What to Wear to an Indoor-Outdoor Restaurant in Atlanta

Welcome to Best Dressed, an Eater series where restaurant diners show and tell what they’re wearing out to dinner, from the small details to the splashy pieces — and how they approached getting dressed for each spot’s specific scene. How do we dress to go out these days?

---

The Restaurant: Breaker Breaker
Location: Reynoldstown
The Concept: A casual seafood-centric spot with a lively all-day crowd
Menu Highlights: Cajun-style peel-and-eat shrimp, golden hush puppies with spiced honey butter, platters of fried fish, and crushable cocktails like the Mucho Nada, made with White Claw mango vodka, mango puree, and a Tajín rim.

On a balmy Sunday afternoon this spring, Atlantans seeking sunshine and seafood walked, scootered, and biked in droves to this sprawling indoor-outdoor restaurant adjacent to the Beltline Eastside Trail, a section of the city’s popular mixed-use pathway. The laid-back seafood shack with a menu from chef Maximilian Hines, also the founder of Stolen Goods, a collaborative of Black and brown chefs in Atlanta, brings Gulf Coast vibes to the landlocked city, complete with nostalgic and nautical design touches such as wood paneling, midcentury pool tile, and turquoise-hued barstools.

Located in a narrow lot that once housed a steel fabrication site, the 9,000-square-foot space is a go-to on warm days for relaxed get-togethers, people-watching, or a quick respite from a long walk or ride. On this afternoon, both the indoor-outdoor bar and the 100-seat patio shaded by an enormous steel canopy were prime spots for sipping on tropically inspired cocktails and dining on seafood. Groups of friends, cousins extending a birthday celebration, and solo diners matched the restaurant’s beach-casual vibe with relaxed clothing, statement accessories, and pops of color worthy of the season’s first 80-degree day.

---

Kate Smith, 36, education and Brittany Misra, 38, tech

Eater: What brought you to the restaurant today?

Brittany: I live in Cabbagetown, so I come here often.

Kate: It was her birthday yesterday, and I’m in town visiting from Philly.

Did you talk about your outfits before coming?

Brittany: We did not. We just threw on random clothes to grab a grouper sandwich. Katie and I joke that we have “cousin energy” when we are together and vibe off each other intuitively, and I think that translates to our clothes, too.

Kate: Brittany and I do have strong cousin energy! We have always had very different styles, so I don’t think we help each other pick out looks often, but we are wearing looks that represent our own individual vibes. She always wears more black and white with a pop of something fun, and I tend to wear colorful dresses.

What are you wearing today? Is there anything in particular you love?

Brittany: This record [on the T-shirt] is one of my favorite albums, and I love tulle, so I went with tulle.

Kate: This dress is a Farm Rio. I’m a Spanish teacher, and I went to Brazil last year and became obsessed with the brand. I like all the fun colors and the cut, and the different prints.

How has your style evolved over the years, especially when going out to eat?

Brittany: My personal style has probably devolved over the years since COVID. Working from home made comfort take the front seat more than before, which says a lot since I’ve always been a tomboy. I guess part of that is getting older, too, and caring less about other people’s opinions.

Kate: Over time, I have gradually grown to wear primarily dresses. For starters, it’s much easier to just pick one item, but secondly, they make me feel pretty, and I can move around easily. I like patterns that pop.

How did the restaurant influence what you decided to wear?

Brittany: The vibe is casual and fun, and I guess you could say that was our look today also.

Kate: I didn’t know much about it, but Brittany told me about it briefly when we passed it in the car one day, that they refurbished the space, and it has good music and is a nice place to sit outside. I’m catching a flight in an hour so we just wanted somewhere chill to sit outside before I left. I just threw on the last thing I hadn’t packed up to go back home.

What’s the meaning behind this tattoo?

Brittany: The tattoo was based off a print I have from a local artist, Jonny Warren. I added the disco ball. I have a mantra that I repeat when things get tough: When you want to quit, rest. To me the piece embodies that — she’s been in a few battles and people have tried to come for her, but her stance is still powerful and upward gazing. She could give up but she’s just taking a knee and thinking about the good times ahead.

---

Dan Raby, 35, media

Eater: How did you decide what to wear today?

Dan Raby: I’ve been waiting to wear my jersey repping the Philadelphia diner Middle Child for ages — it’s the closest I get to anything sports-related — so when I saw it was that sweet spot for a patio hang, I had to grab it off the hanger immediately.

Were you aware of the general vibe of the restaurant before you came, and did that influence what you wore?

You can’t beat Breaker Breaker’s patio, and the place’s relaxed style calls for a relaxed chill look right back at it. I never want to be too overdressed for the occasion or location; but then again, I don’t want to look like a T-shirt and jorts guy if I’m going somewhere a little fancier.

How has your personal style evolved over the years?

I have to credit my husband for any attempts at style that I have now. He turned me from a person who never thought of matching colors and mostly wore band T-shirts to someone who put at least a little bit of thought into what I wear out to eat. It’s thanks to him that I try to get the right outfit to fit wherever we’re going. When he goes “Oh, you look great!” I know I’ve killed it.

Do you have any other fun restaurant-themed pieces in your wardrobe?

Restaurant merchandise is my kryptonite. I’ll go back to a place multiple times if they add a new T-shirt design or additional bit of swag. I just can’t help myself. It’s gotten so bad that people will bring me back merch from restaurants when they travel. I think between the two of us, my husband and I have at least eight Ticonderoga Club hats and a handful of How Crispy and Halfway Crooks T-shirts. My most recent addition was a new hat from Leftie Lee’s — it was so bright and colorful that I had to get it along with my chicken and biscuits.

---

Sean Fahie, 41, creative

Eater: Do you live around here?

Seah Fahie: Yes, I live in Cabbagetown.

How did you end up coming to this restaurant?

I got an invite from my friend Quianah Upton for lunch and to catch up. This is my first time here, and the vibes are nice. It’s very spring energy here.

How did you decide on your outfit today?

The sun is out, and I’m feeling very Caribbean today. I’m originally from St. Croix in the Virgin Islands.

Are there any pieces you want to specifically call out?

This shirt is Target, yeah, this is a Playboy hat, and of course, I have the Nike Air Max’s.

Do you have a lot of sneakers?

I used to have a lot of sneakers way back in the day, but these days I’m usually just in a pair of Vans Authentic Classics, and that would probably be my current favorite pair. They just go with everything I wear nowadays. I’ve been keeping it simple, but rocking one item that pulls the outfit together, or stands out without clashing with the outfit.

---

Quianah Upton, 41, retail and hospitality

Eater: What neighborhood do you live in?

Quianah Upton: Historic Black Joyland in South Atlanta.

Why did you decide to come to this restaurant today?

I’ve been here once. And I love chef Max. The food is so good; we’ve done events together, and I respect him.

Is there anything you’re wearing you’d like to call out?

My purse is Bimba y Lola, a brand from South America. I have some friends who are fashionistas, and they gave it to me. And it’s green, which stands for money, something I am manifesting in my life.

---

Jacinda Rentrope, age withheld, media

Eater: Why did you choose to come to Breaker Breaker today?

Jacinda Rentrope: I saw something on Instagram about this place, and today I thought, It’s such a beautiful day, and I want to get out and take a walk on the Beltline, and I figured I could try it out.

Do you dine solo a lot?

I’ve been [out to restaurants by myself] on Friday and Saturday when there are mostly couples and had a great time. It’s okay to be single, because if you don’t have somebody to do anything with, you can do it by yourself.

How did you choose what you wore today?

I was going for comfort. I love Nike, so I’m usually always in something Nike, and you know, the sun is out, so I wanted to be bright and light.

How do you feel like your style has evolved over the past few years, especially going through the pandemic?

I think I have gotten a lot more relaxed. You know, funny enough, working on set, I used to wear heels, and that’s not the norm. I think as time has gone by, I’ve realized my style is more athletic-leisure, so I do a sneaker and a cute Nike or workout outfit, but not all the time. When I dress up, I still put up my heels. I’m either super casual or all the way dressy.

Is there something that makes you feel undressed if you don’t have it on?

Earrings. Especially having the bald head, I definitely need earrings. I try to wear studs, but sometimes I wear hoops or something that dangles a little bit.

---

Ali Robinson, 34, tech

Eater: Why did you decide to come to this restaurant today?

Ali Robinson: We live right off the Beltline, so my fiance and I decided to walk up.

How did you decide what to wear today?

I started with the headscarf, and it was kind of hot outside, so the crop top and the low-rise pants. I love these pants because they’re casual and have pockets, and I can put all of my things in here. The style these days is to wear a bit of a baggier pant. And these sunglasses are Savoir Faire, a Black-owned brand, from the shop at Ponce City Market.

How has your style evolved over the past few years?

I’d say I’ve become more comfortable, having grown up with “the tighter the better,” and bodycon dresses and things like that. I’ve evolved to be a bit more comfortable, like these Tevas. My apartment is a mile away, and I walked here. Before I was always in high heels.

---

Sharif Colbert, 49, entrepreneur, and Thomas Colbert, 44, tech

Eater: What brought you to Breaker Breaker today?

Thomas: We wanted to get out today, since the weather’s nice, and we saw this on Instagram. We scootered here [ed note: checks watch] 4.19 miles from downtown. The Beltline’s awesome. If I can get somewhere without driving, it’s the best.

Do you and your husband ever coordinate outfits?

Thomas: He hates that (laughs), and I really don’t care.

Sharif: Never!

How did you decide what to wear today?

Thomas: I picked out two outfits, and this is the one I chose. It’s sunny, and I have a little bit of color and the first little bit of a tan, so I wanted to show that with the white.

Sharif: I don’t want to give away where I get my clothes, but I’m going for leisure, casual, and comfortable.

Has your style changed as you’ve gotten older?

Thomas: I don’t like the word midlife crisis, but I’m going through a midlife revolution. I like brighter and flowery things that stand out. Living in the city, I want to be a little spicy.

---

Amber Goodwin, 43, real estate and hospitality

Eater: How did you decide what to wear here today?

Amber Goodwin: I bought this outfit for Costa Rica; I’m going in a couple of weeks, but it was so hot today and so nice I wanted to wear it out somewhere. I heard about this place from Instagram, and I wanted to wear something cute.

How would you describe your overall style?

Honestly very similar to this: tropical, California surfer-skateboard-nerd, that whole thing. I grew up on the West Coast.

Do you feel like you dressed appropriately for the restaurant?

Yes, you feel like you’re at the beach, and it’s 100 percent the vibe here. A lot of people did that.

How has your style changed over time?

I’ve started working out more these past few years, and I am wearing things that accentuate that. I love skateboarding, walking my dogs, and playing basketball. I definitely wear crop tops and lower-waisted stuff more now. I love tank tops and cute short shorts.

Laura Scholz is an Atlanta-based writer and editor who has covered food, fashion, and more for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta magazine, Bon Appétit, InStyle, People, and other publications.
Lynsey Weatherspoon is an Atlanta- and Birmingham, Alabama-based photographer and filmmaker who covers all things Southern for various local and international publications.