Pietro Gianni and Stephen Peterson — the team behind Yeppa & Co. as well as other concepts like Storico Fresco and Forza Storico — have a new concept slated to open later this year. Y Bar will debut in Buckhead Village at 3065 Peachtree Rd, Suite B210, taking over the space that formerly belonged to Mexican restaurant Pachengo’s. That concept, also from Gianni and Peterson, closed nearly a year ago after a brief stint at the address.
The team is also working with Jamestown — the real estate investment firm behind Buckhead Village — to build out a large outdoor space beside the future Y Bar, in the vicinity of where the now-closed Dior location was. The outdoor space will feature wooden platforms, seating and fire pits, and it eventually will serve as a communal seating area for other concepts in that section of the development.
Y Bar will act as “a miniature version of Yeppa,” Gianni told What Now Atlanta. However, unlike Yeppa, it will not center solely around Italian cuisine. It will also have a simpler, smaller menu than the team’s other concepts, designed to be easier to manage.
Customers can expect a menu featuring crudos, small plates and charcuterie boards, as well as some items like baked pasta, lasagna, small meat dishes and a signature burger. Like Yeppa, Y Bar will offer an extensive wine list, but it will have a global approach rather than an Italian focus. In addition to Italian wines, the list will feature French, New World, American and Spanish wines.
Gianni said the concept for Y Bar was born out of the need to offer a late-night option that would be practical for their brand. Yeppa closes at 11 p.m. on weekdays and at midnight on Friday and Saturday. Y Bar will be open until midnight during the week, with extended hours to 1 a.m. on weekends.
Gianni said it makes more sense for the team to have smaller spots like Y Bar stay open late, allowing their other restaurants — which staff more employees — to close early while still meeting the need of customers for a late-night spot.
At Y Bar, they are planning to roll out other elements, such as reservable bar seating in two-hour turns. Gianni thinks this aspect of the concept will differentiate them from other spots in the market.
“I love the ability to be able to book a date night at the bar, and that’s something a lot of people have requested we do,” Gianni said.
Gianni and Peterson view their various concepts as entities that complement each other. Y Bar will work in tandem with concepts like Yeppa Buckhead by offering customers a place to go for a quick drink or appetizer before heading over to Yeppa for a full meal.
“They’re supplementary locations and concepts. When we’re busy during the peak times of the evening, it’s a way to get people to come to the area and have other options,” Gianni said. “Right now, there aren’t a lot of options for curated cocktail programs and curated small-bite food, so if you [imagine] yourself as a customer trying to get into Yeppa Buckhead at 7 p.m., you may come in and ask for a table. Let’s say we have a half-hour wait — then you can go to Y Bar and enjoy some drinks over there while we get your table ready in the main restaurant.”
Y Bar Buckhead is slated to open at the beginning of October.
