No. 1

The opening (and success) of Krog Street Market
— 2014 —

Just a year after its opening, Krog Street Market (KSM) was named one of the world’s best food halls by Travel + Leisure in 2015. It’s received several more accolades over the years and while there has been some change in the eateries and stalls, some have stood the test of time, including the beloved Ticonderoga Club. And after KSM opened, Atlanta saw an explosion of mixed-use markets and food halls, aiming to replicate food hall success.

No. 2

The James Beard Foundation recognizes Atlanta
— 2014 —

Starting in the mid-2010s, the number of James Beard Foundation nominations for Atlanta chefs and restaurants exploded. With nearly 20 nominations and wins since 2014, recognition for Atlanta chefs and restaurants has gone national and as a result, more outstanding restaurants continue to open in our fair city every year. Restaurants that were nominated or awarded have gone on to nurture a new generation of talent, including Gunshow, Miller Union, Kimball House, Ticonderoga Club, Busy Bee Cafe and, most recently, Talat Market.

No. 3

Good food goes north
— 2014 —

Long gone are the days of chain restaurants reigning in the Atlanta suburbs. Dining OTP exploded in the 2010s, led by places like Zest, Vin25, Casa Nuova, Novo Cucina and paving the way for new favorites like Fellows Cafe, TBB 122, Fogón and Lions, and more. Now, diners flock north from the city to destinations around Sandy Springs, Roswell and Alpharetta to taste the latest and greatest, often in charming and walkable downtown destinations.

No. 4

Tasting menus take hold
— 2015 —

When the celebrated restaurant Staplehouse opened in 2015 with a tasting menu-only format, the city wasn’t quite ready. Now, tasting menus have taken a strong hold, from omakase experiences seemingly everywhere (like Mujō, M by Tasuku Murakami, Sushi Hayakawa, Omakase Table, and more) to sleek modern favorites like Lazy Betty, Georgia Boy, and the return of Staplehouse’s multi-course dinner offering.

No. 5

Atlanta makes lemon pepper wet a national thing
— 2016 —

It was an IYKYK kind of thing before Donald Glover let the cat out of the bag in 2016 on his hit TV show. Since the season one scene in which Paper Boi orders his wings “lemon pepper wet” (wings in tangy buffalo sauce topped with lemon pepper seasoning) at famed J.R. Crickets, now, a Google search for the dish will serve you a myriad of recipes for Atlanta’s once under-the-radar, now most popular and defining food.

No. 6

The Braves move to Cobb County — where there’s food
— 2017 —

If you went to an Atlanta Braves game at Turner Field between 1996 and 2016, you know there wasn’t much by way of excellent food options (not that we don’t love a good ballpark hot dog). So when the Braves moved to Truist (then SunTrust) Park in 2017, with the newly developed Battery District, discerning diners rejoiced. From Garden & Gun Club to Ellet’s steakhouse, there are now a plethora of places to get a great meal before a game. Where Atlanta was once criticized for an underwhelming ballpark experience, thanks to the Battery’s activity and eateries, Truist Park now sits easily in the top MLB baseball experiences in the country.

No. 7

Then there was the matter of Covid
— 2020 —

Covid wreaked havoc on the restaurant industry and did damage that couldn’t be undone. We’re still mourning the loss of some of our favorite restaurants that shuttered during Covid, including Octane Coffee, Mother Bar & Kitchen, Sound Table, Shed at Glenwood and Krog Bar and Rathbun’s. But the pandemic also triggered a long-overdue reckoning in the industry and more specifically its approach to labor and marginalized groups such as women and people of color, inequities that restaurants, their workers, and leaders are still working to redress.

No. 8

Black-owned restaurants step into the spotlight
— 2020 —

Atlanta has always been known as the “city too busy to hate,” but the weeks and months after the murder of George Floyd had a major impact on how our city recognized and represented Black chefs and Black-owned restaurants in a bigger way than ever before. From articles about the importance of supporting Black-owned establishments to guides of the best Black-owned brunch spots, to Black-owned restaurant maps and lists, recognition of Black-owned establishments started to rise, helping to define our city’s dining scene as we moved into a new decade, celebrating our diversity and recognizing a need to push towards an equitable restaurant industry while supporting our local eateries.

No. 9

The Michelin Guide lands in Atlanta
— 2024 —

The Michelin Guide officially landed in Atlanta in 2024, delivering stars and Bib Gourmands on some of the city’s top restaurants and confirming what we already knew: That Atlanta’s vibrant dining scene is worthy of global recognition. The awards were led by a handful of one-star honorees, including local luminaries Bacchanalia and Mujō. (See the winners that are available to book on Resy.)

No. 10

Keith Lee causes a stir
— 2024 —

TikTok food critic Keith Lee’s visit to Atlanta went viral in 2024, shortly after the city was still basking in its Michelin achievements, leaving some restaurants reeling. Lee visited nine restaurants, calling out bad customer service, absurd add-on charges, and questionable service rules. The negative news about Atlanta dining hit his 14.5 million followers — and the national media scene — sparking conversations within the city’s restaurant industry over its approach to hospitality and demonstrating the power of social influencers on a huge scale.

Ashley Twist Cole is an Atlanta-based freelance writer. She’s a sucker for good pimento cheese, a rooftop bar and a big bowl of pasta. Follow her on Instagram; follow Resy, too.