Black Restaurant Week highlights the chefs, traditions and diverse flavors that continue to shape Atlanta’s food scene.
ATLANTA — At Marcus Bar & Grille, its identity extends beyond the menu. Executive Chef Gary Caldwell says every detail of the restaurant was designed to make Atlantans feel at home.
“Everything that we did when the restaurant was designed was in order to make people from Atlanta feel at home in the restaurant,” Caldwell said.
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“That’s why there’s roller skates on the wall. That’s why there’s Atlanta memorabilia. All the records that are on the walls are Atlanta artists.”
Caldwell previously helped Atlanta rapper Ludacris launch the Chicken + Beer restaurant brand before partnering with celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson at Marcus Bar & Grille. One signature dish, the Cornbread Chicken and Waffles, offers diners a fresh take on a Southern favorite.
“When you take a bite out of that waffle, you get these different textures that you don’t normally get in a chicken and waffle,” he said.
For Black Restaurant Week, Caldwell is featuring a special called the “Global Plate,” centered around Caribbean chicken.
His message to diners is simple: “Don’t think of it as your grandmom’s food because I’m not your grandma,” he said with a laugh.
Caldwell hopes Black Restaurant Week also expands people’s understanding of Black-owned restaurants and the range of cuisines they offer.
“When most people think of Black Restaurant Week, they think they’re only getting soul food,” he said. “But there are Black-owned restaurants serving high-end French cuisine, elevated Southern food, Haitian fine dining and so much more.”
For Caldwell, the event is also about preserving Southern heritage and creating spaces where communities can reconnect.
“Black Restaurant Week, in my heart, helps us get back to gathering,” he said.
Whether it’s a longtime neighborhood favorite or a new culinary destination, the celebration reminds diners that every meal comes with a story—and every plate is made with care.
Black Restaurant Week runs through Aug. 16. Participating restaurants across metro Atlanta are offering special menus and promotions throughout the event.
Dining and Cooking