The Chastain may not be the latest restaurant arrival to the Buckhead community, but is has been one of the most highly anticipated. Formerly home to longtime Atlanta restaurant, Horseradish Grill, The Chastain opened in November of 2020 and has earned quite the reputation since. Located adjacent to Chastain Park, The Chastain is a new American bistro that offers classic comfort foods and is focused on providing only the finest local ingredients from purveyors, family-owned farms and artisans alike. From its highly recognized team members to its menu offerings and location, here’s everything that you need to know about The Chastain.
The Team
The Chastain is led by Christopher Grossman who is both the restaurant’s Executive Chef and Operating Partner. Prior to his most recent position as Executive Chef at Atlas, Grossman worked under the direction of Thomas Keller at the world-renowned Napa Valley restaurant, The French Laundry, and under Ferry Klaskala at Aria in Atlanta.
Grossman is joined by former Atlas Pastry Chef, Christian Castillo, who won the 2016 Best of Atlanta: Rising Star Chef Award. Castillo hones his culinary passions and expertise to create sweet and savory items at The Chastain as the restaurant’s Pastry Chef.
Juan Cortes joins the team as the restaurant’s Beverage Manager. In previous years he worked as a Sommelier for The Garden Room in the St. Regis Hotel, as Head Sommelier at Eugene, as well as in another role at the world-famous restaurant, Noma.
The Menu
The Chastain “draws inspiration from the best local ingredients and seasonal harvest to create dishes ranging from classic favorites to inventive new takes,” says Grossman. Varying in size from small to large plates, The Chastain offers dishes that are suited to you no matter the need, occasion or party size. Its offerings include fresh pastas, risottos, salads, soups and vegetables — with the majority of ingredients sourced from the restaurant’s own garden. The Chastain’s dinner menu includes pan roasted red snapper, braised short rib, english pea agnolotti, roasted local cauliflower and potato soup. Fast and casual counter-service coffee, breakfast and lunch is also available during daytime hours, before the restaurant transitions to a five star dining experience later at night. Before your visit, you need only know that “everything at The Chastain is made from scratch and is prepared to showcase Grossman’s decades of experience in some of the nation’s top kitchens.” Insider tip: The Chastain’s strawberry croissants are one of the restaurant’s must-haves. Take a trip on your Friday morning to indulge in these freshly baked goods before they sell out.
The Location
Occupying the former roadside country store on Powers Ferry Road, The Chastain is a 2,500 square foot space that was designed to bring the outdoors in. Newly designed iron-rimmed windows and doors connect occupants to the outdoors and highlight the restaurant’s lush greenery and patios that surround it. Located just outside of Chastain Park in Buckhead, The Chastain even offers private spaces for special events and occasions outside and on its lower floors. The best part is that whether it’s to indulge in The Chastain’s morning coffee, afternoon brunch or evening dinner specials, our Buckhead residents living at Empire Buckley need only drive 3 minutes or walk 1 mile away.
Take a look at one of our other blog posts to learn why there’s no place like home in Buckhead.
Photos courtesy of: Atlanta Coffee Shops (Header); The Chastain Website (The Team); The Chastain Facebook (The Menu); What Now Atlanta (The Location).