The Resy Hit List: Where In Atlanta You’ll Want to Eat Right Now
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There’s no question we hear more often: Where should I go eat? And while we at Resy know it’s an honor to be the friend who everyone asks for restaurant advice, we also know it’s a complicated task. That’s where the Resy Hit List comes in.
Consider it your essential resource for dining in Atlanta: a monthly-updated guide to the restaurants that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Four Things In Atlanta Not to Miss This Month
- Home of the Braves: Baseball season is back, but Resy can do you better than peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Down in Summerhill, Wood’s Chapel BBQ (owned by the same team as The General Muir) and Halfway Crooks Beer are kicking things off as part of the Opening Day Block Party on March 27; get there early to start the day at Poach Social or follow it with a late dinner at nearby Little Bear, Talat Market, or Southern National. Or, if you can, score tickets to see the Braves live at Truist Park in Smyrna, where The Battery offers ample eats. Garden & Gun Club is right there, steps from the gate, as is “Top Chef” alum Hector Santiago’s El Super Pan, Atlanta’s famous H&F Burger, and Asian mini-food hall PH’EAST. Just minutes away is a location of Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill, too. For a more comprehensive guide of where to eat around The Battery, this Resy guide’s still got you.
- Listen Up: Soft clubbing dropped hard last year with the entrance of listening spaces like Commune ATL and Stereo ATL — an evolution from themed soundtrack-forward bars like Jojo’s Beloved — and it’s been become increasingly in when it comes to going out. Enter restaurants with deeply intentional playlists. At spots like Southern National, Tio Lucho’s, BoccaLupo, and obviously, the Outkast-inspired Humble Mumble, “the vibe is less ‘turn up’ and more listening room,” as Donovan X. Ramsey wrote recently. Then there are spots that might treat you to an evening of vinyl, such as Lyla Lila, El Ponce, and Block & Drum. Have yourself a DJ day at Bar ANA or Palo Santo, both of which offer (coffee) brews to fuel your dancing shoes for those whom late-night scenes are no longer the jam. And if live music is what moves you, right this way to Allison Ramirez’s guide to exactly that.
- Get On Your Feet with Afro-Caribbean Beats: The 11th iteration of the No Tables No Chairs music festival by Mausiki Scales & The Common Ground Collective is officially on! They’re taking over Shirley Clarke Franklin Park (formerly Westside Reservoir Park) on Saturday, April 25 for an all-day celebration of music of the African diaspora, including Junkanoo-style and the FunkLine (a play on Atlanta’s BeltLine and the New Orleans second line tradition) parades. Shake it to live bands and DJs during this wonderful opportunity to experience the richness of cultures found within the Black community of Atlanta, from West Africa to the Caribbean to the American South. Consider it an audio accompaniment to The New South chef collective we’ve been tracking — stars include elevated country Southern at Auburn Angel and Haitian and Trinidadian flair at Bread & Butterfly. For more Caribbean, we also recommend trying Apt 4B, Miss Conduck, or Rock Steady. Or simply grab brunch before you head to the festival at J’ouvert Caribbean Kitchen & Bar to fuel up for a day of dancing.
- New Kids on the (Resy) Block: We’ve always intel for you on the new and shiny arrivals to explore further than (or deeper in) your own backyard. For example, you might want to know that a treasure has returned and with new polish, a la M @ Umi or Ashland at Loews Atlanta Hotel. And now you no longer have to roll the dice on getting a table at beloved staples like LEONs Full Service, Food Terminal West Midtown, or Le Bon Nosh? Our New on Resy always has you covered, in the ATL and beyond.
New to the Hit List (March 2026)
Bovino After Dark, Casa Balam, Food Terminal Chamblee, Gu’s Dumplings, Laylo Cafe.
1. Madeira Park Poncey-Highland
We stand firm that dining lately has been about connection. Steven Satterfield and Neal McCarthy, both of Miller Union, and Dive Bar’s Tim Willard not only got the memo, they wrote it. Named one of not only Atlanta’s but America’s most defining restaurants of 2025, they’ve been racking up the accolades for locally sourced but internationally inspired cuisine since day one. Don’t miss the regular picks — the rotating gnocchi has already reached icon status — but leave room for seasonal adventures like grilled bok choy with salsa macha. Ask Willard and McCarthy, both sommeliers, to help you pair small plates with big glasses. With two dozen by-the-pour offered daily, you won’t be short of choices.
2. Talat Market Summerhill
Let’s get meta for a moment and flash back to the Resy Rewind dinner chefs Parnass Savang and Rod Lassiter were recently invited to host. It’s a perfect example of how this James Beard-nominated former pop-up is still as scrappy, self-challenging, and experimental as ever, even beyond the daily changing menu worth stalking their Instagram story to learn. On balance, expect a wild flight to Thailand fueled by Georgia ingredients. Grab a seat against the vivid street-style mural for dishes like Issan-style chicken laap, the daily curry with their signature housemade coconut cream, and the beloved Crispy Rice Salad. And if you’re lucky, you might just get a teaser to their next concept, Some Luck, the night of your Resy.
3. Bovino After Dark West End
Looking for chef’s counter quality dining and showmanship without the formality and frills? Then Alex Sher and Chris McCord’s weekend-only spot is the order. From the open kitchen, the team serves up experimental dishes with no names — just a truncated list of ingredients. They’re paired with unique wines. For example, a sparkling red matches a duo of pulled duck croquette and bite of breast, and a Georgian clay pot white complements a sweet potato caramel-sauced sunchoke that’s been wrapped in short rib bacon. Beer and cocktails from Hop City next door are welcome — the best time to grab one is as your pre-dinner oysters (a worthy add-on) are broiling.
4. Bar ANA Atlanta
“Last bite, best bite” has gone from saying to promise at celebrated pastry chef Claudia Martinez’s stylish late-night dessert bar, where plating is sophisticated and cocktails are upscale, but the vibe is industry-edgy, Afro-Latin-Caribbean cool, and accessibly warm. In this cozy courtyard-inspired, intimate space, seasonally inspired sweets (her signature style) are made with indulgent ingredients and presented as modern art. For example, Araguani chocolate cake bites with passionfruit ganache and mole crunch with pomegranate arils or apple spice cake with tamarind caramel and dulce de leche cremeaux might be enjoyed solo or as part of a tasting. Treats, pastries, and exquisite housemade ice creams are complemented by Recuerdos crafted coffee drinks by day for sun-up to sun-down verve that just doesn’t quit.
5. Bread & Butterfly Inman Park
At Demetrius Brown and Brandon Blanchard’s vibrant bistro, traditional French style commands the day, from pastry and quiche to egg-topped toasts. But even then, glimpses of the African Diaspora peek out in spoonfuls of African squash soup and bites of shrimp and grits, hints of what’s to come in the evening as Haiti comes out to play with the South. Then, savory herb cocktails with dark spirits complement shareables like lamb belly “tasso,” oversized and flaky tamarind-accented Haitian beef patties, and scallops with etouffee-inspired sauce and brightly zesty greens. For more chapters, keep the Resy Experiences page bookmarked for Brown’s Heritage Supper Club, where 10 courses — like their lauded Freedom Cake — tell a unique story each time.
6. Zephyr Southern Brasserie Downtown Atlanta
Downtown by the stadiums have been in hot preparation for this summer’s FIFA World Cup, and the newly built Hotel Phoenix in Centennial Yards is playing for keeps. Master mixologist Thandi Walton’s signature cocktails don’t miss; her peach tea-infused Cognac drink with ginger and lemon is a perfect primer for the the Shaun Hergatt-designed menu of approachable classics like indulgent steaks, lovely salads, tartares, and simple pastas. But former FORTH Hotel pastry chef Carelys Vazquez, now cooking as executive chef in a savory pivot, shines where Continental meets Southern. Small plates like succulent jumbo shrimp atop a maple mustard-drizzled biscuit boat or a precisely grilled foie gras with apricot and raspberry gastrique are unforgettable, and an airy pavlova atop a yuzu citrus custard adds brightness to any evening.
7. Little Bear Summerhill
A local favorite not just for their frequent, cheeky Resy Experiences and namesake much-missed mascot (whose shoes are now filled by foster fail Diego), this three-time Bib Gourmand winner has proven that Atlanta has a taste for sass and no need for frills. Chef-owner Jarrett Steiber’s revolving menu taps into Jewish, Chinese, hyperlocal Southern (95% of ingredients are from nearby) influences, and quite honestly, whatever he feels tells his story that season. Right now, that’s dishes like butternut squash congee with squash seed dukkah and chicken thigh with apple amba and numbing onion skin. Pro Tip: go Dealer’s Choice for the “just f* me up, fam” four-course prix fixe, which is a surprise every time, or the XL Meat Du Jour, also TBD at time of order.
8. JenChan's Cabbagetown
There’s always something fun happening at this scrappy, infinitely inventive eclectic pizza and Chinese spot. One glance at the Resy Experiences calendar any given month can tell you that, with events from mahjong nights to culture-blending celebrations, even as Jen continues to cook through her chemo. Try things you can’t get elsewhere, like jook enhanced with ingredients like Vietnamese pork or cocoa and coffee-smoked duck, boiled peanuts with an Asian upgrade of soy chili, and General Tso’s chicken as pizza or with waffles during brunch. Pro tip: Keep an eye out for Mikkelson’s in the Morning pop-ups, a tribute to her wife Emily’s restaurateur dad, highlighting Danish treats like aebleskivers with jam, a “beer bread oatmeal-ish wonder,” and Ruthie’s Biscuits topped how you like.
9. Elise Woodruff Arts Center
The Woodruff Arts Center was already well-rounded with its performance and visual art venues, but our Rundown tells how Craig Richards of Lyla Lila now adds culinary dazzle to the campus. A dining room swathed in wine-red fabrics and another under an enormous modernist-style abstract by Tommy Taylor provides a serene, hushed haven to enjoy flavors that lean French and Italian but with a distinctly Richards throughline. For instance, crudo under “A Breeze,” bright bites called “A Touch of Sun,” and his fresh pasta magic. As a main, the spiced, cured duck with fermented blackberry is exceptional. Pro tip: Valet parking’s available, but self-parking is cheapest at the Promenade deck and closest at the Boys & Girls Club garage.
10. Casa Balam Decatur
One of the more recent additions to our wealth of wonderful Mexican restaurants in Atlanta, this pan-Mexican restaurant impresses with large formats that turn dinner out into a communal dinner party. For example, Yucatan-style marinated chicken and beef birria by the half or whole, or the “secret,” recently launched Casa Select three-course prix fixe that comes with unlimited tortilla soup or Caesar salad. Take your time with either in a setting effortlessly elegant with raw material design, and easy-sipping cocktails that similarly bring modern Tulum beach clubs to mind. On-theme light and tropical bites might include burrata with smoked mangos, cobia guavachile, tostadas, and street tacos, while prime steaks and pibil-cooked pork shank will please carnivores.
11. Brasserie Lundi Midtown
The ambience of food hall giant chef Akhtar Nawab’s French brasserie fits right in with a day at the nearby art museums — elegant but not stuffy, and warm enough to linger with your laptop, a coffee, and croissant or a friend, traditional omelette, and a cocktail. For something more restrained, mild dishes like escargot risotto and cod en papillote quietly provide sustenance without distraction. For something bolder and more rustic, French dips ease into large plates like roast chicken with a bacon-laced sauce by night. Dessert swing back into light. The tarte au citron is truly tart and you’ll want to make the wine-poached apples on the olive oil genoise cake last.
12. a mano Old Fourth Ward
With a name that means “by hand,” a certain level of craftsmanship is not only implied, but expected. You’ll see it in the rough-hewn beams of the patios, the bar, the partitions that separate booths in the bustling dining room. But most importantly, it’s experienced through the pastas and breads made with care, and craft cocktails, too. While time-tested dishes like bucatini Bolognese and carbonara appear, the menu is modern and interesting, including a wine list that leans toward natural selections. The Harvest Cloud mixes a burrata-washed mezcal with spiced pear, apricot, and pumpkin; the chicken Parm is a panko-crusted thigh; and mussels are accented by Calabrian chile and green onion pistou. Pro tip: Lunchtime Resys unlock sandwiches, different pastas, and weekly specials.
13. Gunshow Glenwood Park
Celebrity chef Kevin Gillespie is more often found at Hit List favorite Nàdair these days than his original game-changer, but that matters little. With chef de cuisine Cody Chassar at the helm, Gunshow continues to be recognized as one of the most critically acclaimed, dynamic restaurants in Atlanta. Innovation is the key premise, thanks to a unique format where chefs from the open kitchen personally hawk their latest creations to diners at their tables. Pushed to adapt their dishes hyper-seasonally and with an emphasis on local ingredients, the menu is unpredictable in style and content. One week may feature crispy chicken skin and chicken liver mousse as a cannolo; the next might highlight crab from Alabama with bacon from Tennessee and rice from the Carolinas; maybe even both.
14. Southbound Chamblee
Thoroughly reimagined comfort food is a hop, skip, or jump from the MARTA station if you set your sights Southbound. Owners Mike Plummer and Amanda Averill have created a warm, lively spot in this historic building in the cute strip off the Chamblee tracks, serving crossovers like fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and pineapple habanero jam, hot chicken on Texas toast with Calabrian chiles and Sichuan spices, and blackened shrimp and cheddar grits with chipotle butter with a side of live music every Tuesday. However, the Southern Ramen with pork bone broth, pulled pork, collards, black-eyed peas, and a deviled egg has been called the most memorable mashup, so start there. Go on a Wednesday to enjoy it alongside a whiskey cocktail for just $8.
15. Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant Alpharetta and Milton and Cumming
Transplants from suburban New Jersey and Long Island will feel right at home at this nostalgic gem, where a carpeted dining room, art-adorned wallpapered walls, wipeable tablecloths, and high-touch service blur the lines between someone’s grandma’s house and a classic Italian red sauce restaurant … Which makes sense, since owners Antonio and Maria Fundora both came of age in Italian American strongholds (New York and Chicago, respectively) before opening the iconic Alfredo’s on Cheshire Bridge over 40 years ago. Service is team-based, but specials are often recited by the matriarch herself, who’ll rattle off a long list of multi-item parmigianas, osso bucco, seafood, housemade ravioli, and more. On the everyday menu, find excellent renditions of banners like scarpariello, piccata, Marsala, and Francese dishes sauces at nearly equally old-school prices.
16. Food Terminal – Chamblee Chamblee
The thrills don’t stop on this wild ride through Malaysia at the BuHi original, where Singaporean, Chinese, Thai, and Indian flavors shine as brightly as the LED lights and vividly colored accents of the space. The station’s scene is set with utilitarian seating, robots working alongside servers, and polyglot conversations punctuated by appreciative noodle-slurping. A bill of fare that’s more magazine than menu makes everything that much more accessible, illustrating crispy baozi, roti combos, rice plates, curries, soups, and braises in high-res photos. However, they don’t do experiences like the Cheese ‘N Cheese (a tableside dolsot-style rice prep made gooey with its namesake) adequate justice. First-timers, begin with noodles. That’s how chef-owner Amy Wong got her start at a Malaysian night market, which is only fitting.
17. Secreto Southern Kitchen – Alpharetta Alpharetta
Tucked into a shopping center, this is an unassuming secret indeed, with a very strong if low-key fan base. Within, gauzy curtains twinkling with fairy lights filter the sun coming through plate-glass windows while masculine accents (wood flooring that climbs up the wall to frame a wine library; blocky, dark furniture) reflect an unfussy, serious take on Southern sensibilities. Taste the region through dishes like grilled pork with sweet potato hash and cherry jus. Naturally, fried chicken and shrimp and grits are on the menu. Both are available in to-go family meal packages with sides, cheddar cornbread, salad, and buttermilk-glazed carrot cake.
18. Laylo Cafe Chamblee
Is this the year of the dessert bar? Because if so, it’s the good news we’ve needed, as “little treats” become increasingly twee, if elegant to eat. Here, they’re mousse-based patisseries designed to look like knitted projects. For example, a freestanding sweater with a neck kerchief might be almond cake with pineapple lime mousse; a darling beanie might be made of basil, vanilla, and strawberry or lychee cream cheese; and a ball of yarn with a pink button unravels Earl Grey, blueberry, and chestnut. Croissants create less of a visual mind twist, but setting it up as a sausage bun or with corn and cheese keep things surprising. Matcha drinks and horchata cold brew join in-house roasted coffee for accompaniment.
No reservations. Find more info here.
19. Gu’s Dumplings Krog District
Dumplings are having a (very long) moment as Shanghai-style soup dumplings threaten to overtake potstickers and jiaozi in the zeitgeist. For the record: Atlanta was in on Sichuan-style Zhong dumplings first. Pro chefs and spouses Yiquan and Qiongyao Gu both earned their chops in Chengdu and introduced the A to the region’s many spicy specialties, handmade street noodles … and their acclaimed tender, sweet, chili oil-drizzled thin-skinned dumplings. Daughter Yvonne’s stand in the Krog District makes it easier to get down to it, with a pared down menu that zeroes in on their most legendary basics. Pro tip: An hour of free weekday parking is plenty of time to get in and out for pickup, but the food hall’s open seating and BeltLine access is ideal for instant gratification.
No reservations. Find more info here.
20. Tio Lucho's Poncey-Highland
At the entrance, a bold chicha font states, “En Atlanta, se come rico,” but rico is an understatement, especially with rich riffs like chef Arnaldo Castillo’s lomo saltado croque madame at brunch, big mains like tender roasted chicken with fall succotash and crispy potatoes, and fried catfish with Georgia shrimp and shishitos macho sauce. The ceviche is impeccable as always (Pro tip: Keep an eye on Resy Events to experience how it’s made, and other events energetic Castillo’s always got cooking), but the signature oysters with leche de tigre and corn chalaca are legendary and perfect with a passion fruit sour with egg white foam. Come weekday happy hour, though, a version with lime and aji limo hot sauce are just a buck at the bar.
