The Resy Hit List: Where In Atlanta You’ll Want to Eat in Oct. 2025

Miller Union’s Steven Satterfield and Neal McCarthy have another hit on their hands with the new wine bar and restaurant they opened with Dive Wine’s Tim Willard. Folks have been fast to smash the Notify button since its opening, and the jury’s split between whether the small plates or the big glasses should take top billing. Shareable dishes range from light to less light; a poulet rouge and creamy potato gnocchi are as big as plates get. McCarthy and Willard are both esteemed sommeliers, and thankfully, their excitement to share their knowledge means a choice of roughly two dozen wines by the glass. Once you grab a seat, just follow our Dish by Dish recs and let that be your guide.

A choice of three spacious patios makes this a stellar pick for summer dining, cicadas whirring in the not-too-distant trees. The pavilion and the garden are popular, especially during lazy evenings where you’re able to score free street parking nearby — you’ll want to take your time savoring the pastas and breads so painstakingly made by hand, and the craft cocktails too. The wine list leans to naturalish selections. Pair a bottle with bright summer flavors like tomato jam with burrata or sun-dried tomato pesto on rigatoni with rapini and fennel, or go trad with a twist via panko-crusted thigh chicken Parm. 

Intimate and compact with its low ceilings and red-splashed patio, the metal stools at the bar and unfussy wooden chairs of chef-owner Bruce Logue’s Italian-ish restaurant are consistently among the most coveted seats in the city. Here, pasta is regularly reimagined, shaped or extruded with painstaking detail and accompanied by inventive ingredients that are distinctly American. For instance, chicken Parm is Southern fried and served with creamy collard greens, a 20-yolk tagliatelle comes with mushrooms and Tuscan kale kimchi, and arancini comes filled with smoked brisket and green tomato marmellata. Cocktails keep the fun going, with names that encourage LOL moments, such as from Becky with the Good Pear (Slosha Fierce), which asks only, “When was the last time you were a little tipsy?”

Plenty of restaurants serve mezcal, but far fewer are bold enough to call themselves a mezcaleria — and this is Atlanta’s first. Décor showcases the agave plant, from suspensions over the bar to real harvesting tools on an accent wall in the glamorous emerald green and black dining room. Experience a tableside Tequila flight and the power of smoke and flame with steak in a habanero ash sauce, a charcoal and orange cocktail, and “forgotten” blistered masa tortilla. Don’t miss the cochinita pibil blue corn sopes nor the overstuffed chicken enchiladas with poblano cream. Mole sauce is painstakingly scratch-made here, as are desserts by pastry chef Ricky Saucedo, whose little-bit-of-everything “Magic Tea Cup” shows us how smoke enhances everything — even chocolate. Brunch means conchas; enjoy them on the patio.

One can imagine this dark, moody space influenced by the volcanic nature of the wines Terry and Jenn Koval (of The Deer and the Dove) have chosen to highlight, along with 40 varieties of beautifully bitter amari curated by Matt Watkins. The seas are calling on the menu, with dry-aged seafood, local options that include Brunswick shrimp and Sapelo Island clams, and unique dishes like urchin chips, cured bluefin bresaola, shrimp and salmon sausage “burger,” and snapper collars, the likes of which Atlanta hasn’t seen before. Between drinks and bites, it’s a big menu in tiny font, but a reservation-only chef’s tasting menu offers a life raft from decision-making. That said, the space has fewer than 40 seats, so make your Resys early.

The most ambitious restaurant yet by Niki Pattharakositkul of the 26 Thai restaurant group, this alluring newcomer is breathing new buzz into West Midtown as word’s quickly spread. It’s immediately awe-inspiring with bold and beautiful artwork and textures, street and night market touches, and an open central dining space that’s subtly but unmistakably sectioned off from the on-display kitchen and oversized bar. But all of that is just backdrop for a menu that challenges what Atlantans should expect from Thai cuisine. Homey slow-braised vegetable stew, housemade Thai sausage with green chile dip, yellow crab curry noodles, and a five-hour sous vide duck breast make dinner an adventure. Find more ideas on what to order right here.

Choose your own three-course adventure with Kevin Gillespie’s prix fixe menu, which offers plenty of opportunities to see how hearty Scottish fare can be given a contemporary Southern and New England twist. For instance, Georgia-grown wagyu culotte grilled on wood comes with barbecued sweet potatoes and Scotch ale mousse and Maine peekytoe crab is accompanied by brown-butter yuzu and a tattie scone. Or just let Gillespie navigate your “way of nature” with a six-courser freshly updated for the season. New winter riffs feature smoked mussels with hard cider cream and duck confit with spiced quince. Warm up further with a dram from his private whisky collection — just the right drink to feel like a laird in his lodge.

A superette is traditionally a mini neighborhood market, the likes of which chef Hudson Rouse (of Whoopsie’s and Rising Son) became acquainted with via his grandparents in West Virginia. But here, the nod is limited to a deli case with some meat and produce and a battered retail aisle with sundries. The space is no-frills — dated down to wood paneling and hard plastic diner booths. But that’s because the comfort is in the food. Popular breakfasts include collard, egg and cheese hoe cakes, and squash pancakes enhanced with fried chicken. Sandwiches are heavy on the cheese when opportunity permits — such as the pimento burger — and stuffed to burst. The fried pork chop easily laps the buns and the Cod Royale is a chonker. 

Find more info here.

Under the stewardship of executive chef Charles Lowney, chef-owner Jason Hill’s oldie but goodie continues to push the modern Southern cooking that pioneered a movement when Wisteria opened two dozen years ago. The historic building, identifiable by its brick façade, opens up to a dining room with a downtown vibe, where local art is on display and for sale. That way, you can take home more than just a memory of a great meal of fried Gulf oysters, charred romaine Caesar salad, pimento cheese deviled eggs, molasses-rubbed pork with sweet potato puree, or wild-caught diver scallops. Pro tip: As you would at Miller Union, order the vegetable plate for the table for a sampler that often includes corn pudding, apple relish, succotash, parsnip mash, and seasonal greens. 

You may have seen pictures of this newcomer’s big tiger mural by now, and surely you’ve heard the buzz about this Thai concept by a trio of first-time restaurateurs. As we mentioned recently, the dining room was meant to highlight historic features of the building, but its furnishings and color scheme are jungle made elegant with wickers, woods, and dark trim. The indoor space is brightened up by a convivial spirit — an intentional result of interesting drinks, bar bites, and family-style plates all meant to be shared. The menu is personal, with flavors the owners have enjoyed out with friends in Thailand and Atlanta. For instance, chile jam clams are served with local grilled sourdough and lemongrass wings come with bourbon peach sriracha.

The aroma of open-flame grilling rises all the way from the kitchen to the mezzanine dining area and high, floral-festooned rafters of this Persian favorite. Expect bold, meaty flavors enhanced by marinades and spices, like saffron on thick skin-on salmon fillets, chicken made golden with citrus, and juicy hunks of lamb that’s rich yet not gamey. Order family-style and as many different types of the fabulous rices as possible. The orange, barberry, pistachio, and almond shirin polo is superb; the selection goes on to include sour cherry, green beans and beef, fava beans with dill, and more. But before you get there, start with a refreshing Tipsy Sabzi with lime, cucumber, and herbs, or Hafez’s Last Word, a tropical red wine float.

Beloved for its sophisticated French vibes, this serene haven by founder and executive chef Forough Vakili continues to quietly excel. Everything remains made from scratch with seasonal, organic ingredients. During the day, order your coffee or tea sweetened with housemade syrups like salted honey or matcha, followed by duck confit kimchi fried rice or a bone broth power bowl with oats and greens from the counter or at a table. At night, it’s full-service only and the Continental influence is more pronounced, with traditional dishes such as caviar with housemade chips, tarte flambee, ratatouille, and grilled snapper with olive tapenade. Wine is a focal point in the evening; check Resy Events for the monthly Uncorked self-paced wine and paired canape experience — a steal at just $45 a person.

This low-key neighborhood wine bar hits all the right notes. To drink: a selection by the glass that spans from Sicily to Austria to Australia, in addition to all of the usual suspects. To pair: a menu both global and eclectic. There’s charcuterie of course, but also braised duck rangoons, salmon with edamame risotto and coconut chile broth, bebere-roasted chicken, and housemade fettuccine Bolognese. Sound dampening on the high ceilings indoors is a thoughtful touch for intimate conversation, but a large flagstone patio and communal high-top tables at the bar make gathering organic. Pro tip: outdoor seating is first come, first served, making a Resy the only way to ensure a table.

Leaving or arriving to Atlanta on a good note cannot be undervalued, which is why we’re real happy Whisk has entered the chat. It’s a cheery send-off or welcome, bright with natural woods, whites, and lots of greenery amid the sage. Menu choices run from classic omelets and pancakes in flavors like Campfire Stack or pineapple with vanilla rum caramel to wings and oxtails, both smoked, and fried green tomatoes. Big brunch boards are an open invitation to linger, as is the encouragement to plug into the co-working space by the full-service coffee and pastry bar. Or just migrate over there to zone out after ambitiously downing a whole fried snapper or a French toast burger with candied bacon and maple aioli.

Old-school service, old country-inspired decor, and old Southern traditions may sound an incongruous mix, but it works for this family-owned Italian restaurant just barely OTP. An open floor plan contributes to the liveliness that characterizes dining here, while soft lighting, a romantic patio, and a good by-the-glass wine list makes it a fine date night option, too. Housemade pasta is the obvious choice, including the namesake carbonara, but don’t overlook red sauce classics like a seafood-loaded fra diavolo. Mains range from rustic (cacciatore, braised lamb shank) to contemporary (chicken Parm) to elegant (filet in peppercorn brandy). A thoughtful kids menu and long list of classic desserts make it clear why this is a longtime favorite for families. 

With more bottles in Enomatic wine dispensing machines than there are dining tables at this education-focused tasting room, you might assume the food is more an afterthought than a continuation of palate refinement. That would be wrong. Under the new ownership of Emily Mendyka, chef Patric Good is quietly flexing in the kitchen with a tight selection of entrees and a broad range of small plates. The leek bread pudding is unforgettable, silky ringlets suspended in a cheesy firm custard. Plump crab cakes, meaty chicken croquettes, and Korean barbecue-sauced brussels sprouts are ideal to share. But splitting dessert — that’s debatable. Good began in pastry and it shows in his novel melon crème brulee with lavender shortbread and lush dark chocolate dulce de leche pot de crème. 

No reservations. Find more info here.