✅ Vote: Best New Restaurants

Table Talk Readers Choice Best New Restaurants Oct Happy Tuesday and welcome to the table In nowadays s Family Meal I m discussing how the Rough Draft dining club is working to compile the Best New Restaurants of This year we re also giving readers a chance to weigh in on the new restaurants they think deserve top marks for Plus I tell you why Zen Tea in Chamblee is my go-to alternative to a coffee shop And Rough Draft Dining Reporter Sarra Sedghi shares a recipe for the French onion soup at McKendrick s Steak House in Dunwoody Cheers Beth Experience modern sophistication in this stunning Midtown residence listed with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby s International Realty Priced at million the condo features -foot ceilings panoramic city views a chef s kitchen a spa-inspired primary bathroom smart home equipment four parking spaces and access to resort-style amenities SPONSOR MESSAGE How to Vote for Atlanta sBest New Restaurants of Photo by Andrew Thomas Lee Gene s Best New Restaurant Not only is it Michelin season again but we re fast approaching Best New Restaurants season in Atlanta It s the time of year when publications like Rough Draft present awards to new restaurants bringing something special to the local food scene New restaurants often reflect our present-day communities and show us where Atlanta s food scene is headed whether that s fresh perspectives on familiar cuisines or spotlighting underrepresented cultures on menus Particular new restaurants look to shake up traditional organization models like fast casual and fine dining becoming food and operations trendsetters Sarra and I have spent the last year dining at dozens of new restaurants across Metro Atlanta To compile our list final decisions are based on specific criteria such as creative use of ingredients consistency of food and utility over multiple visits and unique characteristics like zero-waste practices or clever beverage programs setting certain new restaurants apart from others While we re currently working to finalize the list we want to also give readers a chance to weigh in on the new restaurants they believe deserve top marks for Enter Rough Draft s Readers Choice Awards Participation is as simple as filling out a form to vote for your favorite new restaurant Just like Rough Draft s list new restaurants in contention for Readers Choice opened between Oct and Oct New restaurants must reside within Rough Draft s major coverage areas including the cities of Atlanta Brookhaven Tucker Sandy Springs and Dunwoody We ve provided space to fill in your favorite restaurant for each city category along with a space for new restaurants residing in adjacent communities within greater Metro Atlanta Think Roswell Decatur Marietta Jonesboro Duluth Peachtree City etc We ll collect reader responses through Nov and announce the Rough Draft and Readers Choice winners during the first week of December Click here to vote for the Best New Restaurants of Need a refresher on the restaurant openings from the past year Check out each month s major restaurant openings below OCTOBER openings SEPTEMBER openings AUGUST openings JULY openings JUNE openings MAY openings APRIL openings MARCH openings FEBRUARY openings JANUARY openings DECEMBER openings NOVEMBER openings Hilltop Bottle Shop Satisfies Sandy Springs Society SPONSORED BY HILLTOP BOTTLE SHOP Located at Roswell Road Hilltop Bottle Shop offers an unmatched selection of curated wines rare whiskeys and a wide range of beers from everyday sips to local favorites Guests can shop in-store or online with delivery available Hilltop also hosts tastings led by knowledgeable beverage partners alongside the Hilltop staff and features a growing party goods section Keeping it local Owner Brian Hicks and partner David Abes of DASH Hospitality Group grew up and live in the Sandy Springs Dunwoody district The unit provides quality customer amenity and options for the entire public The Move Tea and Cream at Zen Tea Photo by Zen Tea When I need to unwind with a cup of tea not in my house I invariably end up at Zen Tea in Chamblee Here I can sip tea and indulge in a scone or two while quietly reading or working Tea houses like Zen are nice alternatives to coffee shops which sometimes are too noisy and distracting for me At Zen I can pop in for a cup of almond oolong or White Silk Earl Grey and a scone without much trouble Better still Zen Tea is an easy walk from the Chamblee MARTA station But the real move at Zen is the tea and cream for one which comes with a -ounce pot of tea and three seasonal scones accompanied by lemon curd preserves honey and fresh clotted cream For scones I m association cream on bottom jam or lemon curd on top With more than teas to choose from at Zen it can feel overwhelming But don t fret Zen staff members are happy to answer questions and the menu breaks down teas into categories including specific blends and decaf versus caffeinated Take note bulk of the seating is outside on the covered patio Recipe French Onion SoupFrom McKendrick s Steak House Photo by McKendrick s Steak House This week we re sharing a French onion soup recipe from McKendrick s Steak House in Dunwoody The French onion soup is one of McKendrick s the greater part popular appetizers French Onion Soup has reliably been a steakhouse classic revealed Anthony Casiello operating partner of McKendrick s Its origins go back to France where workers made it with simple ingredients caramelized onions and rich broth for something hearty and satisfying You can source greater part of the ingredients at a grocery store but McKendrick s executive chef Brent Ross recommends going to a local farmers arena or places like Buford Highway Farmers Field or Your Dekalb Farmers Territory And you can also use whatever bread you have at home instead of purchasing a baguette While McKendrick s makes the veal jus in-house you can find jus at grocery stores or farmers markets However you can also substitute beef stock fortified with beef bouillon or add a little extra wine and let it reduce to intensify the flavor Ross declared If you ve never made French onion soup before Ross has one rule Be person when caramelizing those onions It takes time to develop the flavors and that is where the magic happens he stated Yields around quarts to servings Ingredients lb unsalted butter lbs onions julienned yellow preferably cup red wine such as Burgundy or Cabernet gallon veal jus gallon chicken stock Tbsp Dried thyme Tbsp Kosher salt Tbsp coarse ground black pepper cup port wine bay leaves baguette Shredded gruyere cheese Sliced Swiss cheese Directions Preheat a large pot over medium-high heat Add butter and onions Saut until well caramelized Add red wine and cook until almost dry reduced about of its size Add in the jus and stock Bring to a simmer Add salt pepper thyme and bay leaf and cook for minutes Add port Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for minutes While soup is cooking slice baguette into -inch thick slices to make croutons Cook baguette slices at degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown about to minutes Portion soup into an oven-safe bowl or dish Place two croutons on top of soup building a raft for the cheese Place two slices of Swiss cheese on top of croutons Top with a sparse ounces of shredded gruyere Transfer bowl s to oven Broil until cheese is golden brown about to minutes Remove from oven and let cool before serving Atlanta the Hawks are back for the - season on October vs the Raptors for Opening Night presented by State Farm All fans in attendance will receive a Hawks t-shirt Get tickets nowadays to get in on the action SPONSOR MESSAGE If you know somebody who would like to receive our dining newsletters Family Meal Tuesdays and Side Dish Thursdays please have them subscribe at this page The post Vote Best New Restaurants appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta