The kids are going back to school, football season is a couple of weeks away, and Starbucks will soon be dishing out pumpkin-spice lattes. It all adds up to one thing: Fall is right around the corner. With that in mind, it's time to take a look at the Fall Tracking guide, running through the most anticipated restaurants opening in Atlanta during the coming season. The restaurants are listed in no particular order, and we'll be updating the status as they open this autumn. If you have a favorite not listed, please do leave it in the comments below.
Cooks & Soldiers
Location: 691 14th Street
Team: Castellucci Hospitality Group, chef Landon Thompson
Projected opening: October
Located in the Elan Westside building, Cooks & Soldiers will serve a "Basque-inspired menu with French and molecular influences." The restaurant will join sister establishments Sugo, Double Zero Napoletana, and The Iberian Pig. All Eater Coverage; website.
Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall
Location: 684 John Wesley Dobbs Avenue NE
Team: Michael Lennox, chef Robert Lupo
Projected opening: Late August/early September
Lupo will be coming up with "modern campfire cuisine" in the kitchen. Look for dishes such as Navajo Fry Bread, fried smelt, and cheeseburgers ground in house. The bar will offer simple cocktails and a large number of domestic beers, focusing on Georgia and Southeastern brews. An expansive patio will welcome diners right off the BeltLine. All Eater Coverage; website.
Diner
Location: 261 19th Street NW
Team: Ron Eyester
Projected opening: Early September
Eyester is offering his take on the classic greasy spoon, serving up a wide-ranging menu that covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In the morning, there's an extensive list of omelettes, Benedicts, and other assorted dishes. Lunch features sandwiches, burgers, and salads, and a large set of entrees includes steaks, fish, chicken, and pork. All Eater Coverage.
Paces & Vine
Location: 4300 Paces Ferry Road, Vinings
Team: Tom Murphy, Dave Green, chef Ian Winslade
Projected opening: September
Winslade, who has served as executive chef at Murphy's since 2011, will run the kitchen and create a menu that is similar to Murphy's, but has its own twists. He'll still oversee the kitchen at Murphy's, and Austin Rocconi is on board at Paces & Vine as chef de cuisine. The bar will focus on wine, craft cocktails, and local beer. All Eater Coverage.
Le Fat
Location: 935 Marietta Street NW
Team: Guy Wong
Projected opening: late August/September
Replacing Yum Bunz, Vietnamese restaurant Le Fat has been delayed multiple times since its original targeted spring opening, but it is nearing completion. Wong, chef/owner of Miso Izakaya, will helm the kitchen; the eatery will serve pho, banh mi, and more and will have its own bakery. All Eater coverage; website.
Bellwoods Social House
Location: 1000 Marietta Street NW
Team: Leif Johnson, chef Jason Morgan, bar manager Arianne Fielder
Projected opening: August 28
Bellwoods will be the latest addition to the burgeoning Westside drinking-and-dining scene. Look for food that is similar to Bite, Johnson's restaurant in Alpharetta, with pizza, wings, and burgers on the menu. Fielder will produce a wide range of cocktails, and bourbon will be a key cog. All Eater Coverage; website.
Victory Sandwich Bar Inman Park
Location: 913 Bernina Avenue
Team: Victory Brands
Projected opening: Late August/September
Owner Ian Jones has been struggling to fight through red tape, but he hopes to have his second Victory outpost open soon. All Eater Coverage; website.
Krog Street Market
The Luminary and Craft Izakaya are up and running, but several more tenants are in the works. While some restaurants have a ways to go, here's what to expect in the coming months:
Yalla: a stall offering "contemporary Middle Eastern cuisine." From the folks behind The General Muir, it will offer shawarma and kebabs, falafel, fresh-baked pita and laffa, and a variety of salads.
Fred's Meat & Bread: a burger and sandwich counter, also from the team behind The General Muir. Look for burgers, fries, and classic sandwiches.
Gu's Dumplings: a market stall outpost from popular Buford Highway restaurant Gu's Bistro. It'll serve an array of dumplings and noodles as well as a few starters and other dishes like the spicy dry eggplant.
Grand Champion BBQ: an ITP location from this OTP barbecue joint. Find "market-style" meats— smoked-overnight pork, brisket, ribs, etc.— wrapped in butcher paper and served with bread instead of plated. Traditional sides and desserts like collard greens, mac and cheese, and banana pudding will be available as well.
Spice Road Chicken: a market stall from Spice to Table chef Asha Gomez featuring chicken from her Kerala-style fried to rotisserie versions, as well as a variety of sides.
The Spotted Trotter and The Cockentrice: a charcuterie shop and full-service restaurant from Kevin and Megan Ouzts, who also currently operate the first location of The Spotted Trotter in Kirkwood.
All Eater Coverage; website
Buckhead Atlanta
The mixed-use development in the heart of Buckhead is set to launch in October. A few restaurants will begin serving around opening day:
Shake Shack
Corso Coffee
Gypsy Kitchen
The Southern Gentleman
Thirteen Pies
All Eater Coverage; website
Avalon
The Alpharetta development is drawing a number of in-town expansions. Avalon's grand opening is scheduled for October 30:
Antico/Caffe Gio
Bantam + Biddy
Bantu
Bocado Burger Bar
Goldberg's Bagel Company
Marlow's Tavern
Oak Steakhouse
Ted's Montana Grill
All Eater Coverage; website
Other fall openings: Made Kitchen & Bar, South Main Kitchen, Chastain Tavern, Arepa Mia Decatur, Dos Madres Cafe, The Georgia Cafe, The Market in Avondale, Jeff Myers's Decatur concept