Restaurants in Lilburn

The snap of cracking shells echoes through the numerous dining rooms of Fisherman’s Bucket. Servers weave through cobblestone archways, bearing fried, steamed, or seasoned shellfish by the platter and bucket, along with po’ boys spilling forth oysters, gator, and catfish. Soft lights illuminate a faux shark head above the booths, tables, and barstools inside, and an outdoor patio stretches out beneath the sun, stars, and skywriters passive-aggressively correcting each others’ work.

It’s hardly a surprise that chef Tony Vitulli’s food embodies his Italian heritage, from housemade pasta sauces to rich and decadent slices of tiramisu. Yet, it’s the tapas that add complexity to his traditional Italian recipes. While living in Spain, Tony married a Spanish woman and fell in love with the country’s signature small plates. The couple then moved to Atlanta, where they opened up their trendy bi-cultural eatery. The kitchen, which Robert Nebel of the Examiner.com applauded for “[concentrating] on quality, rather than quantity,” represents Spain with a range of tapas, such as lamb kebabs and chorizo omelets, and churns out seven types of long and short pastas drenched in 13 sauces—each one made from scratch. Golden-yellow walls and exposed brick encircle a handful of tables set for two inside the cozy space. Diners can also head to the outdoor patio and enjoy a pitcher of homemade sangria alfresco, which is Italian for “while posing for a mural.”

T J's owner and former Atlanta Flames hockey player Tim Ecclestone founded his restaurant on the fact that, for decades, sports fans have gathered to enjoy big games over burgers, hot wings, and beer. He spent one of those decades helming Timothy John's, a Sandy Springs party spot, and has dedicated two more to running his current show—T J's Sports Bar & Grill. There, a kitchen works overtime on game nights to sling a menu of char-grilled burgers, piled-high sandwiches, and pizzas to throw at the mob of 60-odd televisions when the ref makes a bad call. Behind the bar, bartenders kick open the kegs and pour tall glasses of Miller Lite, Budweiser, Coors, and Michelob Ultra, all represented by bright neon signs mounted on the eatery's walls.

Nestled amid "warm Brazilian cherry and traditional Brazilian tile work," Red & Green Brazilian Steakhouse "spares no extravagance for bringing Brazil into the United States," according to Mallory Ferland of USA Today. Wandering through the dining room, friendly gauchos deliver tender slices from 16 cuts of meat—including garlic steak, lamb, and ribs—according to a table-top card that when flipped to green means "bring more" and when red means "stop, and will you be my valentine?" At the salad bar, an unlimited supply of fresh tropical fruits, Brazilian side dishes, and farofa fills up any empty space on plates loaded with meats. Additionally, the drink menu features traditional libations such as caipirinhas, Brazilian beers, soft drinks, and tropical juices.

Executive Chef Scott Barrows waits to post specials at Devon Seafood Grill until he has spotted the best choices from the day's catch, ensuring his dishes are packed with the freshest, most flavorful seafood available. Past plates on Devon's robust menu have included jumbo lump crab cakes, coconut-green-curry mussels, and char-crusted ahi tuna, which can be paired with signature cocktails and fine wines from a collection on display in the dining area. Barrows and his staff welcome diners into this sophisticated two-level restaurant decorated with modern art that is splashed by warm lighting and the wake made by beluga whales arriving for dinner.