Two Stars for The Luminary, South Main Kitchen

In Atlanta Magazine, Susan Rebecca Wright awards Eli Kirshtein's The Luminary two of four stars. Wright says Kirshtein's blend of Southern and French is very good.

His duck leg confit, propped on lentils du Puy, is an homage to the classic, though I yearned for something more acidic to counter the richness of the meat and was put off by the garnish of hard cubes of carrots. But I'd return weekly for Kirshtein's steak frites-rosy slices of meat flecked with fleur de sel, gilded with flavored butter, all lemony and herbaceous, and accompanied by killer fries-thin, hot, and crispy.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Jenny Turknett reviews South Main Kitchen and gives two of four stars. Turknett praises the restaurant as a much-needed destination for Alpharetta.

Try items like the red snapper, topped with an orange salsa and a tiny twirl of blood-orange sauce contrasting the well-salted, expertly crisped skin. Stone's approach mostly hits the mark, only occasionally straying into the no-go Candyland. For example, the scallops, engulfed in a syrupy blood-orange glaze and served with a sweet-scented carrot puree, could stand a little reworking.

I predict that we'll continue to see the restaurant scene come alive in downtown historic Alpharetta. The locals are already sweet on South Main Kitchen. As they should be.

THE ELSEWHERE AND THE BLOGS: Burgers, Barbecue and Everything Else recommends lunch at Victory Sandwich Bar. Bella Vivere dines on "divine and masterfully prepared" entrees at Gypsy Kitchen. Fried Chicken Lips isn't impressed by Industry Tavern. Friday Date Night has a fun meal at Tin Can Fish House, but says to avoid the soft shell crab. Marie, Let's Eat! finds the spread at Viceroy Royal Indian Dining in Dunwoody to be "completely delicious." Hot Dish Review wonders if Ribaltacan challenge Atlanta's heavy hitters on the pizza scene.