As we close out the year and scroll through thousands of photos, we realize we’ve eaten hundreds of meals at hundreds of restaurants, and there have been so many good meals. But we wanted to ask our chef community where they thought they had their best meals of the year (tl;dr: people love Spring).
There are some gems in here that we can’t wait to dig through. Right this way.
GiGi’s Italian Kitchen
Candler Park
“Gigi’s consistently churns out some of the most delicious, heartfelt food in the city! Whenever I’m there, I feel like family.”
— Parnass Savang, Chef/Owner at Talat Market
Lyla Lila
Midtown
“I really enjoyed dining with at Lyla Lila for [our] anniversary. Chef Craig Richards’ food is comforting, delicious, and beautifully plated.”
— Anita Hsu, Co-Owner at Lazy Betty
Mujō
Midtown West
“Mujō, for the absolutely impeccable level of service, dedication to honing their craft, and immaculate quality ingredients.”
— Jarrett Stieber, Chef/Owner at Little Bear
Nam Phuong
Brookhaven
“My meal at Nam Phuong with my daughter and her friends: The food was traditional and full of textures and spices, and the kids can’t wait to return!”
— Anita Hsu, Co-Owner at Lazy Betty
Rumi’s Kitchen
Midtown
“My top Atlanta restaurant meal of 2023 was the mirza ghasemi at Rumi’s Kitchen. Chef Ali Mesghali’s version of this dish with smoked eggplant, tomato, and garlic is an incredible balance of flavors — and Rumi’s Kitchen is always a fantastic experience, in general.”
— Tasuku Murakami, Executive Chef at M by Tasuku Murakami
Southern National
Summerhill
“Southern National here in Atlanta. We found Duane [Nutter]’s food to be incredibly thoughtful and insightful. It’s a fresh approach to Southern cooking that I haven’t seen in a long time. It was well balanced, extremely flavorful, and presented in a creative way that over-delivers from how it’s described on the menu.”
— Craig Richards, Chef/Partner at Lyla Lila
Spring
Cobb County
“My favorite meal of this year was from Spring in downtown Marietta. The harmony of flavors and the quality of food definitely stood out, and every ingredient was executed perfectly.”
— Fares Kargar, Chef/Owner at Delbar Middle Eastern
“Spring, technically not Atlanta because it’s Marietta, but still … Brian So is the most technical chef in the Atlanta area as far as I’m concerned, and I love eating his straightforward, well-executed food, and being wowed by his partner and sommelier, Daniel Crawford.”
— Jarrett Stieber, Chef/Owner at Little Bear
“Spring is one of the biggest unsung heroes in the Atlanta dining scene. The food and wine are exceptional, and the room is charming. The staff really understands how to make an experience great. I have never had a dish at Spring that wasn’t exceptional, and I’ve eaten there many times.”
— Kevin Gillespie, Chef at Gunshow
Tio Lucho’s
Poncey-Highland
“I may be a bit biased, but I also really love Tio Lucho’s creative and regional take on Peruvian cuisine. The service is friendly, yet attentive, and chef Arnaldo Castillo’s dishes are a full-on flavor bomb every time.
— Anita Hsu, Co-Owner at Lazy Betty
