Elite Event: Newbies Only at Mi Cocina

This was a fun event at a restaurant I have passed numerous times on Peachtree. I didn’t stay too long, but met some cool local Unilocalers. I saw a couple of appetizer plates, that looked good, but the real star was the Mambo Taxi — a kind of frozen margarita that was deathly strong («college strong» as I put it). The parking situation was a bit confusing, but I just parked on one of the Midtown side streets and walked. I definitely want to return and try the food here. There are a lot of Mexican restaurants in Atlanta and I hope this place sets the bar high.

This was my second Unilocal event and we had a great time. I started Unilocaling last year and was so excited when I got my nomination to become Elite. It was really nice that this event was only open to new Elite members. Kathleen did a great job hosting the event and the private room upstairs was really nice. The Spanish/​English game was a great way to meet new people.
The food at the event was good and the wait staff did a great job making sure everyone got to try the apps. The signature margarita was really good as well.
I am really enjoying the perks of being Elite and looking forward to future events!

This was my first Unilocal Elite event! («Like a vir-​ir-​ir-​ir…») I was excited to go see what the Elite club was all about, and curious to try out a new restaurant, Mi Cocina.
The event itself was awesome. We had our own private room upstairs, just big enough for the 20 or so of us there. Mingling was encouraged via a clever Spanish to English translation game. I got really lucky and found my translation right away and landed a free pair of Unilocal SOCKS. YES. More swag was scattered about.
Everyone I met was pretty friendly and could hold a good conversation. The Unilocal staff was awesome for curating this fun, laid back newbie event. 5 Stars for the event.
The restaurant definitely had a classy vibe. Nice location and ambience. Don’t really feel like it paired with the food at all, which was average tex mex (chicken quesadillas, guac, taquitos, chips and salsa, etc.) with a fruity frozen margarita-​type drink. Servers were more-​than accommodating. 3 Stars.

My friend and I had so much fun at this Unilocal event, what a wonderful mix of fun people, yummy food and strong but delicious drinks! I’ve only gone to 2 events here in ATL, and the first one I didn’t really speak to anyone (it just wasn’t an easy mixer) but this was very… user-​friendly:) Got to meet some really nice, interesting local people thanks to the way Kathleen set it up to mix and mingle. hilarious Unilocal socks and accessories to help the cause.
The restaurant itself is conveniently located if you’re near Midtown with nice outdoor seating and a good atmosphere combining modern décor while keeping a casual mood. I will have to try more of the food next time (no fault of theirs– the service was quite attentive and the plates were abundant). The quesadillas I tried were quite good and that Mambo Taxi frozen margarita, while packing some punch, was very tasty I thought. I tried a couple other food offerings but they weren’t that memorable I must admit, but since the event, atmosphere and service were so good, I’ll give it 4 stars. And would go back if I were in the area.

I had a really great time to meet so many Unilocalers and to get a chance to talk to everyone. We had a great time.
Mi Cocina is in a great location and has a really nice atmosphere. It is a cool place to just come and hang out with friends, have a drink or two, and enjoy the evening. I tried the mambo taxi. a frozen margarita drink and thought it was pretty good. My sister (or my plus one) loved it and she is a margarita drinker. She said that it was really good for a frozen drink and since margarita is her drink of choice I will have to say it was good cause she has great taste.
The quesadillas were delicious. They had a really sharp and fresh taste to them. The onions and an other veggies in it were balanced perfectly. They did not need any sour cream or salsa added to them. I could not get enough of those things. Good thing because, I didn’t really care for the beef nachos or the flautitas. They tasted bland and greasy, so definitely not my bag.
Over all I had a great time and will definitely go again. I will also know that they only validate for two hours.
To be honest, I don’t know if I tried enough of the food at Mi Cocina to give it a high or low score so I just stayed in the middle. I will definitely go back and try a meal and update my review. So I give Mi Cocina a 3 but I had a great time at the event so that earns a 4.

Thanks to Kathleen for making this happen. The taxi-​something margaritas were delicious and had a kick to them.
And nobody passed out!

I didn’t really know about Elite members before I got elected into it a couple months ago, without even knowing why. But I’m glad they got me in and I loved my first meeting with the ATL «chapter». It was fun meeting everybody, the restaurant was really cool, the food delicious and the booze… loaded :) I’m really looking forward to more opportunities to get together!

Every Unilocal Atlanta elite event seems to be just as awesome as the rest. The physical space at Mi Cocina was just the perfect balance between stark white modern and super comfortable casual. The private room we were able to use would be great for meetings, large dinners, or even rehearsal dinners.
The food that they kept bringing plate after plate after plate of was amazing, and there was plenty for everyone to have as much or as little as they wanted. I had already been to Mi Cocina once or twice before and had heard of the potency of the Mambo Taxi (their signature drink that is part frozen margarita and part house made sangria) what I didn’t know is how damn delicious they are.
I can thank they staff, crew, kitchen, everyone at Mi Cocina enough for a wonderful time with such great service. And thank you to Kathleen as usual for putting on such an awesome event for us to mix and mingle at.

Really enjoyed the Unilocal,event but I feel compelled to give an honest review despite the free drink and appetizers. It is average tex mex and the drink was really too strong.
Parking is an issue. If you park in the deck it is free for 2 hours with validation but if you stay longer than 2 hours (a drink at ri ra’s for example) then the validation is cancelled. $ 12 to park, that is punitive for the area.
There are much better places within walking distance and please park somewhere else.

What a great idea! I love that all the new Elite Unilocalers had the opportunity to mingle and get to know one another in such an intimate setting. I had never been to Mi Cocina before, but I will certainly be back, especially for work lunches since I work nearby. Loved the appetizers — flautas, quesadillas, guacamole, chips and salsa, and nachos… not to mention that amazing cocktail. Yum yum yum.
Kathleen did a great job as usual. The idea with the Spanish and English phrases encouraged everyone to get out of their seats and talk to one another. Well played!
Looking forward to many more Unilocal events with some (now) familiar faces!

It seems like each event I go to is so different from the rest. Being that this was all «new» Elites, it felt like the first day of school! Everyone was happy to be there but not sure what to expect. Thankfully, and to no surprise, everyone we came across was super friendly and happy to be there. This was exceptional considering the amount of traffic that needed to be slayed to get there.
What a great idea to have English/​Spanish phrases that needed to be «matched» up. It encouraged mingling and a lot of sad gringo translations. I believe my «match» and I were the first to find each other — after we’d already been talking for a good 15 minutes. Shout out to Candace M. And my Unilocal socks.
Good eats and the signature drink was very satisfying.
It was a pleasure to talk to so many new faces — Jennifer H. and Brian were sweethearts and it was fun to hear about their experience in New Orleans for Spring Break. Ironically, we spent quite a bit of time yukking it up the newly ultra blonde, David. K. I see you, David.
Kathleen — a big thank you to you for your hospitality and for setting up such a nice event in a beautiful space. Mi Cocina was new for me and the staff was wonderful and seemed happy to be hanging out as well. I hope to return soon to try more and see more of us «newbies» at future events!

Being that this event was open to the newbies of Elite, it was more intimate than other events. It was wonderful to socailize with other Unilocalers and «get inside their heads» on how they rate the businesses that they have patornized.
I have been to other events before but this really gave me a chance to be able to make new Unilocaling friends. Makes me more excited for future events.