24 Georgia Restaurants So Unique Tripadvisor Calls Them One Of A Kind
Georgia’s food scene is bursting with restaurants that go way beyond ordinary dining. From eateries inside restored bus terminals to barbecue joints that used to be gas stations, the Peach State offers dining experiences you won’t find anywhere else.
I’ve gathered 24 incredible spots that Tripadvisor reviewers say are truly one of a kind, each with its own story, style, and unforgettable flavors that’ll make your visit memorable.
1. The Grey
Housed in a beautifully restored 1938 Greyhound bus terminal, this Savannah gem transforms history into culinary art. Chef Mashama Bailey brings African influences together with coastal Georgia ingredients to create elevated Southern dishes that honor tradition while pushing boundaries. The space itself tells a story, with original architectural features reminding diners of the building’s past life.
When you step inside, you’re immediately struck by the high ceilings and vintage charm mixed with contemporary elegance.
The menu changes seasonally, ensuring fresh ingredients shine in every dish. It’s a dining experience that feeds both your appetite and your appreciation for Georgia’s rich cultural heritage.
2. Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room
Since 1943, this historic boarding house has welcomed hungry guests to share meals like family around communal tables. You’ll sit elbow-to-elbow with strangers who quickly become friends as platters of fried chicken, cornbread dressing, collard greens, and sweet tea get passed around. There’s no menu here just good old-fashioned Southern cooking served the way grandma would.
The experience feels like Sunday dinner at a relative’s house, complete with seconds and thirds if you want them.
Lines often stretch down the block, but patient diners agree it’s worth every minute of waiting. This isn’t just a meal; it’s a tradition that connects you to generations of Georgia hospitality.
3. The Vortex Bar & Grill
Walk through a massive skull’s mouth to enter this adults-only burger paradise in Atlanta’s Midtown neighborhood. The Vortex doesn’t take itself seriously, with irreverent humor plastered across walls and menus, but they’re dead serious about their burgers. Creative combinations like the Coronary Bypass Burger stack up high with inventive toppings you won’t find at typical burger joints.
The 21+ policy keeps things lively and loud, with an extensive beer list that pairs perfectly with their oversized creations.
Grunge-inspired decor and rock music create an atmosphere that’s part dive bar, part culinary adventure. If you’re looking for white tablecloths and quiet conversations, keep walking—this place celebrates rebellious fun.
4. The Varsity
Are you ready to experience the world’s largest drive-in restaurant? The Varsity has been an Atlanta institution since 1928, serving generations of hungry customers with lightning-fast service and classic American fare. Their famous greeting, “What’ll ya have?”, echoes through the massive dining rooms where visitors order hot dogs, burgers, and those legendary frosted orange drinks.
The sheer size of this place amazes first-time visitors it can accommodate 600 cars and 800 people inside simultaneously.
Despite its size, the food comes out quickly, maintaining quality that’s kept locals coming back for nearly a century. It’s not fancy, but it’s authentically Atlanta, representing the city’s history one chili dog at a time.
5. Southern Soul Barbeque
What started as a humble gas station on St. Simons Island now serves some of Georgia’s most celebrated barbecue. Oak-smoked ribs and brisket emerge from the pits with that perfect bark and tender interior that barbecue lovers dream about. The casual, no-frills atmosphere puts all the focus where it belongs on the meat.
Lines form early and stay long, with locals and tourists alike willing to wait for plates piled high with smoky goodness. The sides don’t play second fiddle either, with mac and cheese, collard greens, and Brunswick stew complementing the main attractions perfectly.
It’s proof that sometimes the best food comes from the most unexpected places.
6. Canoe
Perched along the Chattahoochee River, this Atlanta treasure offers fine dining with views that rival any postcard. The setting feels miles away from the city, with lush forest surroundings creating a peaceful escape while you enjoy contemporary American cuisine. Chef-driven seasonal menus showcase Georgia ingredients prepared with refined techniques that elevate familiar flavors.
The outdoor patio becomes especially magical during sunset, when golden light dances across the water and through the trees. Inside, the sophisticated atmosphere balances elegance with warmth, making special occasions feel even more memorable.
Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary or simply treating yourself, the combination of exceptional food and natural beauty creates moments worth savoring slowly.
7. Gunshow
Forget traditional menus at this innovative Atlanta spot, chefs bring dishes directly to your table dim sum style, and you choose what looks tempting. It’s dinner and a show, with cooking stations visible throughout the space and chefs explaining their creations as they offer them. This interactive approach transforms dining into an adventure where spontaneity rules.
The constantly rotating selection means no two visits are exactly alike, keeping regular customers excited to return. Plates range from small bites to heartier portions, allowing you to build your meal according to your appetite and curiosity.
The industrial-chic setting matches the modern approach, creating an atmosphere that’s energetic without being chaotic.
8. South City Kitchen
Contemporary Southern cuisine gets a stylish makeover at this Atlanta favorite that’s been impressing diners since 1993. Classic dishes like fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits arrive with creative twists that honor tradition while embracing innovation. The atmosphere strikes a perfect balance between upscale and approachable, making it ideal for both date nights and casual gatherings.
Their brunch has developed a cult following, with buttermilk fried chicken and sweet potato pancakes drawing crowds every weekend.
The bar program deserves equal praise, featuring craft cocktails that incorporate Southern ingredients in unexpected ways. It’s where comfort food meets sophistication, proving that Southern cooking can be both familiar and exciting.
9. The Olde Pink House
Built in 1771, this iconic pink mansion in Savannah’s historic district serves Southern cuisine surrounded by centuries of history. Candlelit dining rooms glow with romantic ambiance, while exposed brick and original architectural details transport you back in time. The menu features regional specialties like she-crab soup and pecan-crusted chicken that pay homage to Lowcountry traditions.
Downstairs, the tavern offers a more casual atmosphere with live piano music most evenings. Many claim the building is haunted by its original owner, adding an extra layer of intrigue to your dining experience.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the combination of delicious food and historical atmosphere creates undeniably magical evenings.
10. Mary Mac’s Tea Room
Since 1945, this Atlanta institution has been serving authentic Southern comfort food to everyone from politicians to tourists craving real deal cooking.
Despite its name, this isn’t a dainty tearoom it’s a bustling restaurant where servers still take orders on paper pads and portions are generous enough to satisfy the heartiest appetites. The fried chicken alone has earned legendary status among locals.
You’ll fill out your order on a paper checklist, marking off sides like mac and cheese, collard greens, and cornbread that come with your entree. The atmosphere buzzes with energy, servers call you “honey,” and the sweet tea flows freely. It’s Southern hospitality served with every plate, making newcomers feel like regulars immediately.
11. Staplehouse
Born from tragedy and built on community support, this Atlanta restaurant serves multi-course tasting menus that change constantly based on seasonal availability. The intimate space features a large communal table where strangers become friends over shared plates and conversation. Chef Ryan Smith creates dishes that surprise and delight, blending techniques and flavors in ways that feel both innovative and comforting.
The restaurant operates as a nonprofit, with proceeds supporting the Giving Kitchen, an organization helping food service workers in crisis. This mission adds deeper meaning to every meal, knowing your dinner directly helps others in need.
Reservations are tough to snag, but the combination of exceptional food and purposeful dining makes the effort worthwhile.
12. The Lady & Sons
Paula Deen’s famous Savannah restaurant draws crowds hungry for the butter-rich Southern cooking that made her a household name. The buffet-style service lets you sample everything from fried chicken to gooey mac and cheese without having to choose just one dish. Lines can stretch around the block, but fans insist the wait is part of the experience.
The atmosphere feels celebratory and casual, with families and tourists mingling over heaping plates of comfort food. Desserts deserve their own visit, with options like banana pudding and peach cobbler providing sweet endings.
It’s unabashedly indulgent cooking that doesn’t apologize for calories, embracing Southern food traditions in their richest form.
13. Busy Bee Cafe
Operating since 1947, this Atlanta soul food institution has fed civil rights leaders, celebrities, and neighborhood residents with equal warmth and generosity. The cafeteria-style service moves quickly despite constant crowds, with steam trays full of fried chicken, baked chicken, oxtails, and vegetables that taste like someone’s grandmother cooked them. There’s nothing fancy about the decor, but that’s exactly the point.
The food speaks for itself, prepared with recipes and techniques passed down through generations. Cornbread comes out warm and slightly sweet, perfect for sopping up pot liquor from the collard greens.
It’s authentic Atlanta history served on every plate, representing the city’s soul food heritage without pretension or compromise.
14. Atlas Restaurant
Housed in a stunning historic building with soaring ceilings and dramatic architecture, this Atlanta fine dining destination impresses before you even taste the food. The menu showcases contemporary American cuisine with global influences, featuring dishes that look like edible art but taste even better than they appear. Chef Freddy Money brings creativity and precision to every plate.
The wine program is equally impressive, with an extensive list that includes rare bottles and expert pairing suggestions. Service is polished without being stuffy, striking that difficult balance between professional and personable.
For special occasions demanding elegance and exceptional food, this restaurant delivers experiences that create lasting memories beyond just satisfying hunger.
15. Bacchanalia
For over 25 years, this Atlanta fine dining pioneer has set the standard for farm-to-table cuisine in the Southeast. Chefs Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison source ingredients from their own Summerland Farm, ensuring peak freshness and quality in every dish. The four-course prix fixe menu changes frequently, reflecting what’s currently thriving in Georgia’s soil.
The elegant but understated dining room lets the food take center stage, with presentations that balance artistry and approachability. Wine pairings are thoughtfully curated to complement each course, enhancing flavors without overwhelming them.
It’s a restaurant that respects both ingredients and diners, creating refined experiences that never feel pretentious or overly fussy.
16. Holeman and Finch Public House
This Atlanta gastropub gained fame for its legendary burger, originally available only at 10 PM in limited quantities that sold out within minutes. While the burger is now available throughout dinner service, it remains one of the city’s most sought-after dishes. The dry-aged beef patty topped with house-made everything creates burger perfection that’s sparked countless conversations.
Beyond the famous burger, the menu offers elevated pub fare and creative small plates that showcase seasonal ingredients.
The cocktail program deserves equal attention, with skilled bartenders crafting both classic drinks and innovative creations. The atmosphere strikes a perfect balance between neighborhood hangout and destination dining, making it equally suitable for casual drinks or special meals.
17. Watershed on Peachtree
Chef Scott Peacock’s approach to Southern cooking honors tradition while emphasizing quality ingredients and proper technique. This Decatur restaurant focuses on simple preparations that let seasonal produce and heritage recipes shine without unnecessary complications. The fried chicken requires 24-hour advance ordering because it’s brined and prepared with such care that shortcuts simply aren’t possible.
The daily changing menu reflects what’s fresh and available, creating variety that keeps regular customers excited to return.
Side dishes receive the same attention as entrees, with vegetables prepared in ways that make them the stars rather than afterthoughts. It’s Southern cooking stripped down to its essence honest, delicious, and deeply satisfying.
18. Miller Union
Located in Atlanta’s Westside, this restaurant combines Southern roots with contemporary sensibilities in dishes that feel both familiar and exciting. Chef Steven Satterfield sources from local farms, creating menus that change with Georgia’s seasons and showcase the state’s agricultural bounty. The space itself blends rustic and modern elements, with an open kitchen adding energy without overwhelming conversation.
Vegetable dishes often steal the spotlight here, prepared with techniques and creativity that make them as craveable as any meat entree.
The biscuits have achieved cult status, arriving warm with house-churned butter that’s worth the carbs and calories. It’s proof that Southern food can evolve while maintaining its soul and connection to place.
19. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
Two brothers from Texas brought their barbecue expertise to Atlanta, creating a restaurant that’s become a local obsession. The focus is on Texas-style barbecue with brisket as the star, smoked low and slow until it achieves that perfect tenderness with a dark, flavorful crust. Ribs, pulled pork, and house-made sausages round out a menu that takes meat seriously.
The casual atmosphere features picnic tables and a laid-back vibe where sauce-stained fingers are badges of honor rather than embarrassments. Sides like jalapeño cheese grits and fried okra complement the smoky meats perfectly.
While Georgia has its own barbecue traditions, these Texas transplants have earned their place in Atlanta’s competitive barbecue scene through quality and consistency.
20. Bones Restaurant
Since 1979, this Atlanta steakhouse has been the place where power lunches happen and celebrations are toasted with perfectly aged beef. The quality of the steaks matches any national chain but with a distinctly Atlanta personality that feels more personal than corporate. Prime cuts are dry-aged in-house and cooked to precise specifications that respect the meat’s quality.
Beyond steaks, the menu includes fresh seafood and classic American dishes prepared with the same attention to detail. The wine list is extensive, and service is professional without being stuffy or pretentious.
It’s the kind of place where business deals are sealed and anniversaries are celebrated, offering consistency and quality that’s kept Atlanta’s elite returning for decades.
21. Ponce City Market Food Hall
Housed in a converted historic Sears building, this sprawling food hall brings together dozens of vendors under one roof, offering everything from ramen to tacos to artisan ice cream. The industrial architecture with exposed brick and high ceilings creates an energetic atmosphere where food lovers graze from stall to stall. It’s not a single restaurant but a collection of culinary concepts that turns meal decisions into delicious adventures.
The variety means groups with different tastes can all find something they love without compromise. Communal seating encourages mingling, while the constant buzz of activity creates excitement that matches the food.
It’s become a destination not just for meals but for experiencing Atlanta’s diverse food scene in concentrated form.
22. Antico Pizza Napoletana
When you walk into this Atlanta pizzeria, you might forget you’re in Georgia rather than Naples. The wood-fired brick oven imported from Italy churns out authentic Neapolitan pizzas with blistered crusts and simple, high-quality toppings. There’s no table service you order at the counter, grab your own drinks, and wait for your number to be called, keeping things casual and focused on the pizza.
The dough is made fresh daily using Italian flour, and the San Marzano tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella are imported to maintain authenticity.
Lines often stretch out the door, but the pizzas emerge from the oven so quickly that waits are shorter than expected. It’s proof that when you do one thing exceptionally well, people will happily stand in line for it.
23. Sublime Doughnuts
This isn’t your average donut shop it’s a destination for creative, over-the-top doughnuts that push boundaries while respecting the craft. Flavors range from classic glazed to inventive combinations like maple bacon and red velvet that sound wild but taste incredible. Owner Kamal Grant left a corporate career to pursue his passion for doughnuts, and his dedication shows in every bite.
The shop gained national attention after appearing on food television, but locals knew about it long before the fame. Fresh batches emerge throughout the day, ensuring you’re getting doughnuts at their peak rather than hours-old leftovers.
Whether you’re grabbing breakfast or satisfying a late-night craving, these doughnuts prove that simple concepts executed with passion create extraordinary results.
24. Umi Sushi
Chef Fuyuhiko Ito brings traditional Japanese techniques and the freshest fish to Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood, creating sushi experiences that rival coastal cities. The omakase option puts your meal entirely in the chef’s hands, resulting in a progression of nigiri and sashimi that showcases seasonal ingredients and expert knife skills.
Each piece is carefully crafted and presented with attention to temperature, texture, and flavor balance. The intimate setting with counter seating allows you to watch the chefs work and ask questions about what you’re eating.
While prices reflect the premium quality, serious sushi lovers consider it worth every dollar for fish this fresh and preparation this skilled. It’s a reminder that exceptional Japanese cuisine can thrive far from ocean coasts when sourcing and technique are prioritized.
