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This is a city known for its food; many a trip to Atlanta is planned around meals in its barbecue shacks, upscale diners, and chic urban eateries. Traditional Southern fare—including Cajun and creole, country-style and plantation cuisine, coastal and mountain dishes—thrives, as do Asian fusion, traditional Ethiopian, creative ve
This is a city known for its food; many a trip to Atlanta is planned around meals in its barbecue shacks, upscale diners, and chic urban eateries. Traditional Southern fare—including Cajun and creole, country-style and plantation cuisine, coastal and mountain dishes—thr
This is a city known for its food; many a trip to Atlanta is planned around meals in its barbecue shacks, upscale diners
This is a city known for its food; many a trip to Atlanta is planned around meals in its barbecue shacks, upscale diners, and chic urban eateries. Traditional Southern fare—including Cajun and creole, country-style and plantation cuisine, coastal and mountain dishes—thrives, as do Asian fusion, traditional Ethiopian, creative vegan, and mouth-scorching Indian food. Catch the flavor of the South at breakfast and lunch in diners and other modest establishments that serve only these meals.
Many restaurants will accept you just as you are; dress codes are extremely rare in this casual city, except in the chicest of spots. Although many restaurants accept reservations, some popular spots operate on a first-come, first-served basis on weekends. Waits at some hot dining locales can exceed an hour, especially if you arrive after 7 pm.
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Midtown and Westside
Sweet Auburn, the Old Fourth Ward, and East Atlanta
This place serves classic Italian dishes in a beautiful setting that still recalls old-school neighborhood dining. Count on regulars like bruschetta and spaghetti with meatballs to be elevated beyond basic but without being too fancy. The catch of the day is always something deliciously special.
Inspired by Jarrett Stieber’s pop-up, Eat Me, Speak Me at S.O.S. Tiki Bar in Decatur, the restaurant is named after his dog, a Great Pyrenees. Located beside the old Turner Field stadium that now belongs to Georgia State University, Little Bear boasts creative and themed menu items and unique cocktails—which sometimes come in cute plastic honey bear jars.
Local celebrities and ordinary folks line up for the country-fried steak and fried chicken here. In the Southern tradition, the servers will call you "honey" and pat your arm to assure you that everything's all right. It's a great way to experience Southern food and hospitality all at once.
224 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta, Georgia, 30308, USA
The Southern-inflected menu here emphasizes locally sourced food. A highlight is the farm egg baked in celery cream with rustic bread; it's one of the best dishes in town. The rest of the menu is just as good, like the delicious grilled pork loin and seasonal vegetable plate.
Kandi Burruss-Tucker (of Real Housewives of Atlanta fame) brings the flavors and hospitality of her Georgia upbringing to this Castleberry Hill hot spot, serving generous portions of soul food staples in a relaxed setting. Despite its reality-TV roots, the decor and atmosphere are homey here, and you’ll be tempted to stay all day.
ATLiens (both meat eating and vegan) were delighted when this popular food truck expanded to a brick-and-mortar Westview location in early 2019. The mission behind its coquettish name is to prove that plant eaters can still indulge in good, rich food, and, with a menu of charbroiled Impossible Burgers loaded with special sauce, vegan cheese, sweet plantains and more, Slutty Vegan achieves just that. Lines out the door at this fun and lively place mean long waits and a fairly limited menu, but the food is worth it.
1542 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd., Atlanta, Georgia, 30310, USA
For an adventurous take on Italian cuisine, visit this former commercial space that hops with young, hip patrons dining on seafood risotto, spaghetti with sun-dried mullet roe, and utterly perfect panna cotta (custard).
313 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta, Georgia, 30307, USA
Vegan comfort food and plant-based barbecue dishes are served up in a no-frills diner setting, with mac and cheese (made with soy cheese), cauliflower and tofu steaks, and kalebone (a wheat-gluten protein) topping the menu. The original location (on Ralph David Abernathy Blvd.) serves similar fare but buffet-style, with more limited daily choices.
652 N. Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30306, USA
The culinary traditions of South Carolina inspire the dishes served at this cheerful restaurant. This is the place in the city to try out Southern staples like fried green tomatoes, she-crab soup, and buttermilk fried chicken. In the heart of the Crescent Avenue entertainment district, the spare, art-filled restaurant attracts a hip crowd.
Staplehouse was a true staple of Atlanta, with its 2016 James Beard finalist for Best New Restaurant and charitable status widely known. In 2020, the lauded restaurant became a market. The fresh charcuterie is a holdover from the full-service menu, but some new offerings such as pork loin with tortillas hit the spot. Buy what you need and take it to go, or sit out on the garden patio while you eat.
Don't let the long lines outside this counter-service eatery discourage you. They move quickly, and once you get in you'll be rewarded with a full bar, a wide selection of tacos and enchiladas, and unusual sides like spicy collard greens and jalapeño coleslaw. You can also sample a fabulous trio of salsas and not-to-be-missed chunky guacamole. Don't grab a table before you order or you'll get glares from those waiting in line.
1200-B Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta, Georgia, 30318, USA
The Ted in question is CNN founder Ted Turner, who has left a significant mark on this city, and Atlantans feel a sense of ownership for this chain specializing in bison meat. Tin ceilings, a cheerful waitstaff, and mahogany paneling add to the comfortable feel. The restaurant is located near a street named for the Atlanta icon, dedicated in 2015.
Scrappy and lots of fun, this bar has a hearty menu of classic pub food. A favorite here is the Greenie Meanie Chicken, a grilled chicken breast topped with roasted poblano peppers and salsa verde. In the back bar you'll see the country's best up-and-coming indie acts.
488 Flat Shoals Ave., Atlanta, Georgia, 30316, USA
For top-notch seafood, head to this restaurant in a dazzlingly refurbished warehouse space. You can slurp raw oysters on the half shell from the oyster bar or dive into the seafood gumbo, which has dark, complex gravy and is full of meaty hunks of crab. The restaurant has a lively atmosphere (there's a putting green out front) and can get a bit noisy in the middle of dinner.
Software engineer Jeff Varasano was 14 when he set the country's Rubik's Cube record, and he's since changed gears to accomplish the feat of building the perfect pizza. The thin, lightly charred pies are created by closely following Varasano's intense instructions, including the use of an 800ºF oven. The restaurant also serves pastas, salads, and rich Italian doughnuts.
2171 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30309, USA
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