Some of the best sushi you’ll find this side of the Mississippi, much less in Sandy Springs.

Owner Jackie Fukuya-Merkel is no stranger to the business. Her parents ran a highly successful sushi house in town for many years before she decided to do her own thing. And boy has she done it. Bishoku Japanese Restaurant affords Atlanta’s discerning clientele a Japanese owned and operated family-run restaurant serving authentic Japanese dishes, noodles and sakes. The restau- rant is a reflection of owner Jatckie Fukuya-Merkel’s passion for hospitality, fine foods and warm décor. Watch your meal being pre- pared by Japanese Sushi Chefs while seated at the horseshoe shaped sushi bar, or choose cloth covered tables separated by custom built rich wood partitions. Open for both lunch and dinner, discover Bishoku; which translates to “beautiful dining” in Japanese.

Parish Restaurant serves a variety of Southern inspired dishes with modern twists, along- side a classic fully stocked raw bar, six nights

a week.

Guests enter a casual relaxed atmosphere that in- cludes a classic walnut and zinc bar, centered by a raw bar, along with a spacious outdoor dining area. All dishes pull from the Southern cuisines that blend French, Spanish, French Caribbean and African flavors.

Downstairs is our favorite part, however. The day- time café provides fresh salads, sandwiches, baked goods, breakfast and fresh coffee and teas in a ca- sual atmosphere that promotes sustainability with a great neighborhood vibe. Wireless and commu- nity tables make this a very homey little spot to spend time.

"A good cook is like a sorceress who dispenses happiness." Elsa Schiaparelli    

Cyndi Sterne has always had a passion for food. After years of leading wildly popular cooking classes for adults and children alike at the Marcus Jewish Community Center, Cyndi had the inspiration to open her own school and name it after her encouraging father, Hal.  

Now, her class attendees are raving about how much fun they have and how much they learn.  Each class is approximately 3 hours of action packed fun! That includes learning how to prepare 4-5 dishes … then enjoying these dishes and taking home the recipes and your newfound culinary knowledge.  

They also host private events, team building activities and children’s birthday parties. 

Come on ya’ll, get cooking.   

www.HalsKitchen.com 

Variety is the spice of life.  Looking for the real

deal?

Try this little gem offered up by local restaurateur, Ricardo Ullio.  Known for the huge success of his Italian fare at Sotto Sotto and Fritti, Ullio delivers hard with Escorpion, his new foray into Mexico. 

 

800 Peachtree St. NE

Atlanta, GA

678-666-5198

Nothing says delicious like chocolate.  Kristen Hard, founder of Cacao, Atlanta Chocolate Co., has been sharing her love and passion for artisan chocolates with Atlanta and beyond since 2004.  Since then, Cacao has become a forerunner in the world of boutique, hand crafted chocolate creations.  If you saw the movie “Chocolat”, then you’ll understand that now you no longer have to buy the ticket to France to eat such delicacies in your own backyard.   Need we say more?  

312 C North Highland Ave.

Atlanta, GA

866-960-9449

Featured at Taste of the Nation, a benefit for Share Our Strength, Bocado's avacado and bacon deviled eggs are truly sinful and the best way to start any decadent meal at this local favorite.

887 Howell Mill Rd

Atlanta, GA 30318

404-815-1399

The trio that brought homemade breads with such creative names as "Papa Dont' Peach" has created a new popular venue providing comfort food for breakfast, lunch and take-out meals. Sister Wendy, brother Geoff, and wife/sister-in-law Katie, or Team Melkonian, are the owners behind the Breadwinner Cafe and Bakery in Sandy Springs. The cafe offers wonderful breakfast and lunch items, as well as the owners' famous sweet breads. Selling between 30,000 and 40,000 loaves of bread each year, over half of which are during the holiday season, mostly through their mail order business. What a gift!

175 Mount Vernon Hwy NE

Atlanta, GA 30328

404-843-0224

Paces 88 American Bistro invites guests to experience breakfast, lunch and dinner in a setting of gracious hospitality that evolves as the day progresses. At breakfast and lunch, the champagne, taupe and mineral green hues of the restaurant are bathed in natural light from floor- to-ceiling windows that frame views of lush land- scaped gardens. As evening settles in, the sparkle of chandeliers plays off of Venetian plaster and high- lights two murals of Piedmont Park. Elegant ivory upholstery complements the rich wood detailing of the room. The feeling is one of understated opulence and the service is beyond expectation.

If you’ve never had Lebanese or Turkish food, you’re in for a treat.

And if you have, this is the good stuff.

Whether you want to relax with your friends on the patio and smoke a hookah, or bring your en- tire family and enjoy a wholesome family style meal at a very good price, Sultans promises to be something for everyone delivered in a fresh new experience. The buffet is a wonderful way to ex- perience many of the delightful dishes that this

generous proprietor has put together every day of the week. The service is very friendly as are the patrons. Hospitality is the key word here.

We definitely recommend the Lebanese beer as well. A must try for beer drinkers.

Truly about the food and creating a culinary culture of enjoyment and relaxation, Muss & Turners embodies everything that is right with dining out in America today.  From the service to the preparation, their passion is evident.  

They make their own pasta, cut their own fries and simply aim to provide a true artisanal dining experience. The dinner menu changes every 4 weeks to match the seasons.  

Get your grub on.  

Since being named a "Best New Restaurant in America" in 2006 by Esquire, Ecco has become one of Atlanta's, and the Southeast's, most recognized and renowned restaurants. The seasonal European menu tempts with delicious meat and cheese boards, housemade pastas, authentic wood-fired pizzas and mouthwatering desserts. The restaurant also features an adventurous, nationally-recognized wine list representing both boutique and well-known European vinyards with many exclusive selections.

Empire State South takes a modern approach to creating authentic Southern dishes, relying on the beautiful foods of this region. They’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a to-go lunch program, courtyard bocce ball and an extensive coffee bar. It has such a unique aesthetic and warm vibe, that you probably won’t want to leave.

Chef/partner Hugh Acheson is a four-time James Beard Foundation nominee and chef/partner of the lauded Five & Ten and The Na- tional in Athens, GA.

999 Peachtree S.

Atlanta, GA

404-541-1105

New arrival to Atlanta's gastropub scene, Kaleidoscope is anchored by a heavy wooden communal table and the dining area near the bar is always packed with lively crowd. Owner Joey Riley describes his menu as "global comfort food." There's a good bit of Asian influence on Riley's menu and there's also a strong dose of good ol' Southern cooking exemplified by dishes like shrimp 'n' grits and homemade pimento cheese.

1410 Dresden Dr Suite 100

Atlanta, GA 30319

404-474-9600

Local Three is a unique dichotomy of rustic and contemporary. The servers know what they are werving and deliver with professional aplomb. The diverse food menu is built firmly on fresh, local ingredients prepared in a sensible, straigh-forward manner. They believe "People matter most ... We couldn't be happier you're here ... You can't argue with delicious."

3290 Northside Pkwy NW

Atlanta, GA 30327

404-968-2700