South Main Kitchen, Alpharetta: A (sometimes too) sweet addition

South Main Kitchen, the newest Alpharetta hot spot, provides a much-needed chef-driven neighborhood hangout to add to the city’s growing collection of restaurants in its historic downtown.

Chef Christy Stone helms the kitchen, where she peppers the food with those sweet touches that betray her baking background. Fruit garnishes, salsas and reductions are incorporated repeatedly throughout the menu.

Try the red snapper, topped with an orange salsa and a tiny twirl of blood-orange sauce contrasting the well-salted, expertly crisped skin.

Stone’s approach mostly hits the mark, only occasionally straying into no-go Candyland — as with the scallops. Engulfed in a syrupy blood-orange glaze and served with a sweet-scented carrot puree, they could stand a little reworking.

I predict we’ll continue to see the restaurant scene come alive in downtown Alpharetta. The locals are already sweet on South Main Kitchen. As they should be.