Southern Dining: New School vs. Old School
Updated: May 13, 2009
The south is known for its butter-drenched, deep-fried and biscuit-battered "clean your plate" culinary tradition. And while old Southern dives and flashy new fine dining spots usually don't share a lot in common, a new crop of high-end Southern eateries have surprisingly fused the two together. So whether you like the simplicity of the Silver Skillet, or the white tablecloths of Restaurant Eugene, we've got both sides covered.
On this page:New School, Old School.
New School
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Restaurant Eugene
Read Reviews2277 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA 30309 (map)
One of the original super-expensive fancy Southern spots, mastermind Linton Hopkins made pork belly and fried chicken a staple and watched as others follow suit.
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JCT Kitchen
Read Reviews1198 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 (map)
This west-Midtown beauty does a menu that borrows from all the classics. Fried chicken (while it's available), shrimp and grits, pork sandwiches and a "grown up" grilled cheese are all devourable, while the vodka-lemonade is a summer-Southern-treat.
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Dogwood
Read Reviews565 Peachtree St, Atlanta, GA 30308 (map)
Interesting twists to Southern food like a grits bar and fried quail give the Fox block an appropriate dining destination. "Sea Island" crab, "Springer Mountain" chicken and "Thomasville" tomme cheese make this really seem homegrown.
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Cake & Ale Restaurant
Read Reviews254 W. Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030 (map)
A former Watershed sous-chef takes wears his Peacock influence on his sleeve, dishing simple (but expensive) seasonal Southern fare like deviled eggs, pimento cheese and pork chops. It's not as rooted as Watershed, but the influence is still there.
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Relish
Read Reviews590 Mimosa Blvd, Roswell, GA 30075 (map)
This north-of-the-perimeter spot brings fancy-Southern-hope to Roswell with a creative menu that hits everything from bacon-wrapped trout their addictive pimento cheese fritters.
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Watershed
Read Reviews406 W Ponce De Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030 (map)
Maybe the most celebrated of the trendsetters, Chef Scott Peacock brought his inventive take to soul 'n' southern cuisine, and quickly built a devoted following in Decatur. He has since won a James Beard award and cooked for the 2009 Presidential Inauguration.
Old School
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Mary Mac's Tea Room
Read Reviews224 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 (map)
Atlanta's beloved tea room drifts into its twilight years, serving up the same charm and menu since 1945. Cracklin' bread, family-style fried chicken and spicy mudbugs leave little doubt this is the real deal.
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Silver Skillet
Read Reviews200 14th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 (map)
Open since 1956, black coffee, backslapping and country ham keep the good ole boy power breakfast in style. Lunchtime yields classics like skillet fried chicken and lemon icebox pie.
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Paschal's Atlanta
Read Reviews180 Northside Dr SW Unit B, Atlanta, GA 30313 (map)
Get good Southern eats with a history lesson to boot. The Castleberry locale is nicer than the original location, but still serves the same Southern cooking that made it famous during the Civil Rights Movement.
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Bobby & June Country Kitchen
Read Reviews375 14TH St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 (map)
Meat-n-three, barn doors and a blue collar crowd have made this an Atlanta staple for years. The knick-knacks, checkers and rocking chairs make it feel like a real-deal Cracker Barrel.
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Son's Place Restaurant
Read Reviews100 Hurt St NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 (map)
Skillet-fried chicken and cute checked tablecloths made this an instant classic over a decade ago. Add to it a family-fued history and the charm of Inman Park, and there's little doubt why this has become an Atlanta institution.
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Colonnade Restaurant
Read Reviews1879 Cheshire Bridge, Atlanta, GA 30324 (map)
An Atlanta institution since 1927, this old-school Midtown restaurant has been around for years thanks to the power of good prices, traditional fare and ridiculously good Parker House rolls.
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