Atlanta is one of the definitive cities for Southern American cuisine, serving as both a living repository of traditional cooking and a hotbed of refined, modern interpretations that have earned national and international recognition. The city sits at the center of a culinary tradition that draws on Appalachian mountain cooking, Lowcountry coastal influences, African American foodways, and the agricultural bounty of Georgia’s farms. Southern cooking in Atlanta spans a wide spectrum from historic tea room dining to innovative chef-driven restaurants that reimagine grits, fried green tomatoes, and shrimp preparations for contemporary audiences. Georgia’s state designation of Paschal’s as “Atlanta’s Dining Room” and Mary Mac’s Tea Room as an official state institution reflect how deeply Southern food is embedded in Atlanta’s identity.
When choosing a Southern restaurant in Atlanta, look for establishments that source ingredients from Georgia and the surrounding region rather than relying on commodity products. Grits should be stone-ground and slow-cooked, not instant. Shrimp in shrimp and grits dishes should be fresh Gulf or local shrimp, not frozen imports. She-crab soup, a Lowcountry specialty, should be made with real crab roe when in season. Buttermilk fried chicken should be marinated, not just coated, and the crust should be light and properly seasoned. Fried green tomatoes should be made from actual green tomatoes, not underripe red ones. These distinctions separate Atlanta’s best Southern restaurants from establishments merely adopting the Southern label.
Top Southern Restaurant Companies in Atlanta
1. South City Kitchen Midtown
Address: 1144 Crescent Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone: (404) 873-7358
Website: https://www.southcitykitchen.com
Founded: 1993
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 AM-2:30 PM and 5 PM-9 PM, Friday 11 AM-2:30 PM and 5 PM-10 PM, Saturday-Sunday 10 AM-3 PM and 5 PM-9 or 10 PM
Google Rating: 4.4/5
Services:
- Refined Southern cuisine with regional sourcing
- She-crab soup and Lowcountry preparations
- Buttermilk fried chicken (Yelp Top Five nationwide)
- Shrimp and grits
- Fried green tomatoes
- Weekend brunch
- Four Atlanta-area locations including Buckhead and Vinings
About: South City Kitchen Midtown opened in 1993 in a renovated 1920s bungalow on Crescent Avenue and has spent more than three decades establishing itself as one of Atlanta’s benchmark Southern restaurants. The kitchen’s buttermilk fried chicken has earned placement in Yelp’s Top Five Best Fried Chicken in the nation, reflecting the consistent quality of execution that has made South City Kitchen a dining institution. The restaurant’s location near Piedmont Park, the Fox Theatre, and the High Museum places it at the heart of Atlanta cultural life. Additional locations in Buckhead, Vinings, and Avalon extend the brand across the metro area.
2. Mary Mac’s Tea Room
Address: 224 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: (404) 876-1800
Website: https://www.marymacs.com
Founded: 1945
Hours: Monday-Sunday 11 AM-9 PM
Awards & Recognition: Officially named “Atlanta’s Dining Room” by the Georgia House of Representatives
Services:
- Classic Southern entrees and sides
- Traditional Georgia cooking since 1945
- Full-service bar
- Six dining rooms seating large parties
- Sunday dinner service
- Catering for events
About: Mary Mac’s Tea Room is one of Atlanta’s most storied dining institutions, founded in 1945 by Mary McKenzie and the last surviving member of the sixteen tea rooms that once defined intown Atlanta dining. The Georgia House of Representatives has formally designated Mary Mac’s as “Atlanta’s Dining Room,” a title that reflects its eight decades of faithful service to the city and its visitors. The restaurant has expanded from its original single dining room to six bustling rooms occupying 13,000 square feet. The menu preserves classic Southern preparations that have remained consistent across generations of guests, and the experience is as much about Atlanta’s culinary history as it is about the food itself.
3. Paschal’s Restaurant and Bar
Address: 180 Northside Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30313
Phone: (404) 835-0833
Website: https://www.paschalsatlanta.com
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11:30 AM-9 PM, Friday-Saturday 11:30 AM-10 PM, Sunday 11 AM-9 PM
Services:
- Southern soul food and classic Georgia cooking
- Fried chicken and smothered preparations
- Traditional sides and cornbread
- Full bar service
- Private dining and event hosting
- Sunday brunch
About: Paschal’s history connects directly to Atlanta’s Civil Rights Movement and its role as a gathering place for community leaders during the 1950s and 1960s makes it one of the most historically significant restaurants in the American South. The current Castleberry Hill location continues the tradition of warm hospitality and classic Southern cooking that made the original Paschal’s an Atlanta institution. The restaurant serves the full range of Southern comfort food with the cultural weight of decades of community service behind every plate. An airport location at Hartsfield-Jackson Concourse B makes Paschal’s accessible to travelers as well as residents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What distinguishes genuine Southern cuisine from generic American comfort food?
A: Genuine Southern cuisine is tied to specific regional traditions and agricultural products, including stone-ground grits from Georgia mills, Gulf shrimp, Georgia peaches, country ham from the Appalachian tradition, and field peas grown in Southern gardens. The cooking techniques are also distinctive: long, slow braising for greens and beans, proper cast iron frying for chicken and cornbread, and the use of pork fat as a foundational flavoring. Generic American comfort food typically uses commodity ingredients and shortcuts, whereas authentic Southern cooking prioritizes technique and sourcing.
Q: What does a meal at a Southern restaurant in Atlanta typically cost?
A: At mid-tier Southern restaurants like Mary Mac’s Tea Room, a full meal with entree and sides typically runs $18-$28 per person. At more refined Southern establishments like South City Kitchen, expect to spend $28-$48 per person for dinner, with brunch slightly less expensive. Weekend brunch at most Atlanta Southern restaurants falls in the $20-$35 range per person including drinks. The value is generally strong given the portion sizes and cooking quality.
Q: What are the essential Southern dishes to try in Atlanta?
A: Shrimp and grits is the most iconic Lowcountry-influenced dish and is available at nearly every Atlanta Southern restaurant. Buttermilk fried chicken with honey is an Atlanta standard worth comparing across multiple restaurants. Fried green tomatoes, particularly at South City Kitchen where they were perfected, are a must. She-crab soup is a Lowcountry specialty less commonly found elsewhere in the country. Any meal at Mary Mac’s should include pot likker (the rich liquid from slow-cooked greens) with cornbread for dipping.
Conclusion
Atlanta’s Southern restaurant landscape offers depth that few American cities can match, from the 1945 founding and historic designation of Mary Mac’s Tea Room to the three-decade refinement of South City Kitchen’s elevated approach and the cultural legacy of Paschal’s. Each restaurant represents a distinct dimension of Southern cooking in Atlanta, and all three are worth visiting to understand the range and significance of this culinary tradition. Contact each restaurant directly for reservations, group dining, and current menu details.