Good Times Await at Chattahoochee Food Works
Atlanta’s Upper West Side go-to spot features an eclectic culinary fantasy, food and fun.
Robyn Spizman Gerson is a New York Times best-selling author of many books, including “When Words Matter Most.” She is also a communications professional and well-known media personality, having appeared often locally on “Atlanta and Company” and nationally on NBC’s “Today” show. For more information go to www.robynspizman.com.
Grab a date, the family, a group of friends and anyone who is up for a delicious dining experience, a fun evening, dinner, lunch and an eclectic culinary fantasy.
Need a venue for a party, a special celebration or just a party of five? The Chattahoochee Food Works is Atlanta’s best kept secret, though certainly discovered by thousands flocking to the vibrant arena of entertainment, culinary delights and an indie marketplace and art scene on event nights. There’s a sparkling energetic vibe at The Works that’s redefining a marketplace for the senses with a taste of innovation and excitement.
Located in the heart of Atlanta’s Upper Westside, Chattahoochee Food Works (CFW) is the popular 31-vendor, 26,000 square-foot food hall, indoor-outdoor bar and event space featured at the center of The Works. Highlighting the best of Atlanta’s exciting food scene, the food hall features restaurant stalls, creative chef concepts, and the region’s top culinary talent.
Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern and partner, Robert Montwaid, creator of New York’s highly successful Gansevoort Market, one of the forerunners in the food meets marketplace scenes, are the curators behind Chattahoochee Food Works. The two met working on a similar project in Minneapolis and then co-founded Chattahoochee Food Works in 2021.
Known as “Bobby” to his wealth of friends worldwide, Montwaid spent more than a year in Atlanta, exploring neighborhoods and locations before partnering with Selig Development to select Atlanta’s historic industrial Upper Westside as the location. The food hall is part of “The Works,” the multi-phase grand vision of the late Scott Selig, revitalizing 80 prime acres in Atlanta’s Upper Westside. The development included a series of industrial buildings that had been in the Selig real estate portfolio for more than 50 years.
“We’ve been extremely lucky to work with the Selig Development team to create Chattahoochee Food Works, a one-of-a-kind culinary and cultural experience for Atlanta residents and visitors alike,” said Montwaid, co-owner. “I’ve never been a fan of uniformity and I’m proud to see the space continue to evolve and grow.”
CFW certainly lives up to Montwaid’s vision, and to his credit is detailed so imaginatively, it appeals to the senses on all levels, satisfying your every craving. The food concepts and restaurants that fill the engaging space were hand-picked by Montwaid. His talented team of experts from artists to chefs, award-winning restaurateurs to exciting pioneering concepts, were skillfully assembled to bring to life a creative food-fantasy happening bursting with creativity and passion.
As you enter The Works off Chattahoochee Avenue, you’ll discover an array of stores and shops and as you enter the back side, you’ll immediately notice the bright and colorful murals of magnificent butterflies and beyond, which greet you from the outside as you enter the food hall. A design of modern eclectic and shabby chic welcomes guests who are automatically introduced to the diverse chefs and restaurant options inside. Unlike other food halls, patrons are encouraged to sit in front of the food hall to dine – often talking directly to the chefs preparing their meal. Each stall area sets the stage in a surprising way around each corner, and has their own brand identity and design, taking Atlanta foodies on a culinary vacation with every visit. The food hall also features a European-styled flower market called Summer Breeze where guests can order an arrangement or pick up paper wrapped flower bouquets, on-trend, indoor plants and beautifully preserved flowers.
From young entrepreneurs starting a business like What the Fry and Tyde Tate Kitchen to celebrity chefs like Delilah Winder, owner of Delilah’s, or Andrew Zimmern of Patty & Franks, each stall highlights a way for the customer to personally meet the team behind the concept. Recently, the food hall welcomed Michelin star chef Steven Ferdinand to lead Zahra and Flora D’Italia. Ferdinand’s presentations are not only delicious, they are artistically presented as an art form.
On any given day, you might also run into experienced Atlanta-based restaurateurs like twin siblings, Luis and Lucero Martinez, owners of La Luz, or Christine Nguyen and Alex Kinjo, owners of Banh Mi, Flying Fish and Saigon. Many restaurants that opened their first concept at Chattahoochee Food Works have gone on to open other locations including Monster Cookies in Tucker and Philly G Steaks Plus in East Lake.
For anyone looking for a sweet treat (or gift), the food hall is home to the first mochi donut in Georgia, a combination of American doughnuts and Japanese mochi that originated in Hawaii. Atlanta’s favorite ice cream parlor, Morelli’s Ice Cream, serves up signature flavors like blueberry corncake, salted caramel, coffee doughnut, and many more. Owned by husband-and-wife team Donald Sargent and Clarissa Morelli, the ice cream parlor has gained prominence since opening their first walk-up store in 2009. Monster Cookies, owned and created by Veronica Dalzon, offers fresh and highly addictive cookie flavors such as PB&J, Strawberry Shortcake, Cookies & Cream, or the vibrantly colored Bam Bam cookie, topped off with fruity cereal. Unbelibubble Tea House serves close to 50 custom bubble tea variations, including sweet treats like honey bread and Nutella bread.
“Our popularity has increased over the years due to the personal relationships people make when they visit,” added Montwaid. “We’ve created a comfortable and inviting space for all age groups and families. Chattahoochee Food Works is a cultural gift to the city.”
In addition to sampling some of the most diverse and eclectic food menus in Atlanta, Chattahoochee Food Works hosts a series of weekday and weekend events for all age groups. Every Monday is “Industry Night” for those who work in the Atlanta hospitality industry. Industry professionals are invited to make connections and enjoy exclusive specials all around CFW and other participating businesses at The Works from 4 p.m. to close. Grab a few friends and attend one of Atlanta’s largest happy hour events each Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Chattahoochee Food Works food hall vendors offer food and drink deals, allowing visitors to sample a variety of good vibes and bites.
The popular “Indie Market” pop-up shop takes place Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. and features local businesses, fashion, jewelry and handcrafted goods. Thursday evenings are dedicated to Atlanta F.A.M (Fashion, Art and Music) with a live, creative experience each week. F.A.M. invites local artists, designers, and DJs to share their work and aims to provide a space where community and culture intersect.
Chattahoochee Food Works is a great location for lunch with colleagues, drinks with friends or dinner with your family. There is truly something for everyone’s taste and palate, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Chattahoochee Food Works is located at 1235 Chattahoochee Ave NW Suite 130, Atlanta, 30318. For a complete list of vendors and events, please visit: https://chattahoocheefoodworks.com.
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