Atlanta Grill

181 Peachtree St NE, Ritz-Carlton Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30303 404-221-6550

Description: DOWNTOWN. Lauded for its superb cuisine and inviting ambience, this esteemed restaurant is elegant and gracious ­ just as you'd expect from the Ritz. Well-executed murals and classic city photographs distinguish the space, which plays host to well-to-do travelers and celebs. The Southern-inspired menu finds great expression in the prix fixe brunch, which includes fare like prime rib, artisan cheeses, and pastries. Not to be outdone, lunch at the Grill is itself an impressive affair ­ one that includes frisee and endive salad with pancetta, Maine lobster club with eggs brioche, tomato and cucumber gazpacho, and green asparagus soup.
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Busy Bee Café

810 Martin Luther King Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314 404-525-9212

Description: DOWNTOWN. Open since 1947, Busy Bee is a landmark among soul food restaurants in Atlanta that has truly mastered the art of Southern cooking. Turn a gluttonous eye to such classics as chitlins and ham hocks, or let your mouth water while waiting on a healthy portion of fried chicken served with two vegetables and gravy. Sweet potato pie and Georgia peach cobbler top the dessert menu. It's often crowded, but it's well worth the wait.
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Cakes & Ale

155 Sycamore St, Decatur, GA 30030 404-377-7994

Description: DECATUR. Cakes & Ale is the perfect place to indulge in homemade, yet refined, dining in a relaxed atmosphere. The owners are Decatur natives who put great care into preparing impeccable food with the finest ingredients. They keep the menu exciting by updating selections to ensure that the freshest seasonal products are used. The exquisite dishes feature creative combinations of local flavors, with choices such as fried gnocchi and pork ribs served with apple and fried mustard greens.
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Carver's Country Kitchen

1118 W Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 404-794-4410

Description: WESTSIDE. Walls papered with memorabilia and group-friendly laminate-topped tables let you know that this Atlanta soul food restaurant doesn't stand on ceremony. What Carver's Country Kitchen does put stock in is fabulous Southern cooking, prepared fresh each morning. The standard plate is a meat-and-two, although you can add on extra sides and dessert if you're feeling particularly peckish. Representative dishes include fried catfish, chicken and dumplings, meatloaf, turkey and dressing and a host of savory sides.
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Colonnade

1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd, Atlanta, GA 30324 404-874-5642

Description: MIDTOWN. Southern American cuisine is the specialty at this '50s-style restaurant, which is where your grandparents would have gone when looking for a trendy restaurant 30 years ago. It's still drawing crowds today. All your favorite Southern classics ­ fried chicken, grilled trout, cornbread and hot yeast rolls ­ are served here. The banquet facility accommodates up to 72 people.
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Fat Matt's Rib Shack

1811 Piedmont Ave, Atlanta, GA 30324 404-607-1622

Description: MIDTOWN. This comfortable BBQ joint serves the juiciest, most flavorful ribs in town. There's no doubt about it: Matt's is a messy, fun, eat-with-your hands kind of place where you can order a big slab of ribs, a side of slaw and a big glass of sweet tea. You'll also find a variety of different beers. It's a lively place to stop at for a quick bite of lunch (despite the crowds, tables usually become available quickly), but be warned: Fat Matt's maintains an unofficial dress code ­ ties are permitted only if their knots are loosened. Outdoor dining is available, and live blues or jazz is often featured in the evening.
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H. Harper Station

904 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30316 678-732-0415

Description: REYNOLDSTOWN. At H. Harper Station, you'll find traditional southern dishes and cocktails prepared with a fresh modern twist. The classic dark wood provides a striking contrast to the metallic bar stools in a manner that perfectly complements this innovative menu, with plates such as fish and grits and bacon and eggs fettucini. Their "libations" are particularly impressive, with specials like the "Amulet," a mix of hendricks, apricot brandy, dolin dry, grapefruit, and pernod absinthe. You won't find these contemporary quirks at just any bar!
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Harold's Barbecue

171 McDonough Blvd SE, Atlanta, GA 30315 404-627-9268

Description: SOUTHSIDE. While Harold's neighborhood is not particularly scenic, those who frequent this no-frills, family-run joint say it's a diamond in the rough. Regulars devour tasty smoked meats slathered in flavorful red sauce, served with old-fashioned cornbread that melts in your mouth and other classic sides. Ribs and Brunswick stew are popular, too.
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Horseradish Grill

4320 Powers Ferry Rd, Atlanta, GA 30342 404-255-7277

Description: BUCKHEAD. Just like Atlanta itself, Horseradish Grill's New Southern cuisine manages to reconcile tradition and modernity. The two are brought together with the use of fresh, organic vegetables and the talents of a chef who whips up fried chicken and biscuits, not to mention barbecued duck with Vidalia onions and molasses. At brunch, appetite-grabbers include creamy Logan Turnpike grits with sautéed Gulf shrimp, fire-roasted red peppers and caramelized onions. Idyllic outdoor seating under beautiful oak trees only adds to the appeal.
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Justin's Restaurant & Bar

2200 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 404-603-5353

Description: DUNWOODY. Sean "P. Diddy" Combs shot to mega-stardom on the waves of his many talents, but his dream of owning a restaurant was directly molded by something more tangible ­ grandma's cooking. His Justin's Restaurant brings her Southern Caribbean cookery to the masses with dishes like Cornish hen jambalaya, gravy covered pork chops, and an ample seafood pan roast. A destination to see and be seen. N.B. Monday night is the busiest night of the week, and the restaurant stays open extended hours due to popular Martini Monday specials.
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Local Three

3290 Northside Pkwy NW, Piazza at Paces, Atlanta, GA 30327 404-968-2700

Description: BUCKHEAD. The brand new Local Three restaurant cooks up fine southern cuisine for an affordable price. Their menu combines the simple classics, like "A Tribute to Grandma" (tomato soup with grilled cheese), with the elegant adventures, like the brioche crusted cod filet. The dessert menu follows suit with sweet selections including warm apple pie and vanilla panna cotta. And Local Three lives up to its name, preparing their dishes with the highest quality of seasonal local ingredients to create a fresh and delicious meal with innovative southern elements.
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Mary Mac's Tea Room

224 Ponce de Leon Ave, Atlanta, GA 30308 404-876-1800

Description: MIDTOWN. This restaurant is known as the place for classic Southern cuisine. Recently cited by Gourmet magazine as the best place for family dining in Atlanta, Mary Mac's has been providing great food in a comfortable atmosphere for more than 50 years. The charming staff bring out plates piled high with country favorites like fried catfish, country steak, and meatloaf, with sides like macaroni and cheese, sweet potato soufflé, squash soufflé, black-eyed peas, steamed cabbage, and collard greens. More upscale choices like filet mignon and prime rib are also available. Don't leave without sampling the homemade cinnamon rolls, a house specialty. People buy them by the dozen to take home.
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OK Café

1284 W Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30327 404-233-2888

Description: BUCKHEAD. For a classic American diner-style breakfast, head over to the OK Café, where crisp French toast with maple syrup, bacon, eggs, sausage, biscuits, and many other morning favorites are available. Brunch, meanwhile, poses tough questions like, "Will it be the crab and crawfish cakes or the griddlecakes with Granny Smith apples and pecans." At lunch or dinner time, try tender pot roast with homestyle vegetables. The decor is homespun but unique, with folk art and a sparkling open kitchen adding extra pizzazz. All meals are fresh, satisfying, and reasonably priced.
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Quinones at Bacchanalia

1198 Howell Mill Rd, Atlanta, GA 30318 404-365-0410

Description: WESTSIDE. Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison add to their legendary dossier with this romantic prix fixe restaurant, located a level below Bacchanalia. The fare, billed as New Southern cuisine, relies heavily on ingredients from Quatrano's Southerland Farm near Savannah. The results, not surprisingly, are artfully presented dishes such as sorghum-glazed veal casserole and Kobe short ribs with hedgehog mushrooms. As to the space, Dominick Coyne's design pays homage to the Old South, incorporating earthy tones of beige and chocolate, chandeliers made of hand-blown Venetian glass, antique mirrors, white linens and deep, plush furniture.
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Ria's Bluebird

421 Memorial Dr, Atlanta, GA 30312 404-521-3737

Description: GRANT PARK. If you plan to have weekend brunch at Ria's, plan to come early, because crowds quickly gather, and the tiny place takes some time to turn over. It's in your best interest to hold out, though, because the homemade food is to die for. Breakfast served all day is the real attraction, whether you choose the omelet of the day, lush caramelized banana pancakes, huevos rancheros, or even the unusual but delicious brisket breakfast. An array of vegetarian and vegan options are available, and although the funky little place has a groovy vibe, it's as comfortable for your hipster nephew as for your church-going grandma. At lunch, find gourmet sandwiches, soups, salads, and a few hot entrees.
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Rolling Bones BBQ

377 Edgewood Ave, Atlanta, GA 30312 404-222-2324

Description: SWEET AUBURN. One of the best lunch deals on the east side of Downtown, this converted gas station is convenient to top sights and attractions like Ebenezer Baptist Church, the High Museum of Art and the MLK National Historic Site. In a few years, Rolling Bones may find itself an attraction in its own right, thanks to its delicious Texas-style mesquite barbecue. Combo plates featuring beef brisket, pork ribs or hot links never miss the mark, and homestyle side dishes such as mustard greens, Texas toast and potato salad are always solid complements.
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South City Kitchen

1144 Crescent Ave, Atlanta, GA 30309 404-873-7358

Description: MIDTOWN. This attractive, remodeled 1920s bungalow has a pleasant dining room dominated by an exhibition-style kitchen. You can watch chefs whip up fantastic Nouveau Southern dishes like barbecued swordfish with cheese grits, pan-fried catfish with mustard greens and warm pepper jelly, and crab hash with poached eggs and Idaho potatoes ­ just make sure you don't fill up first on the light-as-air biscuits and cornbread. Though the Southern influence is obvious in the menu and the decor, the surroundings and the presentation are thoroughly modern.
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The Flying Biscuit Café

1655 McClendon Ave, Atlanta, GA 30307 404-687-8888

Description: LITTLE FIVE POINTS. This red-hot dining spot serves three meals a day, but for locals of Atlanta, the best draw is brunch. Southern favorites and plenty of vegetarian options ensure that every appetite is satisfied. The decor is eclectic and stylish, providing a fitting backdrop for classic dishes given an innovative spin. Try the Meggxican Wrap with cheddar, onion, and serrano peppers in a flour tortilla, or opt for the orange-scented French toast served with honey crème anglaise.
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Watershed

1820 Peachtree Rd, The Brookwood Building, Atlanta, GA 30309

Description: BUCKHEAD. This casual favorite, located in a refurbished service station, features great wines and an array of gourmet-caliber plates that pay homage to the traditional Southern kitchen: braised beef short ribs with whipped rutabagas and cabbage, salmon croquettes with stone-ground grits and wild mushroom stew, and grilled Niman Ranch pork chops with mac-n-cheese. Their spectacular chocolate cake takes the standard dessert to new heights. Be sure to browse the on-site craft and wine shops. Star-watchers note: Watershed is co-owned by Indigo Girl Emily Saliers.
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Wisteria

471 N Highland Ave, Atlanta, GA 30307 404-525-3363

Description: INMAN PARK. You'll find Southern charm pervading this neighborhood restaurant in everything from the accomplished cuisine to its name. Top-drawer service and an excellent wine list make the experience that much better, and you'll certainly want to linger while you're there and return frequently when you're not. The seasonal menu features molasses-rubbed pork, pan-seared skate wing with stone-ground grits and lemon brown butter, and iron skillet chicken over bacon braised collard greens. Lush flavors definitely reign at this must-visit restaurant.
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