The 12 Best Atlanta Chefs To Follow

The 12 Best Atlanta Chefs To Follow


Food & Drink, Guides,

The 12 Best Atlanta Chefs To Follow

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Food & Drink, Guides,

The 12 Best Atlanta Chefs To Follow

The 12 Best Atlanta Chefs To Follow

Food & Drink, Guides,

The 12 Best Atlanta Chefs To Follow

Published By:   •   May 10, 2024

The 12 Best Atlanta Chefs To Follow

Published By:

May 10, 2024

Food & Drink, Guides,


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Whether you are in search of your new go-to dining spot or hope to level up your cooking game, these Atlanta chefs are ones to follow for major food inspo.

Banks White

The executive chef for Southern Proper Hospitality Group (Gypsy Kitchen, The Southern Gentleman, The Blind Pig and Tin Lizzy’s, to name a few) incorporates culinary influences from across the globe into each dish he prepares. Peruse this Texas-born chef’s Insta for exquisite plating, towering smash burgers and famed menu items from some of Atlanta’s favorite dining spots.

Christopher Grossman

The Chastain’s executive chef, Christopher Grossman, has spent his career perfecting the art of Southern cooking—and all of his culinary creations look practically too good to eat. Take a glimpse at some of his latest works, like crispy trout and gribiche, pepper steak and oysters Rockafeller.

Claudia Martinez

The face behind culinary masterpieces like chocolate passionfruit cheesecake, guava Meyer lemon bars and espresso vanilla mousse is one to follow for major sweet treat inspo. The Miller Union and Café Claudia pastry chef knows how to make every dish look like a work of art.

Deborah VanTrece

James Beard Award-nominated executive chef and restaurateur Deborah VanTrece has garnered acclaim near and far for her work at restaurant concepts Twisted Soul Cookhouse and Oreatha’s at The Point. Stay up-to-date on her latest comfort food favorites like Southern vegetable Biryani, turkey leg osso bucco, pea and carrot risotto, smoked pork tenderloin lomo saltado and more.

Ford Fry

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Atlanta-based chef and restauranteur Ford Fry (Superica, The Optimist, Bar Blanc, Little Sparrow, the list goes on) aims to strike a chord with each customer he serves and his inspired meals do nothing short of impress each and every time. Get your fix of food inspiration with Fry’s latest recipes like caviar “spiked” brown butter béarnaise sauced fries, wood-grilled lamb and “steakhouse-style” burgers.

Freddy Money

This Michelin-starred chef is known for curating imaginative, decadent dishes at restaurants like Atlas, The Garden Room and Nami. Get a sneak peek at extravagantly plated menu staples like kombucha honey, caviar “confetti,” smoked ricotta angolotti and scallop umami.

Kevin “Red Beard” Gillespie

Nàdair and Gunshow’s award-winning owner and chef Kevin “Red Beard” Gillespie can truly whip up just about anything, from Japanese A4 Wagyu to his grandmother’s famous warm banana pudding. The Georgia native is an everlasting Bravo Top Chef “Fan Favorite,” a GRACE Innovator Award recipient and a James Beard Foundation Award finalist, among many other accolades.

Matt Marcus

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With more than 25 years of experience, executive chef of The Woodall Matt Marcus is passionate about cultivating meals with sustainable, ethically sourced ingredients—from Chappan Kadu squash custard with Champagne-elderflower geleé to truffle ponzu ceviche.

Palak Patel

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Celebrity chef Palak Patel has been featured on Food Network's Chopped and Bobby Flay, Atlanta talk show Today Food and is the author of her newly released cookbook, “Food Is Love.” Keep up-to-date with chef Patel to get the inside scoop on her favorite mom-approved, plant-based recipes, like chili cheese toast, tangy cashews with curry leaves and beet salad.

Ronald Hsu & Aaron Phillips

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Chef-owner Ronald Hsu and chef-partner Aaron Phillips bring inspired, high-caliber dishes to the plates of Lazy Betty diners, like perigold truffle agnolotti, poached Icelandic cod and striped bass with carrot Champagne emulsion, to name a few. Visit their socials to get a bird’s-eye view of the Midtown mainstay’s new arrivals and to source serious inspo for your next night out.

Scotley Innis

As the owner of Scotch Yard, the co-owner of Aliya and Continent’s Atlanta and Brooklyn locations and the executive chef of The Lions, Hell’s Kitchen alum Scotley Innis is a culinary savant who seamlessly blends Southern and Caribbean-inspired flavors into each dish he makes. Scroll through Innis’ most popular masterpieces, like jerk tomahawk ribeye steak, Senegalese red pepper pomodoro tomato broth and brown stew lamb shank with cassava au gratin.

Steven Herman

The executive chef of Haven Restaurant and Bar, Valenza, Vero Pizzeria and Arnettes Chop Shop, Steven Herman, serves up some of the tastiest dishes in the city. Channel your inner seafood lover and look at chef Herman’s latest creations—from crawfish boils to juicy prime rib.

See also: The 9 Best Tasting Menus in Atlanta

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