Atlanta restaurant Little Sparrow offers a taste of 1930s Paris

Parisian bistros and Brooklyn’s favourite taverns inspire chef-owner Ford Fry’s new Atlanta brasserie, Little Sparrow.

Located in the city’s Westside Provisions District, the Atlanta restaurant picks up the mantle from its beloved predecessor, JCT Kitchen and Bar, which Fry closed in 2021. He’s replaced the fabled haunt with Little Sparrow – named in honour of superstar French singer Edith Piaf. (Fry’s Howell Mill Road steakhouse, Marcel, is named after Piaf’s lover, boxer Marcel Cerdan.)

Local firm Smith Hanes Studio crafted the restaurant’s interiors, drawing on the saturated colours and textures of the 1930s and seeking inspiration from the cabaret bars and Parisian brasseries Piaf would have frequented.

Taking pride of place is a massive mural of rolling French countryside by Super Delicious Walls‘ Tommy Tyler and Daniel Biddy, which spans the width of the dining room.

Cream, black and burnt red floor tiles run underfoot, while the dining room is furnished with dark leather banquettes, classic bentwood bistro chairs and marble-topped tables that are traditional bistro fare. Little Sparrow’s bar top was carved by local joinery practice, Wood Mill Lab, with a vintage 1920s zinc bar back reflecting behind it.

Other classic touches include handmade glass pendants, art deco-style wall sconces, and cloud-like chandeliers illuminating the restaurant’s painted wood-moulded ceiling. Vintage speakers are installed around the space, piping out an eclectic soundtrack of French Disco, Spanish pop, and, of course, Edith Piaf.

Fry’s menu is filled with staples like the ‘Marcel burger’—dry-aged beef on brioche with American cheese, aioli, and onions—plus a whole selection of frites (thrice cooked for extra fluffiness).