Wednesday, February 21, 2001

Luna making Southside debut

By F.C. FOODIE
Food Critic

Southsiders, get ready for an interesting dining experience.

Chef Paul Luna, who has run numerous Atlanta restaurants, has packed his spices and moved to Hogansville.

Yes, that sleepy little Southern town just off Interstate 85 is now the home of one of the most innovative and eccentric chefs Atlanta has seen in several years.

Luna traded the big city lights for a more pastoral setting to start his new restaurant, The Chef's Table, which opens Wednesday.

The restaurant offers quite an innovative approach to dining.

"There is no menu," Luna said. "When you call to make reservations, tell me what you want to cook."

Luna said the five-course meal will run $40, without wine, and gives him the opportunity to deal with friends, instead of just customers.

He's hopeful that residents on the south side of Atlanta will make the trek to Hogansville to get a meal that they can't find anywhere else.

"If you want lobster, I'll go get it," he said.

The chef has a heritage of Spanish and Italian descent, which gives Luna a background in two of the oldest European cuisines.

Luna said this type of restaurant could never work in Atlanta, which is why he chose a country setting.

"I'm learning to be Southern," he said with a laugh.

Luna was known to run through some of his previous restaurants naked, but said the only thing naked in Hogansville so far is the cows.

The restaurant's address is 210 East Main St. and residents should call 706-402-2448 for reservations.

Back to Dining Guide Home Page | Back to the top of the page