Southern Living's top restaurant in Georgia

Southern Living has announced its Southern Living Awards, and that means a restaurant in every state has the bragging rights as Southern Living’s crème de la crème.

The competition for the "South's Best Restaurants in Every State 2018" is just as fierce as it seems, and picking top dining destinations from establishments across the country took more than just whipping up a good meal. It's about the quality of ingredients, the way the food makes you feel, the presentation, the whole experience, according to Southern Living.

For Georgia, Southern Living selected a dining experience that has already racked up awards and been the talk of the town in Atlanta for a while now.

So which Georgia restaurant did Southern Living readers rave about?

It's Staplehouse, located in the historic Old Fourth Ward district.

Staplehouse is known for its homey atmosphere and the carefully selected menu designed by Chef Ryan Smith. With plates that include exotic combinations like snapper with umeboshi, knotweed and daylily, or family recipes like Grandma Lillian's potato bread, Smith infuses his passion for flavors and fresh ingredients into every hand-crafted dish.

"We ferment things and age things and cure things and smoke them and dehydrate them," Smith said in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "all of which leads to new flavors that are then incorporated into whatever is fresh and available at the moment."

Credit: Chris Hunt

Credit: Chris Hunt

For those with dietary restrictions, Staplehouse also includes dishes that cater to vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian and food-sensitive guests. Beginning April 1, Staplehouse will feature their well-loved tasting menu, which will deliver an eight to 10 course experience at $105 per person.

Southern Living had this to say about Staplehouse:

"Staplehouse is rooted in family, community, and generosity of spirit...It exudes the sort of neighborhood vibe where you could pop in on any given weeknight, take a seat at the bar, and feel like you're eating a casual dinner with friends. However, chef Ryan Smith's ever-changing, five-course tasting menu is anything but casual."

Check out some of Southern Living's top picks in the South:

Staplehouse (Atlanta, Georgia)

Acre (Auburn, Alabama)

Husk (Charleston, South Carolina)

Leynia (Miami, Florida)

The Barn at Blackberry Farm (Walland, Tennessee)

L'Opossum (Richmond, Virginia)

St. Leo (Oxford, Mississippi)

Kindred (Davidson, North Carolina)

Explore some of the other Southern Living award winners, including best towns and cities, BBQ joints, desserts, breweries, beaches, resorts, hotels, B&Bs, festivals and grocery stores

Hours:

Tuesday through Thursday: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.