US cannabis/drinks company Tilray purchased UK assets of brewpub chain BrewDog. Currently unaffected by the sale, BrewDog includes an Atlanta location. Separate negotiations to purchase BrewDog’s US assets ongoing. Tilray also owns SweetWater Brewing. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/03/04/b...

Avondale Estates breakfast and brunch restaurant Rising Son will close after 10 years. The restaurant will offer its final service on March 29. But much of the Rising Son menu will carry over to Babygirl, opening in April in East Lake. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/03/03/r...

The DeKalb County city of Avondale Estates received a gift of $1 million last week. The anonymous donors shared that their contribution was made possible “thanks to Waffle House — serving Avondale since 1955.” roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/03/02/a...

The Midtown Promenade location of MetroFresh will temporarily close following a fire on Feb. 27 that caused significant damage to the restaurant roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/03/02/m...

Check out the best dishes Rough Draft ate from Atlanta restaurants in February 2026, including duck leg confit cassoulet from Halfway Crooks Beer, the ceviche negro from Oaxaca ATL, and the mole chicken tamal from Mi Oaxaquena Authentic Mexican Food roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/03/02/b...

Rough Draft Atlanta reached out to Jamestown on plans to replace IPIC movie theater, which will close at Colony Square in April roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/02/27/i...

February may be the shortest month of the year, but it turned out to be a big month for restaurant openings around Atlanta. Nearly two dozen restaurants opened for business in February, equaling the openings of the previous month. Check out the list. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/02/26/a...

In the Feb. 26 edition of Quick Bites, get the scoop on Atlanta’s latest restaurant openings, adjusted hours at one of Decatur’s best coffee shops, and the relocation of R. Thomas Deluxe Grill’s beloved tropical birds, Ruby, Peaches, and Cream. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/02/26/q...

My weekly dining newsletter: February Atlanta restaurant openings, why I dig the mole tamal at Mi Oaxaquena, a burnt sugar cake recipe, and news nuggets, including murder mystery dinners, a Peruvian cocktail you should know about, and a great write-up on Atlanta’s soul food scene for BBC Travel.

All Saints’ Episcopal Church has stood in Midtown Atlanta for 120 years, making it one of the city’s oldest and most enduring structures. However, the church faces declining attendance, costly maintenance, and accessibility issues. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/02/24/e...

After years serving as the Culinary Director for Jackmont Hospitality, Todd Richards recently departed the role and returned to the hotel circuit as the Executive Chef for Waldorf Astoria Atlanta in Buckhead roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/02/24/a...

A power outage that began Thursday afternoon has temporarily closed three Krog Street Market businesses. Recess, Superica, and Hop City Beer & Wine, along with the shop’s bar, remain temporarily closed on Friday. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/02/20/p...

Friday power outage temporarily closes three businesses at Krog Street Market Three businesses at Krog Street Market, Recess, Superica, and Hop City Beer & Wine, were temporarily closed on Friday due to a power outage. All other market restaurants and businesses remain open and operating.

Lots of Atlanta restaurant news today. First, real estate developer CP Group will open 12 dining concepts, including a bar, in the atrium of the former CNN Center in May. 1/3 roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/02/18/c...

Miami-based restaurant group opens Italian spot Füm at Star Metals Füm, a contemporary Italian restaurant, has opened at Stella at Star Metals in Atlanta, featuring an open-fire cooking menu, handmade pastas, and an Italian-leaning wine list.

Red Phone Booth team opening three new downtown Atlanta restaurants The group behind Red Phone Booth and Amalfi Cucina will open a rooftop bar, upscale sports bar, and barbecue spot with live music at 207 Peachtree this spring.

The Georgia legislature is considering three food and beverage-related bills, including one requiring restaurants to disclose if they serve imported shrimp and a bill making lemon pepper the official state wing flavor roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/02/18/2...

The Tasha Belle Hospitality Group’s Belle & Lily’s Caribbean Brunch House in Chamblee will close after service on Feb. 15. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/02/12/c...

BREAKING: Washington Post publisher Will Lewis said Saturday that he’s stepping down, three days after the troubled newspaper said that it was laying off one-third of its staff.

We are proud to be a founding newsroom for Local News Day (April 9) — a nationwide effort by hundreds of newsrooms to show how local journalism keeps communities informed and accountable. Learn more: LocalNewsDay.org #LocalNewsDay #Atlanta #LocalNews

😞 Milton Police confirmed on social media that a body recovered from a local pond is believed to be that of DJ Young Slade, also known as Nathan Murray Smith, who went missing on Tuesday roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/02/06/m...

BREAKING: President Trump's racist post about Obamas is deleted after backlash. The White House had defended it but now blames staffer.

DeKalb County District 1 Commissioner Robert Patrick issued a lengthy message to DeKalb County and Georgia students about their right to “stand up for what is right” while remaining safe. Read more from Rough Draft’s Stephanie Toone roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/02/04/c...

The new F1 Arcade opens today at the Interlock on Howell Mill Road for all of you Formula 1 racing fans roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/02/06/f...

In this week’s Quick Bites, get intel on new ATL restaurants, Valentine’s Day events worth checking out, and upcoming restaurants. Plus, details on Commune’s final dinner service, a wine tasting, and a Bad Bunny Super Bowl party roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/02/05/q...

Buckhead Life Restaurant Group will open a South Downtown location of its iconic West Paces Ferry Road steakhouse, Chops Lobster Bar, later this year roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/02/05/c...

The best dishes Rough Draft’s dining team ate from Atlanta restaurants in January, including Greek lasagna from Buddy Buddy, cardamom rose pistachio scones from Raani Cafe, duck soba from Shoya Izakaya, and a strawberry oat matcha latte from Laylo Cafe. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/30/b...

Students in metro Atlanta protest ICE crackdown and Minneapolis killings. Here’s the latest on the student protests happening around metro Atlanta. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/30/s...

Grant Park Filipino restaurant and Michelin Bib Gourmand Estrellita will relocate to South Downtown later this year. The South Downtown restaurant, nearly three times larger than Grant Park, will offer an expanded menu and a bar. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/30/g...

Kinship owners Chef Myles Moody and sommelier Rachael Pack will open wine-focused restaurant So. Fox this spring in the former Farm Burger space beside their butcher shop and market in Virginia-Highland. Here’s what they told me about the new restaurant. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/28/k...

Dunwoody Village loses a steakhouse, gains a Southern restaurant DASH Hospitality Group founder David Abes purchased Steak & Grace, which closed in Dunwoody Village last week. Abes will open Southern restaurant{S}table Comfort Food and Cocktails in April, adding to his collection of restaurants at…

Rough Draft is tracking Monday’s Metro Atlanta school closures. Check out the running list of Metro Atlanta school closures and remote learning days. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/25/w...

Rough Draft continues to provide regular winter storm updates on our website, including announcements from officials, the latest weather conditions and advisories, MARTA service adjustments, and storm-related closures. Here’s the latest. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/25/a...

Emergency officials are urging Georgia residents to be home by 6p today to prepare for icy conditions, possible power outages through Mon. Rough Draft continues to report on conditions and need-to-know storm information. Check for the latest updates here. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/24/a...

Rough Draft will provide regular winter storm updates on our website throughout the weekend. Check out the Friday Winter Storm Fern running updates for Metro Atlanta. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/23/a...

Gov. Brian Kemp said Georgia could be facing a “major winter storm” this weekend as sleet, freezing rain, and snow move into the state beginning Saturday, Jan. 24. Kemp declared a state of emergency for next 7 days. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/22/w...

New on the Atlanta barbecue scene: Misfitsss BBQ, backed by Bryan Hull. He departed Owens & Hull in October and returned to his pop-up roots, launching this bbq pop-up. Hull hopes to open it as a restaurant with Chef Tyler Heath. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/22/p...

Get details on ATL restaurant openings, including Brews & Hops Taproom in Chamblee and Oaxacan restaurant Cuevacía in Midtown. Plus, get the scoop on two Atlanta restaurants adding late-night menus to the lineup. We also share some upcoming food events. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/22/q...

The James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists in the chef and restaurant categories for the prestigious industry awards. Pastry chef Claudia Martinez, Sommelier Taurean Philpott, Aria, and Madeira Park are among the semifinalists from Atlanta. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/21/j...

El Tesoro will relocate from Wild Heaven Beer's West End taproom to the former Best End Brewing space at Lee + White in March. Eats will replace El Tesoro in the taproom at Wild Heaven-West End this spring. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/09/e...

Atlanta restaurants are adapting to economic uncertainties by pivoting menus and operations to meet diners where they are in order to stay relevant and survive. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/09/a...

Check out this brief roundup of recent restaurant openings and announcements of upcoming restaurants you might have missed in December. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/07/a...

For 2026, the Rough Draft dining team has their eye on a handful of food and service trends already emerging on the Atlanta restaurant scene. roughdraftatlanta.com/2026/01/07/2...

Each month, Rough Draft’s dining team share their favorite restaurant dishes from dining on the clock, along with a few restaurant discoveries and cool pop-ups to put on your radar. In 2025, that translated to 42 recommended dishes roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/12/29/b...

House passes bill to limit Medicaid coverage for transgender youth care The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday that would prevent Medicaid from covering gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The passage of the Medicaid bill came on the heels of a bill that would…

Farm Burger's Virginia-Highland location will close at the end of December to make way for a new restaurant from Chef Myles Moody and sommelier Rachael Pack, the owners behind neighboring Kinship Butcher & Sundry. roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/12/19/f...

Residents of Atlantic Station in Atlanta are petitioning to keep the neighborhood's Publix grocery store open after it was announced that the store will close on Dec. 27. Read more from Rough Draft’s Logan C. Ritchie roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/12/18/p...

Get details on a new Alpharetta Mediterranean-Italian restaurant, a cocktail bar headed to Westside Paper, and why nostalgia dining is leading to big sales at chain restaurants. Plus, other Atlanta dining news in this week’s Quick Bites roundup. roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/12/18/q...

December is notorious for being a big month for restaurant closures. I’ve been covering restaurants in Atlanta for nearly 15 years. The # of restaurant closures, while sad, & sometimes shocking, isn’t unusual for this time of year. What I’m looking at is WHERE these closures are taking place. [1/2]

Despite being hard hit this year by higher ingredient prices, tariffs, labor challenges, and rent hikes, more Atlanta bars and restaurants than ever before are getting into the holiday makeover spirit in December. Here’s why. roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/12/10/h...