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Eatzi's: Gourmet Take-Out Times Two
by Jennifer Grzeskowiak

If you’ve driven by eatZi’s Market & Bakery on Peachtree with your windows down, you’ve probably smelled the aroma of fresh-baked bread flowing out to the street. And if you’ve been inside, you know it gets even better: boisterous classical music, bustling shoppers and an expanse of gourmet culinary options ready to take home or eat right away. Just being in the store makes me excited about food. And now there’s a reason for more excitement—a new location across from Perimeter Mall.

Conceived by Phil Romano, eatZi’s premiered in Dallas in 1996. Years before the first location opened, Romano recognized the need for a concept that bridged grocery stores and restaurants. “When you go to a grocery store, you still have to do something with the food when you get home,” says Ray Camillo, Atlanta market partner. “But dining at a restaurant every night is a hassle and can be expensive. This niche has been a long time coming.” Previous alternatives included very casual restaurants and fast food options. Even new chains such as Moe’s and MaMa Fu’s have tried to capture some of the market share. But as Camillo notes, you can’t eat a burrito for dinner every night.

Available during breakfast, lunch or dinner, the food at eatZi’s is far removed from typical take-out fare. A salad station offers a variety of greens, toppings and add-ons, such as salmon, chicken and shrimp. The grill, which had to be redesigned due to its unexpected popularity, serves marinated meats, kabobs grilled to order and a carving station with roasted meats. Other areas of the store include a bakery, small produce section, refrigerated food case and large food bar with options ranging from tabouleh and carrot ginger soup to meatloaf (much better than mom’s) and coconut chicken. The only drawback might be too many options. But while guests decide, they can nosh on samples of fresh bread and olive oil, cheeses and dips. Sometimes wine samples accompany the snacks, as well. For those who can’t wait to get home to eat or need a break from their office scenery during lunch, both locations have a sitting area next to the coffee bar, where guests can dine and read a magazine.

The varied and appealing menu is designed by an assemblage of talented chefs with years of experience. “It is very much a culinary culture,” says Camillo, who is also a culinarily trained chef, along with many others throughout the organization. Local chefs typically create about 20 percent of the dishes, to tailor the menu to specific areas. Atlanta, for instance, is the only city that serves an exclusive macaroni and cheese inspired by the recipe from a line cook’s mom, which was voted best of its kind by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (In the name of responsible journalism, I tested the dish and concur with the paper’s findings.) “If you go to Dallas, you’ll more likely see salmon with a variety of salsas, rather than collard greens,” says Camillo.

While the concept of gourmet take-out food at a reasonable price doesn’t seem revolutionary, doing it well is more difficult than one might imagine. Even opening the new location in Atlanta (the only city with two stores) has taken a considerable amount of planning. Previously, each store produced all of its own food. To reduce costs, many chains will prepare the food at one central site and then freeze and ship the food to the other spots for finishing and serving. Wanting to maintain quality, eatZi’s has resisted this cost-saving trend. “Accountants don’t always know what is best for the food,” says Camillo. With less space in the new location, it made sense to employ a hub-and-spoke model where food can be sent over from nearby Buckhead for final preparation, requiring no freezing for the short commute. According to Camillo, the new approach has already proven to be successful.

For many, eatZi’s has become an integral part of their dining routine. In fact, when Harry Connick, Jr. performed at Chastain Park, he commented on the number of eatZi’s boxes dotting the lawn. (Special picnic offerings are available at various times of the year.) Whether you love cooking, but don’t have time, or prefer to avoid the kitchen altogether except to microwave, the gourmet offerings at eatZi’s can satisfy any palate. Camillo says that if the business continues going well, fans might be able to look forward to an IPO, along with their marinated olives.

EatZi’s is located at 3221 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30305 and 4505 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30319. Both locations are open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily, excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas, and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Catering is available as well. For more information visit www.eatzis.com.

From top: Assorted delectibles from Eatzi's Market.