Atlanta, GA is a popular destination for most Black folk. Whether visiting family, on business, or passing through the airport connecting to another city, spending at least a day in the ATL is inevitable. While you’re there, do yourself a favor and check out the Black food scene, which is MASSIVE.
With numerous spots for every occasion, navigating the best of the best can be challenging, so The Hungry Black Man Team (@Thehungryblackman) is doing the mammoth task of developing a Top 25 list of 2021 based on our reviews as well as feedback from local Atlantans.
We’re striving for an exhaustive list that includes eateries located in the city of Atlanta as well as Atlanta-adjacent spots in areas like College Park with several amazing Black-owned eateries earning their way into metro Atlanta’s bustling food scene.
Our team took the 10-minute drive from the airport to visit the beautiful Nouveau Bar and Grill with its three different dining options, an outside patio, and rooftop overlooking the surrounding area for a more intimate dining experience. The pleasant and courteous manager, Mr. Rod Grover could easily be mistaken for an NBA point guard.
We started off with one of their brunch classics, the Ultimate Cajun Seafood & Grits served with chargrilled shrimp, braised salmon and lump crab meat smothered with a delicious Cajun cream sauce with multicolor peppers and onions topping stone ground grits. The delicious creation is also a visual treat, as it’s served in an oversized martini glass. The buttery cream sauce had me imagining this dish with mashed potatoes, and apparently, I’m not the only one craving variety, because Mr. Grover said guests sometimes replace the grits with yellow rice.
Next, we had the Fried Buffalo Shrimp. Deep fried and tossed in a sauce with Crystal hot sauce vibes all over it, the primary aged red cayenne peppers flavor blends well with the blue cheese crumble. The scallions are not for garnish but should be eaten with the blue cheese crumbles for a slightly sweet onion undertow.
Following the shrimp was the amazing Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffle. The homemade waffle and crispy fried chicken wings are served with superstar honey butter that was fluffy, soft, and filled with flavor that welcomed the syrup and the chicken wings. What an enjoyable combination! The chicken wings are fried after being coated in a delicious in-house batter and are so good they stand alone quite well as a solo dish.
One of my favorite dips is the nationally known spinach and artichoke dip served at the Hillstone Restaurant Group’s flagship brand Houston’s. I absolutely love everything about it, from the texture, the smoothness, the salsa, and even the sour cream. Well, Nouveau Bar and Grill’s Four Cheese Spinach Dip is now my second favorite. It’s served with their house made and seasoned tortilla chips with a light dust that adds to the deliciousness. The menu also includes classic Deviled Eggs, leveled up with a sprinkle of a thick honey-hot sauce.
This restaurant is beautiful, had decent service, a very skilled and solid management team, and of course tasty food. It is definitely a destination for brunch while visiting Atlanta.
You can visit Nouveau Bar and Grill at 3775 Main St. College Park, GA 30337 or give them a call at (404) 343-6785.
