[EXCLUSIVE] Sahara Cafe Scores Former Starbucks Near Chastain Park

A restaurant called Sahara Cafe plans to open next March at Chastain Square shopping center in north Buckhead near Chastain Park.  The new eatery, currently with one location in Tallahassee, is coming to the 1,500 square foot former Starbucks next to Swoozies in the Publix-anchored center along Roswell Road.  Starbucks relocated last year to a newly built location at 4520 Roswell Road where they replaced an abandoned Caribou Coffee location.

The existing Sahara Cafe in Tallahassee 

The decision to open a restaurant in Atlanta was prompted by the relocation of the Sahara Cafe's owners, the Al-Siroa family, to metro Atlanta.  The first Sahara Cafe opened at Tallahassee Mall in 2000 before moving to their current Lafayette Street location a short time later.  Sources close to the restaurant indicate that the original location will remain open. 

Sahara Cafe's menu features classic Greek and Lebanese fare such as gyro wraps, falafel wraps, lamb kebabs and assorted other regional foods. The restaurant currently has a cumulative four star rating on review site Yelp.com with 125 reviews received.

The opening of Sahara in the center marks the return of a Mediterranean food option following the closure of Filo's Greek Grill.  The former Filo's later reopened as Poke Nooke but as ToNeTo Atlanta exclusively reported September 3, Ponko Chicken will be opening in place of the poke joint. Ponko was expected to open by the end of September but has pushed its opening to mid to late October.    

Sahara Cafe [and Ponko Chicken] are the latest in a string of new or recently opened restaurants along Roswell Road in north Buckhead/south Sandy Springs. 

ToNeTo Atlanta first reported May 14 that Snooze an A.M. Eatery will be entering the Atlanta market with a location at Gateway.  The breakfast and lunch eatery will open early next year where Urban Cookhouse closed earlier this summer.   

Big B's Fish Joint, a new fast casual seafood eatery from Flip Burger Boutique co-founder Barry Mills, is also slated to open in Gateway.  ToNeTo Atlanta exclusively reported August 28 that Big B's, which is replacing the former Verde Taqueria, is expected to open later this fall.   

Local quick-serve eatery gusto! will early next year open its sixth location when it opens in the former Cheeseburger Bobby's in the Roswell Wieuca shopping center.  News of the chain's Chastain Park expansion was first reported by ToNeTo Atlanta September 5. 

Additionally, Crab404 recently opened in the former Food 101 space in Belle Isle Square shopping center.  ToNeTo Atlanta first reported September 3 on their planned opening. 

Have you ever been to Sahara Cafe?  What upcoming area restaurant are you most excited about?  What is your favorite Mediterranean food?

Please share your thoughts below