• Gumbo served at a Creole restaurant in Atlanta.Serving gumbo image by Daughterson from Fotolia.com
  
  Creole cuisine, closely associated with Louisiana history and culture, represents a fusion of French, African, Spanish and Native American culinary traditions. Creole dishes use hot spices and tomatoes, require roux as a thickener and are often flavored with "the holy trinity," the classic onion, green pepper and celery base known in French classic cuisine as mirepoix. American enthusiasm for Creole cuisine, which falls under the umbrella of Southern cooking, has spread to Atlanta with great success that has allowed Creole restaurateurs and chefs to expand Creole cuisine offerings in the populous Georgia city.
  
  

McKinnon's Louisiane Restaurant

• McKinnon's Louisiane Restaurant opened its doors in 1972, serving Creole seafood dishes that garnered the restaurant national attention as the place to go for outstanding Creole food. The restaurant, located in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, features an upscale yet cozy environment for guests to enjoy the spices and flavors of Louisiana. Guests have a choice of eating in the restaurant's elegant dining room or in the casual grill area. McKinnon's Louisiane signature dishes include authentic Creole gumbo, bar-b-que shrimp and crawfish etouffee. Although not required, reservations are recommended since the popular restaurant fills quickly during dinner hours, 5:30 to 10 p.m.
  
  McKinnon's Louisiane Restaurant
  
  3209 Maple Drive NE
  
  Atlanta, GA 30305
  
  404-237-1313
  
  mckinnons.com
  
  

Parish Foods & Goods

• Parish Foods and Goods, located in Inman Park in the fully-restored historic Terminal Building, serves chef-inspired, moderately-priced Creole dishes made with locally-grown ingredients in an atmosphere reminiscent of the New Orleans French Quarter. The restaurant offers a complete dining and shopping experience that allows customers to enjoy spicy Creole food, live music and a market place featuring products from Georgia farmers, artisan beer and wines and fair-trade goods from around the world. Restaurant guests can eat brunch or dinner indoors or outdoors on the vine-draped patio. Creole brunch specialties include shrimp and grits and the omelette Pontchartrain, an egg dish of crawfish, andouille gravy and hash browns. Dinner specialties include roasted whole fish, crawfish-stuffed catfish and fried chicken served with collar greens.
  
  Parish Foods & Goods
  
  24 N. Highland Ave.
  
  Atlanta, GA 30307
  
  404-681-4434
  
  parishatl.com
  
  

Creole Nouvelle

• Creole Nouvelle, located in the Marietta district of Atlanta, serves Creole cuisine in a New Orleans-style bistro setting. Chef Ba Sil pays homage to classic Creole traditions but jazzes up dishes with a "secret spice." The restaurant offers upscale dining with a moderately-priced menu featuring Creole favorites such as gumbo, etouffee, seafood platters, po'boys, red beans and rice, crab cakes and shrimp and chicken creole. Creole Nouvelle serves lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily and dinner on Wednesday through Saturday only from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.
  
  Creole Nouvelle
  
  123 Luckie St.
  
  Atlanta, Ga 30303
  
  404-524-8456
  
  creolenouvelle.com