Chef Nhan Le (Octopus Bar) and business partner Skip Englebrecht plan to open Fishmonger in Poncey-Highland next spring. The pair previously announced intentions to open a small seafood market up the road from their popular Ponce de Leon Avenue restaurant and bar 8ARM earlier this year.
Fishmonger will reside at the Plaza on Ponce shopping center along North Highland Avenue, home to the historic Plaza Theatre, The Righteous Room, and chef Joey Ward’s restaurant Southern Belle. In addition to its retail seafood market operation, Fishmonger will also serve a to-go menu featuring white fish salads, bottarga, oysters, soups, and sandwiches during lunch.
“We’ve been looking for just the right spot to open this concept, and when we saw the space, we knew it was perfect,” Englebrecht said in a prepared statement. “There really isn’t anything like this in Atlanta. We are excited to share our love of regional seafood with the city.”
At just 750 square feet, a representative from SRS Real Estate Partners tells Eater the design for Fishmonger includes a takeout window, but no indoor seating. It’s unclear if Fishmonger replaces Le’s long-planned grilled seafood restaurant Ama. That restaurant was slated to open adjacent to Three Heart Coffee at vintage and local goods market Paris on Ponce, owned by Englebrecht. The market was destroyed in a fire last November.
Skip Englebrecht in black tee and black shorts leans against a white brick wall next to chef Nhan Le in a white v-neck tee, jeans, and work boots.
Prior to the fire at Paris on Ponce, Le, Englebrecht, and artist George Long announced they were opening Bellsmouth Cafe and a second location of Three Heart Coffee Roastery at the historic Pratt Pullman District development on Rogers Street in Kirkwood. Those plans continue to move forward.
Le, along with Supremo Taco chef and co-owner Duane Kulers, are preparing to open their next restaurant together in East Atlanta. Called Pollo Supremo, the counter-service spot opens later this year on Moreland Avenue, just south of Hodgepodge Coffeehouse.
Once open, Pollo Supremo’s menu will feature pollo asado, sides like rice and beans and elote, soup, family meals, and churros and flan. Drinks include aguas frescas and horchata, and possibly beer and wine. Kulers plans to lead the kitchen at both Pollo Supremo and Supremo Taco in Grant Park.