Ford Fry and Rocket Farm Restaurants’ newest Atlanta ventures, Little Sparrow and Bar Blanc, are targeting a September 2023 openings in the former JCT Kitchen & Bar space in Westside Provisions District, a company spokesperson Wednesday told What Now Atlanta.
“Two distinct restaurants with separate menus and vibes, both draw inspiration from Parisian bistros and will serve well-executed, classic dishes & drinks in cozy, elegant settings,” they said.
Little Sparrow will open first, with Bar Blanc to follow in the subsequent weeks. Reservations for both restaurants are “highly encouraged” and will open in the coming months.
Inspired by Parisian bistros and old Brooklyn neighborhood taverns, Little Sparrow was named for Edith Piaf, a celebrated singer and lover of boxer Marcel Cerdan (for whom Fry’s neighboring Marcel is named). Nicknamed “little sparrow,” Piaf rose to stardom in the 1930s and went on to write and sing internationally acclaimed French songs such as La Vie En Rose and Je Ne Regrette Rien.
“Approachable with high-level service and attention to detail, Little Sparrow restaurant is classic and free from pretense, yet polished,” a description of the restaurants states.
“As I get older, I grow less inspired by restaurants that try too hard or let ‘interesting’ overtake ‘delicious’,” Fry said in a prepared statement. “I am inspired by restaurants that cook food I want to eat. Little Sparrow will be a place to indulge in a refined dining experience or just grab a perfect medium-rare burger and fries.”
Inside, the space has been completely transformed with rich colors and textures throughout — think “swanky yet approachable, confident yet humble.”
Little Sparrow’s menu will present bistro-inspired favorites, including “La vie en rose” chopped steak with frites, halibut “pot au feu,” chicken schnitzel, cote du porc, onion soup gratinee, an excellent dry-aged burger & frites, and more. An entire section of the menu is dedicated to frites — guests can choose between aioli and béarnaise sauces or go all out on raclette service. An additional sides section features pommes aligot, “dripping” potatoes with parsley and schmaltz, spinach au gratin, and chilled artichokes vinaigrette. For dessert, guests can expect beautiful presentations of classics like creme caramel, basque style cheesecake, and cherries jubilee prepared tableside.
Like those found at quintessential Parisian bistros, the drinks at Little Sparrow will be “thoughtful and impactful.” The focus will be on natural wines farmed and crafted with minimal intervention that pair well with the cuisine — featuring bottles from France and the U.S.
The cocktail program will serve up classic drinks “with a French accent.” Look out for the Genepy Highball (a gussied-up gin & tonic) and the Pigalle (a twist on a Manhattan marrying bourbon and aged Calvados). Finally, the back bar will boast a terrific collection of brandies and eaux-de-vie in addition to a curated stock of the best the city has to offer. ‘Pastis Service’ will also be available; the team at Little Sparrow is proud to celebrate the anise-flavored cordial as a starting point to a great meal.
Nestled above Little Sparrow will sit Bar Blanc — slightly more “rebellious in nature” and a French restaurant all its own with indoor, outdoor, and lounge seating. A “hyper-focused food and beverage menu executed with impeccable quality is the name of the game here;” a prix fixe menu for $49.50 per person will feature crusty levain baguette and salade maison (both for the table) followed by the main affair: steak with brown butter béarnaise and unlimited frites.
Similarly, the beverages will flow with a tight array of mindfully-made wines, a rotating local lager and ale on draft, and classic cocktails including the esoteric, layered and colorful Pousse-Cafe as an after-dinner drink.
An a la carte dessert menu includes indulgent classics like gateaux basque and creme caramel with soft serve gelato add-ons. Settle in and vibe to Bar Blanc’s playlist set to complement its cool, energetic vibe (think plush velvet, leather, big speakers, mosaic tile floor) — listen out for French hip hop and familiar indie Americana tracks.
