14 Buckhead Restaurants Earn 2021 Wine Spectator Awards

ATLANTA — Coronavirus has brought unique and unprecedented challenges to restaurants in Buckhead. Despite the hardships, several were still able to shine in the last year, earning a 2021 Restaurant Award from Wine Spectator magazine.

The annual Restaurant Awards honor excellence in restaurant wine lists, as well as those who have demonstrated passion and devoted extensive resources to creating outstanding wine programs. This year’s awards are featured in the Aug. 31 issue of Wine Spectator.

The list typically gives us a generous glimpse at the best spots in Buckhead. This year, 14 restaurants in Buckhead earned a nod from Wine Spectator.

More than 2,900 restaurants in 50 states and 72 countries and territories earned awards this year. The awards are given across three categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award.

The Grand Award is Wine Spectator’s most prestigious honor, given to the world’s most elite wine programs. Read profiles of all 100 current Grand Award winners.

Typically, recipients of the Grand Award offer at least 1,000 or more wine selections, showcasing “immense depth and breadth of regions, producers, vintages and bottle formats.” All Grand Award winners must also pass a rigorous inspection of their restaurants, including the wine cellars.

Three new restaurants won the Grand Award this year: Brennan's in New Orleans, Le Bernardin in New York and SingleThread Farms in Healdsburg, Cal.

Boone’s is a new Buckhead award winner for 2021.

Check out the restaurants in Buckhead that earned nods for excellence this year:

• Boone’s: Award of Excellence since 2021
• Le Colonial: Award of Excellence since 2020
• Le Bilboquet: Award of Excellence since 2020
• Umi: Award of Excellence since 2015
• The Capital Grille: Award of Excellence since 2002
• Aria Restaurant: Award of Excellence since 2017
• Atlas: Award of Excellence since 2018
• Fogo de Chao: Award of Excellence since 2002
• Bones: Award of Excellence since 1990
• Ruth’s Chris Steak House - Buckhead: Award of Excellence since 1997
• The Palm Atlanta: Award of Excellence since 2003
• Del Frisco’s Grille: Award of Excellence since 2013
• New York Prime: Award of Excellence since 2018
• Blue Ridge Grille: Award of Excellence since 2020

See all winners of this year’s Wine Spectator awards.

See also: 26 Atlanta Restaurants Earn 2021 Wine Spectator Awards