New on Resy: Georgia Boy, Southern Belle, Aziza, and More

Chef Joey Ward’s kitchen-table tasting-menu restaurant-within-a-restaurant has a speakeasy vibe (it’s hidden, without a sign, inside his Southern Belle), but it’s well worth finding your way down the secret passageway to sample his ever-changing repertoire of Southern-international creations.

When you take a seat in this rustic-modern dining room (brick walls, wicker lightshades, exposed-ductwork ceilings) you’ll understand why Aziza has such a following. The glowing wood-burning oven adds a smoke-tinged depth to many of the flavors here.

If you like the sound of contemporary Southern food with a touch of wit and a knockout cocktail program focusing on spirits distilled in the South, you’ll want to become a regular at chef Joey Ward’s comfy-elegant Poncey Highlands showplace.

Cheesy, crisp-bottomed Detroit-style square-pan pizzas are the thing at this Glenwood Park gem — part of a small Brooklyn-based chain with locations around the South and Northeast — but the pies get serious competition from the towering Le Big Matt burger (two patties on a pretzel bun).

Part of the biggest Black-owned nightlife chain in America, this 3,500-square-foot after-dark destination is all about hookah pipes and CBDs. Bottle service, “Crutails,” and drink-friendly small plates help fuel the good times, too.

The fun at this outpost of the CRU hookah and hemp franchise is spread over two stories and 4,000 square feet, complete with patio, bowling alley, and DJ booth. Supplement the shisha with “Crutails” and small plates ranging from wings to Baja crab cakes.

Here’s another reason to head for the Woodruff Arts Center besides the plays, symphony concerts, and exhibitions. Twelve Eighty serves up casual fare with international accents in a bright, clean-lined dining room. Pro tip: On show nights, there’s a fixed-price dinner option that’ll leave you well-fed by the time the curtain goes up.

You’ll find a festive vibe, with friendly bartenders, plenty of music (live and otherwise), and food that’s fun to eat (lobster mac ‘n’ cheese, anyone?) at this lively suburban hangout.

Want food that’s reassuringly familiar but with a twist or two? Step into Howell’s rustic-sleek dining room (furnished with a forest’s worth of reclaimed wood) or onto the firepit-warmed patio here for contemporary tavern fare including mozzarella sticks made with cold-smoked cheese and “grown up” chicken tenders.