10 new places for brunch and lunch in metro Atlanta

Spring is here, which means more metro Atlanta restaurants offering up new options for brunch and lunch. Check out these spots for twists on traditional breakfast and Southern dishes.

Amara

The Inman Park Indian restaurant -- which recently made some changes in its kitchen -- is now open for lunch from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and noon-3 p.m. on Saturday, and from Sunday brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Lunch options include Indian wraps and curry bowls all $14 and under, while brunch offers a mix of traditional and Indian brunch items including a masala omelet, pulled goat benedict and Inman Village Waffle made with Chantilly cream, garam masala syrup and mango compote.

Take a first look at Amara here and read our review here.

870 Inman Village Parkway, Atlanta. 470-305-7405, amaraatlanta.com

BeetleCat

Beginning April 22, the Ford Fry seafood spot will offer brunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The restaurant and Den will remain open with the full dinner menu beginning at 2 p.m.

Menu items include donuts with with oreos and chocolate sprinkles,  pork floss, tres leches with toasted coconut and whipped cream, a French toast stack with griddled donuts, maple syrup and strawberries, Monte Cristo with ham, gruyere, raspberry jam and powdered sugar and glazed chicken, crispy chicken between two plain jane donuts topped with a fried egg.

299 North Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta. 678-732-0360, beetlecatatl.com

 The Brunch at Local Three. / AJC file photo

Credit: Yvonne Zusel

icon to expand image

Credit: Yvonne Zusel

Local Three Kitchen & Bar

If you're a fan of this restaurant's Sunday brunch -- named by the AJC dining team as one of the five best in Atlanta -- you'll be happy to know the spot has started serving up Saturday brunch from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., as well.

The brunch buffet, which asks guests to move through the kitchen and interact with the chefs as they pick up their food, features 18-25 seasonally-inspired items ranging from baked treats and mixed greens, to Southern breakfasts staples, lunch entrees and desserts.

The bar will be open for full service and will feature brunch cocktails including Bloody Marys, Bloody Marias, mimosas, bellinis, whiskey cocktails and beer and wine.

Brunch costs $24.93 for adults and $12.53 for kids ages 6-12.

3290 Northside Parkway N.W., Atlanta. 404-968-2700, localthree.com.

Jai Ho

The new Indian restaurant right off the Beltline is now serving a weekend buffet from from noon-3 p.m. Look for salad and omelette stations, four different appetizers, eight main dishes, sandwich platters, a dessert bar and either unlimited mimosas or two Bloody Marys for $19.99 per person through April, then $25 per person.

560 Dutch Valley Rd NE, Suite 100, Atlanta. 404-458-6888, jaihoatlanta.com/

 Mediterranea Mediterranean Breakfast with fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, dolmas, hard cooked egg, yogurt , fig compote, and seasoned bread. / Photo credit- Mia Yakel.

Credit: Bob Townsend

icon to expand image

Credit: Bob Townsend

Mediterranea

This newly-opened Grant Park spot offers a variety of gluten-free options for lunch and brunch. Read more here

332 Ormond Street S.E., Atlanta. 404-748-4219, mediterraneaatl.com.

Nine Mile Station

The restaurant and beer garden, which opened atop Ponce City Market in October 2016 , is now serving Sunday brunch from noon to 3 p.m.

Executive chef Jonathan McDowell's menu offers a mix of sweet and savory items such as eggs benedict made with two poached eggs, a pretzel croissant, Nueske bacon, spinach and hollandaise; banana stuffed French toast topped with Grand Marnier syrup and candied pecans; merguez sausage hash served with crispy potatoes, caramelized onions and harissa agrodolce; and eggs-in-a-hole featuring brioche, shoestring potatoes, sausage gravy and truffle oil. Dinner items including pressed sandwiches, sausages and patty melt will also be served during brunch.

Head bartender Randy Hayden's brunch cocktails include the Maple Bacon Old Fashioned made with bourbon, maple, orange bitters, chocolate bitters and candied bacon; the 9 Mile Bloody Mary featuring a mix of Tito’s vodka and house-made smoked bloody Mary mix; and the Sunday Smash mixed with customers' choice of vodka, gin, tequila or bourbon with lemon, jalapeno, maple and seasonal fruit. The restaurant also offers 12 rotating craft beer taps.

Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta. 770-999-1532, 9milestation.com/

Osteria Mattone

The Italian spot has rolled out a Roman-inspired weekend brunch featuring breakfast classics, a selection of pastas and pizzas, specialty cocktails and pastries and sweets from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m Saturdays and Sundays.

1095 Canton Street, Roswell. osteriamattone.com, 678-878-3378

Rize Artisan Pizza + Salads

The second location of the Atlanta pizza spot opens today in Sandy Springs and offers several pizza options, salads, small plates, flatbreads, pasta and dessert, as well as drinks including craft beers, wine, sangria and several non-alcoholic options.

6050 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. 404-334-0851, rizeartisanpizza.com.

 Breakfast sandwich from Smokebelly. / Photo courtesy of Smokebelly

Credit: Yvonne Zusel

icon to expand image

Credit: Yvonne Zusel

Smokebelly BBQ

Try out the restaurant's new Sunday brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., featuring dishes including sweet potato pancakes with sweet potato soufflé and topped with bourbon cinnamon crème; the smoked Benny, with poached eggs over grilled biscuit halves, served with beef brisket and chipotle hollandaise and a choice of brunch potatoes or cheese grits; French toast stuffed with bananas Foster, cream cheese and Myer’s rum and garnished with praline bacon crumbles; and more traditional Southern fare including Farmhouse biscuit sandwich and Cajob jamalaya omelet.

Barbecue staples from the restaurant's regular menu are also available, as well as a Bloody Mary bar and $4 mimosas and Bellinis, and brunch cocktails including the Nice Pear made with pisco, pear brandy, velvet falernum, lemon, bitters and Prosecco, an assortment of coffee cocktails, wines and beers.

128 East Andrews Drive, Atlanta. 404-848-9100, smokebellybbq.com.

 Gulf Coast lump crab benedict from Tupelo Honey. / Photo courtesy of Tueplo Honey

Credit: Yvonne Zusel

icon to expand image

Credit: Yvonne Zusel

Tupelo Honey

The Sandy Springs spot has served brunch since it opened in summer 2016 , but is unveiling new items for the spring.

Every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., customers can order the  cinna-biscuit topped with pecans and frosted in a rum sauce and can order the chef’s prix fixe menu option featuring two courses and bottomless coffee or tea for $22. Options include dishes such as avocado toast topped with farmer’s cheese, aleppo pepper and red chili honey drizzle, or Gulf Coast lump crab benedict served with a buttermilk biscuit, hollandaise, peperonata and potato cracklins.

4600 Roswell Road, Building C, Suite 110, Sandy Springs. 404-649-6334, tupelohoneycafe.com/location/sandy-springs/

More Atlanta brunch:

What to eat

5 best brunches in Atlanta

Best family-friendly brunches in metro Atlanta

What to drink

Best bottomless Atlanta brunch drink specials 

3 brunch mocktails to try in metro Atlanta

Get on top of brunch with these maps, videos, quizzes and other interactives

MAP: Where to eat brunch in Atlanta

MAP: A drinker’s guide to brunch in Atlanta

Photos: All Things Brunch in Atlanta

Checklist: Which Atlanta brunches have you eaten?

Video: Wrecking Bar shows you how to make the perfect bloody mary

Video: How to make Buttermilk Kitchen’s pimento cheese omelet

Spin this wheel to help you decide where to eat brunch this weekend

More brunch and breakfast

Brunch without eggs? You can do it with these delicious dishes

Perfect egg recipes with a twist

How to make the best biscuits

New spins on a Southern breakfast

Much abrew about coffee in Atlanta

Read more stories like this by  liking Atlanta Restaurant Scene on Facebook , following @ATLDiningNews on Twitter  and  @ajcdining on Instgram