New on Resy: Georgia Boy, Restaurant Holmes, Rock Steady

The key to Atlanta’s most exclusive dinner party lies within a Roald Dahl classic. Hidden behind a bookshelf inside Southern Belle — look for James and the Giant Peach — Georgia Boy is where Gunshow vet Joey Ward lets his whimsy run wild. The chef puts on the kitchen theatrics for an intimate tasting menu, where revamped Southern fare, designed with zero food waste in mind, unravels in 10 sumptuous courses. The menu is ever-changing, but we promise: You’re in for a wild ride.

Though farm-to-table establishments have become the new norm, Restaurant Holmes still feels decisively special. Perhaps it’s because this cherished neighborhood spot abides to nature’s rule of law (read: produce culled at its seasonal peak), and lets the ingredients truly sing for themselves. Think simple and delicious preparations, like tempura-fried cauliflower topped with shaved Parmesan, greens braised in apple cider vinegar, mushroom toast with bacon butter, and hand-cut cacio e pepe, slick with melty cheese.

There’s rock steady, the music genre that rocked Jamaica in the mid-60s, and then there’s Rock Steady, the latest Afro-Caribbean dining wonder from restaurateur Joe Russo. The stylish and dimly-lit West Midtown newcomer pulls from Jamaica, Haiti, and West Africa for modern twists on time-honored favorites, from brown stew lamb shank and oxtail pappardelle to jerk-roasted vegetables and snapper ceviche. Order away and sip on something from the rum-heavy cocktail list — you might just find yourself keeping beat to the in-house DJ’s pan-African playlist.

If you think handmade pastas belong to the realm of nonnas, Lyla Lila is here to prove you wrong. This new eatery from two industry vets is set in an elegant bohemian den, where a Euro-leaning menu hones in on expertly-made pasta. Here, smoked squash-and-ricotta caramelle or tomato leaf pappardelle are best enjoyed with a sparkling glass of pét-nat (the wine list favors Old World bottles). This is one of the season’s most anticipated openings, so mark your calendars and make a Resy — starting December 14th.

This humble bistro’s pride and joy can be boiled down to one sentence: Cajun cooking at its finest. Behind its casual café looks, Louisiana Bistreaux delivers a menu straight out of NOLA that doesn’t skimp on the spice. Pair that mindset with sustainable seafood, and you get ruby-red crawfish tossed in garlic butter, plump shrimp in a spicy Cajun barbecue sauce, and a piping hot bowl of gumbo, laced with seafood and andouille morsels. More, please.

What happens when the palates of the Bayou collide with those of the Lone Star State? You get a one-two flavor-packed punch of a restaurant like Dos Bocas. On the menu, Cajun and Tex-Mex plates battle it out, so don’t be surprised to find chili con queso and crawfish étouffée fighting for table space, or pozole rojo brushing shoulders with gumbo. Whether you decide to ride the Tex-Mex border, give in to your Cajun cravings, or indulge in a mish-mash of both, rest assured that the kitchen knows what it’s doing.

From the fine-dining kitchens of New York to the traditional establishments of the South, chef Virgil Harper’s culinary career has come to its pinnacle. Introducing Roc South Cuisine and Cocktails, Harper’s stylish restaurant — decked out in marbled floors, velvety midnight blue banquettes, geometric chandeliers — is Brookhaven’s latest soul food destination. In particular, a coveted brunch is the move. That time of day calls for apple cobbler French toast, fried chicken glazed in hot honey, and saucy shrimp and grits, all with a side of Southern hospitality.

This Grant Park gastropub is the sort of place that prompts you to slow down, sit back, and relax. Homemade pop tarts and steaming pour-overs begin at 8 a.m. on the dot, before a parade of healthy bowls and sandwiches takes over. Dinnertime gathers a bevy of classic and new bistro hits — Cherry Coke chicken wings, “everything” pork rinds, roasted quail. One house-made chip into the oozing French onion soup dip and you’ll be planning for your next visit.

Sushi with a twist is the hallmark of this wood-clad Westside den, where bulbous light fixtures lend an ambient glow to the scene below. Picture slivers of fresh sashimi atop a mound of ice, colorful explosions of maki artfully plated on slabs of black slate, plates brimming with miso steak and salmon teriyaki, and an award-winning pork ramen to slurp on a cold day. Pro-tip: Beyond the enticing cocktails, the well-curated sake list begs to be explored.

Don’t expect cookie-cutter pizzas here: Silvano Pizza is the passion project of a born-and-bred Tuscan chef, and the resulting pies are a sight to behold. The Tuscan style favors a thin crackly crust whose imperfect edges are a testament to the artisan at work. As for the toppings, expect the very best from Italy: prosciutto from Parma, truffles from Piedmont, creamy Italian buffalo mozzarella, and juicy tomato pulp, which serves as the baseline for every pie.

If you’re looking to dine and wine someone, you bring them to Hal’s, Buckhead’s ultimate steakhouse. But if you’re looking for an everyday kind of place that holds its steaks to the same high standards, you go to Nowak’s, Hal’s son’s place. Nowak’s revamps the steakhouse format with a neighborly spin, doling out prime cuts, towering seafood dishes, and craft cocktails within an unfussy setting. So while you won’t find white linens here, you can trust that the food is as good as if it were served by a tuxedoed server.

If a brewery elicits visions of greasy food, think again. From the Earth Brewing Company carries its name well, making sure its handcrafted beers get worthy munching companions. As such, much of the menu is market-driven and locally sourced, with offerings ranging from beer-battered mushrooms and Brussels sprouts to a double-stacked burger spread with pimento cheese and bacon jam, and a cauliflower couscous studded with the greenmarket’s best. Pro-tip: Drop in on Thursdays for live music.

A wood-fired steakhouse nestled in an old saddlery, Bare Bones Steakhouse is big on charm. Exposed beams, brick walls, and lustered woods set the tone for your meal, where a scratch kitchen — everything from the mozzarella to ice cream is made in-house — anchors it all. Head to this Buford favorite for ribeye topped with creamed horseradish, battered and fried onion rings, and the excellent bananas Foster, featuring spiced pecans, Italian meringue, and brown sugar, doused in a spiced rum butter sauce.

A breezy West Coast style has made its way down south. Enter Cantina one41, a Mexican eatery with a SoCal twist, where the margaritas and mezcal flow. The former Viande Rouge locale has transformed into a light and airy beach house setting, and you’d be remiss to overlook the many seafood plates. Begin with charred street corn and chorizo-laced chipotle mussels before tucking into Baja fish tacos, made-to-order enchiladas, and crispy chicken taquitos.