Press

  • Creative Loafing

  • Creative Loafing

    100 Dishes To Eat In Atlanta Before You Die
    Crawfish pies at Watershed: Swampy decadence. That's what the filling of these empanada-shaped pies feel like; an okra-heavy, creamy jumble of crawfish funk that gushes out of its buttery shell all piping-hot and rich beyond reason. Read the article...

  • The Atlantan

  • The Atlantan

    Another Watershed Moment
    During a recent meal at Watershed, I took a mental inventory of the dining clientele. To my right, a finely manicured sixtysomething nibbling on pimento cheese dip, in the center a hipster group of thirtysomethings drinking red wine, texting and talking to their boyfriends, and to my left, a serious business lunch. Read the article...

  • Creative Loafing

  • Creative Loafing

    Review: Watershed
    Joe Truex pens the latest chapter at Decatur's temple to Southern cooking

    "Watershed is the restaurant where Atlanta first tasted Southern food in its new, elevated status." Read the article...

  • Good Day Atlanta: FOX 5

  • FOX 5: Good Day Atlanta

    Road Warrior: Watershed Restaurant
    Love was in the air Tuesday as get you prepped for Valentine's Day! FOX 5's Road Warrior Stacey Elgin visited the Watershed in Decatur with ideas for you this holiday -- whether you're single or attached!
    Read the article...

  • Atlanta Magazine

  • Atlanta Magazine

    Watershed
    If we were to play a restaurant version of word association, what would come to mind if someone shouted "Decatur"? My instant response is "Watershed." Read the article...

2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
  • Atlanta Journal Constitution - Top 10 Restaurants in Atlanta
  • James Beard Nominations - Scott Peacock, Best Chef in the Southeast
  • Atlanta Journal Constitution - Ultimate Guide to Atlanta; Scott Peacock, Ultimate Chef
  • Bon Appetite Restaurant Issue
  • Zagat Guide Rated 25 out of 30
  • AJC Dining Guide 4 out of 5 stars
  • Creative Loafing Best of Atlanta - Best Fried Chicken
  • Atlanta Magazine - Best of Atlanta, Best Southern Accent
  • AJC Top 10 Places for Desserts - Ranked #7 out of 10
2005
  • The New York Times July 6, 2005 - "Chicken On the Plate, Family On the Side"
  • Food and Wine Magazine (Special Addition) - Chef Recipes Made Easy
  • Atlanta Journal Constitution - Spring Dining Guide "Top 10 Restaurants"
  • Creative Loafing Best of 2005 - Best Fried chicken and Best Sunday Brunch
  • Atlanta Magazine Best of 2005 - Best Southern Accent
  • Creative Loafing May 11,2005 - "a mouthful of...Burgers"
  • Southern Living April 2005 - "Tastes of the South"
  • The Charlotte Observer April 29, 2005 - "Luck Led us to Watershed"
  • Oxford American Magazine, Southern Food Issue Spring 2005 - "Cooks in the Kitchen"
  • Paper City June 2005 - "A Memorable Feast"
  • Creative Loafing June 22, 2005 - "Flavors of the South; Great Scott"
  • Atlanta Journal Constitution - Fall Dining Guide: 4 out of 5 stars
2004
  • Atlanta Magazine, "Best of Atlanta" 2004 - Best Southern Kitchen
  • James Beard Nominations: Scott Peacock, Best Chef in the Southeast; The Gift of Southern Cooking, Best Cookbook
  • Atlanta Journal Constitution - Dining Guide, 3 out of 4 stars
  • Wine Spectator - "Award of Excellence"
  • Creative Loafing, "Best of Atlanta" 2004 - Best Sunday Brunch, Best Fried Chicken
  • Zagat Guide - 23 out of 30 Points
2003
  • Creative Loafing, Best of Atlanta: Critics Choice, "Best Fried Chicken"; Critics Choice, "Best Sunday Brunch"
  • Atlanta Journal Constitution - Dining Guide, 3 out of 4 stars
  • Zagat Guide - 23 out of 30 Points
  • Atlanta Magazine, Best of Atlanta - "Best Southern Tradition, Fried Chicken"; "Best Sunday Brunch"
  • USA TODAY, September 12, 2003 - "10 great places to feast on fried Chicken"
  • Food and Wine Magazine - "Americas 25 best recipes" Fried Chicken
2002
  • Creative Loafing, Best of Atlanta: Critics Choice, "Best Fried Chicken"; Critics Choice, "Best Pecan Pie";
    Critics Choice, "Best of Decatur"
  • Atlanta Journal Constitution - Dining Guide, 3 out of 4 stars
  • Knife and Fork - Brunch Review, 4 out 4 stars
  • Gourmet Magazine - "America's Best Restaurants"
  • Wine Spectator - "Award of Excellence"
  • Atlanta Magazine - Best of Atlanta, "Best of Decatur"
  • Zagat Guide - "Americas Top 100 Restaurants"
2001
  • Wine Spectator - "Award of Excellence"
  • Atlanta Magazine - Best of Atlanta, "Best of Decatur"
  • Zagat Guide - America's Top 100 Restaurants
  • Knife and Fork - 3 out of 4 stars
  • Atlanta Journal Constitution - Dining Guide, 3 out of 4 stars
2000
  • Wine Spectator - "Award of Excellence"
  • Atlanta Magazine, Best of Atlanta: - Best Fried Chicken, Best of Decatur
  • Gourmet Magazine - "Atlanta's Top 5 Restaurants"
Copyright © 2011 Watershed Restaurant. All Rights Reserved.
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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 18, 2010
Media Contact: Ross Jones, ross@watershedrestaurant.com

Watershed announces Joe Truex as Executive Chef
and Partner

We are pleased to announce Chef Joe Truex will become Watershed's Executive Chef and Partner beginning June 1, 2010.

Chef Joe Truex will be partnering with Watershed restaurant to devote his energy and renewed passion for Southern cooking to this iconic restaurant. Chef Truex, a native Southerner, plans to preserve Watershed’s signature dishes and introduce new menu options with a continued focus on Southern cuisine. He also plans to change the menu more frequently and create daily specials to keep the menu fresh and interesting. Chef Truex has a keen understanding of the connection between food and wine and will take a lead role in Watershed's wine program. He is eager to bring his passion for wine to the Southern table. Chef Truex, who grew up in Louisiana, said "after exploring many different influences on food, cooking at Watershed will be like coming home."

Chef Truex currently lives with his wife and two children in Decatur, Georgia. He grew up in the small town of Mansura, Louisiana, attended Louisiana State University, and began his culinary training in New Orleans at Fairmont Hotel in 1986. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America in New York (class of ‘89), he worked at the original Le Cirque under Chef Daniel Boulud, and continued his training overseas in Basel, Switzerland and back in the states in Las Vegas and New York City. Chef Truex has most recently been Chef at the prominent Atlanta restaurant Repast, which he and his wife and Co-Chef Mihoko Obunai-Truex opened in 2006. Chef Mihoko will take over as the sole owner and Chef of Repast.

Watershed's owner Emily Saliers, who is also one half of the Grammy winning folk rock group Indigo Girls, is enthusiastic about what Chef Truex will bring to Watershed. "Chef Truex is a brilliant Chef who truly understands the Southern food culture. He shares our commitment to seasonal, local and sustainably sourced ingredients and will create an exciting menu based on those principles. We are thrilled to have Chef Truex at the helm of the Watershed kitchen."

Watershed restaurant has received awards and recognition, both locally and nationally, for its classic approach to Southern cuisine. Since opening in 1998, Watershed has been at the forefront of the "farm to table" movement supporting local organic farmers and using only the freshest seasonal ingredients available.

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Watershed Restaurant
406 West Ponce De Leon Avenue . Decatur, Georgia 30030
phone 404-378-4900 . www.watershedrestaurant.com
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For Immediate Release

Watershed is Moving to a New Location
Atlanta’s Quintessential Southern Eatery is Relocating

ATLANTA (August 1, 2011) --- One of Atlanta's most iconic southern restaurants reveals its plans for relocation in Atlanta. The new location (to be announced) will combine a fine dining experience with a casual and comfortable atmosphere. The “new” Watershed will continue to serve the outstanding southern-inspired cuisine it has become famous for, including the award winning Southern Fried Chicken and Sunday Brunch. The restaurant design will offer guests a vibrant bar, spacious dining room, large outdoor patio, and ample parking. It will also include a private dining room where neighborhood residents, businesses and other community groups will be able to entertain, conduct business meetings, or celebrate special occasions. Owner Emily Saliers commented, “While it was not an easy decision to leave Decatur, we are unable to offer our guests these added amenities in our current location. We are deeply grateful to the Decatur community for 13 years of support.” Watershed’s Decatur location will be closing after dinner on Saturday evening August 6th so that the owners can begin working on the new restaurant which they anticipate opening by the end of the year.

About Watershed
Watershed is a southern-inspired restaurant that has brought the best of seasonal dining to Atlanta for 13 years. Chef Joe Truex upholds Watershed’s commitment to seasonal, local, sustainably sourced ingredients and has created an exciting menu based on those principles. Chef Truex’s classic approach to cooking transforms traditional Southern dishes into something distinctive and exciting. His cooking refreshes our ideas about how creative Southern food can be. Watershed serves world-class food without the world-class attitude and appeals to all types of diners. It attracts sophisticated diners who are passionate about food and wine as well those who simply desire a comfortable place to have a delicious and reasonably priced meal. Watershed is a family friendly restaurant and understands the importance of the "family meal". Everyone is welcomed at Watershed. Watershed offers a casual, relaxed atmosphere serving Lunch, Dinner and Sunday Brunch.

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Watershed Restaurant
406 West Ponce De Leon Avenue . Decatur, Georgia 30030
phone 404-378-4900 . www.watershedrestaurant.com
Close [ x ]

For Immediate Release

WATERSHED ON PEACHTREE OPENING SPRING 2012
Atlanta’s Quintessential Southern Eatery is Relocating

ATLANTA (November 15, 2011) --- Watershed, one of Atlanta's most iconic southern eateries is opening in Atlanta’s historic Brookwood neighborhood. Watershed will be located on Atlanta’s famous Peachtree Street in The Brookwood building, a mixed-use condominium community. Designer Smith Hanes comments that he will focus “great attention to crafting a naturally comfortable neighborhood place - an every day place -that is casual yet refined.” Guests will enjoy a vibrant bar, spacious dining room, outdoor terrace, and there will be ample parking. It will also include a private dining room where neighborhood residents, businesses and other community groups will be able to entertain, conduct business meetings, or celebrate special occasions.

Under the culinary direction of Executive Chef and Partner Joe Truex, Watershed will continue to serve the outstanding southern-inspired cuisine it has become famous for - including the award winning Southern Fried Chicken and Sunday Brunch. In the new location, Chef Truex said he plans to refine the Southern inspired menu with “flavors from the Georgia Coast to the Louisiana Bayou and everything in between including the diverse ethnic flavors found throughout the South.” Watershed will continue to focus on the food and wine experience and will also bring back its monthly wine club tastings

Owner Emily Saliers commented, “It's a new day in the neighborhood for the Atlanta foodie community and I am thrilled to be a part of it. I can’t wait to bring family and friends out to the new locations to enjoy Chef Truex’s new menu”

About Watershed
Watershed is a southern-inspired restaurant that has brought the best of seasonal dining to Atlanta for 13 years. Chef Joe Truex upholds Watershed’s commitment to seasonal, local, sustainably sourced ingredients and creates an exciting menu based on those principles. Chef Truex’s classic approach to cooking refreshes our ideas about how creative Southern food can be. Watershed serves world-class food without the world-class attitude and appeals to all types of diners. It attracts sophisticated diners who are passionate about food and wine as well those who simply desire a comfortable place to have a delicious and reasonably priced meal. Watershed is a family friendly restaurant and understands the importance of the "family meal". Everyone is welcomed at Watershed.

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