TIME FOR DINNER, y'all. Lunch ,too.

This year's Spring Dining Guide is putting some South back in your mouth. We're celebrating Southern food big time, taking a long look at the area's best soul food, meat-n-threes, barbecue — there's even a round up of cocktails, biscuits and sweets.

ELISSA EUBANKS/AJC Staff (ENLARGE)
A drive to Athens is worth it to sample Five and Ten's unconventional take on dishes, including Tucker's tomatoes with basil, cucumbers, saba olive oil and pecorino.
THE SPRING 2007 GUIDE:
Our Southern Favorites: Explore the best Southern dining metro Atlanta has to offer. Map your route, read the review and more!
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In addition, you'll find, as always, my list of the top 10 restaurants in the city (this year there are a few savory surprises).

Don't forget to take a peek at newcomers to see what's coming up in the next few months.

I've also compiled a list of the so-called "new South" restaurants — Atlanta's savviest Southern kitchens — and I delve into why the heck Southern cuisine is going upscale.

It's a lot to take in, but you'll manage. We've done the footwork for you — so sit back on the veranda and relax. It's time to eat.

— Meridith Ford

HUNGRY? DIG INTO THESE LINKS:

Welcome to our Spring Dining Guide

See & hear it: What's so Southern about that?

Blog: Best places for Southern food

Southern food's high-fallutin again

The seven: Savvy Southern fare

Check out these homey sideshows

Spring '07: Our Top 10

New places with familiar flavors

Great eats in the neighborhood