What would it feel like to have American, European and tropical gastronomic influences all in one experience, filled with an amazing atmosphere, delicious food and cocktails? Well, you’re in luck because Atrium, the newest restaurant addition at Ponce City Market in Atlanta, just opened on January 31. Here are a few things you might want to know before you go.
The restaurant is in a dark quiet corner of the mall, right next to William Sonoma at the other end of the food court. You’ll probably think you’re going in the wrong direction but keep going and you’ll come across an opening with the word “Atrium” welded onto a piece of metal scaffolding above a reception desk. Atrium is comparted into three parts: the bar, the bistro dining space, and the lounge area that is in the middle, connecting the two. The walls are painted with toucans and flamingos on the walls, with a flamboyant palette of bright pinks, soft greens, dark maroon reds and sunny yellows. There are round LED chandeliers that look like glowing crystal balls floating in the air that reflect off the bar’s marble countertop. The spirits are standing tall on the shelves, as if proud to be part of the restaurant as well. The whole interior of all three spaces is comfortably spacious, and yet, intimate. Atrium is a place, although in a touristy part of town, welcomed office people going out for lunch, small groups of college friends celebrating birthdays, or even a quiet night for one with wine and small plates.
The food blended American and European cuisines while adding a dash of the tropics to the cocktails they concocted. Some notable dishes they had on the menu include the foie gras terrine with huckleberry jelly and a dash of black pepper, served with charred baguettes on the side ($24), and the grilled chicken served with a green salad and a balsamic vinaigrette drizzled on the top ($27). And for dessert, the bananas Foster ($10) seems to be the dessert that almost everyone orders. Cocktails that Alexis Sampson, the bartender that works in the morning, recommends the Matcha Colada ($16), The Wink ($14) and the Commodore Daiquiri ($16).
Tal Baum, also the creator of Bellina Alimentari, created Atrium to tell his experiences dining in America. Due to the pandemic, everyone’s travel plans for the last two years had paused, and even though travel has picked up, Atrium was his way to help transport diners to another part of the world. It was an option for those that still feel uncomfortable with the thought of air or sea travel. He wanted to bring smiles to people’s faces and help facilitate a moment to forget about zoom meetings, the inevitable merge between life and work from working from home and giving these people an excuse to get out of the house, even if it’s just for a cocktail or two. You feel you are in Monaco or Nice because of the colors, atmosphere and the delicious food and drinks they offered.
Although “most people who dined [at Atrium] are from out of town,” Stephanie Rogers said. “People who worked around the area or friends celebrating work promotions or birthdays, spent it at the restaurant.” Despite the accessibility of the restaurant, Sampson said she rarely sees the same face twice and there aren’t any regulars yet, even though they’ve just opened three months ago.
“The people working there are friendly, intuitive and know exactly how to care for their diners,” said Lizzie Williams. “People that just met two seconds ago would end up having conversations that could last hours, almost becoming friends right on the spot.” And, despite what Sampson said, Atrium is the new place to be for any occasion, and there’s no doubt that the more people who find their way there, will probably end up becoming regulars before they know it.
