Atlanta’s Biggest Dining Surprises of 2016

Eater's year-end survey continues. We've already touched on the best restaurant standbys and top newcomers. Now it's time to discuss what made Atlanta's restaurant experts pause in 2016.

Angela Hansberger, Creative Loafing contributor

How mercurial the scene is.

That a restaurant would change its name to Taco Cowboy.

That I would go to Revival just for a side order of green tomato casserole.

Chef Jeffrey Wall leaving Kimball House. He is missed but will no doubt kick ass in Colorado.

Brad Kaplan, Thirsty South founder and Creative Loafing contributor

The Federal bringing Shaun Doty and Lance Gummere back into the kitchen.

Beth McKibben, Eater Atlanta contributor

Jason Liang of Brush Sushi continues to delight and surprise me with the beautiful dishes he creates. He's made me fall in love again with sushi and the art of the omakase in ways I never expected.

Chris Fuhrmeister, Eater Atlanta editor

A couple of big moves grabbed my attention this year. Anne Quatrano’s plans to take Star Provisions and Bacchanalia into a brand-new building will surely benefit both the market and restaurant, but I’ll be sorry to see the resulting shutter of Little Bacch. I think O4W Pizza’s departure from Old Fourth Ward to Duluth stunned every ITP diner who had fallen in love with the pizzeria’s Grandma Pie.

• All Year in Eater Coverage [EATL]