Two more Georgia restaurants have officially earned their first Michelin stars. So. Fox in Atlanta’s Virginia-Highland neighborhood and Uberto Restaurant in Gay, Georgia, were both recognized with one star in the 2026 Michelin Guide American South selection, announced Wednesday night during a ceremony at The Pinnacle in Nashville.
The awards mark a strong showing for the state. So. Fox and Uberto join just one other new one-star restaurant across the entire seven-state American South region this year—Dakar NOLA in New Orleans—bringing Georgia’s total of one-star establishments to 10.
All previously starred restaurants retained their distinctions, including Atlanta’s Atlas, Bacchanalia, Hayakawa, Lazy Betty, Mujō, O by Brush, and Omakase Table, as well as Spring in Marietta. Uberto stands out as the first Michelin-starred restaurant in Georgia outside the metro Atlanta area.
So. Fox: Neighborhood Dining with Southern Soul and Wine Focus
So. Fox, which opened in July 2026 next to the owners’ Kinship Butcher & Sundry, is a relative newcomer that earned recognition quickly.
The husband-and-wife team of chef Myles Moody and sommelier Rachael Pack—previously involved with Michelin-starred kitchens in New York—created a sunlit, contemporary space with minimalist Scandi-Japanese design that feels both chic and relaxed amid Virginia-Highland’s tree-lined streets.
The name nods to the Southern Fox, another name for the indigenous muscadine grape, and wine plays a central role alongside the food. Inspectors praised the seasonal, Southern-leaning menu for its quality and originality, highlighting dishes such as corn dumplings in a fragrant sweet corn sauce with lump crab, and a dessert of piped marshmallow with roasted apple granita and purple shiso.
Other noted offerings include Carolina Gold rice with toasted shrimp and drop dumplings with nettle and confit rabbit. The restaurant emphasizes approachable excellence without pretension.
Moody and Pack expressed surprise and emotion at the early honor. “We came in with zero expectations,” Moody told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Pack added, “I’m overjoyed. I have tears in my eyes. This has always been the plan, but to happen so soon, it’s wild to us.” They credit strong community support in Atlanta since launching their butcher shop.
Uberto: Farm-Driven Tasting Menu in Rural Georgia
Uberto Restaurant, located at the World of Quercus resort in the small Meriwether County town of Gay about an hour south of Atlanta, offers an intimate multi-course tasting menu centered on farm-grown ingredients, fermentation, and preservation.
Led by chef Ryan Smith (with partner Kara Hidinger), who previously held a Michelin star at Atlanta’s Staplehouse, the restaurant sources more than 90% of its produce from the property’s on-site regenerative farm—which runs on 100% solar energy and practices no-till cultivation and rotational grazing.
Michelin inspectors highlighted creative plates such as miso and Alabama blue crab chawanmushi, cold-smoked dry-aged Rohan duck grilled over binchotan charcoal with carrot puree, and finishes like fig ice cream with buckwheat sponge. The restaurant is open to non-resort guests primarily on Friday and Saturday evenings. Smith also received Michelin’s new Mindful Voices recognition for his leadership in sustainability and the industry. He described th star as leaving him “deeply humbled and grateful.”
The 2026 guide also awarded new Bib Gourmands (for high-quality food at good value) to Summerland in Atlanta and Tipsy Thaiger in Roswell, among other recognitions across the region. With 265 establishments featured overall across 44 cuisine types, the selection continues to spotlight the evolving Southern dining scene—from neighborhood spots in Atlanta to destination experiences further afield.
These new stars underscore Georgia’s growing reputation for ambitious, ingredient-driven cooking that balances local character with refined technique.
