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Wednesday, October 1, 2008
My Top Five New Restaurants So Far
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CUERNO OWNER RICCARDO ULLIO KNOWS HOW TO HAVE FUN : here he drinks cava from a peron
Photo: Becky Stein/Special to the AJC
The AJC’s fall DIne Guide has arrived, and with it my picks for the top 50 restaurants of the year and my pick for Restaurant of the Year 2008, Tierra. You can read all about it here.
This year was the toughest ever for picking the top 50: in addition to old favorites, Atlanta had a watershed of new openings in 2008. I had to remove a few spots that warrant high praise to give some of these newcomers a chance to shine.
Here are my favorite new openings, so far:
Holeman & FInch — the meat-centric team from Restaurant Eugene has finally brought Atlanta its very first gastropub, no souse barred. From the well-crafted drinks to the very last smear of house-made BBQ sauce over your pig’s feet, Holeman & Finch brings the British movement home to roost. And neh. And moo.
4th & Swift — what an opening for this grand spot in the old Atlanta Dairies Building. Chef Jay Swift seems to have found his place, cooking better than ever from a seasonally inspired menu with a hint of Southern drawl.
Dogwood — look for the review of this new Southern gem in Friday’s Living section and online. Chef-owner Shane Tuohy has brought a fresh, new Southern accent back to downtown.
Cuerno — finally, Riccardo Ullio has brought real-deal Spanish to the city, and what a feast it is, from paella to pata negra this place hits the Spanish spot.
Cakes & Ale — a sweet romance of a restaurant from former Watershed sous chef Billy Allin, who grows most of his own vegetables and makes his own pickles and brawn.
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