Photograph by Martha Williams
Luella has, as the kids call it, a vibe. Situated in the manor-style building on Roswell Road that previously housed the Ivy—where 20-somethings sipped cocktails and danced to Whitney Houston remixes—the Buckhead steakhouse carries that buzzy energy forward. (The Ivy’s former owners, brothers Jamey and Benjie Shirah, now run Luella.) The circular, Mad Men–esque bar has been packed every evening since the restaurant’s late-2025 opening, welcoming a well-heeled crowd that skews about 20 years older than the Ivy’s devotees. In the adjacent open dining room, Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River” thumps in the dimly lit space.
Executive chef Stuart Rogers takes a “something for everyone” approach: Pastas! Sushi! Steaks! This much variety can often lead to diluted quality, but so far, Luella has managed to avoid that pitfall. The burrata spreads like butter on toasted bread drizzled with pesto and truffle honey. The fan-favorite Caesar salad lives up to its hype, complete with edible cured lemons that add zesty sweetness and a dusting of parmesan “snow.” Luella’s akaushi wagyu New York strip is a steakhouse rarity, but the showstopper is the tender, eight-ounce rib eye spinalis al limon, brushed with a mouth-tingling lemon-chili sauce. Still feeling the vibe after dinner? Landmark dance club Johnny’s Hideaway is down the street.
Photograph by Martha Williams
Photograph by Martha Williams
Back to Atlanta’s 10 Best Steakhouses.
This article appears in our October 2026 issue.
