Despite the pandemic, 3 restaurants open in Atlanta and Sandy Springs

Three new restaurants recently opened in Atlanta and Sandy Springs, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

All three are following CDC- and state-mandated and recommended health and safety guidelines brought on by the outbreak. Here's a rundown:

Botica by Chef Mimmo, which opened Jan. 1 in the former Watershed space in Buckhead, is owned by Mimmo Alboumeh. Pronounced “boh-tee-kah,” which means “boutique” in Spanish, it bills itself as “a sophisticated bodega” specializing in Mexican and Spanish cuisine, according to its website.

Alboumeh, who founded and co-owned Red Pepper Taqueria, which has locations in Buckhead, Decatur and Brookhaven, left that business last year to start Botica. In an interview, he said the 5,002-square-foot space, located in The Brookwood building at 1820 Peachtree Road, drew him in.

“I loved the place when I walked in,” Alboumeh said. “The energy was in here. I could visualize it: the great assets, great location, great neighborhood, heart of Buckhead, everybody knows my name in Buckhead. But the vibe that I got (was) that I can make magic in here.”

Alboumeh, who grew up in Lebanon, Italy and Spain and worked in Spanish restaurants in Spain and in Mexican eateries in metro Atlanta, drew on that experience to open Botica. While the menu includes both Mexican and Spanish fare, its star is the section of 10 street tacos. In September Alboumeh spent four days in Mexico City eating at “about 30 different places” as part of Botica’s “research and development.”

“I felt the right magic combination would not necessarily make it a tapas menu but we could make a big appetizers section besides sides of chips and salsa,” he said. “You can have an octopus, chorizo, ceviche. Then you make some classic dishes like (chicken) tamales canasta, which is what they sell in the street (in Mexico).”

Alboumeh, who said he got an excellent deal on his lease, is confident Botica will survive amid the pandemic because it’s a large enough space, with indoor and outdoor seating, to succeed even at 50% capacity due to COVID-related restrictions.

“Sooner or later things are going to come back to normal,” he said.

Alboumeh added he brought his entire management team from Red Pepper to Botica.

For more information, visit www.eatbotica.com.

Everett Catts @NeighborEverett