The one thing every great dining scene has in common? Both high brow and down home restaurants that are ridiculously pleasing and yum. Atlanta has plenty of each in spades. To prove it, I made a list of the top 10 dishes in Atlanta I’m loving right now. They run the gamut.
To enjoy this list, you have to believe (like me!) there’s nothing wrong with loving cheese grits as much as caviar service. Breakfast burritos as much as steak frites. A meatloaf melt as much as a fancy wild boar terrine.
After all, the true cosmopolitan can find pleasure in just about anything. For instance, it reminds me of Liz Moore McDermott, who always serves tater tots at her fancy dinner parties. Or, Christy Plott who reminded me when I started this blog that you can be five-star and dive bar, baby. it also makes me think of this great quote:
“There can be beauty anywhere. Even here.
-Moira Young
An if it ain’t there, you can make it yerself.”
In that spirit, I put together a tasty list of top 10 dishes in Atlanta that go from down home to high brow back to down home. There is skill, creativity and deliciousness in all 10. It’s why if these 10 restaurants don’t have a reservation that’s almost impossible to get, then they’ve got a queue of fans out front on the reg.
Take a look at the lineup and then tell me in the comments below—What else did I miss that we all need to try?
HIGH BROW: Lobster and Shellfish Roast ($95 or $160) at The Betty
Buckhead, Ga.
Inside the trendy, kitschy Kimpton Sylvan Hotel is this dashing dining establishment with plush blue banquettes that make me want to curl up all cozy-like. This seafood extravaganza is a treat and semi-interactive. Everyone can dig in because it’s family style. I adore a big expensive dish that everyone can share. There may be none better in the whole city. Moreover, don’t leave this hotel without heading upstairs to St. Julep. The rooftop lounge is its own delight.
DOWN HOME: Breakfast Burritos ($8) at Poco Loco
Reynoldstown, Ga.
The Downtown Julie Brown, the Dansby Swanson, the Brangelina. Chef Nick Melvin’s expressive burritos change every week, along with their funny names. But there’s nothing silly about their taste. Housemade tortillas are filled with high-end local ingredients (Moore’s farm eggs, Pine Street Market chicken sausage) and tons of flavor. Turns out, there’s a reason for the perma-line out front every weekend. Trust me.
HIGH BROW: Crispy Artichokes at Lyla Lila
Midtown
If you’re trying to go see anything at The Fox, snag reservations here first. The swanky resto is vegetable forward, but Chef Craig Richards’ proteins are equally incredible. I don’t know if it came from growing up in the South, but I’m a sucker for fried vegetables. These are light and lovely. Nothing dripping in grease or too heavy on the batter. But then again, everything at this Italian spot is a dream.
DOWN HOME: The Suffolk ($13) at Emerald City Bagels
East Atlanta, Ga
Don’t sleep on The Suffolk at this adorable bagel shop. It’s a tasty concoction of Scottish lox, capers, red onion and your choice of spread on your favorite bagel. I go Sesame seed, but you can diverge and it will still be ridiculously good. The inside of this shop is so doggone cute. It looks a lot like Russ & Daughter’s in New York City. All the staff wear white coats and little white hats with green piping, which looks like something out of Oz or Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Plus, the fonts and signage are a graphic designer’s dream.
HIGH BROW: La Bavette a l’Echalote ($44) at Le Bilboquet
Buckhead
This Parisian paradise has a knack for the classic French dish: Flank steak with frites. It arrives in a shallot sauce with loads of slender, salty French fries on the side. Furthermore, I love the people watching inside or out of this Buckhead Village District haute spot. The cuisine is intensely traditional and well executed—it recalls dining in the historic Marché Saint-Germain district. Well… almost.
DOWN HOME: The Latkes ($12) at Little Bear
Summerhill, Ga.
Little Bear straddles the line between down home and high brow. The food is elevated and wildly creative. However, the vibe is so chill and the ambiance so low key, you may not realize that the creative food could be from a fine dining concept in a ritzier part of town. The price points are so inviting that I’ve ordered almost the entire menu every time I’ve stopped in. I’d love to name one latke that stuns, but they change weekly and they’ve all been outstanding. As of this writing, the root veg latke is on the menu. It’s chermoulah, black vinegar dressing and daikon. You can glam it up with caviar yogurt for an extra $5.
HIGH BROW: Black Magic at O-Ku ($21)
Westside, Ga.
I’m kind of a sucker for box-style sushi. You don’t see it everywhere (mostly at the higher end sushi joints) and it is always so beautifully done. This particular dish will cast a spell on you with its mix of lobster, shrimp, squid ink rice, masago aioli and scallion. It’s a menu staple.
DOWN HOME: Southern Fried Chicken ($21) at The Colonnade
Morningside – Lenox Park
Hellllooooo… This Atlanta institution is not closed or closing. I don’t know where you heard that. But I think it was in trouble during the early pandemic. However Atlantans raised $100,000 to save it. Now, it ain’t fancy. But it’s also not so cheap. The Southern fried chicken is what has kept them famous for the last 95 years.
HIGH BROW: Wild Boar Terrine ($16) at Tiny Lou’s
Old Fourth Ward, Ga.
Just the location alone is the perfect mix of low brow and high end. Tucked in the basement of The Hotel Clermont, Tiny Lou’s is French fine dining at its best. But for those Atlantans who have been around a minute, they know this used to be one of the city’s dingiest, and most beloved strip clubs. To now enjoy perfectly executed wild boar terrine with mustard here is something I never thought would happen. It’s an experience for sure.
DOWN HOME: Meatloaf Melt with Pimento Cheese and Bacon Jam at Wonderkid
Reynoldstown, Ga.
This groovy ’70s diner makes me nostalgic for skating rink lounges and cassette tapes. I love coming here for its whimsical take on decor, food and drinks. The food lineup is old fashioned fun served up by deft chef hands. This meatloaf melt is no joke. If you like comfort food, you will be a fast fan. It comes with “fancy greens,” which every Southerner loves.
If you like this list, you may like my article, 10 of the Best High-End and Low-Brow Restaurants in Atlanta.
