After little more than a year in business Aberdeen Steakhouse has abruptly closed in Crabapple. The upscale steakhouse opened in May 2023. It "temporarily closed" as of July 30 but has not reopened, with sources close to the restaurant indicating that there were "liquidity challenges" that led to what is believed to be its permanent closure.
"Dear Customers,
We appreciate your support and your understanding as we are working on restructuring our business to ensure the highest quality of service.
We are looking forward to hosting you in the future."
Located in the Crabapple area of Milton at 3000 Heritage Walk, Aberdeen Steakhouse was "inspired by the concept of a classic upscale American steakhouse."
Aberdeen Steakhouse was opened by experienced restaurateurs Igor Ognjenovic, Bemir Mehmedbasic and Igor Mitic. The Milton residents had decades of experience operating and managing Atlanta dining establishments, including Chops and Kyma from Buckhead Life Restaurant Group and Cassis, the primary restaurant of the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead.
Despite the trio's experience working for others, Aberdeen seems to have been their first solo endeavor as owners/operators.
The restaurant's steak selections included a 22 oz prime bone-in ribeye, a 60-day dry aged NY strip, and a 12 oz Amish wagyu NY strip, along with prime filets of beef and a 16 oz prime Delmonico ribeye, all sourced from Allen Brothers.
Premium offerings came with a premium price, and while many of the restaurant's online reviews seemed positive, some cited the "absurd" prices, and five of the most recent reviews across Google and Yelp were one or two stars, with most complaints citing poor management and lack of responsiveness.
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| The Aberdeen Steakhouse kitchen sits idle |
According to published reports, certified sommelier Andy McCoy served as the restaurant's General Manager and Thomas Mikesell as its executive chef as of February. Mikesell's LinkedIn page - which does not include mention of Aberdeen - indicates that he held similar roles at Ray's Restaurants, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, and STK Atlanta, among other restaurants before what appears to be an incredibly short time at the Milton steakhouse. His page, last updated a week ago, mentions that he is #OpenToWork.
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| The Aberdeen Steakhouse patio |
Jeffrey Gomez was Aberdeen's opening Executive Chef but was hired away by Buckhead Life alums Leonardo Moura and Jaime Adams (owners of Il Giallo Osteria & Bar in Sandy Springs and Lagarde in Chamblee) who opened French American Bistro Resto L'Antoinette in place of a Milton outpost of Lagarde in 2023.
A source close to the property suggests discussions are underway with a replacement restaurant for Aberdeen.
Did you ever dine at Aberdeen Steakhouse? Do you think Milton was simply not big enough to sustain a restaurant of Aberdeen's caliber? Are you a former Aberdeen employee able to shed additional light on what led to the closure?
Please share your thoughts below.
8 comments:
None of the upscale options in downtown Crabapple will last. There is no weekday lunch business because there is no corporate scene nearby. The nearby residents are high-income households, but they typically have kids and can't do upscale restaurants on weeknights.
Plus downtown Crabapple doesn't draw out of towners like downtown Alpharetta and Avalon do.
I drive through the area daily, and I didn't know this restaurant existed. If there's not signage on Crabapple road, it's likely going to be overlooked. When I think of restaurants in that area, I think of Olde Blind Dog, Milton's and to a lesser extent Campania. No others come to mind.
Looking at Aberdeen's menu, it is no different than any other steak house. But the prices do seem to be higher than others. I'm curious what the owners thought distinguished them from the other steak houses in the Milton/Alpharetta area.
I went one night with my wife when they first opened. We both liked our steaks and cocktails. The sides were meh. We knew the prices going in so weren't shocked a the bill. Leaving I was pretty sure I wouldn't be back and thought that I would be surprised if they lasted. From google reviews, it seems that the owners kind of move from one concept to another, Milton seemed to be a choice for the high-income families. I agree with the other reviews here, there just isn't enough draw, for further out locals, anyone beyond the Milton / Crabapple area at night and during the day, forget about it.
We dined here on our Anniversary in Jan. The food was good, sides ok. I didn’t care that they charged for the bread basket. We dropped over $300 bucks, it was ok but nothing special to lure us back. We do like Conners on windward, they have great service and a really affordable lunch menu.
We loved it and went several times. It was one of the best restaurants in the area. Expensive? Yes, but worth it. Sad to see it didn’t last but that area has had an issue with high rents and poor parking. And now both Butcher and Brew and South Main Kitchen are gone in downtown Alpharetta.
Bermir did not communicate , and would not cooperate with suppliers .
Bernie never returned phone calls .
Too high end for the area that consists mainly of families. No hotels nearby so, no business visitors which helps fine dining restaurants obtain business. When you have other less pricey options around, no one will pay a premium for dinner.
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