, ceviche, grouper tortas, and fire-roasted fish dishes at Carmel

Skye Lin
Beth McKibben is the editor and staff reporter for Eater Atlanta and has been covering food and cocktails locally and regionally for 12 years.

The long-awaited debut of Atlanta restaurateur Tal Baum’s next restaurant, Carmel, takes place Tuesday, May 16, at Buckhead Village.

Carmel marks the sixth restaurant from Baum and Oliva Restaurant Group to open since 2015, which includes Bellina Alimentari and Atrium at Ponce City Market and Aziza and Falafel Nation at Westside Provisions District.

Taking inspiration from the coastal communities of California, the Yucatan Peninsula, and Baum’s upbringing near Mount Carmel, Israel, along the Mediterranean, expect dishes from Acapulco native chef Luis Guevara Salgado like a grouper torta, ceviche and tuna tartare, Bacalaito crab fritters, and snapper a la talla roasted in the restaurant’s wood-burning oven.

Look for a trio of brioche doughnuts filled with vanilla pastry cream and strawberry jam, braised mushroom sourdough toast topped with ricotta and fresh greens, and entrees of chilaquiles and bone marrow served with a poached egg and escabeche vegetables during Sunday brunch. Friday and Saturday nights see Carmel remain open and serving bar snacks until midnight.

Bone marrow with poached egg, sesame, pepper oil, and escabeche vegetables.
Bone marrow with poached egg, sesame, pepper oil, and escabeche vegetables.
Carmel
Grouper torta.
Grouper torta.
Carmel
Lobster cannelloni.
Lobster cannelloni.
Carmel
Mushroom toast.
Mushroom toast.
Carmel

The bar, overseen by longtime Oliva Restaurant Group beverage director Demario Wallace and Baylee Hopings, continues the coastal theme in the cocktails using base spirts of rum, mezcal, and pisco. Wine manager David Chapman (Kimball House, Aziza) pulled together a bottle and by-the-glass list for Carmel highlighting producers prioritizing organic and sustainable farming practices and vineyards found throughout the Pacific Coast.

Baum again tapped Atlanta design firm Smith Hanes Studio to create a breezy space that includes a bar area with a rattan-wrapped bar and lighted drinks rail. A wood-framed window opens up onto the patio to provide an indoor-outdoor feel. The dining room features warm wood tones throughout, along with green velvet banquette seating and booths.

Carmel is open for lunch, Monday through Saturday, and dinner daily. Sunday brunch begins at 11 a.m.

A trio of Doughnuts di frutta.
Doughnuts di frutta.
Carmel
Nahua daiquiri.
Nahua daiquiri.
Carmel

Open Monday - Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dinner daily starting at 5 p.m.; Sunday brunch, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Late-night snacks, Friday and Saturday.

3009 Bolling Way, Atlanta. olivarestaurants.com. Click here for the menu.

Rina

699 Ponce De Leon Avenue Northeast, , GA 30308 (404) 343-0362 Visit Website

Ponce City Market

675 North Avenue Northeast, , GA 30308 (404) 900-7900 Visit Website

Bellina Alimentari

675 Ponce De Leon Avenue Northeast, , GA 30308 (404) 330-9933 Visit Website

Falafel Nation

1170 Howell Mill Road, , GA 30318 (470) 355-9951 Visit Website

Buckhead Village

, , GA 30305

Kimball House

303 East Howard Avenue, , GA 30030 (404) 378-3502 Visit Website