Beth McKibben

Charleston's Lewis Barbecue makes its much-anticipated debut at Ansley Mall Texas-style barbecue restaurant Lewis Barbecue opens at Ansley Mall in Piedmont Heights on Dec. 8, featuring an open-air smokehouse, large outdoor courtyard overlooking the Beltline, a walk-up orderin...

Lewis Barbecue opens at Ansley Mall in Piedmont Heights on Dec. 8, featuring an open-air smokehouse, large outdoor courtyard overlooking the Beltline, a walk-up ordering window, and cocktail bar called Bar Lewis with a 1970s-era Texas atmosphere. roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/12/05/l...

Rough Draft's top 10 Atlanta food and dining stories of 2025 Rough Draft's most-read food and dining stories of 2025 included big restaurant openings, trending budget-friendly menus and meals, the legacy of Your DeKalb Farmers Market, this year's new Michelin g...

Rough Draft's most-read food and dining stories of 2025 included big restaurant openings, trending budget-friendly menus and meals, the legacy of Your DeKalb Farmers Market, this year's new Michelin guide, and The Colonnade's loyal regulars. roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/12/05/2...

Rough Draft Atlanta's Best New Restaurants of 2025 Rough Draft’s dining team, Beth McKibben and Sarra Sedghi, spent the last year eating at dozens of new restaurants across Atlanta. Many meals and debates later, they narrowed a lengthy list of contend...

Rough Draft’s dining duo spent the last year eating at dozens of new restaurants across Atlanta. Many meals later, they narrowed the list of contenders down to 11 stellar restaurants. Introducing Rough Draft’s Best New Restaurants of 2025. roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/12/03/b...

An Edgewood Avenue bar's Thanksgiving community service event is more than just charity Hug the Block – a meal, celebration, and act of service rolled into one – returns on Nov. 26 for its sixth year in Sweet Auburn. In what's become a yearly tradition for Our Bar ATL, the Edgewood Avenu...

Hug the Block returns Nov. 26 to Sweet Auburn. In what's become a yearly tradition for Our Bar ATL, the Edgewood Avenue bar closes to the public the day before Thanksgiving and throws an event specifically meant to assist the area's homeless population. roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/11/25/t...

I’ll have the chicken, please

Quick Bites Nov. 20: Poncey-Highland dessert and cocktail bar debuts, new rooftop bar on the Beltline, Dunwoody chili cook-off For this week's Quick Bites, Rough Draft Dining Editor Beth McKibben brings you details on two big openings, including award-winning pastry chef Claudia Martinez’s dessert and cocktail bar, Bar Ana, a...

For this week’s ATL dining news roundup, I’m bringing you details on two big restaurant openings, including the new Bar Ana dessert and cocktail bar, as well as some celebrity restaurant drama. Plus, a few dining events to put on your calendar. roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/11/20/q...

Midtown Atlanta safe streets projects causing headaches, advocates say growing pains worth it Midtown Atlanta is undergoing six transportation projects to increase pedestrian safety, bike lanes, and green space, but critics say the construction is causing traffic congestion and affecting the b...

Midtown Atlanta is undergoing six transportation projects to increase pedestrian safety, bike lanes, and green spaces. Critics say ongoing construction causing traffic congestion, affecting business bottom lines, advocates say growing pains are worth it. roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/11/19/m...

Atlanta pop-up veterans opening their first restaurant in South Downtown Husband-and-wife duo Mike and Shyretha Sheats will open Mule Train in South Downtown next year. The Southern-leaning restaurant is an evolution of their pop-up supper club, The Plate Sale, which has b...

Mike and Shyretha Sheats will open Mule Train in South Downtown. The Southern-leaning restaurant is an evolution of their supper club, The Plate Sale. Mule Train will offer lunch and dinner, include a full bar, and feature dishes like fried quail. roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/11/14/t...

Team behind Michelin-starred Mujo planning Japanese supper club in Buckhead The team behind Mujo will open Koshu Club–a Japanese supper club inspired by Japan's Shōwa era cuisine–in Buckhead early next year. The intimate 40-seat restaurant will offer a fusion of Western dishe...

Opening in Buckhead in early 2026, Koshu Club takes inspiration from Japan’s Shōwa-era foods, offering a fusion of Western dishes (yoshoku) and traditional Japanese cuisine (washoku). roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/11/13/c...

MARTA Dining Guide: Dunwoody and Sandy Springs stations The Rough Draft dining series continues to highlight restaurants in metro Atlanta neighborhoods within walking distance or a short bus ride of MARTA rail stations, including CT Cantina, Joey D's Oak R...

This Rough Draft dining series highlights restaurants within walking distance/short bus ride of MARTA stations. Today we dropped our dining guide to Dunwoody/Sandy Springs stations that includes CT Cantina, Joey D's Oak Room, Yalda, and Food Terminal. roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/11/12/m...

Cabbagetown Chomp & Stomp returns Saturday with chili-cookoff, music and more Courtesy Cabbagetown Chomp & Stomp The Cabbagetown Chomp & Stomp, one of Atlanta’s most anticipated fall festivals, is returning this November with an expanded lineup of activities. For the first time in its history, the yearly festival will be hosting a kick-off event on Friday, Nov. 7, at 8 p.m. with live music and improv comedy from Dad’s Garage taking place in Cabbagetown Park. Following Friday's festivities, the Cabbagetown Chomp & Stomp has a jam-packed Saturday planned, featuring its annual “Romp” 5K run in the early morning and signature chili cook-off contest in the afternoon, which will see 70 amateur cooks and 20 restaurants competing, including the reigning champion Grindhouse Killer Burgers.

Cabbagetown Chomp & Stomp returns Saturday with chili-cookoff, music and more

Courtesy Cabbagetown Chomp & Stomp The Cabbagetown Chomp & Stomp, one of Atlanta’s most anticipated fall festivals, is returning this November with an expanded lineup of activities. For the first time in its history, the…

Nov. 6 Quick Bites: Chomp & Stomp chili cook-off, restaurant openings, R. Thomas sale For this week's Quick Bites, Rough Draft Dining Editor Beth McKibben brings you details on a few openings, a temporary restaurant closure in Buckhead, the sale of R. Thomas, and an update on Rough Dra...

The latest Atlanta dining news from Rough Draft includes details on openings, the sale of R. Thomas, and more ways to help local folks during the SNAP funding crisis. Plus a few events, including the 22nd annual Chomp & Stomp chili festival
roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/11/06/q...

I have some initial thoughts on the Michelin American South awards

Did you miss these October 2025 Atlanta restaurant openings? Several new restaurants opened around Atlanta in October 2025, including Buddy Buddy, Spring 2nd Branch, Ghee Indian Kitchen, Lo Kee, Tyde Tate Thai Kitchen, Smorgasburg Atlanta, and Auxiliary Coffee....

Lots of new restaurants opened around Atlanta, including Buddy Buddy, Spring 2nd Branch, Ghee Indian Kitchen, Tyde Tate Thai Kitchen, and Auxiliary Coffee. Plus, get the latest on the bars and restaurants opening soon, like Close Company from Death & Co. roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/31/a...

Oct. 30 Quick Bites: Marietta's new Korean restaurant, coffee shop openings, disco-inspired Downtown rooftop bar For this week's Quick Bites, Rough Draft Dining Editor Beth McKibben brings you details on the opening of Chef Brian So’s new Marietta restaurant, along with the openings of a trio of coffee shops. Th...

In this week’s ATL dining news roundup, get details on the opening of Chef Brian So’s new Marietta restaurant, three coffee shop openings, a Decatur distillery closure, and a new rooftop cocktail bar headed to Downtown inspired by Studio 54. roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/30/q...

Metro Atlanta food banks brace for SNAP cuts. Here’s where to receive food assistance, or donate and volunteer Over 1.4 million Georgia residents will lose 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 Atl...

“Twelve percent of SNAP participants work in food service–these are our cooks, servers, and dishwashers,” Giving Kitchen founder Jen Hidinger-Kendrick said. “Any distruption [to SNAP] will hit them hard.” roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/29/m...

Metro Atlanta food banks brace for SNAP cuts. Here’s where to receive food assistance, or donate and volunteer Over 1.4 million Georgia residents will lose 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 Atl...

Over 1.4 million Georgia residents will lose their SNAP benefits on Nov. 1 if contingency funds meant to keep the program operating aren't released. Here's where to get food assistance around metro Atlanta, and where to donate or volunteer your time roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/29/m...

Oct. 23 Quick Bites: Big Bad Breakfast and Ghee Indian Kitchen openings, Sweet Auburn Curb Market closure, Sober Supper Club in Sandy Springs For this week's Quick Bites, Rough Draft Dining Editor Beth McKibben brings you details on the opening of James Beard award-winning chef John Currence’s Big Bad Breakfast in Buckhead, along with the o...

Here’s the latest Atlanta dining news, including details on the opening of Chef John Currence’s Big Bad Breakfast in Buckhead and the openings of Ghee Indian Kitchen and Lo Kee on the Westside. Plus, a Sober Supper Club in Sandy Springs. roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/23/q...

Oct. 16 Quick Bites: Mary Mac's celebrates 80 years, Atlanta African Restaurant Week, Taste of Chamblee For this week's Quick Bites, Rough Draft Dining Editor Beth McKibben brings you details on the 80th anniversary of Mary Mac’s Tea Room, a new Neapolitan pizzeria headed to Inman Park, and a pumpkin co...

Check out this week’s Atlanta dining news, including details on the 80th anniversary of Mary Mac’s Tea Room, a new Neapolitan pizzeria headed to Inman Park, ATL African Restaurant Week, Diwali at Chai Pani, and Taste of Chamblee roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/16/q...

Glide Pizza joining the restaurant ranks in South Downtown A second, full-service location of Glide Pizza will open in South Downtown next year, taking over a building beside Chef Todd Ginsberg's upcoming Mitchell Street restaurant.

A second, full-service location of Glide Pizza will open in South Downtown next year, taking over a building beside Chef Todd Ginsberg's upcoming Mitchell Street restaurant roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/14/g...

The best dishes we ate at weekly food festival Smorgasburg Atlanta Rough Draft attended a preview of upcoming weekly food festival Smorgasburg Atlanta, sampling as many dishes as possible. Today, we're sharing some of our favorite bites ahead of Smorgasburg Atlanta's...

Rough Draft attended a preview of upcoming weekly food festival Smorgasburg Atlanta, sampling as many dishes as possible. Today, we're sharing some of our favorite bites ahead of Smorgasburg Atlanta's Oct 18 debut in South Downtown roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/08/s...

Virginia-Highland's Kinship Butcher & Sundry expanding to Grant Park with a cafe A second location of Virginia-Highland's Kinship Butcher & Sundry will open at the Beacon in Grant Park next fall, which will feature a full-service cafe, a bar, butcher shop with seafood butchery pro...

A second location of Virginia-Highland's Kinship Butcher & Sundry will open in Grant Park next fall, which will feature a full-service cafe, a bar, butcher shop with seafood butchery program, and outdoor seating. Read this Rough Draft exclusive roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/08/k...

After back-to-back hurricanes, Georgia’s pecan farmers brace for the future After back-to-back hurricanes in 2023 and 2024, Georgia’s pecan farmers are still recovering. But with the help of organizations like Georgia Organics and the UGA Pecan Extension, farmers are finding ...

After back-to-back hurricanes, Georgia’s pecan farmers are still recovering. But, farmers are finding ways to shore up their trees and diversify their farms to withstand future natural disasters roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/06/g...

Ponce restaurant institution Eats will close after 33 years Ponce de Leon Avenue restaurant institution Eats will close on Oct. 18 after 33 years. Located on the edge of Midtown across from Ponce City Market, Eats is known for its affordable menu of comfort fo...

Longtime Ponce meat-and-three restaurant Eats will close on Oct. 18 roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/03/e...

Oct. 2 Quick Bites: Decatur Book Fest, South's largest Korean festival, gas station sushi, South Downtown Shake Shack For this week's Quick Bites, Rough Draft Dining Editor Beth McKibben brings you details on the closure of a Dunwoody brewery and restaurant, Shake Shack opening in South Downtown, and the safety of ga...

Get details on the closure of a Dunwoody brewery and restaurant, Shake Shack opening in South Downtown, and the safety of gas station sushi. Plus, some dining events to add to your calendar this weekend, including a Korean festival and Taste of Tucker roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/02/q...

Did you miss these September 2025 Atlanta restaurant openings? Several new restaurants opened around Atlanta in September 2025, including The Creamy Spot, Roaring Social, Eclipse di Luna, Soul Foodies, and Friendship BBQ. Plus, get the latest on the restaurants o...

Check out this brief roundup of Atlanta restaurant openings and announcements of upcoming restaurants you might have missed in September roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/01/a...

Will the Northwest Beltline boost Westside Atlanta restaurants? Will the Northwest Beltline help boost Westside Atlanta restaurants, both on and off the trail? Area restaurateurs have thoughts.

Will the Northwest Beltline help boost Westside Atlanta restaurants, both on and off the trail? Area restaurateurs have thoughts. roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/09/30/a...

The best dishes we ate in September 2025 The best dishes Rough Draft Dining Editor Beth McKibben and Dining Reporter Sarra Sedghi ate from Atlanta restaurants in September 2025, including chilaquiles at La Mixteca Tamale House, za'atar bagel...

The best dishes we ate at Atlanta restaurants in September, including chilaquiles at La Mixteca Tamale House, za'atar bagels and the Reuben from Yaba's Bagels, the arugula salad from KR SteakBar, and the Pepp City pizza at Glide Pizza roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/09/25/b...

Sept. 25 Quick Bites: New Krog Street restaurants, 50 Best North American Restaurants, must-attend weekend food events For this week's Quick Bites, Rough Draft Dining Editor Beth McKibben brings you details on new restaurants headed to Krog Street Market and the Krog District, the opening of a new Midtown bar, and Spr...

This week’s Atlanta dining news includes details on new restaurants at Krog District, a new Midtown bar, and Spring chef Brian So’s new restaurant. Plus, how to watch tonight’s inaugural 50 Best Restaurants in North America. Will ATL be in the mix? roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/09/25/q...

Nighttime delivery service Viennoiseries After Dark brings freshly baked croissants straight to your doorstep Viennoiseries After Dark is a newly launched cottage bakery and delivery service founded by Chloë Chadet and her Parisian mother, Christelle, delivering freshly baked croissants and quiches at night t...

Founded by an Atlanta college student and her Parisian-born mother, nighttime delivery service Viennoiseries After Dark brings freshly baked croissants to homes around the metro roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/09/24/v...