Week: Thur.
August 18th
Alas, the first indication that those god awful Tex-Mex joints
might finally be on the way out. First, Cantina La Casita is
a hit in the urban East Atlanta Village serving food with a fiery
kick. Now, Pure Taqueria attempts first impressions in suburban
Alpharetta.
A father of two seated at the table next to us receives his plate
of beef tongue tacos ($1.99 each) and signals to the waitress
to bring him a second Schlitz (.99). It’s utterly repulsive
to watch. And I think you know darn good ‘n’ well I’m
not talking about the blissfully slow braised beef tongue – it’s
the best item on the menu by a mile.
My Schlitz, only ordered because I obviously have an inescapable
urge to partake in train wrecks, was left virtually untouched.
At this point in my illustrious beer drinking career, I find
it unfit for human (or any other creature) consumption.
Pure Taqueria is styled to give the feel of a vacated garage
on a lonely desert highway filled with junky old refrigerators
and coolers. Opened by the same owners as Van Gogh’s, you
can expect taqueria-ish fare in a highfalutin Van Gogh’s
sort of way.
Tres Leches of shrimp, squid and grouper arrives in glasses with
crispy plantain chips. Heavenly Hood Canal oysters are accompanied
by a tangy cilantro-lime-jalpeno "hogwash" for dipping.
Carne Asada is cut into thick
juicy portions and served medium rare but hardly wears sauce – in
other words – high quality but bland. Fish tacos are the
better of the options – delicate strips of grouper heaped
with a lively poblano slaw.
I was told the Cabeza taco (cheek meat) was removed from the
menu due to difficulties receiving the product. Whatever.
If you’re taking the entrée route, the succulent
Lamb Shank draped with smokey pasilla chiles is amazingly tender.
And for dessert the pineapple flan is pleasantly dense and
tres leches is light and creamy.
|
Tres ceviches with plantain chips
and a can of Schlitz
Type of Cuisine: Mexican
Address/Tel:
103 Roswell St., Alpharetta Tel: 678-240-0023
Recommended: (New Items) Fish Tacos, Beef Tongue
Tacos, Tres Ceviches, Oysters, Braised Lamb Shank (cordero
estilo el D.F.)
Pricing:
Appetizers: $4.25 - $ 12.99
Entrees: $6.99 - $14.99
Desserts: $3.99 - $5.99
Hours:
Mon.-Sun. 5pm - 10pm (Bar til 11pm)
|
