TWO URBAN LICKS

Two Urban Licks

820 Ralph McGill Blvd.

Atlanta, GA 30306

We decided to celebrate a birthday at Two Urban Licks recently.  In our group of 5, 3 of us had been there before, but it's been awhile. We were going to dinner with a group of 20 somethings - the venue felt like it would be a perfect blend for us.

The restaurant is in an industrial park and is easy to miss.  You pull into the park and continue driving to the back where you'll see complimentary valet on your left.  We pulled up the hill to the valet and it was a nice beginning to our evening - the workers were ebullient saying, "Enjoy your meal" and "Thank you for dining at Two" - it was a nice welcome.

Once you enter the restaurant there's an immediate change - it's very dark, and there's a bar to your immediate left (where a band was setting up in the corner), and the hostess stand is down the hall a bit.  So it's slightly confusing, and there's no one really in front of you to welcome you as you enter.

We were seated, once everyone arrived, on the far end of the restaurant at a round table by the windows overlooking the outside seating and beyond that the beltway.  This seat was perfect since we were on the opposite end of the restaurant from the band - the last time we were there we were right by the band and couldn't talk to our friends at all due to the volume.

The view from our table was great --- but, what wasn't great was the heat factor.  I was seated with my back to the window and within 5 minutes had to move seats because I was melting.  Not sure what they can do about that, but it's worth noting.  If you are right by the windows in the summer, it's like you're in an oven. Moving to the other side of the table cured that issue.

Our server, Cortez, arrived promptly and was fantastic - high energy and friendly.  We quickly got to the task of ordering drinks and appetizers.  Here's the menu:

DINNER

SALMON CHIPS
SMOKED SALMON, CHIPOTLE CREAM CHEESE, CAPER, RED ONION
10

BAKED OYSTERS
BACON, LEEKS, DILL, PARMESAN
12

TUNA TARTARE
PICKLED RADISH, CRISPY SHALLOT, SESAME PONZU
13

SHAVED CALAMARI
SWEET AND SPICY, CILANTRO, WASABI AIOLI
11

EMPANADA
BRISKET, GARLIC CREMA, PICO DE GALLO, FETA
10

PIMENTO CHEESE HUSH PUPPIES
GREEN CHILI JAM
10

PORK BELLY
CRISPY, CUCUMBER KIMCHI, CHARRED PINEAPPLE, CRUSHED PEANUTS
13

CRAB CAKE
CORN, CHILES, CILANTRO, JALAPENO AIOLI
17

SHRIMP SCAMPI
GEORGIA WHITE SHRIMP, LEMON, GARLIC, HERBS
16

ARTICHOKE
IN ALL ITS GLORY, GRILLED, LEMON MAYO
11

SPEARS OF ROMAINE
SPICY CAESAR, CHILI CROUTONS, PARMESAN
9

SIMPLE GREENS
BABY LETTUCE, CURED HEIRLOOM TOMATOES, RADISHES, GOAT CHEESE, TOASTED ALMONDS, GREEN GODDESS
11

STEAK TARTARE
HAND CUT, TOMATO VINAIGRETTE, OLIVES, TZATZIKI, CRUSHED PISTACHIOS, PITA
15

BURRATA
CHARRED BREAD, SALSA VERDE
17

MUSSELS
SMOKED RAMP BUTTER, WHITE WINE, CIABATTA
16

BRONZED SCALLOPS
GOUDA GRITS, PICO DE GALLO, SMOKED TOMATO BROTH
28

PORK
SLOWED COOKED SHANK, TAMARINO, SAUTÉED COLLARDS, ROASTED SWEET POTATO
24

SHELLFISH WOOD ROAST
LOBSTER, GEORGIA WHITE SHRIMP, MUSSELS, CHILI, LEMON, GARLIC
38

BRISKET
SMOKED, BUTTERNUT SQUASH HASH, RED WINE JUS
25

amberjack
AU POIVRE, HAND CUT FRIES, WATERCRESS
27

STRIPED BASS
WOOD OVEN ROASTED, CRISPY CAULIFLOWER, CAPERS, CHILI, MINT
31

FLOUNDER
SEARED, SUCCOTASH, THAI VINAIGRETTE
33

BAR STEAK
WOOD FIRED GRILLED, GREEN BEANS, WILD MUSHROOMS, HERB WHIPPED POTATOES, CHIMICHURRI
34

CHICKEN
SMOKED, SWEETWATER 420 BRINED, WHITE CHEDDAR MAC N CHEESE
21

CHOCOLATE CHIP BREAD PUDDING
COCOA PEANUT CRUNCH, MALTED VANILLA ICE CREAM
8

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE
PINEAPPLE RUM DRIZZLE, DULCE DE LECHE ICE CREAM
8

LAVENDAR POUND CAKE
SPRING STRAWBERRIES, ROSE WINE GELEE
8

MEMPHIS MUD BAR
CHOCOLATE CRISP, PEANUT BUTTER MOUSSE, GANACHE, BANANA ICE CREAM
8

ICE CREAM SCOOPS
MALTED VANILLA, CARAMELIZED PINEAPPLE, CHOCOLATE MILK
6

SORBET SCOOPS
MANDARIN TANGERINE, PRICKLY PEAR, PINK GUAVA
6

3 of us went with one of the delicious signature cocktails. Perfect for a hot evening in Atlanta!

THE BLUEBERRY 12
VODKA, MADAGASCAR VANILLA, BLUEBERRY, CRANBERRY, LIME, ORANGE ESSENCE, BITTERS

The drink was delicious!  It was so refreshing, and I loved the combination of flavors so much I ended up ordering TWO! ;)

catebogue

 We were presented with foccacia bread and a balsamic dipping sauce - delish!

Really yummy warm bread!

 And we began with appetizers.  I HAD to have the smoked salmon on chips.  It might have been our favorite thing on the menu. Loved the presentation but the chopped up salmon almost tasted watery - like it had been frozen first or something? I'd much prefer thinly sliced salmon on crostini. There wasn't a morsel left on the board however!

SALMON CHIPS
SMOKED SALMON, CHIPOTLE CREAM CHEESE, CAPER, RED ONION
10

catebogue

We also sampled the burrata (typically one of my favorites).  It was good, but I won't order it again.  The "salsa verde" was way too heavy handed.  The beauty of burrata is it's rich ricotta creaminess, and in my opinion, the sauce was too spicy/heavy for it.  And for the record, I love heat - just not needed on this dish. The crostini was yummy though.

BURRATA
CHARRED BREAD, SALSA VERDE
17

catebogue

 These are the main courses we went with:

STRIPED BASS
WOOD OVEN ROASTED, CRISPY CAULIFLOWER, CAPERS, CHILI, MINT
31

The bass was OK - but this one was on the verge of being underdone.  My daughter only ate a few bites.  I also thought the presentation was lacking here, just dumping a pile of veggies on top of this beautiful fish didn't cut it for me. Not a professional plated dish in my opinion.

catebogue

BRONZED SCALLOPS
GOUDA GRITS, PICO DE GALLO, SMOKED TOMATO BROTH
28 

The scallops and grits were delicious.  The richness of the grits were offset nicely by the pico de gallo, and the scallops were prepared perfectly. It was a very nicely presented dish with a visually appealing contrast of colors.

catebogue

amberjack

AU POIVRE, HAND CUT FRIES, WATERCRESS
27

I didn't love this dish.  The amberjack tasted fine, but serving it with a mountain of fries was unappealing.  What you see in front of you is a plate of beige food. 

My choice for an entree was the shrimp scampi.  It's listed on the menu as an appetizer, but as you can see below, it's definitely enough for a main course.  The shrimp were cooked perfectly, and I love the strong citrus flavor, however, it was SO strong in the garlic department.  I love garlic and probably would say it's a #1 staple in MY kitchen, but in this dish it was over-powering.  I needed mints for days.

SHRIMP SCAMPI
GEORGIA WHITE SHRIMP, LEMON, GARLIC, HERBS
16

catebogue

 My husband went with the baked oysters for his entree.  And they were good but, (broken record here) I didn't love the presentation.  We adore oysters, but the dollop of green goo was visually unappealing .  The entire topping was very tasty though, and the oysters were baked fine.  Probably wouldn't order these again however - not a home run.

BAKED OYSTERS
BACON, LEEKS, DILL, PARMESAN
12

And Cortez, our server,  heard we were celebrating a birthday, so at the end of the meal this little chocolately caramel delight was presented.  It was out of this world!  All of us loved it! The photo doesn't even do it justice - the dense rich brownie was heavenly!

 Finally, there was a bit of an accident that occurred (unfortunately) that evening!  As you can see below, a girl that was clearing the table dropped a greasy fork down my new silk dress.  And of course, accidents happen, and I wasn't upset about it. But - - - the girl merely retrieved said fork from the back of my chair and walked away.  No "I'm sorry" or even acknowledgement of the accident.  I was having fun with my group and didn't know how bad the stain was until I got up to go to the restroom.  When my husband (and the rest of the restaurant) saw the stain he spoke to our waiter and the manager who were very good - apologetic and offered immediately to pay for cleaning or replacement if it can't be cleaned.  And the only reason I'm mentioning it here is that the girl bus person just briskly walked away after the incident when she clearly saw what had happened to me.

NOTE:  The staff was very good to handle the situation as professionally as possible. THAT I appreciate greatly. I got apology after apology from the manager and Cortez and was given information as to where to send either the dry cleaning bill or dress replacement cost.

So, there were highs and lows at Two Urban Licks.  The food was great in some areas and just OK in others.  The atmosphere is fun (albeit very loud - be aware of that!), and the venue is lively.  Our server, the manager and the General Manager were very very good.  In fact, here's what they ended up mailing me after the "incident":

It was a nice night with our group of 5, and our server Cortez couldn't have been more helpful.