Courtesy of Bell+Butler
Benton Bourgeois (Jojo’s Beloved) and Will Donaldson (Politan Row) are nostalgic for the old-school, Italian-American restaurants of the past—places that have been in families for generations. Together with chef Luis Mendez (Bucatini Ristorante), they’re looking to recreate this feel with classic Italian flavors and dishes. Millie’s Pizzeria will open as a standalone component of Politan Row at the Forum, 5155 Peachtree Parkway, in February 2025.
“We’ll serve classic Italian pizza, pasta made with Old World cheese, classic meatballs with pomodoro sauce,” Mendez says. “Everything will be made with Italian tomatoes.”
Courtesy of Millie’s
Millie’s will offer dinner seven nights a week, as well as lunch Friday through Sunday. Pizza dough will be fermented 72 hours before being formed into 8- and 14-inch circles (the former is for children). There will be five signature pies, plus a build-your-own option. Every meal starts with complimentary focaccia. Appetizers will include mussels, burrata, bruschetta, and garlic knots. All dishes come a la carte, from lasagna to cacio e pepe prepared tableside. The lunch menu will be similar, with the addition of sandwiches, such as chicken parmesan, grilled chicken pesto, and meatball. Ricotta-pistachio cake will be imported from Italy for dessert.
Unlike other Italian-American restaurants with portions designed for sharing, Millie’s will offer “single-serve entrees with a little to take home,” Donaldson says.
A children’s menu will be available, too. “This neighborhood is all families, and all three of us have kids,” Bourgeois says.
Courtesy of Millie’s
Bourgeois is designing the beverage program, focusing on organic and natural wines. “These are small producers with minimal intervention—not the typical wines you see on every list,” he says. The list will be compact, with nine to 12 rotating by-the-glass options and a maximum of 20 bottles. Expect Italian table wine that comes in 1-liter format for sharing.
He describes the beer list as “tight” with Peroni and a few other options. Cocktails include a negroni, espresso martini, amaro and tonic, and white wine spritzers.
Courtesy of Millie’s
The 2,300-square-foot space will feature millwork outside and an orange, yellow, and brown color scheme inside. Large booths will be separated with fabric and the walls adorned with thrift-store artwork and the owners’ family photos. Inspired by midcentury cafes in Italy, the bar will be located at one end of the space with arched ceilings.
“We want it to feel old, yet new,” Bourgeois says. “The soundtrack will have a similar vibe with modern songs that sound like they could’ve come from the ’60s.” Examples include “Teardrops” by Neil Frances, “Guilty” by Lady Wray, and “Sweet Water” by the Meltdown.
Courtesy of Bell+Butler
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