Photographed by Martha Williams
he
On a brisk spring night, I step into Ella’s high-energy eating room and heat as much as upbeat dance music. A current fifth group restaurant enterprise, Ella lives within the former authentic El Taco spot, rising bigger within the as soon as funky eating room, with low lighting and minimal decor. The design is nearly too impartial—the eating room would not scream “Mediterranean restaurant”—however all the higher for serving to you give attention to the colourful meal earlier than you.
Ella means “come now” in Greek, however the menu spans the Mediterranean and consists of American twists like Moroccan “scorching rooster” with ras el hanout wing sauce. My meal started with the Spice Street cocktail, a tangy mixture of tequila, mezcal, blood orange and sumac, which performed superbly alongside the crispy but fluffy cauliflower falafel and charred eggplant topped with pomegranate seeds and walnuts. The true standout of the night was the skewers. We ordered the mushroom shawarma served with tamarind-palm meat with pistachio dukkah (a crunchy condiment of herbs, spices and nuts) and inexperienced tomato kosho (a chilli condiment), which packed a pleasant warmth. Candy-tart frozen Greek yogurt with baklava crunch provides a cool end-of-meal treatment. Whereas Atlanta has its fair proportion of Mediterranean eating places, Ella has positively earned its place on the panorama with its artistic choices and vigorous ambiance. Nevertheless, after I return, will probably be for a chunk on the coated patio, the place the sun-filled room and wicker baskets create a Mediterranean ambiance. Virginia-Highland
mikata
Mikata in Dunwoody opened in March, bringing a contemporary tackle hibachi. Right here, there is not any tableside grilling; The meals is all ready within the kitchen, however you may nonetheless discover basic choices like rooster, steak and seafood served with house-made sauces. Modern decor and clubby music may make you assume you have discovered Miami within the Perimeter growth, however Mikata would not fake, as a substitute providing heat, pleasant service. Sushi is the actual draw right here: decadent rolls offered with aptitude, just like the mikata tower, which is not a roll however a mound of sushi rice topped with spicy tuna, snow crab, avocado and particular sauce. Dunwoody
studying room
In downtown Decatur, The Studying Room rose from the ashes of what was as soon as a Java monkey. The brainchild of Mary Tyvet and Christine Radcliffe, the tastefully appointed area sparkles with wicker lighting fixtures, a book-lined archway, a comfortable pink banquette and loads of vegetation. In the course of the day, the solar streams by means of the skylights, making it an incredible vacation spot to hang around along with your laptop computer (or, because the identify suggests, a e book). Do not come anticipating to discover a full-service restaurant, however there’s a nice espresso program, that includes drinks made with beans from Little Waves, a women-owned roaster from Durham, North Carolina, and night cocktails. Meals-wise, it is restricted to small bites, like pastries, sandwiches and charcuterie boards from St. Germain Bakery—however you are in Decatur, there are many eating choices close by. Decatur
This text appeared in our June 2024 challenge.
commercial
