HISTORIC DISTRICT. A historic mansion dating from 1790, this property was restored and opened as an inn in 1976. Its restaurant recalls a brick-and-beams tavern, and its excellent American Continental menu features dishes like pecan-crusted grouper, coq au vin, and crab-stuffed shrimp. You'll also find a half-roasted duckling, veal medallions, and a NY strip with sun-dried tomato butter. Happy hour specials attract crowds to the inn's lounge, which (like the property itself) is apparently haunted by the ghost of a lovesick young woman.

HISTORIC DISTRICT. Soft lighting, pristine table settings, fresh flowers, and impeccable service conspire with an inventive cuisine to make 45 South one of the city's most desirable dinner destinations. The menu takes the ingredients and preparation of American cookery and imbues them with a new boldness and life. Expect grilled pheasant breast with wild mushroom cream sauce, salmon poached in white and green teas, Maine lobster with a coconut lime veloute, and a grilled Angus filet with a port-rosemary glace. A wide-ranging selection of wines (by the glass, half-bottle, and bottle) and spirits is also a restaurant perk.

HISTORIC DISTRICT. Although housed in a 19th-century mansion, 700 Drayton has a pronounced modern sensibility that creates a dynamic tension in its cuisine and decor. Beautiful architecture, vibrant artwork, and high ceilings set the scene for updated dishes that include blue crab-crusted red snapper with lime-tomatillo sauce, a stuffed pork chop with homemade apple sauce, cabernet-braised short ribs, and pan-roasted grouper and shrimp fricassee with a country ham and herb grit cake. A fun lounge is also part of the package, and if you become enamored of the cuisine, the inn's on-site cooking school will teach you how to prepare it on your own!

HISTORIC DISTRICT. Enjoying a location near the City Market, this small bistro exudes charm. High ceilings, pine floors, contemporary artwork, and a cozy bar complement the room's grey brick walls. The menu boasts creative American flair and adds in a few Southern dishes to good effect. Enticing options include shrimp and grits with tasso, crispy scored flounder with an apricot-shallot glaze, bacon- and chive-crusted scallops, and pecan-crusted chicken with blackberry-bourbon sauce. Helpful, friendly servers make everyone feel at home.

HISTORIC DISTRICT. Clary's was made famous by <i>Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil</i>, but they have been in business since 1903. The places offers an extensive breakfast menu, including French toast, their special malted waffles, pancakes, and omelets. They also serve lunch ... Or you could go just for dessert and sample homemade bread pudding, fresh apple pie, or an old fashioned banana split. The Habersham location serves dinner; both locations serve breakfast all day.