Saturday, June 11, 2016

Two New Concepts Coming to Cumberland

New and expanding restaurants are coming to Cumberland  

Smoke and Duck Sauce and Piu Bello will soon open on Powers Ferry Road, not far from the Wildwood office park in the Cumberland area.  The two restaurants will open in adjacent spaces previously occupied by Einstein Bros. Bagels and Caribou Coffee, respectively, in a center anchored by CVS Pharmacy.  Both restaurants hope to be within the halo effect of nearby SunTrust Park and the adjoining mixed-use development The Battery.  

Smoke and Duck Sauce is a new concept being opened by Gary Lin of Buckhead's Chow Bing restaurant.  Smoke and Duck Sauce will feature a handful of favorites from the Chow Bing menu, but will be a very different concept.  Offering table service and assorted beers, Smoke and Duck Sauce will specialize in smoked meats, and assorted sides like vegetable spring rolls, smoked chicken wings and waffle fries.  Duck Sauce, for those who may not know, is a fruit-based sauce popular in Asian restaurants, that has nothing to do with duck, as an animal, or meat.  If you'd like to learn more about Duck Sauce, read this

The restaurant's official branding is "Asian American BBQ," with plans to incorporate an origami theme throughout the restaurant and its menu.  

I've been hearing about this new concept from Lin for a while and am told that the restaurant should be open by the end of next month.  

A second Smoke and Duck Sauce is already in the works and will open in Suburban Plaza.  The Decatur area restaurant will open adjacent to LA Fitness, in an endcap space that will also include an outdoor patio.  Lin tells me that while his ducks are in a row (no pun intended) to open in Decatur in the fall, an exact date is difficult to provide, given the possibility of permitting delays.  Suburban Plaza's website, maintained by property owner Selig Enterprises, indicates the restaurant's name is "Chow Batta," a name Lin originally intended to use, but has since abandoned. 

Piu Bello, a primarily takeout/delivery pizzeria, currently has one location in Buckhead's Piedmont Peachtree Crossing shopping center.   If memory serves, the Buckhead outpost opened in 2008.  Owner Dorel Boicu plans to open around the same time as Lin, likely in mid-to-late July.  

Does the Smoke and Duck Sauce concept appeal to you?  Do you think Smoke and Duck sauce should provide counter service or table service? Are you excited for the expansion of Piu Bello?  

Please share your thoughts below.  

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

just as a heads-up, I see that a new Dunkin Donuts (miniature version) is moving into the BP station at Cotillion and N. Peachtree Rd. You reported on the new Dunkin coming to corner of PIB and S. Old Peachtree Rd in Norcross. Reliable word (from an on-site worker) has it that a 5 Guys burgers is also coming to the same strip (which has room for around 4 or 5 businesses).

~mindspringyahoo

Anonymous said...

Both are welcome additions but they will need to be unusually good and/or great value to hang around. Piu Bello will have nearby competition from Mello Mushroom and Harry's Pizza, and Smoke and Duck Sauce will go up against Heirloom BBQ so they are not unique offerings. Additionally, that stretch of Powers Ferry has been tough for restaurants with installations of Houston's, Famous Dave's, Sal Grasso, and Friday's all biting the dust in the past few years. With STP/Battery a couple of miles away and across the interstate, a halo effect directly resulting in foot traffic at this spot seems questionable. But, recent leases in the adjacent Wildwood office buildings are positive signs. Seating would be a good idea for the lunch crowd. I'm looking forward to visiting them both.

jeff a. taylor said...

Just don't see Smokey Duck Man having a hit UNLESS he caters to the lunch and happy hour crowd. His Buckhead menu is just too Buckhead for that -- he needs simple quick fare and LOTS of space to stand around and drink beers, sharing plates, etc. Maybe just his apps and wings, short ribs, etc. Dinner biz will non-existent.

Unknown said...

really looking forward to this. I hope it's good. Live right across the street and this area is a wasteland for good eats except for Heirloom.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...