Featured image: Jules
Michelin Guide South will be revealed in November, marking the organization’s first release of regional recommendations. For those of us who have been dining around the South for years, the guide is proof of what we already know: this region of the world has some of the best and most competitive cuisine around. While we all wait for the designation and star reveals, we’ll tempt (and temper) our taste buds with these recently opened and anticipated restaurants from the region.
Elise | Atlanta, GA
Chef Craig Richards debuted his highly anticipated restaurant, Elise, at the Woodruff Arts Center in mid-August. The space, situated amid Atlanta’s High Museum of Art, appropriately blends art and cuisine in a truly unique way. With a menu focused on exquisite French and Italian-inspired seafood, dishes are as beautiful as they are delicious. The restaurant’s design, brought to life by Smith Hanes Studio, uses a vibrant, layered palette to complement the creative energy of the space, offering a dining experience that’s both refined and artistically inspired.
Prime + Proper | Nashville, TN
Coming to Nashville in late 2025 is a modern steakhouse from the acclaimed Heirloom Hospitality group. Located at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville Yards, Prime + Proper will be known for its elegant service and exceptional meats. A highlight of the Nashville location will be its extensive, in-house dry-aging facility—the city’s largest—ensuring the highest quality cuts along with a 10,000-bottle wine cellar curated by in-house sommeliers. The 7,200-square-foot space will feature a private dining room, a 14-seat bar, and butcher “jewelry cases” showcasing the restaurant’s prime meats.
Perenn Bakery | Franklin, TN
Tucked inside a beautifully restored riverside boathouse, Perenn Bakery and Bistro brings a slice of the European countryside to Franklin, Tennessee. It’s where the rustic charm of France meets the soulful spirit of Music City, offering everything from house-made, naturally leavened croissants and sourdough to whole rotisserie chickens seasoned with herbes de Provence. With a focus on sustainability, they even grind their own flour on-site using locally sourced grains. What’s more, this unique spot transforms from a bright bakery and café by day into a cozy European rotisserie by night.
The Black Sheep | Greenville, SC
Chef Danielle Grigorian brings her unique blend of family heritage and culinary innovation to The Black Sheep, a Mediterranean fine dining restaurant in the heart of Greenville, SC. The restaurant’s name, The Black Sheep, reflects her outside-the-box thinking and desire to push culinary boundaries while honoring her Armenian roots. Every dish on the menu, from lamb kibbeh to veal ghormeh sabzi, tells a story rooted in her family’s traditions. With a background in both interior design and culinary arts, Chef Danielle has created a dining experience that is both visually stunning and heartwarming.
Spaghett | Charlotte, NC
Occupying the historic 19th-century Young Morrison House in Charlotte’s Fourth Ward, Spaghett is a one-of-a-kind craft pasta meets craft cocktail house. The menu, led by Chef Kendall Moore, showcases an inventive approach by reinterpreting classic Italian dishes through the lens of Carolinian cuisine. The bar program is overseen by Amanda Britton, and the menu complements the food with reimagined classic cocktails infused with Italian flavors. Spaghett’s commitment to seasonality is evident in its use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Jules | Adairsville, GA
After undergoing a major renovation, Barnsley Resort has recently opened its new signature restaurant, Jules. The menu, crafted by acclaimed Atlanta chef Shaun Doty, is a seasonal homage to Southern ingredients sourced from the resort’s farm and other local producers. Think: chargrilled oysters laden with turnip green garlic butter and fresh trout served with farro. Doty, whose bistro and steak house, The Federal, was a James Beard semifinalist for Best New Restaurant, is known for his work at popular Atlanta spots like Shaun’s, Yeah Burger and Bantam & Biddy. The restaurant’s interior was redesigned by David Thompson Studio to blend the building’s historic 1854 farmhouse origins with fresh, contemporary finishes.
St. Pierre | Raleigh, NC
From the same team that brought Oakwood Pizza Box, St. Pierre Wine Bar has uncorked its doors at Raleigh Iron Works. Anthony and Brett Guerra, renowned for their pizza shop’s surprising selection of champagnes, are now dedicating a full space to their passion for fine wines. The bar’s interior features a curved white marble bar and custom wine displays. They plan to host engaging, lively classes and tastings with the expertise of seasoned sommelier Scott Hardiman that promise to make wine exploration approachable. To complement the curated beverage list, James Beard Award-winning chef Vivian Howard has supplied a menu of grab-and-go bites through her Viv’s Fridge concept.
Jolene Jolene | Atlanta, GA
Born from a passion for women’s sports and a frustration with their lack of visibility, Jolene Jolene is Atlanta’s new home for female athletics. Inspired by the electric energy of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Sydney, founder Chelsea Fishman envisioned a place where women’s sports were not an afterthought but the main event. With a menu featuring everything from pork belly bao to a “girl dinner” charcuterie board, it’s a spot where fans can connect and celebrate together.
E.O.’s Athletic Club | Durham, NC
E.O.’s Athletic Club, a new venture from James Beard-nominated bar owners Michelle Vanderwalker and Sean Umstead, is set to become a welcoming sports bar in the heart of downtown Durham. Modeled after 1970s-era sports bars with a distinct Northeast vibe, it aims to foster joy and enthusiasm around sports for everyone. The menu will feature classic bar fare, including New Jersey-style bar pizzas, Italian sandwiches, and loaded baked potatoes. Adding to its unique character, the bar top will be covered in submitted youth sports pictures from the local Triangle community.
Hungry for more? Click here.
