Ela, the Newest Addition to Virginia-Highland’s Mediterranean Dining Scene, Opens in the Former Original El Taco Space | Eater Atlanta
"In the former Original El Taco space at 1186 North Highland Avenue NE, Ela is a new Mediterranean restaurant from Fifth Group Restaurants that centers on mezze and communal entrees, combining ingredients and techniques from across the Mediterranean and Middle East. The name references Greek words for olive and for a casual salutation, and the interior—dotted with globed lighting and wicker pendants—tilts toward romantic dinners or casual evenings without kids rather than a family hub. Fifth Group culinary VP Mark Jeffers says the goal was a livelier, neighborhood-friendly spot for brunch, drinks, and shared small plates; the beverage program reflects that with a small selection of natural wines (especially Greek and Italian, plus bottles from Lebanon, Turkey and Portugal) and cocktails inspired by Mediterranean spice profiles, with several wines and cocktails available on tap. The menu emphasizes communal, customizable dining: mezze, dips, house-made pita and larger grilled entrees, plus sauces meant to let one entree be experienced multiple ways. Standout specifics include hummus with three topping options (sweet-and-sour tamarind eggplant, earthy chermoula and mushroom, and classic with crispy chickpeas); playful dishes like cauliflower falafel, a lamb kofta burger, and Mythos-battered cod; a Moroccan “hot chicken” (a fried chicken thigh with red chermoula, ras el hanout, a house spice wing sauce, and diced green pickled tomato); and a focus on skewers—harissa chicken, lamb sirloin, mushroom shawarma, chili-garlic shrimp, and a tamarind-date pork sausage whose interior is described as soft, squishy, savory and almost lightly sweet—served as platters, with pita, on salads, or fork-and-knife with couscous. Desserts include a sweet-tart Greek frozen yogurt with honey and crumbled baklava and Greek doughnuts likened to beignets stuffed with cardamom custard and topped with cinnamon sugar. Ela will offer brunch beginning March 2 and is open Monday–Thursday 5–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 5–11 p.m., Sunday 5–9 p.m., with happy hour Monday–Friday 4–6 p.m. and Saturday–Sunday 3–5 p.m." - Sarra Sedghi
