190 Best Restaurants in Georgia, USA

Antico offers a big slice of cheesy, saucy, chewy, Naples-style heaven. The communal tables, as well as the Italian opera on the stereo, give the place a convivial vibe. The best seats are inside the kitchen, where you can watch the wood-burning ovens. Try the enormous Pomodorini pie, with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, garlic, and basil. This place is popular, so be prepared for long lines.

Often called the city's best restaurant, Bacchanalia focuses on locally grown organic produce and seasonal ingredients. The current Westside location, a renovated warehouse with 20-foot ceilings, is decorated in deep, inviting tones. A four-course prix-fixe menu allows diners to taste all that the restaurant offers.

When you see the lilac building, you’ll know you’re in the right place. Inside, say hello to the giant neon sign that reads “Fancy Service,” and settle into the eccentric atmosphere. Bon Ton is perfect for a night on the town—starting or capping off the evening with a round of fun cocktails—or digging into Cajun-style food with Vietnamese flair. Try the boiled peanuts appetizer, then indulge in a blackened catfish banh mi. Afterwards, head upstairs to The Waiting Room speakeasy for more unique cocktails.

Small-batch ice cream is made on-site at this old-school ice-cream-parlor in downtown Decatur. Batches of seasonal and inventive flavors accompany the classics, as well as brownies, cookies, and killer ice-cream sandwiches, like the East Pole Coffee ice cream on a double chocolate cookie.

The first farm-to-table restaurant in Savannah, Cha Bella continues to serve only dishes made with the finest local ingredients, so even if you've been here recently, there may be some surprises. With no walk-in freezer, all ingredients must be used within three days of delivery, so the menu is guaranteed to be fresh. The decor is contemporary and comfortable, but the real dining experience is found outside on the patio during the spring and fall. This is also a great spot for a cocktail or dessert, and they sometimes play classic movies on the patio against the wall of the building.

Specializing in locally roasted PERC coffee, house-made baked goods, and craft beers, the Coffee Fox is a great stop whether you're on the run or looking to perch. The cold brew will win the hearts of coffee aficionados in the hot summer months. The popular Mexican Mocha is a sweet and spicy twist on the traditional mocha and features local chocolatier Adam Turoni's dark chocolate with a kick.

Modeled after the cozy coffee cafés of Melbourne, Australia, this bustling locale serves espresso, cold brew, and its famous spiced lavender mochas, as well as a curated menu that features favorites like smashed avocado toast at brunch and duck confit, served alongside fingerling potatoes and oyster mushrooms, at dinner. The beer selection includes favorites from craft breweries around the country, and the wines are carefully selected from some of the world's most unique regions to complement the food. With high ceilings and beautiful natural light, this airy spot is very photogenic.

This elegant turn-of-the-20th-century mansion has been feeding regional specialties to Savannah's upper crust for decades. Chef Kelly Yambor has helmed the kitchen since 1996, and she masters dishes like Georgia shrimp and Savannah red rice, a double-cut Berkshire pork chop with apple-cabbage slaw, and local grouper Celeste (with a sesame-almond crust). Splurge for the chef's seven-course tasting menu—you won't regret it. Definitely ask for wine recommendations, as the wine cellar is massive and the staff is knowledgeable. The service is also impeccable. This is a local favorite for special occasions or just to get away from the hubbub.

This cozy yet sophisticated restaurant put the Athens culinary scene on the map almost two decades ago with chef Hugh Acheson's inventive cuisine that blends European technique with down-home Southern cooking. Acheson, an Ottawa native, honed his culinary skills in classical French kitchens in Ontario and San Francisco before settling in Athens. His cooking has garnered numerous regional and national accolades, including a James Beard Award. Five and Ten’s seasonal menu draws from local sources and includes updated Southern classics such as pimento cheese with bacon marmalade; veal sweetbread with Red Mule grits custard and succotash; and Lowcountry Frogmore stew with shrimp, mussels and potatoes.

Here's what pays the bills here: brisket, pulled pork, fried pickles, and an artery-cloggin' take on tater tots, served smothered in Brunswick stew and melted cheese. Try to get a seat on the patio, a great place to soak up sun and sip a cold beer. Unfortunately, you may have to hunt for parking first.

A full-service coffee shop featuring lovingly-crafted lattes and a Tex-Mex menu, Foxy Loxy is the always-busy hangout for students, artists, and entrepreneurs. Order a horchata and take your laptop out to the courtyard, where a koi pond, acoustic music, and Saturday night s'mores parties at the firepit invite folks to lounge in the open air.

This elegant garden-level spot is moody but bright and cozy, and the menu is chock-full of delicious treats for any time of day. The quiche is some of the richest in town, the homemade tomato soup will knock your socks off, and the Butcher's B.L.T. features thick-cut bacon and soft sourdough. Grab yourself a boozy coffee drink to go (or any other kind of espresso drink to suit your taste), and peruse the gift section while you wait for your order to come up.

The General Muir is inspired by New York Jewish delis. From the subway tiles lining the walls to fresh-baked bagels made in-house by TGM Bread, it is the ultimate homage. The General Muir thrives during brunch with classics such as omelets and French toast. But they also offer well-known and loved Jewish cuisines—matzah ball soup, latkes, and lox, to name a few. The coffee bar is always ready and able to make a variety of drinks as well.

In a restored Greyhound bus depot, James Beard Award–winner Chef Mashama Bailey and her talented team create gorgeous dishes that fuse Southern cuisine with European inspiration. Whether you're tucked in the more casual diner bar or perched in the luster of the art deco–inspired dining room, service is impeccable, and the ever-changing menu offers sumptuously made mains from water, earth, and sky.

Chef-owner Dave Snyder's devotion to quality and homemade dishes (everything but the ketchup is made on the premises) has earned this elegant but relaxed restaurant a faithful following of discerning locals. Halyards, his flagship, is focused on the finest seasonal and local ingredients. Headliners of the changing menu include Georgia white shrimp and grits, Southern fried chicken, and a tender and decadent filet mignon with roasted garlic-herb butter. 

With its warm exposed brick walls and folk art decor, this local favorite specializes in Southern-inspired, from-scratch cooking. Everything, from the salad dressings to the bread, is made in-house. The menu offers a variety of salads, sandwiches, and "meat and three" mix and match entrées like fried catfish or meatloaf with your choice of veggies. Other specialties include shrimp and grits and grilled salmon with asparagus and sweet potato soufflé. The Moon Roof upstairs and Dark Side of the Moon Bar next door feature live music and late-night bar bites.

Drink and eat like the locals do at this eccentric, come-as-you-are spot. With walls covered in vintage signs, records, and various trash and treasure, guests enjoy a great breeze on a large porch or in the screened-in restaurant as they tuck into slices or 18-inch stone-baked pies loaded with tantalizing ingredients and unique combinations; the beer is ice-cold and best enjoyed in pitchers, and the prices can't be beat.

A coffee shop, restaurant and market all in one, Le Bon Nosh is all elegance and French flair. As soon as you step into the stunning, open space, you’re immediately transported. The aesthetics wow, but the service, food and drinks are memorable as well. Everything is simple yet dynamic, made with the freshest local ingredients. Pastries are made in-house, ranging from savory to sweet, and the espresso bar is a must.

One of the best ice-cream parlors in the area is Leopold's, a Savannah institution since 1919. It's owned by Stratton Leopold, grandson of the original owner and the producer of films like Mission: Impossible III. Posters and paraphernalia from his films make for an entertaining sideline to the selection of ice cream made with the old family recipe, methods, and ingredients. Try the delicious lemon custard or honey almond and cream flavors, or unique seasonal inventions like rose petal cream, Guinness, and mint-lime sorbet. The added lunch offerings, like soups and salads, are surprisingly delicious.

With three locations around Atlanta, Little Tart’s flagship store in Grant Park is beloved for many reasons. The first being the multitude of pastries and drinks offered, and the second being its prime location convenient to everything from Zoo Atlanta to Oakland Cemetery. With a humble start at local farmer’s markets, Little Tart now offers everything from classic croissants to galettes and scones. And, of course, tarts, their namesake. Pair a pastry with one of the many coffee and tea options offered, including the summer favorite iced strawberry matcha drink.

This farm-to-table staple features an upbeat and contemporary menu that draws young chefs on their nights off. Seasonally driven, the menu is continually changing depending on the local harvest and the chef's vision, but dishes tend to be perfectly prepared and presented. The seasonal relish plate, spicy mussels, and grilled ribeye are highly recommended, as are Local's celebrated scallops. With dessert, take in the fine-art installations on the walls, which rotate regularly to feature the best local talent.

The gold standard for authentic Southern fare in Savannah has kept folks lined up to enjoy family-style offerings at big tables for decades. Mrs. Wilkes's granddaughter and great-grandson are keeping it a family affair in more ways than one (kids under 10 eat for half-price). The famous fried chicken is served daily along with a rotating range of other proteins like beef pot roast and barbecued pulled pork, complimented by more than 20 fresh and delicious sides, including collard greens, cucumber salad, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and sweet-potato soufflé. Wear your stretchy pants, and be sure to save some space for dessert. But plan ahead: Mrs. Wilkes' is only open on weekdays between 11 and 2, and whole tables of 12 must be seated together, so you may have to wait, but you won't regret it.

This Georgian mansion was built in 1771 for James Habersham, one of the wealthiest Americans of his time, and the historic atmosphere comes through in the original Georgia pine floors of the tavern, the Venetian chandeliers, and the 18th-century English antiques. The menu is just as classic and Southern, with chicken potpie, shrimp and grits, and sweet potato biscuits gracing the menu. A lovely bar has curvaceous doors that can be flung open on balmy nights for outdoor seating. Rumor has it that between the months of October and April, you may see the ghost of Mr. Habersham in the tavern, so keep your eyes peeled. For a more intimate experience, head downstairs to the Planter's Tavern, where the dining area is flanked by two large fireplaces.