The temperature’s not the only thing that’s heating up this summer. All across the South, from Austin to Atlanta, new restaurants are cranking up the A/C and welcoming diners in to experience memorable meals in unique settings. Some come from established hospitality groups, while others are from independent operators and first-time owners. A couple of restaurants are leaning into high-end tasting menus and omakase experiences, while others are transporting guests to coastal Europe or reviving older casual spaces with new life.

Prefecture Japanese Steakhouse in Atlanta bills itself as the city’s first omakase steak experience, and Nashville restaurant Present Tense offers a chef’s choice tasting menu that pairs Japanese small plates with sake. In Texas, Stillwell’s steakhouse highlights its own proprietary locally raised Akaushi beef line; Yamas is an airy Greek restaurant with fresh mezze and seafood, and Benny Chows serves New York-style Cantonese cuisine. Over in Miami, New Schnitzel House is an ode to German comfort food.

Keep reading to learn more about these new Southern restaurants.