Looks like the plans of a Greek Diner in the old Atlanta Bread Company space are history…or we just never had it more than 50% right.

Carl reports on Twitter…

Spoke with future #DecaturGA eatery at 205 E PDL: same ownership as Marietta Diner, plans to be open 24/7.

Definitely diner fare.  Check out the menu of the Marietta Diner HERE.

From the New York Times Diner’s Journal…

My chef friend Scott Peacock called today to confirm that he has resigned from the Watershed restaurant in Atlanta to pursue new projects.

Scott had been with Watershed for 11 years, during which the restaurant become known for its interpretations of Southern food, including fried chicken, which regularly sells out on Tuesday nights, the only night it is available. Last week, the James Beard Foundation named him a semi-finalist in the Outstanding Chef category, a nationwide award.

Emily Saliers, a co-owner of Watershed, gave me a follow-up call this afternoon. She is one half of the Indigo Girls, and is in Miami getting ready for one of their concerts tonight. She called the separation “amicable.” The crew at the Watershed, which is accustomed to working without Mr. Peacock when he travels, will continue to put out the same food while Ms. Saliers and her co-owner, Ross Jones, search for a new executive chef.

According to the post, Peacock’s future plans include working on a documentary and writing books.

Thanks to Amanda for forwarding.

UPDATE II: Menu details, again from Farm 255 owner Olivia Sargeant…

a simple menu, including other proteins such as chicken and pork and lamb (also pasture or forest raised, and from our regional farmer-partners). there will be salads and vegetarian options, chef-driven sides and condiments like “marrownaise” and housemade ketchup, kid-friendly fried things like onion rings and okra, and seasonal veggies too. organic milk milkshakes and root beer floats and the like…things that make us all happy.

farm burger will be beer & wine only and like all new places we will cross our fingers that the powers that be award us our coveted license in time for our opening, as we’ve done our due diligence. beer will be like-minded to our food and highlight local folks, artisanal methods, and unique offerings. the can will be ubiquitous, as it’s less wasteful and more fun.

UPDATE: Here’s a response I just received from Farm 255’s owner…

Read the rest of this entry »

After conflicting rumors as to its fate AFTER some debate over a needed parking variance, Carl posted this pic on Flickr verifying that Farm Burger is indeed moving into the old Viola Voila Space on West Ponce.  There’s been a good deal of action around the space over the past 2 weeks, but they must have just put up the signs.

Farm Burger does have a website, but no menu thus far.  Just a newsletter sign-up.

Two Decatur chefs are listed among the semi-finalists for this year’s James Beard Foundation awards.

• Scott Peacock of Watershed fame is one of 20 semi-finalists in the Outstanding Chefs category.
• Cakes & Ale’s Billy Allin is one of 20 semi-finalists in the “Best Chef: Southeast” category.

Peacock was an “Outstanding Chef” semi-finalist last year as well. This is Allin’s first nomination.

Congrats to both Decatur semi-finalists!

Jump over to CL’s Omnivore (who also gets the hat-tip!) for a wrap-up of all nominated chef’s with kitchens around Atlanta.  And for the full list of semi-finalists across the nation, click here (PDF).

Photos ripped from the restaurants’ respective websites.

From Creative Loafing’s Omnivore…

To celebrate the [10 year] anniversary, the owners plan to open a different TDS for a few hours each Sunday in April. Diners will get a chance to order some more complicated dishes. “We hate that we can’t do certain dishes now,” Trusler said, “but they take too long with the high-speed pace of the taquerias.”

Get on the TDS mailing list to be sure you’re notified about the anniversary celebration.

Creative Loafing’s Omnivore reported this story a couple days back, but props go to self-proclaimed Tortillas-junkie Suzanne for pointing it out to me.

Part-time Morehouse professor Matt Hinton missed Tortillas burritos so much when they closed in 2003, that he’s recreated them and many of their other items from scratch.  And now he’s selling his Tortillas “cover band” creations to the public under the name West End Burritos!

If you ever went to Tortillas on Ponce before they closed, you know that they had the best burritos in Atlanta. Well, I have finally, after much trial and error, come VERY close (95%) to an exact replica of some of their most popular items, including both the red and green sauces. I will begin offering Tortillas style burritos and other sundries (see attached menu) next week which I will deliver to you!

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS: Each Monday [Update: Tuesdays to be added soon], I will make a delivery run from Downtown Decatur to West End. If you live within 2 miles or so of this route, you are eligible for delivery. I will deliver to your door or leave it on your stoop. Deliveries will occur from approx. 4-6:30, so every Monday can be Burrito night.

Hinton’s delivery zone extends from West End to Decatur (a map is shown on his order page).  The full West End Burritos menu can be found HERE, while you can read more about the venture on the West End Burritos Facebook page.

In a post on the beautifully formatted Atlanta Magazine site, the Covered Dish blog ladles out some potentially delicious news.

In the next 18 months, MetroFresh owner Mitchell Anderson plans to open three new sandwich locations, called “MitchWich”, around the ATL.  The concept?

MitchWich will feature a 1,000-1,500 square-foot floor plan with a “warmer and woodsier feel” than MetroFresh but with a slightly different design for each location. Anderson has worked with a brand development firm over several months to develop the concept that will continue his food philosophy without duplicating the style of Metro Fresh. It will serve a breakfast and lunch menu focusing on sandwiches made with quality, organic ingredients, along with some soups and salads crafted by Anderson and his executive chef, Byran Kraatz.

And amongst the contenders…

Initially, Anderson is looking at neighborhoods such as the Fairlie Poplar district, Westside and Decatur because of their proximity to MetroFresh.

h/t: Oakhurst Gossip (via Twitter)

Neighbors helping neighbors.  Lisa writes in…

Just wanted to let you know that the James Joyce Pub is hosting a benefit for the Our Way Cafe Recovery Fund on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. 20% of the proceeds from all sales between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and close that Tuesday will benefit the fund.

UPDATE: FM Fats reports that he spoke with Depeaux owner Bill Sharkey today and was told that the Depeaux isn’t entirely closed and is still open on weekends.

It opened to renovation controversy (after a $250,000 move funded by the DPA) and high Cajun-food-hopes.  It closed quitely and without notice.

Until now.

A few days after a major refreshening of its “Business For Sale” page with the Shumacher Group, Carl reports that it looks like the Depeaux (in the old Decatur depot) has finally closed its doors for good.

No hours posted, mail slot sealed shut…no sign of life. BBQ joint moving in?

Photo courtesy of the Shumacher Group