Sawmill gravy, fried inexperienced tomatoes, and liver and onions are probably the most particularly Southern pieces on The Colonnade’s cherished menu — hardly ever modified in its 98-year historical past. Opening its doorways for the primary life in 1927, The Colonnade temporarily become a staple in Atlanta’s eating scene.
Colonnade lovers search condolense within the quintessentially smothered and lined choice of dishes that conjures reminiscences of a loving matriarch getting ready a home-cooked meal. As Atlanta’s second-oldest eating place, a few of its oldest and maximum unswerving buyers might take into accout when components have been rationed all the way through Global Warfare II. As vintage because it will get, The Colonnade’s unfashionable decor may also be noticed in films just like the 2013 comedy Id Thief, starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy.
By no means wanting exposure or computer systems, The Colonnade’s Southern hospitality speaks for itself. Buyers can be expecting a pleasant face once they input and a complete center and abdomen once they reduce.
The Colonnade is steadfast within the struggle in opposition to gentrification in Atlanta and a logo of
perseverance following the two fires that close ailing Cheshire Bridge Highway in 2021 and 2023.
Jodi Stallings’ father bought The Colonnade in 1979 later it had moved from its flagship location at Piedmont Highway and Lindbergh Pressure in 1962. Stallings was once able to move the torch to a couple habitual faces later working the community industry for 45 years.
Former internal fashion designer Paul Donahue and retired meals carrier CPA Lewis Jefferies opened Lingering Shadow, a cocktail bar and social membership, in 2018 ahead of buying The Colonnade previous this yr. They’re solely the 3rd homeowners within the eating place’s just about 100 years.
“We fell into the bar business and [are] actually closer to retirement age than starting-the-business age,” Donahue stated in an interview with Georgia Expression.
The duo have been longtime regulars when the diner’s earlier homeowners approached them about promoting. Jeffries began eating at The Colonnade as a kid over sixty years in the past and Donahue’s patronage extends just about 3 a long time.
For its first 87 years, The Colonnade was once a cash- and check-only established order, however it’s “now accepting plastic” as only one aim to enchantment to the after moment of buyers. Below their possession, Donahue and Jeffries hope to deliver The Colonnade’s conventional Southern cooking to a more youthful people.
“[The Colonnade] is known for being ‘gay and gray,’” Jeffries stated. “I think it’s gotten a little bit gayer since we bought it, and we want to bring in some younger customers to enjoy the place too.”
Ever the fashion designer, Donahue hopes some minor revitalizing and a brighter colour palette will supplement the eating place’s midcentury structure and alluring shape, which is made by way of imaginable by way of its tenured team of workers — lots of whom have labored on the diner since Stallings’ father purchased The Colonnade.
“It’s not fine dining, white tablecloth,” Donahue stated. “It’s not the latest, greatest fusion of whatever is going on in the restaurant world. It’s always been classic, good Southern food served by friendly people.”
Rookies can be expecting truly Southern plates, starting from chicken-fried steak to turkey and dressing, all served day-to-day. Longtime lovers of The Colonnade can be expecting extremely asked pieces like fried oysters, nightly high rib, and spinach salad to assemble reappearances at the menu.
Saturday lunches have additionally reappeared within the alternate, which has been welcomed by way of many. Donahue and Jeffries say they hope to be unmistakable each moment within the close while.
Situated at 1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, The Colonnade welcomes walk-ins from Wednesday to Sunday. Keep as much as hour with renovations and menu additions on Facebook and Instagram.
