Review: Bacchanalia Tasting Menu, Atlanta’s most celebrated restaurant

Introduction – Bacchanalia Tasting Menu

As you may know from my previous posts, I try to incorporate a fine dining experience into most vacations when time and budget permit. During my recent trip to Atlanta, I researched some of the best dining places, and the Bacchanalia Tasting menu came up repeatedly. Known for its contemporary American cuisine, Bacchanalia has a long-standing reputation as one of Atlanta’s finest restaurants since opening in 1993. With its one Michelin Star and a Green Michelin Star (awarded for sustainability), Bacchanalia intrigued me with its seasonal, organic-focused menu and farm-to-table philosophy.

The restaurant offers a four-course prix fixe menu for $125 per person, with wine pairing suggestions for many dishes. Since I had heard so much about this place, I was eager to experience it, but I wondered whether I could get a reservation.

Bacchanalia Restaurant

Getting the Reservation – Bacchanalia Tasting Menu

When I called Bacchanalia, I learned they were fully booked for the night. However, I was informed that the bar operates on a first-come, first-served basis and offers the full menu, including the tasting menu. Not one to miss out on an opportunity, I decided to take a chance and go to the restaurant using Uber. Fortunately, I managed to secure a seat at the bar without a reservation—a win in my book!

Bacchanalia – Micehlin star

Bacchanalia is located at 1460 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd, outside the main downtown area. The restaurant shares a space with Four Star Provisions, a shop that sells high-end kitchen products and gourmet foods, including organic pasta, sauces, oils, meats, and chocolates. The overall setting feels secluded, which adds to its allure as a hidden gem.

Ambiance and Service

Upon entering, I immediately noticed the rustic, farm-to-table aesthetic of the dining room. The low lighting, dark wood accents, and industrial ceiling with circular air vents give the room a rural, almost barn-like feel, complemented by simple Edison bulbs and brown leather seating. It’s a perfect reflection of the restaurant’s sustainable philosophy. The bar area where I sat was elegant, with a solid white marble counter and a simple gold lamp at each seat, offering a cozy yet sophisticated vibe.

Bacchanalia – Dining Room

Standard Seating in the Dining Room

While seated at the bar, multiple servers brought out my courses, each explaining the components and presentation in detail. Despite not having a traditional table, I felt well attended to, and the bartenders were knowledgeable and accommodating. The couple sitting next to me, driving two hours from Augusta, Georgia, mentioned they dine here often and praised the seasonal menu.

Bar Seating – Bacchanalia

The Bacchanalia Tasting Menu

I began the evening with a cocktail called Penicillin, made with blended Scotch, honey, ginger, lemon, and an Islay float. The Scotch was bold but balanced well by the honey’s sweetness and the ginger’s warmth. It was the perfect start to my meal, and I made a mental note to recreate this drink for its “medicinal” qualities the next time I catch a cold.

Blended Scotch Cocktail – Penicillin

Amuse Bouche
The tasting menu started with a delightful amuse-bouche that consisted of three different bites:

• Spinach tart with salmon and beets: The beets stood out the most in this dish, providing a nice earthy sweetness to the chewy and crunchy tart.
  

  Spinach Tart

• Everything bagel sandwich with trout-infused cream cheese: A single crunchy bite that tasted just like the everything bagel I had for breakfast earlier in the day—deceptively simple, yet refined.
  

  Everything Bagel Sandwich

• Shortbread with truffle honey mousse: This delicate combination of sweet and savoury flavours left me eager for the next course.
  

  Shortbread

First Course: Crab Fritter with Thai Essence and Citrus
For my first course, I chose the crab fritter with avocado, grapefruit, and orange. The fritter was coated in breadcrumbs and infused with Thai black chilli, offering a spicy kick. The avocado added a creamy balance, while the citrus provided a refreshing counterpoint to the spice. It was a delightful blend of textures and flavours.

First Course: Crab Fritter

Second Course: Duck with Butternut Squash, Orange, and Espresso
My second course was the duck, and it was masterfully prepared. It was topped with a butternut squash crust and served in a rich orange and espresso sauce. Alongside it was an edible butternut squash shaped like a rose, with fingerling potatoes, pickled onions, and roasted carrots. Each bite was harmonious, the sweetness of the orange pairing beautifully with the robust flavour of the duck.

Second Course: Duck with Butternut Squash

Bread: Parker Rolls with Banner Butter and Olive Oil
At this point, they served me warm Parker rolls accompanied by Banner butter and olive oil. A simple yet comforting touch that complemented the richness of the preceding courses.

Warm Parker Rolls

Third Course: Cheese Selection
The cheese course presented five varieties: blue cheese, Gruyère, Gouda, sheep’s milk, and goat’s milk, all served with apple and beet jelly, honey, sliced apples, and candied walnuts. While the cheeses were exceptional, this course was probably my least favourite, only because the third course of other diners at the bar looked more visually appealing. Nonetheless, the flavours were fantastic, and the pairing of sweet accompaniments with each cheese was thoughtful.

Cheese Course

Palette Cleanser: Spiced Hot Chocolate with Vanilla Marshmallow
Before dessert, I was treated to spiced hot chocolate with a vanilla marshmallow, a warm and comforting palate cleanser that felt like a hug in a cup—just to reset my taste buds.

Palette Cleanser – Spiced Hot Chocolate

Dessert: Grapefruit, Chili, Ginger, and Honey Soufflé
The dessert was a soufflé made with grapefruit, chilli, ginger, and honey, served with a honey gelato. I was intrigued by the addition of jalapeño, though the spice was surprisingly mild. The balance of flavours between the grapefruit’s tartness, the ginger’s warmth, and the honey’s sweetness was impeccable.

Dessert Course: Soufflé

I ordered a glass of Beerenauslese, a type of Riesling wine, to complement my dessert. It’s the second sweetest grade of Riesling, making it ideal for dessert—sweet but not overly so, with a flavour profile that reminded me of ice wine.

Petite Fours
To finish, I was offered four sweet treats: a chocolate cookie, a shortbread cookie, an espresso donut, and a jelly candy. Each bite-sized treat was a perfect, delicate ending to a truly memorable meal.

Petite Fours

Final Thoughts

Overall, the four-course tasting menu felt more like an eight-course feast, lasting about two and a half hours. For $125, the experience at Bacchanalia was an absolute bargain, especially considering the Michelin-star quality and the farm-to-table philosophy behind every dish. Given that their menu prices have increased over the years, I wouldn’t be surprised if they continue to rise. I highly recommend the trip to Bacchanalia for anyone visiting Atlanta, even if it’s slightly outside the downtown core. And if you can’t get a reservation, take your chances at the bar—you might get lucky as I did.

Bon appétit!