The first Atlanta Michelin Guide dropped in Atlanta, and the iconic dining guide confirms what we already knew, Decatur is a dining destination! Four Decatur restaurants made the Michelin Guide of recommended restaurants: Chai Pani, The Deer and The Dove, Kimball House, and The White Bull.
The list covers everything from Southern rustic dishes, Indian street food, house-made pasta, fresh oysters, decant desserts, and of course, cocktails. Time to taste test for yourself!
1. Chai Pani
📍406 W. Ponce De Leon Ave.
Vibrant colors, Bollywood posters, and chaat – crunchy, spicy, sweet, tangy, brightly flavored Indian street snacks. Order a few dishes to share at dinner or enjoy the lunch buffet. Chai Pani was the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Restaurant for 2022; Chef Meherwan Irani is a five-time James Beard nominee; and Chef Sahar Siddiqui was a 2023 James Beard semifinalist.
Michelin Guide’s Point of View:
“Decatur’s Chai Pani is a festive place, where strings of lights and colorful artwork keep things high spirited, and the kitchen looks to locally sourced ingredients to create the seasonally minded South Asian dishes. The versatile menu is detailed with enticing descriptions that may just to convince you to try one more dish, and there are plenty of options for family-style dining. Whether dining a deux or with a group, enjoy the likes of butter chicken, that deliciously rich staple of boneless chicken in a tomato-cream butter sauce, or fried okra, with its ever so easy to eat lightly seasoned shards. Gobi pepper fry, a popular hybrid Chinese and Indian dish, is given a unique slant here with battered cauliflower that’s both tart and spicy.”
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2. The Deer and the Dove
📍155 Sycamore St.
The Deer and the Dove is no stranger to high-praise! Chef Koval won the 2023 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast. His menu revolves around seasonal, rustic Southern fare. Duck, quail, venison, pheasant – you’ll find them all here.
Michelin Guide’s Point of View:
“Chef/owner Terry Koval and his talented team create memorable dishes at this restaurant with a lovely, rustic feel. First up? House-made salted yeast rolls, served hot alongside garden herb butter, then the harvest plate with a beautiful display of vegetables, that’s perfect for sharing. House-made pappardelle tossed with morels, whipped lemon ricotta and parmesan is an elevated dish of comfort, while the smoked duck hits the spot. Crisply skinned duck served alongside duck leg pâté en croûte with Hudson Valley foie gras and a glossy duck bone jus is just right.
Cocktails are especially fun, as in the “There’s Always Money in the Banana Stand,” with Horyzon koji rice spirit, house banana liqueur, house orgeat and tiki bitters.”
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3. Kimball House
📍303 E. Howard Ave.
The elegant Kimball House has long been a Decatur favorite for outstanding cocktails as well as metro Atlanta’s best oyster program.
Michelin Guide’s Point of View:
“Tufted leather booths, a carved bar and dark wood set a swanky tone at Kimball House, an elegant spot located in a renovated rail depot. It’s the place to sip well-crafted cocktails and snack on more than 20 types of oysters (tasting notes make it easy to choose). Beef tartare with sweet-onion jalapeño chips, capers and green olives, crisp garlic and a confit egg yolk is excellent. Grouper crudo is prepared with a tomatillo and pineapple “agrodolce,” for a very refreshing dish. Dessert is always a highlight. Butternut crunch cake is layer upon layer of deliciousness, with brown butter-almond sponge cake, butternut squash mousse, hickory foam, and ginger-thyme ice cream. Paris Brest is bested with hickory roasted pineapple, ginger ganache and cashew praline.”
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4. The White Bull
📍123 E. Court Sq.
Atlanta Magazine named White Bull one of the 75 Best Restaurants in Atlanta. The spotlight is on house-made pasta crafted from house-milled flour. Apertivo Our is everyday from 4-6 pm featuring $10 pastas and drink specials!
Michelin Guide’s Point of View:
“Chef Pasquale Pascarella has created a contemporary space in the heart of Decatur. There are subtle nods to Ernest Hemingway, who famously said the blank page was his “white bull,” though this is far from a theme park. This New American, seasonally minded menu has an array of small dishes, house-made pastas and main dishes, all displaying subtle and thoughtful cooking. From churning their own butter to milling their own flour, they take extra steps to ensure freshness. Kick things off with mahi crudo, then tuck in to tortelli in a butter sauce with roasted corn, fresnos, pickled enoki and parmesan. Finally, a fresh peach hand pie with lemon buttermilk gelato seals the deal.”
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