When telling friends you’re heading to Atlanta, thoughts often turn into conversations surrounding the wonderful world of Southern food. Fried chicken, barbecue, grits, and sweet tea are in abundance Atlanta has no shortage of hotspots to check out. Whether you're looking for an authentic barbecue shack or more refined haute cuisine, you certainly won’t leave hungry.
The following list will get your taste buds
excited for a Southern culinary adventure in the ATL.
Not your average airport food
A search for good southern
food starts before even exiting the airport at the aptly named One Flew South. Not your typical cash
and carry, the restaurant serves as a quiet respite for travelers looking for elevated
dishes in a full service, upscale environment. Chef Duane Nutter offers what
the restaurant calls “Southernational” cuisine with both Southern and
international influences. They source local ingredients whenever possible for elevated
dishes like thyme roasted pork belly, Kentuckyaki chicken fried rice and my
personal favorite, an open-faced meatloaf sandwich topped with bacon, BBQ sauce
and a fried egg – the Dirty South.
Top Chef-tastic
Bearded Top Chef fan favorite and Georgia
native, Kevin Gillespie had been running a white tablecloth, fine dining
restaurant while gaining reality TV fame, but yearned for something a bit truer
to his roots and closer to home. And thus, the Gunshow was born to rave reviews and a coveted spot on the Eater
list of Essential 38 restaurants. Uniquely served tableside in a dim-sum style,
the diners get up close and personal with the chefs who created the dishes. Reservations
are a must.
Yes, there’s even seafood in the South
Outgrowing their
popular neighborhood spot The Shed, the owners headed to trendy Midtown for a
new venture, an upscale restaurant with both barbecue and seafood, aptly named Pig & the Pearl. Named one of the
chefs to watch by Esquire magazine, Todd
Richards mans the kitchen, serving up Southern favorites like cornbread, meats
spiked with his own secret bourbon BBQ sauce and freshly shucked oysters.
Brunch, southern-style
A fairly a-typical
brunch, enjoy your eggs with a side of arcade games and bottomless mimosas at Bone Lick BBQ on Atlanta’s hot
Westside. The restaurant's Cajun take on the croque monsieur comes with house-cured
tasso ham, a fried egg, melted cheese, spicy remoulade, and hollandaise. Feel
free to work off the calories at the skee-ball machine.
The best ‘cue in town
It would be criminal
to do a barbecue crawl in Atlanta without a stop at Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q in Candler Park. Pulled pork, brisket and ribs
are all a huge hit at the restaurant, but don't miss the sides, which include
fried pickles, Frito pie, and my favorite, the smoked wings.
Finger-lickin’ fried chicken
Last but certainly not
least, the Colonnade has been
serving up its signature fried chicken since 1927 with no signs of slowing
down. The restaurant is old school and only recently began accepting credit
cards from the hungry Atlantans and visitors who stormed the doors in search of
pot roast, salmon croquettes, chicken fried chicken and a slew of other
Southern goodies. And for dessert, a dizzying array of cakes and pies await.
This is just the tip
of the iceberg for the Southern dining options in the capital of the New South
so be sure to pack your stretchy pants. They’re more appropriate attire than skinny
jeans, anyway.