Georgia may be known for peaches, but, before the state fruit makes its debut this year, Atlanta area eateries are making the most of strawberry season, with unique desserts, dishes and drinks. Head to these spots to try strawberry creations that go beyond shortcake and the classic scoop of pink ice cream.
Strawberry Shortstack from Oy
Instead of just topping pancakes with strawberries, this Vinings brunch restaurant takes an indulgent breakfast deeper into the seasonal berry’s flavor and color, with pink strawberry- and cream-infused pancakes. The kitchen adds cream cheese, strawberries and food coloring to its classic pancake mix, then tops the stack with a warm strawberry streusel that mimics pie filling, and a swirl of whipped cream. You can order 7- or 14-inch pancakes or a 5-inch stack for children.
2355 Cumberland Parkway, Atlanta. 770-989-1901, oyrestaurant.com.
Strawberry toast from Spiller Park Coffee
Both the Ponce City Market and Toco Hills locations offer a few strawberry-laden toast offerings. The most popular toast comes topped with a spreadable farmhouse cheese from Sweet Grass Dairy, Georgia strawberries and honey, but each one can be made to order with sliced strawberries or housemade strawberry jam. Toast combinations include cashew nut butter, sliced strawberries and honey; farmhouse cheese and strawberry jam; and a simple toast with just strawberry jam.
675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-919-2978; and 2929 N. Druid Hills Road, Atlanta. 404-823-5737, spillerpark.com.
Strawberry salad from Banshee
It doesn’t have to be all sweet during strawberry season. Banshee’s strawberry salad features a bed of mustard green seed frills that sit on top of a buttermilk soubise, a slightly sweet sauce made by cooking down caramelized onions and heavy cream. Pickled pistachios provide crunch and tang, while grilled asparagus adds a charred flavor.
1271 Glenwood Ave. SE, Atlanta. 470-428-2034, banshee-atl.com.
Strawberry rhubarb margarita from True Food Kitchen
In Buckhead, True Food Kitchen puts its own spin on a classic margarita with its strawberry rhubarb variation. The drink is crafted with a rhubarb liqueur, blended with lime juice, organic reposado tequila and simple syrup. The punchiness of the booze is balanced by the subtle fruity sweetness of strawberry pieces, and a light herbal zing from mint leaves — a refreshing cocktail for afternoons on the patio or evenings at the bar. This margarita is one of the seasonal items available on the spring 2019 menu.
3393 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta. 404-481-2980, truefoodkitchen.com/atlanta.
The Shrine from Gilly Brew Bar
One of five tea-based specialty beverages for spring, this drink from the Stone Mountain coffee and tea bar features a jasmine green tea sweetened with a strawberry shrub, which is made by boiling and straining strawberries, apple cider vinegar and cane sugar. Whatever strawberries are left from the straining process garnish the bottom of the drink, which is topped with lemon-lime basil simple syrup and orange bitters. The Shrine is part of a nonalcoholic spring “elixir” lineup that highlights floral and fragrant flavors of the season, as well as different shrubs.
5329 Mimosa Drive, Stone Mountain. 770-557-1614, gillybrewbar.com.
Fraise With Benefits from Tiny Lou’s
Almost too pretty to eat, this rich dessert from the French-American restaurant at Hotel Clermont combines several strawberry elements. Whipped strawberry puree, strawberry ice cream and strawberries pickled with the Asian citrus fruit yuzu complement a block of honey chèvre that sits on a generous smear of port wine reduction. A light sprinkling of crumbled citrus shortbread adds texture to the arrangement.
789 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta. 470-485-0085, tinylous.com.
Strawberry, white chocolate and black rice dessert from Staplehouse
While you can experience this dessert, which showcases Decatur strawberries, on the Staplehouse tasting menu, you also can order it a la carte when you take a seat on the restaurant’s patio or at its upstairs Paper Crane Lounge. The sweet treat is made with a base of black rice in white chocolate crémeux, a middle layer of the crémeux, and a top layer of strawberry milk custard, all topped with macerated strawberries and anise hyssop. It is paired with a light strawberry sorbet and a bed of black rice crumbles for crunch.
541 Edgewood Ave. SE, Atlanta. 404-524-5005, staplehouse.com.
Strawberry sorbet with lemon buttermilk swirl from Queen of Cream
This dish offers a new take on a strawberry scoop. The ice cream shop in the Old Fourth Ward swirls an icy strawberry sorbet made with local strawberries and a creamy lemon buttermilk sherbet, using buttermilk from Banner Butter in Atlanta. The result is a scoop that balances sweet with zesty, for a refreshing treat that’s reminiscent of strawberry lemonade. This seasonal flavor is only available through the end of May.
701 Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-331-0807, queenofcream.com.
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