Cafe Circa, Atlanta

It's the very first dictum on Cafe Circa's list of house rules: "Try something new. You won’t be disappointed." That's an easy task at this upbeat eatery, which recently updated their menu with an elegant take on familiar southern comfort foods. Shrimp and grits are made from white corn grits, slow-cooked short ribs are achingly tender, and each of these items can be paired with the curated wine list that's designed to complement each dish on the menu. Meals can be brought to a sweet close with desserts like the Jack Daniels apple bread pudding.

Novelty pervades Cafe Circa's activities as well. Depending on the night, the air above the high-topped wooden tables might fill with the fruit-flavored smoke of hookahs or music both live and DJ'ed. For an even more festive nighttime experience, the staff occasionally invites guests to venture up to the rooftop, where they can gaze out at the historic buildings of the Old Fourth Ward.