Credit score: MH
Credit score: MH
Epic
Tea-brined pheasant, pistachio-crusted lamb and bread pudding made with waffles and peaches are among the many candy and savory creations that pepper the tasting menu at this upscale spot hugging the Chattahoochee River in Uptown Columbus. Chef Jamie Keating and his spouse Melissa steer this advantageous eating institution the place the décor –– marked by plush banquettes and ethereal, pastel work by native artist Teil Duncan –– is as subtle because the meals. For the final word gastronomic expertise, guide the Chef’s Desk, an eight-course dinner for eight served within the kitchen the place Keating explains the elements and inspiration behind every dish. Epic accommodates all eaters, together with vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free and diners with allergy symptoms and different dietary restrictions. (Epic, $45-$70 tasting menu; $150 per particular person Chef’s Desk. 1201 Entrance Ave., Suite E, Columbus. 706-507-9909, epiccuisine.com)
Credit score: handout
Credit score: handout
Charleston Grill
Class meets the Outdated South at this basic, special day restaurant positioned in The Charleston Place, a luxurious resort within the historic district of Charleston, South Carolina. Veteran Chef Michelle Weaver’s modern Southern delicacies shines alongside impeccable service, for which Charleston Grill has been rewarded with a number of high-profile designations such because the AAA 4-Diamond and Forbes 4-Star. Specialties embrace Colorado lamb chops, melt-in-your-mouth ribeye steak and seasonal seafood, comparable to sturgeon, scallops, snapper and succulent crab truffles. An award-winning wine listing acknowledged by Wine Spectator, nightly dwell jazz and a romantic vibe make Charleston Grill one of the crucial extremely lauded eating venues within the Southeast. (Charleston Grill, $32-$60 entrees. 224 King St., Charleston, South Carolina. 843-577-4522, www.charlestonplace.com/#food-beverage)
Credit score: Handout
Credit score: Handout
Vestige
Situated in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, 4 miles throughout the bay from Biloxi, this unpretentious Gulf Coast restaurant’s delicacies is an surprising departure from the same old southern fare. Ocean Springs native and owner-chef Alex Perry and his Japanese spouse Kumi Omori marry their backgrounds to create south Asian dishes utilizing domestically sourced produce and sustainable seafood plucked from native waters. Vestige’s market-driven tasting menu relies on what’s in season and out there. Pattern dishes embrace whipped cheddar cheese with peach and black sesame conserves, and Gulf pink snapper with preserved gooseberries, wild onions, nasturtiums and oroshi pepper. A James Beard semifinalist in 2019 and 2022, Perry has been instrumental in serving to form, if not redefine, the gastronomy of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. (Vestige, $88 tasting menu. 715 Washington Ave., Ocean Springs, Mississippi. 228-818-9699, www.vestigerestaurant.com)
Credit score: Melissa Corbin
Credit score: Melissa Corbin
Rolf and Daughters
Belgian-raised chef-owner Philip Krajeck’s rigatoni and heritage pork ragu with tomato and SarVecchio Parmigiano-Reggiano could also be one of the best noodles with meat sauce one will ever eat. The handmade pasta at Rolf and Daughters in Nashville is the draw, however every little thing –– from the house-baked bread to the pastured rooster –– is great. Pure wines and pithy-named artisanal cocktails comparable to None of Your Enterprise (rye, amaro, amaretto, lemon, cinnamon) pair effectively with the chef’s shareable plates. The environment is informal: Bar seating and communal tables run down the middle of the restaurant, and personal tables hug the perimeter. Because of a pleasant and educated employees, the service rivals extra formal eating places. It’s no shock that this eatery landed third place on Bon Appetit’s 2013 Greatest New Restaurant in America listing. (Rolf and Daughters, $23-$50 entrees. 700 Taylor St., Nashville. 615-866-9897, www.rolfanddaughters.com)
Credit score: Caleb Chancey
Credit score: Caleb Chancey
Helen
Ranked as one in every of Esquire’s greatest new eating places in America in 2021, Helen in Birmingham, Alabama, is an ode to chef Rob McDaniel’s grandmother and the smoky scorching coals she cooked over. That is the place to unleash your interior carnivore whereas eating on a juicy 22-ounce, 45-day, dry-aged Kansas Metropolis Strip, an 18-ounce prime bone-in ribeye or a lamb T-bone. However there are many choices for vegetarians and a particular dish for vegans, too. You should definitely save room for the braised button mushrooms, celery and blue cheese slaw, and fluffy heat angel biscuits with whipped cane syrup. Set in a two-story, shotgun-style home in downtown Birmingham, the inviting inside is distinguished with art work by native artisans that contributes to a country but stylish eating room and bar. (Helen, $20-$100 entrees. 2013 2nd Ave. N., Birmingham, Alabama. 205-438-7000, www.helenbham.com)
Credit score: Handout
Credit score: Handout
Blue Dot Barbecue
When you gained’t discover any white tablecloths at this cash-only gap within the wall in Pensacola, Florida, you’ll doubtlessly uncover among the best burgers within the state, if not the nation. Helmed by J. Byron Lengthy for practically 40 years, Blue Dot has been a Pensacola landmark since 1946, churning out sloppy barbecue-sauced burgers sans cheese or fries. It’s all in regards to the greasy beef patties, most frequently loved alongside a bag of potato chips and a soda. The kitchen additionally serves ribs, however solely on the second and fourth Saturday of the month. The restricted menu, no-frills décor and counter seating don’t deter the crowds. It’s not unusual for folk to queue across the block earlier than Blue Dot opens and for the joint to promote out of its famed, drippy burgers forward of closing time. (Blue Dot Barbecue, $5.58-$26.88. 310 N. DeVilliers St., Pensacola. 850-432-0644, www.restaurantwebexpert.com/BlueDotBarbecue)