The owners of the 3-year-old Crabapple Tavern and the more recently opened Cantina del Mar have gone east, stopping just short of the Ga. 400 divide, and opened their latest venture on Mansell Road. They transformed a former Logan's restaurant into Queen Bee BBQ, Steaks, Seafood.
"We wanted it to be an old steakhouse, with lots of cherry wood, old-fashioned light fixtures and hardwood floors," said owner Beth Riordan. "We did keep some of the original red leather booths, but everything else has been completely remodeled."
The name harks back to an old business her husband, David, and his brother once ran in New York. "That was a catering business, and we wanted this to be a full-service restaurant," said Riordan. "But we still thought the name was a good fit. Everybody thinks it's me — but it's not!"
Not just 'cue
The couple, who also owned the now closed Silos restaurant, took some of the customer favorites from that location and mixed them into a new menu at Queen Bee. So diners will find familiar preparations of lamb chops, crab cakes and some signature salads, along with pulled pork barbecue sandwiches, baby back ribs, barbecued lamb sandwiches and a smoked prime rib. Sharing the menu are a New York strip, rib eye and filet mignon and fried shrimp. And there's a standing selection of $14.50 ($10.50 at lunch) blue plate specials topped with chopped pork, chicken livers, veal meatloaf and chicken pot pie, all served with a side dish and salad.Starters range from the Southern-style fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits as well as blue cheese chips, smoked trout, mussels and calamari. Soups, oversized salads and a burger are other scaled-back choices if you're saving room for one of the sweets, such as pecan pie, banana bread pudding, chocolate cake or a sundae.
From the bar
The wine list features about 50 options, representing most of the world's major growing regions, with about 40 served by the glass. There are 10 beers on tap and another 10 in the bottle. A specialty drink list features a variety of martinis, bourbons and single-malt Scotches.• Signature dishes: Barbecue ribs and sandwiches
• Entree prices: $14-$36
• Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays
• Reservations: Yes
• Credit cards: Yes
• Web site: www.queenbeesteaks.com
