FM Fats points out a big shout out for Decatur’s Kimball House.  Southern Living recently put it #1 on its list of the top new restaurants in the South.  Here’s how the piece starts…

As my group of four settled into a high-backed leather booth, we sat fixated by the menus. One championed absinthe-based cocktails. Another listed 22 oyster varieties, most sourced from small family farms, with the kinds of tasting notes more frequently reserved for wine lists. The Chelsea Gems from Eld Inlet, Washington, were likened to “anise and buttered truffle”; the Northern Cross from Fisherman’s Island, Virginia, “salted parsnip and green onion.” It was obvious this place was special; it merited a crowd. So, like a group of bon vivants with a line to the golden age fêtes of Paris, we texted our friends to come join the fray. By the time our oysters arrived atop their heaving, iced-down pewter tray, the four-top had grown to eight, squeezed in elbow-to-elbow.

Two Decatur bars have a place on Southern Living’s recent “100 Best Bars in the South” list.  Both Kimball House and Paper Plane found a spot.  Of course there are a few ATL bars on the list as well!

The site suggests the following beverages at the two spots:

• Kimball House: Pecan Old Fashioned with Medley Brothers Heritage bourbon and Elliott pecans
• Paper Plane: The Permanent Collection—Fernet-Branca, cognac, Bénédictine herbal liqueur, and bitters

h/t: Eater Atlanta 

Photo courtesy of Kimball House

Chris points out that Church Street is featured in the June Issue of Southern Living.  Can’t find any link for it yet, so here’s a photo of the page from the magazine.  Homegrown, Houndstooth Road, Leon’s, Green’s and Paper Plane all get a mention!

Cathy sends along this photo of the latest Southern Living magazine with Leon’s bartender Miles Macquarrie front-and-center and notes that a post on their website makes it sound like Southern Living folks might be hanging out at Leon’s this evening.

Head out to one of our favorite bars in the South this February 1st and sip alongside other Southern Living readers and editors.

Leon’s Full Service (Decatur)
Drink & snack combo! Blazing Saddles with hickory-smoked Redemption Rye cocktail and sweet potato biscuits with red pepper-bacon jam, $13 from 5 to 7pm

Lafayette, Louisiana took the top prize in Southern Living’s “Tastiest Towns” competition which pitted 10 southern “towns” against each other – which included Decatur, GA – in an online poll to determine the “tastiest”.

Here’s the final tally, according to Southern Living’s website…