Hola Mexican Cantina

HOLA CANTINA IS NOW CLOSED

Located on the corner of East Ponce and Church Street, in the heart of Decatur, Hola Mexican Cantina brings you authentic  Mexican food and some American specialties such as fried chicken and shrimp and grits. If you want to enjoy a day out on the patio and people watch while enjoying great food and a margarita Hola is the place to go.

To start we ordered the pork belly and chorizo fundido. It came out in a sizzling skillet accompanied by fresh warm tortillas for dipping. It's definitely a diet buster and is quite greasy, but not in an off-putting way. I did find it difficult to eat with the soft tortillas, though, and resorted to dipping our chips in it. It was a well balanced dip with the perfect amount of meat versus cheese. This is not your usual Mexican restaurant cheese dip, either, but a blend of real, rich cheeses surrounding chunks of well cooked pork belly and slightly spicy chorizo. Eat it quickly; it is delicious and delightful while hot.

Pork Belley and Chorizo Fundido

Short Rib Burrito

I ordered the short rib burrito, while my hungry Marine companion went with the daily special: a grilled chicken quesadilla stuffed with lettuce, tomato, onions, sour cream, and Hola's HEAVENLY house made guacamole. My burrito was perfect, with plenty of succulent meat, chunks of cooked tomatoes, rice, melted cheese, and a generous amount of well spiced red sauce on top. Ben's quesadilla was spot on as well; they weren't shy with the chicken, and it was perfectly cooked. Their entrees do not come with anything on the side, however, so know when you order that you're not getting the typical rice and beans treatment.

Guacamole

Chicken Quesidilla

Duck Sausage Flatbread

The duck sausage flatbread was topped with greens and alot of pesto. The duck was well cooked, but the flatbread had too much pesto which made the dish quite oily so the dish overall was very bitter.

Pastel Les Leches

Hola's pastel tres leches makes up for the duck flatbread experience in spades. It was the perfect endcap to a warm lunch on a sunny day - cool, smooth, and fluffy, with perfect proportions of cream cheese, marscapone, and airy milked cake, and crisp fresh sliced strawberries and shaved coconut on top. I admit that the two of us together couldn't finish the generous serving even though we wanted to!

Overall, I found my experience at Hola a winning one. Although their menu seems to be all over the place, offering a smattering of options from cayenne fried chicken to shrimp and grits, these unusual additions are actually some of their most popular items. Since they just opened, they haven't run any specials yet in the exception of the quesadilla, which, at $10.95, seemed more like an item that they forgot to put on the menu and less like a special. Hola doesn't have a lunch menu, either, so you'll be paying the same price no matter when you come. It was a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, however, with shining service from their friendly staff, and the food was definitely a cut above your typical Mexican restaurant. I do feel like their sun porch could use some fans; grabbing a seat near one of the open bay doors to take advantage of the air conditioning is the perfect compromise. Give it a look next time you're in the area, and don't miss out on their guacamole!

Photos and article written by Caro Holley

Follow Caro on Twitter @LittleMizMoffat

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Henry's Midtown Tavern

Move over Mint Thai & Sushi. Henrys Midtown Restaurant is coming here to stay. The owner of the highly popular Campagnolo, is opening Henry's on 10^th street in Midtown named after one of her dogs.  Henry's Midtown is upscale with a menu centered on chef-driven sandwich creations and other items including craft beer. Kalmanson, who use to own Peasant Bistro restaurant in Downtown, said she picked the 3,000-square-foot facility because, "I think it is the perfect location of what I want to do. I think we can put something really pretty on that corner."

Henry’s will be a casual place with “a chef-driven menu of appetizers, pastas, sandwiches, entrée salads and desserts,” according to the press release. Kalmanson won't discuss details about the food at the moment, except to say that Campagnolo’s, Daniel Chance, will be designing and overseeing the menu. She also notes that Henry’s will serve twelve beers on draft and fifty by the bottle, in addition to wine.

Henry’s will be open for lunch, dinner and late night seven days a week, as well as brunch on the weekends.

This is a great time to open in this spot which has been said to be “doomed” with about 4 previous restaurants going under, but I definitely hope that the new Hyatt hotel across the street, opening in July, will bring Kalmanson and Henry many customers and service.

Buckhead Restaurant Week-Atlanta Fish Market

Buckhead Restaurant Week is here from May 17th-May 25th 2014 where you get to enjoy $15, $25 & $35 three course brunch, lunch and dinner menus from participating restaurants such as Veni Vedi Vici, Buckhead Bottle Bar, Coast, Cook Hall and more. Throughout the week I will be bringing you a taste of a few restaurants participating in this amazing foodie event.

Over the weekend I visited the Atlanta Fish Market located on 265 Pharr Road. With a flashy marquis and unbelievably huge coy fish located outside the building, this restaurant is not one to miss. As you drive to the entrance there is valet waiting upon your arrival and gives you a ticket. Parking is $2 with the exception of a tip. As you enter the restaurant there is a waiting area and the hostess. The staff is very generous and the interior décor is as if you are dinning on a ship with wooden tables and cushioned seats. In the dining area there is a display of a variety of seafood that is on the menu. Atlanta Fish Market sells the fish as is and you can take it home to cook.

This week Atlanta Seafood Market brings you a $15 lunch menu three course dinner menu for $35. For my first time I decided to try their dinner menu.

Appetizers

Yummy-Yummy Roll

Buffalo Shrimp with Blue Cheese

The first course was an appetizer with the choice of Caesar Salad, Savannah Blue Crab Chowder, Spring Rolls and Yummy-Yummy Sushi Roll.

    Entree 

Sizzling Platter

For the main course you have a choice of Sizzling Platter which is “Shanghai Style” shrimp, calamari, scallops, and fish filet with stir-fry vegetables. I greatly enjoyed this entrée. The seafood was tempura served with sweet chili sauce. So mind you this dish is sweet.

Smoked Atlantic Salmon

Cedar Planked Short Smoked Atlantic Salmon which is whipped potatoes, corn chowder sauce and mango papaya salsa.

Blackened Tilapia

Blackened Colombian Tilapia with grilled spring vegetables and whipped potatoes. I have never had tilapia that tasted so good. The fish was fresh and moist and vegetables well steamed.

                                                                Desserts

        For desserts AFM had a great variety from sweet to savory.

Strawberry Res Leches

Your first choice for dessert is the Strawberry Tres Leches which comes topped with strawberry ice cream. It’s a very moist pound cake with some sort of crème.

Key Lime Pie

                     For your second choice you have the key lime Pie.

Chocolate Toffee Crunch Pie

Third item on the dessert menu is the Chocolate Toffee Crunch Pie which is to die for. It’s a very rich chocolate toffee with an Oreo crust topped with caramel sauce. One bite and you can’t stop.

I greatly enjoyed my experience at Atlanta Fish Market. What I loved about it is that the staff is very friendly and the managers are very hands on. It’s not at many restaurants where you see managers on the floor, at the hostess desk or in the kitchen making sure that their customers are happy, people aren’t waiting too long to be seated and that the food is always coming out hot, fresh and on time. I would like to thank our waiter Bobby for his great service and knowledge of the menu. I would definitely be back.

For more restaurants featured in Buckhead Restaurant Week and more events visit

Atlanta Travels.

Oysterfest

                                                                             February is Oyster Month in Atlanta. During this time of year people are looking for those perfect oysters to sink their teeth into. Whether it’s steamed or raw, oysters always hit the spot and there is no better location to enjoy them other than Park Tavern with the beautiful view of Piedmont Park. This year Park Tavern is hosting their annual Spiral Entertainment Oysterfest. Attendees must be 21+ and not to mention there will be free parking at Park Tavern and Grady High School.

Thousands of fresh oysters are flown in for the event, and festival-goers will be able to try them in a variety of styles: raw, steamed, and fried.  If you don’t like oysters, there will also be other tasty treats, such as Park Tavern’s delicious fried shrimp.  Four live bands and several DJs will be playing music all day, and there will also be cold beer and other drinks available for purchase. 

The Oysterfest will be held Saturday, February 9th at 1:00pm. For more information about the 2013 Oysterfest at Park Tavern, visit their website here.

STEAMHOUSE LOUNGE OYSTERFEST...is back for its 26th year and will be bigger and better than ever!

Saturday, February 23: 10AM – 7pm

Sunday, February 24: 12PM – 6pm

Steamhouse Lounge | 11th St & West Peachtree St | Midtown

Get your tickets now

Day 1 - Saturday - Purchase your ticket here

Day 2 - Sunday - Purchase your ticket here

Things you ought to know about the event:

The Biggest Party of the Spring!  Last year’s Steamhouse Oysterfest was the biggest in our history!  Record amounts of fresh roasted oysters, ice cold Budweiser and delicious Jagermeister were served.   

2-day Advance Tickets for the Price of 1 Day!  Purchase a 2-day ticket in advance and pay only the price of a Saturday ticket - $20!  That’s 2 days of sun soaking, live music and fresh seafood from the Louisiana Gulf Coast.  But if you can’t make it on Saturday, you don’t have to miss the show…They will have $10 tickets available for Sunday-only.

EXPRESS ENTRY LANES FOR TICKET HOLDERS!  Buying advance tickets does have its advantage!  Print your ticket at home and enter the event in the guaranteed admission, express-entry lines at each gate.   More gate staff and security personnel than ever will be positioned to get you in fast!  Day of show tickets might be more expensive…and will definitely take longer to get in.  Do the smart thing…Buy Now!

OYSTER BUCKETS…enjoy heaping BUCKETS of delicious, fresh roasted oysters which are available for only $12.  You couldn’t get prices like this if you were buying them fresh off the boat!  And of course, don’t forget Steamhouse’s legendary lobster bisque! Sister restaurants Fontaine’s Oyster House, Highland Tap and Vickery’s Glenwood Park will also be on site serving up more local favorites!

THE JAGERMEISTER MAIN STAGE:

BAND LINE-UP

Saturday, February 23

11:30-12:30pm Sailing to Denver

12:50-1:50pm Treedom

2:15-3:15pm ATL (All the Locals)

3:45-4:45pm Neil Cribbs

5:15-7:00pm Southside of Tracks

Sunday, February 24

12:30-1:30pm The Western Sizzlers

1:45-2:45pm AM Gold

3:00-4:00pm Kevin Kinney

4:30-6:00pm Revival (An Allman Brothers Experience)

-          COLD BUDWEISER BEER, Bud Light & Bud

-          Support a great cause! A portion of proceeds will EMBRACED Atlanta (link to:  http://www.embraced.org/ )

-          Be responsible folks. Take MARTA to the 10th Street Midtown Station!

Southern Food Tour Launch Party



Goat Farms



As we know in the south food is where the heart is. For all you major foodies this is a great event for you. Join Southern Food Tour on Saturday, February 16^th, at the Goat Farm in celebrating an evening of food, drinks, film and music highlighting Southern Food heritage. Your ticket includes a pig roast from chefs; Ford Fry and Kevin Gillespie as well as other tastings of southern classics from Adam Evans, E.J. Hodgkinson and Suzanne Vizethann. Beverages will highlight beer from Monday Night Brewing and signature cocktails from American Spirit Whiskey. They will show a preview of a short film and music will be provided by Atlanta’s own Blair Crimmins and the Hookers.  

Highlighting the varying regions of the South – from barbecue to Cajun to the Classics.
1) Pig roast done two different ways by chefs Ford Fry and Kevin Gillespie
2) Gumbo by Adam Evans, Executive chef at The Optimist
3) Tamales by E.J. Hodgkinson at JCT Kitchen

4) Chicken Biscuit Sliders by Buttermilk Kitchen



Blair Crimmins and the Hookers



Date: Saturday, February 16th 6:00PM – 10:00PM
Location: Goodson Yard at the Goat Farm Arts Center 

1200 Foster Street Northwest, Atlanta, GA 30318
Ticket Price:

V.I.P.: $55.00 Entry at 5:00pm gets you a tour of Goat Farm, signature cocktail and a chance to meet with the chefs before the party starts.

General Admission: $45.00: Entry at 6:00PM

To buy tickets go to: www.xorbia.com