Two Stars for Castleberry Hill's Smoke Ring and More

The AJC's Jenny Turknett, from behind the paywall, bestows 2 stars upon new Castleberry Hill barbecue spot Smoke Ring. Though she dislikes the food's branding as "gastro'cue," she had more love for the food itself, particularly side dishes like the corn with chipotle mayonnaise and Brunswick stew, as well as the quartet of housemade sauces. Even if the barbecue takes a backseat to other offerings, it's still what the restaurant is all about: "Smoke Ring is a lofty, highly styled and carefully rustic space designed to showcase a new side of barbecue."

THE ELSEWHERE AND THE BLOGS: Marie, Let's Eat! visits Tasty China in Marietta twice in one week, and also enjoys "some of the best fried chicken in the city" at Roswell's Table & Main. ATL Food Snob makes a return to Rumi's Kitchen, where the new space impressed and the food was on point. Elsewhere, Atlanta Restaurant Blog praises both the cocktails and the food at Poor Calvin's, Food Wolf Blog tracks down The Fry Guy food truck, Crush Crave brunches at Ink & Elm in Emory Village, Review Atlanta has an "incredible" first visit to bakery La Calavera, and Hunger Pangs in Atlanta raves about Lure.