The Best New Restaurants of 2021

Before we close the book on 2021 and head into 2022, don’t forget to add these new restaurants that opened up this past year to your 2022 bucket list! Here’s a list of some of hottest new restaurants to have entered the ATL dining scene this past year. Listed below in alphabetical order. 

1. The Abby Singer

225 Rogers St NE #11, Atlanta, GA 30317

The Abby Singer, a new restaurant started by a couple of guys from the Midwest that’s full of downhome comfort food goodness. Their menu frequently changes, but some fun recently featured items include beer cheese tots, cheese curds, and the standout piece, the “Juicy Lucy,” a burger filled with gooey cheese in the middle. Check out the video above to see our Director of Digital Carbs Jorge and OJ the editor taking on the Juicy Lucy. 

2. Antiguo Lobo

5370 Peachtree Rd Suite A, Chamblee, GA 30341

Chamblee is getting all the hot, new spots. A new Mexican restaurant and tequila/mezcal bar has just opened up from restaurateur Jesús Oñate, Jr. The menu features cuisine from different regions of Mexico and a standout dish, Molcajete El Monstruo, served in a volcanic rock mortar. 

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3. Azotea Cantina

4. Baffi

976 Brady Ave NW Suite 110, Atlanta, GA 30318

If you were a fan of Ponce Market’s Brezza Cucina, you’ll be overjoyed to learn that the Chef has opened his newest venture, Baffi, in West Midtown in the old Donetto space! He’s bringing a few favorites from Brezza Cucina but also making it new with more casual and Italian-inspired fare. The menu changes seasonally, but you can look forward to bites like braised pork and veal meatballs, gnocchi, mascarpone grits, and a heavenly chocolate budino. 

5. Bar Vegan

 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE Suite N-215, Atlanta, GA 30308

Bar Vegan, the newest concept from Pinky Cole of Slutty Vegan, had what was perhaps the hottest restaurant opening in town. It’s the newest addition to Ponce City Market, located on the second floor in the old Mercury space. It’s one part-lounge, one part-restaurant and all parts sexy–the newest place to see and be seen. 

6. Big Boss Chinese

100 10th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309

There’s a new place in Midtown to get your General Tso’s chicken fix. Atlanta chef and restaurateur Guy Wong is slinging up Chinese American classics like Mongolian beef, lo mein, and crab rangoon. The decor is really something to behold as well, a nostalgic and ultra retro color palette of mint green and orange that harkens back to old Chinese restaurants of days past. 

7. Bourbon St. Concepts

777 Oak St SW, Atlanta, GA 30310

Pull up your favorite delivery apps and gear up for a fantastic meal. A new pick-up and delivery-only spot has opened up at Oak Street Eats Food Depot called Bourbon St. Wings, and they have some of the BEST beignets we’ve ever had. They also have a variety of po boys, and have super fun and delicious cake waffles if you really want to indulge your sweet tooth! This restaurant may appear as “Bourbon St. Wings” or “Bourbon St. Po Boys” in your delivery app depending on the platform. 

8. The Breakfast Boys

3387 Main St, College Park, GA 30337

The dining scene in College Park is truly becoming something else. The Breakfast Boys is the newest addition to the neighborhood, putting their spin on brunch classics with items like jerk chicken & sweet potato waffles topped with apple cider syrup, pineapple upside down French toast, and salmon philly sliders.  

9. Cattle Shed Wine and Steak Bar

6290 Halcyon Way Suite 610, Alpharetta, GA 30005

North Atlanta area folks, rejoice! Because there’s a hot, new restaurant to hit Alpharetta/Cumming. Their Head Chef, Colin McGowan, first got his chops working in some of Atlanta’s finest restaurants such as Bacchanalia, Restaurant Eugene and Kimball House. Now, he’s developed an inventive menu at Cattle Shed that’s part steakhouse, part something extra special. The salsa verde roasted half chicken is phenomenal and the Cattle Shed Burger is insane, with ground beef made using the steak trimmings from their steaks and topped with crispy shallots and gribiche on a housemade branded brioche bun.

10. Chattahoochee Food Works Hall

1235 Chattahoochee Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern has opened up a new food hall in West Midtown, featuring over two dozen stalls of talented and independent chefs and restaurateurs. There’s something for everyone at the new hall, as well as retail shopping just down the way and great open-air patio seating. Check out Graffiti breakfast for brunch food, or Pomodoro Bella for pizza, or Tyde Tate Kitchen for Thai cuisine. You’re going to love every second of eating your way through the food hall. 

11. Emmy Squared

Multiple Locations

Fans of THICK pizza can rejoice in a new spot to get a Detroit style pie. Brooklyn-based pizza chain Emmy Squared has opened up an Atlanta location in Glenwood Park near East Atlanta. Their Detroit-style pizza for the uninitiated consists of a “square shape, crispy bottom, fluffy dough, [and] cheesy ‘frico’ crust.” 

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12. Hippin Hops Brewery

East Atlanta gets a new brewery serving up not just brews, but great food too with seafood and cajun favorites. Owners Clarence and Donnica Boston are the owners of this spot, the first Black-owned brewery in Georgia. Menu highlights include smoked gouda oysters, a lobster roll, and an alligator po boy. We’ve never had food like this at a brewery before, and we’re all for it! 

13. In My Fillings

2855 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Rd #780, Suwanee, GA 30024

In My Fillings is a new, Black-owned boutique cupcake bakery with a super unique concept! They offer create-your-own filled cupcakes with an array of cupcake flavors, icings, and fillings to choose from. There are also a handful of vegan and gluten-free options and the owner, Charlise Johnson, has appeared on Food Network’s Cake Wars and Holidays Wars. Check out this bakery in Suwanee! 

14. Karv Kitchen

We’re wild about this fast casual Mediterranean and Greek concept from owner Sandy Papadopoulos, who also owns Athens Pizza. It’s so, so worth the visit to Chamblee, though they are also working to expand their concept to other parts of ATL. There are fantastic gyros, but also phenomenal Greek donuts, traditional Greek sides, and a bunch of modern Greek items with a twist. The menu features some signature sauces that are out-of-this-world: peri-peri, spicy tzatziki and caper chimichurri that add flavor to everything and make it over-the-top good. 

15. Le Bon Nosh

65 Irby Ave NW Suite 103, Atlanta, GA 30305

It doesn’t get much more stunning than Le Bon Nosh! This is owner Forough Vakili’s very first restaurant (though she’s gotten her culinary chops attending Le Cordon Bleu Paris and working at a two-Michelin star restaurant in France), and she’s knocked it out of the park on her first try. There’s been thorough attention paid to every detail here, and it’s the perfect place for an elegant lunch with your girlfriend or a fabulous pastry and latte or glass of wine at the wine bar. The menu was inspired by trips to the farmer’s market, so expected fresh and seasonally changing  light bites. It’s an Instagram dream. 

16. Lucian Books and Wine

3005 Peachtree Rd NE Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30305

Lucian Books is a bookworm’s dream. Part bookstore, part restaurant, part cafe, in the daytime it’s an elegant place to shop for good reads while enjoying light bites and at a night, it’s a full-service restaurant with an extensive wine list and European menu items such as steak au poivre and an omelette with caviar and creme fraiche. 

17. Pielands 

1021 Virginia Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Billy Streck–owner of Nina & Rafi, Lyla Lila, and Hampton + Hudson–has quickly become one of the city’s most prolific restaurateurs, and he’s going for pizza magic once again with his newest venture, Pielands. Pielands is a pizza and sub joint called Pielands, now open in Virginia-Highlands. It’s all about the nostalgia here: unfussy pizzas, Italian-style subs with cold cuts, and even old-school soft serve ice cream. Billy’s a NY native, so you know you’re getting the real deal here. 

18. Politan Row

1197 Peachtree St NE Suite 150, Atlanta, GA 30361

Imagine all the convenience of a food hall but a swanky, luxurious interior. Politan Row is exactly that, with supple leather couches, velvet chairs, and ambient lighting. All the food offerings are wonderful, from super buzzy spot Pretty Little Taco to Caribbean spot Locale Cafe to the super filling vermicelli bowls at Bun Mi Grill. Grab a drink at the bar and enjoy a drink out on the patio–live music plays most weekend nights–or step into the tucked away JoJo’s Beloved Cocktail Lounge, with all the speakeasy vibes. Pour Taproom and The Establishment are also steps away if you want to continue the night. 

19. Saints + Council

20. Serena Pastificio

1197 Peachtree St NE Suite 140, Atlanta, GA 30361

Midtown folks rejoice because there are finally some awesome restaurant additions to the neighborhood. Everything’s inviting about the ambience of this place, from the patio filled with florals and greenery to the stunning bar to the dining room. Pastificio means pasta factory in Italian, and pasta certainly takes center stage on the menu, with delights like black truffle risotto and lobster mezzelune/ravioli featured. It’s right in the Colony Square complex, so grab a drink at Politan Row afterwards or at nearby cocktail bar The Establishment. 

21. Snooze AM Eatery

4600 Roswell Rd Suite G-100, Atlanta, GA 30342

The highly anticipated Snooze AM Eatery is finally open in Sandy Springs! It’s a solid all-around breakfast and brunch spot with pancakes the size of your head and a corned beef hash diners rave about. There’s a patio that’s rocking and rolling most weekends and of course, mimosas if you want to get a little boozy. 

22. St. Julep and Willow Bar

374 East Paces Ferry Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305

Hotel dining and hotel bars have had a resurgence in 2021, and The Kimpton Sylvan Hotel is one of those hotels that are part of the conversation. Their stunning patio bar, Willow Bar, features a beautiful willow tree and 5,000 sq. feet of outdoor garden space. But it’s upstairs at St. Julep, the rooftop restaurant/bar, that has a truly stunning view of Atlanta.

23. Toscano Ristorante Italiano

232 19th St NW Suite 7165, Atlanta, GA 30363

Toscano is the kind of place where you’re always going to leave full and happy. Where the food is delicious but unpretentious, where you can get big bowls of dreamy fettuccine, warm and fried Arancini, or fabulous and fresh salads. It’s brand new to Atlantic Station and the perfect place to fuel up for a nice, sit down dinner before you head on home. The portions are fantastic–the tiramisu can easily be split among three–and whatever you do, you MUST order the spiced chicken penne with blackened chicken, cream, and parmigiano cheese. You can taste the love! 

24. Tre Vele

6017 Sandy Springs Cir, Sandy Springs, GA 30328

A new concept from Mission and Market’s chef Ian Winslade is now open in Sandy Springs! Expect gorgeous handcrafted pastas, savory pizzas and a rooftop patio. There will be fire pits on the patio for the colder months, and the branzino on the menu is definitely something you don’t want to miss.  

25. Tum Pok Pok

5000 Buford Hwy NE, Chamblee, GA 30341

Tum Pok Pok is a much buzzed about Thai restaurant that has just opened up on Buford Highway. They set themselves apart from other Thai joints around the city by featuring lots of dishes from Northern Thailand–there’s even five types of papaya salad, a staple in Thailand that features a wonderful mix of tangy and savory. The interiors are lovely, with colorful bohemian and rattan touches throughout. It is, without a doubt, worth a visit!

26. Up on the Roof 

33 S Main St Alpharetta, GA 30009

Alpharetta‘s got a rooftop! This rooftop restaurant/bar seats up to 300 folks, with a handful of fireplaces throughout and heaters as well. There’s a really fun mix of cuisines on the menu, from a Jamaican jerk chicken quesadilla to venison ravioli to praline pecan pie. Plates are meant to be shared, and there’s a selection of bottled cocktails as well to make service quicker. 

27. Yao

237 Perimeter Center Pkwy NE Ste H31 Dunwoody, GA 30346

For spectacular Thai/Chinese food, head to Dunwoody’s newest hit, Yao. The presentation of each dish is stunning, and it’s perfect for a mid-tier priced date night. Their homemade ice cream, presented in a coconut shell amid a bed of dry ice, is quickly becoming a signature.