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Beth Mc

@sopermckibben

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Editor-in-Chief + Dining Editor @roughdraftatl [email protected]

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🍔 How much does it actually cost a restaurant to make the food you order?

This week’s Family Meal kicks off a new series breaking down the real cost of making a dish from a local restaurant. Today, we're breaking down the costs for making the Wagyu smash burger at Minhwa Spirits.

➡Swipe to read more about the numbers behind the dish, and why you pay what you pay.

(Read this week's Family Meal newsletter by subscribing at the link in our bio!)

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From pop-up to Bread & Butterfly to Summerhill, Chef Demetrius Brown’s journey has been a family affair. At his new restaurant, Heritage, his mother’s shepherd’s pie anchors the cocktail lounge menu, while his aunt’s cucumbers kick off the dining room tasting menu.

The immersive experience explores Brown’s Southern and Caribbean roots, particularly Trinidad, while celebrating the connections between food across the African diaspora. 🇹🇹

Read Beth McKibben's feature on Heritage at the link in our bio!

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The #clubsandwich from @murphysatlanta from @sopermckibben. “I would say 3 1/2 to 4 stars on this one. What I liked about it was that it wasn’t too heavy on the mayo. I actually liked the smoked candy bacon because it gave a little bit of sweetness with that hint of smoke. I also didn’t miss the lack of that third piece of toast in the middle of the sandwich because I think the avocado kind of acted like a glue a little bit, but also lending some nuttiness.” She writes more about the sandwich in her @roughdraftatlanta newsletter, which you should subscribe to.

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In the Sept. 1 edition of Family Meal:

👀More than two dozen restaurants opened last month, from Dunwoody to Old Fourth Ward to Fayetteville.

Beth McKibben and Sarra Sedghi are also wrapping up their final dining stops ahead of the October deadline for Best New Restaurants of 2026. Winners will be announced in December.
Plus, we share some notable restaurant closures from August.

🌶️ In this week's Editor's Pick: Bun & Bombay’s vada pav in Avondale Estates.

🥟Chef Raul Thomas shares his recipe for Puerto Rican empanadas, served at Theater in the Square in Marietta.

✍️ @sopermckibben Read more at the link in our bio!

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Welcome to Rough Cut, in which our dining team (Beth McKibben and Sarra Sedghi) offer their first impressions on the food, vibe, and service at restaurants around Atlanta.

🫒Beth recently discovered Mediterranean restaurant Al-Chef while visiting Clarkston. Owned and operated by Karim and Shiam Alrubaii and their daughter, Miriam, Al-Chef is a compact restaurant with a tight menu of dishes like kebabs, stews, and falafel. In fact, Al-Chef is known for its falafel.

Born in Iraq and Syria respectively, Karim and Shiam were forced to flee their countries due to conflicts, finding refuge in Lebanon, before immigrating to the U.S. Having worked in restaurants for decades, the couple continued their culinary careers in Atlanta. Karim eventually became the head chef at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, where he also taught his chefs to make his homemade falafel.

Beth says the falafel here is a must, as is the chicken shish tawook, which she had served over lentils, saffron rice, and brown rice tossed with lentils and fried onions. Portions are generous, so everything is easily shared.

Beth gives Al-Chef two enthusiastic thumbs up. And make sure to grab a slice of Al-Chef’s orange pound cake made with fresh orange baked in and zhuzhed with orange zest.

✨Pro tip: Al-Chef includes a handful of seats at its indoor/outdoor counter. Plus there’s picnic tables outside in the Clarkston Market courtyard. Order at the counter and select your sides via a cafeteria-style set up.
Everything should be in the al-chef folder in RC dining folder

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Last year’s guide included more than four dozen dishes. This year, so far, the guide already features 38 dishes and drinks, with six more months to go! Check out the full favorite dishes guide for the last six months at the link in bio. 🍽️

Where should Beth and Sarra eat next?

Send your Atlanta and metro ATL restaurant and dish recommendations to beth@roughdraftatlanta.com or let us know in the comments below!👇

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THE RED CARD NOBODY SAW COMING🥤🟥 ⚽

Brian and Eli are longtime members of the @thelaa who do so much for their community and now they’re going to the @fifaworldcup. Stay tuned for more of their story as they head to the Quarterfinals in Boston.

Repost @cocacolafutbol

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June.

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Welcome to Rough Cut, in which our dining team (Beth McKibben and Sarra Sedghi) offer their first impressions on the food, vibe, and service at restaurants around Atlanta.

🍷📖Beth recently dined at Lucian in Buckhead, the wine bar and bookshop owned by Jordan Smelt and Katie Barringer.

Don’t sleep on the summer menu right now from Chef Jason Paolini and his team. It includes a striped bass served a la nage (or fish poached in an aromatic broth made from white wine, butter, and herbs or vegetables) garnished with slivers of okra and summer squash.

A tangy green tomato broth is the base layer for a summery cucumber and peach salad.

The cruller with an almond glaze comes crowned with peaches atop a sweet corn puree.

💫Pro tip: always order the off-menu fries, which come with a tarragon aioli.

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Highly recommend getting some of your best friends together and taking an early birthday trip. It'll be great.

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Horsetail Falls, Starvation Creek Falls, and an absurdly beautiful Oregon winery

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