IN THE NEWS: Creative Loafing’s Cliff Bostick reviews vegetarian Indian restaurant Saravanaa Bhavan (2179 Lawrenceville Highway, 404-477-5577) and also visits Indian/Persian spot Zyka (1677 Scott Blvd., 404-728-4444) and Cameli’s Gourmet Pizza Joint at Ford Factory Square (699 Ponce de Leon Ave., 404-249-9020), while Maureen McCarthy’s Cheap Eats considers Saigon Café (2092 N. Decatur Road, Decatur, 404-728-8882). … Bostick reports the reopening of Frank Ma’s in Chinatown Square in Chamblee, the Jan. 13 opening of Cuerno, Riccardo Ullio’s long-awaited Spanish restaurant, and the scheduled February opening of Stella Neighborhood Trattoria on the new Oakland Park condo building at 563 Memorial Drive in Grant Park. … Besha Rodell reports that Stephen McGuffin, former chef de cuisine at Dish, will be taking over the restaurant and reopening in February. atlanta.creativeloafing.com … The AJC’s Meridith Ford awards two stars to Nuevo Laredo Cantina (1495 Chattahoochee Ave., 404-352-9009, www.nuevolaredocantina.com), while Bob Townsend reviews Treehouse Restaurant & Pub (7 Kings Circle N.E., 404-266-2732) and chats with Paul Albrecht, chef-owner of Paul’s Restaurant Bar and Sushi in Peachtree Hills … Lynn Peisner visits Benny’s Bar and Grill (3902 U.S. 78, Snellville, 678-209-0209), and H.M. Cauley considers Elevation Chop House and Skybar (1723 McCollum Parkway, Building 600, Kennesaw; 770-485-7469) and El Pollo Loco (891 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, 770-552-2996). … Ford reports that Scott Serpas has left his position as excutive chef at Two Urban Licks to open a restaurant of his own, leaving chef de cuisine Cameron Thompson at the helm of Two’s kitchen. accessatlanta.com …

Rod Hudspeth’s www.hudspethreport.com notes the Dec. 31 closings of Dish in Virginia Highlands, Compound Nightclub, Fune Sushi Bar in Midtown, Piebar on Monroe Drive, Urban eat.drink.lounge in Roswell, Saddle Rack Saloon in Kennesaw, Haas on Glenwood Avenue, High Cotton in Dunwoody, Merlot in Duluth, and Pangaea. … ChowDownAtlanta.com visits NM Cafe (Neiman Marcus, Lenox Mall, 3393 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, 404-266-8200). … The Blissful Glutton visits Da San Yuan (5389 New Peachtree Rd., 770-234-4885), and Cheyenne Grill and Sports Bar (2391 Peachtree Road, 404-842-1010). blissfulglutton.blogspot.com … Atlanta Eats Blog stops by Vintage Pizzeria (5434 Peachtree Rd.). atlantaeats.blogspot.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Filed under: Atlanta Restaurants | Tags: Benny's, Cameli's Gourmet Pizza Joint, Cheyenne Grill, Compound Nightclub closed, Da San Yuan, Dish, El Pollo Loco, Elevation Chop House, Fune closed, High Cotton closed, Indian, Merlot closed, NM Cafe, Nuevo Laredo Cantina, Pangaea closed, Paul's, Piebar closed, Saigon Cafe, Saravanaa Bhavan, Treehouse, Two Urban Licks, vegetarian, Vintage Pizzeria, Zyka |