In today’s Quick Bites, get details on a new Indian restaurant now open in Sandy Springs, along with a swath of upcoming restaurants, including Wyld Bird, a Miami-inspired chicken restaurant-within-a-restaurant opening inside Homegrown. Plus, we share news on Alici Oyster Bar’s closure at Midtown Promenade and provide you with a few food events to add to your calendar.
Alici closed at Midtown Promenade but may reopen as a different restaurant. (Via Google Maps)
Restaurant opening
Indian restaurant Saffron Darbar opened in Sandy Springs last week at the Hammond Spring Shopping Center on Roswell Road. The shopping center is also home to BeThai Restaurant, Clay’s Sports Bar, and Jinya Ramen. Take a look inside.
Coming attractions
Rosetta Bakery will open a second metro Atlanta location at High Street in Dunwoody on Jan. 19. It joins a location in Buckhead, which opened last year. On Jan. 24, Rosetta Bakery in Dunwoody will host a grand opening event from 3-5 p.m.
Japanese snack connoisseurs will be delighted to know that Japanese lifestyle store TESO Life will open a location in Chamblee this spring. It joins a location in Duluth.
Felipe Rivera and Eduardo Rivera, the owners behind Palo Santo in West Midtown, will open a new Mexican-style steakhouse in the former Lure space on Crescent Avenue in Midtown, according to a listing from The Shumacher Group. It’s unclear whether the new Midtown restaurant will be a location of ORNO Cantina & Parrilla, the Mexican-style steakhouse the pair own in Bogotá, Colombia.
Busy Bee Cafe will open a third location at Mitchell Tower at Centennial Yards in South Downtown in 2027. A second location at Atlantic Station should open later this year.
Wyld Bird, a Miami-inspired chicken spot, will open as a restaurant-within-a-restaurant inside Homegrown next month. Wyld Bird will open for dinner in the evenings at the Reynoldstown diner. Homegrown owner Kevin Clark teased offering dinner at the restaurant last year when speaking to Rough Draft about purchasing the Memorial Drive property.
Closures
Pat Pascarella announced the closure of Alici Oyster Bar at Midtown Promenade this week in an Instagram post. However, Pascarella mentioned he’s already at work on a new restaurant. It’s unclear if that new restaurant will take over the Alici space. Alici’s adjacent cocktail bar, Bar Pilar, also closed temporarily for upgrades. Rough Draft reached out to Pascarella for more details on the new restaurant and Bar Pilar.
A representative for Ponce City Market finally confirmed to Rough Draft that Chef Hector Santiago’s La Metro closed at the food hall. Rough Draft reached out for more details on its replacement. La Metro took over the Biltong Bar space in November 2024.
Add to your calendar
Love It Gluten Free will be popping up with siu mai (open-top steamed dumplings) at Rebel Teahouse in Decatur on Jan. 17, from noon-3 p.m.
il Giallo in Sandy Springs will offer an Italian wine tasting on Jan. 17, from 3-5 p.m. The tasting features six Italian wines and small bites. Tickets are $30 per person.
El Ponce on Ponce de Leon Avenue will host its January drag brunch this Sunday at noon. Tickets are available for $15.
Chef Rodney Smith of The New South will host 2026’s first 1619 SOUL dinner on Feb. 1 at 3979 Buford Hwy, Ste 120. The meal includes eight courses exploring the South and African diaspora. Tickets are $146 per person, with the option to add wine pairings for $59. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
Chicheria Mexican Restaurant at The Works in Underwood Hills now offers a $12 lunch special that includes an entree with rice and beans and a soft drink. Available weekdays only, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Johnny’s Hideaway offers team trivia on Mondays, starting at 7:30 p.m. Ladies night takes place on Wednesdays, from 7:30-8:30 p.m., with complimentary cocktails.