That first meal of a new year is auspicious, thought to bring luck and prosperity. We all want a heaping bowl of good luck for 2019.
Whether you are looking for black eyed peas for luck, collard greens for wealth, lentils for coins or pork for prosperity and health, we found places in Atlanta open for business on January 1st. Let’s face it, the ritual and tradition of eating News Year’s food is not only fun, it’s delicious.
All locations of HOBNOB will open for brunch on January 1 at 10:30 am. Whether visiting the Brookhaven, Midtown, or Perimeter location, cider braised collards will be on the menu to boost your moola potential. Or think of your love life with an order of pretzels with beer cheese. Those interlocking loops of soft, squishy bread symbolizes undying love.
Multiple locations. hobnobatlanta.com.
The brunch that executive chef Ben Barth puts out at Local Three is not your average spread. Expect to find truffled eggs, egg nog panna cotta, peppermint pancakes and of course black eyed peas and collards on the buffet.
3290 Northside Parkway NW. Atlanta, 404-968-2700. localthree.com.
Enjoy a Hangtown Fry with fried oysters, smoked bacon and soft scrambled eggs along with fluffy biscuits or a basket of breakfast breads at Midtown’s 5Church Atlanta Mimosas will be pouring beginning at 11 am (thanks to GA Senate Bill 17) until 3 pm and dinner begins at 5 pm.
1197 Peachtree St. NE. Atlanta, 404-400-3669. 5churchatlanta.com.
Atlanta’s longest continuously licensed tavern will be open to begin the new year. Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar - Virginia Highland is serving up a brunch menu as well as Southern New Year’s Day offerings with braised pork, hoppin John, and collard greens with cornbread. Hopeful they will have those Springer Mlountain Farms wings smoked out back on a Big Green Egg as well.
794 N. Highland Ave. Atlanta, 404-876-7249. atkinspark.com.
What better way to start the new year than with the fragrant spices of Northern India? Bhojanic Buckhead is serving brunch from noon to 4 pm on the 1st. Get those lucky lentils from a serving of daal, perhaps in a thali bowl.
3400 Around Lenox Rd. Atlanta, 404-841-8472. bhojanic.com.
Buckhead’s newest sportsbar Irby's Tavern will be ready for brunch (11am-1 pm), regular dinner service, and football watching on New Year’s Day. The menu is chock full of favorites like salmon hash, chicken and waffle sliders, wings, and burgers that will be perfect for Sugar Bowl watching.
322 East Paces Ferry Rd. NE. Atlanta, 404-254-1333. irbystavern.com.
Southern Art and Bourbon Bar inside Intercontinental Buckhead Atlanta is putting out a giant spread for the year’s first brunch. It’s easy to guess that chef Art Smith would have buttermilk fried chicken along with omelettes and waffle stations. Save room for his pies and cake donuts. Brunch begins early at 7 am.
3315 Peachtree Rd. NE. Atlanta, 404-946-9070. southernart.com.
Inman Quarter’s Hampton + Hudson Community Bar and Restaurant is straight up calling their menu “Lucky Brunch,” including black eyed peas and collard greens. Jan. 1 is also national bloody Mary day and they will have a bloody bar to celebrate the occasion. Pro tip: order the pimento cheese toast.
299 N. Highland Ave. Atlanta, 404-948-2123. hamptonandhudson.com.
Buckhead’s The Southern Gentleman serves brunch from 11 am to 4 pm with decadent offerings like skillet cinnamon rolls and pan purdue French toast. Procure some 2019 luck with their black eyed pea fritters.
3035 Peachtree Rd. Atlanta, 404-939-9845. thesoutherngentlemanatl.com.
After you do the Spanish tradition of 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight, head to Gypsy Kitchen in the am for brunch with huevos estrellados, poutine with gouda cream, and a bloody Mary bar.
3035 Peachtree Rd. Atlanta, 404-939-9840. gk-atl.com.
Wear your team’s lucky colors to begin the New Year at Taco MacWith over 100 beers on draft, #SMFchicken wings of all sorts and multiple HD TVs, it’s the perfect spot for all the football action. All locations open regular hours with the exception of Stockbridge.
Multiple locations. tacomac.com.
