BUCKHEAD. The extensive menu at this casual Southern restaurant features only the freshest seafood. Although the menu changes daily, typical entrees include seafood brochette with orzo, potato-crusted cod, broiled fresh-water lobster tails, and cashew swordfish. The enormous copper fish out front is a popular Buckhead landmark, and the bustling bar is a fun place to wait for a table. Reservations recommended.

BUCKHEAD. Soak up the mountain-lodge ambience, complete with roaring fireplace and log cabin decor, before ordering fine regional American cuisine. Long-time Southern favorites are given innovative twists with dishes focusing on game, seafood and chops. Try grilled, apple-stuffed trout in honey-pecan sauce for a real treat. Vegetables are organic and consistently delicious, and fresh sourdough bread will almost make you forget all about your entree ... almost.

BUCKHEAD. Highbrow wheeling and dealing is always on the slate at this long-lived Buckhead steakhouse, which is characterized by an outstanding menu and a decor that pays homage to Atlanta's rich history. Favorite entrees include petit filet mignon, a perfectly cooked bone-in rib-eye and a deliciously mammoth 20-ounce New York strip. Couple your meal with a side dish such as roasted garlic mashed potatoes or fried onion rings ­ you'll easily see why Bone's enjoys such revered status. Superb service, an excellent wine list and a large, cigar-friendly bar round out its impressive offerings.

BUCKHEAD. Chops, a swanky local favorite, is often frequented by power brokers and features hushed tones and a well-stocked display case. Steaks take center stage, of course, and you can choose from a range of cuts and sizes. Side dishes are also noteworthy, going beyond run-of-the-mill salads and baked potatoes to include creamed spinach and walnut-raisin bread. If you want something lighter, opt for the Lobster Bar downstairs, which offers the featured crustacean along with yellow fin tuna, almond-crusted swordfish and grilled sea scallops. The wine list is excellent.

NORCROSS. If you think you've seen all the variations on seafood, this wonderful little eatery may offer a surprise or two. Its fish and shellfish are flown in fresh from around the world, and since the owners hail from South Africa, the food also bears that sensibility. "Pans" are the signature dish; they're cast-iron dishes crammed full of a variety of seafood, along with rice, French fries, and a drizzle of lemon-garlic butter. If your appetite's not that grand, you can find fish-and-chips, paella, and even a steak or two. They're all brilliantly capped with a dish of malva pudding, a classic South African sponge cake drenched in brandy-butter sauce. Delicious!