Our Favorite Dishes From October Dining
Oct. 30 — For today’s Side Dish, we’re offering two recipes, including one for a bok choy stir fry using fresh produce from your local farmers market.
Read a story on how local food justice organizations and nonprofits are stepping up to help metro Atlantans in need ahead of a possible SNAP funding cut. We also share how to donate food and money, or volunteer your time with these orgs.
Look for a roundup of our six favorite dishes from October dining, too.
As always, get the latest Atlanta dining news, like details on the opening of Chef Brian So’s new Marietta restaurant, along with the openings of a trio of coffee shops. There’s also news of a distillery closure in Decatur and information on a new rooftop cocktail bar headed to Downtown and inspired by Studio 54. Plus, some dining events to add to your calendar,including a Halloween bar crawl and a Wednesday night benefit event at local restaurants, and more dining news to know.
In case you missed it in your inbox on Tuesday evening, here’s a link to the latest edition of “Family Meal“. Beth brought you the story behind a “very Atlanta” collaboration between legendary hip-hop duo OutKast and West End roaster and cafe Portrait Coffee. She also explained why the Reuben at Spiller Park Coffee is a must when visiting South Downtown for lunch, while Sarra shared a recipe for rose chai waffles from The Chai Box.
Lastly, don’t forget to vote for the Readers’ Choice: Best New Restaurants of 2025.
Cheers from the Rough Draft dining team!
Beth and 
Sarra
Green tokens, used at farmers markets to double the value of SNAP/EBT, can be redeemed any time at any WWG partner market, no matter when or where the tokens were purchased. For a map of WWG partners, click here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Have You Heard?
Restaurant Opening
Spring 2nd Branch, the long-awaited Marietta restaurant from Chef Brian So, opened this week. It resides just around the corner from his award-winning restaurant, Spring, near Marietta Square. Billed as a casual Korean restaurant, expect simmering hot pots, dolsot bibimbap, mandu (dumplings), and other dishes like tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and naengmyeon (cold noodles).
Cocktail Bar Opening
Just a reminder that Close Company, the Eastside Beltline cocktail bar from Death & Co., will officially open to the public on Nov. 6 on the plaza Level of Tower 2 at the New City development along Angier Avenue. Beth got a sneak peek last week and recommends the martini and pepperoni pizza hot pocket.
Coffee Shop Openings
Academy Coffee founder Connan Moody launched Auxiliary Coffee as a residency at 945 Allene Ave. in West End. Look for a tight coffee menu with a rotating selection of independent roasters, as well as coffee industry and education events at Auxiliary Coffee. Moody plans to open a permanent location of Auxiliary Coffee in 2026.
The Decatur location of Bellwood Coffee is now open inside the expanded Little Shop of Stories bookstore. The East Atlanta Village location of Bellwood Coffee will close at the end of the year ahead of its relocation to Grant Park. Bellwood will take over the former Bennett’s Market space at the corner of Boulevard and Rosalia Street in early 2026.
The Midtown location of Spiller Park Coffee opens Nov. 3 at 999 Peachtree, the same building as Lazy Betty. The new location will serve coffee, toasts, and bagels.
Downtown Coming Attractions
A second location of LA-based sandwich shop Eggslut will open next spring at the new Moxy Atlanta Downtown, close to attractions like Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, and Centennial Olympic Park. Another location of Eggslut will open next spring beside Woof Gang at SPX Alley on the Eastside Beltline.
The upcoming Moxy Downtown will also include a rooftop lounge called Jagger Suite, named for model and actress Bianca Jagger. The lounge takes inspiration from New York City nightclub Studio 54, which glitterati like Jagger frequented in the 1970s. Jagger famously hosted her 30th birthday party there in 1977, where she appeared atop a white horse on the dance floor.
Distillery Closure
Independent Distilling Company in Decatur, which makes whiskey and rum, will close its distillery and tasting room on Nov. 8 after 12 years on East College Avenue.
Pullman Yards Sports Bar Residency Ends
Women’s sports bar Jolene Jolene ended its Kirkwood residency after four months at Pullman Yards. But it’s not the end of Jolene Jolene. Founder Chelsea Fishman has been on the hunt for a permanent location for her women’s sports bar, which she hopes to announce in the next couple of months. For now, follow Jolene Jolene on Instagram for details on pop-up watch parties and other sporting events.
Shift in Service
7th House, the zodiac-inspired cocktail omakase from the owners of Bovino After Dark and The Vine Club, will begin offering an a la carte food and drink menu. Starting Nov. 3, expect 12 new cocktails, along with bar bites like cheeseburger bao and entrees like New York strip. In addition, 7th House will also launch a Power Hour, available Tuesday through Saturday from 5-7 p.m., with food and drink deals.
News to Know
If you’re a fan of Fishwife tinned fish, you can now find the company’s smoked salmon with chili crisp, smoked rainbow trout, spicy tuna, and tuna in olive oil at your local Publix.
Thanksgiving Restaurant News
We’re tracking local restaurants offering dine-in service and takeout meals for Thanksgiving this year. Check out our running list, which we will continue to update through Nov. 14.
Add to Your Calendar
The Spirit of Halloween bar crawl in Decatur takes place on Oct. 31 with several of the city’s bars and restaurants participating, including Leon’s Full Service, Brick Store Pub, Fawn, The Imperial, Raging Burrito, and Smiley’s Burger Club. Expect food and drink specials from each establishment throughout the evening.
The Edgewood location of El Tesoro will celebrate the Día de los Muertos on Nov. 1, from 12-5 p.m., with a community market, food and drink specials, and an ofrenda (an offering altar) for remembering loved ones. The day concludes with an outdoor screening of the animated movie “Coco” starting at sunset.
On Nov. 5, nonprofit meal service Open Hand Atlanta will kick off Neighborhood Nights, a regular dining event at local restaurants to support community health. This month, Neighborhood Nights will take place at restaurants in Southeast Atlanta, including at A Mano in the Old Fourth Ward and Mezcalito’s in Grant Park. A portion of the night’s proceeds will benefit Open Hand Atlanta.
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Top Stories From the Week
As SNAP cuts loom, metro Atlanta food justice orgs and nonprofits are stepping up
Over 1.4 million Georgia residents will not receive their SNAP and EBT benefits on Nov. 1 if contingency funds meant to keep the programs operating aren’t released. However, efforts are underway at metro Atlanta food justice organizations and nonprofits to help people in need fill in the gaps.
For this story, Sarra and Beth, along with Rough Draft’s Bob Pepalis, spoke to a handful of food justice organizations and nonprofits, along with a farmer caught up in losing their own SNAP benefits, to understand what’s at stake.
We also share where metro Atlantans in need can receive food and grocery assistance, and where people can donate money and food or volunteer their time at food pantries and free grocery stores.
Read more, including where to receive assistance, donate food and money, or volunteer
Our six favorite dishes from October dining
The best dishes we ate from Atlanta restaurants in October included La Metro’s patatas bravas, Zen Tea’s cream tea, Danbi Seasonal Kitchen’s guajillo coconut salmon, and Nonna Dora’s chicken ravioli.
Read more about our favorite dishes from October here.
Warm up your week with the Hawks as they take on the Orlando Magic on Nov. 4, presented by Kaiser Permanente. Plus, the first 5,000 fans will receive a Dyson Daniels bobblehead upon entry. Score your seats now. SPONSOR MESSAGE
At the Market + Two Recipes
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKETS
Every week, Rough Draft Atlanta and Community Farmers Markets are partnering to bring you two tasty recipes you can make using ingredients at your local farmers market. This week, leafy green lovers unite! We’ve got a tasty bok choy-inspired stir fry and sautéed tatsoi. Take a look at both recipes here.
Today’s Side Dish was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.
The post 😋 Favorite October dishes appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.
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