Dining Out
Small plates $5-$8; soups and salads, $7-$8; tacos, $3.50-$4; entrees, $14-$22; lunch specialties $10-$12.
5 p.m.-midnight Mondays-Thursdays; 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Fridays; noon-2 a.m. Saturdays; noon-10 p.m. Saturdays. Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays.
1133 Huff Road N.W., Atlanta. 404-464-5250, laurbanaatl.com.
True to its name, La Urbana Tequila & Mezcal Bar, the new Westside spot from Jesus Onate, owner of Zapata Tacos & Tequila Bar in Norcross, features a contemporary urban atmosphere and a host of specialty cocktails made with agave-based spirits.
The look: Situated in the Apex West Midtown apartment and retail building, La Urbana joins Bone Lick BBQ and the Corner Tavern on an increasingly busy section of Huff Road. The spare design, which features roughhewn wood, high top tables with round bar stools and a lofty, well stocked back bar are meant to conjure the kind of hip hangouts found in most large Mexican cities, nowadays, according to Onate.
The scene: One recent afternoon, several small groups were scattered around the open dining room and a couple of singles were having lunch at the bar. Depending on the time, the scene changes from early dinner crowds to late night cocktail seekers, Onate said.
The food: The dinner menu opens with small plates meant for sharing, such as queso fundio with chorizo or peppers ($7) and bacon-wrapped Serrano peppers stuffed with cheese ($6), plus assorted tacos ($3.50-$4), soups and salads ($7-$8). Larger plates include chiles rellenos filled with Oaxaca cheese ($14), a Mexican torta sandwich with pork carnitas, red arbol salsa, onions and peppers ($14.50), and grilled shrimp with rice and salad ($17).
The drinks: The beverage program, designed by Gilbert Marquez, who was once behind the tequila and mezcal bar at Escorpion in Midtown, mixes Mexican spirits with takes on classic and current craft cocktails. The Negroni Blanco is reinvented with Sombra mezcal, bianco vermouth, bitters and lemon oils ($12) and a Tequila Sunrise freshened up with crème de cassis, housemade grenadine, soda and lime ($11). There's a daily house margarita on draft ($8) and a small selection of draft beer, including Red Brick Hoplanta ($6).
The extras: At lunch, look for a two taco plate with rice or beans ($8.50) and the likes of chicken enchiladas ($10), chilaquiles with steak or chicken ($12) and a club sandwich with chicken, ham, queso, lettuce, tomato and avocado, served with fries ($10).
