The Resy Guide to Power Lunches in Atlanta

Located in Town Brookhaven, 26 Thai has a soothing atmosphere, which is perfect for that midday break. This outpost of the popular Atlanta Thai chain is the first one to offer sushi in addition to the classic Thai dishes like crab fried rice and Penang curry. 

Yes, Houston’s is a chain but the Buckhead location of Houston’s is kind of a thing. You’re going to be hard-pressed to find a better bowl of spinach and artichoke dip than the one here, though you might consider skipping at lunch and going straight for one of the salads or burgers.

If you really want to make a good impression at lunch, opt for Lucian, a recently opened bistro-meets-bookstore in the central part of Buckhead. The walls here are lined with bookshelves, giving power lunches an intellectual, library-inspired flair. The lunch menu is tightly edited to only seven options, making this an efficient, albeit relaxing, lunch destination. You don’t have to get wine, of course, but the wine menu is filled with gems; plenty of nonalcoholic drinks are available, too. Oh, and make sure to order the fries with sorrel mayonnaise, which is quickly rising in the ranks as the best fries in town. 

Call ‍404-549-2655 for reservations.

Lunch could use a little glam, don’t you think? That’s what STK Atlanta promises with its sophisticated dining room located in Midtown. Order a Caesar salad and a steak, and you’ll be good to go. 

South City Kitchen is an Atlanta favorite for good reason. There’s a location in Midtown and Buckhead (so you’re probably never very far from the office) and they both serve the most buttery soft biscuits and cornbread. Standouts on the menu include the pimento cheese burger and the Carolina trout.

Call 404-873-7358 for reservations.

If you work at the Perimeter then you should totally consider grabbing lunch at Novo Cucina. Although located in a shopping center, the restaurant’s interior is a delightful surprise, complete with beautiful patterned tiles and French doors that open for a semi-al fresco feel (ideal when you’ve been cooped up in an office all day). When it comes to the food, the pizza and pasta dishes are the headliners but the gelato is the real star, so don’t leave without trying some. 

Located in West Midtown, Baffi is a creation of New York chef Jonathan Waxman. The restaurant is spacious, with a modern-meets-industrial feel. Chef Andrew Cacioppo and his team apply their light touch to lunch dishes like sausage and Vidalia onion pizza, or Waxman’s signature dish, the JW chicken with roasted potatoes and salsa verde. 

Lunch can be an elegant affair and Chops Lobster Bar is proof. The Buckhead institution is posh and especially ideal if you have an expense account on hand. There’s even a 45-minute lunch menu, which allows you to enjoy three courses in that set amount of time (but you can stay longer if you’d like!). 

Call 404-262-2675 for reservations.

Is there anything that says power lunch more than lunch at a golf course? Of course not. Boone’s is located at Bobby Jones and while it’s great to enjoy after hitting the links, you don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy it. The real charm here is found on the balcony overlooking the course. Grab a sandwich (the gulf shrimp roll is great) and you’ll feel revived and ready for another round — or business deal. 

Dining in the Garden & Gun Club, located in the Battery, is like stepping into the pages of the iconic Southern magazine. There’s a tastefully appointed interior and a menu that was crafted by the people behind Fig and The Ordinary. A genteel version of the power lunch, we dare say.