Restaurants
Eat > Restaurant Guide
Experience some of the country’s best dining in Atlanta, Washington, DC, Chicago, Sarasota and New York.
words by > Tony Ware
Atlanta
Woodfire Grill Top Eat
1782 Cheshire Bridge Rd,
Lower Buckhead | 404-347-9055
Smart/Dressy Casual | $$$ | Organic New American
Woodfire Grill has come out on top despite difficult beginnings. Opened during an economic downturn through the sheer determination of chef Michael Tuohy, it is now celebrating four years of success. At the front of the restaurant is the Café, which offers simple, lighter fare including pizzas, pastas, pastries and breads. Further inside is the cozy lodge of a dining room. From the open, wood-fired rotisserie come wine-friendly signature dishes such as aromatic roasted free-range chicken, hearty grilled meats and fresh-picked vegetables. www.woodfiregrill.com
Repast
620 N Glen Iris Dr,
Poncey-Highlands | 404-870-8707
Funky Casual | $$$ | New American
This tranquil 54-seat eatery delivers Mediterranean, Asian and macrobiotic-informed cuisine—including such dishes as Grilled Sugar Cane Skewered Scallops or Jumbo Shrimp and Organic Heirloom Grits—from a state-of-the-art yet organic kitchen. Chefs Joseph Truex and Mihoko Obunai are business partners, and their sleek, earthy culinary sensibilities are evidence of their success as a team. www.repastrestaurant.com
Rolling Bones BBQ
377 Edgewood Ave,
King Historic District | 404-222-2324
Casual | $ | Texas-Style Barbecue
Voracious carnivores tailgate at this converted filling station to fuel up on peppery chopped pork and ribs, tender pit-grilled chicken beneath crackly skin and zesty sides served through a drive-through, sleek dining room or cozy patio. Spicy sauce is good, but who needs it with succulent, savory Texas-style beef brisket? Despite speedy service, this isn’t fast food—the slow-cooked style smacks of meaty detail. www.rollingbonesbbq.com
Seasons 52
90 Perimeter Center West,
Dunwoody | 770-671-0052
Smart/Funky Casual | $$$
Health-Conscious New American
This light and airy Sunshine State–founded venture recently opened its first non-Florida location in Atlanta. The menu morphs seasonally to reflect the interval’s most authentic flavors, and each of the menu’s contemporary American dishes— including Blackened Mahi Mahi and Cedar Plank Roasted Salmon—contains no more than 475 calories per serving. www.seasons52.com
Washington, DC
Acadiana
901 New York Ave, NW 202-408-8848 Smart Casual | $$$ | Cajun/Creole This luxury liner of a dining room, the fourth Passion Food Hospitality venture, offers updates of zesty Creole staples. It’s no easy process picking from the copious Southern spice-lacquered offerings—including deviled eggs made with crabmeat and caviar, Aunt Boo’s Fish Camp Crawfish Étouffée and New Orleans Style Barbecue Shrimp. Pair with a smoky Sazerac cocktail or Languedoc wine. www.acadianarestaurant.com
Chicago
Alinea
1723 North Halsted, Lincoln Park | 312-867-0110 Smart/Dressy | $$$$+ Molecular Gastronomy Apprenticed under world-renowned chefs Thomas Keller (French Laundry) and Ferran Adrià (El Bulli), chef Grant Achatz is something of a culinary experimenter. His highly rated menu offers 13- and 24-course tasting menus, and his creative courses have been described by top food critics as “heavenly,” “breathtaking” and “jaw-dropping.” www.alinea-restaurant.com
New York
Trinity Place Bar & Restaurant
115 Broadway | 212-964-0939 Smart Casual | $$$ | Gastropub Located in Manhattan’s Financial District, Trinity Place Bar & Restaurant has a menu full of rich tastes—a charcuterie sampler, Duck Confit with Chanterelle and Sweet Corn Risotto, Kobe Burger, Lobster BLT—without requiring riches. But what makes this eatery extra special is the sleek, indulgent setting of buttery leather and secluded nooks located in a 1904 bank vault. www.trinityplacenyc.com
Sarasota, Florida
Vernona at the Ritz-Carlton
1111 Ritz-Carlton Dr | 941-309-2008 Smart/Upscale Resort Casual | $$$$ | New American Located near the city center and overlooking Sarasota Bay, Vernona offers contemporary American cuisine with organic ingredients. Named Best Overall Florida restaurant by Florida International Magazine, this 100-seat eatery has a Mobil Four Star/AAA Four Diamond–rated menu that features locally sourced and always fresh, seasonal dishes—such as the Heirloom Tomato Tart or Peaches and Goat Cheese—that expertly complement the luminous Italian villa vibe. www.ritzcarlton.com