La Lupe

Food was okay. Not the best i’ve had but the margaritas are stout! 2 glasses in and I’m buzzed pretty good.

Damn! I hate to see that this spot has closed!
Very sexy, dark vibe… trendy and a lot different from most of the corny mexican restaurants in the city.
It seemed like a spot that really fit Atlanta nightlife, but could have been victim to a challenging location.
The bartenders were awesome in this spot, and had a good service standard (offered to refreshen my drink with more ice, when they saw it was nearly all melted).
I like that type of stuff. Sorry to hear that the spot is donezo

This place Closed?! No.
The goat barbacoa tacos were fantastic. The tequila selection was very extensive and reasonable as well.

This review has been a long time coming. I’ve been to Lupe several times, and have never been disappointed. Maybe I’m just too naïve when it comes to tacos, but for my money, the Mixto is the best taco you’ll ever taste. The portions are generous for what you pay — you can get 3 tacos and 2 sides for $ 11. I’ve tried a number of the different tacos, and while most are good, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to order something other than the Mixto here.
There’s nothing particularly bad I can say about this place, but there are a few things that disappointed. I’m going to have to disagree with some of the previous reviews on the guacamole. I was pretty unimpressed with it. The house salsa that accompanies the chips, however, is a different story; it’s flavorful, spicy, and delicious. I realize that, given its style, margaritas and such are going to be the big drinks. Still, it would have been nice to see more variety in the bar menu (if you’re not interested in getting some tequila, this is not the place to go for drinks). That being said, the drinks I did order were fantastic, and if you’re a tequila buff, you should be spending a fair amount of time here.
The atmosphere is great, but it can get a little loud. This is mostly because it’s a pretty small place, and they try to maximize the seating in here as much as possible. I’d suggest grabbing an early dinner and trying to hit them up close to when they open (6 on most days), when it’s a little less crowded.
The service has been great each time I’ve gone there, and I am sure to be a repeat customer.

Of the two Nuevo Mexicano (it’s like «Neo Con» without the shitty politics) restaurants I dig in the city, I’d choose The Original El Taco over this place.
Don’t get me wrong — the guacamole here was some of the best I’ve ever have (don’t miss that when you go), but the rest of the meal was just sort of boring actually. Soft tacos without much flair, sorry to say.
We had a terrific server at Lupe and I love how convenient the joint is, so those are points in the plus column. The décor is sharp and on-​point, too. Overall, though, I’d chose the aforementioned Fifth Group place over this one. See my review on that one for more.
If you choose this place, go with a big group and ask for the «pimp table» in the corner by the door. People-​watching nirvana.

This place was really good — didn’t have any expectations, but I was happily surprised by the food here.
The chips and salsa were good — I think this is the litmus test for Mexican restaurants, and this place passes with flying colors. The guacamole is also really good — creamy and fresh.
I enjoyed the tacos the most though here, and went with a combination of the shrimp tacos, the chicken taco, and the rib eye taco with cheese. ALL were great. I especially enjoyed the shrimp and the rib eye tacos, as the meat and shrimp were fresh in both of them, and well balanced. A plate of 3 tacos with two sides (get the spicy guacamole) is $ 11, which is completely reasonable and enough for dinner. I didn’t like the Mexican rice though — tasted like Uncle Ben’s rice. Fail. However, the other food was good enough to outweigh.
Drinks were also good — many of the margaritas were well blended, and very strong. Good place to go for a pre-​game dinner or just a relaxed night out on the town. Complementary valet parking in front of the restaurant. Service was also great.

They could do much better… I had like 5 different kinds of tacos and none of them impressed me. They weren’t bad, but… whatever. The place seems kinda cool though, I went on a Wednesday night and it was empty, but I guess during the weekend things might be better.
Oh… another thing… they’re open till 1 am during weekdays! which I think is awesome!

«Meh. I’ve experienced better,» is the Unilocal description of a two-​star restaurant. A more accurate assessment for me would be «Eh. Just better than meh…»
We’ll concur with the crowds that the margaritas are pretty good, and our server was very upbeat and friendly. $ 7 for what appeared to be a microwaved bowl of cheese sauce was a major downer, and something I would expect to get at El Toro. No extra chips came with it, nor did any tortillas. Those kind of add-​on ripoffs can quickly sour a dining experience. The tacos we had were all good, and I think we’d all get them again. Did the slick, high end décor add to the vibe though? No. It made me feel like we were paying for atmosphere. La Lupe is a much better choice for later in the evening, or when margaritas and chips are the reason for going out. For tacos, there are better options.

The first time we went to Lupe (shortly after it opened) we were unimpressed. It’s literally across the street from us though, so we knew we’d be back.
The next time, everything had improved significantly. You could mix three tacos on one plate, making it easier to taste all the delicious varieties they have, and the margaritas tasted even better somehow. I was hung up on the goat tacos for a while and couldn’t order anything else, they’re perfection. We took a friend last week and another friend this week (we keep hunting out friends who haven’t been so we can justify going back as often as possible) and I tried the cheese quesadilla. Sounds boring I know, but it’s effin rad. The tortilla is crispy and rigid, just the way I like them, instead of greasy and floppy, which no one ever wants, right?
The sides I’m pretty indifferent to. None of them really wowed me. The guac is good, but a little too smooth and creamy for my tastes. Still it’s delicious with chips or with a quesadilla. The beans all have pork in them, so I avoid them, the slaw was a little odd. Not bad, just odd. I just stick with margaritas as my sides. Usually two does a body good. ;)

I was pleasantly surprised by Lupe. I expected mediocre, Americanized, and overpriced food. First, the prices were surprisingly reasonable for the neighborhood. The tacos are great. The sides are all yummy, and yes, I tried them all in one visit.
The servers were helpful, knowledgeable, and unobtrusive. Sit back and enjoy a margarita before and after your meal and take in the people watching and the funky music.

I’ve been to Lupe twice now, once with a big group on a weeknight and once with just one other person on a Friday night. On the weeknight with the big group, I have to initially point out how nice and accommodating the staff and hostesses were. Our group size was every changing up until the actual point of ordering food and they handled it really well, even giving a much larger table than we’d originally reserved even though it was reserved for a different big party later (we just had to be done before they got there, which we accomplished with flying colors). I felt bad because we kept changing things up but they didn’t seem to mind at all.
They have a nice little bar area without too much room but if you time it right, you can get spots to hang out here before you are seated. The drink menu is heavy on tequilas and margaritas, go figure, and the one I tried was pretty tasty (I think it was the basic Lupe margarita). They also have some other fancy cocktails and I had one of these which packed a really big punch.
Both times here I ordered the taco plate with three tacos and two sides. I’ve had the setas (veggie) twice and both times I enjoyed it. I also had the camaron twice (like it both times), the chicken tinga (my least favorite), and the pescado (I liked this one, too). My main issue with the plates is that I don’t really care for the side dish options. I like the frijoles charros. I tried the onions and jalapenos the first time here and, despite really liking spicy food, these were just way to spicy for me to eat. I also tried the side salad, which was a spicier version of a Caesar salad, and it was good but maybe not something I’d order again.
I like the space Lupe is in and I think everyone here is so nice. It’s very close to my house so I’m certain I’ll return here fairly often. It’s pretty reasonably priced so it’s a good place to get a few tacos before heading out somewhere else.

This is definitely an upscale taqueria, so if you’re on the lookout for massive, greasy platters of cheese encrusted enchiladas with a little moat of oil around it, this ain’t the place, amigo. The tacos, which can be ordered as a meal or a la carte, are fairly small, not greasy, smokey and flavorful. I went with the tilapia ceviche for $ 9 and one veggie taco with roasted peppers and corn for $ 2.75. I thought everything had a lot of flavor, and I was definitely satisfied. I’m a huge fan of ceviche, and the portion was pleasantly much larger than I anticipated (don’t you just LOVE when that happens, ladies?). My friend ordered the queso, and although I didn’t try it, it didn’t look so great to me. She said it wasn’t spicy like she requested, but she didn’t complain about the taste, and there wasn’t a bite left over.
Service was excellent. Everyone was extremely friendly, professional, and attentive. Just two negatives: although the complimentary salsa was delicious, the chips portion is tiny. I didn’t eat any, but my friend (a chick, mind you) had to ask for «refills» about four times or so. I can’t imagine how fast the chips would disappear if more than one person was digging in. Also, the entrance is very awkward. You have to kind of swim/​struggle through these heavy drapes to get in, and everyone in the restaurant will be watching you get entangled. Everyone.

My new love… well its a bit much but I am definitely a fan of this upscale taqueria. This is not your mother’s Tex Mex, and for that I am thankful. :)
I have dined here twice, and gotten to taste quite a few of the items on the menu. The menu is just the right selection of choices. I suggest the Three Taco platter for the first time (if tacos are your thing). Two different ribeye steak, goat, chicken, veggie, and fish tacos among the varieties to choose. I have enjoyed each one, there isn’t one I don’t recommend. You also get two sides, my favs, so far, have been the friend onions/​jalapenos, and the frijoles (beans). I have tried a few of their signature cocktails, and most were good. My favorite drink is the Margarita and I really like the Lupe (standard-​style) and Pomegranate Margarita — both go well with the tacos. :)
So if I have any criticism of the restaurant, it would be the service. The service is nice, but wished it was a bit more friendly. Mind you, I am not looking to meet a friend, but would appreciate more help with menu. But overall, this place is a winner for me. Perfect for the 2 – 4 person dinner and for those who love upscale taqueria food.

An upscale taqueria? who’d of thought an upscale version of it could exist!
We went to check out the new Cuerno 2.0 this week… and were pleasantly surprised.
It’s a smallish restaurant that offers an upscale take on interior mexican cuisine. (It’s not tex-​mex by any means for those of you who know/​appreciate what that means).
I ordered several of the tacos, my girlfriend ordered the enchiladas. both were tasty and unique.
I know I shouldn’t do this, but I found myself comparing this place to the recently demised Cuerno, and it comes out positively.
The décor/​physical place hasn’t changed much. But the food is much more appealing to me.
AND… even more importantly the food was much more appealing/​accessible to me and I bet others.
It was crowded the night we went, but I still feel concern for this place as it may be TOO out of the way for Atlantans. :(
Pluses – Romantic atmosphere, upscale foodie friendly menus
Minuses – Location, smallish seating area.
Take away – a definite unique spot on the midtown map (fingers Xed that it makes it)

So my tour of Midtown eateries continues since moving here on ¹⁰⁄₃₁. I had seen La Lupe multiple times while leaving my place for work. It’s literally 100 yards from the front entrance of my condo complex. I decided on Tuesday night to venture in.
First and foremost, a place with average or slightly above average food can get 4-​stars out of me by providing great great service. This is most definitely the case at La Lupe. That’s not to say everything is only average or slightly above average though.
To the detail on the food. We ordered the Chile con Queso and Guacamole for apps. The Queso has a slightly different texture than you would find in a normal Mexican joint. I actually liked it although I felt it could be spicier. Also, it didn’t conjeal into a brick like it would have at Los Bravos or somewhere else as it cools. Major points for that. The Guacamole was solid, but not great. A true highlight is their salsa. Very good with some great kick to it. I also like their chips. You really don’t need to salt them at all and both bowls full came out fresh.
To the tacos. My date orders the Tilapia Taco with their coleslaw. I ordered 3 tacos. One was the Tilapia which was very good. The other was one of the Ribeye tacos. Unfortunately, I wasn’t impressed. The meat was cooked properly, but didn’t show any semblance of being properly balanced from a marinade or seasoning standpoint. I was just expecting more. The final taco was the «Setas» with portabello mushrooms, corn, poblano peppers and cotija cheese. It was by far the best thing I ate on Tuesday night. I truly enjoyed that Taco.
The best part of this place though was the service. Whenever I venture into a new eatery I visit the bar on my first visit and typically eat there. It’s my opinion that bar staff make more of an effort to get to know their patrons and generally provide better and more thorough service. Damien at La Lupe is true to form. He took time to talk to my date and I, our drinks never made it to empty, and generally made effort in all facets of what I pay attention to from a service standpoint. La Lupe would’ve been a 3-​star place if it wasn’t for that.
Therefore, because of service and a desire to drink more Parados Malbec along with trying each taco… I will be back. Plus, it’s just too convenient for me to not come back.

I love it when friends have birthdays. Always a great excuse to get together and nosh. Thanks Katie W for turning 25 (again) and planning a get together at La Lupe. I was part of the large Unilocal crowd that sat along the very cool, narrow, bar-​height open table in the center of the restaurant.
Big groups always present a challenge for service and while the ladies here made a valiant attempt at keeping up, there were still a few issues unfortunately. Nothing absolutely terrible, just a miss here and there.
I ordered the chili con queso app — just as others said: cheese soup. I missed the chile in this. There were a few specs of pepper that I noticed, but the heat/​flavor was absent. Bummer. Loved the salsa, though. Packed a lot of flavor and the little bowl is deeper than it looks!
I then had the mixed plate of three tacos, and two sides. I ordered the Mixto (grilled ribeye with chiuhuahua cheese, salsa, etc.), the Cochinita pivil (slow-​cooked marinated pork with tomatillo sausage, grilled corn and peppers), and the Setas (portabello mushrooms, corn, peppers and cheese). Nothing was a stand-​out. They all tasted okay, but as others have said the tortillas don’t hold up to the fillings too well and I had to eat much of these with a fork. For sides I had Mexican-​style rice (boring) and frijoles charra. Ask for a spoon for the beans — they’re served in a small bowl and a fork just doesn’t cut it.
I’d try this place again in a smaller group to see if things improve.

I’ve been traveling to Southern CA and Phoenix quite a bit lately, so you’d think that I’d gotten some very tasty Mexican food in the process. However, when you travel with a Mexican national, you don’t eat Mexican food, so I’ve been craving some flavorful tacos and salsa. Lupe could only live up to one of those…
I was meeting up with the group for Katie W’s birthday, so when I climbed into my seat at the long single-​plank wood table in the center, there were already chips, salsa, and queso waiting. The chips were thick but tasted more like grease than chip, and the queso was more like cheese soup with floating cilantro than melted cheese. But the salsa was nice and chunky with good spice.
I opted for 3 tacos with two sides: portobello mushroom, slow-​roasted pork, and slow-​roasted goat with side salad and charro beans. The goat was still on the chewy side, though the seasoning was good. The roasted corn relish was the star of the portobello mushroom taco — nice char, yet still pops with flavor and juice. The slow-​roasted pork taco was my favorite, nicely seasoned with good texture, but nothing amazing. The side salad was weak — the lettuce looked old, and there wasn’t enough crunch in the lettuce or the very thinly sliced radish to evenly balance the perfectly huge and delicious chunks of avocado. The charro beans were just so so.
Luckily for me, Katie shared some of her birthday tamarind float. While it was so deliciously sweet that I couldn’t have handled a whole one myself, it was the perfect bite to end the evening.
All in all, it was a fine evening, but nothing to make me yearn to bring friends or return quickly.

Ergh, I hate to be the first less-​than-​4 review of this spot, but I just can’t give them 4. To me, a 4 star review is a really solid spot, one that I definitely foresee returning to and telling my friends about. And La Lupe just isn’t that spot. Mind you, it certainly wasn’t bad, but I’m not raving.
It was quite crowded on this Thursday night and we randomly ended up running in to a bunch of folks so melted in to their large group, seated at the communal table close to the bar. I was hoping they’d be able to whip up my favorite cocktail from the former Cuerno, but no dice. Instead, I got a Pacifico, which despite asking for a glass, came solo in the bottle, no lime, and kinda lukewarm. I know it’s just beer, but I’d expect more from a nice restaurant like this. Plus, drinks took
to arrive. Blargh.
We ordered up the specially-​priced meal for 2, which comes with queso, two taco platters, and a tamarind float for the dessert. The queso was wholly disappointing: everyone at the table best described the watery concoction as a cheesy soup. No spice or kick and not nearly as hearty as any queso I’ve ever had. The freebie salsa, however, was quite delicious and very flavorful.
My tacos were alright– I ordered the mixto (ribeye), camaron (shrimp), and barbacoa de chivo (goat) tacos. The mixto was the best of the three, as the meat had a ton of flavor. The shrimp was next up, with delicious caramelized onions. The goat was my least favorite, but maybe that was because I just don’t like goat. I had never tried it before, took a risk, and wasn’t exactly pleased, but that’s my own fault. Sadly the rest of the food just didn’t make up for it: the tortillas were only fair, with the corn version being way too thin and unable to hold the filling. Rice was average and the frijoles charros were solid, but again, nothing awe-​inspiring.
Service throughout the night was sporadic, with water glasses remaining unfilled and not a lot of check-​in on the server’s part. We were a big party and it was a busy night, but I really shouldn’t have to flag the waitress down to get a refill.
So all in all, a solid experience but not one I’ll be shouting from the rooftops. Always happy to have a new spot in the neighborhood, though, and I hope it does well!

Was finally able to get out again and the first place we wanted to hit was Lupe where the old Cuerno restaurant used to be. Being a fan of Ricardo’s other restaurants, I figured his new taqueria should be worth at least one dining experience… IT WAS!
Great little vibe in the place and since the heavy curtains from Cuerno were removed, you really get a cozy urban feel while dining and looking out of the large storefront glass that faces Juniper & 8^th. It’s a slick and sophisticated atmosphere, but is grounded and ‘pedestrian’ enough to not make you feel like you’re at some shee-​shee establishment.
Now for the food. While I may not be a fine connoisseur of taquerias (Naoya), I do know what I like when it comes to mexican and/​or south american food as I’ve consumed copious amounts during my tenure on this planet. Having said that; Lupe is 5 stars in my book.
Service was excellent, drinks were large (and strong), and the food had great unique flavor; even on the simple mexican staples like refried beans.
We had:
Chips and salsa/​guacamole — The salsa was pretty spicy, like I like it, and the guac was good too. The chips were of good quality and not greasy like a lot of other places.
Lupe margarita — Huge/​strong drink. Good drink. Good value.
Shrimp tacos w/​refried beans and poblano coleslaw — All excellent. The shrimp soft tacos were really good and the grilled onions and special sauce really set them off. Probably the best refried beans I’ve ever had. Not heavy and paste like at all and rich with flavor. The coleslaw was a nice little touch too.
The wife had the chicken quesadilla which she testified as to being incredibly good as well.
All in all, a great place and I was pleasantly surprised at their level of quality and efficiency after only being open for a few weeks. Will definitely return… as long as the place doesn’t become like every other good downtown taqueria i.e. 1+ hour waits

This is looking my kind of spot. I have been dying to have a good taqueria open up within walking distance. The other ones in midtown haven’t quite been up to the challenge. It is a good sign when a taqueria has goat (barbacoa de chivo) and beef tongue (lengua). At least they are making an effort to add some variety.
I ordered the goat tacos and my GF ordered the fish tacos. The service was speedy since it wasn’t a crowded night. I’m looking forward to coming back a few times to see how they do after the initial opening surge.
The space looks well appointed with many candles in the windows. The former occupant, Cuerno, was designed well but had enormous drapes. While they made it intimate, it closed it off from the scene on the street. With Lupe, they removed the curtains and the space feels very open.
One downside: they don’t offer tacos a la carte. You have to order the plate of three tacos with refried beans and rice.
Overall, it was a great first impression. I’ll come back to see how they do once they settle down.