22 places to eat and drink in metro Atlanta right now

Scroll down to check out the buzziest and best restaurants in and around Atlanta right now.

Intown Atlanta

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Botiwalla, from the team behind Chai Pani in Decatur, opened in April at Ponce City Market and offers snacky chaat favorites such as savory puffed and stuffed flour crisps, to more unusual "desi" items, such as tamarind glazed ribs and Botiwalla lamb burger sliders. Get a first look at Botiwalla here.  

Botiwalla, Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta. 404-378-4030, www.botiwalla.com.

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Linton's, from James Beard Award-winning Atlanta chef/restaurateur Linton Hopkins and executive chef Jason Paolini is housed in a two-story contemporary glass-and-stone structure that includes indoor, patio and rooftop seating with Atlanta Botanical Garden views. Get a first look at Linton's here.

Linton's, Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-585-2061, www.lintonsinthegarden.com/.

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Atwood's Pizza Cafe, a collaboration from Atlanta restaurateurs Rob Caswick, Jeff Newsham, Dave Pazienza and Billy Streck (Cypress Street Pint and Plate, Grain, Tavernpointe), with Executive Chef Rob Phillip of the popular Hearth Pizza Tavern in Sandy Springs, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week at the Biltmore on West Peachtree in Midtown. Get a first look at Atwood's Pizza Cafe here.

Atwood's Pizza Cafe,817 West Peachtree St NW A105, Atlanta. 404-748-9577, atwoodspizza.com

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Morningside Kitchen, the new concept from Tom Murphy and the team behind the long-running Virginia-Highland fixture Murphy's, and the more recently opened Paces & Vine in Vinings, features dishes including wood-grilled octopus, hanger steak and salmon, and charcoal rotisserie chicken. Get a first look at Morningside Kitchen here.

1397 North Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-347-9747, www.morningside-kitchen.com

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Torched Hop Brewing Co., from brothers and Alpharetta native Chris and Stephen Bivins, offers elevated pub food, pizza and salads in addition to 16 rotating beer taps, four cider taps and 100 bottles from local breweries (not to mention an indoor bocce court). Get a first look at Torched Hop Brewing Co. here.

Torched Hop Brewing Co., 249 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-835-2040, www.torchedhopbrewing.com

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Amer, the new cocktail bar from partners Brian Lewis and the late David Durnell of Atlanta's Bocado restaurant, offers up a menu that includes some 20 house cocktails, divided into four sections: Shaken, Stirred, Built, and Sodas developed by partner and bar manager Shanna Mayo. Get a first look at Amer here.

Amer, Inman Quarter, 299 North Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta. www.ameratlanta.com

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El Super Pan, Chef Hector Santiago's Ponce City Market entry, serves up Puerto Rican favorites with an emphasis on the sandwiches, which include two versions of the Cuban. Read a review of El Super Pan here.

El Super Pan, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-600-2465, elsuperpan.com.

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Murphy's, which has occupied its Virginia-Highland location since 1992, stands the test of time with classics including salmon served over gnocchi and their signature Tollhouse Pie. Read a review of Murphy's here.

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The Mercury, from the team behind The Pinewood in Decatur, exudes atomic-age cool while serving up high-end cocktails and vintage dishes including prime rib and crab Louie salad. Read a review of The Mercury here.

The Mercury,675 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta. 404-500-5253,themercuryatl.com.

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Gaja, tucked back in a parking lot off Flat Shoals Avenue in East Atlanta Village, offers up Korean food with punk attitude, including dishes such as anchovy and peanut brittle and cold boiled pork belly. Read a review of Gaja here.

Gaja, 491 Flat Shoals Ave., Atlanta. 404-835-2126, gajaeav.com.

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BeetleCat, the Inman Park spot from Ford Fry (who also owns Superica, The El Felix and The Optimist, amongst others), serves seafood in a space with a nautical, Love Boat-esque vibe. Read a review of BeetleCat here.

BeetleCat,299 N. Highland Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 678-732-0360,beetlecatatl.com

North Fulton

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Emidio's in Sandy Springs is an experience in old-school Portuguese dining, offering bef skewers, seafood stew and bacalhao a braz, a kind of Portuguese comfort food. Read a review of Emidio's here.

DeKalb County 

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La Mei Zi on Buford Highway offers up crowd-pleasers such as the braised beef and scallion rolls or minced pork over rice and noodles, as well as more challenging dishes including stinky tofu, bitter melon and pork intestine. Read a review of La Mei Zi here.

La Mei Zi, 5150 Buford Highway, Doraville. 770-676-0225, lameiziga.com

Brush Sushi Izakaya, from former One Sushi + executive chef and Craft Izakaya sushi chef Jason Liang and veteran Athens and Atlanta bar owner/operator John Chen, opened Brush Sushi in Decatur in April. The menu offers sustainable seafood, yakitori, Wagyu beef and a beverage program overseen by Jeff Banks, former lead bartender at the Luminary.  Get a first look at Brush Sushi Izakya here.

Brush Sushi Izakaya, 316 Church St, Decatur. 678-949-9412, www.brushatl.com/. 

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Rising Son, the new restaurant from Hudson Rouse and Kathryn Fitzgerald Rouse, officially opened March 29 in Avondale Estates and offers breakfast all day, starting at 8 a.m., with lunch (including Southern-style meat-and-three plates with fresh vegetables) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Get a first look at Rising Son here.

Rising Son, 124 N. Avondale Road, Avondale Estates. 404-600-5297, facebook.com/RisingSonavondale/

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Las Brasas, formerly located in a shack on East Howard Avenue in Decatur, still serves up "transcendent rotisserie chicken" and other Peruvian favorites in its new Decatur location. Read a review of Las Brasas here.

Las Brasas, 614 Church St., Decatur. 404-377-9121, lasbrasasdecatur.com.

Cobb County

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Mezza Luna an Italian comfort food restaurant that serves up favorites including mussels and veal saltimbocca, is like stepping into an Italian home. Read a review of Mezza Luna here.

Mezza Luna, 1669 Spring Road, Smyrna. 770-319-0333,mezza-luna.net.

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Sugar Cakes serves up breakfast and weekend-only dinners, but the biggest draw is lunch, where you can expect sandwiches, soups and salads, as well as handmade pastries and other desserts. Read a review of Sugar Cakes here.

Sugar Cakes, 101 N. Park Square N.E., Marietta. 770-218-9994, sugarcakespatisserie.com.

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The Nest, a new barbecue restaurant and craft beer bar and lounge, opened on Cherokee Street in downtown Kennesaw, offering a menu including starters and small plates, such as smoked wings, smoked chicken egg rolls and deviled eggs with house-cured bacon, meant to be shared while sampling from some 59 taps, as well as "Georgia barbecue" and more. Get a first look at The Nest here.

The Nest, 2921 Cherokee St. NW, Kennesaw. 678-903-6921, www.thenestkennesaw.com/

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FAD Fine Dining, a Nigerian restaurant tucked away on the far side of the Cobb Marketfair shopping center, serves up a menu whose highlights include suya, a grilled beef brisket dish. Read a review of FAD Fine Dining here.

FAD Fine Dining, 3565 Austell Road, Marietta. 770-431-8505, fadfinedining.com.

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Common Quarter, owned by the same team that's brought us Muss & Turner's in Smyrna, features a menu that changes with the seasons in a casual-but-upscale setting. Read a review of Common Quarter here. 

Common Quarter, 1205 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta. 678-809-4040, commonquarter.com.

Gwinnett County

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Noble Fin, the new Peachtree Corners restaurant from chef/owner Jay Swift, opened May 23 and offers oysters and raw bar favorites and ranges over sections of small plates, seafood entrees, and steaks, chops and poultry served with sides. Get a first look at Noble Fin here.

Noble Fin, 5260 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners. 770-599-7979, noblefinrestaurant.com.