The Woodruff Arts Center finally has the restaurant it deserves. Chef Craig Richards, who's been building his reputation at his Michelin-recognized Italian restaurant Lyla Lila, opened Elise right next to the High Museum of Art, and it's bringing the kind of dining experience Midtown has been missing.
What Makes This Restaurant Different
The space itself feels like an extension of the High Museum. Bold pinks, vibrant greens, and rich red hues cover the walls, creating an atmosphere where art lovers in black turtlenecks and dark-rimmed glasses speak in hushed tones about the latest exhibition. I watched a woman in a leopard-print coat settle by the window with the kind of confidence that told me she's been waiting for a place like this to open.
But let's talk about that mineral water list, because it's genuinely wild. The Wossa mineral water from Austria runs $24 a bottle, and the staff will encourage you to treat it like wine. And water is just the beginning, the menu is craftfully curated to make you feel like you're consuming edible art.
The Food You Need to Order
We've looked into the reviews and recommendations or previous diners and heres what we've uncovered.
Start with the Master of Light cocktail at $16. It's built on arak, a Levantine spirit made with anise seed, combined with saffron-infused vermouth. The result tastes like cardamom barfi in liquid form, with the saffron adding deep floral notes and that signature yellow color.
The fresh anchovies on toast ($24) arrive with sherry reduction and tomato powder, and here's where Richards shows his attention to detail: the plating colors deliberately match the artwork throughout the restaurant. It's the kind of thoughtful touch that elevates the entire experience beyond just eating.
For your main, the tagliatelle with rabbit ragu ($39) demonstrates why fresh pasta matters. It's rich without being heavy, the kind of dish that makes you slow down and actually taste what you're eating.
Don't sleep on the chicken liver mousse either. It comes with strawberry-hibiscus jam, fried pistachios, and brioche, hitting that perfect balance between elegant and indulgent.
The Scene Worth Seeing
The two large dining rooms offer space for both groups and intimate dates. This is the crowd that visits the High Museum, attends performances, and actually reads the theater programs.
If you're planning a full arts district day, this fits perfectly.
Atlanta needed this. We've got plenty of restaurants doing elevated Southern cuisine and trendy fusion spots, but we've been missing sophisticated, art-forward dining that doesn't take itself too seriously. The mineral water list could read as pretentious, but the staff presents it with genuine enthusiasm rather than snobbery. Richards understands that fine dining in 2026 means being excellent without being exclusive. The $39 pasta isn't cheap, but you're paying for house-made tagliatelle, thoughtful sourcing, and a complete experience that extends from the artwork on the walls to the vermouth in your glass. This is the kind of restaurant that makes Midtown feel like a real cultural destination rather than just a place you drive through on the way somewhere else.