Atlanta’s dining scene matches its diverse, dynamic spirit with an array of restaurants representing global flavors and influences. From tried-and-true staples of Southern cuisine to award-winning chefs putting modern twists on classics, the city offers top-notch meals spanning just about any craving or budget.
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Staplehouse | Modern American | Creative tasting menus blending Southern and Asian techniques. |
| Gunshow | Eclectic | Dim sum-style service with creative small plates. |
| Local Three Kitchen & Bar | American | Chef-driven comfort food with a twist. |
| Leon’s Full Service | Southern | Great cocktails and Southern fare in a funky setting. |
| Cooks & Soldiers | Basque | Pintxos and rich flavors from Basque cuisine. |
| Lazy Betty | Contemporary | Seasonal plates with a focus on technique and artistry. |
| The Optimist | Seafood | Fresh, sustainably sourced seafood in a chic space. |
| Banshee Restaurant & Bar | French Bistro | Parisian flair with classic bistro dishes in Inman Park. |
| Watershed Restaurant | Southern | Contemporary Southern cuisine with local ingredients. |
| Bacchanalia | Fine Dining | Refined tasting menu with impeccable techniques. |
| Kimball House | Southern | Heritage cooking techniques and creative cocktails. |
| Miller Union | Southern | Seasonal Southern eatery with a vibrant atmosphere. |
The following picks cover 12 of the best restaurants in Atlanta, from hot spots continuously making national best-of lists to neighborhood gems well loved by locals. Exploring these recommendations promises memorable, high-quality meals across cuisines – complete with perfect pairings and ambient settings too.
Staplehouse
Name and Location: Staplehouse is located at 541 Edgewood Ave SE in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood.
History and Significance: Founded in 2013 by chef Ryan Smith and owner Jen Hidinger, Staplehouse began as an underground supper club before becoming a popular prix-fixe contemporary American restaurant. Proceeds fund the nonprofit Giving Kitchen which supports the local food service community.
What to Expect: Staplehouse offers a multi-course tasting menu spotlighting seasonal Southern ingredients and techniques in a warm, intimate setting. The menu changes but always aims to delight with flavors. Reservations required.
Visitor Information: Serves a nightly 5-course tasting plus beverage pairings. Reservations accepted 30 days in advance online. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Staplehouse’s cozy yet sleek industrial feel sets the mood for Chef Ryan Smith’s creative tasting menus masterfully blending Southern ingredients and Asian techniques across four to ten decadent courses. Dishes like foie gras with mountain huckleberry and duck confit fried rice exemplify the mouthwatering fusion.
Parties of eight or less can reserve the chef’s counter for a front-row seat to watch the intricate preparation behind the scenes too. Just leave room for the divine house-made ice creams and sorbets to finish.
Gunshow
Name and Location: Gunshow is located at 924 Garrett St in Atlanta, Georgia in the Glenwood Park neighborhood.
History and Significance: Opened in 2013 by Top Chef competitor and Atlanta restauranteur Kevin Gillespie, Gunshow’s unique “chef’s choice” dining style allowing patrons to choose from small plates passed around by chefs has made it one of Atlanta’s most creative and popular restaurants.
What to Expect: Instead of traditional ordering, dishes from chicken and waffles to poached oysters circulate the dining room on carts and trays for patrons to select their meal bite by creative bite. Extensive craft cocktail offerings available.
Visitor Information: Dinner only Tuesday to Saturday. Reservations strongly recommended well in advance. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Chef Kevin Gillespie puts a novel spin on the dining experience at Gunshow, his eclectic Glenwood Park eatery focused on dim sum-style small plates. Here servers wheel around “dumpling carts” of creative bites so you can pick and choose between inspired dishes like kimchee pierogis or pork belly steam buns.
The menu changes daily but standouts like chicken bog appear regularly – all elevated but true to their comfort food roots. With dishes this addictive, over-ordering is all but guaranteed.
Local Three Kitchen & Bar
Name and Location: Local Three Kitchen & Bar located at 3305 Buford Hwy NE in Atlanta offers ingredient-focused New American cuisine near Emory University.
History and Significance: Executive Chef Chris Hall and Chef de Cuisine Matt Rainey lead the kitchen at this contemporary neighborhood bistro from restaurateur George McKerrow.Opened in 2013, Local Three has become renowned for seasonal Southern food and craft drinks.
What to Expect: The dinner menu features creative starters, meat and fish entrees and sides showcasing regional products. Extensive by-the-glass wine selections, specialty cocktails and local draft beers are also served in the energetic dining room or covered patio.
Visitor Information: Serves dinner nightly; Monday-Saturday 5-10 pm, Sunday 5-9 pm. Closed major holidays.
Hearty, chef-driven comfort foods take center stage at Local Three Kitchen in Westside Provisions District, often with regional twists across starters, wood-fired pizzas and mains ideal for sharing. Think chicken and dumplings served Pho-style or shrimp and grits pizza with bacon.
The bustling atmosphere matches the flavor-packed dishes but intimate booths and a glassed-in wine cellar provide cozy alternative spaces to linger over bourbon cocktails too. Don’t skip dessert – their über thick chocolate layer cake sells out daily.
Leon’s Full Service
Name and Location: Leon’s Full Service is located at 131 East Ponce de Leon Ave in downtown Decatur, Georgia.
History and Significance: Opened in 2009 in a former service station, Leon’s Full Service merges a quality seasonal Southern menu with skilled craft cocktails courtesy of executive chef Eric Ottensmeyer and general manager Emily Yetter, earning acclaim as one of Atlanta’s best restaurants.
What to Expect: Constantly changing New Southern small and large plates like fried chicken or Carolina trout complement Leon’s Full Service’s artisinal cocktails highlighting regional spirits in a hip, laidback atmosphere.
Visitor Information: Dinner served Monday – Saturday, 5-10 pm. Brunch Saturday and Sunday, 10:30am-2:30pm. Reservations recommended.
Cocktail creativity shines at convivial Leon’s Full Service in funky Cabbagetown, where the menu spans Southern fare perfect for pairing. Devour shrimp toast while sipping staples like the Earl Grey infused Garden & Gun then see what seasonal new batched creations the bar has mixed up that week.
Fried chicken, vegan collard greens, banana pudding and other reinvented favorites certainly don’t disappoint either at this bonafide neighborhood gem with quirky decor and an indoor-outdoor wraparound porch bound to charm.
Cooks & Soldiers
Name and Location: Cooks & Soldiers located at 691 14th Street NW in Midtown Atlanta offers Basque-inspired cuisine and beverages.
History and Significance: James Beard Award semifinalist Chef Joey Ward offers a taste of Spanish Basque Country tapas and txotx-style dining at this Midtown restaurant and bar. Open since 2018, their goal is fun, high-quality food and drink in a lively atmosphere.
What to Expect: Inventive Basque-inspired tapas, pintxos, charcuterie and wood-grilled entrees, all ideally paired with Spanish wine, sherry, cider or signature gin & tonics, reflect generations-old Northern Spain recipes interwoven with local Georgia ingredients.
Visitor Information: Dinner served Sun-Thurs 5-10 pm; Fri & Sat 5-11 pm. Dinner nightly plus weekend brunch. Reservations recommended.
Basque cuisine stands out for its smoky, rich flavors – something Cooks & Soldiers Basque Club & Bar does exceptionally well. Their pintxos (Basque tapas) shine brightest with standouts like charred pork belly and croquetas de jamon serrano to pair with biodynamic wine or cocktails at the standing room only bar.
But seats in the whitewashed brick dining room beckon too for entrees like slow-roasted lamb shoulder or whole roasted bacalao fish meant for sharing. An attached market sells imported pantry goods too so you can cook Basque specialties at home.
Lazy Betty
Name and Location: Lazy Betty is located at 1530 Dekalb Ave in the historic Candler Park neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia.
History and Significance: Husband and wife co-owners and chefs Ron Eyester and Aaron Phillips opened Lazy Betty in 2015 to bring elevated American dining utilizing regional ingredients to their intown Atlanta neighborhood. The cozy eatery has garnered national acclaim.
What to Expect: Menus change with the seasons but showcase unexpected flavor combinations in plates like foie toast or carrot raviolo alongside small production wines and cocktails. Intimate dining room plus chef’s counter seating.
Visitor Information: Lazy Betty serves dinner Wednesday through Sunday nights by reservation in advance online. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
The sleek, contemporary setting of Lazy Betty in Candler Park attracts as much intrigue as its seasonally-driven plates elegantly plated with artistic precision. Menus focus on humble ingredients elevated by techniques like smoking and fermenting across dishes like dry aged duck breast with fermented sweet potato.
Don’t miss their signature Cornbread Grits GNU, a skillet baked creamy corn casserole that brilliantly bridges the humble and decadent. Inspired cocktails like Green Eye Rye with absinthe make worthy pairings too.
The Optimist
Name and Location: The Optimist is a popular seafood-focused restaurant located at 914 Howell Mill Rd in Atlanta’s Westside Provisions District.
History and Significance: Helmed by Chef Adam Evans, The Optimist has brought coastal cuisine with southern inspiration to the Westside Provisions neighborhood since opening in 2012. The airy industrial-chic eatery is critically acclaimed.
What to Expect: The Optimist menus feature seasonal seafood and shellfish prominently, seen in composed plates, raw bar offerings, wood-grilled items, and sides, complemented by signature craft cocktails.
Visitor Information: Dinner served Sunday-Thursday 5 to 10 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 5 to 11 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Valet parking available.
Seafood reigns supreme along Atlanta’s vibrant Westside Provisions District, especially at The Optimist drawing devotees for sustainably sourced catches impeccably prepared. Longtime fans still swoon over mainstay dishes like seafood towers piled high with oysters, lobster and accompaniments or classic fish-focused fare like seafood gumbo and whole fried fish.
More contemporary menu additions like crudo keep things interesting but you can’t go wrong with iconic favorites in their rustic-chic dining room either. Just arrive early to snag bar seats for access to their stellar raw bar and lobster rolls too.
Banshee Restaurant & Bar
Name and Location: Banshee Restaurant & Bar is located at 1170 Howell Mill Rd NW in Atlanta’s Westside Provisions District just north of Midtown.
History and Significance: James Beard Award winner and Top Chef alum Tory McPhail blends Louisiana ingredients and heritage into elevated Southern cuisine at this vibrant Atlanta restaurant opened in 2016, quickly becoming a local hot spot.
What to Expect: Louisiana flavors emerge in Banshee’s creative takes on dishes like gumbo or etouffee alongside Gulf seafood selections, best enjoyed with their New Orleans-inspired punches or craft cocktails in lively, friendly confines.
Visitor Information: Dinner served Sunday-Thursday 5 to 10 pm; Friday & Sat 5-11 pm. Weekend jazz brunch 10:30 am-3 pm. Reservations recommended.
Friendly, cozy neighborhood gem Banshee brings a distinctly Parisian flavor to Atlanta’s Inman Park area, magically transporting patrons with checkerboard floors, dangling lights and a sprawling ivy-coated patio. Their market menu indeed channels French bistro classics from beef tartare to mussels swimming in white wine broth and creamy chicken liver mousse begging to be spread on grilled bread.
Nightly specials might feature anything from duck confit to escargots too so leave room to discover a new favorite. And you can’t beat $6 wine pours during their weekday late afternoon happiest hour either.
Watershed Restaurant
Name and Location: Watershed Restaurant is located at 1820 Peachtree Road NW in Atlanta, Georgia in the Buckhead neighborhood.
History and Significance: Since opening in 2007, Watershed has earned awards for its contemporary farm-to-table Southern cuisine courtesy of chef Scott Peacock and scene-stealing interior design. The restaurant works closely with local farmers and purveyors.
What to Expect: Menus shift with Georgia’s seasonal bounty across delectable plates ranging from house-charcuterie to local fish or steaks. Their bar program also utilizes local spirits in creative craft cocktails suited for the cuisine.
Visitor Information: Watershed serves dinner nightly 5:30-10 pm plus Sunday brunch 11 am-2 pm. Reservations recommended, valet parking available. Closed Tuesdays.
Contemporary Southern flavors shine at Watershed with local ingredients sourced from close relationships with regional farmers and purveyors. Menus change with the season but might include elevated Southern staples like catfish over grit cake or duck confit terrine and Georgia trout with heritage grits cooked in ham-infused broth.
The sleek subterranean dining room in hip Peachtree Hills provides an ideal backdrop, accented by an award-wining wine list and craft cocktails like the “Half Baked” with brown butter bourbon and baked apple puree.
Bacchanalia
Name and Location: Bacchanalia is an award-winning American fine dining destination located at 1198 Howell Mill Rd NW in Atlanta.
History and Significance: Opened in 1993 by chef-owners Anne Quatrano and Cliff Harrison, Bacchanalia helped shape contemporary Southern cuisine with its seasonally inspired tasting menus sourced from regional farms and purveyors, earning critical acclaim as one of America’s best restaurants.
What to Expect: The storied dining room offers nightly-changing prix fixe menus spotlighting Quatrano’s refined techniques applied to top seasonal ingredients from Quinones Farm and elsewhere across the South in an elegant setting.
Visitor Information: Dinner served Wednesday-Saturday with two seatings at 6 and 8:30 pm. Reservations are required. Closed Sunday-Tuesday. Valet parking available.
Fine dining reaches rarified levels within Bacchanalia’s ivy-covered Buckhead cottage where menus span intricate tasting courses showing off pristine ingredients and impeccable technique. Dishes across appetizers, pasta, seafood, poultry, meat and dessert creatively intermingle flavors in revelatory ways diners continue craving long after.
Spring’s menu exemplifies their culinary brilliance with plates like sweet tea leaf smoked quail with celery root and honeynut squash ravioli bathed in brown butter vin jaune froth. Just go ready to indulge across the board.
Kimball House
Name and Location: Kimball House is located at 303 East Howard Ave in Decatur, Georgia.
History and Significance: Paying homage to Atlanta’s railroad and streetcar history, this bustling gastropub from the owners of Leon’s Full Service offers craft beers and elevated Southern bites in a historical Victorian structure since opening in 2013.
What to Expect: Handcrafted cocktails plus an extensive beer list shine alongside diverse Southern small plates ranging from fried chicken skins to trout dip or bread pudding fritters in an airy, laid-back space centered around a stunning bar.
Visitor Information: Open Tuesday 5 to 10 pm, Wednesday-Saturday 11 am to 10 pm (food served 11 am to 10 pm), plus brunch Sundays 10:30 am to 3 pm with full food menu until 10 pm.
The industrial Decatur space housing Kimball House transports diners back to Sunday family dinners in Grandma’s warm, comforting home. Hearty, heritage cooking techniques come through in cast iron-seared okra fries, chicken fried quail and stellar fried chicken on offer.
But creative Southern-inspired cocktails often steal the show, especially savory Sazerac spins. Gather around the welcoming bar to watch barkeeps mix and mingle for the quintessential down-home neighborhood experience with standout flavors.
Miller Union
Name and Location: Miller Union is located at 999 Brady Ave NW in the heart of Atlanta’s Westside neighborhood.
History and Significance: Open since 2009, chef and owner Steven Satterfield has made Miller Union into one of Atlanta’s premier dining destinations located in a converted warehouse, driven by seasonal sourcing from regional farms that shapes the New Southern menu.
What to Expect: Menus shift from outstanding homemade pastas to composed meat and fish entrees that merge Southern flavors with global techniques. Their energetic bar highlights small batch spirits in creative craft cocktails worth enjoying.
Visitor Information: Dinner Tuesday – Thursday plus Sunday 6 pm to 10 pm, Friday & Saturday 6 to 11 pm. Weekend brunch Saturday & Sunday 10 am to 2 pm. Reservations strongly recommended.
Every night at contemporary Southern eatery Miller Union promises a new dinner party thanks to a vibrant seasonal menu around a horseshoe bar and communal table ideal for connections. Dishes range from chicken liver pâté with pickled strawberries to diver scallops with grits, Swiss chard and ham jus from their live-fire kitchen.
Don’t miss creative vegetarian options either like cauliflower cooked over oak embers with cashew miso, compressed apples and mushrooms. Just follow any decadent meal with their to-die-for chocolate chess pie.
Conclusion
From heritage cooking techniques on Southern favorites to unexpected fusions channeling global flair, Atlanta’s dining scene captivates with ingenuity as much as tried-and-true staples. Exploring these top restaurants promises memorable meals spanning settings, cuisines and budgets to suit just about any taste so you can discover new favorite bites that showcase what makes the city such a celebrated food destination.