Morningside is set to snag a piece of Buckhead’s buzz. Chef Christopher Grossman and the team behind acclaimed neighborhood spot The Chastain are bringing a second concept, Alere, to the area, with an opening targeted for 2027. The new restaurant is billed as a more relaxed take on Grossman’s ingredient-driven style.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Alere will move into 1397 North Highland Ave. NE, the corner space most recently home to Nowak's Cantina. Early details frame the project as more casual than The Chastain while keeping Grossman’s ingredient-first approach front and center. Restaurant representatives told the paper that specifics on the menu, hours and interior design will roll out in the coming months.
Chef Christopher Grossman And The Chastain
Grossman, who previously led the kitchen at Atlas and trained at The French Laundry, opened The Chastain in Buckhead with a focus on seasonal, garden-driven cooking. Eater Atlanta has tracked how he blends fine-dining technique with an easygoing, neighborhood feel. That mix of polish and approachability is exactly what the team says it plans to carry over to Alere.
Design, Partners And Timeline
For Alere’s build-out, Grossman and his partners have tapped Summerour Architects and Smith Hanes Studio, according to the announcement. Representatives have signaled that while the design team is locked in, a full reveal of the look, menu details, operating hours and the exact opening date will come later. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes the restaurant is slated to debut in 2027 in the Morningside Village location.
Morningside's Changing Dining Scene
The corner at 1397 N. Highland has seen a steady rotation of concepts in recent years. It previously housed Morningside Kitchen before turning into Nowak's and later rebranding as Nowak's Cantina. Local coverage of that latest shift described a move toward a more casual, budget-friendly option for the neighborhood. The Southerner reported on the rebrand, while earlier iterations at the address, including Morningside Kitchen, were documented by Eater Atlanta.
What To Expect
Details may be light for now, but the team is clearly positioning Alere as a casual complement to The Chastain that still leans hard into high-quality, seasonal ingredients and careful sourcing. The Chastain’s own materials emphasize a garden-to-table ethos and an ingredient-first philosophy, and the team says that same mindset will guide the new Morningside project. Expect more concrete info on menus, design renderings and a firm opening date as 2027 gets closer.
