Atlanta’s Mediterranean dining scene encompasses the diverse culinary traditions of Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Morocco, and the broader Mediterranean basin, offering a range of dining experiences from casual falafel and gyro counters to upscale seafood tavernas with nationally recognized chefs. The city’s Greek-American community has historically anchored the Mediterranean restaurant landscape, and establishments like Kyma, operated by the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, have brought Greek seafood dining to a national audience. Turkish cuisine has emerged as a particular strength of Atlanta’s Mediterranean scene, with Midtown locations offering mezes, grilled meats, and Turkish breakfast that go well beyond the generic gyro concept. Lebanese, Levantine, and broader Middle Eastern cuisines have also found strong expression in Atlanta, particularly in the Toco Hills and Buckhead areas where Israeli and Lebanese communities have established restaurant roots.
When evaluating Mediterranean restaurants in Atlanta, look for specificity about regional origin, since Greek, Turkish, Lebanese, Moroccan, and Israeli cuisines each represent distinct culinary traditions with different flavor profiles, ingredients, and techniques. Mediterranean mezze-focused restaurants should offer a range of house-made dips beyond standard hummus, including preparations like baba ghanouj, muhammara, labneh, and seasonal spreads that demonstrate culinary range. The quality of seafood at Greek-oriented restaurants is a meaningful differentiator, since fresh Mediterranean-sourced fish flown in daily versus frozen alternatives produce dramatically different results. Buckhead Life Restaurant Group’s involvement, as with Kyma, typically signals high production standards and professionally trained kitchen teams.
Top Mediterranean Restaurant Companies in Atlanta
1. Kyma
Founded: December 2001
Leadership: Chef Pano I. Karatassos (Executive Chef); Pano Karatassos (Founder/CEO, Buckhead Life Restaurant Group)
Address: 3085 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: 404-262-0702
Website: https://www.kymaatlanta.com
Hours: Tue-Thu and Sun 5PM until 9PM seating; Fri-Sat 5PM until 10PM seating; Mon Closed
Awards & Recognition: Named one of John Mariani’s “Top 20 Restaurants In The Country” by Esquire Magazine in 2002; Atlanta Journal-Constitution Top 10 Best Restaurants three years running with four-star review; featured in Food & Wine, Gourmet, and Wine Spectator
Services:
- Contemporary Mediterranean seafood cuisine
- Daily fresh fish deliveries
- Extensive ouzo and Greek wine program
- Cocktail program
- Lamb Shack lunch service (Tue-Sat 11:30AM-7PM)
- Full dinner service
About: Kyma opened in December 2001 as part of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, led by the Karatassos family which also operates Pano’s & Paul’s, Buckhead Diner, Chops, Pricci, and Atlanta Fish Market. Executive Chef Pano I. Karatassos trained under Thomas Keller at The French Laundry, Jean-Georges Vongerichten at Jean-Georges in New York, and Eric Ripert at Le Bernardin, bringing world-class culinary training to Atlanta’s Greek seafood tradition. Esquire Magazine named Kyma one of the top 20 restaurants in the country in 2002, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution awarded it four stars and three consecutive Top 10 Best Restaurants placements. The restaurant features a dramatic dining room with a constellation ceiling display, white marble columns, and a bold fresh fish display.
2. Agora Midtown
Address: Midtown Atlanta, GA
Services:
- Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine
- Mezze appetizer selection
- Turkish breakfast
- Craft cocktail bar with Mediterranean-inspired drinks
- Warm and inviting ambiance
About: Agora Midtown is a Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant in Midtown Atlanta that has earned recognition for its creative approach to Turkish cuisine, described by reviewers as making diners want to travel to Turkey. The restaurant’s mezze selection, Turkish breakfast service, and craft cocktail program distinguish it from generic Mediterranean concepts that lean heavily on hummus and gyros without exploring the genuine depth of Turkish culinary tradition. Its Midtown location places it at the center of Atlanta’s most active restaurant market, drawing both neighborhood regulars and diners from across the metro area who seek Turkish cuisine done well. The warm ambiance and thoughtfully designed dining room reflect the investment in hospitality that characterizes the city’s best independent restaurants.
3. Ela Mezze + Spirits
Address: Virginia Highland neighborhood, Atlanta, GA
Services:
- Mediterranean mezze plates
- Crispy falafel
- Seasonal salads
- House-made dips and spreads
- Full spirits program
- Shared plates format
About: Ela Mezze + Spirits operates in the Virginia Highland neighborhood, one of Atlanta’s most walkable and restaurant-dense intown communities, offering a Mediterranean mezze dining experience built around shared plates. The restaurant’s focus on house-made dips, seasonal salads, and mezze-style sharing encourages a communal dining style that suits the Virginia Highland’s social neighborhood character. The spirits program accompanies the mezze format naturally, with cocktails and beverages designed to complement small-plate sharing. Ela’s position in Virginia Highland gives it strong foot traffic from the neighborhood’s active dining and bar community while also drawing destination diners from across the metro who appreciate its mezze-focused concept.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What distinguishes Kyma from other Mediterranean restaurants in Atlanta?
A: Kyma’s combination of daily fresh fish sourcing, nationally recognized culinary training under three of America’s best chefs for Executive Chef Pano I. Karatassos, and the operational infrastructure of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group places it in a distinct category from most Atlanta Mediterranean dining. The Esquire Magazine “Top 20 Restaurants in the Country” recognition in 2002 and four-star Atlanta Journal-Constitution review reflect a level of culinary ambition and execution that goes well beyond standard Greek dining. The restaurant’s Lamb Shack lunch service adds an accessible daily offering alongside the formal dinner program. For special occasion dining that combines exceptional seafood with genuine Greek culinary tradition, Kyma has no direct peer in the Atlanta Mediterranean category.
Q: What are typical prices at Atlanta’s Mediterranean restaurants?
A: Casual Mediterranean restaurants and counter-service gyro spots typically run $12-$20 per person. Mid-range Mediterranean dining at establishments like Agora Midtown and Ela Mezze typically averages $35-$55 per person for a full meal with drinks. Kyma as the market’s highest-positioned Mediterranean dining experience runs $60-$90 per person for a complete dinner before wine. The Lamb Shack lunch service at Kyma offers a more accessible price point in the $25-$35 range. Mediterranean food in general represents strong value across all price tiers in Atlanta given the freshness of ingredients and complexity of preparation involved.
Q: What is mezze dining and which Atlanta restaurants do it best?
A: Mezze is the Mediterranean tradition of sharing multiple small plates at the beginning of a meal or as the meal itself, similar conceptually to Spanish tapas or Italian antipasti. A proper mezze spread includes a range of dips, salads, grilled meats or seafood, breads, and preserved vegetables that allow diners to sample widely across the menu. Ela Mezze + Spirits in Virginia Highland is specifically built around this format, while Agora Midtown’s Turkish mezze selection draws particular praise for going beyond standard hummus and pita to explore Turkish culinary traditions. Mediterranean Grill offers a halal-certified mezze and gyro experience across multiple Atlanta locations at accessible price points.
Conclusion
Atlanta’s Mediterranean restaurant landscape delivers world-class Greek seafood dining at Kyma in Buckhead, creative Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine at Agora Midtown, and neighborhood-focused mezze dining at Ela Mezze + Spirits in Virginia Highland. Each represents a distinct facet of the Mediterranean culinary world and a different price point and dining format. Kyma warrants reservations and is ideal for special occasion Greek seafood dining, Agora and Ela reward casual exploration of Turkish and broader Mediterranean traditions. Contacting each restaurant to confirm current hours and reservation availability before visiting is recommended.