The December Hit List: Georgia Boy, Aziza, Miller Union, and More

Chef Joey Ward’s deliciously adventurous Georgia Boy had a short run after opening in late 2019 and closing months later due to pandemic complications, but the speakeasy-styled restaurant, hidden behind a bookshelf inside the cozy Poncey-Highlands restaurant Southern Belle (whose kitchen he also leads), is finally back. The format is still a 16-course tasting menu, with new menu additions such as an homage to Buford Highway’s dining diversity via a trio of chicken dishes, including banh mi and tacos with chorizo made of chicken hearts.

Expect the molecular gastronomy — desserts that come in edible “glass” casings, and vegan interpretations of caviar — to continue, along with the optional drink pairings like biodynamic wine, craft cocktails and booze-free mocktails. Limited seatings are available from Thursdays to Fridays only, for now. It’s a welcomed plate of positive news for those who like hyper-seasonal, inventively interpreted dishes, but just FYI: Reservations and COVID vaccinations are required.

Modern Israeli cuisine and hospitality are the stars of the show at this Westside Provisions District dining room, where warm earthy colors flow from curtain to seat cushion, and the contemporary design continues on your plate. Be sure to get an order of the fantastically flaky kubaneh, even if you get nothing else or aren’t hungry — it’s incredibly good bread. The cocktails are also worthy, whether you’re a cherry Negroni fan or more of the cucumber daiquiri type. More standouts include the roasted octopus over sunflower romesco tahini, the grilled lamb shoulder with fava beans and herbed rice, and a 48-ounce prime bone-in rib eye, ideal if you’re dining with turf-loving friends.

Opened December 3 at Ponce City Market’s Central Food Hall, this Black woman-owned organic vegan bodega originated in Los Angeles, and comes to ATL bringing bodega-style grab-n-go takeaway to the BeltLine’s favorite historic former Sears building. The menu includes all three daily meals, prepared with Puerto Rican and Caribbean influences by founder LaRayia Gaston, who’s also a filmmaker and philanthropic activist known for raising awareness about homelessness in the L.A. area.

Stop by the counter for Jamaican jerk jackfruit tacos topped with mango salsa, vegan chili with cornbread and collards, and a variety of seasonal plant-based soups and salads. Also not to be missed are Gaston’s beverages, which include her Black Girl Magic Lemonade made with activated charcoal, along with assorted juices and teas.

Miller Union is always worthy of a recommendation, remaining high on Atlanta diners’ lists of favorite restaurants since opening 12 years ago. With a menu based on what’s local and seasonal, the kitchen is now serving fall offerings, including a chicken dish with roasted breast and confit thigh, accompanied by pumpkin, sunchokes, and bok choy. The seafood chowder, bursting with shrimp, clams, fish, andouille, and more, is a good choice to warm things up.

Further, you can always expect all sorts of greatness from Steven Satterfield’s vegetable plates, which pair as perfectly with wine as would the grilled pork chop with cider demi-glace. Maybe throw in a side of smoked oyster mushrooms with broccoli while you’re at it, and save space for an apple spice cake with pecan ice cream, or vanilla-glazed doughnuts at the finish — pastry chef Claudia Martinez does not miss on sweets.

Newly opened in November, this expansive indoor and outdoor café and market aims to provide “the good bite” by name and in service, led by Persian chef Forough Vakili, a first-time entrepreneur and chef. Along with a formal dining room, wine bar, and market, it features a barista station, bakery, and cases of prepared food and pastries for diners on the go. The menu goes all day, with rotating breakfast eats that include almond butter toast, beet-cured salmon, and even shakshuka — a Middle Eastern dish of poached eggs in tomato sauce with peppers, onions, garlic, and spices. Arrive midday for a beef and lamb meatball sandwich, and show up for dinner to try the lump crab curry strudel in phyllo, which can be paired with organic and natural wine by the glass, or single-origin coffee.

Call 404-835-2007 for more information.

While Atlanta doesn’t root for the Carolina Panthers (no matter how we’re feeling about the Falcons any given year), we can’t help but cheer on Cam Newton, a native son of the College Park area who’s back on the field for Charlotte’s team after a quick period of free agency. That’s a good enough reason to visit his lofty southern restaurant and cigar bar, where a strictly enforced dress code feels more like a challenge to flaunt your fanciest hat (no ball caps) and business-casual wear than a fashion restriction.

The food matches the mood, whether you’re there to snack on fried strips of pollock remixed as a form of bruschetta, or enjoying ponzu-glazed Scottish salmon under lime-ginger butter. Finish the game strong with Fellaship’s namesake cocktail (a peach old fashioned), a neat pour of high-end Louis XIII Cognac, and your favorite stogie from Cohiba, Davidoff, Rocky Patel or other premium brands.

Holiday bars have become a major thing in Atlanta, and while festive decoration and jolly good times existed well before Miracle arrived, there’s no denying the impact of the multi-city cocktail pop-up. For its sixth year in Atlanta, Miracle returns to Tapa Tapa under the guidance of bartender/restaurateur Eric Simpkins, running until Dec. 26 (and closed on Christmas Day) from Wednesdays through Saturdays from 5 p.m. to midnight. The super-Christmas drinkfest will have live entertainment including holiday drag shows and live DJs on Friday and Saturday nights (with a small cover charge), with liquid goods like the Jingle Balls Nog made with Cognac, cream sherry, almond milk, and egg, and the Jolly Koala, which is bourbon mixed with cacao nib apéritif, dry vermouth, mulled wine reduction, and mole bitters.

Boone’s sits on the grounds of the Bobby Jones Golf Course near the Northside Drive exit of Interstate 75, and is the perfect place to grab lunch, dinner, or brunch, whether you’re hitting the links or just hitting the drinks. The menu focuses on New American cuisine that’s heavily sourced from Georgia, meaning you’ll find a fried Springer Mountain chicken sandwich, but also a duck burger (made with farm-raised duck from Maple Leaf Farms in northwest Georgia), with bacon, blue cheese, and smoked blueberries. For meals enjoyed from the plate, there’s sesame-crusted wild striped bass with Carolina Gold rice, and fall-friendly fare like the pumpkin agnolotti with arugula pesto and brown butter sage sauce. Enjoy those with one of 30 wines by the glass, a Bee’s Knees made with local honey, or a selection from the exclusively Georgia-brewed craft beer list.

There’s never a bad time to visit Second Self, where the La Fria Caribbean lager, Game Night hazy IPA, and other picks favored by thirsty Atlantans are always at their freshest. However, their latest brew — a collaboration with one of ATL’s coolest organizations — is a must-try while it lasts. It’s called Lemon Pepper Wet Sour, and was made in partnership with the popular local creative consultancy group Atlanta Influences Everything, whose t-shirts you’ve surely seen if not worn around town.

Don’t worry; Lemon Pepper Wet doesn’t taste like a chicken wing, but the 4.7% ABV Berliner Weisse does have the delicious tartness that you’d expect, thanks to the inclusion of Meyer lemon puree, pineapple, black and white pepper, and even a bit of vanilla to smooth things out a bit. Get it on draft in the taproom, and feel even better knowing 50% of all profits benefit AIE’s Careers of Tomorrow program, which encourages Atlanta Public School students to explore emerging careers related to the internet and social media.

This “mountain lodge pop-up” happens at Hampton + Hudson from December 14th through the 30th, simply to celebrate the cozy joys of the holiday season for 2021’s final two weeks. The pop-up party happens on the mezzanine level from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., where you’ll be served holiday cocktails like hot buttered cider with duck fat caramel, along with “shotskis”: Rumplemintz and Fernet Menta served on sets of wooden skis. To enjoy alongside these fun sips, look for snacks on the savory side (classic poutine), and sweeter stuff like an apple cider Sublime Doughnut, and even tableside s’mores. If that’s not enough to get the season into your system, the sight of servers wearing checkered flannel certainly should.

Call 404.948.2123 for reservations.