Two well-seasoned Athens restaurateurs are expanding the culinary choices in eastern Clarke County. Keba Spitfire Grill franchise founder Achim Reus and George’s Lowcountry Table creator and owner Reggie DiSante are starting two new concepts and helping fill commercial space at Ansonborough on Gaines School Road across from the intersection of Cedar Shoals Drive. Reus, who sold his share of Keba to the Locos Grill & Pub partners, opened Freshtopia Neighborhood Bistro late in September, in the former Mirko Pasta location of Ansonborough. DiSante expects to open Charlie Noble’s Restaurant and Bar in late October. Freshtopia is aiming for a casual dining experience, or an “upscale European-style bistro,” said Hank Johnson, the bar manager. The business will serve lunch and dinner and the menu includes dishes created by chef Chris Norris for vegans, vegetarians, or omnivores. A quick taste: Black eyed pea humus, veggie torte, blackened tuna, grilled heart of romaine salad, heirloom tomato and watermelon salad, carrot and ginger soup, asparagus and Portobello farfaile, grilled lime chicken and cranberry filet. The fare also includes flatbreads and wraps, chops, steaks, burgers, fish, desserts and sides. Kids may be intrigued by the Captain Crunch chicken fingers. Lunch prices run from $5 to $15; dinner entrees cost from$18 to $23. There is ample seating inside and outside on a brick patio. For more information call 706 850-4893 or visit fresh-topia. DiSante’s latest venture — like George’s — again pays homage to his late mentor George Davis, an entrepreneur who opened and ran several Athens restaurants — Harry Bissett’s, Gus Garcia’s and Charlie Noble’s. “When the opportunity arrived to open a second restaurant in Athens, I decided to continue the tribute to George by naming the new restaurant after one of his,” DiSante said. The new Charlie Noble’s will open in space almost next door to Freshtopia. DiSante said his indoor space will seat about 70 at tables, and he has about 15 seats at the bar. He hopes to use some outdoor seating in a breezeway beside his space. Charlie Noble’s will offer lunch and dinner featuring fare geared toward Southern comfort dishes. Among the soups and salads, diners can choose from crab, tomato and potato chowder; fried okra salad and Caesar salad. Deviled eggs, fried chicken livers, shrimp cocktail and garlic mussels round out the appetizers. The restaurant will offer four mac-n-cheese options: classic, blue cheese and bacon, smoked gouda with caramelized onions, and crab & aged white cheddar. Sides include collard greens, squash casserole, green beans, mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole. Sandwiches on the lunch menu include a meatloaf sandwich, catfish or shrimp po boy; burger, and ribeye sandwich. The lunch and dinner entrees feature chicken and dumplings, meatloaf, and fried catfish. The dinner menu also offers a London broil. Prices for lunch hover around $8 to $10. Main dinner dishes are priced between $12 and $19. At the time of this writing, Charlie Noble’s did not have a phone number or website, but check Facebook for updates with Charlie Noble’s. Photos: 1. Hank Johnson, bar manager at Freshtopia gets ready for dinner recently; 2. The inside dining area of Freshtopia; 3. Reggie DiSante, owner of Charlie Nobles; window from inside Charlie Nobles; interior seating and bar at Charlie Nobles.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 10:33:21 +0000