[EXCLUSIVE] Fifth Group Planning Buckhead Alma Cocina

Multiple well-placed sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta that Fifth Group Restaurants plans to bring their modern Mexican restaurant, Alma Cocina, to Buckhead next year.  The restaurant would open in place of BrickTop's at Terminus, which as ToNeTo Atlanta first reported early last month, is due to close at year end. 

Fifth Group opened the first Alma Cocina at the One Ninety One Peachtree Tower in downtown Atlanta in late 2011. Alma Cocina, which means “soul kitchen” in Spanish, replaced New York City-based Il Mulino, an upscale Italian eatery that opened in December 2008 and closed in November 2010.  

If Alma does open at Terminus, it would mark the return of an upscale Mexican eatery to the complex where Cantina Taqueria & Tequila Bar from Here to Serve Restaurants closed in 2014.  Many would agree that Alma is definitely an upgrade over what Cantina was, with one ToNeTo Atlanta reader likening Alma to the authenticity of Sala, a former Fifth Group concept that was later converted to The Original El Taco.  

Buckhead has been an area of growth for Fifth Group.  While the company was previously located primarily in midtown and downtown locales, an outpost of the group's South City Kitchen eatery opened at One Capital City Plaza last spring and the group's Ecco restaurant is to debut at Phipps Plaza next fall.  

One Capital City Plaza (3350 Peachtree Road), One Ninety One Peachtree and Terminus are all owned and managed by Atlanta-based Cousins Properties.  The existing and seemingly positive relationship between the developer and the restaurant group has likely played a part in the two coming together on the Terminus property where BrickTop's was reportedly unable to come to terms on a new lease.  

In addition to Fifth Group's planned Buckhead restaurants, the group is also bringing South City Kitchen to Alpharetta where it will be the onsite restaurant at The Hotel at Avalon. The hotel, part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, has a number of separate entities involved and the restaurant is reportedly progressing, just not as fast as many might hope. Current plans are for the Avalon restaurant to debut in mid-to-late January 2018.

When reached for comment on Alma's planned Buckhead outpost, representatives for Fifth Group indicated they had nothing to share at this time.  

Are you excited at the prospect of Alma Cocina opening in Buckhead? What type of cuisine would you like to see offered in Buckhead? What is your favorite Buckhead area restaurant?

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