Southern Belle

"With its low-key cozy vibes, great soundtrack, and menu of “authentically Atlanta” dishes from chef Joey Ward, Southern Belle is refined without being pretentious. It’s how Atlantans like to dine. Think dishes such as roasted pork belly with sweet potato macaire, Dr. Pepper, braised prunes and savory pecan granola. Adding a little theater to date night, some cocktails are even prepared table side from a Delta beverage cart, like the Tears in the Club, made with tequila, Campari, grapefruit and sweet vermouth. For a special night, get reservations for the restaurant’s tasting menu at Georgia Boy, located inside the kitchen and hidden behind a bookshelf. The menu is filled with whimsical, seasonal delights from Ward." - Eater Staff

"Pair Joey Ward’s food at Southern Belle with low- and zero-proof drinks like the earthy and tropical At Dusk or Dawn, made with Lyre’s “tequila,” oat and coconut milk, matcha, and Earl Grey." - Laura Scholz, Molly Harris

"A great soundtrack and a menu filled with “authentically Atlanta” dishes set the mood at chef Joey Ward’s Poncey-Highland restaurant, Southern Belle, which is refined without being pretentious. This is how Atlantans like to dine, and Ward leans into it. Expect creative dishes such as the cornmeal fried Carolina trout with lemon grits and marinated tomatoes. Adding a bit of theater to dinner, some cocktails are prepared table side from a Delta beverage cart, complete with smoky magic and garnished with a Biscoff cookie. For people seeking nonalcoholic options, Southern Belle’s zero-proof cocktails are hard to beat. For a truly spectacular dining experience from Ward and his team, make a reservation at Georgia Boy — the intimate tasting menu restaurant hidden behind a bookcase in the back of Southern Belle. Reservations encouraged." - Eater Staff

"Southern Belle (from the same team as Georgia Boy) is a place every Atlantan should check out at least once. It sits next door to the Plaza Theatre and has a charming dining space that looks like a setting to some old-school film playing at the nearby theater. But if classic is the design genre, things get avant-garde in the kitchen with fun Southern fusions like the chicken and peanut waffles with a sweet nuoc cham syrup. Most of the menu is optimal for sharing—get the excellent mussels drenched in a hearty Indian butter chicken sauce and served with soft garlic naan. And an old Delta drink cart makes the rounds whipping up tableside cocktails, proving this borderline fine dining experience doesn’t take things too seriously. " - juli horsford

"It's fitting that this sits next to Ponce's artsy Plaza Theatre since Southern Belle feels like a Wes Anderson film in restaurant form—from its quirky vintage tea room aesthetic to its satisfying colorful spins on Southern menu classics. There's a blue bar neon sign that says “Bless Your Heart," and we'll gladly accept those blessings as an order of crispy fried chicken and peanut waffles with a sweet nuoc cham syrup. And we'll count it all joy when the Delta drink cart rolls to our table to make whiskey cocktails with sweet potato syrup. Just be sure to bring someone you actually like here because the menu mainly features shareables that are so rich they’re hard to finish solo. A full bowl of mussels drenched in a hearty butter chicken sauce served with garlic naan is really meant to be shared." - Juli Horsford