190 Best Restaurants in Georgia, USA

In the heart of the historic Sandfly neighborhood lies this "casual coastal" eatery where folks from the surrounding islands come to unwind. Choose from small dishes like firecracker shrimp tacos, turkey club wrap, or tuna tataki salad for lunch or dinner; larger entrées like grilled mahi mahi and pan-seared scallops are available after 5 pm. It's a place to enjoy great food without having to change out of your flip-flops!

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.

Live music and a twist on the standard date night keep this place bustling on weekends. The menu consists of tapas such as patatas bravas con romesco (potatoes with olive oil and a spicy sauce) and ceviche. The only real entrées are a roasted whole fish and a traditional paella overflowing with fresh seafood, chicken, and chorizo. The restaurant is at the very end of the Miami Circle design center.

Columbus’s only four-star fine-dining restaurant, this gem on the banks of the Chattahoochee River has racked up heaps of awards for its culinary chops, outstanding service and warm ambience. Chef-owner Jamie Keating and his wife Melissa have created a literary themed dining experience based on the freshest locally sourced and high quality ingredients. The menu is playfully organized like a book with a preface, chapters, and an index (dessert), guiding guests through a personalized four-course pre-fixe epicurean journey. For a true foodie experience, book the kitchen-side Chef’s Table with it’s ever-evolving tasting menu specially curated by Chef Keating. Reservations are recommended.

A great place to grab a bite after a long day power-lounging on the beach, this beachside eatery is a favorite with locals and visitors alike. The menu lists simple favorites like sandwiches, burgers, and fried seafood, but all are prepared exceedingly well. The pizza menu includes some interesting choices, including pies topped with salmon or scallops and bacon.

Restauranteurs Ele and Sean Tran brought Asian-style street food to Savannah with their menu that boasts everything from sushi rolls to noodle soups, and some of the best sweet-and-spicy chicken wings in town. Occupying a bright, hypermodern space, this eatery offers an offbeat alternative to the slow-paced Southern Savannah feel. Enjoy a quick meal in the dining room, stop by when you have a late-night craving, or order a few of the small plates to go.

A local staple, this quintessential coastal restaurant, which overlooks the Sapelo River as it runs to the Sapelo Sound, offers fresh-from-the docks seafood dishes and surf-and-turf specialties. Menu favorites include the seafood linguine with Sapelo Sea Farms clams and whole fried Altamaha River catfish with hush puppies, local shrimp, and deviled crab. Live music is regularly offered on the weekends.

There's a long wait on weekends at this spot, which is famous for its biscuits served with cranberry-apple butter. Dinners may include roasted chicken or turkey meat loaf with pudge (mashed potatoes). There are also plenty of vegetarian options. Next door is a bakery serving biscuits to go, as well as freshly baked muffins and cookies; but be aware, the bakery closes at 2 pm.

Noodle, rice, and soup dishes from across Asia come together on the eclectic, flavorful menu at the Flying Monk. The well-appointed space and laid-back atmosphere complement the savory dishes. Start with vegetarian-friendly edamame dumplings or the meaty braised pork belly. Move on to the signature Vietnamese pho or Japanese ramen noodle soups. For those interested in a traditional rice dish, the curry can't be beat.

At one of Clayton's designated "farm-to-table" restaurants, chef-driven Southern cuisine highlights the region's best produce, meats, and spirits in a relaxed, down-to-earth environment. With exposed brick walls and a small wooden bar you'll want to huddle around, Fortify is simply about good food, fun cocktails, and a wine list that includes a few local selections. Menu favorites include fried green tomatoes, cornmeal-crusted trout, Dr. Pepper–braised lamb shank, and the Fortified Salad with warm bacon vinaigrette.  Reservations are a must in the fall when the mountains are packed with leaf lookers.

This long-established coffee haunt and art enclave features a steady rotation of local artists, with house-made pastries, cheesecakes, muffins, scones, and luscious desserts. Gallery Espresso is a real neighborhood joint and a popular destination for art students, and the comfortable vintage couches and chairs are a great place to curl up with a book.

This well-appointed restaurant is known to locals and travelers alike for its contemporary cuisine and Italian classics at reasonable prices. Dark wood and burnished tin ceilings evoke a romantic brasserie. Ask your knowledgeable and professional server to offer wine pairings.

The fresh gulf seafood served at this longtime family-owned restaurant is as good as you can find anywhere. Try the broiled shrimp, cooked in olive oil with a smattering of fresh garlic; fresh mullet dinner; or combination platter with homemade deviled crab, shrimp, oysters, scallops, and flounder. The fried green tomatoes sprinkled with feta are cooked to perfection, and the burgers are a local favorite. Vintage music from the '40s plays on the sound system, and there's outdoor dining under umbrellas.

This colonnaded restaurant inside the Jekyll Island Club maintains a tradition of fine dining first established in the 19th century. Signature dishes are the rack of lamb, duck breast, and filet mignon, all seasoned differently depending on the season. Offering unique twists on Southern classics, the menu also includes local seafood and upscale takes on regional dishes such as shrimp and grits. A huge fireplace, views of the pool, and sparkling silver and crystal all contribute to the old-world atmosphere.

Serving one of the best burgers in the state, this casual haunt draws diners from far and wide for its grass-fed beef—though vegetarians will find satisfaction with the hearty meatless patties. Everything from the coffee to the produce is locally sourced, and even the ketchup is made in-house. There is a revolving public art installation in the drive-thru section out back.

Be prepared to wait a few minutes for a table or grab a seat at the bar.

Shimmering stained glass, stunning woodwork, and magnificent decor make this old-time pharmacy one of the most handsome settings in town. Delectable sandwiches and salads are the main bill of fare, but for more ambitious selections, opt for the ratatouille and shrimp orzo, served with locally caught wild Georgia shrimp.

Focused on local and seasonal cuisine, this popular Blue Ridge restaurant even harvests its own specialty produce, eggs, and honey. Chef-owner Danny Mellman and his wife, Michelle Moran, have created a sophisticated yet down-to-earth culinary destination housed in an airy cedar "cabin" downtown. The menu features soups, salads, and entrées like seared duck breast with mashed sweet potatoes, seared locally caught trout, and hand-cut New York strip. The lunch menu offers a variety of sandwiches like the Blue Ridge Hot Brown. Decadent desserts, craft beers, and carefully curated wines round out the menu. Farm-to-table dinners and cooking classes are regularly offered.

From the same owners as Foxy Loxy and the Coffee Fox, this wide-open, family-oriented café offers a place for kids to explore the art project of the day while parents enjoy some caffeine. The menu also includes vegan donuts, grab-and-go sandwiches, and the in-house bakery's famous kolaches.

Head to Hofer's for authentic, stone-hearth, oven-baked breads and pastries, as well as specialties like Wiener schnitzel and bratwurst. On weekends May through mid-November, grab a table at the outdoor biergarten and enjoy live music along with your meal. Although there are several "tourist trap" German restaurants in Helen, this longtime local favorite is the real deal.

Don't fill up on the tortilla chips at this Tex-Mex joint. They are so tasty that you might miss the rest of the menu, which includes vegan and vegetarian options, as well as standards like fish tacos and fajitas. A big patio makes this a big sunny-day draw, especially with the organic margaritas featuring rotating flavors fresh from local farmers' markets.

Southern comfort food at its finest can be found at this bright, old-school diner. Cheese grits with a good cheddar bite, fluffy biscuits that can be stuffed with anything from sausage and gravy to perfectly fried chicken, and hunks of made-from-scratch cake are just a few of the reasons locals flock to Home grown. Before you leave, browse the in-house thrift store—an appropriate backdrop to the eclectic atmosphere and crowd at this restaurant.  Arrive before 11 for the shortest wait, or grab a seat at the counter.

As Southern food goes, Huey's is decidedly more New Orleans than Coastal Georgia, as you'll discover with one bite of the sinfully rich beignets served with praline sauce—they are a taste of perfection. Although lunch and dinner items like po'boys and muffaletta accompanied by red beans and rice are delicious, the breakfast and brunch menu is the highlight.

Housed in a historic bank building, this fun little café offers house-roasted coffee drinks, pastries, sandwiches, desserts, and other quick bites for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—or anytime in between. Grab a seat in one of the original bank vaults inside or a street-side table outside to enjoy your treat. In addition to coffee, there's also wine and beer.

Locals line up for a table at this extremely popular locally owned eatery where seafood is the specialty, of course. Jonah's signature rich and creamy white cheddar grits, Parmesan-crusted rainbow trout, and deep-fried catfish with hush puppies are customer favorites. There are plenty of options for landlubbers, and a kids' menu, too. Wash it all down with a glass of sweet tea—wine or beer is not on the menu. The service is prompt and welcoming to all.