SALA

He says:
When it comes right down to it, Sala doesn’t dazzle you with its food, even if it was rated the best Mexican restaurant in Atlanta by Citysearch in 2007. Nevertheless, the festive atmosphere and friendliness of the staff make a visit to this Virginia Highland mainstay a worthwhile trip.

The first thing you might notice about Sala is the wondrous array of Aztec masks jutting from the wine-colored walls; it’s a quirky touch of personality. The second thing you might notice is just how well the restaurant is laid out. The interior tables and booths along the perimeter are placed the perfect distance away such that the surrounding conversations give the place a lively buzz without rising to an obnoxious volume. On our last visit, even the screaming gaggle of girlfriends trading Christmas gifts two tables over didn’t entirely distract us from our meal.

She says:
None of the entrees were calling to me that night, so I sampled a few appetizers instead. The orange and jicama salad was fresh and zingy, and the duck taquitos were crispy and meaty, although the "duckiness" really didn’t stand out. The chile relleno was my favorite… The monstrous poblano chile (seriously, this is the biggest chile I’ve ever seen!) was stuffed with cheese and coated with chipotle sauce. The vivid and spicy flavor of the poblano distinguished it from other chile rellenos I’ve had.

He says:
The wood-roasted pork with tomatillo-cascabel sauce and Oaxacan cheese I ordered was a serviceable if unspectacular dish. The pork was not as tender as I would have liked, and it relied almost entirely on the zesty cascabel sauce for its flavor. However, even this average platter stood head and shoulders over the uber-bland vanilla egg custard that followed for dessert.

We say:
Sala is not a place for gourmands, but its overall charm can make for a great night out with friends.



Sala
1186 N. Highland Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30306
http://www.sala-atlanta.com/index.htm