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! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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We came here in a Saturday night Bustling 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 dessert We 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 read more

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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. read more

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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... read more

Tortuga y Chango - Hoppin' at happy hour. Come earlier than you think. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

We were stopping by Ale Yeah next door for a map of Porchfest. I was hungry and the name and vibe lured me in. I was seated with no wait on a Friday night, and I looked over the menu while my date finished up his business at the neighboring establishment. By the time he came and joined me, I had nearly decided to grab a drink and leave. They only had about 12 food options (vs about 89 Mezcal options) and the options seemed unique enough that I wasn't sold. I was hungry though, and indecisive, so I ordered a couple of starters and we each had a main. I don't recall the official names for any of it because I have the equivalent memory of a stoned donut, but we ordered the masa cake, the seafood cocktail (the one with octopus), he had the Chile relleno and I had the scallops. I'll be transparent here and will not be docking a star for what some may consider a downside: you pay for what you get, but in this case, you DO get what you pay for. The portions are on the small to moderate side. Expect to order an appetizer & entree each (~$30ish). I'm no food critic, but having traveled a lot for work I've found myself often eating out in a variety of upscale and dive-y spots. Because the critiquing of food is not my forte, I'm not sure how to properly describe the culinary experience I had tonight, but I will try my damndest because I truly believe Atlanta needs to support this business so I never have to be without it. The relleno had a smokiness and complexity that melted in ones mouth. The pomegranate seeds and cilantro micro-greens added a freshness that kept it from overwhelming the palate. This dish probably would not be for the culinarily timid individual, but if your taste buds like to be teased with each of the different sweet, tart, savory, salty zones titillated simultaneously, this is where you should begin. Absolutely delicious! The scallops. Okay... so, you're going to have to stay with me here. I find scallops to be sweet, and these were no exception. They placed them atop a bed of a corn purée that was also sweet, then added the most succulent peas that I've ever tasted (also sweet). Collectively, a pretty sweet dish. As I reflect on dinner, I'm not certain that it would have stood alone as incredibly as it did in my experience. Why my experience was different was because of the absolute stud of a man who shared his relleno with me, a nibble here and there. That smokiness and intense savoriness offset by my rather sweet entree was the perfect combination. Overall, I liked my dish better than the relleno, but I don't think I would have liked it as much as the relleno without the smoky bites in between. Does that make sense? Probably not. But I'm no food critic. What I can say is that it was collectively one of the best dinner experiences I have ever had. read more

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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! read more

We came in around 7 pm on a Saturday night and thankfully didn't have an issue being seated right away, or finding parking for that matter. Most were seated at the bar and there was a communal hightop table; we opted for a lower communal table and had it to ourselves for the duration. Our server was friendly and helpful without being too overbearing. The drinks are really spectacular, and I'd likely return for that over the food which is really more of an accompaniment to the cocktails. We had the mussels to start and I had the chile relleno. All in all, fun experience for a date night or with a group. read more

I had a great experience at the bar. Mike took excellent care of us, and the beverage manager was able to select some delicious mezcals for me based on what I had before. The Caesar salad was tasty, interestingly enough they fry polenta giving it a crouton like crunch but a little softer. I would return if I was in the Decatur area read more

Tortuga y Chango - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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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! read more

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Amazing from beginning to the end of our dining experience. Staff was attentive and gave good recommendations. I didn't get to take in the entire restaurant as I sat with my back to the restaurant at the communal table. The food was delicious! Very flavorful and beautiful presentation. I was able to satisfy my craving for a whole fish in the best way! read more

Tortuga y Chango - Branzino - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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. read more

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! read more

Cool place. Great service. Definitely a good spot for mezcal and seafood lovers. As I am not a huge fan of either I was not as into it as my partner who loves both. The sauce on the chili relleno was my favorite part. read more

Our first night at Tortuga was a fantastic experience. We indulged in a flight of mezcals and a few small bites. The bar service, food, and ambiance was all fantastic, and we met the owner, Alan, who imparted his knowledge and tips for enjoying the mezcal. Thank you to all the staff for making our evening special. We'll return soon. read more

My favorite new spot. The cocktails are outstanding, especially the El Gorrito. And I was mesmerized by each new dish that appeared in front of me. They were gorgeous and tasted every bit as good as they looked. The aguachile, the coctel de camaron, the scallops, the octopus, all perfectly prepared and seasoned. I'll be back often. read more

Tortuga y Chango - El Gorrito - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

I really wanted to like this place more. The food was average at best and portions were very small for the price. Great service is a plus.

Went for drinks and bites, can't believe it took me so long to visit, will be a regular customer from here forth! Amazing cocktails, fantastic food, great vibe, and the staff is amazing. Highly recommend the cocktail El Sol and the chili relleno appetizers read more

First time here, and we loved it. Great ambiance, attentive staff. We had three small(er) plates and all were excellent. The owner came up to us after we were finished and asked if we needed anything. He was so charming and kind, it's something you don't experience in restaurants very often anymore. We will be back! read more

A little pricy but good food beautifully plated and tasty drinks. Not a lot of tables so you might want to get a reservation.

The food, drinks, and service were all exceptional. We went for the first time just to check it out and were taking about how we were excited to go back before we finished our meal. Me, my wife, and our 2 older teenage daughters were all blown away and had a great time. We were there during happy hour so I had the flight of mezcals which was delicious and fun. Then we had 3 small plates and the seafood gumbo special and everything was perfect. read more

Excellent food, service, and atmosphere! Love that the owners are engaging with the customers! And the mezcal margarita was delicious!

Best tacos I've had in a long time!!! Barbacoa, carnitas and Al pastor. The right level of heat with the right spice combination for the meat. Get a fría to eat with the tacos read more

Love this place! The food was outstanding! I'll certainly be returning. Get the special.

Visited with two girlfriends and shared several dishes. Excellent service, helped with wine pairing and let us taste a couple of options. Grilled octopus and scallops over corn are amazing. Beet salad was also perfect. Definitely recommend. read more

So many mezcals to choose from, and our server was very knowledgeable. We tried 5 different mezcals and enjoyed the diversity and complexity of each. They even have a "special house brand" imported from Mexico that is unique to the restaurant. The food was also delicious. We ordered the Chile relleno, the whole fish, and the seafood coctel. The fish was sublime. The restaurant is small so reservations are advised. read more

We sat at the bar when there weren't any reservations available & though they were slammed, the bartender and servers were so great and accommodating. The food was delicious & drinks were perfect. Can't go wrong with Mezcal & Mole. read more

The Vibe, the drinks and the food were great. Smaller qty plates so recommend to order family style/tapas style and enjoy everything on the menu. Scallops and Octopus were my favorite dishes. The hangar steak was very chewy, almost unable to eat chewy however everything else was amazing and had great chili sauces on the plates. Very fun earthy flavors that pair well with the different Mezcals. Make sure to check out all the photos and art that the owners have picked up on their trips to Oaxaca. read more

Stopped by here over the weekend after discovering this place on Eater's "Hottest Restaurant " list. I was not a fan. I had the Caesar salad and octopus. The salad portion was very small and the leaves were wilted. The octopus was over cooked and the accompanying blue tortillas were soggy. For a restaurant known for cocktails, they weren't anything special. Pretty disappointed with the whole experience. read more

Beautifully prepared food reasonably priced for this quality of dishes. The chef holds true to authentic Mexican ingredients in his recipes while creatively riffing on unexpected preparations, like using smoked red ancho chiles and shrimp chorizo in the chiles rellanos. The seafood cocktail is the best I've tasted, including Rick Bayless' Frontera restaurant in Chicago. The mezcal menu is exceptional. read more

Told there is a 45m wait and cool with it. But an hour and 30 later and still there is still no room for 2 people despite an empty table in the restaurant. Hostess was like whatever, I won't even try. My previous experiences were positive but not sure I'll go back now. read more

I came in exploring the Decatur area and was blown away by the food selection, cocktails, and ambience

My husband, two friends, and I were very excited about this restaurant opening. We love the regional cuisine and are enthused about mezcal, sotol, raicilla, etc. My husband did not make reservations based on the restaurant's website. When we showed up at 6:30pm Saturday for dinner, we were told that without a reservation, a 4-top entailed a 45 minute wait. OK, it's a Saturday night, but we mentioned the website says no reservations. The hostess was at first disbelieving and then when shown proof, was professionslly apologetic, saying she'd have to look into that. But the kicker. why I am writing this review, is that a woman who appeared to be a manager told us very curtly, and actually somewhat snarkily, that "everyone else here made a reservation," spoken in a tone (accompanied by a sweeping arm gesture) that unmistakably told us that the misunderstanding was entirely our fault. So we left. My group was originally discussing waiting the 45 minutes for a table but that rude comment was uncalled for and made us decide to dine elsewhere. read more

Tortuga y Chango - restaurant's website showing source of misunderstanding. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

Great food, great drinks, great service- particularly liked the mussels, scallops and Chile relleno- mezcal margarita a smoky delight! Highly recommend read more

I was incredibly excited when I read in Eater-Atlanta that this a seafood-forward (or what I understood to be seafood-forward) Mexican restaurant that emphasized mezcal (and mezcal cocktails) was opening in Decatur. What I read and what I experienced couldn't have been more different. Dubbed by Eater as a love letter to family-inspired mezcal meals, my experience was indifferent and uninformed service, an overpriced, watered down cocktail (the El Parajo) that had no discernible flavor profile, and equally overpriced forgettable food. Neither the griddled masa cakes nor tostada were memorable. I am usually not one to complain about portion sizes, especially when we're talking about high quality ingredients and deliciously (and carefully crafted) meals. But it is hard to tell that any special care went into the ingredients or prep. And the servings (with the exception of the whole fish) were on the insultingly small side, given the price and what was being served. The masa cakes and refried beans was pretty bland and could generously satisfy one person. Likewise for the tostadas with shrimp (a sort of take on ceviche), which was really too small a portion to meaningfully share. And didn't really taste different than mediocre panhandle ceviche Finally, the whole grilled fish was supposedly adobo-seasoned, but it tasted like any old blackened fish. Because they serve the whole fish (and it is understandably not filleted), it is quite an adventure to eat, especially the way it was plated (on a small plate with no place to deal with the bones or easily deal with the entire fish). None of the food was terrible. But I can't see any reason to recommend this restaurant given its price point, indifferent service, cave-like atmosphere, and limited menu with indifferent offerings that sound better than they taste or look. Maybe I give them a second chance in a few months, but right now, definitely cannot recommend. I would say this is a generous two star review given the price point. read more