Omnivore Atlanta

File this under “news that totally sucks.” Elisa Gambino (right) has announced the closing of her store, Via Elisa. Although she will continue marketing her sauces under the same name, she will no longer be making her pasta, by far the best available in the city. She writes:

Via Elisa’s store – but not our sauces — will end what has been a glorious seven-year run in Atlanta at the close of business on Saturday, October 17, the latest victim of an unforgiving economy.

Though that will mark the last day we will make our award-winning pasta and the last day our store will be open, I want you to know that we will continue to make our sauces, whose sales have grown despite the economic climate.

Since the line of Via Elisa sauces sold at Whole Foods Markets throughout six states in the South does very well, I will focus on developing Via Elisa as a sauce company. All three of our sauces – Passionately Perfect Tomato, Diavoletta and Sofia’s Sicilian Caper – are available in 16-oz. and 32-oz. jars.

Between the flooding and the economy, there has been much sad news here in Atlanta, and when I think of the loss that so many people have suffered, this bit of news seems trivial in comparison. I am thankful to all of you who have supported Via Elisa since we opened our doors in 2002. I have been overwhelmed by your kindness and dedication to the success of Via Elisa and I hope you will continue to support the sauces as I streamline our business. I have always enjoyed delivering pasta to the people in the neighborhoods, markets and our store. I am confident I will enjoy promoting and selling our sauces as well.

A supply of Via Elisa pasta and ravioli is available at Whole Foods Markets here in Atlanta (as we have just shipped out a fresh batch). You know where to find it! We will also continue to accept your orders until October 16 and I hope you will stock up. Everything we make freezes well.

On a closing note I want to thank the incredible and dedicated staff of professionals who work here at Via Elisa. Without Dave, Tina, Bess, Noe, Maryland, Darnell and Dahlia, Via Elisa would not have been possible. Their dedication to Via Elisa has inspired me daily and has kept me going over the years. Their contribution to the business has been immeasurable. Please thank them when you come to the shop.

And please do come by, say hello and pick up your pasta, ravioli, sauces, meats, cheeses, vinegars and oils at least one last time. The store will be open and we will be here making pasta through Saturday, October 17, and we would love to see you.

As I have always said, a two-pasta day is a good day! And if you are looking for sauce, all of our 16-oz. sizes are still on sale at Whole Foods Markets in the South for only $3.49 until October 13th.

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As you probably know, Agnes and Muriel’s, the once very popular retro diner on Monroe Drive, moved not long ago to a building on Piedmont, across from Bones. It’s already for sale:

Agnes & Murial’s has just opened their brand new location in February 2009 at 3133 Piedmont Road, (Buckhead), Atlanta, Georgia 30305. Unbelievable hi traffic, hi density, very hi income location with super roadside visibility. Across the street from BONES and steps away from the intersection of Peachtree and Piedmont and near Lenox Mall…. Motherhood and personal reasons force sale of brand restaurant. Priced at $95,000.00 with Owner Financing. Name is not included in purchase but could be licensed or bought separately.

Check out the Shumacher Group’s website for pictures of the place. They ain’t purty.

I also notice that Harry Bissett’s, where I had one of the worst meals ever, has closed. Its location is for rent.

I’m sorry to see that Chocolate Pink, the pastry cafe next to Cuerno and Beleza in Midtown, is also on the market. It comes with its own apartment.

Please, I beg you: Buy me my own Popeyes.

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I haven’t been able to get details, but Lamplighter in Grant Park has closed and this sign on the door at least partly explains why. “Asshole” is an understatement to describe anyone who robs someone on Christmas Day.

I was dining regularly at the restaurant, since it’s close to our home. Owner-chef Carmen Cappello is one of the city’s more gifted, kinkier cooks. Prices were low, the food was good, but the location, on a side street off Memorial Drive, made the place invisible to passersby — with the exception of thieves, apparently. This is the second restaurant to close in the building.

(Photo by Cliff Bostock)

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Among the restaurants rumored to be closing is Woodfire Grill. I’ve confirmed with owner-chef Michael Tuohy that the restaurant is indeed for sale, but he has no plans to close it. Tuohy is headed back to California. I’ll have more details tomorrow.

UPDATE: I just received this news release:

Chef Michael Tuohy announced today that he will leave Atlanta to return to his roots in Northern California. A San Francisco native who has been in the forefront of Atlanta’s burgeoning restaurant scene for the past 22 years, Tuohy will return to the Golden State to focus on California cuisine.

He is joining forces with the Joie de Vivre Hospitality Group, California’s largest boutique hotel company, and the Rubicon Development Group, on the recommendation of his former boss and mentor, Joyce Goldstein, to launch a farm-to-table restaurant called Grange.

Grange will be situated at The Citizen Hotel, a new 200-room stylish boutique property situated in a historic building located one block from the state capital in Sacramento. Grange will feature Tuohy’s signature style of using fresh, local ingredients from small farms as well as a 1500 selection all California wine list displayed in a 24 foot tall wine tower.

“We’re thrilled to have Michael returning home to assist us in creating a showcase that celebrates California cuisine and wines near our state capitol,” says Dave Hoeman, vice president of food and beverage at Joie de Vivre Hospitality Group. “This will be a great stage for Michael and a great talent for us.”

At this time, Tuohy’s Atlanta restaurant Woodfire Grill is officially for sale, and has several prospective buyers. Tuohy hopes that the “right buyer” will step forward and carry on with the same philosophy that has made Woodfire a truly special restaurant.

“It is all the wonderful people that I will miss the most: the special longtime loyal customers, many of which I have served and cooked for during my 22 years here, the farmers, the special relationships, staff. It’s very emotional,” said Tuohy.

August 12 is the official six year anniversary date for Woodfire Grill and Tuohy will host his “Farewell Dinner” for his longtime fans and friends in Atlanta.

“Of course, I invite everyone to come dine with me in Sacramento!” Tuohy said. “We’re located just one hour from Napa Valley, an hour from the Sierras and approximately two hours north east of San Francisco.”

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Speaking of the tanking economy, I’ve recently heard rumors from a very reliable source that three good Atlanta restaurants are on the verge of closing. I’m not naming names, because — well, because I’m not in the mood to receive 25 enraged emails denying the reports.

I did manage to confirm with a second source that the owner of one of the restaurants was “creating a lot of drama” but has decided to improve his marketing instead of locking his doors.

Several calls to the other two restaurants have not been returned. I’m hoping I don’t end up having to report they are indeed closing, because they are two of my faves.

No, one of them is not Popeyes.

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Emeril’s restaurant in Buckhead, is closing its doors at the end of this month after five years. The restaurant is one of six in a chain named after the owner and celebrity chef, Emeril Lagasse.

But it might take him a while to realize that he is down one. The Emeril empire is massive and he seems to have his hand in just about everything: From a new “Emerilware” line, including the “BAM! Machine”, a 3-in-1 Food Processor available in May, to another show called “Emeril Green,” which begins airing this summer on Planet Green. Maybe there’s a point when you have to choose quality over quantity.

Needless to say the Atlanta Emeril’s didn’t live up to the hype from the very beginning. Food critics didn’t exactly give the place a warm welcome.

Check out the review from former CL Food & Drink Editor, Bill Addison, shortly after its opening in 2004.

There is some serious foreshadowing.

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I heard a rumor that Javaology was closing today, so I swung by there to see what was going on. I tried calling first, but the phone has already been disconnected.

I found an employee outside the building who could not get his key to work. He said he only found out on Friday that they would be closing. The owner had informed him via email. I asked why they closed and he said that part of the business plan had been an airport location, and that had recently fallen through. He also said the tornado has negatively affected business in recent weeks.

One of the strange things about Javaology was how you could not charge less than $10 on a debit or credit card, so if you didn’t have cash the only way to get coffee was to buy a $10 gift card. I have one with most of the $10 left on it, and was feeling all indignant about losing my money until I came across the newly unemployed guy outside the store.

This isn’t the only business in Atlanta suffering because of the tornado. I’ve spoken to quite a few folks, mainly from restaurants downtown, who say that business has been hurt because of the storm.

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Wanna buy a restaurant? The folks over at AroundMidtown.com found this ad on Craigslist for Midtown Southern restaurant Sweet Lowdown, which could be yours for three-quarters of a million bucks! Sadly, the restaurant has closed in the meantime. Late 2006 brought us a bunch of places that focused on Southern cooking, including SAGA and Sweet Lowdown, both of which are now closed. JCT Kitchen is still going strong, and I hope the movement doesn’t die.

You can read my review of Sweet Lowdown here. I should note that chef Carmen Cappello left the restaurant long before it closed.

(Photo by James Camp)

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Random notes:

Pangaea, the cross-cultural sandwich shop in west Atlanta, has closed. Big bummer. I don’t know if this affects the planned Decatur location. Dish, a Virginia-Highland old-timer, has closed, too. That especially sucks. Say bye-bye to Calcutta on Euclid Avenue in Little Five Points, too. Restaurants are struggling, folks. You need to get out there and eat, eat, eat to keep George Bush’s economy healthy.

I’ve noticed a few newbies in my own ‘hood. Two of them are next door to Javaology, the coffeehouse on Edgewood at Boulevard. One is the Corner Tavern, the other is Cafe Circa. The latter seems not to be open yet, but the former has been open awhile, though I haven’t tried the food yet.

There’s also a sign on a condo building on Memorial near Boulevard that announces Stella Trattoria. It doesn’t look as though interior construction has even begun.

There’s already been a change of chefs at Beleza and, I believe, the menu has been somewhat deweirded.

I was recently asked to recommend a restaurant where two can eat for $50. The asker wants to give a couple a gift certificate. Outside ethnic spots, I couldn’t think of much. Any ideas?

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