ATLANTA — It’s December, which means it’s time for everyone’s best-of lists and awards.
Food website Eater announced its Eater Award winners, recognizing restaurants, chefs, and other hospitality experts in 24 cities around the world. The awards also include national categories including Brand of the Year (KFC) and Media Personality of the Year (Chrissy Teigen).
In Atlanta, the winners ranged from a brand new lounge to a much-lauded barbecue restaurant:
The second barbecue spot from Bryan and Nikki Fuhrman (the first is in Savannah) opened in Riverside in late 2016 and quickly attracted a devoted following. "B's Cracklin' BBQ in Riverside is the sort of place that attracts the attention of purists, for good reason," AJC food writer Wyatt Williams wrote in his review.
Restaurant of the Year: B’s Cracklin’ BBQ
RELATED: Georgia restaurant tops list of best BBQ sauces in America
RELATED: 4 Atlanta Burgers named to best 100 burgers in America list
Chef of the Year: Parnass Lim Savang
The chef behind the Thai pop-up Talat Market in Gato Bizco Cafe in Candler Park garnered attention for his inventive dishes including "yum khao poht pla grop," a salad of grilled corn and cherry tomatoes, and "yum nam prik num," a melange of charred banana and shishito peppers, shallots, garlic, cilantro and crispy house-made fingerling potato chips. "In his twists of Thai classics, he often verges off into uncharted territory, which is when things can get really interesting, and delicious," AJC food writer Wendell Brock wrote of Savang.
Design of the Year: Golden Eagle
The brand new Reynoldstown lounge — the sister spot to next-door coffee shop and cafe Muchacho— serves up retro cool with with wall-to-wall red plaid carpet and crushed velvet seating anchored by a large U-shaped bar and antique Art Deco backbar.
Social Media Presence of the Year: Bon Ton
The Midtown restaurant, which opened early this year, delivers "oddly compelling short films about everything but their food…or are they?" Eater writes.
RELATED: The best fried chicken chain in America can be found in an Atlanta gas station
Bar of the Year: 8 Arm
The bar and restaurant from Angus Brown, who died unexpectedly early this year, and Nhan Le surprises with creative craft cocktails and carefully curated wine and beer lists. 8 Arm was also named among the best new restaurants in the AJC 2016 Spring Dining Guide.