ordered a daiquiri while I waited for a nearby reservation. One of the best cocktails I've been served in awhile! modern mix of music. Great atmosphere - murmured despite the hustle and bustle. Will be back to sample their food!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Justin M.
Worst restaurant I have ever been to. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. The drinks arrived after our appetizers and main courses. None of the courses had any seasoning. The service was bad as well.
David Alexander
Food was excellent and different, service was fantastic, and the vibe was great. We did not realize we made it for the happy hour menu and were pleasantly surprised by its great value and options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anthony Green
Asked us to move tables to accommodate a larger party while we were still eating. Plenty of open tables available. Very poor service. One and done for
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Frans De Vilder
The food is not in relation to the price they ask for it. It's certainly not bad, it was tasty, not a Michelin star in sight and that's why it's just too expensive in my opinion. Drinks were also relatively expensive. It is cozy and the service really does its best.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Jane M.
Mexican food in NY was never a good idea. Having it in Los Angeles is insane. My taco was inedible- a couple of miniscule bay shrimp in a red paste. The room was packed, too noisy and the service seemed short staffed.
Clayton Southerly
The ambience is nice and the service is absolutely friendly and attentive, but the food doesn't quite deliver. The suadero taco needs a bright salsa to cut through the richness in the meat and the epazote in the quesadilla doesn't come through. The tortillas they use for the flautas are good - thin and crispy - but the potato filling needed salt. Both the spicy and mezcal margaritas were good and I did like the brussels sprout taco. Expected bigger flavor given the owner's reputation.Acceptable for happy hour, but dinner is steep. With tax & tip, a single taco is $11 and a (small-ish) margarita will run you $24.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Ken Y.
Great food, lobster burrito is delicious. Ambiance is light and lively, and food orders arrive timely but not rushed.
Mike Horwitz
Outstanding meal and
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Burrito
Sandra S.
Came across this restaurant while visiting from the desert. If I lived closer I'd come here at least once or twice a week. The food is superb - very creative, something I'd expect in Mexico City...NOT your standard chips & salsa Mexican style. I'd give it 5 out of 5 - maybe they'll open in Palm Springs! Friendly, helpful servers guided our choices - thanks!
The reviews for this restaurant (currently 3.1) are a travesty. Here is the question to ask yourself before deciding whether to come here. Is your perceived ideal of great "Mexican" food what they serve at places like El Cholo? By this I mean do you require platters of food topped with lots of melted cheese and accompanied by beans and rice? If, yes, then please understand that what you really like is Tex-Mex (also known as north of the border "Mexican") and avoid this place at all costs. You will hate it because you will find nothing resembling what they serve at El Cholo here and you will end up writing a terrible and completely unjustified review of this place. If you do come, what you will find at Atla is the kind of elevated Mexican cuisine they serve in the various regions of Mexico (particularly the Yucatan) at restaurants both humble and fancy. If you have actually travelled south of the border (and not limited yourself to where all the American tourists go) then what they serve at Atla will be instantly familiar to you and you will love it. The first clue to a great Mexican restaurant you will find in their tortillas. Are they made in house and are they done correctly. This is not unlike judging an Italian restaurant by its skill in making pasta (some don't even bother to try). I have been to Mexican restaurants where, yes, they make their tortillas but they are too thick or too dry and the resulting sawdust pucks are worse, not better, than store bought. At Atla, the tortillas are indeed pressed thin and they are moist. Do you like your guacamole blended into something resembling paste and laden with extraneous additions like tomatoes? Then do not come to Atla. Here the guacamole is simply made with just a hint of chile spices and fresh green herbs and the texture of the avocado is left discernible. This is a guacamole that is not blended but, rather, mashed properly with a fork. Perhaps the best thing I have eaten thus far this year (admittedly it is only February) was Atla's pork al pastor. The achiote and vinegar marinade is perfectly balanced. The meat is moist. There is drizzled pineapple "butter" (sauce really) that adds just a hint of acid. Laid on top are shards of onions and cilantro. And the entire affair is presented atop a freshly made, thin flour tortilla that has been very lightly buttered. You can roll it up like a burrito and cut it cross-wise into sections. Or you can cut it up and divide it like a pizza. Either way it is messy, requires lots of napkins, and glorious. Another terrific dish was the branzino seasoned and grilled with an achiote paste. It is served with some bitter greens and four thin, moist blue corn tortillas. In short you make fish tacos with them and drizzle on some pineapple fish sauce to add just the amount of acid you like. There is no cheese, no beans, no rice within sight of any of the above dishes and that is not a bad thing.
Susi M.
Super duper loud! I had shrimp tacos and as I was about to take my first bite, I was greeted with the unattractive black vein of an uncleaned shrimp. Wish they had cleaned them.
Nick G.
I wouldn't. There are just so many other better places in LA. Their food is casual but prices are high end. The lobster burrito was good. The barbacoa not so much. Very dry and it feels like they know it is so they give you a dipping sauce. Makes no sense. I'd rather have a juicy barbacoa and no sauce.
Jess Taylor
Save your $$ and go elsewhere. $160 for 3 with no drinks.It just wasn’t very good. It was fine. The flavors were lacking and some of the pairings just didn’t work. The rock fish Milanese was a dry piece of battered fish. The cauliflower puree sounded interesting but none of the flavors worked. Everything was just bland
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Manny D.
Today was my first time to Atla. Abby came to my rescue !Victor did the pouring Abby did the recommding. I enjoyed immensely the short rib taco and shrimp taco !! Then ..... Abby says try the peanut butter and Brussel sprout taco ! I know sounds controversial but..... I ordered another !!! I could not believe I was enjoying the flavor mesh that much ! Absolutely delicious !!!!! You must try. I highly recommend Atla ! Go during happy hour the margaritas are amazing. Enjoy !!!!!
ordered a daiquiri while I waited for a nearby reservation. One of the best cocktails I've been served in awhile! modern mix of music. Great atmosphere - murmured despite the hustle and bustle. Will be back to sample their food!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Worst restaurant I have ever been to. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. The drinks arrived after our appetizers and main courses. None of the courses had any seasoning. The service was bad as well.
Food was excellent and different, service was fantastic, and the vibe was great. We did not realize we made it for the happy hour menu and were pleasantly surprised by its great value and options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Asked us to move tables to accommodate a larger party while we were still eating. Plenty of open tables available. Very poor service. One and done for
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
The food is not in relation to the price they ask for it. It's certainly not bad, it was tasty, not a Michelin star in sight and that's why it's just too expensive in my opinion. Drinks were also relatively expensive. It is cozy and the service really does its best.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Mexican food in NY was never a good idea. Having it in Los Angeles is insane. My taco was inedible- a couple of miniscule bay shrimp in a red paste. The room was packed, too noisy and the service seemed short staffed.
The ambience is nice and the service is absolutely friendly and attentive, but the food doesn't quite deliver. The suadero taco needs a bright salsa to cut through the richness in the meat and the epazote in the quesadilla doesn't come through. The tortillas they use for the flautas are good - thin and crispy - but the potato filling needed salt. Both the spicy and mezcal margaritas were good and I did like the brussels sprout taco. Expected bigger flavor given the owner's reputation.Acceptable for happy hour, but dinner is steep. With tax & tip, a single taco is $11 and a (small-ish) margarita will run you $24.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Great food, lobster burrito is delicious. Ambiance is light and lively, and food orders arrive timely but not rushed.
Outstanding meal and
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Burrito
Came across this restaurant while visiting from the desert. If I lived closer I'd come here at least once or twice a week. The food is superb - very creative, something I'd expect in Mexico City...NOT your standard chips & salsa Mexican style. I'd give it 5 out of 5 - maybe they'll open in Palm Springs! Friendly, helpful servers guided our choices - thanks!
Restaurantji Recommends
The reviews for this restaurant (currently 3.1) are a travesty. Here is the question to ask yourself before deciding whether to come here. Is your perceived ideal of great "Mexican" food what they serve at places like El Cholo? By this I mean do you require platters of food topped with lots of melted cheese and accompanied by beans and rice? If, yes, then please understand that what you really like is Tex-Mex (also known as north of the border "Mexican") and avoid this place at all costs. You will hate it because you will find nothing resembling what they serve at El Cholo here and you will end up writing a terrible and completely unjustified review of this place. If you do come, what you will find at Atla is the kind of elevated Mexican cuisine they serve in the various regions of Mexico (particularly the Yucatan) at restaurants both humble and fancy. If you have actually travelled south of the border (and not limited yourself to where all the American tourists go) then what they serve at Atla will be instantly familiar to you and you will love it. The first clue to a great Mexican restaurant you will find in their tortillas. Are they made in house and are they done correctly. This is not unlike judging an Italian restaurant by its skill in making pasta (some don't even bother to try). I have been to Mexican restaurants where, yes, they make their tortillas but they are too thick or too dry and the resulting sawdust pucks are worse, not better, than store bought. At Atla, the tortillas are indeed pressed thin and they are moist. Do you like your guacamole blended into something resembling paste and laden with extraneous additions like tomatoes? Then do not come to Atla. Here the guacamole is simply made with just a hint of chile spices and fresh green herbs and the texture of the avocado is left discernible. This is a guacamole that is not blended but, rather, mashed properly with a fork. Perhaps the best thing I have eaten thus far this year (admittedly it is only February) was Atla's pork al pastor. The achiote and vinegar marinade is perfectly balanced. The meat is moist. There is drizzled pineapple "butter" (sauce really) that adds just a hint of acid. Laid on top are shards of onions and cilantro. And the entire affair is presented atop a freshly made, thin flour tortilla that has been very lightly buttered. You can roll it up like a burrito and cut it cross-wise into sections. Or you can cut it up and divide it like a pizza. Either way it is messy, requires lots of napkins, and glorious. Another terrific dish was the branzino seasoned and grilled with an achiote paste. It is served with some bitter greens and four thin, moist blue corn tortillas. In short you make fish tacos with them and drizzle on some pineapple fish sauce to add just the amount of acid you like. There is no cheese, no beans, no rice within sight of any of the above dishes and that is not a bad thing.
Super duper loud! I had shrimp tacos and as I was about to take my first bite, I was greeted with the unattractive black vein of an uncleaned shrimp. Wish they had cleaned them.
I wouldn't. There are just so many other better places in LA. Their food is casual but prices are high end. The lobster burrito was good. The barbacoa not so much. Very dry and it feels like they know it is so they give you a dipping sauce. Makes no sense. I'd rather have a juicy barbacoa and no sauce.
Save your $$ and go elsewhere. $160 for 3 with no drinks.It just wasn’t very good. It was fine. The flavors were lacking and some of the pairings just didn’t work. The rock fish Milanese was a dry piece of battered fish. The cauliflower puree sounded interesting but none of the flavors worked. Everything was just bland
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Today was my first time to Atla. Abby came to my rescue !Victor did the pouring Abby did the recommding. I enjoyed immensely the short rib taco and shrimp taco !! Then ..... Abby says try the peanut butter and Brussel sprout taco ! I know sounds controversial but..... I ordered another !!! I could not believe I was enjoying the flavor mesh that much ! Absolutely delicious !!!!! You must try. I highly recommend Atla ! Go during happy hour the margaritas are amazing. Enjoy !!!!!