Wondering what’s coming to the space that was Nedza’s on Lumpkin Street that’s been dark for a while? Welp, Joe Nedza has another project. He’s been running Smiley’s Burgers as a pop-up for a year but felt it needed more space and a regular place to exist. He opened a second location of Nedza’s in Monroe, and voila. There was suddenly an opportunity to find a place for his burger adventure. Smiley’s has a simple menu: smashburgers (single, double, triple) with house-made pickles and Smiley’s Sauce on a potato bun, either with or without cheese; fries as a side; banana pudding for dessert. That’s it. Nedza is shooting to have it open in December, and it’ll do lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. You can find details at the website linked above or at @eatsmileys on Instagram.
Mifflin House, the delightful Peruvian restaurant that was in Homewood Hills, has closed. A Latin American restaurant focusing on breakfast and lunch is reportedly taking its place.
Pour one out for Ernie Battinelli, the owner of Clayton Street Deli and many a similar place to get big ol’ sandwiches, who died last week. Battinelli also did catering for the UGA football team for many years.
Maepole will open its first Oconee County location (not its second Athens one) next to David’s Bridal in the Markets at Epps Bridge on Epps Bridge Parkway next year. Chipotle recently opened a location in that area, too, in Epps Bridge Center on the Oconee Connector, near the slew of Tesla charging stations.
Paloma Park is running its Sippin’ Santa pop-up starting November 25 and running through New Year’s Eve. General manager Hank Sewell says, “Our cantina room will be over-the-top decorated with lights, blowups and all sorts of other Tiki-Christmas decorations while serving our regular menu and a special Santa-Tiki cocktail menu.” Sippin’ Santa is a nationwide thing that combines Christmas decor with tiki themes to attract customers during the holiday season.
I Heart Mac and Cheese, in the Mark, is having a grand reopening celebration Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. with the opportunity to win free mac and cheese for a year. Just be one of the first 10 people in line and you, too, will be able to eat macaroni and cheese sandwiches once a week at no cost to you.
South Main Brewing has opened at Wire Park in Watkinsville, and a coffee place, Apotheos Roastery, out of Kennesaw, will open there eventually.
Pick-ups for the West Broad Farmers Market now happen on Fridays (12–2 p.m.), not Saturdays, and at 685 N. Pope Street, where the land trust’s office is, not at the Athens Housing Authority on Rocksprings.
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