March 25, 2013 - Atlanta - Dante, in his restaurant office, is seldom without his pipe. Dante Stephensen, owner of Dante's Down the Hatch, says he is planning to close his long standing restaurant. The restaurant, which calls itself a "Jazz and Fondue Restaurant and Club", features a life sized pirate ship and a pond with a live alligator. An Atlanta institution since the '70s, Dante, a train enthusiast that lives in an antique train car, makes it a point to visit each table. He personally presents their chocolate fondue, which is only offered once per night, with colorful stories about his travels and the history of chocolate. The chocolate fondue is made from a secret recipe and hand folded for eight hours. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM
