Atlanta
1. The Chastain
Buckhead
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Tucked away in a residential neighborhood, The Chastain is a fun New American eatery to grab a bite at after a walk at Atlanta’s urban Chastain Park. You can sit outside at what feels like a home patio and hobnob with other locals and their four-legged friends over a glass of champagne and a fresh baked pastry from the AM Cafe or make a reservation for dinner. The full-service menu includes fresh salads, pasta, and main courses like pan-roasted grouper and a smoked pork chop—plus ingredients for the restaurant and cafe are sourced from the onsite chef’s garden and local purveyors.

2. The Deer and The Dove
Decatur
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Using ingredients sourced from nearby farms, chef Terry Koval offers a skillful menu of seasonal harvests served as small and large plates. If you are an adventurous eater, jump to the novelties section to find dishes such as beef heart tartare with Spanish anchovy and wood roasted bone marrow with Burgundy snails. Wash it down with a wide selection of French and Italian wines. Also, make sure to pick up some hand rolled wood fired bagels for the next morning from B-Side next door.

3. Hayakawa
Midtown
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This beloved sushi restaurant recently relocated into the city limits of Atlanta with an intimate setting and the same great sushi. The new digs offer just eight seats and two nightly seatings at the sushi bar, so snag a seat and you’re in for a top-notch experience. Award-winning chef Artushi “Art” Hayakawa’s is always behind the counter engaging diners with his 16-course omakase menu. Aside from the finest sushi offerings with ingredients sourced from Tokyo’s Toyosu market and all over the globe, you can also taste some of the best Japanese small bites and sakes outside Japan.

4. Heirloom Market BBQ
Cumberland
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Heirloom Market BBQ has been consistently named one of the best barbecue restaurants in the country—and for very good reason. Marrying classic Southern barbeque with Korean-inspired flavors, chefs Taylor Cody and Jiyeon Lee offer a one-of-a-kind flavor pairing delivered with perfection. You’ll often find a line out the door and have to be lucky to find a picnic bench outside the small establishment. But when you do get your hands on the gochujang-marinated spare ribs, smoked chicken wings with kimchi mayo, and pulled pork sandwiches, you will quickly realize what the hype is all about.

5. Palo Santo
Westside
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Renowned chef Santiago Gomez has a new Atlanta concept offering upscale Mexican fare in a chic environment complete with a roving mezcal cart. The wood-fire kitchen is the heart of the restaurant, rolling out perfected Roasted Miso Cauliflower, citrusy branzino, and smoked scallops with black truffle.

6. Snap Thai Fish House
Buckhead
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The stunning coast of Thailand—and all the delectable food that comes with it—is on full display at Snap Thai Fish House. Dedicated to serving sustainable, wild-caught seafood, the new Buckhead establishment offers some of the best lobster fried rice and Massaman curry Chilean sea bass in the city.

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