A rendering of the renovated Rumi’s in Sandy SpringsCourtesy of the Johnson Studio After 14 years, Rumi’s Kitchen in Sandy Springs is getting a makeover. The Persian restaurant originated down the street in 2006 and moved to the current location (6112 Roswell Road) in 2012. Since then, additiona l outposts have opened at Avalon, Colony Square, Houston, and Washington, D.C. But mid-summer, all attention is back on Sandy Springs as the space gets reimagined with an updated look and new menus. “I believe in time you have to update everything so you don’t get forgotten,” says founder and chef Ali Mesghali. The doors were shut after dinner service March 23 and are slated to re-open this summer. The revamped restaurant will feature better sound control, a bigger kitchen, and elevated decor. Look for aged plaster walls, marble inlay tables, and porcelain and hardwood floors (instead of concrete). High-end chandeliers add to the elegant appearance. ShakshukaCourtesy of Rumi's Kitchen “It was time for a refresh after so much wear and tear,” COO and wine director Stephen Kaplan says. “We completely gutted the restaurant. This is not just a fresh coat of paint. It’s going to be a brand-new restaurant.” The open-air patios are no more. Instead, there will be three private dining rooms rather than two—one of which will feature a solarium-style glass ceiling. “The patio space was right by Roswell Road. It was very traffic-y and not very cozy. We wanted to make it more romantic and intimate,” he adds. The food offerings will be expanded as well, incorporating Middle Eastern flavors with the Persian specialties. Expect labne charred tomato and Wagyu Zabuton kabob. Entrees designed to be shared include braised lamb neck and pomegranate short rib. “We’re redefining items that weren’t selling as much anymore,” Mesghali explains. “When we first opened, no one knew what Persian food was. Now we want to expand it beyond the kebabs and make it more regional.” Dutch baby with sour cherry jamCourtesy of Rumi's Kitchen They’ll also begin offering brunch on the weekends, like Rumi’s at Colony Square does. Offerings may include a Persian omelet (scrambled eggs with turmeric, tomato, and herbs, served with Sujuk sausage), shakshuka, steak and eggs with turmeric butter, and a Dutch baby pancake with sour cherry jam. In addition, a new beverage menu will feature 12 to 14 cocktails such as a Paper Plane with a Persian spin and a Calvados (French apple brandy)-based drink with orange blossom syrup. An expanded nonalcoholic list means nondrinkers can taste the same flavor profiles sans alcohol. Selected by Kaplan, who also serves as wine director, wines focus on Middle Eastern producers from Israel, Turkey, Lebanon, Armenia, and Georgia. These new menus bring the Sandy Springs offering closer to those available at the other metro Atlanta locations. “We’re trying to be on the forefront of Middle Eastern cuisine. We want to push it forward. That requires constant evolution,” Kaplan says. Brunch offeringsCourtesy of Rumi's Kitchen The post Rumi’s Kitchen Sandy Springs to re-open this summer with a brand-new look and modernized menus appeared first on Atlanta Magazine. ...read more read less