The South's Best New Restaurants

Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Miller Union, Atlanta, GA

Modern Southern cooking, stripped of pretension. Here, the luscious regional bounty simply shines.

Don’t-Miss Dish: Farm egg baked in silken celery cream or the seasonal veggie plate.

millerunion.com or 678/733-8550

Photo: Scott Wiseman

Gigi, Miami, FL

The raucous love child of a down-home Southern diner and a big-city noodle bar.

Don’t-Miss Dish: Pillowy steamed buns stuffed with shredded pork or brisket.

giginow.com or 305/573-1520

Photo: Chris M. Rogers

Husk, Charleston, SC

The archetype of what chef Sean Brock does best: heirloom Southern food prepared with a connoisseur’s sensibility and a deft culinary touch.

Don’t-Miss Dish: The hyper-local menu changes daily, but the cornbread is constant—crisp, scented with Benton’s bacon, and piping hot in a mini cast-iron skillet.

huskrestaurant.com or 843/577-2500

Photo: Courtesy Ralph Smith / Haven

Haven, Houston, TX

Chef Randy Evans’s nod to The Omnivore's Dilemma—farm-fresh cooking in an eco-conscious environment. (He’s even got a cistern for watering the garden out back.)

Don’t-Miss Dish: Wild boar chili with Redneck Cheddar, a sharp local cheese washed with Texas-brewed Saint Arnold’s beer.

havenhouston.com or 713/581-6101

Photo: Courtesy A Mano

A Mano, New Orleans, LA

A gustatory celebration of rustic Italian traditions, NOLA-style.

Don’t-Miss Dish: Housemade salumi or succulent Mississippi rabbit roasted with garlic, olives, and thyme.

amanonola.com or 504/208-9280