Ela

Chef's Kiss-- Ela is completely a vibe. Located in the Virginia Highland neighborhood, Ela awakens taste buds with a cultural fusion of Mediterranean flavors. Many dishes had a tart profile, making the dishes savory, fruity, and sour. Nothing was overtly spicy. Some dishes had a mellow spice kick (probably from the harissa).The menu is extensive, consisting of shareable small plates and main entrees. Everything on the menu was bursting with flavor. With everything being so good, is it weird to rave about the hummus? One of the best we've had in a while. The house hot sauce was a nice touch to everything as well.Their cocktails were refreshing-- would go back just to visit the bar too.Cannot recommend this contemporary oasis enough.Parking: There is a small, shared lot adjacent to the shopping area. Some street parking available.

Food: 9/10 The food was great but there was not a lot of options of sides to go with the mains. We ordered the Harissa Chicken and Tamarind Date Pork Skewers and those were great but it was lacking great side options to really bring out the flavor.Service: 9/10Great servers and we were seated quite fast despite being really early for our reservation. Ambiance: 9/10It was nice and quiet and the place has that lounge type of vibe which was really nice.

The most AMAZING experience. The food was flavorful, the drinks were very good and the ambiance was top tier. Shay was a great server and so sweet. We had the pleasure of meeting Dennis the General Manager who was so nice and explained the dishes to us.Moroccan hot chicken 10/10Mezze spread 10/10Lamb burger 10/10Garlic Shrimp skewer 10/10Donuts 10/10We will definitely be back!!!

We had a brunch reservation for 5 on Saturday, 8/24/24, at 1:30 pm. We parked in the free lot adjacent to the restaurant. The restaurant was gorgeous!! The patio was so cute and the inside was stunning. So beautiful!! It felt so elevated. Service was great! We split a couple apps and got our own mains. Here's what I had:- Elsa's Hummus Trio ($15 + $4 for more pita): Delish! It didn't come with enough pita though.- Baklava Cinnamon Roll ($3): Good! We split 2 between 4 of us and it was perfect.- Daybreak Gyro ($17): So good!- Shakshuka ($19): Good, but I think the Daybreak Gyro was better than the Shakshuka.I got the Sultan's Swizzle ($14) for my drink and it was tasty and strong!Cute place! Good food! Fun for a girls' night/day out or a date. I'd go back.

We stopped by for Happy Hour and will definitely going back for dinner. The food was amazing and the cocktails were divine. The service was prompt and timed perfectly. I heard there's a patio as well. There were alot of vegetarian options. The servers ( Hailey) were great and the manager, Dennis, went above and beyond. Definitely coming back with friends.

I love that Fifth Group converted the Original El Taco into a classy Mediterranean spot. The renovations look very current, making Ela the place to be.I visited Ela on a weekend without a reservation. It was crowded and there was a bit of a wait. However, they do have a window at the bar where you can order drinks to hold you over. Unfortunately, I forgot my ID, so no drinks for me--guess that's one way to save on the bill, lol!Once seated, we ordered the Mezze Board as an appetizer. It's definitely on the pricier side at $18, but it comes with eggplant spread, labneh, hummus, pickled carrots, and a few pieces of bread. I will say there is far too little bread for the amount of spreads they give you, and ordering a refill on the bread is an extra $4. However, everything tasted pretty good.For dinner, I had the chicken skewer. It was insanely expensive for a singular skewer with no side. If you'd like a side, they have three options for an additional $7+ charge: couscous, pita, or greens. We opted to split the Greek fries, which were the best part of the meal.Our server was really nice, and the food was pretty good. Overall, I had a good experience, but I would only come back for special occasions.

Great happy hour! We went on a Tuesday and it was very chill and not very crowded. The restaurant is beautiful and has a lovely enclosed patio, but we opted to sit at a high top near the bar. There was free parking in the small lot behind the restaurant that is shared with other businesses in the plaza. Happy hour is from 4-6 during the week, but they apparently also have it on the weekends from 3-5 which is amazing! We got the mezze board to share and the flavors were simply perfect. The platter comes with labneh, eggplant dip, hummus, pickled veggies, and pita. We loved that the pita was grilled with sea salt as that went really well with all of the cold dips. They don't give you enough pita, but we asked for more and were not charged extra. My favorite was the labneh and my friend loved the eggplant dip! For drinks, their happy hour cocktails were $8 each and we tried the white blossom and meter spritz. Both were on the lighter side and were well balanced and refreshing. I also had a white wine for $6 which can't be beat. The bartender served us and she was great and quick, no complaints! I would love to come back to try more of their menu and their brunch!

"Just had a delightful brunch at ELA Atlanta! This gem in the heart of Atlanta offers a serene ambiance and a delectable menu. From classic to contemporary dishes, there's something for everyone. I enjoyed the Capri Son - Gin based cocktail and it was divine! The Foreign Exchange- bourbon based cocktail- was also nice Food The Mezze Board - with the wheat pita was a great appetizer choice with its shareable portion size The Moroccan Hot chicken has a nice tangy flavor!!The Harissa chicken wrap is a must order - cooked to perfection with amazing flavours. The Turkish Hash in the mains is a tad pricey for the portion size . But 10/10 on the taste scale We ended this meal on the sweetest note with this cinnamon baklava roll which is a fantastic twist to the usual baklava. Not overly sweet, but posturing with pistachio and cinnamon flavour. Must order Our server was very helpful with the food recommendations..Free Parking Space !!! Highly recommend for a memorable brunch! #notsponsored #brunch #brunchtime #weekend #atl #atlfoodiesquad #atlfoodie #atlblogger #atlfood #atlbrunch

I absolutely love this restaurant. It's a shame it couldn't be closer to me in Cobb county. The VA highlands area houses this gem. The restaurant is stunning inside. Reservations are highly encouraged. The bar is pretty good size and the bartenders are friendly and enthusiastic about the menu. The entire staff is as a matter of fact. The outdoor seating is great street facing up front. I have eaten here three times and each time I sit somewhere different. If weather is permitting I suggest the outdoor seats. Every server is open and patient to guide the consumer thru the menu options. I have had quite a bit of plates with my friends and the only thing we didn't love was the lamb hot pocket. The spinach feta pocket was great. The hummus and the artichoke were good apps. Steve's greek fries are amazing. The Harissa chicken and the chili garlic shrimp were by far by faves. I get them on greens as a set. The flavor is powerful and there's no guilt. Try the wine selection here to really compliment the dish you choose. I cannot get enough of the vibes here. Also the bathrooms are very clean and beautifully designed.

Ela is such a great addition to the Virginia Highland neighborhood! I am in walking distance and have been loving it!! The restaurant is beautiful and the food is divine!! You have to try a Mezze board and I am obsessed with the Aperol Froze!! The covered patio is amazing in this great Atlanta spring weather, so I would definitely recommend sitting outside. This is definition of an instagrammable spot, so be ready to be impressed!