Still hungry after last week’s Atlanta 50? Well, here are our second 50 favorite restaurants around the metro area. Some sport a new star rating, others are awaiting re-review but are too good not to mention.
1910 Public House 2 stars
Lilburn has its own hidden little town center, complete with this new chef-driven neighborhood restaurant. Robert Elliott puts his stamp on Southern comfort classics, such as an aggressively seasoned cider-poached chicken.
107 Main St. N.W., Lilburn. 770-564-6911, www.1910publichouse.com.
Alma Cocina 2 stars
A smart, sleek, modern Mexican restaurant tucked into the lobby of a downtown office tower. Great margaritas and ceviches as well as more involved entrees. The kitchen also makes a mean tamale.
191 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-968-9662, www.alma-atlanta.com.
Alon’s 2 stars
Drop by for the excellent baked goods or stay on-site for soups, sandwiches and salads made to order. The Dunwoody location has a shady patio as well as wine and beer.
1394 N. Highland Ave N.E., Atlanta, and 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta. 678-397-1782, www.alons.com.
Antico Pizza Napoletana 2 stars
A little inconsistency has crept into the kitchen. But we still line up for these pizzas, which come blistery and puffed from the oven, slathered with San Marzano tomato sauce and loaded with top-quality bufala mozzarella.
1093 Hemphill Ave. N.W., Atlanta. 404-724-2333, www.littleitalia.com.
Aria awaiting re-review
Chef Gerry Klaskala has his time-tested dishes, but he cooks with finesse and sensitivity. Fans return year after year for his signature lobster cocktail with potato and broccoli purees layered in a martini glass.
490 E. Paces Ferry Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-233-7673, www.aria-atl.com.
Babette’s Cafe 2 stars
Chef-owner Marla Adams cooks with confidence and honesty, comfortably infusing French, Italian and Spanish flavors into the menu. Roast chicken arrives in a luxuriously silky white wine-and-butter sauce spiked with a licoricey tarragon reduction.
573 N. Highland Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-523-9121, www.babettescafe.com.
Bantam & Biddy 2 stars
Moving past the initial focus on rotisserie chicken, this restaurant now sells a variety of entrees, including rotisserie pork and meatloaf. Still, the moist Poulet Rouge chicken takes prime spot at the top of the menu.
1050 Crescent Ave., Atlanta. 404-835-6450. 1544 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-907-3469, www.bantamandbiddy.com.
Barcelona 2 stars
Choose a smashing bottle or glass of Spanish wine and nibble your way through cured meats, saucy meatballs, griddled peppers, crisp ham croquettes and all kinds of tasty vegetable small plates.
240 N. Highland Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-589-1010, www.barcelonawinebar.com.
Bocado 2 stars
For better or worse, this place made its name on a very good hamburger stack. But chef Adam Waller makes terrific seasonal grain salads and smart, well-crafted entrees that show real finesse.
887 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta. 404-815-1399, www.bocadoatlanta.com.
Busy Bee Cafe 2 stars
If you have a hankering for a mess of greens, candied yams or fried pork chops, Busy Bee, in business since 1947, is the place. Order those chops divided, one fried and the other smothered with thick gravy and onions.
810 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive S.W., Atlanta. 404-525-9212, www.thebusybeecafe.com.
Cafe Restaurant Dominicano 2 stars
Despite the preponderance of Dominican hair parlors around Atlanta, there are precious few Dominican restaurants. Search this one out and go for a cafeteria plate lunch or a sit-down menu in the evening.
4650 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Norcross. 770-723-3784.
Cafe Sunflower 2 stars
Here’s vegetarian done old-school, the “Moosewood Cookbook”-style dishes we never tired of. Think lasagna, moo shu vegetables, and soy chicken in a sweet and sour sauce. But the more contemporary stylings of quinoa paella peacefully coexist.
2140 Peachtree Road, Atlanta. 404-352-8859. 5975 Roswell Road, Atlanta. 404-256-1675, www.cafesunflower.com.
Canoe awaiting re-review
With its dramatic riverside patio, Canoe remains one of Atlanta’s true special occasion restaurants. Chef Matthew Basford and sommelier Matt Bradford oversee an elegant menu and comprehensive wine list.
4199 Paces Ferry Road S.E., Atlanta. 770-432-2663, www.canoeatl.com.
Chops Lobster Bar 2 stars
Two restaurants in one, you can opt for the cozy vault below or the richly appointed steakhouse above. Do save some of your dining budget for a portion of the A5 Miyazaki beef, more butter than butter.
70 W. Paces Ferry Road N.W., Atlanta. 404-262-2675, www.buckheadrestaurants.com.
Cibo e Beve 2 stars
A reliable and warm-hearted restaurant in the northern part of the city, Cibo e Beve serves several standout pastas, including Tortellini Strascicate in a creamy bolognese sauce.
4969 Roswell Road N.E., Sandy Springs. 404-250-8988, ciboatlanta.com.
Common Quarter 2 stars
Grandma might not recognize the chicken and dumplings — an airline chicken breast with perfectly blistered skin surrounded by red-hued tasso gravy and the pillowy gnocchi-style white-cheddar dumplings. But she’d love it.
1205 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta. 678-809-4040, www.commonquarter.com.
Community Q BBQ 2 stars
Local, organic vegetables and the richest macaroni and cheese on the planet draw some fans. The expertly smoked meats, others. Together, they line up nightly at this Decatur treasure.
1361 Clairmont Road, Decatur. 404-633-2080, communityqbbq.com.
Desta Ethiopian Kitchen 2 stars
Start with a protein of your choice (steak, lamb, chicken, tilapia) and apply it to a classic Ethiopian preparation. Tibs dishes come diced with onions, peppers and tomato, while firfir dishes combine the meat with shreds of injera.
3086 Briarcliff Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-929-0011, www.destaethiopiankitchen.com.
Fogo de Chao 2 stars
Oh, meat men, come swarming around our table with roasts, chops and sausages impaled on rotisserie skewers. Let us eat until we burst. This big, bodacious chain churrascaria still has its charms after all these years.
3101 Piedmont Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-266-9988, www.fogodechao.com.
Graft 2 stars
A canny renovation preserved the character of this old country home in Grayson. Take a seat on the spacious side patio flanked with muscadine vines, and dig into tender brisket, brined for a week, smoked out back.
516 Grayson Parkway, Grayson. 770-338-9001, www.graftrestaurant.net.
Greenwood’s on Green Street 2 stars
Using mostly local and organic produce, dairy and meats, Bill Greenwood serves his take on classic Southern fare in a casual atmosphere that belies the sophistication in the kitchen. Thick-crusted fried chicken, great pies.
1087 Green St., Roswell. 770-992-5383, www.greenwoodsongreenstreet.com.
Grits Cafe 2 stars
Sit beneath grapevines and sip swoon-worthy Porch Swing cocktails — Maker’s Mark bourbon with chunky-sweet-peach puree — then peruse the menu of Southern dishes with touches of Cajun, Southwestern and Asian influence.
17 W. Johnston St., Forsyth. 478-994-8325, gritscafe.com.
Hal’s on Old Ivy 2 stars
Everything about Hal’s screams “old-school.” The drinks are stiff, the smoke over the bar is dense, the waiters cleanly pressed, and the steaks are thick. But the injection of Hal Novak’s creole flavors sets this 20-year-plus institution apart.
30 Old Ivy Road, Atlanta. 404-261-0025, www.hals.net.
Haven 2 stars
Atmosphere and solid cooking make this restaurant a success. Gloriously brown quail arrives with a fluffy andouille stuffing, spicy Spotted Trotter sausage, sticks of pickled okra and a crock of firm red field peas cooked baked bean-style.
1411 Dresden Drive, N.E., Atlanta. 404-969-0700, www.havenrestaurant.com.
KR Steakbar 2 stars
New chef Brian Goddard may not yet have opening chef Chris McDade’s touch with pasta, but he has brought much verve to the menu. A standout duck sausage from the summer menu arrived with peaches, pickled chilies and arugula.
349 Peachtree Hills Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-841-8820, www.krsteakbar.com.
Kyma awaiting re-review
Year in and year out, we keep a fond spot in our hearts for this now-classic Atlanta destination — a restaurant that has always known how to marry old-school Buckhead glitz to the honest flavors of a well-researched Greek menu.
3085 Piedmont Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-262-0702, www.buckheadrestaurants.com.
Lazaro’s Cuban Cuisine 2 stars
From its Cuban sandwich, prepared on bread flown in from South Florida twice each week, to the slow-roasted pork, cooked overnight and marinated in a cumin-spiked mojo sauce, this restaurant turns out our favorite Cuban fare in the city.
25 Woodstock Road, Roswell. 678-277-9661, www.lazaroscuisine.com.
Leon’s Full Service 2 stars
Many patrons come for the beers, excellent cocktails and enough French fries to absorb the alcohol. But chef Eric Ottensmeyer has, over the years, grown more confident as a chef, and his kitchen’s technique has improved dramatically.
131 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur. 404-687-0500, www.leonsfullservice.com.
Myung Ga Won 2 stars
This most elegant of the Korean restaurants on Pleasant Hill Road attracts a dressy crowd. Try the yuk hwe — fantastic beef tartare with cucumber, pear and sesame oil. Chopped garlic comes thoughtfully on the side.
1960 Day Drive, Duluth. 770-622-1300.
Octopus Bar 2 stars
This late-night spot in East Atlanta serves up some incredibly satisfying and eclectic Vietnamese-inspired fusion cuisine. Housed on the renovated patio of So Ba, this restaurant within a restaurant doesn’t open until 10:30 p.m.
560 Gresham Ave. S.E., Atlanta. 404-627-9911, www.octopusbaratl.com.
One Flew South 2 stars
Craft cocktails so good you can’t believe you’re in an airport, sushi to satisfy that raw-fish craving, and creative Southern stylings from chef Duane Nutter: These are the building blocks of Atlanta’s much loved gift to air travelers.
6000 N. Terminal Parkway, Atlanta. 404-816-3464, www.oneflewsouthatl.com.
One Midtown Kitchen 2 stars
Still a treat after all these years. Hearty fare prepared with finesse and a value-minded wine list are the main draws, but the golden-hued dining room on the edge of Piedmont Park has its special romance.
559 Dutch Valley Road, Atlanta. 404-892-4111, onemidtownkitchen.com.
Pho Dai Loi 2 2 stars
Some of the best pho — Vietnamese beef noodle soup — in the metro area. This broth is limpid and thrums with flavor; the garnishes are dewy fresh. Three area locations, but we’re partial to the Buford Highway outlet.
4186 Buford Highway, Atlanta. 404-633-2111.
Rathbun’s awaiting re-review
Year after year, this Atlanta classic cranks out a hefty menu and list of daily specials. It’s easy to stick to small plates and move directly to a tasting of Kirk Park’s mini desserts, including his signature banana peanut butter cream pie.
112 Krog St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-524-8280, www.kevinrathbun.com.
Rico’s World Kitchen 2 stars
The international comfort cuisine showcases bold flavors. Start with Mama Nett’s lumpia, small Filipino-style egg rolls filled with beef, chicken or pork. Then find out what’s smoking out on the patio.
306 W. Main St., Buford. 678-765-7518, www.ricosworldkitchen.com.
Seed Kitchen & Bar 2 stars
Doug Turbush dutifully satisfies your Southern cravings for pimento cheese, shrimp and grits, and deviled eggs. He also pushes you to venture out of our small corner of the planet with items like the flounder with Thai herb vinaigrette.
1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta. 678-214-6888, www.eatatseed.com.
Serpas True Food 2 stars
Scott Serpas, who honed his skills in New Orleans long before coming to Atlanta, cooks an amalgamation of good Southern cooking, with lots of Louisianan influence thrown into the pot.
659 Auburn Ave. N.E, Atlanta. 404-688-0040, www.serpasrestaurant.com.
Sotto Sotto awaiting re-review
Standards include a free-form lasagne — a tangle of sheer noodles, bolognese and bechamel — that makes you curl your toes with pleasure. The bufula mozzarella with roasted peppers, anchovies and capers can’t be improved upon.
313 N. Highland Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-523-6678, www.urestaurants.com.
St. Cecilia awaiting re-review
Recent changes in the kitchen staffing make us wonder where this lovely, fun and perplexing Mediterranean seafood restaurant is headed. All the fish was pan-roasted to dryness on our last visit, but we still thrill to the scenery.
3455 Peachtree Road, Atlanta. 404-554-9995, www.stceciliaatl.com.
The Cafe at Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead awaiting re-review
One word: brunch. If you want to know what a big, blowsy and totally eye-popping hotel brunch can be, then go no further. Plan on drinking lots of champagne, eating caviar and trying lots of interesting small bites.
3434 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-237-2700, www.ritzcarlton.com/buckhead.
The Shed at Glenwood 2 stars
The Wednesday sliders are back, the pimento cheese comes with local radishes for dipping, and the mood is always that of a friend’s home. This neighborhood restaurant keeps its patrons happy year in and year out.
475 Bill Kennedy Way S.E., Atlanta. 404-835-4363, www.theshedatglenwood.com.
Table and Main awaiting re-review
Chef Ted Lahey won hearts with his signature dishes like the Hogs ’N Quilts, smoky pork shoulder tucked in chive crepes. Co-owner Ryan Pernice has created an unparalleled warmth and charm in the front of the house.
1028 Canton St., Roswell. 678-869-5178, tableandmain.com.
Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft 2 stars
Thai street food in a high-gloss uptown restaurant? The cooking here comes as a surprise. Try neau sawan — sweetly seasoned strips of warm beef that are two shades past well done and four chews away from jerky.
1745 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 678-539-6181, www.tuktukatl.com.
Umi awaiting re-review
How can a restaurant simultaneously be so glamorous and so warm? This small miracle of hospitality comes from first-time restaurateur Farshid Arshid and veteran chef Fuyuhiko Ito. Together, they make good things happen with raw fish.
3050 Peachtree Road, Atlanta. 404-841-0040, umiatlanta.
Varuni Napoli 2 stars
Luca Varuni is passionate about the products he imports from his Napoli homeland. Go for the Amore Mio pizza adorned with charred basil leaves, fresh roasted artichokes, frayed strips of sopressata, black olives and plugs of mozzarella.
1540 Monroe Drive N.E., Atlanta. 404-709-2690, www.varuni.us.
Vine & Tap 2 stars
At Vine & Tap, wine is king. The kitchen has been entrusted to craft simple, gently flavored dishes to serve as a neutral backdrop for the varied varietals. You’ll find items like goat-cheese stuffed squash blossoms fried in a light tempura batter.
2770 Lenox Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-600-5820, www.vineandtapatl.com.
Vingenzo’s 2 stars
Would that every downtown had a sweet Italian restaurant like Vingenzo’s, with a tasting of house-made mozzarellas, crackly pizzas from a wood-burning oven and handmade pastas.
105 E. Main St., Woodstock. 770-924-9133, vingenzos.com.
Watershed on Peachtree awaiting re-review
Louisiana-born chef Joe Truex presents fresh takes on Southern classics, infusing international influences. Be sure to sample his deconstructed jambalaya, which comes layered over a puddle of soulful etouffee.
1820 Peachtree Road N.W., Atlanta. 404-809-3561, watershedrestaurant.com.
Yet Tuh 2 stars
Good luck finding this place, but, when you do, you can feast on barley rice with kimchi, sundae (blood sausage) and the best stir-fry of pork, tofu and kimchi you will try. Homey and satisfying Korean fare.
3042 Oakcliff Road, Doraville. 770-454-9292.
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