First Look: Suite Food Lounge, Atlanta


DINING OUT

11 a.m.-midnight Mondays-Wednesdays; 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; noon-midnight Sundays.

Starters and small plates, $9-$18; entrees, $18-$38; desserts, $8-$9; lunch menu items, $4.25-$16.

375 Luckie St., Atlanta. 404-577-2500, www.suiteatl.com.

Located in the Luckie Street space formerly occupied by Luckie Food Lounge, Suite Food Lounge is a full-service restaurant with multiple bars and the glitzy light show atmosphere of a nightclub.

The look: The sprawling layout is arranged on three levels, with the main dining room situated on the ground floor, along with two bars, a VIP lounge and a dance floor. Downstairs, there's a private dining space dubbed the Royal Suite, and upstairs there are more private and VIP areas with skyline views.

The scene: One recent weeknight, everyone must have been hiding out in the VIP areas, because the main floor was nearly deserted, with only a few diners and drinkers scattered among the tables and bar stools. Still, eager, efficient servers worked the room like it was prime time.

The food: The menu, created by chef Anthony Sanders, is billed as "classic American cuisine" with "lively interpretations of Southern comfort food." Starters and small plates include the likes of crispy fried chicken and waffles with truffled blue cheese butter and balsamic syrup ($13) and a "pan stew" of shrimp and mussels with Nueske's bacon ($15). Among the entrees, find seafood carbonara with English peas, prosciutto and Parmesan ($22) and a grilled jerk pork chop with sweet plantains and a spiced rum reduction ($26).

The drinks: The beverage program from manager Michael Bernardo includes a concise list of wines by the glass ($8-$16) or bottle ($32-$110), plus local craft beers, such as Red Brick Hoplanta, and craft cocktails, including a barrel-aged negroni. Of course, there are plenty of flavored martinis, too.

The extras: Look for a daily lunch menu priced in the $11-$16 range, with soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta and flatbreads, and a weekend brunch menu coming soon.