New on Resy: Watchman’s, Aria, Char Korean Bar & Grill

Dreamt up by the same team behind Kimball House, Watchman’s looks to the South’s tidal waters for a delectable, seafaring menu. Gulf seafood and Southern oysters steal the limelight at this stylish yet casual locale (think hanging plants, tiled floors, and aqua chairs). So, order yourself a briny array of bivalves (pro-tip: $1 oysters abound mon-fri, from 5 to 7pm), and get a cocktail—acclaimed bartender Miles Macquarrie is at the shakers, and you won’t be disappointed.

A fine dining pearl in the heart of Buckhead, Aria is an elegant restaurant where seasonality shines. Chef Gerry Klaskala imbues the polished menu with global influences, drizzling yellowtail sashimi with ponzu, dipping lump crab cake in Vietnamese nu’ó’c châ’m sauce, and pairing sensational duck breasts with Fuji apples. You’ll want to befriend the sommelier to navigate Aria’s lauded wine list, and save room for dessert: pastry chef Kathryn King knows how to end things on a sweet note.

It’s safe to say that Atlanta has no shortage of excellent barbecue restaurants. And Char Korean Bar and Grill easily enters the city’s pantheon. At this boisterous locale, Korean BBQ is as fun as it looks, with table-top grills for DIY cooking. Order a couple of small plates and whiskey (their selection is excellent), before delving into a parade of perfectly marinated meats—you’re grilling sweet and tender kalbi (beef short rib), juicy bulgogi (beef tenderloin), and garlicky samgyupsal (pork belly).

To get a taste of what’s fresh and in season, head to The Shed at Glenwood. This farm-fresh bistro doles out Americana comfort food through a locavore lens, sprucing up steak and potatoes, duck hash, and the kitchen’s very own version of a Ding Dong. At brunch, the menu is decidedly Southern (read: buttermilk fried chicken) and boasts free-flowing mimosas.

If a trip to Paris isn’t in the cards, Bread & Butterfly is your second-best bet. With its tin-pressed ceiling, woven bistro chairs, and tufted leather banquettes, this all-day stunner will fool you into thinking you’ve entered a brasserie on the Left Bank. And the menu only affirms this, delivering a bevy of perfectly executed classics, from a creamy omelette du jour to a crackly jambon-beurre sandwich.

There is a lot to like about BoccaLupo. At this Inman Park gem, chef Bruce Logue imbues the menu with clever Southern touches, resulting in dishes like the immensely satisfying Southern fried chicken parm. Then, there’s the pasta, handmade and beautifully rendered, ranging from 20-yolk tagliatelle with wild mushrooms to black spaghetti with hot Calabrese sausage and red shrimp. A meal at BoccaLupo isn’t entirely Italian, but that doesn’t make it any less delightful.

This Mexican eatery discloses love for its roots, peppering its space with brightly colored sarape (those fringed, blanket-like shawls), and putting out novena candles on every table. But Escorpión doesn’t stop there, coloring its menu with indigenous Mexican ingredients and regional street food—we’re talking elotes, tamales, chile rellenos, and all the tacos your heart could desire.

If you’re looking to wine and dine, look no further than this handsome steakhouse. Outfitted in cool stone, wood accents, and glowing driftwood chandeliers, Kevin Rathbun Steak sets the mood for a carnivorous meal you’re unlikely to forget. Pair your prime cuts with the restaurant’s next-level accoutrements (read: black truffle or bleu cheese butter), and don’t forgo the notoriously decadent sides, from creamed corn laced with jalapeños to scalloped sweet potatoes with Gruyère.

For his eponymous restaurant, beloved chef Kevin Rathbun cooks up a craveable American menu dotted with his signature bold touches. Think eggplant fries sprinkled with powdered sugar and tabasco, elk chop with cabbage carbonara, and the known favorite, duck breast with thai risotto and green curry jus. Dig in.

After winning over the Buckhead dining crowd when he first moved to Atlanta more than two decades ago, chef Kevin Ratjbun returns, and with a more Italian concept in tow. At KR SteakBar, the menu dreams of Italy, with a carnival of antipasti, handmade pasta, and the very best of what the land and sea can offer—melty spinalis steak, crackly veal Milanese, and buttery scallops are among the highlights.

Helmed by popular 70’s cover band Yacht Rock Revue, Venkman’s is a bona fide destination for live music and toothsome bites. And while the band on stage looks nothing like the Beatles, if you close your eyes as you tuck into a pulled pork taco… they sure sound like them. All you need to do is sing along and choose between the pimento grit fritters and the lemon-and-garlic shrimp.

Nothing beats sipping on an ice-cold beer on a sunny day, and with Spring in full swing, you’ll want to find yourself at Der Biergarten. In true beer garden fashion, this German eatery proffers the usual suspects, from riesenbrezel (a giant pretzel) to wiener schnitzel, paired with premium brews and lagers straight from the homeland, of course.

Premium cuts and stiff drinks go hand-in-hand, and Highland Tap knows this all too well. This subterranean den veers old-school, from its speakeasy atmosphere (read: dim, moody, and with the red leather banquettes to boot) to its steakhouse classics, from dry-aged Kansas City strip to fried calamari rings. Do order a martini; they’ve been a house specialty since the late 80s.

Crisp, chewy, and cheesy, Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria brings a literal slice of New York to Sandy Springs. The wood-accented space specializes in Brooklyn-style pies, along with Italian sandwiches, pasta, and wings. But you’ll want to order at least something from the monstrous coal oven, which spits out some beautifully charred specimens.