With hot new concepts from powerhouse restaurateurs Ford Fry and Tal Baum, plus the release of the city’s first-ever MICHELIN guide, 2023 has been a blockbuster year for Atlanta’s dining scene.
The birthplace of the city’s most iconic double stack returned after a two-year pause with brand-new Colony Square digs. An acclaimed Latin-inspired vegan spot made its hotly anticipated debut in Reynoldstown. And culinary superstar Marcus Samuelsson’s first-ever Atlanta concept is wowing locals with its modern spin on classic soul food.
Read on for a guide to Atlanta’s top eight restaurant debuts of 2023.
La Semilla (Reynoldstown)
Even carnivores rave about La Semilla, the vegan sensation named one of the country’s “Best New Restaurants of 2023” by Eater. The first official restaurant from wife-and-husband team Sophia Marchese and Reid Trapani of plant-based pop-up Happy Seed opened in January and takes cues from the couple’s trips to Mexico and South America and Marchese’s Cuban family recipes. Order a bowl (or two) of creamy, cashew-based queso for the table, and try the crowd-favorite crunch wrap, a tribute to the fast food favorite with seitan subbing for beef. The inventive dishes, mezcal- and tequila-cocktails, and tropical interiors will instantly shuttle you to warmer weather—no passport required.
Book now
Little Sparrow (West Midtown)
The wait is over: Acclaimed chef Ford Fry’s much-anticipated French-American spot—which replaced his beloved JCT Kitchen and Bar in Westside Provisions District—opened in October after months of media buzz. With rich leather banquettes, marble tables, and custom wall sconces, the restaurant’s moody interior is inspired by old-school American taverns and classic French bistros. French hip-hop plays through vintage speakers, and pitch-perfect bistro fare like steak frites and chicken schnitzel complete the continental vibe. Stretch your night here with drinks at Bar Blanc, Fry’s French cocktail bar, which lives right above the restaurant.
Book now
Marcus Bar & Grille (Old Fourth Ward)
Plan way in advance to score a sought-after reservation at celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson’s namesake Atlanta restaurant. Samuelsson brought the soul food spot to the Old Fourth Ward in March, serving reimagined classics like a fried chicken and cornbread waffle with chile butter and maple glaze, and it’s already a hit with Atlanta diners. The intimate but playful dining room is decked with vintage roller skates and records—a shout out to the city’s dynamic entertainment scene. Come on Sundays, when there’s live music from top local DJs and a family-style feast of whole-fried yardbird, honey biscuits, and sides for days.
Book now
Carmel (Buckhead)
Global coastal fare dominates the menu at this Buckhead hotspot, the sixth concept from restaurateur Tal Baum. Carmel has racked up major media love for its creative coastal food and stunning seaside-inspired interiors since it opened in May. Settle into a plush velvet banquette and get ready for an ocean-accented meal featuring tuna tartare tostada and griller snapper with a bright herb and avocado salad—the restaurant’s menu effortlessly blends influences from California, the Yucatan Peninsula, and the Mediterranean, and the cocktails are as refreshing as the food. If you’re drinking, consider the Saint Tropez daiquiri, a botanical riff on the classic island drink.
Book now
Yeppa & Co. (Buckhead)
The dream team behind Storico Fresco, Forza Storico, and Storico Vino is back with another Italian showstopper. Yeppa & Co. replaced the shuttered Biltong Bar in Buckhead Village in February, and it’s as sceney as they come. The lively, 7,000-square-foot space is where you wolf down meaty pastas, pizzas, and fish (many ingredients come directly from Rimini, a city on the Adriatic coast). While the restaurant group is known for its high-energy, all-day hangouts, Yeppa & Co. takes that to the next level with a Formula One-themed bar—an ode to co-owner Pietro Gianni’s passion for car racing—and televisions broadcasting top sporting events from around the world.
Book now
Holeman and Finch Public House (Midtown)
This acclaimed gastropub—known for one of Atlanta’s most beloved burgers—returned in February after a two-year pause and is better than ever with a brand-new address. Holeman and Finch is a go-to for power lunches or leisurely weekend brunches before strolling through nearby Piedmont Park. Come hungry: James Beard Award winner Linton Hopkins cranks out pub grub 2.0. like smoked oysters, caviar, and a hearty English roast served only on Sundays. And yes, the fan-favorite griddled-to-perfection double cheeseburger—once available for only 24 lucky late-night diners—now has a permanent place on the menu.
Book now
TydeTate Kitchen (Downtown)
The first full-service restaurant from the owners of the popular food stall at Chattahoochee Food Works is also the first business to open in downtown’s revitalized Mitchell Street corridor. Siblings and co-owners Sai Untachantr and Bank Bhamaraniyama opened TydeTate Kitchen in April and have earned glowing reviews for treasured family recipes like savory curry puffs, papaya salad, and basil chicken. Enjoy it all in a homey space decked with wooden tables and wicker light fixtures, or post up at the teal mosaic bar and sip on lychee and passionfruit nectar cocktails. It adds up to the ultimate comfort food experience, and there’s no doubt this family-owned spot is a neighborhood gem in the making.
Breaker Breaker (Reynoldstown)
There’s no need to drive to 30A—this indoor-outdoor seafood spot from the Grindhouse Killer Burgers team brings the Gulf Coast to landlocked Atlanta. With a prime Eastside Beltline location, the seafood shack has been a smashing success since opening weekend in August, when it sold out of food before closing. Breaker Breaker is led by chef Maximilian Hines of buzzy local pop-up Stolen Goods, and the kitchen cranks out coastal hits like blackened grouper sandwiches and fried vegan calamari. Grab a seat on the expansive patio, sip on a frozen watermelon cocktail, and take in one of the area’s most attention-grabbing restaurants of 2023.
Tried them all? Check out other options here.
Laura Scholz is an Atlanta-based writer and editor who has covered food, travel, and more for publications like Bon Appétit, Eater Atlanta, Food & Wine, and Travel + Leisure. She loves working from local coffee shops, running and hiking remote trails with her two dogs, and shining a spotlight on the city’s top chefs and tastemakers.
