First Look: Hoof & Ale, Marietta

2100 Roswell Road, Suite 2198, Marietta. 678-224-8844, www.facebook.com/hoofandale.

Though the name sounds more like a made-up English pub in a mad Monty Python bit, Hoof and Ale is a tidy little mom and pop burger and beer joint on Roswell Road in Marietta.

The look: The storefront space, tucked into a corner of the Pavilions at East Lake shopping center, is marked by signs announcing "Neighborhood Tavern" and "Craft Beer." Inside, a hulking chalkboard menu details beer, wine and food specials. A long bar also serves as an order counter at lunch, with seating at cafe tables grouped around the dining room.

The scene: One recent afternoon, customers were few and far between. But chef/owner Joseph Rahme kept busy updating the chalkboard between trips to the kitchen, while a cheerful bartender stocked the beer cooler to the sound of a blaring blues soundtrack.

The food: Rahme's menu is anchored by cooked-to-order burgers made with local beef and housemade toppings. The Clayton ($6.95) comes with pimento cheese, pickles and crispy shallots, while the Breakfast Burger ($6.95) is topped with grilled pork belly, fried egg and cheddar. The rest of the menu is a quirky mix of sandwiches ($6.95-$7.95), a la carte tacos ($2.25-$3.45), salads ($6.95), sides and desserts. There's an entree salt and pepper skirt steak with garlic and herb fries ($13.95). Check Facebook for daily lunch and dinner specials, such as black lager braised lamb shanks or mushroom risotto with shaved pecorino.

The drinks: Surprisingly, there's no draft beer. But the bottled and canned craft beer list includes locals like Jailhouse Slammer Wheat and Red Hare Watership Brown, along with imports like Ayinger Bräu Weisse. The recent wine list included a chardonnay and a cabernet by the glass or bottle.

The extras: Hoof & Ale can be reserved for private parties on Sundays and Mondays. Call-ahead ordering and takeout is available, too.