Quick Bites: Ration & Dram opens soon, Tin Lizzy's to expand, and more

Atlanta restaurant news roundup

By Kate Abney Friday February 14, 2014 12:42 PM EST

Courtesy Tin Lizzy's
Tin Lizzy's plans to expand in a big way

Vine & Tap opens today, at 2770 Lenox Road. The wine bar and restaurant will offer its full menu - care of consulting chef Brian Obermeyer - starting at 5 p.m., along with numerous wines, port, sherry, sake, madeira, local craft beers, Friday Champagne-and-popcorn pairings, and more.

Andy Minchow, formerly of Holeman & Finch, should finally open his new eatery and bar Ration & Dram in March. Located in the former Arizona Pub space at 130 Arizona Ave., Minchow originally planned to open in late summer 2013. Expect an experience similar to H&F, but more family friendly, health-conscious, and at a lower price point.

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With six locations already operating in metro area, Atlanta-based Tin Lizzy's plans to more than double its number of outposts over the next two years. COO Tory Bartlett says he wants to grow the brand throughout the Southeast, and is looking at markets such as Augusta and Charleston, S.C., for future locations. Keep an eye out for two new OTP Atlanta locations - one in Kennesaw - later this year.

Vintage Frozen Custard will open its Westside brick and mortar store at 1021 Howell Mill Road on March 1. (H/T to Eater.) The old-fashioned sweet shop will bring simple flavors - chocolate, vanilla, and a rotating flavor of the day - served with toppings such as dark chocolate sprinkles, marshmallow cream, coffee caramel sauce, and sliced bananas.

Charlotte-based bakery Amelie's will soon enter the Atlanta market with a shop on the Westside, located in the former digs of Acoustix Jazz Restaurant & Lounge at 840 Marietta St. Amelie's will likely open this spring.

Copper Cove Indian Bistro quietly opened in Buckhead at 2991 North Fulton Drive, just off Pharr Road. Menu highlights include authentic Indian dishes such as Gol Gappa, Charmula Paneer steak, and grilled Maachli with curry. Although details are spotty, the website suggests that the chef herself is of Indian heritage, and the owner boasts more than three decades of experience in Indian fine dining in the U.S. and U.K.

Tacos & Tequilas Mexican Grill, an eatery with locations already in Cumming and Buckhead, will soon open in Midtown. Slated to assume the vacated digs of Deckard's Tavern at 650 Ponce de Leon Ave., recent progress with city permitting suggests the restaurant could open sometime this spring.

Chef Dan Latham is Yeah! Burger's new Operations and Culinary Director. Latham previously worked for Linton Hopkins' restaurant group - which includes Restaurant Eugene, Holeman & Finch, and H&F Bread Co.

L.A.-based fro-yo concept, Pinkberry, will soon open its fourth Atlanta area location at Lenox Square.

Tim Drum Asia Cafe recently shuttered its Buckhead location at 4367 Roswell Road, citing "renovations" as the cause. But as Tomorrow's News Today notes, the location has since been removed from the company's website, suspected to be the result of swift and ill-planned expansion efforts. Currently, Tin Drum has nine locations in the Atlanta area, with another on the way in North Druid Hills.

Legacy Restaurant Partners - the group behind Olmsted, Article 14, STATS, Game-X, Glenn's Kitchen, and more - has a new vice president of operations, Jeff Sime. Sime comes to the table with more than 20 years of experience in the industry, having worked for six Houston's restaurants across three states, before helping to open, rebrand, and consult on concepts such as the Big Ketch Saltwater Grill, Old Vinings Inn, and Milton's Cuisine and Cocktails.