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Avize

Atlanta

Alpine cuisine with a Southern twist

Bringing the Alps to Atlanta: The name offers something of a hint as to what this much-lauded restaurant is all about; 'aviser' is a French word that translates poetically as 'to take notice'. However, it's not just French cuisine that's prepared with great attention to detail here – an eclectic array of Alpine-inspired Italian, Swiss, Austrian and German dishes are also executed with precision and flair, overseen by chef Karl Gorline.

What's cooking? The menu is a showcase of hyper-seasonal, farm-to-table cooking, each dish the product of European imagination, meticulous technique and Southern ingredients. Though the menu changes regularly to capture produce at its best, the lemon-pepper wet frog legs (inspired by Atlanta legend J R Crickets' signature wings) are a standout starter, and mains often include the likes of fermented carrot bolognese, wagyu strip steak with a pastrami-spiced beef tongue jus, and polenta and ricotta–filled agnolotti pasta in a Madeira and mushroom broth.

And the drinks? Avize's sumptuous beverage offering is curated by co-founder Taurean Philpott, a doyen of hospitality with years of experience in the fine-dining industry. Every pour is designed to flatter the food, from Old World wines and champagne to creative cocktails such as the Old Man of the Woods (rye whiskey, bay laurel gomme syrup, maple and pine) and the Easy Rider (gin, melon, vanilla, clarified milk and juniper).

Mountain motifs: Elegant yet approachable, the space is a little like an ultra-chic Alpine lodge – a mural depicting stately fir trees and towering peaks spans banquette seating, and a taxidermy mountain goat is a candescent focal point amid the wood and dim lighting. The dead giveaway that this is still North America? The soundtrack of indie electronic and hip-hop classics playing softly in the background.

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