Pizza Jeans Closes at Ponce City Market This Friday Ahead of Its Relocation

The dining room at Grant Park restaurant Mediterranea is back open
Mighty Hans brings Taiwanese-American dinner fare to Gigi’s Italian Kitchen on Thursdays
Two locations of vegan restaurant Planta open next year in Buckhead and on Krog Street
Athens is getting a steakhouse from the owners of the Expat

Friday is the last day to visit Pizza Jeans at its present location on the second floor of Ponce City Market. The pizzeria is closing there and relocating to the first floor of the central food hall, taking over the former Farm to Ladle space between Tap on Ponce and forthcoming Persian food stall Bibi.

Earlier this spring, Chris Wilkins and Nicole Lewis announced the closure of their popular bakery Root Baking Co. next door to the pizzeria, alluding to a shift in business and “big news” on the horizon for its sister business Pizza Jeans. Pizza Jeans opened in the bakery’s former space in 2020 and Root Baking relocated to a smaller space beside the restaurant. Wilkins was named a James Beard award semifinalist for outstanding baker in 2019 and 2020.

Wilkins is now partners with Atlanta restaurateur Billy Streck (Hampton + Hudson, Nina & Rafi, Lyla Lila, Pielands) and childhood friend Jeremy Gatto in Pizza Jeans.

Expect whole New York-style pies and giant “mall slices” served from the new stall, which will also serve hero sandwiches on bread baked by Wilkins as well as cocktails, beer, slushies, and natural and biodynamic wine. The stall should feature seating at the counter and the bar. [IG/EATL]

The dining room at Grant Park restaurant Mediterranea is back open

After closing the dining room and switching to takeout early on in the pandemic, the dining room at Mediterranea is back open for in-person dining, albeit limited. The Grant Park restaurant on Ormond Street is currently open Thursday through Sunday by reservation only. Mediterranea serves a Mediterranean-inspired menu of gluten-free dishes, many of which are also vegan or vegetarian. It became a popular spot to dine in Grant Park when it opened in 2017, even for those who weren’t following the aforementioned dietary lifestyles. The restaurant features a cozy dining room and seating on a rooftop patio overlooking a park. [Official]

Mighty Hans brings Taiwanese-American dinner fare to Gigi’s Italian Kitchen on Thursdays

Taiwanese-American food pop-up Mighty Hans returns to Candler Park, this time at the recently opened Gigi’s Italian Kitchen (formerly Gato) and serving dinner, rather than brunch. Dinner takes place Thursday, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. People can also catch Mighty Hans serving its popular brunch dishes at Full Commission in Grant Park on Sundays. Gigi’s chefs Eric Brooks and Jacob Armando took over the Gato space in August, transforming from weekly pop-up to permanent restaurant. Nicolas Stinson closed Gato in July after more than a decade on McClendon Avenue.

Two locations of vegan restaurant Planta open next year in Buckhead and on Krog Street

Two locations of vegan restaurant Planta open next year at Buckhead Village and what’s now deemed the “Krog District” on the border between Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park. The latter location likely takes over the former Watchman’s Seafood and Spirits space at Krog Street Market. Planta serves a vegan menu of pizzas, pastas, and other dishes like Bang Bang broccoli. Both locations should open by next summer. [Official]

Athens is getting a steakhouse from the owners of the Expat

Jerry and Krista Slater (H. Harper Station) are opening Slater’s Steakhouse in Athens soon. The restaurant takes over the former Butcher and Vine space in the Five Points neighborhood. The Slaters own restaurant the Expat and the Lark wine shop in Athens and were the former owners of acclaimed Reynoldstown restaurant H. Harper Station in Atlanta, now home to Muchacho on Memorial Drive. [IG]