[ALERT] A new Southern Centered Restaurant Has Opened in Sandy Springs

Sandy Springs just got a new southern eatery.  Magnolia's Kitchen & Cocktails officially opened July 10 at The Prado at 5600 Roswell Road #230 in Sandy Springs.  The new eatery replaces Under the Cork Tree, which occupied the 6,800 square foot space for nearly ten years before closing as of July 9.  

Magnolia's, like Under the Cork Tree, is owned by Succulent Hospitality, a local restaurant group founded by Jason Sheetz and William Sigley.  When Under the Cork Tree opened in January 2016, it replaced Joli Kobe, which had held court in the center for nearly three decades. Whereas Under the Cork Tree featured a primarily tapas menu with flavors from Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Italy, Greece, North Africa, and Israel, Magnolia's will be focused on southern and American fare.  

Magnolia's, which draws inspiration from the popular Magnolias on East Bay Street in Charleston as well as South City Kitchen in Atlanta, features a menu centered on southern classics like fried chicken, shrimp & grits, and a double stack cheeseburger.  The restaurant also offers assorted salads, filet mignon, a Reuben sandwich, mushroom ravioli, and steak frites, among other options.  Magnolia's also offers a full bar in addition to Saturday and Sunday brunch service.  

The new Sandy Springs restaurant is different from and unaffiliated with Magnolia Room Cafeteria on Hugh Howell Road in Tucker.   

"Magnolia's Kitchen & Cocktails is a haven for food enthusiasts seeking soulful southern cuisine in an upscale setting. Our culinary artisans are dedicated to providing an exceptional dining experience that marries tradition with innovation, creating memorable moments with every dish," says the restaurant's website. 

In addition to Magnolia's, Sheetz and Sigley operate Prime 120 Steakhouse and Roberto's Deluxe Oysters & Seafood in Woodstock.  (The duo also previously operated Hammocks Trading Company several miles north on Roswell Road, but closed it in July 2022.)  Succulent also plans to introduce several new concepts to Woodstock's Adair Park in the coming months, including Oishii, a sushi restaurant, and Kung Fu Bar, a Tokyo nightclub-themed bar.  Sheetz tells ToNeTo Atlanta that the group plans to open at least three other concepts in the project over the next eighteen months or so.  

According to Sheetz, slight menu tweaks will likely occur in the coming weeks, but the debut Magnolia's menu is about 90 percent permanent.  

Joining Magnolia's at The Prado is another new restaurant, Nana's Chicken-N-Waffles, an opening on which ToNeTo Atlanta first reported in April 2024, but one that has been slow to materialize.  

Are you excited for the debut of Magnolia's Kitchen & Cocktails in Sandy Springs?  Will you miss Under the Cork Tree?  What is your all-time favorite southern dish?  

Please share your thoughts below.