Seafood$$$west-midtownMon-Thu 17:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-23:00, Sun 17:00-22:00
Ford Fry's Howell Mill Road seafood room in Atlanta opened 2012 in an old smokehouse, with a raw bar and wood-grill anchoring West Midtown dining.
Signature: Wood-fired fish, Oysters, Lobster roll
Order: Oysters and the wood-grilled fish of the day.
Tip: The oyster bar takes walk-ins; the dining room reserves on Resy. The takeaway window does lobster rolls and chowder.
Steakhouse$$$$buckheadMon-Thu 17:30-21:00, Fri 11:30-14:30, Fri 17:30-21:00, Sat-Sun 17:00-21:00
Bones steakhouse in Buckhead, Atlanta opened 1979 and remains the city's classic white-tablecloth chophouse, with dry-aged steaks and Wine Spectator Grand.
Signature: Bone-in ribeye, Lobster Savannah
Order: The dry-aged bone-in ribeye, with the Lobster Savannah as the seafood add.
Tip: Dress code: jackets preferred. Mondays through Saturdays; closed Sundays. Reservations a week ahead on OpenTable.
Seafood$$$decaturMon-Thu 17:00-00:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-01:00, Sun 17:00-00:00
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.
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 17:00-18:30 is the under-the-radar bargain.
Modern American$$$$old-fourth-wardThu 12:00-21:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-22:00, Sun 12:00-21:00
Staplehouse in Old Fourth Ward, Atlanta opened 2015 inside a converted carriage house and runs a chef's tasting under the nonprofit Giving Kitchen umbrella.
Signature: Chef's tasting menu, Seasonal small plates
Order: The chef's tasting menu; the menu rotates with the seasons.
Tip: Profits fund The Giving Kitchen, supporting Atlanta hospitality workers in crisis. Reservations on Tock 30 days out.
Soul Food$$downtownMon-Thu 11:30-21:00, Fri-Sat 11:30-22:00, Sun 11:00-21:00
Paschal's in Atlanta has served soul food since 1947, when brothers Robert and James Paschal opened on Hunter Street. Located in Downtown. Priced at $$.
Signature: Fried chicken, Collard greens, Peach cobbler
Order: Fried chicken plate with collard greens, mac and cheese, candied yams.
Tip: The current Castleberry Hill location since 2002 expanded with a banquet space; the original Hunter Street site is preserved at Clark Atlanta.
Southern$$midtownDaily 11:00-21:00
Mary Mac's Tea Room in Atlanta opened 1945 and runs Southern Sunday dinner classics in a four-dining-room compound on Ponce de Leon, with the same recipes.
Signature: Fried chicken, Pot likker and cornbread, Peach cobbler
Order: Pot likker with a side of cornbread, then fried chicken with three sides.
Tip: Order the pot likker as a starter; it comes free with cornbread. No reservations Monday through Thursday lunch; OpenTable for dinner and weekends.