Lyla Lila

Southern European Restaurant Lyla Lila Is Open for Pasta and Natural Wine Near the Fox Theatre in Midtown, Atlanta | Eater Atlanta

"Helmed by chef Craig Richards in partnership with Atlanta restaurateur Billy Streck, this Midtown restaurant opened Friday, December 6 on the ground floor of Lilli Midtown one block north of the Fox Theatre. The menu focuses on southern European cooking—Italian and Spanish influences—with seven fresh pastas and risottos (notable items include chicken liver and sweet potato ravioli doppio and a crispy lasagna with duck), seasonal vegetables, and wood-fired, meaty entrees such as rabbit with smoked apple and a whole grilled fish served with roasted broccolini. Richards, whose background includes work with Lidia Bastianich and La Tavola, aims to apply old-world pasta techniques to Georgia ingredients. Beverage director Angela Guthmiller spotlights roughly 50 wines from boutique, family- and female-owned producers (biodynamic, natural, pétillant naturel, and skin-contact selections alongside old-world classics), while cocktails and syrups follow a sustainability theme by using cordials made from unused menu ingredients. The space, designed by Smith Hanes Studio, comprises a dimly lit bar room, a main dining room, a 26-seat private dining room, and a 40-seat wraparound patio. The restaurant is currently awaiting its liquor license and is accessible via MARTA (three blocks northeast of the North Avenue station and on bus route #40 at Peachtree and 3rd); valet and paid parking are available. Hours are Sunday–Thursday 5 p.m.–10 p.m. and Friday–Saturday 5 p.m.–11 p.m., with lunch and brunch planned to begin in 2020." - Beth McKibben