Atlanta, GA
How Atlanta Is Becoming A Foodie Destination, According To Randall Cook Of Method Co.
Atlanta is also referred to as “The City in a Forest” thanks to its high concentration of trees.
Once a tiny community at the end of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, Atlanta has evolved into one of the most prominent vacation destinations in the U.S. South over the past two centuries, with no shortage of world-class museums and hotels to explore across its limits—and all of these attractions have fostered a thriving food and drink scene throughout the city. A top spot for both innovative New American cuisine and traditional Peach State fare, Atlanta dining options continue to grow with each passing year, with FORTH being one of its most promising new additions. Developed by renowned hospitality company Method Co., this grandiose structure comes complete with a wellness center, boutique hotel and four unique drinking and dining concepts, each one acting as a tangible reminder of Atlanta’s culinary prowess.
For Forbes, Method Co. CEO and Co-Founder Randall Cook provides insight into some of the top drinking and dining destinations to explore across Atlanta both at FORTH and across the city.
What sets Atlanta apart from other U.S. cities in terms of its food and drink scene?
There’s such a vibrant culinary and drinking scene because the city has such a diverse and growing population—so you can enjoy anything from Southern classics to excellent Asian food to world-class Italian and French cuisine. The city also has an emerging cocktail culture. And because Atlanta is growing so much, there’s been this influx of emerging foodie neighborhoods fueled by all these young culinary creatives.
Could you tell us about what kind of culinary concepts are available for guests at FORTH?
There’s a nice range of restaurants at FORTH, so both our hotel guests and locals can dine with us several nights a week and try something different each time. Elektra is our airy Mediterranean spot that offers all-day dining from a light breakfast to mezze platters to grilled fish in the evening. Bar Premio is our cafe-turned-wine bar where guests can come for a quick coffee, a late afternoon aperitivo or sit down with a bowl of pasta and a glass of wine in the evening. Il Premio is our flagship Italian steakhouse that serves up all the classics you’d expect like oysters on the half shell, New York Strip and branzino all washed down with the perfect martini. Of course, you can top it all off with a nightcap at Moonlight, our rooftop cocktail lounge.
What does the cocktail scene at FORTH look like? Are there any drinks that have been particularly popular for visitors?
I would describe it as vibrant, eclectic and seductive. There is a perfectly crafted cocktail for literally everyone with each venue at FORTH offering its own distinct spirits angle. We put a lot of attention, time and detail into a spirit-based cocktail menu, but we also put a lot of focus on our non-alcohol program, as we’ve noticed a growing demand for this. In particular, the Ghia Paloma made with Ghia N-A aperitif, grapefruit, lime, agave and seltzer has been our most popular N-A order.
A few other cocktails that have been hits so far are the Pina Americano made with Cappelletti, pineapple-infused sweet vermouth, Kalani Coconut Liqueur and club soda served at Bar Premio, and likewise, Il Premio’s Martini made with olive oil-washed Belvedere vodka, Fords Gin, Acqua di Cedro and dry vermouth. Elektra’s Illumination has also proven to be a perfect poolside drink, made with Bombay Sapphire Gin, Pallini limoncello, lemon and Fever Tree ginger beer. But truly, Moonlight is the property’s gem for cocktails, and the Street Lights made with bourbon, sorrel, Campari, crème de pêche and piment d’Espelette is a must-order.
What are some of your favorite restaurants and bars to visit across the city outside of FORTH?
I am a big fan of UMI, a sushi restaurant known for its fresh seafood and Japanese-inspired dishes, and Staplehouse, a fine-dining spot featuring seasonal ingredients and an excellent tasting menu. There’s great Mexican food here: I love Muchacho for their tacos and tequila and then a place like Copalena, which is offering a bold, modern take on Mexican cuisine. For the cocktail scene, Bar Margot offers an impressive selection of drinks and Banshee is another innovative spot for both unique cocktails and dishes. When we were opening FORTH, I loved exploring all the options at nearby Ponce City Market, which has a great variety of food stalls and restaurants.
If you could recommend just one dish for anyone visiting FORTH, which specific dish would you choose?
It’s hard to pick one, but the menu at Il Premio (our Italian steakhouse) has a bunch of crowd pleasers from the 22 oz. Dry Aged Ribeye to the Strozzapreti al Granchio made with king crab, uni butter, brodetto and basil. These dishes embody Il Premio’s celebratory and refined approach to hospitality as well as our culinary team’s belief in using the best ingredients, which has made the restaurant one of the city’s most exciting openings of the year.
Atlanta became the capital city of Georgia in 1868.
Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Knicks -5.5; over/under is 216.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Knicks lead series 1-0
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference first round with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last matchup 113-102 on Saturday, led by 28 points from Jalen Brunson. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 26.
The Knicks are 35-17 in Eastern Conference games. New York has a 9-4 record in one-possession games.
The Hawks are 27-25 in Eastern Conference play. Atlanta is third in the league scoring 18.1 fast break points per game. McCollum leads the Hawks averaging 5.0.
The Knicks are shooting 47.8% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 47.4% the Hawks allow to opponents. The Hawks are shooting 47.4% from the field, 1.4% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks’ opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 19.9 points over the last 10 games.
Dyson Daniels is scoring 11.9 points per game and averaging 6.8 rebounds for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 21.3 points and 2.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 6-4, averaging 110.4 points, 40.7 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points per game.
Hawks: 5-5, averaging 117.2 points, 43.5 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Tyler Kolek: day to day (oblique), Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (elbow).
Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks prediction, pick for Game 1 of 2026 NBA Playoffs first round
Sean Barnard details his preview and prediction for Saturday’s Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks matchup in the NBA Playoffs.
The NBA playoffs are officially underway with a loaded opening round. Taking place in the No. 3 vs. No. 6 matchup in the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks will take on the New York Knicks.
You can check out the full series preview on DraftKings Network here.
Looking at the odds for the series opener, the Knicks enter as 6.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Hawks are +205 underdogs with the game total set at O/U 218.5 points.
This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Eastern Conference series opener.
Hawks vs. Knicks prediction, preview
The Atlanta Hawks went through a midseason transition, moving on from Trae Young after he headlined the production for the franchise for the past eight years. The Hawks have not missed a beat amid the major midseason shakeup, finishing as the sixth seed in the conference with a 46-36 overall record. On the season, Atlanta has gone 44-38 against the spread, and the game total has gone 41-41 to the over/under.
Jock Landale is the only player set to miss the matchup tonight. Jalen Johnson headlines the production, posting averages of 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has had a breakout season in a new location, adding 20.8 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. CJ McCollum adds 18.7 points and 4.1 assists across his first 41 games with the organization, while Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu, Jonathan Kuminga, and Zaccharie Risacher also play notable roles.
Quin Snyder’s group scores 118.5 points per game, which ranks sixth in the NBA. The Hawks also rank 14th in offensive rating, 13th in field goal percentage, and fifth in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 116.0 points per game against Atlanta, which ranks 18th in the league. They also rank ninth in defensive rating, 18th in opponent field goal percentage, and 12th in opponent three-point percentage.
The New York Knicks entered the season with legitimate title aspirations. They have had some notable ups and downs, but now face this opportunity. New York finished the regular season with a 53-29 record and sit in third place in the East. The Knicks have gone 44-39 against the spread, and the game total has gone 38-45 to the over/under.
The Knicks enter this matchup with a clear injury report and a large sample size of the team playing together. Jalen Brunson headlines the production with 26.0 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.3 rebounds, while Karl-Anthony Towns pitches in 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists of his own. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are responsible for the production at the wing positions, while Josh Hart sets the tone for this team from a hustle standpoint. New York also did an impressive job building out the bench unit this season, with players like Jordan Clarkson, Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, and Tyler Kolek capable of serving as X-factors off the bench.
As a team, the Knicks are scoring 116.5 points per game, which ranks 10th in the NBA. New York also ranks third in offense rating, 11th in field goal percentage, and fourth in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 110.1 points per game against the Knicks, which ranks fifth in the league. They also rank seventh in defensive rating, fifth in opponent field goal percentage, and 20th in opponent three-point percentage.
Hawks vs. Knicks pick, best bet
These are two teams at different stages of their timeline, but neither will be afraid of this playoff spotlight. The Knicks pushed their chips in around this core and are hoping to be rewarded for it. They fell to the Indiana Pacers in the Conference Finals last year and have made the postseason in four consecutive seasons. Atlanta missed out on the playoffs in back-to-back years and turned a new page direction with Jalen Johnson now leading the charge. Without Trae Young, the Hawks now lean on more of a defensive-minded identity and have a roster loaded with athleticism.
During the regular season, these teams faced off three times. They split the first two matchups, which took place on December 27th and January 2nd. New York picked up a narrow 108-105 victory in the most recent game, which took place on April 6th. Both sides were aware that this was a potential postseason matchup, and this game had some major seeding implications. It was an evenly matched game in which neither team was able to extend a lead beyond 10 points, and the rebounding battle was separated by just one board. The biggest discrepancy came with the Knicks shooting 50% compared to the Hawks shooting 40%, and New York outscoring Atlanta 52-34 in the paint.
While there are higher expectations for this Knicks team in the postseason outlook, the Hawks stack up fairly well in this matchup. Jalen Brunson will be at the heart of the offensive attack for New York. But his biggest weakness is when he is guarded by high-level athletes with a size advantage over him. The Hawks have built out a roster loaded with this archetype of player, and there is not a clear matchup for Brunson to hunt in most lineup combinations.
Brunson has enough experience and savvy to will settle in over the course of the series. But expect some growing pains in the early parts of this matchup, and for this to be a huge hurdle for this Knicks team. I am backing the Hawks to cover the 5.5-point spread and would not be shocked if they steal the opening game. This is a series in which neither side should be expected to pull away by major margins throughout. Count on Atlanta to have defense success and have a clear gameplan for limiting the impact of Brunson. Expect this matchup to come down to the wire and take the points in the series opener.
Best Bet: Hawks +6.5 (-112)
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