I’ve had a huge foodie crush on Hugh Acheson since I first saw him on Top Chef.  His claim to fame comes from his string of success in Athens, GA, but when he came to Atlanta with Empire State South the entire city rejoiced.  It’s been open for a couple of years now and the novelty has definitely not worn off.  The menu is ever changing and fresh.  Plates are equal parts beautiful and delicious and southern to the core.  I’ve been fortunate enough to dine at ESS several times and taste several of their menus.  While some restaurants are better at certain times of the day, ESS goes strong all day long.  So to keep this short and sweet, I’ve highlighted my picks from each of their menus.

Brunch: Hangover Food for the Soul

The Brunch menu has many stars, and the sausage grits are definitely hard to turn away from, but if you find yourself sitting in ESS after a long night out at Johnny’s Hideaway, the fried rice is going to be your best friend.  Served with a poached egg that you mix in with the rice first, this would be great at any time of the day.  My only complaint is that you just can’t get enough.  For something a bit more classic the Benedict really hits the spot.  And the fun really begins when you pass by ESS’s homemade pastry table and find out that it’s any 3 for $5.  The glazed donuts should not be overlooked.

Cocktail Hour: Southern Strong

So choosing just one libation from ESS’s vast menu would be like choosing between my children.  So I’ll just say this.  When in doubt, always opt for the cocktail.  These adult beverages make no apologies.  The whiskey and bourbon don’t hide behind sweet mixers or an over abundance of citrus and fruit.  They are bold and and definitely not for the feint of heart.

Three Little Pigs

My first trip to Empire State South was a celebratory dinner.  Since I’d been building up the place in my head for so long I was really feeling the pressure to make the meal the best ever.  Since Acheson is a chef who knows his southern roots, I went the the trio of pork.  This my first time eating pork belly, and YOWZAs is it totally worth the hype.  The entire plate was fun and delicious.  I mean how many world-renowned chefs would serve their patron’s pork rinds?  Truth time: this dish was so good, I refused to share any with my roommate.  But since she was falling in love with her dish, I don’t think she minded.  You never really know what you’re going to get when you go into Empire State South.  It’s been years, and they are still cranking out the surprises.  Make sure this place is on your ATL Foodie Bucket List and circled.