‘Tucked away, not far away’ is how Canoe restaurant’s website describes this gorgeous Atlanta, Georgia, restaurant, and I believe that’s perfectly apt. Nestled along the Chattahoochee River, this restaurant feels like an escape to the woodlands in the most romantic way, with an emphasis on fine dining. Here we enjoyed a beautiful meal along the river, fantastic conversation, and a wonderful escape from the big city feeling of Atlanta without needing to drive more than 15 minutes from our hotel. Read on to discover why people travel from all over the southern United States to visit this fantastic, award-winning eatery.
Canoe
Location: Atlanta, GA
Address: 4199 Paces Ferry Road, SE
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
Food Type: New American
Dining Experience: Indoor & Outdoor
Price: $150+ per Person
Dress Code: Smart Casual +
Reservations: Recommended
Special Diets: Pescatarian, Gluten-Free (not GF dedicated)
The Ambience
Canoe felt like visiting our cabin in Northern Michigan, which is lovely. It was so cozy, charming, and inviting that we couldn’t help but relax when we arrived. We’d spent a long day traveling the day prior, and before our visit here, we’d had an equally long day of sightseeing and exploring in Atlanta. It was all enjoyable, but this was the perfect place to unwind after so much excitement. We live in the forest on the East Coast, and I grew up in Northern Michigan, so being amongst the trees, along the water, as we were at Canoe, really felt like coming home after a long day.
The door handles and table legs are made of canoe paddles, and several vintage wooden canoes hang from the ceiling at the entrance. Everything else is relatively camp-esque but in a much more elevated sense than one might expect. We dined al fresco on the back patio, and the fresh spring breeze was beautiful. There was no traffic noise, no honking traffic as we would find in downtown Atlanta, yet we were only 15 minutes from where we were staying at St. Regis Atlanta.
Outside we could watch the river, and numerous canoers and kayakers, flow by while wild birds visited the numerous bird feeders stationed around Canoe. The restaurant’s backyard was bursting with colorful flowers, lush trees, and bright green bushes, making it the perfect respite from the city.
Canoe Menu & Our Meals
The menu at Canoe features scratch-made meals with a seasonal, local focus. A few things had been imported from our neck of the woods, like Maine oysters (Maine has the best oysters in the world!), but the rest is grown and sourced in Georgia. As such, we got a great look into what the area had to offer, and it was all so delicious!
I started with Maine oysters. While they did have quite a few gluten-free items on their menu, there weren’t many pescatarian and gluten-free appetizers, which was fine because these were amazing. The mignonette had olive oil and red chili flakes, which gave it a dynamic, almost syrupy texture that paired beautifully with the fresh oysters.
Robin elected to try the Canoe’s House Smoked Salmon served on a crispy potato cake with fresh herbs and creamy goat’s cheese. I tried this one because they fried it separately from other items to be gluten-free, which was delicious. The potato cake’s crunch was fantastic, paired with the cheese’s creaminess and fresh bite of the herbs. I wish I could have eaten more of this one.
We also shared their beautiful Spring Salad with baby arugula, spiced nuts, freshly grated parmesan, and poppy seed vinaigrette, which was very light, refreshing, and citrusy. It wasn’t very hot during our time in Atlanta, but it was tiring, and this salad perked us both right up. I can definitely see this being a necessity in summer when the temperatures soar. It’s truly so good!
Our main courses were the best part of our meal, and that’s honestly saying something because it was all phenomenal. I went with the scallops because I love seafood, and I think it’s wonderful how things that were once viewed as food only for the destitute have come to be recognized as something so nutritious, sustainable, and versatile. I order scallops often, but that’s because I know each preparation, each location they’re grown, and the way in which they’re cooked and plated leaves so much room for variety. These were delicious and so well done.
Robin chose the Panko Crusted George’s Bank Cod, served with roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes. I couldn’t eat this one because it wasn’t gluten-free, but it smelled amazing, and he enjoyed it. He said the smooth texture of the herbed mashed potatoes paired with the panko crust on the buttery cod was such a delightful combination that he polished his off quickly.
For dessert, we indulged in a trio of desserts at our server’s behest to try all of their gluten-free options. First, there was the Popcorn Ice Cream Sundae featuring Canoe’s cracker jacks and chantilly. This didn’t sound appetizing to me, but the combination of sweet and salty was so tasty! That’s why I love trying new things and new flavor combinations because, before this visit, I would never have thought to try popcorn-flavored ice cream, but now I hope I get to savor it again someday soon.
Then, we had the Spicy Papaya Sorbet with housemade pineapple jam and a pizzelle cookie. This was my favorite dessert and the one I ate the most because it was the perfect blend of spicy and sweet, and I have always enjoyed sorbets. The gluten-free cookie was great too. Robin also had the Paris Brest with almond, blood orange, and dark chocolate, which was not gluten-free, but it was a beautiful presentation, and he said it was great. This was part pastry, part creamy dessert, and fully lovely!
Final Thoughts
This was an exquisite meal. Everything from the atmosphere and the tranquil location to the fresh, seasonal ingredients and variety of gluten-free options made this one of my favorite places I’ve eaten in Georgia. Our server was so kind and helpful (thank you, Jacob!), and we never once felt rushed or uncomfortable as we did at some of the other places we ate during our week in Atlanta that I won’t be writing about. Canoe invited us and all their other guests to relax, decompress, and reconnect with each other over a beautiful meal, and that’s precisely what we did. I can’t wait to visit again someday.
Explore more of my adventures in Atlanta and the United States.
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