WHAT'S HOT: Atlanta (01/03/04)

Rathbun's
112 Krog St., (404) 524-8280

Seats: 160, dining room; 26, bar; 50, patio
Cuisine: modern American
Specialties: sea scallop Benedict on country-ham grits; braised brisket in smoked tomato jus; crudos of ahi tuna and Nantucket Bay scallops; smoked-salmon tostadas; Kirk's banana crème pie; apple spice cake
Main courses: $13.95-$32.95
Chef/Owner: Kevin Rathbun

MidCity Cuisine
1545 Peachtree St., (404) 888-8700

Seats: 100, dining room; 30, bar; 40, private dining room; 60, patio
Cuisine: contemporary American
Specialties: Vidalia onion salad; turnip piccata with sage butter; chopped liver on toast; heirloom lentil soup with mint and pork belly; hanger-steak frites; braised rabbit legs with buckwheat polenta, endive and Asiago; chocolate brioche pizza; chocolate crème brûlée
Main courses: $16-$36
Chef/Owner: Shaun Doty

Mitra
818 Juniper St., (404) 875-5515

Seats: 65, upstairs dining room; 50, downstairs
Cuisine: American with a Latin twist
Specialties: pulled pork and jack-cheese-stuffed Anaheim chile; bacalao-and-cheese fritter with jalapeño-Key-lime jelly; banana-leaf-roasted Gulf snapper with escabèche; herb-roasted mahi mahi with grilled vegetables; pumpkin-squash bread pudding
Main courses: $15-$23
Chefs: Gerardo Ramos
Owner: Sia Mohsk

Restaurant Eugene
2277 Peachtree Road N.W., (404) 355-0321

Seats: 80
Cuisine: contemporary American
Specialties: Creole-fried oysters Rockefeller soup; braised Berkshire black pork belly with yellow beets, lentils and apple-radish pickle; Georgia white shrimp and smoked prosciutto salad; seared Columbia River sturgeon with lobster and leek risotto; grilled lavender-honey-glazed quail with fingerling potato salad
Main courses: $19-$38
Chef: Linton Hopkins
Owners: Gina and Linton Hopkins

TWO.Urban Licks
820 Ralph McGill Blvd., (404) 522-4622