Lucian Books and Wine pairs a restaurant with a specialty bookstore on Peachtree Road in Buckhead. Shelves of books, curated by co-owner Katie Barringer — who opened Atlanta's Cover Books in 2015 before this — overlook the dining room, available for guests to browse and buy alongside dinner.
Co-owner Jordan Smelt runs the wine program: a list of more than 450 bottles organized by grape variety rather than region, built for easy discovery. Smelt's background includes time at Cakes & Ale, Holeman & Finch, and Restaurant Eugene, along with a stint as General Manager of Rive Gauche Wine Co. Executive chef Jason Paolini, a Louisiana native with over two decades in Atlanta kitchens, joined in January 2022 after leadership roles at Resurgens Hospitality, Restaurant Eugene, and Holeman & Finch; his menu is built to run alongside the wine list rather than compete with it.
Beyond the dining room, Lucian hosts a recurring book club and a rotating slate of literary events, including book launches and curated dinners tied to its shelves. The restaurant has been named to Eater's Eater 38 list.
Co-owner Jordan Smelt runs the wine program: a list of more than 450 bottles organized by grape variety rather than region, built for easy discovery. Smelt's background includes time at Cakes & Ale, Holeman & Finch, and Restaurant Eugene, along with a stint as General Manager of Rive Gauche Wine Co. Executive chef Jason Paolini, a Louisiana native with over two decades in Atlanta kitchens, joined in January 2022 after leadership roles at Resurgens Hospitality, Restaurant Eugene, and Holeman & Finch; his menu is built to run alongside the wine list rather than compete with it.
Beyond the dining room, Lucian hosts a recurring book club and a rotating slate of literary events, including book launches and curated dinners tied to its shelves. The restaurant has been named to Eater's Eater 38 list.