???? BrewDog controversy continues

Table Talk: How BrewDog’s UK sale affects ATL 

March 3 — Happy Tuesday! Welcome to the table. 

I’m skipping my restaurant recommendation this week, as today’s “Family Meal” comes chock-full of news, including on the sale of controversial UK brewpub chain BrewDog. Atlanta includes a location at Krog District.

While the sale does not affect any US location, the new owner is currently negotiating the purchase of BrewDog’s US and Australian assets. 

I also bring you up to speed on the fires this past weekend that temporarily closed three restaurants in Midtown, Roswell, and greater Decatur. 

Finally, in MUCH happier food news, The Americano, Chef Scott Conant’s restaurant in Buckhead, shares its recipe for seared scallops with cauliflower and pancetta. 

Look for “The Move” and my food recs to return next week. But take a look back at the Atlanta restaurant dishes I enjoyed eating in February. 

Cheers! 

 Beth

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The Sale of BrewDog’s UK Assets
and Why it Matters to Atlanta

 Controversy continues around Scottish-based brewpub chain BrewDog. 

Yesterday, multiple UKnews outletsreported that the UK and Irish assets of the beleaguered brewpub were purchased by US cannabis and drinks company Tilray for a cool £33 million (roughly $44 million). The sale resulted in the immediate closure of 38 bars across the UK and Ireland and the loss of 484 jobs. Eleven “strategic” bars remain open in the UK and Ireland, and 18 franchise bars of BrewDog remain open in the UK and internationally. 

Adding to the sting of the deal, The Guardian reports that more than 200,000 BrewDog “Equity for Punks” crowdfund investors would not be able to cash in due to the Tilray purchase.

“No offer was made at any stage of the sales process, from any prospective bidder, which would have preserved BrewDog in its entirety,” AlixPartners, administrator for BrewDog, said in a statement.

 UK trade union Unite Hospitality, which represents BrewDog employees, wasn’t having it. 

“The way in which senior management have conducted themselves throughout this sales process has been nothing short of a national disgrace – both the press and Tilray announced the deal before workers were told,” a spokesperson for Unite told The Guardian.

“A company does not lose 97% of its value in the space of nine years without catastrophic mismanagement. Directors past and present pursued reckless expansion and failed strategies, and now workers are paying the price for boardroom failure,” Unite added.

 So why does the sale of the UK assets of BrewDog matter to Atlantans? 

BrewDog includes a location in the Krog District. And while it is completely unaffected by the purchase and UK closures on Monday, Tilray is in separate negotiations with BrewDog to acquire its remaining Australian and US assets.

 Tilray also owns Atlanta-based SweetWater Brewing and Athens-based Terrapin Beer Co. 

I reached out to 26 Street Partners, the owners of the Krog District, for comment on the UK sale of BrewDog and current negotiations. I’m watching this one very closely. 

 Founded in Scotland in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie, BrewDog has weathered a number of controversies, including complaints of a toxic workplace, harassment, misrepresenting the company’s financial accomplishments, discrimination, and violating United States distribution laws.

Watt stepped down as CEO in 2024 under a cloud of allegations surrounding inappropriate behavior and fostering toxicity at BrewDog. Watt retained 21 percent ownership of the company and competed to buy back BrewDog in the sale process.

Dickie left BrewDog last year for “personal reasons” and started a cannabis company. 

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Recipe: Seared Scallops With Cauliflower and Pancetta From The Americano

 This week, we’re sharing a recipe for the seared scallops with cauliflower and pancetta from The Americano.

Chef de Cuisine Jason Kohl created this dish as part of his job application for the Buckhead restaurant. To apply, Kohl prepared a tasting course for owner and chef Scott Conant.

“I like showing different ways to prepare the same ingredient,” Kohl said of utilizing cauliflower as both a puree and sautéed florets.

 Incorporating herbaceous chimichurri sauce brightens up the vegetables and shellfish, while pancetta makes a clever substitution for bacon. The end result is a dish that balances flavors and textures.

Kohl recommends sourcing ingredients from local businesses and farmers markets. “Make sure you locate the best possible ingredients and take the time to prepare them properly,” he said.

Look for U-10 scallops at a specialty grocer, such as Whole Foods, Your DeKalb Farmers Market, Buford Highway Farmers Market, or a local fishmonger such as Kathleen’s Catch.

You can adjust the recipe to serve more people by adding two scallops, shallots and microplaned garlic cloves, and one cauliflower head per person.

 Get the full recipe here. 

You’re invited to a festive fundraiser for Trees Atlanta! Discounted Early Bird tickets available through Mon., Mar. 16. Join us at Root Ball 2026 on Thurs., May 14, at The Foundry at Puritan Mill for music, food, and celebration. SPONSOR MESSAGE

Fires Temporarily Close Three Restaurants

 This past weekend saw separate fires force the temporary closures of three Atlanta-area restaurants. Thankfully, no one was injured, with two fires occurring after hours. Swift evacuation of patrons and staff at the third restaurant prevented any injuries or smoke inhalation.

In Midtown, the Midtown Promenade location of MetroFresh temporarily closed following a fire on Friday, Feb. 27 that caused significant damage to the restaurant.

A lithium battery from a leaf blower sparked the blaze in a mop and storage room near the kitchen around 11 p.m. While the fire was quickly put out, it caused enough smoke damage to the kitchen and dining room to make the restaurant inoperable for the foreseeable future.  

Owner Mitchell Anderson said the fire could have been much worse had it not been for people at a neighboring business detecting smoke and calling the fire department. MetroFresh typically closes at 9 p.m. on Friday nights.

He didn’t provide a reopening timeline for the restaurant but indicated MetroFresh could face challenges, as Anderson negotiates repairs and financing with the insurance company.

Anderson asks that people continue patronizing MetroFresh at its Peachtree Street location in Midtown, one block north of the High Museum.

I’m speaking with Anderson tomorrow about next steps for MetroFresh at the Promenade and his plans for its employees until the restaurant reopens. Look for that update later this week. 

 Up in Roswell, Bellini Osteria Toscana suffered damage after a fire during dinner service on Saturday night. 

The fire started around 7 p.m. when the restaurant was full of people. Smoke filled the dining room, as the blaze began spreading to the walls and attic.

It’s unclear what caused the fire, but Bellini Osteria will remain closed until further notice while fire officials continue their investigation and the restaurant’s owners assess the damage to make repairs. 

 Finally, over in unincorporated Decatur, a fire broke out around 3 a.m. on Friday at Wild N Out Market & Cafe on Columbia Drive. Despite the fire department quickly extinguishing the blaze, the restaurant was completely gutted.

Owner Willie Harris, who opened the restaurant and sports bar last March, told Atlanta News First that his ten employees are now without jobs. Harris set up a GoFundMe to support his staff. 

 I’ll let you know if similar fundraising efforts launch for the employees of MetroFresh and Bellini Osteria. 

Get double the Atlanta food and dining coverage with “Family Meal,” edited by Beth McKibben, on Tuesdays at 5 p.m., and “Side Dish,” edited by Sarra Sedghi, on Thursdays at noon. Subscribe to both here. 

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