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| Café Tu Tu Tango by Christine Woodhouse If its location in the heart of Buckhead’s nightlife mecca isn’t a big enough hint, Café Tu Tu Tango’s wild color scheme, upbeat soundtrack, bright atmosphere and eclectic menu scream PARTY! Get ready for an anything-goes eating experience where artists busily attack their canvases amidst the flurry of a bustling restaurant. A conga line may spontaneously spring from the table next to you while tango dancers, salsa lessons or a puppeteer provide planned entertainment. In addition to handmade jewelry and mosaic-style pottery displayed throughout, the walls are covered with 300-400 paintings, and all of it is for sale. Café Tu Tu Tango celebrates artists of any kind, including those of the culinary persuasion. The multi-ethnic menu of small plates includes Spanish, Asian and Mediterranean influences with enough choices to satisfy the most obscure tastes. The lively, friendly staff is ready to please, offering drinks right away and providing humus, pita bread and crackers before you can even ask. The first thing I tried from the extensive menu was spectacular and remains my absolute favorite among the boundless options. You can have your artichoke and spinach dips. I’ll take the tuna tartare and smoked salmon spread any time, any day. The fresh, chili spiced tuna is chopped into tiny cubes next to wasabi scented smoked salmon spread and displayed on a thin wooden painter’s palate. Plentiful piles of ginger slices add an extra zing while cucumber, shaved into soft noodles, provides color and texture. It was hard to resist the varied list of meat skewers so we sampled several and gave top honors to the dijon chicken. The tender chicken was grilled to perfection, brilliantly avoiding the dry, overcooked tendencies of so many meat-on-a-stick amateurs. The dijon sauce, drizzled on top with diced red pepper, was just enough to add flavor without drowning the meat. The pot stickers were another hit at our table. We ordered them steamed and didn’t miss the pan-fried flavor at all. The delicious blend of chicken and shrimp was packaged in a soft, delicate pasta and the soy-rice wine dipping sauce somehow brought out the shrimp even more. We also tried the dynamite shrimp spring rolls. After recovering from the surprise of a fried spring roll, I found the dish to be quite good. Cushioned amid glass noodles inside a crispy shell, the large shrimp were impressive and tasted especially good with the traditional accompaniment of sweet chili sauce and hot mustard. To round out our parade of appetizers, we perused the “weekly additions,” a rotating list of specials unique to each Tango restaurant. Daring to be festive, we took on the mahi mahi tacos. These fun, miniature tacos come with a colorful corn salsa and a creamy mojo aioli to ease the spicy edge. The grilled mahi mahi holds enough of the mojo marinade to deliver its own punch but stops short of knocking you out. Intrigued by what might constitute a frozen lemon souffle, I gambled on the weekly additions again for dessert. Jackpot! The creamy lemon tower was frozen solid with raspberry sauce and a fortune cookie on top. Made with whipped cream and lots of egg whites for that souffle lightness, it was a wonderful preview of summer sweetness. And in case you’re curious, my fortune asked: If love is blind, what happens to love at first sight? Hey, as long as I can read the menu… For those not willing to risk something new, the chocolate truffle sampler is a sure bet. The assorted chocolates come covered in shaved almonds, shredded coconut or simply stand alone in their dark Belgian splendor. Anything but standard, the key lime pie is also tried and true. Bedded in a rich graham cracker crust, this thick chunk of pie is almost cheesecake-like in consistency and presentation. The lime presence is pervasive but not overpoweringly tart and the pie is garnished with just a ribbon of whipped cream along the crust. Whether you’re celebrating an event or just looking for a party on your plate, Café Tu Tu Tango is an ideal diversion from mundane dining. If you need a special reason, look for events like open easel Sunday, Monday night salsa lessons and monthly art shows benefiting the artist’s charity of choice. Café Tu Tu Tango is located at 220 Pharr Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, one block from Peachtree Street, three blocks from Piedmont Road, and only one mile South of GA-400 (Lenox Road Exit). Valet parking is available. Tel: (404) 841-6222. Hours Monday and Tuesday: 4:00 PM-11:00 PM Wednesday and Thursday: 4:00 PM-12:00 AM Friday: 4:00 PM-1:00 AM Saturday: 11:30 AM-1:00 AM Sunday: 11:30 AM-11:00 PM |
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| Pictured above: Cajun chicken egg rolls; Coconut curry mussels; Sesame seared tuna sashimi; Seared scallops; Oriental marinated steak skewers; General manager Glenn Hockert. |
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