Tortuga y Chango

Tortuga y Chango is such a gem! I've been meaning to get here for a while and finally had a chance to visit. It's located in the Oakhurst neighborhood in Decatur. They recently underwent some changes and have a new chef. It's a mezcal and tequila bar that serves great food as well. Parking is free. They're open Thursday through Sunday and serve brunch on weekends as well. Surprisingly, they were empty when I arrived and I decided to sit at the bar. I started with a house margarita. It's one of the best margaritas I've had at a restaurant in a while. It was so fresh and delicious. The bartender also let me sample some sotol which is a distilled spirit from a dasylirion plant. She described it as a mix of tequila and mezcal and the description was spot on. The menu isn't extensive and is composed of a few appetizers and tacos. I ordered the elote and carnitas, Al pastor and asada tacos. The tacos are 3 for $12 or 1 for $5. Everything was delicious and flavorful. I received great service and was quite satisfied with my selections. I cannot wait to return!

We came here in a Saturday nightBustling with people even with difficult parking and thunderstorms Our hostess/ waitress gave us several menus for mezcal and dinner. We ordered cocktails and were pleasantly surprised with a spicier version of the French 75 And a spiced drink with coconut rimmed with tajine. Our appetizers included Chile rilleno, octopus, aguachile, cheese bread, mussels, and the daily Branzino served with tortilla and mole ( yum) . We also had the churros for dessertWe really enjoyed every dish . Husband could not stop talking about how every dish was good and if he dies he wouldn't mind being buried with the broth from the mussels ! Definitely will return

Exceptional food and drinks. Tastes like actually being in Mexico. Wonderful staff. The restaurant was cozy and easy to get a table. Parking is easy as well, close to marta, and walkable from Oakhurst. I've been for brunch, lunch, and dinner and had an incredible meal every time. I'm working my way through the menu and never disappointed. Highly recommend!

Super cozy place with a limited but well curated menu.I made a reservation prior to coming here but we were still seated at the bar by the kitchen. Table situation is very limited here and I'm not sure how one would go about actually scoring a table. The service was great. We got our drinks pretty quickly and the food followed. For drinks we tried El Paraguas and Negroni. Both delicious. Apps were Tetelas (masa cake) and Pulpo. One of the best octopus dishes I've had. We then proceeded with Carne Parrilla and Scallops. I'd absolutely order this again!Overall: great bar, street parking, good food and service. Very small space so either arrive early or make a reservation.

Happy Hour! Didn't realize until we came, but I love happy hour. Margarita on there, shrimp taco, and oysters. The margaritas are tasty, you can also have it with mezcal for a little extra. I wish I would have just eaten 2 shrimp tacos off the happy hour menu - little over $5 each, but big tacos with large shrimp. Very tasty. Their cocktails are delicious, even for someone not well versed in mezcal. Our waitress explained that their signature cocktails were a good intro to mezcal. Wife loved her scallops - so much so she barely gave me a bite. I had the octopus with mole, which was very good but small. Overall, the food and drinks were delicious but a bit pricey.

Awesome spot. Gotta make a ressie bc they are small and fill up quick. Great drink options if you are a mezcal fan of course. Unique dishes to try and great flavors. We tried a little bit of everything since the plates were smaller and we really enjoyed all the things we tried. Also note they have a nice happy hour to check out if an early bird. Service was fantastic and we didn't leave lacking anything from this neighborhood gem.

The first time I went it was exceptional. The second time, I dragged my husband and it was decidedly unexceptional.Everything was just meh. I was so dang disappointed! I thought it was going to be another neighborhood score! But nope. The contrast to my first visit is stark.My first visit (in December) was delightful. Every dish was perfectly prepared. My cocktail was delicious, and my wine was interesting (in a good way). I left almost unable to contain my excitement!!The second time, I managed to score a place at the communal table. Good luck getting a table. Last time I ate at the bar. This time, the bar was packed by 5:15...Maybe it was an off day!! Restaurants have off days! Sometimes your just the unlucky patron! I hope so.The cocktails were ok but not unbelievable. The service was fine. The happy hour tamales were definitely delicious! The black beans were ok... but definitely not as good as mine.The entrees were mediocre: my vegetables were not delicious. I'm not sure what happened, but they were bitter. That's disappointing since veggies can really make a dish. My husband's dish was less than half of what I'd seen brought out the last time I'd come. It was maybe 2oz of meat. I've spent enough time weighing food to know 2oz when I put my palm over it. I'm glad he didn't agree to sharing. The mole sauce was pretty good but not exceptional. The adobo barely tasted of anything. I have never wanted to use salt in a restaurant before!The place was madness, so I consciously chose not to send back the plate.Third time's a charm, as they say. Maybe I'll wait until summer brings out the best produce and go back...

It's a shame this restaurant closed. The owners were great, chefs fantastic, bartenders phenomenal & the ambiance made you feel like you stepped in Mexico but you were in Decatur. Hands down my favorite restaurant.

Oh my mother effing MEZCAL! This place is AMAZING! The BEST and most vivid selection of mezcals and tequilas you could fathom in atl. Everything on the menu I tried was very complimentary to the different tequila flights and cocktails. The food was great portions for sharing and each dish looked like an edible work of art. Some had edible flowers to add to the beauty of each dish but the flavors speak volumes aside from it looking immaculate! If you want to impress someone who really enjoys QUALITY, take them HERE! Owner was very present in the whole dining experience and greeted/said goodbye and thank you to each guest which just makes me want to come back a million times over!

Tortuga y Chango is such a lovely place. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable, it's a comfortable place to hang out, and the food and drinks are delicious. My wife is a big fan of the margaritas and other cocktails. While I don't drink, I don't feel left out either! There are plenty of non-alcoholic options available as well.Overall, it's a great establishment, and I'm very glad to live nearby!