Photograph by The Sintoses
To fully appreciate Atlanta steakhouses, you must visit Bones. For nearly 50 years, its burgundy awning on Piedmont Road has signaled the way to an oasis of civilized indulgence. The restaurant serves Atlanta families, business diners, celebrities, and fussy journalists, including former Atlanta magazine food editor and restaurant critic Bill Addison, who made it his last restaurant meal before moving out of state for his next gig.
Upon entering, the faintest whisper of gin and vermouth hangs in the air as you straighten your button-down collar or adjust dipping décolletage (dress code, check). On the way to the host stand, you’ll pass a lounge area and a clubby bar on a raised platform (a stoic and decorative pair of hunting hounds stand guard). Nearby walls are lined with caricatures of regulars and a few notable Atlantans, such as Hank Aaron.
Uniformed servers are attentive to the nth degree; a stray morsel from the complimentary boule loaf doesn’t stand a chance against their vigilant crumb scrapers. Each of the stars on your attendant’s jacket indicates five years of service. The reigning server is John Wenger, with eight stars and 41 years to his credit.
Photograph by The Sintoses
Photograph by The Sintoses
Tried-and-true starters and sides include the signature Bones salad (Bibb lettuce, Stilton crumbles, green apple slices, toasted pistachios, and house vinaigrette), lobster bisque, hash browns with sour cream, sauteed spinach, and truffle-butter mashed potatoes. The deft preparation of some half-dozen steak selections—from bone-in filets and porterhouses to Japanese Wagyu A5 New York strips—remains constant and worthy of respect.
Back to Atlanta’s 10 Best Steakhouses.
This article appears in our October 2026 issue.
