The June Hit List: AltaToro, La Panarda, SolarBar, and More

Not just tacos, but Peruvian ceviche, Argentinian empanadas, and an array of other tapas-style dishes representing the spectrum of Latin American cuisine are showcased at this bull-themed restaurant from the owners of 5Church. It’s a colorful and eclectic space decked with giant murals and a tree-shaped sculpture in the center of the dining room, with live music programmed regularly. And it opens mid-month, but reservations are open now so it doesn’t hurt to be bullish on scoring a table early.

Deborah VanTrece has completed the change from Latin-soul restaurant Serenidad to La Panarda, which is named for a tale of Italian folklore involving a celebratory feast, which gives you a hint to what you’ll enjoy now that doors are open. After your complimentary starter of daily changing bruschetta, and perhaps an Aperol spritz, you’ll have small-plate choices like marinated seafood salad with cornbread biscotti, fried green tomato Parmesan with lemon ricotta, and barbecue duck with mascarpone cannelloni.

The plot thickens next with pappardelle ribbons with Angus short rib ragu, Tuscan smothered chicken over Vidalia onion risotto, and smoked Berkshire pork cheek. There’s even a daily flatbread pizza, and a seven-course pre-fixe meal for those seeking the curated experience. 

Launched last month during the annual BeltLine Lantern Parade, this collaborative solar-powered craft beer and cocktail container unit is setting a new standard for sustainable drinking. Located near both Monday Night Garage and ASW Distillery’s Lee + White locations, it brings together the multi-award-winning local drinks-makers in an environmentally friendly setup. In addition to six 16-ounce canned Monday Night beers and eight on tap (such as Death Raptor IPA), and a variety of cocktails like ASW’s Winterville gin-based “Win & Tonic,” SolarBar also boasts solar-powered phone charging, and “The Crusher,” a system which lets you drop crushed cans into a recycling device, which then entertainingly blasts them up through a chamber into a receptacle for collection.

Yes, summertime is the season for grilling, but getting a little dressier and leaving the job of preparing plates of fine meat is always an appealing reason to hit Buckhead’s scene-centric steakhouse. Charcuterie starters include cured lamb shoulder pepperoni and triple-cream brie from Georgia’s own Sweet Grass Dairy, roasted bone marrow canoes sprinkled with smoked salt serve as appetizers, and Meats By Linz steaks come wet-aged (center-cut filet) or dry-aged (bone-in, lollipop-cut ribeye) for your main dish. Get those chops accompanied by a flash-fried lobster tail, and pick from Little Alley’s notoriously well-stocked selection of whiskeys and bourbons — they’ve got lots of great stuff, from cask-strength and single-barrel bourbons to whiskies from South Africa, India, Thailand, France and even further from ATL.

Gocha Hawkins, whose booming brunch empire is expanding from Cascade to Fayetteville and likely beyond, has opened this tapas restaurant in a glowing 1,500-square-foot space featuring gold, green and earthtone hues, along with a 2,100-square-foot patio. Leave the kids at home; guests must be 21 and older to enjoy dishes like flights of French fries or tacos, various interpretations featuring shrimp (“Not Really Scampi” in lemon butter cream, shrimp ceviche, shrimp sliders, etc.), along with fried lobster tails, street corn bowls and more. Don’t miss signature sippers like the South Beach Mimosa, made with Cognac, apple cider and sparkling wine.

Call 404-600-5540 to make reservations.

Not only can you make dinner reservations at El Ponce through Resy, but you can specify the expansive, energetic patio as your place to enjoy margaritas, mezcals and a variety of Mexican cocktails as well as tasty Tex-Mex dishes. Tacos are quite affordable, from $3 grilled veggie to $5 mushroom or beef birria, or tropical shrimp with mango salsa and cotija. You can also nosh on beef, chicken, ham and/or cheese empanadas, special plates like chicken mole, and crispy Mexican-pizza-like tlayudas with your choice of toppings. For guaranteed fun, book your seats from 6-8 p.m on Tuesdays for Millennial Lotería game night, where $5 gets you a game board and complimentary skinny marg. And be sure to stop by Tiendita, El Ponce’s fair trade shop featuring women- and indigenous- owned brands while you’re there.

Chef Forough Vakili’s French-influenced restaurant recently launched a retail organic produce bag, which you can purchase from LBN’s website and pick up a week in advance every Wednesday. Priced at $42, and featuring goods from the restaurant’s local farm partners like Georgia’s Hickory Hill and Riverview, the branded tote bags contain no fewer than seven vegetables and one fruit. Red, white and sparkling wine, along with pantry and pre-made products, sauces and dressings from Le Bon Nosh like ragu bolognese, Champagne vinaigrette and chimichurri, are available as add-ons, and there’ll be a featured recipe for a four-person meal, utilizing the week’s produce selection, in your bag. 

Order your organic produce bag from Le Bon Nosh here.

The highly regarded tasting menu restaurant is doing things a little differently for the day of the dad, with a fancy Father’s Day cookout. Get tickets now and have your fill of grilled Wagyu burgers, tomahawks and of course premium hot dogs, plus sides, all-you-can-eat style. In addition to bourbon cocktails and cold beers, there’ll be patio games all afternoon long. 

With its first Atlanta location now open (Krog Street and West Midtown are coming soon), this fancy doughnut shop which first launched in a camper parked in the Wynwood district of Miami. In addition to 14 styles of doughnuts (cookie batter cake, white chocolate chai, etc.), The Salty also offers baked goods, such as jalapeno cheddar biscuits and housemade brown sugar and cinnamon pop-tarts, and crafted hot and cold coffees. 

Get details on the Buckhead location here.

The Braves are looking good this year (almost as good as those OutKast bobbleheads they gave out on May 25 against the Phillies), and while The Battery offers plenty of game-adjacent dining options, Dantanna’s still reigns as one of Atlanta’s best high-end places for sports enthusiasts who appreciate elevated food and drink. Hit happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the patio and at the bar great deals on small plates like pan-charred local okra with grilled lemon and wings in four flavors with crispy fries, and take advantage of drink specials like $4 SweetWater 420, a daily red or white wine for $6, or the “Jalapango” margarita for $8. And never forget to ask if they’ve got the off-menu crab claws appetizer — it’ll feel like a victory no matter if the home team gets the L or W.