Welcome to DiningOut’s Plate Full of News, your weekly serving of Atlanta’s restaurant, bar, and culinary happenings. From buzzy openings and chef moves to can’t-miss events, menu debuts, and industry news, here’s everything you need to know about the city’s dining scene this week.
The 411
Cotto Modern Italian opened its second location in the Vinings Jubilee development on September 17, taking over the former Stockyard Burgers space. The restaurant, from the Fork U Concepts team behind Taqueria Tsunami and Silla del Toro, joins an existing location in Gainesville, serving chef Scott Kinsey’s Italian menu of burrata, lasagna Bolognese, gnocchi with shrimp, veal piccata, and wood-fired pizzas.
Mule Train, the debut brick-and-mortar from husband-wife team Mike and Shyretha Sheats, opens in South Downtown Atlanta on Wednesday, September 30. Growing out of the duo’s pop-up concept, The Plate Sale, the restaurant centers Northeast Georgia foodways with hyper-local ingredients in dishes like Candy Roaster Squash with Habanada and Marigold, complemented by a wide-ranging beverage program from fortified wines to house-made sodas. Hours are Wednesday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m.; and Saturday-Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. with reservations available via Resy.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is opening a Midtown Atlanta location on Monday, October 19, at 1331 Spring St. NW, marking the brand’s second Georgia restaurant alongside its existing Dunwoody spot. Led by operating partner Krista Shoemake and chef Tim Tillman, the 8,233-square-foot space will seat up to 80 in the main dining room, with bar dining, a Chef’s Table and four private dining spaces. The menu features a daily prix fixe with a 16-ounce dry-aged ribeye or surf-and-turf option, plus a nightly Social Hour with $7 bar bites and $9 cocktails and wine.
Jeni’s Splended Ice Creams has announced a new scoop shop at Avenue East Cobb in Marietta, set to debut later this year. The 1,175-square-foot location at 4475 Roswell Rd. will be Jeni’s 11th Atlanta-area shop, joining existing locations at Ashford Lane, Westside Provisions, Krog Street, Buckhead, Glenwood Park, The Battery, Plaza on Ponce, Avalon, and Decatur.
Spread Bagelry plans a third metro Atlanta location for early 2027. The shop will take up residence in Old Fourth Ward at Common Ground (820 Ralph McGill Blvd.), adding a breakfast stop along the BeltLine’s Eastside Trail. The Philadelphia-based chain currently operates locations in Buckhead and Midtown, with bagels, bagel sandwiches, spreads, and coffee on the menu.
Happenings
OpenTable’s new Petit Omakase series kicks off in Atlanta on Tuesday, September 29 at Cuevacía. Spur Hospitality culinary director chef Ian Winslade and Cuevacía executive chef Chavez Hernandez will serve a six-course Oaxacan-inspired menu with wine, sake, and cocktail pairings from beverage director Eric Bradley, inspired by a recent research trip to the region. Tickets are $100 per person, available now via OpenTable.
The Petit Omakase series continues the following night at Carmel, the Buckhead Village seafood restaurant from Tal Baum’s Olivia Restaurant Group. On Wednesday, September 30, Olivia culinary director Trevor Shibuya will curate a secret six-course menu with beverage pairings across three seatings at 6, 7, and 8 p.m., starting with canapés at Carmel’s Oyster Bar before guests move to the dining room for the main event. Tickets are $100 per person, available now via OpenTable.
Michelin-starred restaurants Lazy Betty and Washington. D.C.’s Xiquet are teaming up for a one-night collaboration dinner on Thursday, October 1, with seatings from 5 to 8 p.m. Chef Danny Lledó of Xiquet will join Lazy Betty chef-owner Ron Hsu to craft a six-course menu combining Xiquet’s modern Spanish cooking with Lazy Betty’s seasonal approach. Tickets are $285 per person, prepaid, available via OpenTable.
Buckhead Village District brings back its European Market on Saturday, October 3, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., turning the district into an open-air market featuring the city’s top European food and craft vendors alongside live music. The event is free and open to the public.
Epicurean Theatre at Epicurean Atlanta hosts The Art of Pasta Making on Thursday, October 9 from 7 to 9 p.m., giving guests an early look at ENZO Steakhouse & Bar, the new concept from chef Andrea Montobbio opening at the hotel this winter. The hands-on class walks guests through two pasta preparations, paired with a multi-course tasting and complimentary wine pairings. Tickets are $85 per person, available online.
Sweet Auburn Barbecue hosts the inaugural McDonough BBQ & Bluegrass Festival on Saturday, October 10, from noon to 4 p.m. at its Henry Town Center location. Sibling owners Howard and Anita Hsu are bringing together Terminus City Barbecue, Dhaba BBQ, and No Sauce Smokehouse for a People’s Choice competition, with live bluegrass from Dusty Roads and family-friendly activities. Tickets are $45 for adults and $25 for kids, available at sweetauburnbbq.com.
On the Menu
Starting Monday, September 28, Little Rey adds a classic crispy beef taco to its menu, filled with beef picadillo, shredded lettuce, Monterey Jack, cilantro, and salsa ranchero. The restaurant is also introducing a seasonal apple compote soft serve for dessert.
El Super Pan is marking Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) with a 30-day “LATAM” specials series inspired by chef Hector Santiago’s Puerto Rican roots and travels through Venezuela, Peru, Mexico, and beyond. At The Battery Atlanta, the rotating menu centers on a weekly changing Mofongo Verde, each version drawing on a different country’s flavors while staying rooted in Boricua cooking. The Ponce City Market location offers its own menu, including a Paloma, Classic Daiquiri, Pisco Sour, and a Mini Mofongo Verde with chicken or pork, finished with chimichurri.
Now through Saturday, October 4, Ecco Midtown transforms into Belle Époque Bistro, a temporary bistro-style takeover drawing on the creative energy of Paris’s Belle Époque era. The limited menu includes moules (mussels), bread and butter, saucisse puree, black cod Veronique, and steak tartare, paired with an expanded by-the-glass bubbles list and a dedicated cocktail menu.
The Betty, the supper club restaurant at the Kimpton Sylvan in Buckhead, has rolled out a new fall menu featuring comfort-forward dishes like 1855 Black Angus Cowboy Steak with crab mac and cheese, and a smoky fire-roasted butternut squash soup. The cocktail list gets a seasonal refresh, too, with additions like the Autumn Breeze (High West bourbon, apple, clove, cardamom, crème de cassis, lemon) and the Southern Belle (Grey Goose vodka, peach, clove, cardamom, lime, orange blossom, grapefruit). Photos HERE (credit: Andrew Thomas Lee)
