Photograph by Andrew Thomas Lee
It’s been eight years since celebrity chef Hugh Acheson opened Empire State South and challenged Atlanta’s notion that Southern food is something preciously preserved in the past. A lot has changed since then, but Empire State South remains a destination restaurant in a part of Midtown that has too few of them. Among its most iconic dishes is the texturally enchanting farm egg on crispy rice with beef and mushroom sausage, shiitake, and corn. Equally seductive are the wine and cocktail programs, each among the very best in the city. The terrace overlooking a bocce court ringed by Adirondacks is a splendid gathering spot for an impromptu al fresco meal or a planned event. In short, Empire State South, no longer trendy, is more inviting than ever. 999 Peachtree Street, 404-541-1105, empirestatesouth.com
