As Atlanta’s oldest historic district, the thriving Grant Park neighborhood maintains the atmosphere of a bygone age when corner markets and quaint specialty shops drew neighbors out together on daily errands. Popular area diner Stone Soup Kitchen reflects this same nostalgic spirit in a convivial haven for home cooking — with a twist.
Owner Sarah Rick chose the name from the familiar folk tale. Dust off memories of library story time visits to recall the fable in which sneaky peddlers, with nothing to eat, convince villagers to add savory items to their pot of boiling rocks, ultimately creating a feast for everyone. Stone Soup Kitchen serves up the same sense of camaraderie with a far better menu. Cozy tables and kitschy decor give the vibe of stopping by a friend’s house … a friend with mad cooking skills that insists you stay to eat with them.
Diner standards like eggs and bacon, biscuits and gravy, or pancakes present their very best selves with the freshest local ingredients. Vegan specialties such as “Vegos Rancheros,” tofu scrambles, and gluten-free blueberry flapjacks mix in nicely with those favorites, creating a spread that transitions seamlessly for any appetite. While focused somewhat on healthy eating, the cooking style is never pretentious. Nope, nobody’s going to get judgmental about a side of sausage and bowl of cobbler. On the contrary, they might just offer up a cocktail with it from the fully-stocked bar ready to mix up whatever suits the mood.
Stone Soup actually opened in the 1980s as a grocery, food co-op and deli. Sarah’s soups and sandwich creations found a loyal following and eventually, she was inspired to develop the business into a restaurant. She brought the favorites from the deli to the menu and built up from there. Several signature items have been named by, or for, long-time customers.
While the restaurant only serves breakfast and lunch, the diner often hosts evening events showcasing acoustic musicians. Local artists also present works for sale in continually rotating exhibits displayed along the walls. The Stone Soup facilities provide an intimate venue available for rent for parties or private gatherings, with a variety of catering options offered as well.
Catering Manager Tscharner Dickerson notes that the word seems to have spread about what’s stirring. Now they’re even feeding the occasional vampire or zombie, as orders come in from the big production companies selecting Atlanta for feature films and television series such as Vampire Diaries and Walking Dead. That’s a whole new scramble, and Stone Soup Kitchen happily dishes it up.Â
You’ll find Stone Soup Kitchen at 584 Woodward Avenue. Visit the the website for more information: stonesoupkitchen.net.
