Pacci Ristorante Set to Open in May

Pacci Ristorante is a Piemontese-style steakhouse that will offer the flavors and timeless elegance of Northern Italy amidst the bustling backdrop of Midtown Atlanta's stylish, urban surroundings. The restaurant is set to open in May, and will be adjacent to Hotel Palomar in Midtown. They will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring robust dishes inspired by the rustic fare of Italy and created by Executive Chef Keira Moritz, formerly of Puccini & Pinetti in San Francisco.

This will be a homecoming for Moritz, who grew up in Georgia. Her menu of fresh, seasonal Italian cuisine and traditional steakhouse classics, combined with the majestic interior décor
created by The Puccini Group, will attract Midtown residents, businesspeople and travelers alike.

Moritz's menu at Pacci will be comprised of seasonal Italian cuisine alongside traditional steakhouse classics. Examples from Moritz's menu include Piemonte-style steak tartare, house-made ravioli with spicy lobster sauce and classic, house-aged beef steaks rubbed with a perfect blend of sea-salt, black pepper and fresh rosemary.

Guests may choose from an ample Antipasto selection such as basil cured tuna with potato caponata and Ligurian olives or an arugula salad with toasted almonds and Pecorino Siciliano croutons. The Pasta e Risotto section of the menu will feature a tempting assortment of house made or fresh pastas and flatbreads.

Entrée options include rustic Italian-inspired dishes such as duck confit with corona beans and dried fruit; flat iron steak with tomato-olive vinaigrette; and Bistecca Fiorentina, a classic Florentine porterhouse carved tableside. Breakfast, lunch and dinner price points are $14, $17 and $45 respectively.

Pacci will also feature an extensive wine list and an innovative cocktail menu, and the restaurant's bar area will offer guests another spot to enjoy small, shareable plates.

Pacci Ristorante is located at 866 West Peachtree Street NW, adjacent to Hotel Palomar in Midtown. The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and dinner is served from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. The bar is open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reservations are accepted, and complimentary valet is available at the hotel. For more information about Pacci, call 678-412-2402 or visit www.pacciatlanta.com

Java Jive Turns 15

Java Jive is celebrating its 15th anniversary today, Feb. 18. Drop by the coffee house and breakfast spot at 790 Ponce de Leon Ave. in Midtown. Pumpkin pancakes, omelets, biscuits and big cups of joe are all recommended. 

Steamhouse Lounge Set To Reopen

Steamhouse Lounge will reopen in mid-July at 1051 West Peachtree St. in the former Element location in Midtown. Keeping with the character from the Buckhead location, the relaxed atmosphere will be similar including the original bar, tables and booths inside the two-level, 100 year-old house, wrap-around outdoor deck seating shaded by a 200 year-old oak tree and patio dining complete with a palm tree and outdoor bar.

"We are excited to reopen our doors to Atlanta and all of our loyal customers throughout the years," said Steamhouse Lounge managing partner Sam Weyman. "We always intended to move to a new location and we know we found the perfect spot."

The Steamhouse Lounge menu accommodates every appetite ranging from fresh seafood to salads and classic burgers. Some menu favorites include Lobster Bisque, Oysters on the Half Shell and Frogmore Skillet with oysters.

Nightcap, LLC. Food Spirits owns Steamhouse Lounge along with their other restaurants that include Fontaine's, Vickery's, Highland Tap and The Depot. Proclaimed as "The Best Little Dump in Buckhead," Steamhouse Lounge originally opened its doors in 1986, only to close due to the Streets of Buckhead project. 

Steamhouse Lounge will be open daily from 11 a.m. -2:30 a.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m.- midnight. www.steamhouselounge.com.

Marlow's Tavern Offering Sunday Brunch

Marlow’s Tavern in Midtown  is now offering an unlimited Sunday brunch buffet. At the all-you-can-eat price of $14.99 per person from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday, Marlow’s brunch is sure to become a regular highlight of the weekend. The buffet, starting on Sunday, June 8, will include a  selection of breakfast and lunch favorites such as: crab cakes Benedict, eggs cooked in a variety of ways, pancakes, waffles, an omlet station and an assortment of salads. Marlow’s Midtown will also offer bottomless mimosas for $15. Marlow’s Tavern in Midtown is located at 950 West Peachtree Street and can be reached at (404) 815-0323.

Yeo & Ludacris Open Straits Tonight

Chef/Owner Chris Yeo in partnership with Grammy Award-winning musician and actor Chris “Ludacris” Bridges have given the former location of Spice a $1 million face lift, transforming it into Straits. The new restaurant, serving the exotic flavors and spices of modern Singaporean cuisine, is at  793 Juniper Street in Midtown.

Straits, which has three locations in California, is a 218-seat restaurant with a 48-seat lounge/dining room upstairs, 66 seats on the main dining level, a 16-seat patio, 36 seats at the bar and lounge, a 12-seat private dining room and a 40-seat downstairs Opium Lounge. The name comes from the Straits of Malacca, a waterway which flows between Malaysia and Singapore. It is where the lifeline of the two countries flows together, exchanging their cultures. 

The menu will feature an authentic yet modernized interpretation of Singaporean cuisine, with traditional ingredients and innovative preparations and combinations. The extensive array of small and large plates is a reflection of Yeo’s philosophy that “food should be a communal experience between friends and family.” The vivid and spicy flavors of the cuisine are well matched with the distinctive and exotic cocktails.

Straits will be open for dinner seven days a week Monday through Wednesday from 5 p.m. to midnight, Thursday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 11p.m. Straits will serve Sunday Brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

www.straitsrestaurants.com