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The gourmet toast and juice bar Toastique is opening a location soon in East Cobb, in Pinestraw Place (4250 Roswell Road, Suite 150).
That’s next to Trader Joe’s and in the former Dan’s Fan City space, and it will be second Toastique in metro Atlanta.
The concept that started in Washington, D.C. in 2018 opened in Midtown last year, and has locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia.
The Toastique website says there will be more expansion in “Atlanta” in 2025 but didn’t specify East Cobb.
The franchise operators are Rex and Leslie Sheridan, an East Cobb-area married couple.
Rex Sheridan told East Cobb News that the target opening is the fall, and that “we are excited to bring healthy, delicious food with a great atmosphere and convenient location to our neighbors in East Cobb.”
In addition to gourmet toasts, the Toastique menu includes bowls, coffees and teas, smoothies and cold-pressed juices, grab and go snacks and wellness shots.
Featured items include an Avocado smash toast and a hummus Greek toast.
The Toastique founder, Brianna Keefe, says on the company website that “Toastique is where beauty and all-day brunch-y goodness come together to break bread, and smoothies, and coffee, and juices . . .
“We are the fast-casual, modern dining your inner health nut has been waiting for.”
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
East Cobb will be getting a Einstein Bros. Bagel location soon.
Renovations are getting underway at a space at Providence Square Shopping Center (4101 Roswell Road, Suite 801), between Sprouts and Mattress Firm.
The store’s website says it’s open, but when we went by on Monday, there was only a branded “coming soon” sign and the start of filling out of the interior.
In response to a message from East Cobb News, Gabe Washburn, a public relations representative for Einstein Bros., said that “I don’t have a hard opening date quite yet, but we are hoping to be open early summer.”
This will be the second Einstein Bros. in Cobb County (along with another on Barrett Parkway) and 22nd in metro Atlanta.
In addition to bagel items, Einstein Bros. serves up bagel-based breakfast and lunch sandwiches. The company began in 1995 by Boston Chicken and was purchased along with Caribou Coffee by Panera Breads in 2021.
The fruit-bowl shop chain Playa Bowls will be entering the East Cobb market soon.
The 11-year-old New Jersey-based company will be occupying space at Woodlawn Square Shopping Center formerly held by Clean Juice (1255 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 124).
Playa Bowls serves a menu of açaí, pitaya, coconut bowls and smoothies, inspired by surf locations in the U.S. and Central America.
The chain has more than 300 locations, including eight in Georgia. The East Cobb store will be the first in Cobb County.
Clean Juice did not announce a closing, but the Woodlawn Square shop’s location is no longer listed on the company website. Its most recent social media posting was in early April.
Following up the Taste of East Cobb, here are some of the honorees as chosen by attendees:
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Several months after attempting to turn a Canton Road restaurant into a liquor store, the owner of Bay Breeze Seafood said the dining establishment is “closed until further notice.”
In a posting on Facebook Friday night, Bay Breeze management didn’t give a reason, and didn’t indicate if or when the restaurant might reopen.
“After 15 years I am sad to say that we will be closed until further notice. Thank you all for your support and for being part of the Bay Breeze Marietta Family!” the message stated.
“If you are looking for delicious seafood and Bay Breeze favorites come visit us at our location in Mableton, Georgia. Marietta gift cards are still valid there. Thank you all!”
East Cobb News has left a message with Bay Breeze seeking more information.
Bay Breeze is located at 2418 Canton Road, just below the intersection of Piedmont Road, and specialized in serving fresh grilled and fried seafood entrees and platters.
But last fall, ownership applied with Cobb County government to convert the 10,000-square-foot freestanding building into a liquor store.
The Cobb Business License Division denied the application after community opposition surfaced, and the denial was upheld by the Cobb Business License Review Board.
Owner Steve Constantinou appealed those denials, and his request was to have gone before the Cobb Board of Commissioners in September.
But a week later, Constantinou withdrew the request for an appeal with prejudice, meaning the case could not come back up again.
Several commenters on Bay Breeze’s Facebook posting Friday and Saturday said they were surprised by the news of the restaurant’s closure.
A woman said she drove 45 minutes to dine there “and the doors were locked and lights were out.”
Another poster replied that “well you can blame that on our owner. He didn’t tell us anything. We had all been there for years and now we are jobless. We were told we might open back up, but now seeing this post, I guess that’s not happening.”
Another customer said that the “last time I went there the food was not what it use to be and prices had gone up a lot. Used to go couple of times a week. Sorry.”
In addition to the Mableton location on Veterans Memorial Highway, Bay Breeze also operates a restaurant in Hampton, south of Atlanta.
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A chicken salad mini-croissant and tomato basil pasta from La Madeleine was a lunch unto itself. ECN photos and video.
The sheer variety of food to be sampled at the 17th Taste of East Cobb should not be taken for granted.
In fact, it should be savored. Really, really savored.
The festival is one of East Cobb’s signature events at any time on the calendar, and as I’ve written before, it brings out as much of a cross-section of the community as anything I can think of.
After all, ya gotta eat, and even though some slight rain may have dampened the turnout compared to more sunny occasions, this Taste of East Cobb had something for just about any palate.
And mine was wide open for tantalizing options all around my booth, back near the Kids Zone.
Beef shawarma wrap from Cafe Rivkah
Armed with food tickets as a sponsor, I wanted to try a little bit of everything, and there was plenty of that beyond the volume of eateries that offered bites of their menu Saturday at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church.
First of all, I got to spend the day next to the crew at Wimal Authentic Thai, which opened up in recent months at Sandy Plains Centre.
Their grilled chicken skewers were juicy and tasty, and perfect when plunged into a sweet, nutty dipping sauce.
The aroma was incredible to take in for hours.
Right behind me was one of my favorite neighborhood spots in East Cobb, Cafe Rivkah, which served up a beef shawarma wrap with cucumbers and red onions.
While that eatery at the Pavilions at East Lake is known for its fresh bakery and breakfast dishes, lunch fare with a Middle Eastern flair is an underrated option.
In pacing myself over the course of a six-hour food festival, I waited a bit to try something else, and a few tables down stood LaMadeleine, another bakery cafe with a popular East Cobb location at Providence Square.
A mini-croissant with chicken salad and side serving of tomato basil pasta salad paired rather nicely, filling and delicious.
At that point, I waited a couple hours to nosh yet again, and found the Marlow’s Tavern table. Last year, they were next to me, and once again offered up backyard-grill-quality cheeseburger sliders and fried green tomatoes.
Attendees scarf up Marlow’s Tavern cheeseburger sliders.
If you were looking for interesting pairings, this was your food festival.
Dessert loomed, and while my food preferences typically favor the savory over the sweet, the baklava from Mediterranean Grill was hard to pass up. Flaky and not too sweet, the honey-laced filling melted easy upon taste.
And finally, staring across from me all day were the light treats at Smallcakes. A second dessert is a rare occasion for me, but this is a once-a-year food festival, and the strawberry mini-cupcakes hit my fruit spot.
As the last hour of the Taste of East Cobb arrived, so did the sun, and I took a bit of a respite enjoying the sounds of the Walton High School jazz band (see video below).
The Walton Band Parent Association takes all the proceeds from the food tickets you bought and puts them into band programs at the school, and the benefits to the community go far beyond that.
Jazz bands from Wheeler and Kell high schools were there to perform, as well as from Dickerson Middle School.
As you can probably tell from my words above, I’ll never be confused with a dining critic. In fact, I’m not a fancy foodie at all, but the combination of community outreach, local restaurants and small businesses coming together to celebrate this place we call home is something I’m proud to be a part of at this event.
I wish I could have gone to more restaurant booths, but for the record Sterling Estates East Cobb won the “Best Taste” award for the fifth year in a row.
Strawberry cupcakes from Smallcakes.
The rookie award—for a new restaurant—went to Aapka Food Adda, the latest addition to the growing Indian restaurant roster in East Cobb.
And finally thanks to all of you who stopped by our tent to say hello! It was great to reconnect with familiar readers, meet new ones and take part as a sponsor for the third year in a row.
The Walton Band Parent Association makes this event as easy for the sponsors and vendors as it does for the public, and that’s no small feat.
We’re grateful to be a part, and are looking forward to next year already!
(Click the middle button below to view the photo slideshow.)
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Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Daryl Stewart says he continues to experiment with his Brunswick stew recipe that leans on the spicy side. (ECN photos)
Daryl Stewart’s previous career in the food industry prompted him to return earlier this year when he opened Heavenly BBQ in the Sprayberry Square Shopping Center.
It’s located in the former Willie Jewell’s location, and looks very much the same.
He put in new flooring and lightened up the interior.
But the biggest change is not only the barbecue concept he has had in mind for a long time, but the taste of the food.
“The failure for a lot of restaurants is that they cut corners on the quality of their food,” he said.
That’s what Stewart said he tasted when he got interested in taking over the Willie Jewell’s space, when the restaurant announced its closure in November after nearly seven years in East Cobb.
Stewart attends to a customer with a to-go order.
Stewart said he tried everything on the Willie Jewell’s menu, and “I didn’t like it. The product was going down and got away from fresh ingredients.”
His concept stresses fresh as much as possible, from smoked meats to classic barbecue side dishes. For example, the coleslaw is made with fresh, not bagged, cabbage, and he’s just added fresh okra because customers have been asking for it.
Collard greens, also fresh, are slow-cooked with whole garlic cloves. The mac and cheese also is entirely from scratch.
At the heart of the menu, Stewart says, is the brisket and Brunswick stew.
“I’m not a chef, but I designed the whole menu,” said Stewart, who managed two Jersey Mike’s franchises in the area, and has spent most of the last decade and a half as a chief financial officer in the information technology field.
His entrepreneurial itch was for barbecue with a distinct touch, something that’s not easy to pull off.
“I’m a foodie,” he said. “I was looking for an opportunity that had infrastructure in place, and where I can elevate the food. I thought I could do better.”
Grillmaster Gary Hampton with a brisket, which like all meats at Heavenly BBQ is hickory-smoked.
He’s hired a chef and a grill master to oversee the kitchen, and after 90 days since opening, customers are starting to file in via word of mouth.
“I want this to be a community destination for people who like barbecue,” said Stewart, who tries to interact with every customer who comes through the doors.
One of the first changes he made was at the grill, switching from oak to hickory, and taking out the fire for smoke.
All meats at Heavenly BBQ—beef, pork, chicken and turkey—are smoked.
So are the chicken sausages, which he sources from Cajun Meat Co. in East Cobb.
Being able to control the menu, and easily adapt it to customer tastes, with an emphasis on local and Georgia vendors, is a priority.
The Brunswick stew recipe includes a tomato base, with cooked meats, corn, chipotle peppers, Georgia sweet sauce and Louisiana hot sauce.
He said he may tamp that down, because some customers have found it a bit spicy.
He’s also sampled some of the nearby barbecue restaurants, and says he doesn’t necessary think of them as competitors.
“I want us all to succeed, but I want to offer something different,” Stewart said.
The menu includes hamburgers, chicken wings and a kid’s menu.
He doesn’t think that there’s a “go to” place for barbecue in metro Atlanta.
But for now, he’s focused on getting his menu right for this burgeoning customer base.
Stewart said many of them are senior citizens (and there’s a new seniors-only apartment community opening nearby at the former Sprayberry Crossing Shopping Center).
He’s also doing some catering and is putting together a special Easter menu. Like many restaurant owners, he’s challenged by labor and food cost issues.
“If this catches on,” he says of Heavenly BBQ, “I think it’s going to be a great place to go to.”
Heavenly BBQ is located at 2550 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 400.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Bubbles & Brews, a month-long celebration of Cobb County, Georgia’s craft beverage makers, is back for its sixth year to shine a spotlight on local breweries, distilleries, and wineries.
In March, craft beverage enthusiasts can explore the Cobb Ale Trail to sample unique local brews. A free ‘BrewPass,’ is available online or at participating Hop Spots, guiding visitors to each location where they can collect stamps and earn sweet prizes from Cobb Travel & Tourism. Guests can also earn extra bonus stamps on their BrewPass by attending Bubbles & Brews Events throughout the month. Prizes include custom Bubbles & Brews silipints, stickers, t-shirts, and, new this year, a deck of playing cards.
The fun doesn’t stop there! Dog-friendly locations will also have Bubbles & Chews bandanas for four-legged friends. Dog owners can snap a photo of their dog in its Bubbles & Chews swag and post it using #BubblesAndChews to enter for a chance to win a basket for their furry friends. Visitors will also have the opportunity to vote online for their favorite makers and brews.
“The craft beverage industry in Cobb continues to thrive with new locations opening every year,” said Holly Quinlan, president & CEO of Cobb Travel & Tourism. “Since launching Bubbles & Brews in 2020, we have seen these small businesses adapt, change, grow, and flourish making Cobb County a sweet spot for beverage enthusiasts. Each March, we have the opportunity to highlight these makers and recognize their role as a year-round tourism asset in our community.”
Fifteen of Cobb’s craft beverage makers are participating in the March 2025 event, including:
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
The California-based eatery will be moving into the former Kouzina Christos and Aurelio’s space (1255 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 22), but an opening date hasn’t been announced.
A message on the location’s Facebook page said that “we are hoping to be ready by March.”
The chain serves a variety of Vietnamese specialties—pho dishes, rolls, vermicelli and lemongrass pork chops—along with teas, cocktails and fruit drinks.
Some menu items also will have gluten-free options.
Pho Hoa (the latter word is Vietnamese for “harmony”) has locations in California, Washington state, British Columbia, Charlotte, N.C. and two in Florida.
Phoa was founded in 1983, and has 60 locations in six nations. Jazen Tea, also of California, was founded in 2012 and has 18 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
According to the East Cobb location’s social media pages, the concept is about “creating a space where family, harmony, and tradition come together. With fresh, high-quality ingredients, hearty bowls of flavorful pho, and refreshing craft cocktails, we’re committed to bringing something truly special to Marietta.”
East Cobb News has reached out for more information.
Renovations are continuing and hiring is underway.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
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