[EXCLUSIVE] Upscale Seafood Restaurant Looking to Enter Atlanta Market

An upscale seafood restaurant may finally enter the Atlanta market.  Eddie V's Prime Seafood, an upscale brand from Darden Restaurants, is seeking to open its first restaurant in Georgia, in Alpharetta.  The new restaurant is being proposed for 11405 Haynes Bridge Road on the site of what was most recently Sage Woodfire Tavern.  Locally owned Sage closed in 2018 following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 

The proposed Eddie V's has submitted its plans to the City of Alpharetta Design Review Board (DRB) and is due to be considered at the January 19 meeting.  Plans suggest that Eddie V's plans to demolish the existing 6,700 square foot building and build a custom 11,650 square foot building its place.  The current building was constructed in 1999 and sits on 2.3 acres, according to property records.    

Started by Guy Villavaso and Larry Foles in Austin, Texas in 2000, Eddie V's was acquired by Darden in 2011.  The restaurant's menu is centered on seafood but other options include steaks, salads and sides like truffled macaroni and cheese and a Petrossian Royal Caviar Double Baked Potato priced at $75.   

There are currently 31 locations across 14 states with Georgia slated to become the chain's 15th market.  Texas, California and Florida are currently the chain's largest markets with eight, five and four locations, respectively, more than half of the total units.  

The new Eddie V's would be situated about halfway between North Point Mall and Avalon and a little over three miles from where Connor's Steaks & Seafood, another upscale restaurant, debuted on Windward Parkway this past November.  

Eddie V's is part of Darden's Fine Dining group which also includes Season's 52, The Capital Grille and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. 

Orlando-based Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) operates nine of the most well known restaurants concepts in America including Eddie V's, LongHorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, Bahama Breeze and Ruth's Chris Steak House.  The company also operates the four-unit sibling brand The Capital Burger.   Overall, the company operates more than 2,000 restaurants nationwide.  

If Eddie V's comes to fruition as planned, it would mark the last Darden concept not currently represented in Georgia.  Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, a brand the company acquired in 2017, is currently without any locations in metro Atlanta, but operates restaurants in Columbus, Warner Robins, Athens, McDonough, Gainesville and Augusta.  

Darden rang up sales of more than $11 billion for the 12 months ended November 30, 2023, representing a more than 10 per cent increase year-over-year.  During fiscal 2024, the company expects to open between 50 and 55 new restaurants across its portfolio.  

Elsewhere in metro Atlanta, Darden in November opened a relocated LongHorn Steakhouse in East Cobb and is expected to later this year open a new Bahama Breeze near the new Costco in Stockbridge.  

Have you been to Eddie V's Prime Seafood?  What other types of restaurants would you like to see open in Alpharetta?  What is your favorite Darden Restaurants concept? 

Please share your thoughts below.