Welcome to Atlanta and the 158th Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association. Those who attend the meeting will be visiting Atlanta at a time when the city is savoring a dramatic, decade-long improvement in its culinary reputation, promising ample rewards for those inclined to explore dining options beyond the limited range of choices in and around the downtown hotels.

Aria, Bacchanalia, the Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton, Joël, and Seeger's enjoy national reputations and are easy to learn about. If you're interested in any of these establishments, be sure to make a reservation well in advance. Interesting casual dining spots abound—you might want to consider Ria's Bluebird, Rolling Bones BBQ, lunch at Son's Place, Thumbs Up Diner, and the "World Famous Varsity" at Georgia Tech.

What follows, however, is a list of 10 moderately priced restaurants in several of Atlanta's thriving neighborhoods. Some have been around for awhile; others are quite new and promising. None of these options are typical convention- or tourist-oriented restaurants, and all are located out of the downtown area but can be reached easily by taxi or MARTA, Atlanta's subway system. Most of these restaurants offer outdoor dining and accept reservations.