Two Stars for The Luminary; One Star for Polaris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Jenny Turknett reviews The Luminary, giving the brasserie a "very good" rating of two stars. Turknett says Top Chef alum Eli Kirshtein successfully blends classic and contemporary approaches:

Kirshtein, a former contender on "Top Chef: Las Vegas," calls the restaurant an American brasserie, but I'd call it an Atlanta one. The Luminary blends traditional Parisian brasserie style with contemporary Atlanta restaurant design.

Classic recipes like croque monsieur and steak frites are made with local and regional ingredients. Kirshtein puts his own touch on these dishes, but with restraint. In this fusion the Luminary has found just the right tenor for Atlanta's dining scene.

Creative Loafing's Jennifer Zyman gives Polaris, the rotating restaurant atop downtown's Hyatt Regency hotel, one out of four stars. Zyman believes it's better suited for pre-dinner cocktails than an actual meal:

Despite the drawbacks, I'd be happy sitting at Polaris' black and white bar set in front of the revolving backdrop, sipping a barrel-aged Manhattan and curbing my hunger with some of that bacon popcorn or an acceptable spicy crab sushi roll. For now though, just as my visits upstairs as a child were a prelude to my life in Atlanta, a visit to Polaris today is best when treated just as that: a prelude to your evening out rather than a final destination.

CL's Brad Kaplan takes a first look at Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall and says the camp vibe is a success:

Even with its random food influences, Ladybird produces a fun, harmonious experience out of what could have been a cheesy, thematic disaster. There are some minor execution flubs - too much salt here, not enough spice there - but the camping vibe sets a relatively low bar that the kitchen easily surpasses. Ladybird won't necessarily take you back to your days at camp, but it is a place that lets you channel an adventurous, outdoorsy spirit in an urban landscape. Which, come to think of it, sounds a lot like what the Beltline is doing for Atlanta, so kumbaya.

THE ELSEWHERE AND THE BLOGS: Friday Date Night says the food is excellent and the atmosphere is hip at Paces & Vine. Hot Dish Review has a proper barbecue feast at Smokebelly. Bella Vivere likes the food and the decor, but not the service, at Kang Nam in Doraville.