Barely six months after opening, Rathbun's restaurant in Inman Park is expanding.
Rathbun's has taken 900 square feet of space next door to the main restaurant in the old Stove Works building and added a climate-controlled wine tower that can hold nearly 2,000 bottles plus an additional 48 seats for private dining or restaurant overflow.
The new space increases the restaurant's capacity from about 200 to 250, something manager Cliff Bramble says is necessary because Rathbun's has constantly battled over-booking its reservations while also trying to accommodate walk-up crowds.
The new room also offers patrons a quieter, more intimate setting with noise-absorbing carpet, rich fabrics and large gray and fuschia lights reminiscent of stove pipes. The main dining area seats 110 with another 26 seats at the bar, and is by far the loudest and busiest part of the restaurant. An outdoor patio with seating for 60 is somewhat quieter, though the space isn't ideal for private events because it is right next to the restaurant's entryway.
"This gives us three very different atmospheres, and it makes a very nice private dining room that's still attached to the action of the main restaurant," Bramble said.
Former Buckhead Lifer Kevin Rathbun founded the restaurant and serves as its head chef. Rathbun's serves contemporary Southern fare, and it quickly became a destination restaurant when it opened in late May.