As is the tradition at Eater, our closeout of the year is a survey of friends, industry types, and bloggers. We've already covered the 2013's restaurant standbys. Now it's time for best newcomers.
The General Muir. [Photo: Alex Lassiter]
Q: What are the top restaurant newcomers of 2013?
Brad Kaplan, Creative Loafing and Thirsty South:
Gunshow and The General Muir. Two of my favorites meals of the year came at the refreshingly maverick Gunshow, but The General Muir is simply doing such an array of interesting and well executed things - from coffee to cheesecake to wonderful riffs on Israeli veggie dishes.
Grant Goggans, Marie, Let's Eat:
I'm going to go with Pallookaville Fine Foods in Avondale Estates, because there's simply nothing else like it. Jim Stacy has assembled a really terrific staff and everybody in his crew seems devoted to having a great time, and doing something unique, wonderful, and occasionally a little bit bizarre.
John Mishler, Eater Atlanta contributor
BoccaLupo and Gunshow.
Beth McKibben, Twisted South Magazine food editor:
The General Muir. I love what Jen, Ben and Todd have done with this concept. Also, the best cheesecake in Atlanta, hands down!
Jennifer Maley, Eater Atlanta contributor:
Umi. Delicate and stunning.
Bob Townsend, Atlanta Journal Constitution:
Gunshow. Whether you love it or it leaves you scratching your head, it is and will be important because Kevin Gillespie had the talent and audacity to try something totally new. A recent no reservations tweak called the "Kitchen Counter" was a good idea and I'm betting there will be more tweaks in 2014. Maybe turn down the lights?
Christiane Lauterbach, Atlanta Magazine and Knife & Fork:
Kimball House, for sure
Jimmy Sobeck, Eat It, Atlanta:
BoccaLupo
Sonia Chopra, Eater Atlanta editor:
I'm going with BoccaLupo. The food is consistently on point and there's a great, rotating selection of vegetarian entrees, which is not always the case at the top restaurants in this city.
John Kessler, Atlanta Journal Constitution
I'd go with Gunshow. The chefs make only the cool dishes they want to, and the public lines up for it. Its pioneering service style isn't perfect but certainly looks like a blueprint for the future.
Austin Louis Ray, writer:
I was—perhaps a little too—excited in March when The Argosy opened. East Atlanta is my favorite part of town, and it's needed an establishment like this for a while. After a couple so-so visits, I found myself falling in love with this place. The interior is beyond stunning, the food is solid-to-excellent (the plancha burger is one of the best hamburgers in town), the interesting beer selection rotates quickly, and the staff is a goddamn delight. Best of all, they're committed to improvement. It feels like every time I go there, they've changed something, however small, for the better. Imagine how great The Argosy will be like in another year.
Laura Scholz, Eater Atlanta contributor:
The General Muir, no question. I live for that pastry basket.
Chris Watkins, Eat Drink Repeat:
King + Duke
Jennifer Zyman, Creative Loafing:
The General Muir
· All Year in Eater 2013 Coverage [-EATL-]
