July 2009

PURELY MEXICAN
Brooke Alexander – Matson, Driscoll & Damico (Atlanta, GA)

Situated in an old Pure gas station complete with a transparent garage door, Pure Taqueria is an eclectic eatery with exceptional food and drink. Located near downtown Alpharetta, Georgia, this cozy establishment has become one of the trendiest places to be seen yet still caters to families as well. With contemporary music blaring overhead, you can choose to sit at the bar or at tables inside or outside (although in the summer months, the garage door is opened, filling the entire place with fresh air and warmth). The tiny kitchen is positioned in the back corner and is usually manned by four or five cooks who typically prepare your food in less than ten minutes.

The menu consists of traditional Mexican dishes such as burritos, fajitas and tacos, but it’s the modern twist they add to their dishes that makes me come back for more. For starters, I love the fried calamari with chipotle mayo and fresh cheese. Another favorite is the salmon totopos, which is smoked salmon atop a crispy tostada with habanero avocado and chipotle salsas. As for the entrees, you can’t go wrong with the flash-fried fish tacos or the hamburguesa sedgwick (essentially a hamburger with a Mexican twist) loaded with avocado, pickled jalapenos, braised onions, pepperjack and bacon. If you want something light, opt for the ensalada de pescado (fish salad) which consists of mixed field greens, flash-fried tilapia, avocado aioli and red onion lime vinaigrette.

Since you can’t have Mexican food without a good margarita, I suggest Pure’s signature PricklyPear margarita. Served in a large wine glass with sugar around the rim, this pink drink is sweet and refreshing and loaded with tequila. They also serve an assortment of beers, flavored margaritas and mojitos, sangria and sodas.

Whether you’re hungry for lunch or dinner, Pure has plenty of options to satisfy you. The prices are reasonable with entrees around $8.00-$15.00 and drinks from $5.50 and up. The best time to go is on a week day, but be sure to arrive early. If you opt to go on the weekend, the wait can be up to two hours, but it’s absolutely worth it if you grab a margarita and enjoy the atmosphere, the company of your friends and the delicious food of Pure Taqueria!