234: Ron Hsu & Aaron Phillips, Lazy Betty (Atlanta, GA)

It’s not the neighborhood you expect. It’s not throwing those flashy, Atlanta vibes with its post-industrial decor and lack of dress code or velvet ropes. And the night I visited, a festive group was having birthday fun, laughing and singing at the chef’s counter. Welcome to Lazy Betty, a mirage of unapologetically upscale dining in an unassuming brown building in the Candler Park neighborhood of Atlanta, GA. Chefs Ron Hsu and Aaron Phillips met during their tenures at Le Bernardin in NYC, and they curate an intimate experience with an open-kitchen setting and conversational service. The modern menu embodies the inspirations of years of professional training, and I had everything from a halibut with green tomato and ham broth to something called a duck cigar. Each course was delicious, intellectual, and fun. I’m so happy to be thrilled by restaurants again. And I was thrilled by my Lazy Betty experience, a rollercoaster ride of what fine dining can be.