Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead has opened its new signature restaurant, Brassica, which “weaves together brasserie-style French cooking with regionally-sourced ingredients, drawing culinary inspiration from Georgia and the American South,” according to a press release Thursday.
The hotel’s new bar, Peacock Alley lounge, which centers on American craft cocktails, is also now open, as is a Solarium where guests can partake in Afternoon Tea.
“We are delighted to bring Brassica to life within our community and to offer an innovative take on brasserie-style French cooking, infusing regional cookery and ingredients into our menu. Brassica will serve as a keystone location in the Buckhead neighborhood where hotel guests and locals alike are offered innovative gastronomic programs unlike no other,” Christopher Guidice, director of food and beverage, Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead, said. “We look forward to having guests experience the restaurant and understand how traditional French cuisine paired with Southern elegance offers a truly unforgettable sensory experience.”
Newly-appointed executive chef Christophe Le Métayer relies on his classical French training to infuse traditional French dishes and preparation methods with regionally-sourced ingredients and modern Southern culinary techniques.
The experience offers a menu organized into three sections: “Growers & Producers,” starters that spotlight the highest quality fresh produce from local purveyors; “Butchers & Fishermen,” the heart of the menu that showcases the finest cuts of regional meat and seafood; and “For Two,” shared dishes that represent a nod to Southern hospitality and hosted dinner parties.
Dishes include a Yellow Corn Bisque studded with gulf shrimp, bacon and chopped croutons; Steak Tartare served with Yukon potato puffs and topped with a quail egg and peppery greens; Low Country Perloo brimming with gulf shrimp and chicken thighs; and the Brassica Roast Chicken for two with a cornbread dressing, roasted root vegetables, and salted peanut gravy.
“In keeping true to the brasserie experience, Brassica presents a highly-curated bar program, which tells the story of the American craft cocktail evolution, from the early 1900s to present day, illuminating the influence of the flagship Waldorf Astoria New York’s Peacock Alley bar program, among other tributes to historic tipples,” according to the release. Designed by Will Benedetto and refined by Brassica’s lead bartender, Cara McInerney, the menu incorporates detailed touches, such as spraying glasses with rose water and utilizing fresh florals still on the vine that are cut to order.
Signature cocktails include City within the Forest, mixed with Toki whiskey, peach vinegar, orange phosphate, orange flower, and a splash of seltzer; the Spicy Margarita, elevated with Casamigos Blanco tequila, Anaheim chili, rose, agave, orange, and lime; and The Waldorf Cocktail, a take on Dale DeGroff’s version crafted with Rittenhouse rye whiskey, Carpano Antica, Pernod absinthe, orange bitters, and lemon.
Brassica’s interior design was executed by award-winning, bi-coastal design firm, BHDM Design, who drew inspiration from Atlanta’s reputation as a “city within the forest” that stems from the natural beauty of the surrounding area. The space melds neo-classical details with floral-inspired motifs, all resting within a space that is a contemporary classic.
“The dining room and its bar were conceived as a glowing, intimate mixology space, layered with deco touches inspired by the original Waldorf Astoria property,” according to the release. Custom cerused oak walls, white oak floors, and saddle leather banquettes are warmed further by custom pendant lights and geometric gold-leafed Phillip Jeffries wall covered-insets to create an inviting backdrop for guests. Additional elements include custom pearlized hand-painted wallcovering by Vahallan, sconces by Holly Hunt, and a custom dogwood-inspired chandelier by Yellow Goat.
Peacock Alley, an ode to the original at the brand flagship, Waldorf Astoria New York, serves as an extension of the restaurant, set in the classically-appointed Robert A.M. Stern lobby. Suitable for both lounging and dining, the space is outfitted with modern, gently-curved sofas and chairs, a custom hand-painted silvery dappled forest mural by Dean Barger, and artwork provided from a rotating curatorial program from local gallery, Bill Lowe Gallery.
The hotel’s signature Afternoon Tea is served in the light-filled Solarium, previously an open-air patio that was reimagined by BHDM Design into an enclosed space with custom up-lit trellises, overhead lanterns, and furniture that evokes an indoor-outdoor feel. Here, patrons and locals can enjoy a traditional tea service, offering a local tea selection, complemented by Southern-inspired tea sandwiches and traditional petite sweets, as well as champagne or sparkling wine. The Solarium is also available for private dining and events.
Brassica is open daily for breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., lunch from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (11 p.m. Friday and Saturday), and at the bar from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily (11 p.m. Friday and Saturday). Afternoon tea service is held each Saturday and Sunday with two seatings available at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
