Atlanta Restaurants With Good Food and Good Service (Not Just A Cute Aesthetic)

Atlanta is growing at a crazy fast pace, and with it, its restaurant scene! But sometimes you visit a brand new buzzy spot and realize quite quickly it’s all style and no substance. Rest assured, with this list, we can guarantee you’re not going to run into that issue. These are some spots where the hype is worth it! Read on for some of our faves with fabulous food, attentive service, and lovely interiors.  

1. The Alden

5070 Peachtree Blvd Suite B-140, Chamblee, GA 30341

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again! The Alden is absolutely underrated yet delivers every time when it comes to fabulous food, inventive flavors, and attentive service. The chef’s travels all over the world has influenced his style of cuisine and as a result, this “new American” spot is quite the global tour of flavors and tastes with a big focus on seasonal, fresh ingredients. 

2. A Mano

A Mano is the perfect cozy date night spot, with a warm and intimate dining room and lovely covered patios with string lights to bring all the ambiance. They have some of the best carbonara in town–sumptuous yet also light and lovely. Our only complaint is they took off our favorite thing to order here, the olive oil skillet bread… if we started a change.org petition for them to bring it back would y’all sign it??  

3. The Breakfast Boys 

This College Park stays busy 7 days a week thanks to its amazing brunch realness and great service to boot! The salmon rolls and lobster and mac and cheese are a hit every time. Pro tip: go on a weekday if you can because this place gets packed on the weekends! 

4. Casi Cielo

6125 Roswell Rd #200, Atlanta, GA 30328

If you’re from Georgia, then you know and love your typical neighborhood Mexican restaurants with affordable yet reliably delicious sizzling fajitas, bowls of queso, and enchiladas. However, it’s not often in Atlanta that you’ll see a more upscale spin on Mexican cuisine, yet Casi Cielo is proving through their delicious Oaxacan fare that yes, while we will also love those big bowls of queso, Mexican cuisine is just as deserving of a slightly more premium price tag as European cuisine. Head to Sandy Springs for a truly heavenly experience and dig into dishes like their duck carnitas, chimichurri ribeye, and langostinos al carbon. Their mezcal cocktails are a treat, and they’re also excellent for brunch! 

5. Delbar

870 Inman Vlg Pkwy NE Suite 1, Atlanta, GA 30307

Delbar is relatively new on the Atlanta dining scene yet its taking the city by storm for both its truly excellent food and its chic interiors. The omani prawns, labneh, and tahdigs are some of our favorite things to order here. And let’s not forget about that complimentary bread! 

6. Eight Sushi

Everyday, a new (and expensive) sushi spot opens up in Atlanta but it’s hard for a lot of them to compete and compare with Eight Sushi Lounge in West Midtown in terms of taste and value. We will go time and time and time again just for that heavenly truffle aioli, truffle oil topped tuna crisp. 

7. Gigi’s Italian Kitchen

1660 McLendon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

For some simply good, homemade Italian cooking, head to Gigi’s in Candler Park. The menu changes often but you must try their tiramisu! From the cozy ambiance down to the checkered tablecloths, Gigi’s got it going on!

8. Java Saga

3781 Presidential Pkwy FP-318, Atlanta, GA 30340

Have you ever had Taiwanese food? You’re about to go crazy for it. Despite their name, Java Saga is much more than a place to get a cup of Joe. They’re also frying up some of the most delicious fried chicken in ATL! Don’t believe us? Just take one bit of their Taiwanese hot fried chicken or dig into their “chick bits.” It’s seriously so. dang. good! 

9. Just Brunch

1950 Satellite Blvd Suite 400, Duluth, GA 30097

We’re huuuuge Just Brunch fans. The interiors? Stunning. The flavors? Jaw-dropping. And the Conebread Waffle Stack, with Korean Fried Chicken on a buttermilk cornbread waffle with braised collards and a sweet and spicy gochujang sauce, along with maple butter… it’s ridiculous in the best way possible. 

10. Kyma

You don’t make it 20 years in a restaurant town like Atlanta without being one of the best! And it’s especially wonderful that they added a dreamy, unique patio a few years ago that makes you feel like you’re on the cliffs of Santorini. If you want to order like an absolute pro, take out your pen and pencil because here’s exactly what to get: the lamb pie,  the octopus, watermelon salad if it’s the summer time, the Morpheus martini, the eggplant stew (even if you don’t normally like eggplant–just trust us!), and the prawns. The lobster pasta and whole fish offerings are also quite delicious, but if you prefer more punchy flavors–think New Orleans style seafood rather than Greek seafood–you may want to try their lamb chops instead and stick with a smattering of meze. If you can stomach eating dessert after that veritable feast, the loukoumades are a crowd pleaser. Thank us later! 

11. La Grotta

Italian places come and go in ATL, but LaGrotta keeps its status as one of Atlanta’s favorite restaurants by consistently delivering some of the most delicious pasta, seafood, and more time after time. The old school, white tablecloth vibes add to the magic of it all  Their pappardelle cream & truffle pasta was an Atlanta Eats “Best Meal” of 2021. 

12. Poor Calvin’s 

Poor Calvin’s takes all those Asian tastes and flavors and infuses them with all things we love about the South. This perennial favorite for fusion dining masterfully combines these disparate cuisines into dishes that delight every single tastebud. Who knew crawfish beloned in wontons? Or chorizo in deviled eggs? They are also open for brunch! 

13. Rumi’s

Multiple Locations

Rumi’s has long been a hit in the Atlanta area. Their massive generous portions means you will leave stuffed to the brim! The kahsk bademjoon, pomegrante glazed lamb appetizer, and corn ribs are all-time favorites. Another unexpectedly delicious dish? Their wings! 

14. St. Cecilia

St. Cecilia crushes the game with pretty much everything they do. First off, the complimentary focaccia is truly heavenly. And the crudo, while a pretty penny, is so fresh and served in the most delicious and complimentary marinades and sauces that bring out all the best flavors of the fish. And the pastas! It’s modern Italian cuisine at its finest. 

15. Tuk Tuk

1745 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30309

There’s a litany of Thai places in Atlanta, but TukTuk consistently remains a favorite for its always delicious food. You can get pad see ew and pad Thai anywhere, so we recommend you dig into some of their slightly harder to find specials instead. Their beautifully presented nuea sawan, or Northeasten Thai beef jerky, is a crowd pleaser and their mieng kham is a true flavor explosion. On the entree side, you’ll love their bbq pork noodles, their fried whole red snapper, and their kai yang. However, if you just really are craving your usual pad Thai standby, go for it because they’re really quite good at everything they do!