Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours

The crafty food and drinks are why we pour into this emerging Atlanta classic. Located on the Westside, Twisted Soul is the first restaurant brainchild from acclaimed Atlanta chef Deborah VanTrece, who garnered fame for fusing soul food classics with International flavors. Twisted’s crispy fried chicken, which is paired with a simple sweet potato chutney, and their hoisin-glazed oxtails are evidence of that. Not to mention innovative drinks like their tequila-based matcha and pineapple cocktail are reason alone to pull up.

From brunch to dinner, Twisted Soul feels like everyday is soul food Sunday with your new favorite, super extra auntie’s. You won’t just get mac and cheese, you get mac and cheese topped with candied pecans and crispy bacon. A bevy of liquors sit on the shelves above the wood panel bar just like that prized cache of bottles your auntie displays on the mantel to show off her well-traveled tastes. The mid-size but still rather intimate dining space even feels like someone’s home, where a table of friends can comfortably gather for weekend brunch or couples sit for a relaxed dinner.

photo credit: Amy Sinclair