The team behind the Mercury in Ponce City Market and the Pinewood in Decatur are branching into Buckhead. They’re taking over the space formerly home to East Andrews Café & Bar in the old Andrews Entertainment District, and are hoping to revitalize the area with a more sophisticated, yet casual Italian-American restaurant called Bar Americano. (Henri’s Bakery also recently moved into the same complex.) 

They’ve hired executive chef Adam Waller, formerly of Bocado, to create a menu full of what they’re calling “new classics;” namely twists on more familiar Italian dishes. So instead of chicken piccata, Bar Americano will serve flounder piccata. The agnolotti will have beef cheek in it, and there will be a lasagnette made with pappardelle, Bolognese ragout, béchamel, and parmesan. The pasta will be made in-house and served in smaller portions designed for sharing.