KB & T, Love 2 E@T!

Two Urban Licks

By Unknown , 9:12 AM

Restaurant Review: Two Urban Licks

For our second review, a close friend of mine recommended Two Urban Licks, a personal favorite of hers.  After spending the evening in this sizzling American restaurant, I can see why she loves it.  Two Urban Licks is tucked away in an inconspicuous old warehouse building located off Freedom Parkway and Ralph McGill Boulevard in Atlanta. 

We weren’t exactly sure what to expect, but it wasn’t the hip art deco room with its soaring high ceilings, huge floating chandelier lanterns or the vintage style gas lamps lining the walls. The restaurant features live blues Tuesday through Saturday night, creating a lounge like atmosphere. Dominating the center of the room is the enormous glassed-in woodfire grill and kitchen area, where guest can watch as savory meats and seafood are smoked on a rotisserie.

When we arrived, we were led to a table on the far side of the room facing the outdoor patio with a city view through wall sized picture windows framed by floor to ceiling sheer drapes.   The menu features moderately priced small plate items and appetizers that are perfect for sharing, and the entrées change often adding to the variety and uniqueness of the restaurant. Ready to order, our server made several great recommendations and we made a few choices of our own.  To our delight, the food was amazing!

Our order went as follows:

Appetizers:

Salmon Chips- kettle fried chips topped with smoked salmon, chipotle cream cheese, capers and red onions

Brisket Empanadas- Brisket, garlic aioli, pico de gallo, feta

Entrées:

Bronzed Sea Scallops- Gouda grits, pico de gallo, smoked tomato broth

Soft Shell Crab- Fried, creole tatar sauce, tomato and ancho chili

Dessert:

-Rum Soaked Raisin Bread Pudding with Pecans and Brown Sugar Ice Cream

Drinks:

Watermelon Mojito

Two to Tango

I must say the food was melt-in-your mouth delicious. The salmon chips, a popular choice, were light and smoky. While the brisket empanadas were savory with a southwest kick.  The bronzed scallops were bigger than a silver dollar and the combination of Gouda cheese grits and smoked tomato broth creates an explosion of flavor and texture. T claimed the soft-shell crab with its tangy creole tartar sauce and bed of lady peas is the best she’s had outside of New Orleans. We both agreed that the hot bread pudding with its accompaniment of brown sugar ice cream is the best we’d had anywhere!

Two Urban Licks has definitely become an instant favorite. Although, I must warn, if you have any sensitivity to smoke you may want to request outdoor seating, as the inside does get a bit hazy with smoke from the grill. Aside from this, we were more than satisfied with our visit to Two Urban Licks and look forward to a return visit.

Ratings:

Atmosphere: 4

Service: 4

Food: 5

Value: 4

Wine/Bar: 4

Hipness: 5

Overall Rating: 4