Avize named to North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list and more from Atlanta’s dining scene
A global dining awards program recognized a Georgia chef as well as a restaurant, a Fulton County distillery faces bankruptcy, a Latin cafe opened downtown and more of this week’s food and dining happenings around metro Atlanta.
North America’s 50 Best Restaurants honors two in Georgia
Avize earned a place among North America’s 50 Best Restaurants this week, according to a news release. Chef Karl Gorline and his team were honored at an awards ceremony held by the 50 Best organization in New Orleans on Thursday night.
Ranked No. 29, Avize was the only Georgia restaurant on the list, but the state’s culinary scene claimed another honor. Chef Mashama Bailey of The Grey in Savannah earned North America’s Best Female Chef Award for 2026. Earlier this year, Bailey was named to the Time 100 list of the world’s most influential people.
The 50 Best brand is a widely watched culinary awards organization that began nearly 25 years ago to highlight the top 50 “once-in-a-lifetime” dining experiences around the world. It has expanded to cover bars, vineyards and specific global regions.
Avize, which was No. 10 on last year’s Atlanta 50, was one of five restaurants in the Southeast to earn a spot on the 50 Best list. Dakar NOLA was highest-ranking Southern restaurant at No. 4, joined by fellow New Orleans restaurants Emeril’s (No. 20) and Acamaya (No. 30). Charleston’s Chubby Fish rounded out the Southeastern selection at No. 21.
Gorline said he and his team were humbled to be included in the list.
“We are a very small team who are hopelessly in love with hospitality. We live for the satisfaction and positive feedback from our customers, but an award like this is incredibly meaningful because we’re judged against the best of our industry peers,” Gorline said in a press statement.
Avize. 956 Brady Ave. NW, Atlanta. 404-879-1713, avizeatlanta.com
Cumming distillery faces bankruptcy
Legends Distillery in Cumming has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy but plans to remain open, Channel 2 Action News reported this week.
The distillery has made tequila, gin, liqueurs and bourbon in its current location since 2020, according to its website.
“Contrary to Google, we are not permanently closed and do not plan on it,” Legends wrote in a Facebook post on May 21.
According to Channel 2, the distillery owes tens of thousands of dollars in back taxes as well as money to private creditors. The business must submit a bankruptcy plan by Aug. 13, the news station reported.
210 Industrial Park Dr., Cumming. 470-695-7926, legendsdistillery.us
Restaurant openings and announcements
Mendoza Cafe y Vino opened in downtown Atlanta earlier this week, the cafe announced on social media. The Latin coffee shop and wine bar has a large, industrial space in the Giant Lofts building at the corner of Marietta Street and Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard.
426 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta. 404-590-3055, mendozacafevino.com
ScentTok Craft Cafe is now open in Johns Creek after a soft opening period that began May 6, the shop shared on social media. The business offers a full menu of Asian-themed dishes and a dizzying array of beverages, including coffee, tea, kopi, smoothies and more. But ScentTok’s main differentiator is its crafting service, offering customers the opportunity to make simple projects like bracelets, key chains and sand wax candles.
6000 Medlock Bridge Pkwy. Unit B600, Johns Creek. 678-696-7888, scenttokcraft.com
Bottle Rocket Fine Food and Beverage, known for serving both poke bowls and burgers, reopened this week in South Downtown after relocating from Castleberry Hill, Rough Draft Atlanta reported.
231 Mitchell St. SW, Atlanta. 404-574-5680, bottlerocketatl.com
PopUp Bagels opened its second Atlanta location in Buckhead Landing on Friday, the franchise chain announced on social media.
3330 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta. 855-747-6347, popupbagels.com
The Gelatist is now open in Sandy Springs after holding a grand opening celebration Friday. The sweet shop serves traditional Italian gelato.
220 Sandy Springs Cir., Atlanta. 404-975-3488, thegelatistatl.com
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice opened another metro Atlanta location with a grand opening celebration in Roswell on Saturday, according to franchise representatives.
580 E. Crossville Rd., Roswell. 678-404-7681, jeremiahsice.com
Jolene Jolene, the women’s sports bar taking over the space formerly occupied by The Argonaut in Kirkwood, announced it would hold a grand opening celebration June 6. The former pop-up is in a soft-opening phase with weekend-only hours until its official opening next month.
1963 Hosea L. Williams Dr. SE, Atlanta. jolenejoleneatl.com
Magic Tacos will replace the Korean fried chicken restaurant Chicken on Fire in Grant Park, according to the Schumacher Group, a local restaurant brokerage. The announcement did not provide additional details about the incoming taqueria.
275 Memorial Dr. SE, Atlanta.
More from the week:
- Nando’s Peri-Peri to open at Krog Street Market in early June
- Acclaimed Southern Belle chef expanding with two restaurants this summer
Restaurant closures
Tomorrow’s News Today reported several metro Atlanta restaurant closures this week, including Cupcakin, which closed in Buckhead after less than two years in business; Sucre in Brookhaven, which shut down after less than a year; and Chicago’s Steak and Seafood in Roswell, which will close Sunday.
The Melting Pot will close its location in Duluth this weekend after 36 years, according to Channel 2. Sunday will be its last day of service.
About the Author
Henri Hollis is a restaurant critic and food reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he covers Atlanta’s restaurants, chefs and dining culture. As part of the AJC’s Food & Dining team, he reviews new restaurants, reports on industry trends and explores metro Atlanta’s culinary scene through the neighborhoods and people that shape it.
