Updating the Eater Heatmap: Where to Eat Right Now

by Sonia Chopra@soniachopra Sep 5, 2013, 9:00am EDT

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by Sonia Chopra@soniachopra Sep 5, 2013, 9:00am EDT

More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? What are the new restaurants? What haven't I heard of? What's everyone talking about? While the Eater 38 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the 'it' places of the moment. Thus, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change periodically to highlight where the food-crazed crowds are flocking. Since this is a spotlight on what's happening right now, we must bid adieu to places that have been around for too long. Therefore, in this edition, we remove Villains, Yum Bunz, and Saltyard, and we welcome Caffe Gio, the newly renovated Sun Dial, and BlueTarp Brewing Co.

Suggestions? Vital omissions? Leave 'em in the comments or email the tipline.

01/03/13: Added: Seven Lamps, Gio's Chicken Amalfitana
02/07/13: Added: General Muir, Monday Night Brewing, La Tagliatella, Woodfire Grill
03/07/13: Added: Chai Pani, KR SteakBar, the Argosy
04/03/13: Added: Paper Plane
05/02/13: Added: BoccaLupo, Villains
06/06/13: Added: Gunshow, King + Duke
07/11/13: Added: Chick-a-Biddy, Saltyard, Umi Sushi, Yum Bunz
08/01/13: Added: Timone's
09/05/13: BlueTarp Brewing Co., Sun Dial, Caffe Gio
· All Eater Atlanta Heatmap Coverage [-EATL-]

BoccaLupo

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BoccaLupo opened quietly in Inman Park in April and is already both a neighborhood favorite and a destination restaurant. Go for the pasta (the black spaghetti and the 20-yolk tagliatelle are popular choices), stay for the patio. They're also doing a $40 pasta tasting if you can't decide what to order.

753 Edgewood Ave, Atlanta, GA 30307

(404) 577-2332

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Caffe Gio

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This new gelateria and panini shop from Giovanni Di Palma is situated behind Antico Pizza and Gio's Chicken Amalfitano. Like all of the ingredients for the Neopolitan-style pizzas at Antico, Di Palma has sourced his gelato straight from Italy. Coming soon: a limoncello bar across the street.

Atlanta, GA

(404) 347-3874

BlueTarp Brewing Co.

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Decatur's newly opened brewery, BlueTarp Brewing Co., is now open for tours and tastings on Saturdays. Get five six-ounce pours and a keepsake glass for $10.

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731 E College Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

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Sun Dial Restaurant

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The revolving restaurant atop the downtown Westin used to have the reputation for being all views. But it reopened last month after an extensive remodel, and not only is the space different, but the food is too: Much of it is sourced locally and the dishes are modern plays on the classics.

210 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 589-7506

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Timone's

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The anticipated third restaurant from Ron Eyester, Timone's, serves up pizza and other dishes inspired by the chef/owner's childhood in Long Island. The pizza's been selling out fast, but that's not a problem: The baked ziti and the house-made sodas in flavors like wild carrot flower cream soda and blackberry are definitely worth a try.

1409 N Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

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Gunshow

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Kevin Gillespie's Gunshow opened in May in Glenwood Park. The format is the first of its kind in Atlanta: You don't order from the menu, you order by taking dishes off of a tray or cart that's passed around (usually) by the chef who cooked the food. The menu changes often and has had everything from pork skin risotto to an In-N-Out-inspired "West Coast" burger so far. Pro tip: The bill adds up quickly, so go with a group.

924 Garrett St SE, Ste C, Atlanta, GA 30316

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Umi Sushi

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MF Sushi's Fuyuhiko Ito and his wife and pastry chef, Lisa, are back with Umi, and they're getting across-the-board positive feedback. Try the black miso cod, agedashi tofu, or Ito's signature dish, the off-the-menu Japanese snapper. There's also foie gras sashimi and, for dessert, green tea souffle. [Photo]

3050 Peachtree Road NE Suite 1, Atlanta, GA 30305

(404) 841-0040

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Chick-a-Biddy

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It's nice to see Atlantic Station host some local dining options. Next time you're there and looking for a healthy meal, check out Chick-a-Biddy, the sister spot to Ansley Mall's Bantam + Biddy. The sides are the standouts here, and the restaurant also serves up "farm fresh" chicken— though only a few dishes are denoted "pasture raised"— as well as smoothies, cocktails, and salads.

264 19th Street NW, Atlanta, GA

(404) 588-1888

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King + Duke

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At King + Duke, find the 24-foot open hearth where much of the cooking is done (by hot chef Joe Schafer, no less), but there's also an outdoor bar that proves to be one of the city's best options for drinking al fresco— as long as you don't mind the Buckhead crowds.