The Atlanta Restaurants We Loved in September

Curious what the new era…

… at Aria would look like under longtime general manager Andrés Loaiza and new chef Joseph Harrison, I recently revisited this icon to find out what’s changed. The good news is that the legacy is alive and well, and I want to give a special shoutout to the pastry chef Kathryn King, whose desserts continue to wow. I couldn’t resist ordering three: a warm, Swiss roll-looking chocolate swirl cheesecake (why isn’t cheesecake served warm more often?); a lemon pound cake with black plums; and a peach and blackberry cobbler with a sweet drop biscuit topping that was to die for. Despite having multiple courses, there wasn’t a bite of dessert left unclaimed.

— Su-Jit Lin, Atlanta Writer, Resy Editorial

I’m starting to believe…

… that Apt 4B is my absolute favorite go-to restaurant for special occasions. My husband and I absolutely love the vibe there. This time around, we shared fried oyster mushrooms and the crab dip to start (I highly recommend both). For mains, I enjoyed the curry goat roti with sautéed cabbage and rice and peas, while a friend devoured the pan-seared salmon, which came with creamy mashed potatoes, salted zucchini, carrots, and a lemon butter sauce. My husband had his go-to of penne vodka with oxtails.

— Shai Perry, Senior Financial Analyst

I feel like it’s always a challenge getting enough greens…

… when I dine out. And getting vegetarian-only dishes makes me feel like I’m missing out, or cobbling together a meal made out of sides. Not so at Fogón and Lions, where I had the most veggie-packed paella. It had charred broccolini, peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, and other summer vegetables. I added a generous pork tenderloin skewer, which came with even more vegetables placed between the slices of tender, juicy meat, and it was all completely infused with smoke from the wood-fired grill. I swear, it tasted and felt like it was half-smoked and half-flame-seared. With a touch of Filipino barbecue sauce to add just a slight sweetness, it was the perfect combination for this omnivore who doesn’t like to sacrifice flavor or nutrients.

— Su-Jit Lin, Atlanta Writer, Resy Editorial

I can’t stop thinking about…

… the new and incredible Tunisi eggplant dip at Kitty Dare. Served in a hot skillet with housemade ciabatta, the eggplant, harissa, dill pesto, cumin, and garlic was at such a level of flavor concentration, it just knocked out my taste buds in the best way possible. With the Mina Mina spritz and a side of the Aleppo pepper-dusted grilled zucchini, this was a perfectly light (and budget-friendly) end-of-summer dinner combo.

— Su-Jit Lin, Atlanta Writer, Resy Editorial

The only place I go to get my breakfast fix…

… is Bomb Biscuit Co. Each time I visit, I plan to order the crispy hot honey chicken biscuit but the nostalgia of the country ham biscuit, sometimes with egg and cheese, always wins me over. (Pro tip: For those of us who enjoy sweet-and-salty combos, skip the jelly and ask for the house preserves, made with seasonal fruit and love.) Having tried most items here, I can confidently say that the entire menu doesn’t miss, so get whatever your go-to is for a Southern breakfast. The ultimate satisfaction, though, is the hospitality poured into the welcoming dining room, full of people gathering and laughing over their common love of a good breakfast.

— Shyretha Sheats, Atlanta Writer, Resy Editorial

As a born-and-raised New Yorker…

… I love alliums like you wouldn’t believe — there can never be enough onions, garlic, leek, scallions, and the rest of the gang. And I lived in New Orleans, so bread pudding done well is a special *chef’s kiss* for me. So, naturally, the leek bread pudding at Brookhaven’s Vino Venue was the biggest draw for me, and it did not disappoint. Chock-full of silky leeks enveloped in cheese and a custardy base with a gorgeous crust, this was so fabulous, I took another one to go and nursed it over two meals instead of sharing it with my boyfriend.

— Su-Jit Lin, Atlanta Writer, Resy Editorial

More Atlanta staff picks, right this way.

The views expressed in this article reflect personal experiences of American Express employees at the applicable restaurants — not American Express — and do not constitute professional business advice.