The 2024 Atlanta's Michelin Awards are out and the "inspectors" have spoken! Atlanta gained 4 new 1-star restaurants bringing our total to 9 1-star restaurants. Still no 2 or 3 stars, but 9 1-stars is impressive. Also noteworthy is that 4 of the 9-star restaurants are Japanese and 6 of the 9 cook with Asian influence. There were also a some new Bib Gourmand additions that were great choices. Overall I was pleased to see the inspectors go OTP and add some new incredible talent to the list.
Our New One Star winners
O By Brush-- O by Brush is led by James Beard nominee Chef Jason Liang and the Brush Sushi team. Born in the U.S. and raised in Taiwan, Liang brings a unique perspective to Japanese cuisine. They dry-age their fish (yes, you can dry-age fish and it's incredible).
Omakase Table-- Omakase Table is an intimate 14-seat chef's counter experience led by Chef Leonard Yu. They offer a 20-course menu that features a progression of the best seasonal ingredients available. Chef Yu and his team bring decades of sushi knowledge and techniques that make Omakase Table a unique and memorable experience.
Staplehouse--Chef Ryan Smith and Kara Hidinger only open this acclaimed spot two nights a week for dinner (Friday-Saturday). Located in the Old Fourth Ward, Staplehouse offers a contemporary tasting menu and donates to Giving Kitchen, which aids restaurant workers with financial and resource support in a crisis. Dinner is a prix fixe five-course seasonal menu of about $200 a person
Spring--Spring is a New American restaurant in the Historic Marietta Square owned and operated by Chef Brian So and Sommelier Daniel Crawford. It focuses on serving seasonal, thoughtfully sourced dishes, as well as natural wines. They are super-focused on working only with local farmers, artisans, and winemakers. They also won this year's Michelin Service Award. They are on a roll and it's great to see Michelin go OTP for this one.
They Join Last Year's Winners (who retained their Stars)
Atlas--Chef Freddy Money brings home the big star for the St. Regis. No surprise here.
Bacchanalia--Annie Quatrano and Clifford Harrison add a well-deserved star to her mantle of awards.
Hayakawa--Art Hayakawa moved from BuHi to the west side where his legend continues to grow with a star.
Lazy Betty--Chef Ron Hsu is rewarded for relentless risk-taking and creative brilliance. CNow open in midtown in the old Empire State South location!
Mujo--a second Omakase concept wins a star, with its precision and beauty I was surprised they did not climb higher.
Bib Gourmand Winners--this is "best bang for the buck"
***NEW***Masterpiece Chinese--Rui Liu, a certified master chef from northeastern China, came to America on an O-1 visa given only to "individuals with extraordinary achievement." You will understand why when you eat his food.
***NEW***Superica--Ford Fry's Mex-Tex masterpiece gets well-deserved love. I also feel like it's alter ego, Little Rey should be on here.
***NEW***Table & Main-- Brothers Dan and Ryan Pernise opened Table & Main in 2011 with a clear, confident vision of becoming Roswell's adopted clubhouse. They serve "simple, seasonal, and Southern" cuisine in a beautifully restored century-old homestead on Canton Street in the heart of Roswell's vibrant Historic District.
***NEW***Whoopsie's--Under the radar, rough and tumble cocktail bar with incredible dishes in Reynoldstown
Antico Pizza-- Gio Dipalma's breakthrough Neapolitan pizza joint gets some love as the only pizza spot in the guide
Arepa Mia--beautiful authentic Venezuelan cuisine
Banshee--Irreverent and delicious East Atlanta indie concept scores one for the Hood!
Bomb Biscuit--buzzy new biscuit spot keeps racking up the accolades
Busy Bee Cafe--OG (circa 1947) soul food spot on the southside makes the list!
Estrellita--Filipino flavors In Grant Park
Fred's Meat and Bread-- incredible stall in Krog Street Market gets the nod
Fishmonger--Glorious seafood sandwiches, as close to the coast as you can come without being there.
Heirloom Market BBQ--beloved dive spot with no seating but a magical fusion of traditional US BBQ and Korean BBQ
Little Bear--Kitschy hipster spot in Summerville with spot-on cocktails and small plates
Recommended Restaurants (which is still a big deal)
***NEW***
Hen Mother Cookhouse
Little Sparrow
Nadir
Woo Nam Jeong
The Alden--a newcomer to Chamblee has critics and customers raving
BoccaLupo--Italian staple of Inman Park (also won the Michelin Cocktail program award)
Chai Pani--beloved Indian Street Food spot in Decatur with colorful flavors and decor
The Chastain--Christopher Grossman's work of art near Chastain Park delivers on so many levels
The Deer and the Dove--Reigning James Beard Award winner continues its great run with this accolade
Delbar--Persian newcomer opening up new locations jumps up on the list
Food Terminal--Malaysian concept with multiple locations as a crowd-pleaser for easterners and westerners
The General Muir--beloved Jewish-style deli with locations in Sandy Springs and Emory deservedly make the list
Georgia Boy and Southern Belle--many feel like these were worthy of a star
Gunshow--Kevin Gillespie's chef team gets recognition for the special place that it is
Han Il Kwan--Buford Highway Korean BBQ stallwart
Home Grown--Funky east side southern breakfast dive gets into the guide
Kamayan ATL--Filipino standout on Buford Highway has breakthrough onto the list
Kimball House--probably my single favorite restaurant in the ATL--unmatched oysters and cocktails
LanZhou Ramen--hand-made fresh ramen noodles on Buhi--as fun to watch them make it as it is to eat
Lyla Lila--Modern Italian gem across from the Fox Theater
Marcel--Ford Fry's European steakhouse masterpiece
Miller Union--James Beard winner from Steven Satterfield is always good plus the best desserts in the ATL
Nam Phuong--my favorite soup (their Thai Hot Pot) can be had at this BuHi gem
Snackboxe Bistro--a kaleidoscope of Laotian delights at these 2 locations
Storico Fresco Alimentari--causal Italian escape in Buckhead includes ridiculous dishes and a market to take home
Talat Market--another Summerhill standout, joins Little Bear on the list
Ticonderoga Club--Cocktails and great small plates at this off-the-wall spot in Krog Street Market
Tiny Lou's--Ode to the woman to "danced for Hitler" above the Clermont Lounge
Tomo--Modern Japanese Buckhead staple
Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours--west side soul-meets-Caribbean vibe with creative dishes and cocktails
The White Bull--Pat Pascarelli's fabulous Decatur Italian spot
Xi'an Gourmet House--addictively delicious hole-in-the-wall Chinese in midtown serving biang biang noodles, cumin lamb stir-fries, cold skin noodles, and other delights
Michelin Service Award
Daniel Crawford at Spring in Marietta
Exceptional Cocktails Award
My cocktail hero, Miles MacQuarrie at Kimball House
Sommelier Award
Ashleigh McFadden at Nadir
Michelin Young Chef Award
Nolan Wynn at Banshee
Green Star--this is the sustainability award, even rarer than Michelin Star winners (217 worldwide) Both of last year's winners retained their stars:
Bacchanalia--Annie Quatrano's Summerland Farm sources just about all of her restaurant's ingredients
The Chastain--Chef Chris Grossman used to be at Atlas, now is known for locally grown seasonal ingredients, some of which is harvested directly from their onsite culinary garden
The restaurants I think should have or could have at least made the guide:
- Kevin Rathbun Steak
- Nan Thai Fine Dining
- Umi
- Rumi's Kitchen
- La Grotta
- Buttermilk Kitchen
- Bones
- Tio Lucho's, Little Rey, Cooks & Soldiers or any of the other outstanding Latin places in the city (only one Latin restaurant made any of the lists)
- One of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group (like Pricci or Kyma)
I am also astonished that Aria in Buckhead still did not get a 1-star or at least make the guide.
