I just love this place and to me, it totally lives up to the hype. I do think this is more of a brunch/lunch place than a dinner place and I’d recommend treating it as such. Not only is the wait longer for dinner, but the menu and ambiance seem more orientated for daytime. Perhaps it’s good for drinks and nibbles at night if you’re wanting something light.
Weekend brunch had no wait, but the tables were mostly full. Our server was very pleasant and when he didn’t know the answer to something, he went to go find out.
The food here is really pure, healthy, and fresh. That’s not to say everything is light or diet food. There are heavy and rich dishes with ample amounts of cream or cheese, but they are well balanced and use the finest ingredients. The menu is well suited for sharing several dishes as they tend to be on the smaller side, but you won’t feel pressured to get multiple if you’re not craving a lot of food.
Concha is a super popular starter here. It’s a Mexican shell-shaped sweet bread/pastry that has a sugar topping, giving it a distinctive pattern. The bread is soft on both the outside and inside and is definitely sweet, but not overly so. The concha at Atla is made with orange blossom water, which gives it a distinct citrus flavor.
The split pea tlacoyo is amazing and I highly recommend trying it. A tlacoyo is a stuffed, oval-shaped, lightly fried masa bread. This one is stuffed with split pea puree and topped with a salsa verde and fresh queso mixed with creme fraiche. They come two to a plate and they’re just so tasty, I really couldn’t get enough.
The quinoa salad is equally amazing and I wouldn’t even know how to choose between the two. They are so different, one heavier, the other lighter, so the choice would really come down to that. But there’s no need to choose – eating both together makes the perfect amount. The quinoa salad has red quinoa, pico de gallo, and a cucumber yogurt sauce. The pico de gallo is not your typical pico de gallo – it’s more a deconstructed version consisting of halved yellow and red grape tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro. The dish also has thinly sliced green Serrano chilis, giving it heat and amplifying the otherwise tame flavors. It’s so fresh, light, and delicious.
The place is somewhat small, but very open with a simple and clean decor. The outdoor seating is perfect for half the year. The dinnerware and glasses are very modern and fit perfectly with the vibe of the place. Glass bottles of water are provided for each table, so you can fill up as necessary.
I’d love to go back and try more of the menu. It’s a definite hit.
