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.

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.

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.

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 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).

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.

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.

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.