Best Restaurants for a Business Lunch in Atlanta

By Mary Welch
Posted November 1, 2022

The days of the three-martini lunch may be over, but the business lunch is alive and well. What are some of the best restaurants for a business lunch in Atlanta? Here are a few of our favorites.

Buckhead

Mission + Market

Mission + Market offers inventive West Coast-inspired American fare. Right off Georgia 400 in Buckhead, Mission + Market is the masterpiece of chef Ian Winslade. The menu includes such items as seared black sea bass, oven-roasted Loch Duart salmon and a braised brisket sandwich.

Where: 3550 Lenox Road NE

Alma Cocina

Alma Cocina serves contemporary Mexican and Latin American cuisine with fresh ingredients and creative twists on old favorites. The roasted chicken mole is full of flavor, while the guacamole comes with three choices. The street tacos are a revelation with the masa fried shrimp, chicken tinga verde and the fried avocado leading the list. Alma Cocina also has a Downtown location.

Where: 3280 Peachtree Road NE

Capital Grille

Capital Grille, a favorite of Atlanta business types, offers comfortable elegance and food that ranges from cheeseburgers to mini tenderloin sandwiches with truffle fries.

Where: 255 East Paces Ferry Road NE

Chops

Chops is part of the city’s acclaimed Buckhead Life Restaurant Group and is another restaurant where the food is exceptional and the name of the game is business. Located at Buckhead Plaza, Chops Lobster Bar is just as popular at night and offers great seafood as well as USDA prime aged beef.

Where: 70 West Paces Ferry Road NW

Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse

Located at Phipps Plaza, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse offers classic Davio dishes such as crispy chicken livers, port balsamic glaze, glass Spinach and toasted pine nuts; a salad of warm spinach, roasted peppers, portobellos, goat cheese, balsamic, roasted beets, yogurt, pistachio brittle, ricotta salata, manodori aceto, chopped romaine, green beans, chickpeas, egg, tomatoes, Niman bacon and blue cheese; and tagliatelle bolognese, braised veal, beef, pork and San Marzano tomatoes.

Where: 3500 Peachtree Road NE

F&B

This fine French bistro attracts the business crowd who wants exquisite European-style service and a cuisine that blends modern French with regional fare. With its selections of snacks, appetizers, salads, savory sandwiches and main entrees, F&B provides the perfect atmosphere to start a discussion or close a deal. Our favorites are the white bean soup, iceberg and spinach salad and the seared trout.

Where: 3630 Peachtree Road NE

Downtown

Amalfi Pizza

Amalfi Pizza, this traditional Neapolitan pizzeria, centered around two 6,000 pound wood-burning brick ovens imported from Italy is centrally located Downtown near many offices and hotels. The 170-seat dining room also has large semicircular booths, perfect for quiet business meetings.

Where: 17 Andrew Young International Blvd. NE

By George

Serving an elegant and classic menu, By George offers a sophisticated ambiance and a well-crafted lunch menu to enjoy while on a business meeting. Located in The Candler Hotel, the classic Contemporary American menu offers light and heavy dish options with a delicious selection of desserts, including coconut tres leches.

Where: 127 Peachtree St.

Cuts Steakhouse

Start your lunch at Cuts Steakhouse with fried green tomatoes, herb-crusted with crumbled blue cheese. Then, move onto your main dish, which could be a steak, natch, boiled shrimp or a lobster tail. House specials include ribs and ponzu salmon. Close the deal with Georgia-style cheesecake.

Where: 60 Andrew Young International Blvd. NE

Hard Rock Cafe

This popular spot features a chef-inspired menu featuring house-made entrees with a local flair. Don’t miss the steak burger. Located in the heart of Downtown with MARTA nearby, the Hard Rock Cafe is an ideal location to do business and catch up on the newest tunes. Hard Rock also offers a variety of private rooms and catering options for your next company lunch or gathering.

Where: 215 Peachtree St. NE

Ray’s in the City

Located next to AmericasMart, Ray’s in the City is a sound choice for a business meal. The menu offers everything from mussels to salads to blue plate specials.

Where: 240 Peachtree St.

White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails

Conveniently located at the intersection of Peachtree and Baker streets, White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails features lunch options including a Waldorf salad, shrimp & grits, and the WOKC Burger — two four-ounce patties served with Tillamook cheddar, Bibb lettuce, tomato, butter pickles, fries and Comeback sauce. You’ll be ready for business.

Where: 270 Peachtree St. NW

Midtown

5Church Restaurant

5Church is one of the go-to Midtown places for a business lunch. Located at Colony Square, 5Church offers an edgy interior design, Southern hospitality and a varied menu. Be sure to try the shrimp & grits. There also is a 5Church in Buckhead.

Where: 1197 Peachtree St. NE

Nan Thai Fine Dining

Nan Thai Fine Dining is a favorite of Atlantans looking for a place to conduct a meeting with delicious food that is beautifully prepared. Want to know how good the food is? When golfer Vijay Singh hosted the Champion’s Dinner in Augusta in 2002, he requested chef Nan to cater it.

Where: 1350 Spring St. NW

The Oceanaire

The Oceanaire provides an exquisite menu and superior service and can handle a small intimate business meeting or a large one with private dining. Oysters anyone?

Where: 1100 Peachtree St.

Around Town

Canoe

This popular spot is for business people who want to get away and enjoy a peaceful lunch along the Chattahoochee River. Located in Vinings, Canoe offers a wide-ranging menu that aims to please.

Where: 4199 Paces Ferry Road SE

Find great places to eat in every Atlanta neighborhood and make your business lunch a success.

Journalist Mary Welch writes business and lifestyle stories for local and national publications.