More than 200 restaurants opened in metro Atlanta in 2019, but we also said goodbye to some longtime eateries and several that didn't last long but still made a mark on the metro Atlanta dining scene. These are (almost all of) the metro Atlanta restaurants that closed in 2019.
5 Seasons Brewing Westside. The West Midtown brewpub shuttered in early 2019, less than two months after the closure of its Sandy Springs location. Former AJC food editor Meridith Ford gave the Westside location three out of five stars when she reviewed it in 2009.
Aspen's West Cobb. The Sedgwick Restaurant Group eatery, which specialized in steakhouse fare, closed in Marietta after 15 years in business. The original East Cobb location remains open.
Feed Fried Chicken and Such. The closure at The Battery at SunTrust Park officially came on Dec. 30, 2018, but wasn't reported until January 2019. It also marked the first restaurant closure for chef and owner Marc Taft's Southern Fried Hospitality, which later in 2019 saw the shuttering of Brine Seafood Shack in Avalon in Alpharetta and Chicken and the Egg in Marietta, and the scrapping of plans for future Feed locations.
Food 101. The Sandy Springs spot from the 101 Concepts restaurant group closed in March after nearly 20 years. Ron Eyester, who serves as director of operations for all of 101 Concepts, that shifting tastes contributed to the shuttering. It was the first of three closures for 101 Concepts in 2019; the Atlantic Station location of Meehan's Public House and Castleberry Hill barbecue eatery Smoke Ring also closed this year.
Front Page News. The Cajun-themed Little Five Points restaurant will close Dec. 31 after 19 years. Owner Josh Sagarin's Tijuana Garage closed next door at the end of 2018. Both spaces will be taken over by Metrotainment Cafes in early 2020 for use as a Hudson Grill.
Hong Kong Harbour. The Cheshire Bridge Chinese restaurant closed in October after 40 years. Mother and son Susie and Matt Chae acquired the space, which they plan to turn into Street Bistro with an Asian-American street food and street cart theme.
Landmark Diner Jr. The Cheshire Bridge diner closed in early 2019 after nearly 15 years. Landmark Diner Jr. opened in 2005, joining a Buckhead Landmark Diner location on Roswell Road as well as one in downtown Atlanta on Luckie Street. The exterior of Landmark Diner Jr. was used as a stand-in for fictional JJ's Diner on the NBC show "Parks & Recreation."
Lava Lounge. The owners of Lava Lounge in Midtown closed the business in early 2019 after 20 years to make way for tiki-themed bar Tiki Tango in the same space.
Mary Hoopa's House of Fried Chicken and Oysters. Chef and owner Robert Phalen closed Mary Hoopa's early this year in the Hosea + 2nd development in East Lake after reported issues over rent; Salaryman recently took over the space. Phalen, who also owns One Eared Stag in Inman Park, is slated to open Woodward and Park in Grant Park in 2020.
The Mercury. Atlanta restaurant group 10 Apart Hospitality Group closed its Ponce City Market restaurant in May. It marked the fourth closure for the group, following the shuttering of Deep End in Old Fourth Ward last month and Bar Americano and Bar Crema in Buckhead in April 2018. Its Decatur restaurant The Pinewood remains open and is reportedly in the process of being sold.
Pastis. The French restaurant closed at the beginning of 2019 after nearly 20 years in Roswell.
Rainbow Natural Foods. One of Atlanta's first stores dedicated to selling health food and organic products closed after 42 years at 2118 North Decatur Road. In addition to selling a variety of natural products, supplements and groceries, Rainbow also offers a deli and hot bar featuring dishes such as spaghetti, pizza and veggie frittata. Health food store Nuts 'n Berries is slated to take over the space.
Restaurant Eugene. James Beard Award winner Linton Hopkins, who owns restaurant group Hopkins & Co. with his wife, Gina, closed the groundbreaking Restaurant Eugene over the summer after 15 years. The fine dining restaurant had a small, seasonally-rotating a la carte menu as well as a tasting menu. Hopkins will turn the restaurant into the more casual, all a la carte concept called Eugene and Elizabeth's, named for his grandparents.
In addition to the Restaurant Eugene switch, Hopkins is moving his perennial favorite Holeman & Finch to Colony Square in 2020.
Shorty's Pizza. The pizzeria closed its Toco Hills location after 14 years. A location in Tucker remains open.
Taiyo Ramen. Taiyo Ramen, from the Korean Wives Hospitality Group, closed in Decatur after five years. Korean Wives, which also closed its Son of a Bear in Oakhurst in 2019, also owns Ramen Station in Grant Park, Noona in Duluth, Suzy Siu's Baos in Krog Street Market and Salaryman in East Lake.
Wright's Gourmet Sandwich Shoppe. Wright's, which offered a variety of sandwiches, salads and desserts and was a lunchtime favorite in Dunwoody, closed after nearly 35 years in business. Breadwinner Cafe is taking over the space in 2020.
More 2019 metro Atlanta restaurant closures
January
Public Kitchen, Phipps Plaza
The Cowfish, Perimeter Mall
Genuine Pizza, Phipps Plaza
Apple Asian House, Decatur
Mulavi, Midtown
February
Taco Cantina, Old Fourth Ward
Annie Mae's Pantry, Berkeley Park
The Local Pizzaiolo, West Midtown
Wet Willie's, Lindbergh
Souper Jenny, Decatur
Pressed Panini Bar, Marietta
Pauley's Crepe Bar, West Midtown
Three Dollar Cafe, Northside Drive
Kuroshio Sushi and Lounge, Midtown
March
Sage Woodfire Tavern, Buckhead
Gordon Biersch, Buckhead
Harp Irish Pub, Roswell
Marlow's Tavern, Emory Point
April
Tava Indian Bistro, Decatur
DaVinci's Donuts, Dunwoody
Buckhead BBQ, Buckhead
Krepo's Seafood House, Roswell
Deep End, Old Fourth Ward
May
Brine Seafood Shack, Avalon
The Barrelhouse, Old Fourth Ward
Acapulco Restaurant, Riverside
Loyal Tavern, Marietta
Amore Cucina, Brookhaven
Eclectic Bistro, Midtown
Gino's East, Poncey-Highland
Viande Rouge, Johns Creek
Revelator Coffee, Midtown
Carlo's Bake Shop, Perimeter Mall
June
Bytes, Midtown
Bell Street Burritos, Sweet Auburn Curb Market
Community Smith, Midtown
Katana Sushi & Teppanyaki, Buckhead
July
Caravaca Market, Midtown
Tin Can Oyster House, Brookhaven
Java Monkey, Decatur
BoneYard Kitchen & Tap, Roswell
Big Tex, Decatur
Moe's Original Bar B Que, Roswell
Princi Italia, Midtown
Magnolia Bakery, Peachtree Corners
August
Adalina, Buckhead
Crayhouse, Buford Highway
Pappy Red's BBQ, West Midtown
Ink, Poncey-Highland
September
Chicken and the Egg, Marietta
Son of a Bear, Oakhurst
Bon Glaze, Buckhead/Bookhaven
Meehan's Public House, Atlantic Station
Purely, Midtown
Your Pie, Perimeter
Green Tomato Buffet, Peachtree Corners
Black Walnut Cafe, Alpharetta and Peachtree Corners
1Kept, Buckhead
October
ATL Taco, Lenox Square
Amara, Inman Park
Hudson FC, Brookhaven
Tempoe Doloe, Buford Highway
Babalu, Midtown
November
MidiCi, Midtown
The Greater Good BBQ, East Lake
December
Revelator Coffee, Grant Park
Queen of Cream, Old Fourth Ward
Tipple and Rose, Va-Hi
Jim Adams Farm & Table, Riverside
Smoke Ring, Castleberry Hill
Max's Coal Oven Pizzeria, Perimeter Mall
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