Quick Bites: Tapa Tapa, Wild Heaven, Lucky’s Burger & Brew open and more

Atlanta restaurant news

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The folks behind Apres Diem, Carroll Street Cafe, and Village Pizza Co. have just opened Tapa Tapa, a new spot for wine and small plates at 931 Monroe Drive. Serving dishes such as paella, pan-seared scallops, anchovy-stuffed mushrooms, and salt-cod fritters, the eatery also boasts a flamenco stage and HD projector for screening World Cup games.

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The new Brookhaven location of Roswell-based Lucky’s Burger & Brew opens for business at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, June 16. The “man’s best friend”-inspired eatery at 305 Brookhaven Ave. serves lunch and dinner Sun.-Thurs., 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11:30 a.m.-midnight.

Leon’s Full Service bar manager Shanna Mayo, who took over for Miles Macquarrie when he left to open Kimball House last year, announced that she is joining the Victory Sandwich Bar crew next month. Her new role will involve work with Victory’s new Inman Park location, which is slated to open at 913 Bernina Ave. later this year.

Restaurant Eugene’s former chef de cuisine, Jason Paolini, was recently promoted to Executive Director for the entire Resurgens Hospitality Group, which includes Restaurant Eugene, Holeman & Finch, H&F Bread Co., H&F Bottle Shop, and the H&F Burger stands at Turner Field. Eugene sous chef Brian Jones was thus promoted to Paolini’s former chef de cuisine post at the 2277 Peachtree Road restaurant.

In related Restaurant Eugene news, Alex Ruwe was promoted to director of service, Juan Cortes was promoted from sommelier to maitre d’hotel/sommelier (H/T to Eater), while former H&F Bottle Shop store manager Cate Hatch has assumed an additional role - as the new wine director for Holeman & Finch.


Pop Stars, which officially cropped up earlier this spring, is augmenting Atlanta’s popsicle presence with a full lineup of gourmet-inspired frozen treats. Currently available via an eponymous food truck and at Whole Foods on Ponce, the all-natural ice pops will expand to Whole Foods’ Buckhead and Briarcliff locations by summer’s end. Look for flavors like sweet potato pie, pb&j, grapefruit raspberry, kiwi lemonade, pina colada, and more, including many dairy-free and gluten-free options.

Lenox Square is getting a slew of trendy new eateries within the next two weeks. With the addition of a fresh Cheesecake Factory outpost, the luxury shopping mall at 3393 Peachtree Road is expecting an installment of New Jersey-based Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar on June 17, followed by Phoenix-based True Food Kitchen on June 24. Both are considered healthy alternatives to the traditional convenience fare traditionally found in mall food courts.


In related burger news, Plan B Burger Bar is infiltrating the Atlanta market, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reports. The Connecticut-based franchise specializes in 100 percent verified humane, antibiotic-, hormone-, filler-, chemical-, and food coloring-free meats from extensively certified farms, plus a wide selection of natural, boutique bourbons. Additional locations will open in Boston, Chicago, and D.C.

Butter & Cream, a new ice cream and desserts shop from proprietor Stacey Wisniewski, will open June 20 at 416 Church St. in Decatur. It fills the vacancy left by the Taste boutique, which shuttered in in early January, and serves as fresh competition for Yogurt Tap, a fro-yo shop located just across the street.


Wild Heaven Brewery opened Friday in Avondale Estates. The brewmaster and president behind the new venture, Eric Johnson and Nick Purdy, respectively, previously spent four years contract brewing before launching their 9,000-square-foot, brick-and-mortar operation at 135 Maple St. Though the complex beers - which have names like Blackbird and Civilization - cannot be sold directly on the premises, they are distributed to local retailers such as Kroger, Publix, and Whole Foods Markets.

The Poncey-Highland location of FLIP Burger has finally welcomed back the waffle fries so popular at its predecessor restaurant, HD1. The fellow Richard Blais concept that previously occupied the space at 664 N. Highland Ave. never fully caught on, but its signature crispy-fried potatoes - complete with a spicy maple dipping sauce - earned such a cult following that Atlantan Elizabeth Bateman launched a change.org petition to bring them back. Patrons can look forward to noshing on them once more come June 22.