"Oreatha's head chef is Deborah VanTrece, who is a well-known Black chef in Atlanta. This is her second restaurant in Southwest Atlanta; she's showing that this area of town, which is mostly takeout places, can have fine dining too. Oreatha is the name of her mother, so it's almost a love letter to her mom. She has these nostalgic dishes—comfort foods—but instead of a pot pie, it's a smoked duck pot pie. She's taking comfort foods and putting her own twist on it."

"Juci Jerk is a Jamaican restuarant; the man who started it passed away a year ago, and now his two daughters, who always worked in the restaurant, are the owners. They continue his legacy with his sauces and meats. It's a little shack—takeout only—and when you pass by, you just see this huge cloud of smoke, but in a good way! You know to pull in, and there are easily eight other cars out there waiting for their food, but you're never out there long."

"Wyatt's is in a little trailer, and it's takeout only. What I love about it is that they have great ribs. It's the kind of place you go to, you get your ribs, and you don't even go home—you just sit there in the car and eat them, they're so good. It's well-known in the community and definitely a neighborhood fave. There's nothing in terms of exterior or interior; it's just a place to get good food!"

"Delilah's is one of the food stalls located inside Chattahoochee Food Works, which is one of the newest food halls in Atlanta. At Delilah's, they do soul food right. Behind the restaurant is a mother-daughter: The mother is Delilah, and she's a well-known soul-food cook up in Pennsylvania. The daughter is Delana, and just like her mother, she is passionate about food. The food is very balanced. My favorite dish there is the chicken po'boy. It's one of the best sandwiches in the food hall."

"3 Parks Wine Shop is owned by a friend of mine named Sarah Pierre. She has always worked in the restaurant industry, and she had a dream of owning her own wine shop, which is very rare for Black people but even more so for Black women. She does these Wednesday tastings, has a wine club, and is very intentional about showcasing women-owned brands, Black and brown brands, and also just being the go-to wine shop in the Glenwood Park area. There's a great sense of community when you go there."

"I grew up with Fish Fridays. Sweet Potato Cafe has one of my favorite dishes, a fish sandwich on Fridays, and it is the best thing! They do it so right, with the brioche bun, perfectly fried and seasoned catfish, a little tomato, a little aioli—it's just the perfect sandwich."

"The owner, Pat, is a breast-cancer survivor, and she's meticulous about the things that she puts out for her customers, because the holistic approach she was advised on when she had cancer has made all the difference in her life. She intentionally keeps things healthy, and she has really creative drinks! I love that she built up this amazing Black- and woman-owned coffee shop in Buckhead, one of Atlanta's wealthiest neighborhoods, where it's rare to have a person of color own space."

"Springreens Cafe is very unique. The owner is Muslim, and it's in a complex next to a mosque. I love that when you go there, it's a place for people to leave their service and go get food next door. It's set up cafeteria-style, so you can go down the line and pick out things. They're very hands-on with making sure everything is fresh and homemade. My favorite thing I've ever had there was their veggie burger, which was made by hand. It's one of the best veggie burgers in Atlanta!"

"Woodstone Bakery is owned by a husband and wife; the wife, Shellane, is a well-known baker. Their first establishment, Gilly Brew Bar, is a coffee bar in a historic home. This spot is located in a town called Trilith, south of Atlanta. The shop is '90s themed—it has a Saved by the Bell vibe. The baked goods are the star, everything from sweet-potato pie in the fall to vanilla cupcakes (one of my favorites) to fresh croissants to savory items—the quiche is excellent. They always have a crowd."