Nick Badovinus, the Dallas-based chef and restaurateur behind concepts such as Desert Racer, Yo! Lobster, and Town Hearth, recently announced that he would be teaming up with Omni Hotel at the Battery Atlanta to open a second incarnation of National Anthem this spring.
A representative of National Anthem or its parent company, Flavor Hook, returned What Now Atlanta’s request for comment.
In a statement published by The Atlanta-Journal Constitution yesterday, Feb 7, National Anthem was described as a “[celebration] of America’s favorite pastime, mixed with a bit of a modern diner feel,” with Badovinus adding that the menu will feature “familiar favorites you can eat every day with a few twists,” including “reliably good seafood, prime flat iron steaks, double-stacked burgers, and high quality, simply prepared cocktails.”
At little more than a year old, National Anthem has been met with praise since it opened in October 2021, described by Escape Hatch Dallas as having “a lot of typical Badovinus design touches…an oversized American flag, neon signs, wood tables, [and] good music.”
Meanwhile, the Dallas Observer noted that “The space is vibrant and cheery – though also incredibly loud from music and customer commotion,” though journalist Taylor Adams takes care to note that it’s a “vibe Badovinus is aiming for.”
Badovinus himself adds, “It’s a happy restaurant. We take our execution very seriously, but the place doesn’t take itself too seriously. There’s a well-intended sense of humor about some of the dishes and the approach. The way the room vibes, it’s fun, it feels like the kind of place that makes me happy.”
