Last Friday, word spread around Atlanta that the locally famous Gu’s Bistro on Buford Highway was closing.
Many fans of the popular Atlanta Szechuan restaurant took some solace that owners Yvonne and Zahed Gu would soon be opening Gu’s Dumplings at Krog Street Market in the coming weeks. But many are still waiting (praying?) for word on where and when Gu’s Bistro would reopen.
Well, Atlanta Magazine caught up with the owners at their new Krog Street Market location and reported some info that Gu’s Bistro lovers who reside in and around Decatur, may be interested in hearing…
Yvonne says they’re still looking for a new location, which will be bigger and most likely in town (Decatur, perhaps). Moving out of a forlorn strip mall on Buford Highway is important to them. They hope to change the perception that all Chinese food is cheap food found in hole-in-the-walls where decor and service are subpar.
When will the new Gu’s open? Depending on lease negotiations and build outs, as early as the end of summer and as late as the end of the year. Yvonne thinks the menu at the new location will be smaller. “It’s too big, and my dad was cooking everything. It was too much for him,” she says. Zahed adds, “It’s easier to teach someone 30 to 50 items rather than 150 items. Inventory was a nightmare.”
Yup, they might reopen in Decatur. So if you love Gu’s, it’s probably worth your while to show them some love in the comment section here, on other platforms, send them Asst. City Manager Lyn Menne’s phone # to help with potentially finding a location, etc. You know, all the things to help make your prayers come true. 🙂
Photos courtesy of Gu’s Bistro
LOL! I just posted this in response to brianc in FFAF!
The Solarium, please
As much as I’d love to see them here, I’d hate to see what kind prices they end up charging. Gu’s was already somewhat expensive for a Bufi place (and also the only Asian restaurant on Bufi serving any craft beer that I know of).
Also, though they had a very mixed clientele, on any given night half of the diners would be Chinese. Will they follow them to Decatur or somewhere else intown? Not a great comparison, but the only “ethnic” place I know of with both a Bufi location and an intown one is Sweet Hut. The Midtown one seems to be a success, but the menu is different. Again, this isn’t a very good comparison, as Sweet Hut is really more like a Starbucks with bubble tea and Asian desserts, but it’s the only one I can think of at the moment.
That said, I’d definitely be at a Gu’s in Decatur, probably once a week.
We could have Gu’s and Guy Wong’s place come to Decatur in the same year? Dare we go for the Chinese Trifecta and hope for a Canton House dim sum outpost here, too? Let the Decatur Dining Dynasty begin!
Another bonus with these authentic Chinese places (or maybe caveat for the owners?): Don’t know about Guy Wong’s place, but in terms of the menu, Gu’s is about as kid un-friendly as a restaurant can be.
I didn’t think I could possibly be more excited about these possibilities until you pointed that out.
Hate to rain on your parade, guys, but our two-year-olds love authentic Chinese places, including Szechuan (maybe not the ultra spicy stuff, obviously, but a lot of the milder dishes). For instance, I don’t think there’s a dish in this town they love as much as the coriander fish rolls at Tasty China.
No worries. Your kids are still in the very small minority. Great for you for encouraging them to eat real food, though. I hate it when I go out to eat with friends with small offsrping and they don’t even think about looking past the kids menu. I’m willing to bet that your kids are also exponentially better behaved than the brats making a mess of their chicken fingers and hot dogs 🙂
Usually, but I fully admit that we’re just as succeptible to toddler meltdowns (x2) as everyone else is. But those are blessedly rare (knock wood). And while I am extremely thankful that they are as adventurous eaters as they are and we have successfully side-stepped “chicken finger syndrome,” they will happily default to any combination of pasta and cheese given the opportunity (but, in fairness, so will I).
Gimme Royal China’s dim sum over Canton House any day of the week, but any in town dim sum option would be welcome! And didn’t Wong say Big Boss would be doing dim sum?
Have heard other say that about Royal China, too. Guess I’d better check it out for myself.
Guy Wong said that dim sum was “a possibility” but no definite plans for it. Maybe someone can direct him to this thread in the hopes of increasing that possibility!
We used to do Canton House when I was growing up in the 80s and 90s, but I’ve tried a few times in recent years and wasn’t impressed. Dim sum allegiance, like anything, is very subjective and often predicated on something as simple as a place having one particular item you like. But in the last decade or so there seems to be a general consensus in the foodie community that Royal China is a notch above.
Gu’s would do an occasional prix fixe Sunday dim sum that they would announce on Facebook/Twitter. Had to be a minimum number of reservations before they would confirm it. About 12-14 courses and everyone would get the same item at the same time. An adventure, for sure.
I remember seeing some of those invitations go out and desperately wanting to go but not being able to. Hopefully that will still be a thing either at their (hopefully) new location or possibly at Gu’s Dumplings.
GU’S DUMPLINGS! GET IN MY MOUTH! Please come to Decatur!
shared the post on it’s closing and was bummed as I enjoy the adventure out to BUFHI, but this wlll be awesome. I hope they don’t go downtown. It’s such a scene on the weekends now. But I will support them regardless because I am a fool for chili oil and the perfection of their dumplings and tea smoked duck.
East Decatur Station or Avondale Estates-ish would be the sweet spot to avoid the “Destination Decatur, Parts Unknown” -type diners…
The old Maddy’s place.
“East Decatur Station or Avondale Estates-ish would be the sweet spot to avoid the “Destination Decatur, Parts Unknown” -type diners…”
Not sure I follow that, as Gu’s has a wide following across metro Atlanta (and beyond). We have friends who live in Smyrna, for example, who we’d meet there, as well as intown residents. I don’t think Gu’s would want to be a neighborhood type place. And is there even anything available in East Decatur Station?
A restaurant in AE need not be a “neighborhood” restaurant. Avondale Estates is super-accessible from I-285, so anyone can get there quickly from many areas of metro ATL. Also, the rents are cheaper (than Decatur), so perhaps the prices won’t need to be quite as high as people are imagining With the Avondale and also the Kensington MARTA stations about to take off, AE is the place to locate.
Exactly Brian, i was referring to the folks who head out out to Decatur with no particular restaurant in mind, as opposed to those headed specifically to, say, Thinking Man. Being in the thick of things (on the square) means even the more humdrum places get a lot of spillover from the Leon’ses et al. It would be nice to preserve Gu’s as a destination unto itself instead of a fine option among many.
East Decatur Station may not have been the best example, but I was thinking of places a little off the beaten path.
Gu’s is (was?) great and I’ll be thrilled if they do resettle here in our fair burgh, but if your friends are in Smyrna I hope they’re also patronizing Tasty China, which was blowing up the ma la, real deal Szechuan before the Gus arrived and is still killing it. My folks live in Smyrna and we’re thankful to have the excuse to get over there fairly regularly.
Been mentioned numerous times before for other restaurants, but why not the old Ruby Tuesday location? The size of the Bufi location (too small) was mentioned as a reason for closing in the Atlanta article. With this spot there would be plenty of space for diners, a large kitchen I assume, and deck parking. This would be almost too good to be be true for us, as we can practically throw a rock and hit that location.
This was the first location that sprang to mind for me too. Size is right and feels like the right vibe. But I’m sure the rent would give the Gus pause.
Rumor has it that Humana has inked a deal for the Ruby Tuesday’s
Humana? Why would they be leasing a restaurant space? Do they have clinics, like Kaiser?
The old James Joyce in Avondale is available for purchase or lease – has its own parking lot too. I’d love to have Gu’s in my neighborhood, plus the thought of Szechuan cuisine in a mock Tudor pub amuses me to no end.
I snorted my drink when I read this! Totally agree!
I LOVE it!!
How about the restaurant space at Ice House Lofts that’s been vacant for awhile? Or the space next to the Decatur Visitor’s Center? The Ruby Tuesday’s space would be good if they could get them down to a reasonable rent…
If they wanted to go head-to-head with Guy Wong, the space where the DPD was next door is still available I believe.
Did that church next to Family Dollar in Oakhurst go out of business yet? That would be a good space.
Actually most of the churches in Decatur would make nice restaurants 🙂
I second you on the Carpe Diem location. Good outdoor seating (less traffic than at James Joyce), three or four different indoor spaces including two that can be closed off for private functions. Parking is the issue. Dang.
Please come anywhere near Decatur Gu’s!
I vote for a place with some outdoor seating. This is almost impossible to find for Asian cuisine of any kind and on a beautiful day, it’s a travesty (for spoiled Decaturites.)
Which makes the idea of Szechuan in a mock Tudor pub, with a PATIO, even more enchanting. Maybe the servers could dress like Palookaville’s to really mess with us. Or they could have a mariachi band on Saturday nights!
Come to Avondale Estates!! Come to Decatur!! I love Gu’s Bistro.
Yep, we are Gu’s Lovers and had no idea that Decatur had such a strong bastion of support. Three times a year we host an international guest from Zurich who’s first request is — let’s go to Gu’s.
Agree that the James Joyce space with enclosed patio could work.
Smaller menu makes a lot of sense. Good luck and welcome to Decatur.
I am shocked that they are closing! The restaurant had just blown up in popularity with various different groups of my friends. PLEASE come to Decatur or Avondale, Gu’s! I just discovered you and I’m not ready to see you go!
Avondale Estates!!!! Please, please, please! The old Carpe Diem would work, too (I really miss the patio), but this would be great for AE!