The story
Fawn Wine & Amaro Bar is the latest project from James Beard Award-winning chef Terry Koval and his wife Jenn Koval, the longtime restaurant owners behind The Deer & The Dove and B-Side: Coffee & Bagels. After more than twenty years in Decatur, the Kovals have opened a place that feels both familiar and entirely new. Fawn departs from the game-focused cooking of its sister restaurant and drifts toward something coastal, European, and shaped by volcanic terroir.
The restaurant earned a Michelin Recommended distinction in 2026, a fitting nod to its focused, ingredient-driven approach.
The menu draws from French, Italian, and Southeastern coastal traditions, with an emphasis on seafood sourced from small, family-run fisheries like Anchored Shrimp Co. in Brunswick, Bramlett Trout Farms in North Georgia, and Sapelo Island Sea Farms. Dry-aged seafood sits alongside plates built for sharing. A Chef’s Tasting Menu is available by reservation only and cannot be modified for most dietary restrictions—a signal of the kitchen’s precise, intentional cooking.
Beverage director Matt Watkins, a seasoned Decatur bartender, oversees an amaro-focused cocktail list and a wine selection centered on volcanic producers. The drinks are chosen to complement the briny, technically daring food.
The interior, designed by Jenn Koval, is intimate and Old-World inspired—dark, zanily decorated, built for long conversations and slow sips. Bar seating is walk-in only; the dining room takes reservations. Fawn calls itself a “cozy neighborhood wine & amaro bar,” and it delivers on that promise without pretense. The team includes chef de cuisine Kyle Campisi and sous chef Albert Sanjapov.
Fawn is a place where local sourcing, small-scale producers, and a deep appreciation for the old and new come together—quietly, without fuss.
Recognition
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