DINING OUT
5-10 p.m. Sundays-Wednesdays; 5-11 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays.
Snacks and appetizers, $3-$13; soups and salads, $7-$10; sharing plates, $16-$24; plates for the table, $55-$95; desserts, $8.
3035 Peachtree Road, Atlanta. 404-939-9840. gypsykitchenatl.com.
Another new concept from the team behind Tin Lizzy’s, Big Ketch and Milton’s, Gypsy Kitchen draws inspiration from regional Spanish, Moroccan and Indian food, in an upscale atmosphere in synch with the new Buckhead Atlanta development.
The look: Located on the second floor above Shake Shack and Peachtree Road, wrap-around patio doors open to sweeping skyline views of Buckhead. Inside, the centerpiece of the spacious bar area is an imposing metal sculpture of a bullish bull. Jumbled stacks of vintage suitcases pay tribute to the many influences on Spanish cooking, and Moorish tiles and cut metal lighting evoke the gypsy theme.
The scene: Early one recent chilly evening, the sunset cast a dramatic glow over the bull and the bar, where every seat was filled with diners sipping cocktails and wine and sharing small plates. The dining room was more sparsely populated by a few larger parties, and the patio was understandably empty.
The food: The menu is divided between sizes and price points, with snacks, appetizers, "sharing plates" and "plates for the table" that top out with a 32-ounce bone-in strip steak ($85) and a 20-ounce barrel-cut beef tenderloin ($95). The sweet spot for most diners seems to be the tapas-style apps and small plates. Among them, garlic shrimp with pickled chorizo, olive oil-poached yolk and crispy potatoes ($12), lamb kifta tagine with hen egg, Moroccan spices and fresh herbs ($12), and serrano-wrapped North Carolina trout with fennel-olive salad ($24).
The drinks: House cocktails include Leather & Silk with gin, chartreuse, Velvet Falernum and lime ($10), and Around the Fire with mezcal, Cherry Heering, sherry, citrus and bitters ($11). From cava to Bordeaux, there are 20 or so mostly Old World wines by the glass priced in the $8-$15 range.
The extras: For dessert ($8), look for the likes of dark chocolate pistachio cake and spiced apple empanadas, along with a selection of amaro and sherry ($8-$17).
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