Quick Bites: Creature Comforts expands into Athens, Spice to Table closes this month, and more

Food news round-up

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The former home of the Westside Chow Baby (1016 Howell Mill Road) is scheduled to open Wed., Feb. 15 as One Rooster. Chow Baby’s original owner, Michael Blum, describes the Mongolian Grill as a “create your own stir-fry experience focusing on fresh and natural ingredients with a Polynesian flare.”

Spice to Table in Old Fourth Ward is closing after service on Fri., Feb. 24. Asha Gomez’s counter service spot opened in August of 2014 in Studioplex. Gomez plans to focus on a new tea venture as well as pop-up dinners at the Third Space (659 Auburn Ave. N.E., Suite 50).

Creature Comforts announced that it will expand operations to Athens, Georgia. The brewing company is renovating both the old Snow Tire Building Company building downtown and the Southern Mill.

Bar Mercado, a Spanish tapas restaurant from Castellucci Hospitality Group (Iberian Pig, Double Zero, Cooks and Soldiers) will replace the Cockentrice at Krog Street Market this Spring. Look for “the greatest hits of Spanish cuisine” along with Spanish wines and straightforward cocktails.

The Tavern at Atlas is now open at the St. Regis Atlanta. The newly designed library and lounge opens each day at 4 p.m. with a menu of small plates and shaken cocktails created by chef Chris Grossman. The idea is a more leisurely experience where guests are encouraged to linger over treats like roasted Island creek oysters with a cocktail like the Titaness — sparkling wine, cocchi rosa, crème de Cassis and lime juice.

Just a month after the death of co-owner Angus Brown, Nhan Le opened 8ARM’s (710 Ponce de Leon Ave.) outdoor bar and covered patio. Guests have the option to dine outside and order drinks from a renovated shipping container. The new beverage program, led by Joshua Fryer (The Lawrence, Ration and Dram) and Timothy Faulkner (Lusca) features craft cocktails and wine selected by Tim Willard, formerly of Lusca. Also new is a late night menu starting at 10 p.m.

Chef Linton Hopkins joins forces with New York chef and James Beard award winner Marcus Samuelsson at Restaurant Eugene on Thurs., Feb. 16. The four-course dinner and wine pairings includes a cookbook and signing of Samuelsson’s The Red Rooster Cookbook: The Story of Food and Hustle in Harlem.

Ponce City Market’s City Winery is going in a new direction with a new chef, menu and direction. Don Cherry (Wolfgang Puck, Gunshow, Southern Art) plans a new menu of “upscale comfort food with Southern flair.” Favorites like shrimp and grits and buttermilk chicken will remain along with new dishes like duck cassoulet and Prince Edward Island mussels cooked in City Winery Chardonnay, lemon butter and herbs.