Shout

Located in the heart of Midtown at the corner of 14th and Peachtree streets, Shout opened in early February 2005 and within days cars were lining up outside for the instantly popular eatery. Located in an office, hotel and condominium complex known as Colony Square, Shout is open for lunch but really comes alive at night as folks show up for “food, fun, flirt,” a fitting motto for this hotspot.

At 18,000 square feet, the restaurant seats an impressive 600. The main floor has a dining room and a sushi bar, where take-out is available. Plush red banquettes, dark ceilings and dark wood are accented by brightly colored pillows, wood furniture and a circular yellow bar. Cylindrical sculptures lining red benches resemble a row of happy, colorful sea creatures.

Walk upstairs, pay the $10 cover and you’ll find yourself in Skybar, the VIP lounge with mustard walls, a tile fireplace and long rows of white bench seating. Step outside and you’ve entered South Beach on Peachtree with wicker seating, fireplaces and heaters for when the weather turns cool. Reserve one of the private cabanas and you’ll feel like a movie star. Each cabana has its own TV, a wood floor, plenty of seating for your entourage and privacy drapes. Rates start at $200 an hour.

The menu includes sandwiches, salad bowls, build-your-own pizzas and salads, as well as specialties such as sweet-spiced Australian lamb loin, mustard grilled halibut and Masaman curried jumbo sea scallops. 

Travelgirl tip: To avoid long lines, arrive before 7:00 p.m., as the restaurant takes on a club atmosphere at night.

Lunch and dinner. 1197 Peachtree Street, 404-846-2000, www.heretoserverestaurants.com

Two Urban Licks

Another relative newcomer to the Atlanta dining scene, Two Urban Licks is the sister restaurant of the popular One Midtown Kitchen. It describes itself as “hip meets honky-tonk” and you’ll find out why – once you navigate your way through the back of a former loading dock to find the parking area, that is!

Located in a renovated industrial warehouse (are you noticing a theme here?) you would think that the first thing you’d notice would be the 18-by-24-foot painting of a girl surrounded by wild cats by artist Todd Murphy. But even that is overshadowed by the centerpiece of the restaurant, a rotating14-foot open fire rotisserie and a refurbished 1895 forge that had been used as a hearth to transform metals into wrought iron. “The rotisserie has a dramatic impact on the atmosphere of the dining room,” says co-owner Bob Amick, “It’s dining by candlelight, but we have a really big candle.”

Executive chef and partner Scott Serpas combines New Orleans style cooking with Southwestern heat. The menu changes daily but includes items such as lemon crab fritters, jumbo barbecue shrimp, pork tenderloin and beef brisket. You can also make a really tasty, fun meal with the appetizers here, which include baby back ribs and the lamb lollipop served with chili jam and goat cheese.

Don’t look for bottles of wine here – wine is stored in 42 stainless steel barrels. You can try out a wine with a three-ounce tasting before ordering a 16- or 32-ounce “thief.”

As for the honky-tonk part, check out the live blues playing from Wednesday through Saturday evenings.

Travelgirl tip: Be sure to step all the way to the back of the restaurant for a fabulous view of downtown Atlanta.

Dinner only. 820 Ralph McGill Boulevard, 404-522-4622, www.twourbanlicks.com

 

City Grill

Walk into City Grill in downtown Atlanta and you’ll swear you’ve stepped into a grand hotel in Europe. One of the most beautiful restaurants in Atlanta, the dining room boasts a 30-foot gilt ceiling and a floor-to-ceiling hand-painted mural. And it’s just about impossible to see that beautiful marble staircase without imagining yourself in an elegant ball gown descending each step gracefully, Scarlett O’Hara style.

The food is “American, straight up with a twist” with a focus on regional and seasonal food. The menus are updated daily and sample items include North Georgia rabbit, crab cakes, and New Zealand rack of lamb. For a true taste of Georgia, try the pan-fried Georgia quail served with a country biscuit from the appetizer menu.

Check out the special “Pre-show” menu available Monday through Saturday from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. If you have saved any room, by all means order the cheese course, which features cheeses from Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville, Georgia, where the goats and cows happily roam free.

Travelgirl tip: If romance is on the menu, reserve the Hurt Room, which includes your own room, waitstaff, special menu and a violinist. It would be the perfect place for a proposal, and an even lovelier place for a true Southern wedding reception.

Lunch and dinner. 50 Hurt Plaza, 404-524-2489, www.citygrillatlanta.com

 

Misto

Located on the west side of Atlanta on a particularly traffic-congested road, you might drive right past Misto. Don’t. Step inside and you’ll find yourself in a charming little Italian restaurant that has people from all over the city making the drive for its delicious pastas and thick slices of warm, crusty ciabatta bread at affordable prices.

The atmosphere is warm, casual and cozy. There is nothing flashy here – black and white photos and dried flowers on wooden shelves line pumpkin colored walls. When the weather is nice, the outdoor patio is another option.

Notable dishes include seafood risotto, pan-seared salmon and specials such as osso buco with butternut squash, pumpkin ravioli and chestnut honey risotto. A favorite dessert is the hollowed-out pumpkin filled with creamy gelato.

Travelgirl tip: Don’t be afraid to ask for seconds, or even thirds on the baskets of warm ciabatta bread.

Dinner only. 1950 Howell Mill Road, 404-425-0030

Murphy’s

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Murphy’s started as a small deli in a basement in 1981, and grew to a beloved Atlanta institution as the surrounding Virginia-Highland neighborhood became one of the most sought-after places to live. After a move to its present location in the early ‘90s, the fare became more sophisticated but lost none of its popularity. The new location is upscale, yet comfortably casual and solo diners would feel right at home dining at the bar. The patio is great for people watching at this busy corner of Virginia and North Highland Avenues.

Murphy’s has the reputation as the quintessential place in town for brunch. People wait in lines for hours on weekends for the treat, which features the best biscuits in town and several popular a la carte items such as omelettes, frittatas, pancakes and other egg specialties. Arrive before 10:00 to avoid the crowds.

Lunch and dinner are also popular, with items such as seared salmon BLT, spinach and Italian sausage meatloaf and sautéed rainbow trout. Share the guilt by splitting one of the worth-every-calorie desserts such at tollhouse pie or the bonzo, a chocolate lover’s delight of fudge brownie, cheesecake, dark chocolate mouse, whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

The Wine Shop hosts themed wine tastings every Tuesday, and frequent Wednesday Wine Seminars for more in-depth information on winemaking.

Travelgirl tip: Put your name on the list and if there’s a wait, cross the street to the several great shops. Don’t miss Mitzi & Romano’s for adorable additions to your wardrobe.

Lunch and dinner and weekend brunch. 997 Virginia Avenue, 404-872-0904, www.murphysvh.com

 

Nava

Mmmmm. Located in the heart of Buckhead, Nava features Southwestern cuisine with items such as Sonoma Jack cheese fritters, suncorn crusted snapper, rock shrimp enchiladas and ancho chile venison. Save room for the baskets of delicious blue corn bread sticks served with your meal. Margaritas and fresh-fruit mojitos are specialties. For dessert, try the roasted banana enchilada with warm caramel sauce or key lime pie with vanilla cookie crust and marinated strawberries.

The atmosphere is upscale hacienda, with plastered walls, a kiva-style fireplace, and Southwestern art on three levels. The outdoor patio is one of the loveliest in town, bordered by a lushly landscaped fountain right on Atlanta’s most famous street. Visit on Wednesday night and enjoy the sounds of live flamenco guitar music. Many natives choose Nava as a perfect place for a date or for dessert on the patio after an evening out.

Travelgirl tip: Nava is part of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, a group of 10 distinct restaurants. You can’t go wrong with any of them. www.buckheadrestaurants.com

Lunch and dinner. 3060 Peachtree Road, 404-240-1984

 

Sala

Serving the best margaritas with the tastiest chips and salsa in town, Sala is a small and charming restaurant in the popular Virginia-Highland neighborhood. In Spanish the word Sala refers to a parlor where people gather to celebrate, and Sala lives up to its name as a lively place, often hosting margarita tastings or special menus from a particular region of Mexico.

The décor is minimalist without being cold: dark wood furniture and floors, light colored walls and modern lighting. It’s casual chic without an attitude.

Dishes include bay scallops marinated in orange juice, grilled spice-rubbed rib eye topped with a habanero pico de gallo and seared shrimp in a spicy tomato-chipotle sauce. Don’t miss the side dish of élote, grilled corn on the cob rubbed with mayonnaise, añejo cheese and chili powder.

Lunch is served here every day, and the menu is extensive with many items for less than $10. The selection includes ceviches, soups, salads, tacos and enchiladas. The pozole rojo, a hominy and pork stew is a filling and recommended warm-you-up dish for when the city’s temperature starts to drop.

Travelgirl tip: After dinner, stroll down North Highland Avenue and stop in at Paolo’s on Virginia Avenue for authentic Italian gelato.

Lunch and dinner. 1186 North Highland Avenue, 404-872-7203, www.sala-atlanta.com

 

Tamarind Thai Cuisine

Thirty years ago about the only noodle food you could get in Atlanta would be the yellow kind from the box of Kraft macaroni and cheese. And if you asked for Thai, people would think you were just using a particularly southern pronunciation of the beverage of choice down South, sweet tea. Nowadays, the city boats more than 40 Thai restaurants, several of which are outstanding.

Located right near the downtown connector, close to Georgia Tech, Tamarind Thai Cuisine is the true Thai-lovers choice for its authentic cuisine, sophisticated décor and excellent service. The usual Thai dishes are all here, along with specials designed to stimulate the five senses of sweet, sour, neutral, salty and hot. Try the waterfall beef, strips of steak marinated in tamarind and chile peppers and cooked with shallots, sesame seeds, and mint leaves.

Although it is located on busy 14th Street, right next to the downtown connector, the patio is landscaped for a relatively private, peaceful meal.

Travelgirl tip: The folks at Tamarind have a fondness for chilies. If you don’t want to get burned, pay attention to the hotness guide and order accordingly.

Lunch and dinner. 80 14th Street, 404-873-4888

 

Woodfire Grill

Atlanta may be thousands of miles away from the California wine country, but you can have a taste of it at Woodfire Grill. Chef Michael Tuohy features cuisine with a Northern California flavor, and as an advocate for organic foods, he uses seasonal produce from local farms as well as organic meats, seafood and poultry. True to its name, the restaurant features fire-roasted and grilled meats and wood-fired pizzas. With the grill right in the front of the restaurant, be sure to pause for a moment to watch the food come fresh out of the oven, usually manned by Chef Tuohy himself.

The menu changes nightly and some items included are wood-oven roasted Mediterranean mussels and littleneck clams, wood-grilled Hudson Valley quail and Bernadette's garden squash blossoms stuffed with herbed goat cheese. Entrees include Columbia River salmon, wood-grilled rib eye and Colorado lamb chops. Save room for the wide selection of artisanal cheeses, which varies and is listed on the dessert menu. Woodfire even has a Cheese Club that meets twice a month.

The décor is cozy and decorated in warm earth tones. The wood benches and paneling were custom made for the restaurant. Tables are close together and you may overhear your neighbor’s conversation, but hey, maybe you can pick up a few travel tips!

For a more casual dining experience, try the Café at Woodfire, located in the front room of the restaurant, which serves paninis, salads and wood-fired pizzas and burgers. 

Travelgirl tip: Get half off all bottles of wine on Sunday nights. And even if you never order chicken in a restaurant, you’ll want to check out “Rocky the Free-Range Chicken,” a wood-fired delight.

Dinner only. 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road, 404-347-9055. www.woodfiregrill.com

 

South City Kitchen

If it’s a taste of the New South you’re craving, South City Kitchen specializes in contemporary Southern cuisine. Here you’ll find fried green tomatoes, Charleston she-crab soup, buttermilk fried chicken and pan-roasted Georgia trout. Along with the meal comes a basket of fresh buttermilk biscuits and corn muffins, just like your mamma would make if she were a true Southern cook.

Every Sunday is barbecue night, served family-style with sides and dessert. Sunday brunch is popular and dishes include Banana Mascarpone French Toast and Crab Hash.

Set on a tree-lined side street in Midtown, South City is in a charming two-storey converted home and is within walking distance of the High Museum of Art and Woodruff Arts Center. In good weather, check out the patio for great people watching and possible celebrity sightings.

Travelgirl tip: The atmosphere here can be rather lively, so if you’re looking for a quiet spot you may want to look elsewhere.

Lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. 1144 Crescent Ave, (near 14th Street), 404-873-7358, www.southcitykitchen.com