Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison's Bacchanalia in Atlanta opened 1993 and remains the city's longest-running fine-dining benchmark, with farm-driven New American cooking.
Signature dishes: Crab fritter, Tasting menu
Must order: The crab fritter, an institution since opening night.
Tip: Bacchanalia moved to West Midtown's Westside Provisions in 2008 and Ellsworth in 2024. Reservations on Resy.
Address: 1460 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd NW Bldg G #1, Atlanta, GA 30318
Chef Steven Satterfield's modern Southern room in Atlanta's West Midtown opened 2009 and won a James Beard Best Chef Southeast in 2017 for produce-driven cooking.
Signature: Farm egg with grits, Sea island red peas
Order: The farm egg with grits and roasted vegetables; the menu shifts weekly.
Tip: Lunch is the quieter seat. Resy reservations open 30 days out; the bar takes walk-ins.
Ford Fry's Howell Mill Road seafood room in Atlanta opened 2012 in an old smokehouse, with a raw bar and wood-grill anchoring West Midtown dining.
Signature: Wood-fired fish, Oysters, Lobster roll
Order: Oysters and the wood-grilled fish of the day.
Tip: The oyster bar takes walk-ins; the dining room reserves on Resy. The takeaway window does lobster rolls and chowder.
Chef Steven Satterfield's modern Southern room in Atlanta's West Midtown opened 2009 and won a James Beard Best Chef Southeast in 2017 for produce-driven cooking.
Signature: Farm egg with grits, Sea island red peas
Order: The farm egg with grits and roasted vegetables; the menu shifts weekly.
Tip: Lunch is the quieter seat. Resy reservations open 30 days out; the bar takes walk-ins.
Ford Fry's Howell Mill Road seafood room in Atlanta opened 2012 in an old smokehouse, with a raw bar and wood-grill anchoring West Midtown dining.
Signature: Wood-fired fish, Oysters, Lobster roll
Order: Oysters and the wood-grilled fish of the day.
Tip: The oyster bar takes walk-ins; the dining room reserves on Resy. The takeaway window does lobster rolls and chowder.
Bones steakhouse in Buckhead, Atlanta opened 1979 and remains the city's classic white-tablecloth chophouse, with dry-aged steaks and Wine Spectator Grand Award wine list.
Signature: Bone-in ribeye, Lobster Savannah
Order: The dry-aged bone-in ribeye, with the Lobster Savannah as the seafood add.
Tip: Dress code: jackets preferred. Mondays through Saturdays; closed Sundays. Reservations a week ahead on OpenTable.
Kimball House in Decatur, Atlanta opened 2013 inside a converted 19th-century train station, with the city's deepest oyster selection and a James Beard nominated bar.
Signature: Oysters, Absinthe service, Patate dauphine
Order: Two dozen oysters and the absinthe drip service.
Tip: Reservations on Resy; the bar takes walk-ins until late. Sunday Happy Hour 17:00 to 18:30 is the under-the-radar bargain.
Staplehouse in Old Fourth Ward, Atlanta opened 2015 inside a converted carriage house and runs a chef's tasting under the nonprofit Giving Kitchen umbrella with profit reinvested.
Signature: Chef's tasting menu, Seasonal small plates
Order: The chef's tasting menu; the menu rotates with the seasons.
Tip: Profits fund The Giving Kitchen, supporting Atlanta hospitality workers in crisis. Reservations on Tock 30 days out.
Paschal's in Atlanta has served soul food since 1947, when brothers Robert and James Paschal opened on Hunter Street. The civil rights movement met here; SCLC was anchored at the bar.
Signature: Fried chicken, Collard greens, Peach cobbler
Order: Fried chicken plate with collard greens, mac and cheese, candied yams.
Tip: The current Castleberry Hill location since 2002 expanded with a banquet space; the original Hunter Street site is preserved at Clark Atlanta.
