Lazy Betty, the modern and inventive restaurant from executive chef/partner Ron Hsu and chef de cuisine/partner Aaron Phillips, opens for dinner service tonight, February 26. Located in Atlanta’s Candler Park neighborhood at 1530 DeKalb Avenue NE, Lazy Betty features two tasting menu options.
Offering an inside look at the culinary team’s devotion to modern techniques and thoughtful approach, the restaurant serves two distinct tasting menus—the Lazy Betty Tasting Menu, available in the dining room and lounge, and the Chef’s Tasting Menu, available exclusively at the intimate chef counter that seats eight. The menus will change regularly, showcasing refined dishes that are representative of a variety of cuisines and crafted with intentionality and finesse. Each course of the tasting menu is designed to enhance the overall experience of the visit, featuring an array of cooking styles and flavors, just as each ingredient plays a unique role in the composition of the dish.
Courses featured on the opening tasting menus include Charred Spanish Octopus with fermented black bean and Pearson peaches; “Steak and Eggs” with wasabi and ponzu-scented jus; Cauliflower “Bone Marrow” with onion marmalade; and Foie Gras with “preserved” gooseberries and petite salad. Several dishes are served on handcrafted ceramics, made by artists Masa Sasaki, Candace McCollough, Devanie Schlipp, and Helen Silverstein.
The beverage program mimics the artistry and technique of the food program. Lazy Betty presents an approachable and free-spirited wine list, overseen by Jackson Carter. Offerings are sourced from domestic and international boutique wineries and cutting edge winemakers driven by their passions. Guests are able to sip on sake and beer brewed locally and from around the world, and thoughtfully crafted cocktails are curated and presented by Zee Zammit.
Helming the kitchen are Ron Hsu, bringing culinary chops from Michelin-starred Le Bernardin and Le Colonial, and Aaron Phillips, whose past experience includes time at Le Bernardin, Jean-Georges’ The Mark Restaurant, and The Four Seasons Hotel. Peter Hill serves as General Manager, Austin Goetzman fills the role of Sous Chef, and Lindsey Davis is the restaurant’s Pastry Sous Chef. The spot is also managed by restaurant partners (and Chef Ron’s siblings) Howard and Anita Hsu.
“After hosting preview supper club dinners last year and working to conceptualize our space, we are excited to open our doors and get cooking,” says Ron Hsu. “Lazy Betty has a great team, and we are proud to offer something new and special in Atlanta.”
Local architecture firm Praxis3 designed Lazy Betty with an industrial chic aesthetic. Natural light illuminates soft, muted colors of the interior, which stand in contrast to exposed brick and concrete flooring. Artwork from Jenifer Thoem and Christina Kwan is featured in the intimate dining room that seats 28, and a lounge area and chef counter add another 18 seats. A large outdoor patio seating 25 will open soon.
Reservations for the dining room and chef counter can be made in advance through Resy, and walk-in guests are invited to enjoy The Lazy Betty Tasting Menu in the lounge. A la carte dining will be available this spring in the lounge and outdoor patio.
