Sandy Springs, one of the most affluent zip codes in the country, has really stepped up the dining scene with fantastic restaurants to satisfy any culinary craving. No matter what kind of food you are in the mood for, Sandy Springs, Atlanta suburb has a cuisine to meet your cravings. Check out this list of the best restaurants in Sandy Springs!
Banana Leaf
If you are craving Thai, stopping by Banana Leaf is a must. Wet your whistle with the Lemongrass Margarita infused with Thai basil. The exotic decor makes for an excellent date night spot. Though there are some vegan options if you or your date is vegan, there are plenty of seafood dishes too. Fried spring rolls and Thai dumplings are a terrific way to start your meal. Must try signature entrees are the Bangkok Bay with shrimp, scallops, calamari and eggplant. Another, the Thai-tanic a spicy Snapper with a slightly thick fragrant sauce. Banana Leaf website
Casi Cielo
Tucked away on Roswell Road, you may miss the Oaxacan restaurant as there is no bright signage. But the secret’s out, as the popular spot was booming on a Thursday night (#ThursdayisthenewFriday) and were not accommodating walk-ins. As you enter, you’ll see some of their most popular bottles of tequila and mezcal lining the entry. Mezcal flights are a specialty of the restaurants with 15 types of the smoky liquor available ranging in price from $20 – $60. These are three – one-ounce pours served with orange slices and grasshopper salt. If you’d prefer a mezcal cocktail get the Paloma Negra, however I found the La Llorona with tequila and a slightly spicy chili rim more enjoyable.
Would you try a ceviche-like dish with a squid ink base? If so, order the Tiradito, a Hamachi fish with avocado and pickled onions. Note: it’s only available Thursdays – Sundays. I told you Thursday was the new Friday, didn’t I?
A unique offering is the Tiayuditas, or tostadas, sliced at your table, which make for a nice app for 2 to share. Get the steak or tuna. Though chicken tacos may not be the first thing that comes to mind at an upscale Mexican restaurant, you better believe they are tasty here. Plus, if you are dining with non-adventurous eaters, this is a safe option that will still impress. Served with rice and beans, get a side of plantains to round out the meal. A highlight is the Red Snapper, charcoal grilled and marinated with salsa macha and chile guajillo. Protip: go on a Monday or Wednesday when the restaurant isn’t super crowded for easy parking and no wait. You’ll still need a reservation though which you can book on Open Table. https://casicieloatl.com/
Kid Cashew
Open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, Kid Cashew may be one of the best all-around values when it comes to tasty food. They have daily specials which include $7 craft cocktails on Thursdays, and $4 Mimosas and $7 Bloody Mary’s during weekend brunch. Try the “You Talkin’ to Me” tequila-based cocktail. On weekdays pick 2 hearty lunch items for under $13. At dinner starters like the Octopus or Meatballs in a peppercorn gravy are a must to start, and should be rounded out with the hummus.
For entrees, you can’t go wrong with the rotisserie chicken which gets a 48-hour brine. However, the pork chop (which also gets the 48-hour brine) is reminiscent of a thick cut of bacon and is served with extra creamy white beans. Of course, you can sub another side – mac and cheese is superb as are the brussels. Baklava for dessert is a no brainer. Kid Cashew website.
NoriFish
With fish flown in daily from Japan, this a must-visit for any sushi lover in the area. There are several premium Sakes to choose from, but if cocktails are more your thing, get the “Fool Me Once”, a Japanese Gin / passionfruit combo. It is a well-balanced dink to kick off your Omakase or sushi experience. Pictured below is a Japanese Sake exclusive to Nori Fish.
I’d recommend sitting at the sushi bar and ordering the Omakase with your dining companion. Chose from a regular or premium Omakase. Some highlights are the Kinmedia, a golden snapper with pickled wasabi. The Kanpachi with blood vinaigrette as well as the Chu-Toro quail egg toast. There’s even an A5 Wagyu on the premium tasting menu.
Though there are many courses, one thing that is unique about this Omakase experience is that your tastings come out in multiples, so rather than having one piece of sushi, over and over, you will likely have a trio of items, so you aren’t spending a lot of time waiting on your next course.
Another bonus is that parking is free in the small deck attached. NoriFish website
Pisco Latin Kitchen
A bit of newcomer to Sandy Springs, you’ll want to bring a group of friends, as the menu has many tempting options. Even the cocktail list is so comprehensive it will be hard to pick a one. While you should try the namesake drink, a Pisco Sour, the official drink of Peru, if you enjoy mezcal, you owe it to yourself to give one of the Mezcal drinks a try. We recommend the Rosa Negra, the perfect mix of the smoky Mezcal and grapefruit.
Try one of the restaurant’s signature ceviches and their fresh made guac. For something more unique order the Tostones Rellenos, a friend plantain which is mashed and topped with cheese, pico de gallo topped with shrimp or beef. Specialties like the whole fried Snapper and the surf and turf which a Churrasco steak topped with Chimichurri and garlic shrimp are perfectly cooked signature entrees to try.
Sunnyside Pizzeria
This casual Sandy Springs pizza spot isn’t huge, so you may find it difficult to get a table at peak dining times. The Hot Honey Char with spicy pepperoni has the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. For an even more spicy get the Mexicana pizza made with chorizo and a house made cilantro lime sauce. There’s Tiramisu on the dessert menu but the Tiramisu gelato is better. Of course, there are other tasty favors like Pistachio, Wild Berry and Ricotta.
The Chapter Room
Forget everything you know about Taco Mac. Though the Georgia Chapter Room is owned by and located in the basement of the Sandy Springs Taco Mac, the similarities end there. For starters, the quasi-secret spot has minimal signage, you’ll have to look for it beneath the Taco Mac. Hint: head down the ramp and follow the small sign with a monkey on it. Knock at the door and you’ll be let inside an intimate space that bears no resemblance to the loud, sports bar-like atmosphere above it. Inside you’ll find dark wood and plush seating along with several booths.
With about a dozen beers on draft, they range from Belgian Tripels to IPAs and there’s even a fruit beer brewed with not only mangos but habaneros as well. Be careful as these are mostly high gravity beers with ABV amounts averaging 8 percent or higher.
What would a Taco Mac owned establishment be without wings? These wings are beer-brined and you can get them in mild, medium or hot. Visit the Facebook page.
The Select
Located in the City Springs center, The Select is consistently listed as one of the most beautifully decorated restaurants in the city. The lovely flowers that hang from the ceiling greet you almost immediately as you walk through the front door. If you want to gaze at this dazzling feature during your meal, ask to sit in the room adjacent to the bar, which has its own Parisian aesthetic with black and white tile floors and a floral decor of its own.
Try the super trendy cocktail, the Dragonbird (pictured above), with lemongrass vodka served in a bird shaped glass. For apps, start with the Lobster Arancini and Peruvian Ceviche (pictured above). The best entree on the menu is the melt-in-your-mouth Seabass. Served over black rice, there’s a faint orange miso sauce that adorns it. Sticky toffee pudding is a must for dessert.
Protip: If you’d prefer a more romantic and quiet evening, skip Thursday nights as the restaurant’s bar turns into a live music hot spot. The Select website.
Tre Vele
Are you looking for a beautiful Italian restaurant for date night in Sandy Springs, Atlanta? If you want a spot that checks all the boxes for an excellent Italian restaurant with the best pizzas, pastas and lovely Italian dishes, Tre Vele in Sandy Springs is it. This ultimate date night Italian restaurants has house made pastas, delicious pizzas, and a killer bar.
Watch the video on Tre Vele here
Plus, the spot features an Italian market so you can get pasta to go and make it at home. Don’t miss out on Tre Vele Italian restaurant in Sandy Springs, Atlanta for a fantastic meal. Tre Vele website
Yalda
The Longest Night cocktail (Vodka based) with Pomegranate syrup and orange bitters is a well-balanced cocktail perfect to kick off the evening. If you are even more adventurous go with the Mitra’s Habibi (gin based) with saffron bitters and sumac syrup.
Start with the spreads tasting (choose 3) – I recommend the hummus, smoked eggplant (Mizra Ghasemi) and fried eggplant (Kashk Bademjoon). While lamb is a perennial favorite at any Persian restaurant, the trout with fava and dill rice is a standout. A lamb shank or lamb kabob is top choice too.
Parking is limited in the shopping center and quite scarce on weekends, so I’d plan to visit during the week. It gets crowded on most nights, so reservations are highly recommended. Visit the Yalda website.
Under the Cork Tree
Located in the heart of Sandy Springs at the Prado, guests have 3 dining areas to choose from: the patio for warm evenings, the high tops for grabbing a drink or snack during happy hour and of course the main dining area complete with comfy leather seating, dark woods and a view of the busy kitchen.
Watch the Under the Cork Tree video here.
Great for sharing are the oysters and meats and cheeses. Indulge in the Jamon Iberico, aged for 4 years. Heartier options like the bacon wrapped dates, Octopus with chorizo and meatballs are solid choices too. Under the Cork Tree website.
Zafron (Persian dining never tasted so good as you find at this Sandy Springs spot)
Iranian born chef, Peter Teimori opened Zafron (Farsi for Saffron) in late 2014. It is thriving, especially with the Jewish community in Atlanta. Peter, with a degree in food science worked his way up in the Ritz-Carlton hotels and ended up opening 57 hotels across the world. He’s much more interested in sharing the cuisine he grew up with, with his customers. These include making Mirza Ghasemi, a smokey rich eggplant dish or his cardamom ice cream which uses salep, an orchid found only in the Middle East. It is ground into a powder that results in a stretchy and gummy texture that is divine.
Not only is there a really beautiful private room at Zafron in Sandy Springs for adult dinner birthday parties, but the design of the restaurant is gorgeous with bright copper topped tables (Teimori build these himself) and curved booths. Plus, there’s a sparkling corked ceiling that disguises itself as decor but keeps noise level low, so you can still enjoy conversations.
*****You might also want to check out the Best Restaurants in Alpharetta / Forsyth*****
Southern Bistro (traditional southern foods with a fun twist in Sandy Springs)
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*****You might also want to check out the Best Restaurants in Alpharetta / Forsyth*****
Flower Child in Sandy Springs
If healthy eating is your new mantra, you don’t have to be slave to home cooking to eat healthy. Just head over to Flower Child in Sandy Springs and partake in their super healthy salads, bowls, soups and wraps. I’ve had items like the Vietnamese crunch salad with cabbage and quinoa and added a protein such as shrimp for a tasty yet guilt free option. The salads at Flower Child are HUGE, so I’d recommend getting an appetizer (their apps are tiny) to share and then get a salad or bowl. My favorite app is the tomato toast with a creamy goat cheese base, pesto and then a ripe tomato on top. The entire thing is just one piece of toast so, it is indulgent but not enough to make you feel any guilt. It is pricey at over $7, so your best bet is a salad or bowl (around $15 when you add protein) and a starter to share. Wine, beer and sangria are available for around eight
So which of these mouth-watering Sandy Springs restaurants will you try first?
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Protip: lots of families love eating here, so this is not the place for quiet solitude.