New South, formerly Dakotas, is a recently retooled restaurant in the Arboretum shopping center. Owners Chris and Sue Edwards decided to scotch the Dakotas concept because they “were tired of being a special occasion restaurant.” So they brightened up the place with a vibrant color palette, added a bunch of menu items, booked some bands, and opened last summer as New South Kitchen and Bar. Along with the bright yellows, oranges, and blues, they have also turned up the lights—now you’re able to see in from the outside. The result is a more welcoming façade, complete with café tables out front. Their goal is to provide progressive Southern cooking in a more casual and upbeat establishment that diners will frequent more often. If the packed dining room on several visits is any indication, it appears that they have succeeded. Read more >>