Only the best for my readers!

Here’s a press release about the coming “no. 246″ restaurant, that apparently everyone else received.  But no problem!  I’ll just lift it from our good friend John Kessler‘s blog.  (Interior photo of the restaurant space courtesy of Andisheh)

“Drew and I share a passion for locally sourced ingredients, simple preparations and wood-fired cooking and are both really excited to bring Italian-inspired dishes with Californian influences to Decatur,” says Fry. “I think Decatur is the perfect neighborhood for us to create this cool yet comfortable dining establishment that we both envision,” he adds.

“Lately the culinary trends in the Southeast have been very meat-centric, but we’re trying to make the food at no. 246 more about vegetables and dishes that guests can eat every day,” says Belline. “The menu will be driven by what local producers have to offer.”

The dinner menu is broken down into the following components: start, flour & water, from the hearth and finish. Dishes under start include crispy Fior di Latte cheese curd with San Marzano tomato and fried olives; charred octopus with smokey potatoes, pickled celery and chili-lemon vinaigrette; and garlicky tiny clams with toast and parsley. The flour & water section of the menu offers items like tortelloni with Ken’s mushrooms; Meyer lemon and sheep’s milk ricotta agnolotti with parmesan; and Ramano pizza with San Marzano tomato, anchovy, tiny olives and Calabrian chiles. All pasta dishes come in two different sizes. From the hearth items range from bavette steak with Romanesco, spring onion and Delfina potatoes to crispy suckling pig with gratin and pork jus to a whole wood roasted fish of the moment. To finish, dessert options include a chocolate tart with sea salt and EVOO; ricotta zeppoli with warm chocolate and sour cherry; and Meyer lemon pudding cake with crème fraîche.

Lunch items include entrée salads and sandwiches such as crispy chicken paillard with rocket, Parmesan and lemon dressing; skirt steak involtino with salsa verde, little gem lettuces and bleu vinaigrette; tuna conserva with tiny olives, an herb salad and warm flatbread; yesterday’s porchetta sandwich with Fontina and Calabrian chile conserva; the no. 246 burger with Teleme and house pickles; and a BLT featuring Belline Farm’s tomato, Fior di Latte, backyard basil and prosciutto.

The beverage program at no. 246 is directed by Lara Creasy and brings the traditional beverages of Italy to the diners of Decatur in a user friendly format. The thoughtful and affordable wine list features selections that reflect all of Italy’s regions and styles, both traditional and modern. California wines, especially those from house properties founded by Italian families or those that are traditional Italian varietals, are also a strong focus.

The cocktail menu features numerous traditional Italian ingredients interpreted in new ways for a southern American audience. Vermouths, amaros, aperitivos and digestivos will be blended with local produce, seasonal fruits, Italian sodas and house made mixers to create signature cocktails for all palates.

Coffee will also be a priority at no. 246, with expertly pulled espresso drinks from a state-of-the-art La Marzocco espresso machine featuring beans from Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters.

Smith Hanes is designing the 100-seat space that features contrasting white and dark hues, reclaimed wood floors and Venetian stucco. Banquettes line the other walls and zinc top tables with bistro chairs occupy the middle of the main dining area. In the front of the restaurant, two big double hung windows open out to the sidewalk.

No. 246 features an open kitchen with a wood-burning oven in the back. A special four-top “chef’s table” is located inside the kitchen where guests can put themselves and their taste buds in the hands of Chef Belline.

Another unique aspect of No. 246 is the restaurant’s backyard, which features an herb garden, shuffleboard court, and a deck built around a tree where live music will be played on Saturdays and Sundays.

No. 246 is located at 129 E Ponce de Leon Avenue in Decatur. The restaurant will serve lunch Monday through Saturday and dinner nightly, but will not accept reservations.