Catching up on some interesting Decatur restaurant news. Eater reported late last week…
The Pinewood has plans for growth at 254 West Ponce de Leon Ave. in Decatur. One of Atlanta’s favorite spots to sip bourbon, the cocktail bar is expanding into the space next door that was previously home to Decatur Bikes. The project will result in “a brand-new facade, full-service lounge area, various private dining options, extended weekend hours, and refreshed menus,” according to a Thursday morning announcement.
According to Eater, the space will be designed by Square Feet Studio, who also designed their Mercury space at Ponce City Market. Pinewood plans to remain open throughout the renovation.
+1,000
The space wasn’t big enough for Pastries A Go Go and they had to relocate. It wasn’t big enough for Cakes & Ale and they had to relocate. It’s great the The Pinewood will be able be bigger and remain at their oh-so-nice location.
It’s funny how this spot has seen three very successful restaurants, while there are other locations (Decatur Diner comes to mind) that have been a revolving door for unsuccessful ones. Is it just a matter of chance or is there something inherent in the location? The two don’t seem that dissimilar.
Decatur Bike moving over one storefront didn’t make a whole lotta sense until now!
Old timers will also remember that location for the most excellent, Crescent Moon
That’s right! It was Crescent Moon. (Then a Vietnamese restaurant after C&A.) Pastries A Go Go was in the Sawicki’s space that is now Cookin’ Up A Storm.
The Vietnamese place, which was a great spot in a very different Decatur dining scene, was before Cakes and Ale, if I remember correctly. Man, things have changed since then.
clearly a location with strong food karma
Viet Chateau. I had a couple of great meals at that place, and I miss having a Vietnamese option downtown. Closest option now is Saigon Cafe, or if I’m feeling especially motivated I’ll go hit up BuHi. But I’m glad that C&A got its foothold there, since it’s now pretty universally acknowledged as the best restaurant in Decatur, and one of the best in Atlanta and the nation. Pinewood is no slouch, either.
Note that Pastries-a-Go-Go was not in the same space as Viet Chateau/Cakes & Ale/Pinewood, but a door or two up from that. And that’s long been one of our favorites as well.
Soba, in East Atlanta Village, has very good Vietnamese.
For the old, old timers I think it was Thumbs Up before it was Crescent Moon.
Walt’s right. Thumbs Up was a revelation in that Decatur era when DQ and Hardee’s were as close as it got to fine dining.
Remember the Square Table? The cigarette smoke was free!
And if memory serves, the current location of Thumb’s Up was also Crescent Moon! Glad to hear this about the Pinewood. I could live off those Brussels sprouts, but never looked forward to squeezing by the chairs and tables in that space.
Not to digress too much, but Crescent Moon’s Rob Atherholt serves Crescent Moon breakfasts at Taqueria El Vecino from 10am till 2pm every Sunday.
does he serve the Crescent Moon’s chicken burger? that thing was the best chicken burger I have had, ever!