Natalie Bianca
Restaurant · Atlanta ·
Modern Southern cuisine with Mexican influences, great drinks
Modern Southern cuisine with Mexican influences, great drinks
"From the owners of Kitty Dare, this new Cascade Heights restaurant offers Southern cuisine with a Mexican twist, taking over the former La Panarda space." - juli horsford, jacinta howard
"Taking over the La Panarda space, Natalie Bianca is the newest addition to the bubbling Cascade Heights neighborhood. You’ll notice some well-appreciated similarities between this Southern-Mexican fusion restaurant and its Mediterranean sister Kitty Dare. For example, Natalie Bianca also has an all-encompassing menu—from grilled cheese on the kid’s menu to savory black bean crepes and fried green tomatoes with crispy breading that stays put when you bite into it. Plus, the food is good and all the entrees come with a house salad and sourdough bread, making it one of the best bang-for-your-buck meals in the area. There are plans to add brunch, but for now, it’s a solid choice for a laid-back dinner that’s price- and choosy-eater-friendly." - nina reeder, juli horsford, jacinta howard
"Natalie Bianca in Cascade Heights is a solid choice for a stylish yet laid-back dinner that works well for choosy eaters and tight budgets. The menu successfully blends Southern and Mexican flavors, with standout dishes like crispy fried green tomatoes and hearty black bean crepes. And the fusion doesn’t really stop there since Natalie has an all-encompassing, something-for-everyone menu. Think: gooey grilled cheese sandwiches for kids and the must-try shrimp pasta with a creamy tomato sauce. Plus, all entrees (all under $30) come with a generously portioned house salad and sourdough bread, so it’s price friendly, too. Located in the former La Panarda space, the restaurant adds a few new touches—swapping the booths for tables and chairs and including a black-and-white photo of the restaurant’s namesake, who was a long-time friend of the owner. (He’s done the same with his restaurant Kitty Dare in Inman Park). We never got a chance to know Natalie Bianca, but the warm and inviting vibe here speaks volumes to her memory. Food Rundown Crab Cakes There’s no over-breaded, way-too-glutenous binding agent in these things. The golden-brown crab cakes break apart easily, revealing chunks of sweet crab meat inside. The outside is lightly crisp, while the inside stays moist. Miss Natalie’s Shrimp Pasta This pasta comes out steaming in a creamy tomato sauce that’s tangy with a hint of sweetness. Adobo Salmon Fork-tender salmon has a nice char on top. It’s cushioned on a bed of fluffy rice, kale, and roasted pineapple salsa. Fried Green Tomatoes The standout thing about this dish is the crispy, well-seasoned breading. It stays put when you bite into it, with a satisfying crunch." - Jacinta Howard
"Named as a tribute by owner Jamshad “Jaamy” Zarnegar to a close friend he met at the Backstreet club in the early 1980s, this Mediterranean-rooted restaurant keeps her memory alive with a photo and a signature dish called Miss Natalie’s Shrimp Pasta. The menu blends Mediterranean foundations with Latin touches like adobo salmon, soul-food items such as cornmeal-battered fried green tomatoes, Southwestern influences and a vegetarian black bean soup; prices are kept approachable and a compact wine list of eight whites and eight reds tops out at $12 by the glass. Located in Cascade Heights, the dining room seats about 65 and there is a large patio; the owner sees the neighborhood as an important, supportive and up-and-coming community. Brunch is planned soon, but currently it serves dinner nightly (bar service from 4 p.m., dinner from 5 p.m.) with reservations available online." - Courtney E. Smith
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