Now on Resy: Olive Bistro, Lily Sushi Bar, The Sparrow, and More Local Favorites

You’ll definitely want to book a table at this comfortable, intimate downtown pan-Asian destination, where beautifully plated Sichuanese dishes, both traditional and innovative, are the star of the show. 

Sari Masri has been bringing the city the fresh, vivid flavors of the Mediterranean since he opened his original Olive Bistro meze and wine bar in 1997, and you won’t want to miss this intimate Midtown iteration of the place. Expect the same sunny hospitality, an expansive menu of Greek and Italian specialties, and bottomless mimosa weekend brunch. Pro tip: Bottles of wine are half off every Wednesday.

Susan Vuong opened her jewel box of a place in Alpharetta in 2021 and since then has been bringing the community a downtown array of sashimi, nigiri, maki, hand rolls, and specialty creations spotlighting a dazzling variety of fresh seafood. Feeling adventurous? Try the whole eel from the binchotan charcoal grill. 

This female-operated Beltline favorite has been serving traditional Thai food to Atlanta for more than 40 years, and it just keeps getting better. Chef Pattie Lawlertratana’s menu ranges from Bangkok street foods like crispy chicken rice to a full range of soups, salads, noodle dishes, curries, and much more, and you’ll want to try it all.

This well-loved East Atlanta breakfast/brunch specialist was closed for a couple of years after a kitchen fire but is now going strong again, and is just as good as you might remember, serving avocado toast, eggs Benedict, shrimp and grits, and just about anything else you might want to get your day started or keep your morning glowing into early afternoon.

This friendly spot in historic Senoia does it right, with a casual French café atmosphere (white tile walls, bright vintage posters, outdoor seating under blue umbrellas) and a menu offering both bistro classics (eggs Dijon, coquilles St. Jacques) and bistro-casual American dishes (frites with ranch dressing, grilled Cajun chicken) — just what you’re hungry for.

Make a note of this one for date night or other special occasions — a stylish, intimate Sweet Auburn spot opened by restaurateur Asa Fain and chef Robbie Pacheco, where the vibe is tranquil and the menu employs a world’s worth of ingredients to create flavor combinations that will surprise and seduce you.

Gus Tselios feeds Texas-style steaks to Marietta at his Cherokee Cattle Company, but here, it’s all about the ocean. There’s a Maine lighthouse replica towering over the building and oversized fish tank inside, but the real draw is the irresistible, internationally–sourced fish and shellfish menu, offering everything from seafood nachos to bouillabaisse.

Everything is fresh and housemade (especially the excellent pita) at this next-door sibling to Marietta’s popular Nazareth Grocery. Expect a wide range of flavorful Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare, from green olive salad to Turkish-style flatbreads, to the appetite-sating Adana Tablaci — a feast built around five kinds of grilled meat.

You’ll be glad you ascended to this gem on the 30th floor of the Hilton Atlanta to enjoy its constantly evolving fixed-price menus (with plenty of choices) featuring high-level, French-influenced cuisine with international accents based on local ingredients — enhanced by knockout views of the city and beyond.

At this family-friendly Italian essential from the group behind Doc Chey’s Noodle House, the menu is full of old-school favorites (yes, there’s chicken parm; yes, there’s spaghetti and meatballs), and the thin-crust pizzas are perfection. In nice weather, ask for a table beneath the twinkling lights on the dreamy patio.

The Mediterranean comes to Sandy Springs with this cool, stylishly casual venue, featuring a menu that references Italy, Greece, Spain, Turkey, and various corners of the Middle East. After dinner, Mandolin invites guests to “Shisha ‘n chill” and the hookah service gets top marks.

You’re guaranteed to have a good time at this lively two-level Roswell gem, with its irresistible cocktails (including 10 margaritas), 50-plus tequilas, 30 beers on tap, live music, and trivia nights — not to mention a dozen or so burgers, assorted tacos, and a fiesta’s worth of Latin and Southern snacks.

Lino Joseph draws on his Haitian roots and his travels all over the West Indies to create the vividly flavorful Caribbean menu here — one of four Spice House locations around town. Expect innovations like jerk chicken egg rolls and Caesar salad with oxtails or Creole shrimp, with libations like a tropical margarita or a coco mojito on the side.

You won’t want to miss this elegant establishment, a collaboration between brother-and-sister Vinny and Kelan Watson of Sovereign Sweets and rapper Quavo of Migos, for its caviar-to-steak menu, cutting-edge cocktails featuring produce from local farms, wide-screen TVs streaming multiple sports, and knockout city views from its Midtown perch. 

You won’t want to miss this little corner of England in the midst of Madison’s picturesque Historic District, where the comfy, timeworn-looking interior is the perfect setting for enjoying elevated pub fare (fish ‘n’ chips, yes, but also braised lamb shank with polenta). Bonus: the classic cocktails are done with panache.

Because this is one for a festive night out: a super-casual venue with a vibrant Cajun and Vietnamese menu, and a cocktail list built for fun (frozen Vietnamese Irish coffee, anyone?). Pro tip: Check out the “po’boy possibilities” — including one irresistible po’boy/banh mi mashup.

A menu that mixes mezze and kebabs with rigatoni and linguine? Leave it to this buzzing Mediterranean and European restaurant to come through with said dream menu, while spotlighting premium bottle service, hookah pipes, and a live DJ that starts every night at 9 p.m.

A family-friendly neighborhood spot with a serious menu ranging from crab cakes to a wild boar ossobuco, Suite 2000 is also a full-on, state-of-the-art sports bar, full of memorabilia and high-def screens, with plenty of fun things to eat (spinach and artichoke fondue with naan, anyone?)

Prepare to be awed if you sync up with one of the monthly tuna-cutting evenings here, when chef Jackie Chang breaks down a whole bluefin tuna into an array of delicacies before your eyes. But you’ll be impressed regardless: The Japanese fare at this light-flooded Alpharetta grill-and-sushi spot is exquisite and always hits.