Pata Negra Mezcaleria
Restaurant · Atlanta
1777 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Highlights
Upscale Mexican eatery with mezcal bar, dim ambiance
Upscale Mexican eatery with mezcal bar, dim ambiance
"Pata Negra Mezcaleria is an upscale Mexican restaurant with great food and a buzzy, sophisticated lounge appeal that makes dinner feel more like a night on the town. We've never been invited to a mysterious billionaire's sleek hideout, but we imagine it would look like this dining room—matte black all around with a sprinkle of intrigue courtesy of black, dried agave plants that loom over the bar like a modern art installation. We like the namesake cocktail, Pata Negra, which is a play on a margarita with sage and lemon. Also get the juicy chicken thigh tacos, which are a menu standout with non-grainy, soft corn tortillas that won’t disintegrate mid-bite. If they have it, cap your meal with the El Duvalin, a gorgeous and delicious chocolate-hazelnut dessert that comes crowned with fried, crispy scorpions. And scorpion desserts sound on-brand for our mysterious billionaire, too." - demarco williams, nina reeder, juli horsford, jacinta howard
"When you want a night out where you can pretend to be a millionaire spy (or just try to dress like one), head to Pata Negra in Buckhead. The upscale Mexican restaurant greets you with dark, sultry decor—matte black all around with a sprinkle of intrigue courtesy of dried agave plants. We like the namesake cocktail, Pata Negra, which is a play on a margarita with sage and lemon. Then share an order of the juicy chicken thigh tacos on soft, non-grainy corn tortillas that won’t disintegrate mid-bite." - nina reeder, juli horsford, jacinta howard
"The first step inside Pata Negra can be disorienting. Everything inside the dining room is black—the floors, the walls, the tables, even the plants hanging above the tequila-stocked bar. The lights also get in on the act, emitting a glow so weak it takes us back to pre-electricity days. This Buckhead mezcal bar and restaurant sits just off busy Peachtree Street, on the ground floor of an apartment complex. Despite the somewhat mundane location, Pata Negra is a seductive spot that serves up traditional, tasty Mexican dishes, and has big gothic energy that’s ideal for intimate date nights and friend reunions that don’t reach double digits. The rowdier party-chasing crowds of Buckhead haven’t infiltrated this spot yet, which is a good thing. The darkness makes it feel like your tablemates are the only people in the room. Everything here sets the stage for discreet, soul-searching conversations that will probably go well beyond remarking on the large display of axes and curved machetes on the wall. And the drinks, like the charcoal-infused negras intenciones—sweet from the fruitier Arette reposado tequila—are made for sipping, and the carefully orchestrated dishes for being slowly savored. photo credit: Amy Sinclair photo credit: Amy Sinclair photo credit: Amy Sinclair photo credit: Amy Sinclair Around you, tables will fill up with couples sliding into the sleek leather seats and chatty friends sharing plates of tostadas weighed down with an enormous amount of spicy tuna. Servers will help you pair the right mezcal flight (there are six options) with excellent entrees, like the tender carne sonora, which comes with soft cactus slivers and two salsas with such rich flavors that we take breaks in between bites. And if the temporada de lluvias makes an appearance at your table (it should), just know it’ll be accompanied by the scraping sound of spoons desperate to catch every last bit of the creamy risotto peppered with corn. Then comes dessert, which should be the sweet El Duvalin balls if they are on the menu. Filled with velvety hazelnut mousse and chocolate brownie ice cream then topped with two crunchy, candied scorpions (yes, real scorpions), it's a delicious showstopper that perfectly sums up a night at Pata Negra—a little dark, a little unexpected, and full of big flavors. Food Rundown Carne Sonora The tender teres major is cut into thin slices and served alongside sweet cactus slivers and a spicy salsa macha. photo credit: Amy Sinclair Temporada De Lluvias Buttery scallops sit on a bed of creamy, cheesy risotto. But you only get three so don’t plan on sharing this one. photo credit: Amy Sinclair Poblanas De Pollo Three enchiladas come doused in a poblano crema with a tiny bit of spice, stuffed with a huge portion of chicken and drizzled with queso fresco. photo credit: Amy Sinclair Tostadas De Atun Macha Two tostadas come loaded down with so much zaku tuna you’ll need to fork and knife this. The avocado cucumber spread on the bottom helps calm down the incredibly fiery chile de arbol sauce that’s served on the side. photo credit: Amy Sinclair Branzino A La Talla You get a whole, flaky fish sans head. A tomatillo and chiles seco provide a burst of spicy flavor that elevates this branzino to a must-order. Guacamole This guacamole is creamy and citrusy, and we would definitely order it again. But if you’d prefer not to spend $18 on a snack, skip this for another more filling shareable like the tuna tostadas. video credit: Jacinta Howard El Duvalin The candied scorpions bring in a pleasing nuttiness and crunch to the velvety smooth dessert. But even if you choose to eat it san scorpions, the chocolate brownie ice cream and hazelnut mousse balls garnished with strawberry coulis and pralines have just the right amount of sweet, tart, and chew." - Juli Horsford
"Chef Octavio Ruiz is behind Buckhead’s upscale Mexican restaurant, Pata Negra, which is the kind of place that makes dinner feel more like a romantic night on the town. Think matte black walls, gold accents, and sleek wood finishes—all skewing high on the canoodling scale. So don’t fight the feeling and lean into your partner while you feed each other chicken thigh tacos and sip on the namesake Pata Negra cocktail. It's a sage and lemon-infused twist on a margarita that balances herbal notes with citrusy zing. Finish with the El Duvalin, a stunning (and tasty) chocolate-hazelnut dessert crowned with fried, crispy scorpions." - nina reeder, demarco williams, juli horsford, jacinta howard
"Pata Negra Mezcaleria took over the space previously home to the Usual at the Arya apartment complex on Peachtree Street. Gather friends for shared plates of crispy tlayudas loaded with black beans, Oaxaca cheese, avocado and chapulines and a trio of enmoladas drizzled with smoky mole. Order entrees of tender pulpo served atop squid ink and salsa matcha or a whole branzino dressed with chilis, tomatillos, and peppers. Like the food, cocktails are packed with flavor and elegantly presented, leaning into mezcal and other agave spirits. This includes the restaurant’s namesake cocktail made with blanco tequila and Banhez Espadín-Barril mezcal, sage, palo santo, and lemon." - Molly Harris, Eater Staff
