Georgia Boy
Restaurant · Atlanta ·
Whimsical tasting menu behind bookcase, playful childhood-inspired dishes
Whimsical tasting menu behind bookcase, playful childhood-inspired dishes
"In the back of the building, Georgia Boy channels Ward’s grandfather and his own upbringing as rare native Atlantans to deliver creative, technique-driven food that still feels like home and storytelling about Southern-grown products. I found the menu intentionally playful and nostalgic: Autumn Leaves (a pile-of-leaves presentation made of local sweet potatoes to evoke playing in fall), Foie Gras Candied Apple (foie gras with an apple-pie–filling center glazed with North Georgia apple cider), Georgia Beef (six different bites representing different Georgia ranchers), Hot Dog Ice Cream (a slaw dog–style ice cream made from Georgia all‑beef hot dogs served with house fermented chow-chow, crème fraîche, sturgeon caviar and a hat from The Varsity), Olive Oil Candles for the bread service, Spring Salad (varied textures with edible flowers and a pollen made from Georgia olive oil), a garden-hose–like Sorbet that moved a diner to tears, a one-bite Tomato Sandwich that tastes like granddad’s tomato sandwich, Vietnamese Chicken and Waffles, and a popular summertime smash burger; overall the experience aims to make guests smile and leave with memorable moments like seasonal theatrical touches (for example an edible snow globe at Christmas)." - Michael He
"Georgia Boy’s 13-course tasting menu is a meal you’ll vividly remember without any help from your camera roll. Their locally inspired dishes (a Varsity-esque hot dog here, a Georgia pollen salad there) change often, but signatures, like the housemade cereal and poached lobster served with a warm banana milk, remain. In case this sounds like a gimmick, those signature dishes and others like the juicy venison tartare garnished with pickled dried cherries prove otherwise. And all the best speakeasy tricks are employed here: there’s no signage (it’s tucked away inside Southern Belle in Poncey-Highland) and there’s a hidden back door, which reveals a front row seat to tweezer-wielding chefs who occasionally disappear in a haze of dry ice." - nina reeder, jacinta howard, juli horsford
"When celebrating a milestone anniversary or a big birthday, you want a meal you’ll remember without help from your camera roll. And Georgia Boy in Poncey-Highland turns a 12-course dinner with eight strangers into an event that’ll make a core memory. It already feels exclusive as reservations fill up quickly. But the speakeasy vibes (there’s no signage, but it’s tucked away inside Southern Belle next to the Plaza Theatre) and a front row seat to the chef’s table adds to the charm. The constantly changing menu is a mix of playful and practical. Fun dishes like sweet potato topped with a savory bacon cotton candy fluff mix with traditional ones like a hearty roasted duck with wild mushrooms and black truffle. It all adds up to a one-of-a-kind dining experience." - nina reeder, juli horsford, demarco williams
"Georgia Boy’s 13-course tasting menu is a meal you’ll vividly remember without any help from your camera roll. The rotating dishes at this Atlanta restaurant are inspired by all things local (think: hot dog ice cream and a Georgia pollen salad). There are always a couple of tasty signatures though, like the housemade cereal and poached lobster served with a warm banana milk. All the best speakeasy tricks are employed here: there’s no signage and there’s a hidden back door, which reveals a front-row seat to tweezer-wielding chefs who occasionally disappear in a haze of dry ice." - anne cruz
"Georgia Boy’s 13-course tasting menu is a meal you’ll vividly remember without any help from your camera roll. Their locally inspired dishes (think: hot dog ice cream that nods to The Varsity and a Georgia pollen salad) change often, but really good signatures, like the housemade cereal and poached lobster served with a warm banana milk, will make a cameo and you'll wonder if lobster cereal can be your new thing And all the best speakeasy tricks are employed here too: there’s no signage (it’s tucked away inside Southern Belle in Poncey-Highland) and there’s a hidden back door, which reveals a front row seat to tweezer-wielding chefs who occasionally disappear in a haze of dry ice." - nina reeder, juli horsford, jacinta howard