Onyxx goes belly up

Slim dining options in Fayette

By Abby Brunks | Wednesday, January 23, 2008, 12:19 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Another one bites the dust - a Fayetteville restaurant- that is.

Yes, Fayetteville residents, another top notch, high class restaurant called Onyxx, closed recently.

Before opening some two years ago, the owners did a great job turning the ex- Shoneys (at Ga. 85 and Ga. 314) into a first class restaurant, offering live jazz on the weekends and spectacular food.

All I can say is what a shame.

I don’t get it. Restaurants seem to be closing not only in Fayetteville, but in Fayette County in huge numbers. And Onyxx is just the latest casualty.

Can someone please help me understand why some places work - like IHOP- and others, like Onyxx, Carrabas, Macaroni Grill in Peachtree City, don’t.

What do you think is the secret to a successful restaurant? Inquiring and hungry minds want to know!

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trentrivers's picture
Submitted by trentrivers on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 2:00pm.

maybe you can have more food serves if you do not call the name a name for black. onyx means black especialy jet black. maybe can you call red mans?

Trent


Submitted by sageadvice on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 3:35pm.

i also think could make more serves but not sure bout "redmans"
dried up deer and buffalowe jerks not vary poplar now.
how bout they call restrant "al thu bar ye wont fer $5?"

maize on thu sid wuld hep so!

you shore ad muc her, i thunk!

Submitted by sageadvice on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 3:34pm.

i also think could make more serves but not sure bout "redmans"
dried up deer and buffalowe jerks not vary poplar now.
how bout they call restrant "al thu bar ye wont fer $5?"

maize on thu sid wuld hep so!

you shore ad muc her, i thunk!

Submitted by johenry on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 1:19pm.

Look, Fayetteville is the arm pit of Fayette County. Don't expect a quality restaurant to survive near a Big Lots shopping center.

NUK_1's picture
Submitted by NUK_1 on Sat, 01/26/2008 - 7:55pm.

Long Branch is right next to the Big Lots shopping center and does great. It's been there about 20 years. Any other completely wrong opinions to share?


Submitted by Debbie Howard on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 7:53pm.

for the positive comments on Longbranch. My husband (Lindsay) strives very hard to satisfy his patrons.

The business is growing even more than we had anticipated. It is our goal to have a friendly "family" establishment in Fayetteville. Our great food and staff speaks for itself.

I hope you continue to enjoy your expirences at our fine establishment. Look forward to meeting you at some point.

NUK_1's picture
Submitted by NUK_1 on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 8:01pm.

You all do a great job and I think Longbranch is still actually one of the best kept secrets in Fayette County, even though enough know about it to keep the place busy. I've never had anything but a very good meal and service at Longbranch, and it's awesome that I can get raw oysters at a restaurant in Fayetteville! That still amazes me:)


The Crime Dog's picture
Submitted by The Crime Dog on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 9:20pm.

You can't go to either without a definitive presence of cops, at least on the weekdays for lunch ... so you certainly feel safer there too.


Fyt35's picture
Submitted by Fyt35 on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 5:46am.

A new seafood and steak restaurant opened last week where the old Los Toribios used to be located in Fayetteville, its called Latitude 33. Anyone try it out yet? It was packed the few times I drove by; I plan to check it out this weekend.

CY, thanks for the recommendation to try out Anthony’s, I have been a regular customer since!


Submitted by YOUWANNAKNOW on Sat, 01/26/2008 - 7:14pm.

I have been to the new Restaurant called Latitude 33 here in Fayetteville going on 4 times now and it has been the most incredible service and food i have ever experienced in Fayette County. Owned and operated by the ex manager of (LongBranch) is now running the best new place in town. Reasonably priced and with its incredible theme you cant find better in Fayette County other then Latitude 33 whICH IS LOCATED at the opposite end of GOLDENS WHERE THE MEXICAN REST USED TO BE!! I GUARANTEE IT WILL BE THE BEST FOOD YOU HAVE EVER EATEN well i guess a certain someone would beg to differ but hey who cares about them... i sure dont. YOUR FRIEND, (LATTITUDE IS BETTER THEN LONGBRANCH)

Submitted by iDidntDoit on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 10:08am.

Youe commwnt of *owned and operated by the ex manager of (LongBranch)* explains why when my co-workers and I tried the place out, we all commented how we felt like we were reading the Longbranch menu. You may have copied the menu but not the quality.

Git Real's picture
Submitted by Git Real on Sat, 01/26/2008 - 8:12pm.

If you care anything about the Latitude 33, you'll keep your mouth shut. With an endorsement like yours, who needs bad service to close a place down. Instead of trashing another eatery that many Fayette citizens enjoy with you nasty attitude, why don't you promote this new restaurant with it's own merits.

You sound like those nasty ole racist hags at the Onyxx. Look what happened to that establishment. Regards less of the supposedly high quality food.....

________
In regards to Democrats, Republicans, gangs, and other scads of coterie Kool-Aide drinkers; Remember this..... Eagles Don't Flock


Submitted by wheeljc on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 11:09am.

Visited Latitude 33 last evening. GOOD FOOD! Steak was cooked to order; place was packed; great seafood menu. Only negative -- staff still getting their sea legs, and seemed a bit overwhelmed by the number of guests. They have a great roll -- wheat/sourdough/yeast.

Have an idea that Latitude 33 will be giving other restaurants at South Point and the south side a run for their money.

ILuvFayette's picture
Submitted by ILuvFayette on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 11:31pm.

Wheeler, I read your review with great intrest and decided I would treat my daughters to a nice dinner tonight. I'm sorry to say that we will not go back.

The place looks great but the food left a lot to be desired. We didn't get anything the way that it was ordered and it was quite bland.

Thanks but no thanks.


borntorun's picture
Submitted by borntorun on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 12:35pm.

Where exactly is this restaurant located?


Submitted by Hey on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 12:57pm.

It is in the Kroger Shopping center on the South end of Fayetteville.

borntorun's picture
Submitted by borntorun on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 1:14pm.

Appreciate it, Hey! My wife and I'll give it a try.


borntorun's picture
Submitted by borntorun on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 9:23am.

At the risk of letting everyone in on a little known secret, if you are looking for good fresh seafood, try the Village Seafood Market located behind the gas station at the corner of Highway 54 and Robinson Road. Not only do they have fresh seafood to sell for take home but they also have sit down service. The food is outstanding and the owners are absolutely some of the nicest folks. The only downside is they close at 7:00pm so you have to eat a little earlier than normal. Give 'em a try... I think you'll like it!


Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Sat, 02/16/2008 - 2:36pm.

We just tried it. You all are right!!! It's very fresh and so delicious.
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ptcgv's picture
Submitted by ptcgv on Sat, 02/16/2008 - 3:17pm.

So glad to hear you finally made it to the Village Seafood Market. My family and I have been going there for years. Sam and his family are wonderful and it's great to be welcomed with a smile and be called by your name when you walk in.

I love supporting local business's when they are worthy.


Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Sat, 02/16/2008 - 3:55pm.

Many thanks for sharing this place!!! We had the captain's platter and shared it between the three of us. We will be back!!! Smiling

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ptcgv's picture
Submitted by ptcgv on Sat, 02/16/2008 - 4:17pm.

Next time bring home 1/2 pound of shrimp, 3-4 scallops, and a nice fish filet.

You can do a kazillion things with it and feed the multitudes.

Should I apologise here for a stupid post? So many of those going around lately. I think it's due to the eclipse due Weds.


ptcgv's picture
Submitted by ptcgv on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 2:32pm.

I wouldn't buy my seafood anywhere else. If Sam (the owner) doesn't have it, I prefer to go without.

Lunch is delicious and reasonable. The scallops are to die for.

At Christmas time, I place my order for seven different seafoods a few weeks in advance. Sam is always accomodating and everything is so FRESH.

If you love seafood, you need to do yourself a favor and try Village Seafood.


Submitted by smoothassilk on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 11:51am.

Are they open everyday, or just a few days a week?

borntorun's picture
Submitted by borntorun on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 11:55am.

They are open Monday-Friday 11:00-7:00....Saturday 10:00-7:00. Closed Sundays.


Submitted by John M on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 10:36am.

There have been some alarming reports recently about excessive counts of mecury in certain types of tuna.

"I'm NOT John Munford"

borntorun's picture
Submitted by borntorun on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 4:27pm.

Good advice, John M. Same goes for farm raised salmon. Another reason I buy my salmon at Village Seafood. Their salmon along with their shrimp and other seafood is wild caught. A little more expensive but worth it.


sniffles5's picture
Submitted by sniffles5 on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 10:21pm.

Has anyone tried the Kebab Grill in the Kedron Kroger shopping center? It's where the $30 pizza joint went out of business.

I went there two weeks ago with an SUV load full of girls at their request. Place is small, about 15 tables, and it was packed on a Friday night. The takeout line was going non-stop the whole time we were there.

It's basically a Mom-and-pop place with another guy working in the back. Service was awful, but that's because they had one guy trying to make 15 tables happy. Food was okay, not great, but the girls all loved the pita stuff. I had the kebab platter. Excellent spices, a trifle overcooked. Entrees about $7-$9

It's billed as a "Mediterranean Grill" but my rusty foreign language skills recalls that an overheard greeting of "Kaif Halek" is decidedly Saudi Arabic.


Fyt35's picture
Submitted by Fyt35 on Thu, 01/24/2008 - 5:47am.

I saw the ad this week in the Savvy Shopper magazine, I have it on my list. Do they sell gyros?


Submitted by thebeaver on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 10:07pm.

They were too expensive and didn't appeal to the majority demographic in the region. The name of the place was one "x" short of being a strip club.

Closed their doors and said that they were trying buy their own building. Their website is shut down, so probably went belly-up altogether.
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“...the term “democrat” originated as an epithet and referred to ‘one who panders to the crude and mindless whims of the masses.’”

Submitted by smoothassilk on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 10:02pm.

I personally experienced Onyxx and thought it was a wonderful, first class restaurant that we needed so badly here. But, I felt it wouldn't last. Why? Because Fayette residents are not ready for that style. A little pricey with great food a la carte. I guess we would rather go to that style up in Atlanta for a treat.

As far as the other restaurants closing, I asked several managers why it was so hard to stay alive here. What they advised me was it is very,very hard to get employees to work with good work ethics. Hometown young folks come from prestiges families here so the turnover is large. So, they are scrambling outside this community for servers, waiters etc.

Newnan restaurants however are also experiencing some closings. So, maybe it's the economy too!!!

Git Real's picture
Submitted by Git Real on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 10:24pm.

How many businesses and individuals got left holding the bag with unpaid bills when those two nasty racist individuals rapidly departed Fayetteville.

Just look their names up on the Secretary of State's website and I'll bet you find their names on a half a dozen failed businesses. I see it all the time. Give 'em 6 months and they'll find some other sucker with a few buck in their pockets to help 'em get started again. In the mean time watch how they keep their Mercedes and Lexus vehicles from being repoed along with their $650K home they financed with an ARM. I think the term for that used to be High Rollers.

________
In regards to Democrats, Republicans, gangs, and other scads of coterie Kool-Aide drinkers; Remember this..... Eagles Don't Flock


Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 10:29pm.

The "repo man" is refered to in the "hood" as the "take back man".
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NUK_1's picture
Submitted by NUK_1 on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 9:43pm.

They certainly are filling the place in PTC. Every time I've been there for dinner during the week or weekend, there is generally a wait. Well worth it though...one of the best "chains" out there.


Submitted by sageadvice on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 9:37pm.

Poor management planning and skills!

Every cook think they can open a restaurant and get rich and famous. They can't.

The concept of setting up the business as to location, seating, type of help, equipment, and organization is foreign to most of these people.

Then there is the capital required to open, stock up, advertise, and wait for business---providing you have the proper food.

Regardless of the initial income, there are many bills, salaries, and capital service that must be paid anyway. Some can not predict this amount. Many even do not pay their withholding taxes to the government and are shut down.

If you have enough backing to carry you through a year or so of hard work and good business sense, then there is a chance. Many think they will have enough income the first 30 days to operate---they will not.

Most new single businesses operate the same way, but restaurant owners that stand alone rarely have sufficient business sense or planning to survive.

The biggest sin however is to assume someone else will operate it and you can supervise! That never works.

Submitted by skyspy on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 9:31pm.

Never darkened the door. The owner got on this site and told us we were a bunch of white redneck hicks. So this backwards hick...took my money to Buckhead and restaurants with good food and good service.

Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 9:23pm.

Hooters could make it.
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Submitted by sageadvice on Wed, 01/23/2008 - 9:43pm.

Fayetteville was not the place.

Fayette County wives and families aren't that liberal with their husbands and families.

Not many motorcycle gangs in Fayetteville!

Not very much construction anymore!

Also, maybe there weren't enough buxom youth! Hard to go to church on Sunday and work at Hooters otherwise!

Gamma Sherri's picture
Submitted by Gamma Sherri on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 10:23pm.

Went into Latitude 33 tonight for the first time. Hubby and I just got back from Helen, where we had a great prime rib at Paul's on the river. Um... so let's talk about the newest steak place in town.

We ordered calamari for an appetizer, two salads, Prime Rib for him and ribeye for me. Both medium rare. Got our drinks and calamari, which was good and tender under a crisp crust.

I'm really finicky about my salads. I like the greens washed and crisp. My Dad had 2 restaurants when I was growing up, and my job was to make salads. Dad was finicky about the lettuce being torn bite-size, soaked in ice water, then drained & spun dry, and then stored in bowls with plastic wrap covers, so it stays crisp. We only did enough for a night. It seems nowadays that they tear open the "fresh" salad mix bag (which says no need to rinse!), dump it in a bowl, garnish with some tomatoes, and ta-dah! Green, not crisp, lettuce with purple cabbage shreds and carrot shreds. Edible, but not enjoyable.

Our steaks came, and were barely seasoned. For some reason, the ribeye was tough. Both steaks were good sized and cooked to order.

Our waitress was good and professional; our tea glasses were kept full, and we were asked how dinner was. I guess the thing is, it was good and the price wasn't bad (~50). I wanted to pull the manager aside and say, "you might want to think about..." and talk about salad prep and seasoning the steaks, but they were busy and I didn't want them to think that we didn't enjoy dinner. It was good, edible, and service was really good.

It's just it could be better! We'll be back, especially since the seafood looks like it is cooked right (the litmus test is always the fried calamari - if they don't know what they're doing, it's like eating rubber bands!), and fresh. Out of four thumbs up potential, we give it maybe 2-1/2 thumbs up.

We'll be back on a Monday for all you can eat Crab Legs! Smiling

Gamma Sherri


Submitted by sageadvice on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 5:51am.

If you want to eat gristle, try some rolled off skin from a pigs foot---sliced as is calamari, and dipped in cat-fish batter and freedom-fried to a crisp! YUM, YUM!

Somewhat better than rubber bands. Same thing pickled and knawed offn thu bone, even better.

Gamma Sherri's picture
Submitted by Gamma Sherri on Mon, 02/25/2008 - 11:07am.

I'm sure there are folks shuddering at your food choice, Sage, but when I was pregnant with my 2nd daughter, I craved EVERYTHING pickled, including pickled pigs feet! I haven't had it since, and she'll be 20 this year.

Calamari cooked right (like at Latitude) and served hot out of the grease (like Latitude) is awesome. Problem is, most folks never get it that way, so they have the attitude that it's rubber bands. You can get great Calamari across the street, too, at Royal Chef. They include pepper pods in their mix, which makes it nice and spicy.

Went over to Hudson Bridge last night to have dinner with Henry County friends at the new Mellow Mushroom. I love Mellow Mushroom... their salads are awesome (here I go again), and the pizza divine. But packed -- lawd, it was packed. We waited an hour, and we heard while being seated, that the wait was 2 hours for new folks coming in. It was worth the wait, tho! I wonder if we'll ever get one in FayCo...


Submitted by Spyglass on Mon, 02/25/2008 - 4:35pm.

Mellow Mushroom has been open in PTC for quite a while.

I lived off the Jodeco Road exit for 5 long years, and one thing for sure, I DID NOT miss the traffic in that area.

dawn69's picture
Submitted by dawn69 on Fri, 02/29/2008 - 1:26am.

mellow mushroom has an awesome esperanza salad dressing - make sure you have plenty of listerine at home 'cause you will stink. Worh it though. My kids love the pizza. They have been around awhile. The first one I ever went to was on the northside (I think Holcomb Bridge) 20 years ago. There is also one in Auburn, AL. So for all you Tiger fans, if you ever get tired of tailgating go to the Mellow Mushroom.


Submitted by Hey on Mon, 02/25/2008 - 1:09pm.

I thought we already had Mellow Mushroom in Fayette county, over on hwy 74 in Peachtree City. Or is it gone already??

Tug13's picture
Submitted by Tug13 on Mon, 02/25/2008 - 3:03pm.

It's still on 74 in PTC. They have a great Greek salad! Smiling


yardman5508's picture
Submitted by yardman5508 on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 10:27pm.

new help getting the food from cook to table. Gotta be a good thing. Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.


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