Radar: Six New Southern Restaurants to Watch

Openings Across the South

The Betty

Atlanta, Georgia

The Betty opened its swanky doors earlier this month inside the new Kimpton Sylvan hotel in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood, introducing their version of a modern American supper club complete with mid-century decor and a soundtrack of American jazz and soul. Chef Brandon Chavannes offers his contemporary take on supper club classic dishes like Wagyu beef cheek stroganoff with black pepper gnocchi and whole salt-crusted fish with artichoke and truffle. Open for breakfast and dinner, The Betty has you covered both early, for the stacked chicken sausage biscuit, or late, when you can belly up for one of beverage manager Trey Ledbetter’s odes to the cocktails of yesteryear.

Shep’s Deli

Nashville, Tennessee

Opening this spring in Five Points, Shep’s Deli gifts East Nashville with the classic Jewish delicatessen the city’s been pining for. The namesake of restaurateur Howard Greenstone’s beloved grandfather, Israel “Shep” Shapiro, the deli will pay homage to his Jewish roots transporting the food of his New York City upbringing to Nashville. Look forward to deli classics like bodega-style breakfast sandwiches with house-made pastrami and eggs, matzo ball soup, loaded reuben fries, knish, egg creams, and two types of lox. With plans to be open 24 hours Thursday through Sunday (post-pandemic), Shep’s will satisfy those bagel cravings any time of day.

The DIME

Daniel Island, South Carolina

The Daniel Island enclave of Charleston welcomed the DIME this month from restaurateur Steve Palmer’s Indigo Road Hospitality Group, offering a chic café setting on the waterfront. The acronymic eatery–DIME stands for Daniel Island Market & Eatery– features locally roasted, artisanal coffees, freshly baked pastries, and a grab-and-go menu.

Neng Jr.’s

Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville is soon to be treated to Filipinx food thanks to the upcoming arrival of Neng Jr.’s from chef Silver Cousler. They credit their fusion of Filipino and Southern food to their intersectional heritage–Cousler’s mother is Filipino and their father is a native of North Carolina. Neng Jr.’s will serve up Filipinx classics sinigang, pancit, adobo BBQ chicken, and Filipinx staples in the context of the Southern “meat-and-three.” Find Cousler’s fast-casual concept at the former Mothlight music venue in West Asheville later this spring.

Salt & Straw

Miami, Florida

Portland, Oregon-based scoop shop Salt & Straw will open its first east coast location in Miami’s Arts District this February. Inspired by the vibrancy of their new surroundings, co-founder and head ice cream maker Tyler Malek created a menu of classic and seasonal flavors using ingredients local to Miami, with appropriately delectable names like “The Salty Donut Guava + Cheese” and “Gables Delight Pineapple Coconut Cream Pie.”

CudaCo.

Charleston, South Carolina

Check out this new sustainable seafood house from chef Shaun Brian (formerly of Parcel 32) and Chris John of Oyster Point Seafood to pick up fresh seafood–butchered, smoked, and raw–from the market. Or order from their simple yet irresistible take-out menu consisting of a daily crudo, smoked oyster benne soup, smoked local fish spread, or the fish sandy (a new TLP staff favorite).