Dinner & Drinks

Atlanta Braves’ baseball is finally here and the crew at RA Sushi is bringing back a fan-favorite to help ring in the new season. The Tomahawk Chop Roll features eight pieces of spicy lobster made with avocado and fresh cucumber, all wrapped in white rice and seaweed. It’s topped with tasty tuna tataki, red beet tempura bits, and a light drizzle of wasabi aioli, and is served with a rich tataki dipping sauce.

For years, Fadó Irish Pub has offered Atlanta patrons the complete pub experience: hearty Irish dishes, pints of strong beer and a friendly ambiance inspired by Celtic culture. While traditional menu favorites aren’t going anywhere, Fadó is serving up a new assortment of lighter, sharable snacks perfect for dates or small groups. Want a bite or two to nibble on while enjoying a few pints of Guinness? Fadó has you covered.

Bantam + Biddy, located in Ansley Mall shopping center, blends slow southern cooking with casual, quick service. The result: fast gourmet food – just the ticket for casual first dates or drinks and snacks.

K and I dined a week or so after Bantam & Biddy opened and ordered at the counter. The experience was a tad awkward. We weren’t sure where to go or what to do. Now, the restaurant offers table service for which Date Nighter’s are grateful. Counter ordering feels too informal for an evening date with someone new.

Ammazza, located in Old Fourth Ward, is a new Italian Neapolitan-style eatery that stays open late, until midnight Monday through Thursday and 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Perfect for late-night cravings. My sister and I were eager to see what the restaurant has to offer.

If you like sushi, you know RA Sushi. If you've enjoyed a meal at RA, you'll enjoy another. It's just that good.

To elevate your sushi + dating experience, RA recently spruced up their dinner and drink menus with new creations from Chef Tai Obata.

New additions include Black Pepper Teriyaki Asian Chicken Wings, Bonfire Shrimp, Drunken Black Mussels, "RA"ckin' Shrimp and Garlic Edamame.

JCT Kitchen remains one of my favorite restaurants, so I expected nothing less than perfection from The Optimist, Chef Ford Fry’s newest dining concept. The seafood restaurant exceeded my expectations.

My new favorite Italian restaurant is Cucina Asellina located in the 12th & Midtown development on Peachtree Street. The high-top tables. The stuffed olives. The high-energy music. The prosciutto flatbread. The high ceiling. The flavor-rich pasta. So many reasons to return to Cucina Asellina time and again, and return I have several times in the few short weeks since the restaurant opened.

New restaurants open in Atlanta regularly; however, many of these new hot spots are not kid-friendly. Chuy’s at Perimeter is an exception. Chuy’s serves authentic Tex-Mex cuisine in a fun, casual atmosphere, perfect for dates with your significant other and the kids.

Long time Oprah fans, we considered ourselves remiss to not dine at Chef Art Smith’s Atlanta restaurant, Southern Art and Bourbon Bar, as soon as possible. Located in Buckhead’s Intercontinental Hotel, Southern Art boasts a menu filled with southern fare such as Georgia White Shrimp and Grits, plus an artisan ham bar and a dessert table. As if those aren’t compelling enough, Bourbon Bar features more than 70 bourbon offerings.

A mainstay in New York City, Miami and Los Angeles, STK has quite a following. The restaurant’s recent Atlanta opening created a stir in the trendsetting foodie community. Set in the new 12th and Midtown building on Peachtree Street, even its location is buzz-worthy. A “feminine steakhouse” it’s touted. As you can imagine, my expectations were high.