Review by: Lee E. Coursey

When you get a chance and want to try a good restaurant with good
margaritas, try Sala.

Sala - Sabor de Mexico Restaurant
1186 N Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Trust me, it's much better than the typical Mexican restaurant in
Atlanta - especially the margaritas.

Check out the dinner menu:

http://sala-atlanta.com/child/menus/menus.htm

The margaritas, made by Raphael and served martini style (shaken until
ice cold and then strained into a glass with no ice), feature Sauza
Hornitos Tequila, Torres Spanish liqueur, and home-made margarita mix
made from freshly squeezed limes. If you visit Sala, talk to Raphael,
the 50-something-year-old bartender. He's from Veracruz and can tell you
everything you want to know about tequila. I recommend the "house"
margarita, called the Sala. I also recommend the following menu items:

APPETIZERS
Guacamole - made fresh daily with chunks of avocado, onion, cilantro
and serrano chilies.
Queso de Cabra al Horno - creamy goat cheese oven baked with spicy
serrano salsa and cilantro.
Camarones al Sartén - shrimp sautéed in a spicy-sweet tomatillo,
jalapeno and cilantro sauce topped with cheese.
Ceviche Rojo - shrimp and calamari marinated with onion, jalapeño
chiles, tomatoes, avocado and cilantro

ENTREES
Pescado Tickin Xic - Broiled achiote rubbed salmon over spicy yellow
rice topped with pickled red onion served with avocado, tomato and
orange slices.

Directions:

FROM COKE - Head east, toward town, on North Avenue. Go about 1.4 miles
and turn left on Boulevard. Cross Ponce de Leon, and Boulevard turns
into Monroe Drive. Continue on Monroe. You will pass 10th street and
Piedmont Park on your left, and then cross some railroad tracks.
Continue about 1/2 mile on Monroe and then turn right on Amsterdam
Avenue. Follow Amsterdam (going right at the fork) to North Highland
Avenue and turn right. Sala is almost immediately on the right. You can
park behind it (between Sala and Vine.)

Map and directions: http://snipurl.com/pogh

FROM LENOX MALL AREA: From Lenox/Phipps, take Peachtree Road south to
Piedmont Road. Turn left (south) on Piedmont Road. Take Piedmont Road
about 3.3 miles to Monroe Drive (near Smith's Olde Bar and Ansley Mall).
Turn left on Monroe. Go about 0.6 miles and turn left on Amsterdam
Avenue. Follow Amsterdam Avenue (bearing right at the fork) to North
Highland Avenue. Turn right on North Highland and Sala is immediately on
the right.

FROM DOWNTOWN - Take Peachtree St. to Ponce de Leon. Take a right on
Ponce, and go straight until North Highland (Look for the Majestic Diner
and Plaza Theatre). Take a left on North Highland and continue until the
intersection of Virginia and North Highland. Continue straight on North
Highland Avenue. Sala will be up on the left about a mile by the US Post
Office.

FROM Smyrna/Marietta/Kennesaw - Take 75/85 to the 10th street exit. Turn
left (east) on 10th street. Take 10th street until it ends at Monroe.
Turn left on Monroe. Go about 1/2 mile and turn right on Amsterdam.
Follow Amsterdam, bearing right at the fork, to North Highland. Turn
right on North Highland and Sala is immediately on the right.

Enjoy!

LeeCo