IN THE NEWS: The AJC’s Richard Eldredge reports, “On Aug. 2, the Varsity will celebrate its 80th anniversary at its main location downtown at 61 North Ave. The city’s fast-food fixture is throwing a big birthday bash on the upper deck of the parking lot from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring local bands the Cool Whips, the Hibbert Brothers and the Planet Rock Experience (featuring talented local school kids, ages 7 to 18). 97.1 FM the River will host a live radio remote from the Frosted Orange emporium. Coca-Cola, meanwhile, is hauling in the NASCAR Experience driving simulator for race fans and classic cars from the 1950s and 1960s will be parked outside. The Varsity will be giving away free birthday cake, ice cream and balloons. And we strongly suspect they’ll have a few chili dogs and onion rings available for purchase as well. Oh, and Varsity fanatics also will get a sneak peek at a five-minute preview of the upcoming PBA 30 documentary tentatively titled, “What’ll Ya Have? A History of the Varsity,” set to air this fall. Thankfully, producers taped two interviews with longtime Varsity counterman Erby Walker before the 70-year-old’s death last month.” …

The AJC’s Joe Guy Collier reports, “The developers of 12th & Midtown —- a four-block office, condo and retail project —- have signed four restaurants to leases in their 1010 Midtown building, filling out another piece of the burgeoning Atlanta community. The restaurants are Ri Ra Irish Pub; RA Sushi Bar Restaurant; Piola, an Italian eatery with brick-oven pizza; and Noon Midtown, which will feature sandwiches, soups and salads. All four restaurants are new to metro Atlanta. They are expected to open in early 2009 and will occupy the Crescent Avenue frontage of 1010 Midtown, a gleaming, glass-covered high-rise that curves along Peachtree Street.” …

Meanwhile, the AJC’s Meridith Ford rounds up salad spots, including the offerings at Cakes & Ale, Parish Foods & Goods, Shaun’s, Taurus, and The Shed at Glenwood. … Bob Townsend reviews Cameli’s Gourmet Pizza Joint (699 Ponce de Leon Ave., Ford Factory Lofts, Poncey-Highland), while H.M. Cauley considers Jimmy John’s (875 N. Main St., Alpharetta) and Papi’s Cuban and Caribbean Grill (745 Chastain Road, Kennesaw). accessatlanta.com … Creative Loafing’s Besha Rodell reviews Home (111 W. Paces Ferry Road, www.heretoserverestaurants.com), while Jennifer Zyman considers Cypress Street Pint and Plate (817 W. Peachtree St., Suite E-125, www.cypressstreetpintandplate.com). creativeloafing.com …

ChowDownAtlanta.com visits Casa Vieja (3652 Shallowford Rd NE # D, Doraville, GA). … The Louisville Courier-Journal’s Steve Coomes reports, “The top two chefs at the Seelbach Hilton’s Oakroom restaurant and the hotel’s director of restaurants are leaving to open an upscale restaurant in Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport. Director of restaurants Jerry Slater said chef de cuisine Duane Nutter will join him in launching the new restaurant, named One Flew South, this summer. Executive chef Todd Richards will join the pair later in 2008 as an operating partner of their new company, Lush Life Group, LLC..” courierjournal.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com

Filed under: Atlanta Restaurants | Tags: Cameli's Gourmet Pizza Join, Casa Vieja, Cypress Street Pint and Plate, Home, Jimmy John's, Noon Midtown, One Flew South, Papi's Cuban and Caribbean Grill, Piola, RA Sushi Bar, Ri Ra Irish Pub, salad, Varsity |