Head north on Georgia 400 and you’ll find yourself in Sandy Springs. As the metro’s second-largest city, its dining scene is often lumped into the broader “Atlanta” label—but spend a little time here and it quickly proves it can hold its own. Much of the action centers along the bustling stretch of Roswell Road, where polished date-night destinations sit alongside laid-back local favorites.
Pizza by Yandys
Pizza by Yandys made the cut for DiningOut’s favorite pizzerias in Atlanta thanks to its Detroit- and New York-style slices crafted from 48-hour cold-fermented dough and homemade sauce. Located inside the Carniceria Los Pinos grocery store, it’s easy to miss, but well worth the visit. Just ask Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who gave Yandys rave reviews in his One Bite PIzza Reviews series. 6342 Roswell Rd. NE, Atlanta, pizzabyyandys.com
The Select
Inspired by Le Select, the famed Paris hangout of artists and writers like Picasso and Hemingway, this Sandy Springs restaurant serves classic American fare with subtle French touches, from shareable baguettes to Paris-Brest for dessert. The restaurant hosts a robust event lineup including an all-day happy hour on Mondays, martinis and live jazz on Wednesdays, and ladies’ night cocktail specials on Thursdays. Pro tip: Order the $39 prix-fixe as pre-theater dining before catching a show at nearby City Springs. 6405 Blue Stone Rd., Ste. 200, Sandy Springs, theselectatl.com
NAM Kitchen
Chef Thuy Bich blends both northern and southern Vietnamese flavors for a contemporary menu that has something for everyone. There are comforting phos, protein of your choice served in claypots and caramelized with a special Nam sauce, sauteed lemongrass, and even a chef’s-special sauteed filet mignon. Enjoy with a selection from the wine list of over 50 varieties. 6400 Blue Stone Rd., Sandy Springs, namkitchenatl.com
Ray’s on the River
Ray’s has a seafood-forward menu with a Southern twist that lends itself well to both Sunday brunch and buttoned-up dinners. In the evenings, start with New Orleans BBQ shrimp and pimento fritters before digging into fish specialties like black grouper with a horseradish cracker crust or roasted branzino. Dry-aged porterhouse and cowboy ribeye from the steak menu are sure to suit the turf-minded. Chattahoochee River views and live music on Friday and Saturday evenings make it all perfect for date nights. 6700 Powers Ferry Rd. NW, Sandy Springs, raysontheriver.com
Okiboru
The brainchild of Justin Lim and Sean Park, Okiboru originated in Los Angeles and now has four locations across Atlanta, with a fifth set to open at Ponce City Market this spring. Unlike other ramen shops in the city, Okiboru specializes in tsukemen, a noodle variant served on the side and meant to be dipped into a separate container of house-made broth. Enjoying the made-from-scratch noodles and marinated grilled pork ribs doesn’t come at a high cost, as evidenced by its Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction. 6125 Roswell Rd., Ste. 800, Sandy Springs, okiboru.com
Brooklyn Cafe
On breezy summer evenings, look no further than Brooklyn Cafe, whose patio is perfect for enjoying a glass of wine from the extensive wine list. The straightforward menu features classic salads, sandwiches, and the fan-favorite mahi tacos. In the words of founders Jeff Trump and Mike Horosh, Brooklyn is all about cultivating an atmosphere not unlike heading to a friend’s house for dinner. 220 Sandy Springs Cir., Sandy Springs, brooklyncafe.com
NoriFish
Although it’s included on DiningOut’s list of Atlanta’s best omakase restaurants, you don’t have to drop big bucks on a tasting menu at NoriFish. The tapas-style vision of Okiboru owners Justin Lim and Sean Park means there’s plenty of inventive small plates to choose from, like quail egg toast and yuzu ponzu oysters. And it’s all a package deal–NoriFish will open alongside Okiboru at Ponce this spring. 1115 Springwood Connector, Ste. 2000, Sandy Springs, norifishsushi.com
Rumi’s Kitchen
The Sandy Springs location of this beloved Persian restaurant reopened in March after a year-long, multimillion-dollar renovation that gave it a fresh look and updated menu. Though Rumi’s has locations as close as Colony Square and as far as D.C., the facelift was necessary for its flagship; appropriately, some of the new offerings will be Sandy Springs-exclusive. Bring a big group to help with the time-honored shareable kabobs and brand-new Chilean sea bass. 6112 Roswell Rd., Atlanta, rumiskitchen.com
Café Vendôme
The artisanal French pastries and baguettes at this cafe are baked on-site under the watchful eye of French Riviera native Hamid Rouchdi. You’ll find classic Éclairs, baguettes, and oh-so-flaky chocolate croissants alongside a selection of sandwiches and hot entrees, including a to-die-for croque madame you won’t need to fly to Paris for. 6400 Blue Stone Rd., Ste. 110, Sandy Springs, cafevendome.com
Casi Cielo
Casi Cielo just opened a new location on the Beltline, but its OG Sandy Springs home serves the same Oaxacan-inspired dishes for the northern suburb crowd. Pick between roasted beef bone marrow or cilantro chimichurri-soaked ribeye for your entree, or spring for the chef’s tasting menu—$100 as-is, or $150 with drink pairings. 6125 Roswell Rd., Atlanta, casicieloatl.com
Kaiser’s Chophouse
A force in Atlanta’s dining scene since he arrived from his native Liechtenstein in 1986, chef Peter Kaiser opened his eponymous steakhouse in 2017 after stints with iconic restaurants like Buckhead Diner and Pricci. Today, Kaiser’s Chophouse is the place to go for hefty prime cuts in Sandy Springs. And if you’re still hungry after that porterhouse for two, shareables like pan-seared foie gras and Wagyu short rib dumplings will ensure you leave satiated. 5975 Roswell Rd., Sandy Springs, kaiserschophouse.com
Sunnyside Pizzeria
Named for one half of husband-and-wife duo Sunny and David, Sunnyside serves homemade pastas and Neapolitan pizzas that range from classics like margherita and pepperoni to more unexpected creations, including a Mumbai-inspired pie with yogurt curry sauce and even a poached-pear pizza. Go with a group—you’ll want an excuse to order one of the Instagram-viral martini towers. 220 Sandy Springs Cir., Ste. 149, Sandy Springs, sunnysidepizzeria.com
McDaniel’s QN2 BBQ
Since 2002, the McDaniel brothers have been cooking up traditional hickory-smoked Southern barbecue from their eponymous Sandy Springs restaurant. Signature dishes include fall-off-the-bone ribs and loaded chili cheese dogs, and guests can even bring their own meats to be smoked onsite. If you can’t make it out to Sandy Springs, catch McDaniel’s at DiningOut’s RARE Steak Championship on April 9. 200 Johnson Ferry Rd., Sandy Springs, mcdanielsqn2.com
Yalda
On the Iranian calendar, Yalda marks the winter solstice festival celebrating the sun’s rebirth. Founder and chef Ash Famili hopes that his restaurant captures the essence of the holiday, its great food, and the time it grants with loved ones. You’ll find hearty entrees cooked on an open-flame grill, and spreads served with naan—the ever-popular za’atar labneh is a perfect dip for pickled mushrooms, and we won’t blame you if you end up eating the shareable yourself. 6500 Aria Blvd., Ste. 500, Sandy Springs, yaldaatl.com
Nori Nori
As one of Atlanta’s most-loved all-you-can-eat buffets, you’ll want to come hungry to Nori Nori. It’s wallet-friendly on the weekdays, at $20.99 for lunch and $38.99 for dinner Choose from 26 varieties of sushi, classic hot entrees like egg rolls and chicken teriyaki, and dinner-exclusive oysters and snow crab legs. 6690 Roswell Rd., Ste. 2110, Sandy Springs, norinori.com
