Ford Fry's West Midtown steakhouse in Atlanta opened 2017 and is a Michelin Bib Gourmand pick. Pre-war Paris referenced in the room, dry-aged beef on the menu.
Signature dishes: Dry-aged steaks, Pommes Anna
Must order: The dry-aged ribeye, pommes Anna and a Martini.
Tip: The lounge takes walk-ins with the full menu. Reservations on Resy; weekend bookings fill ten days out.
Address: 1170 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Cooks and Soldiers in West Midtown, Atlanta opened 2014 with a wood-fired Basque menu of pintxos, plancha plates and the prized txuleton steak from Castro and Castro Spain.
Signature: Wood-grilled txuleton steak, Pintxos, Tortilla espanola
Order: The whole txuleton steak (for two) with pommes frites; pintxos to start.
Tip: Pintxos hour 16:00 to 18:00 Sunday through Thursday is the bargain entry to the kitchen. Resy reservations open 30 days out.
Yet Tuh on Old Chamblee Tucker Road in Doraville, Atlanta is the corridor's canonical Korean barbecue room since 2008, with charcoal-grill tabletop service and twelve banchan.
Signature: Charcoal-grill galbi, Banchan spread, Soondubu jjigae
Order: Galbi (marinated short rib) cooked at the table, with the full banchan service.
Tip: Reservations recommended on weekends. The charcoal-grill (sutpul) is the upgrade over gas tables; ask at booking.
So Kong Dong in Doraville, Atlanta's Buford Highway corridor, runs Korean comfort food: soondubu (silken tofu stew) at clay-pot temperature, galbi and bulgogi.
Signature: Soondubu jjigae, Galbi, Bulgogi
Order: The soondubu jjigae with seafood or beef. Order an egg on the side; crack it into the bubbling stew.
Tip: Lunch is busy with H Mart shoppers; dinner is quieter. Cash and card; family-friendly with high chairs.
El Taco Veloz on Buford Highway in Doraville, Atlanta has run a 24-hour taqueria since 1991 with al pastor, carne asada and lengua on hand-pressed corn tortillas.
Signature: Tacos al pastor, Carne asada burritos, Lengua tacos
Order: Three al pastor tacos and a Mexican Coke. Lengua tacos for the adventurous order.
Tip: Open 24 hours; the late-night hot sauce bar runs five salsas. The Cobb Parkway and Roswell locations close earlier than Doraville.
Cooks and Soldiers in West Midtown, Atlanta opened 2014 with a wood-fired Basque menu of pintxos, plancha plates and the prized txuleton steak from Castro and Castro Spain.
Signature: Wood-grilled txuleton steak, Pintxos, Tortilla espanola
Order: The whole txuleton steak (for two) with pommes frites; pintxos to start.
Tip: Pintxos hour 16:00 to 18:00 Sunday through Thursday is the bargain entry to the kitchen. Resy reservations open 30 days out.
Poor Calvin's in Midtown Atlanta opened 2010 with chef Calvin Phan's mash-up of Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese plates. Lobster pad Thai has been a city signature for over a decade.
Signature: Lobster pad Thai, Crispy whole snapper, Black pepper steak
Order: Lobster pad Thai, the dish that put Calvin Phan on the city's map.
Tip: Cash and card. Reservations on OpenTable; Saturday night books a week ahead. Casual atmosphere despite the price.
The Iberian Pig in downtown Decatur, Atlanta runs Spanish tapas and Iberico-leaning plates since 2009. The pork belly cubano sandwich became its long-running calling card.
Signature: Pork belly cubano, Patatas bravas, Bacon-wrapped dates
Order: The pork belly cubano, bacon-wrapped Medjool dates and patatas bravas.
Tip: Reservations on Resy. Buckhead and Glenwood Park sister locations stay open later than Decatur.
