Velvet Taco opened on September 9 in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood. Offering creative, playful tacos, the restaurant is located at Buckhead Market Place, next to Whole Foods Market and across from The St. Regis, along the neighborhood’s bustling West Paces Ferry Road. The 2,500-square-foot restaurant stays open late and dishes up an all-day menu exploring the edge of multi-regional and multi-cultural boundaries and an eclectic array of spices and flavors from across the world.
“It’s our mission to deliver a fresh take on the ubiquitous taco” says Clay Dover, chief executive officer. “We’re very excited to bring our unique and quirky takes to Atlanta and can’t wait to welcome the community to dine with us.”
With a handmade tortilla as their vessel and the guiding motto “set my tacos free,” the sky’s the limit on Velvet Taco’s menu. Drawing from globe-trotting flavors and breaking the mold with inventive combinations, the chef-inspired concept offers a broad sampling of over twenty taco varieties on their innovative menu, as well as creative sides and dessert. Chefs prepare everything from scratch—from slow-roasted rotisserie chicken to housemade pickles—and borrow from the historic roots of inner-city taquerias on one hand, and modern recipes on the other.
Incorporating the freshest and finest quality ingredients that are friendly to the environment, standout tacos include Spicy Tikka Chicken, Fried Paneer, Picnic Chicken, Falafel, Cuban Pig, Annatto Shredded Pork, and Ahi Poke, plus brunch versions served all day, every day, like the Chicken & Waffle made with crisp tenders, peppered bacon, peppercorn gravy, green apple slaw, maple syrup, red chile aioli, chives, and a waffle tortilla. As for sides and dessert, the Red Curry Coconut Queso, ‘Elote’ Corn and Red Velvet Cake are fan favorites. Each week, guests can sample a new taco as part of the restaurant’s Weekly Taco Feature (#WTF). Plus, Velvet Taco offers pick-up service, including their “secret” Backdoor Chicken—a whole Rotisserie Chicken, two sides of ‘Elote’ Corn, six corn tortillas, roasted corn pico de gallo, and heat sauce. Usually $20, “BDC” is sold for $10 on Mondays only.
On the beverage side, Velvet Taco has a “keep it simple, keep it interesting and keep it fun” philosophy. Guests can order local and Mexican beer on tap and in cans, craft sodas, fruit-infused iced teas, and the signature, must-have Kick Ass Margarita. The taco joint also serves seasonal spins on the famed margarita, like the Watermelon Cucumber version for summer.
The fast-casual restaurant features a cool, industrial space designed to feel like a reclaimed loft complete with international textures, art and music. There’s an exposed ceiling, concrete, rough timber and steel accents and a mix of modern, quirky, and collected furniture. Anchoring the dining room is a portrait of Marie Antoinette enjoying Velvet Taco’s beloved Red Velvet Cake. An open kitchen gives guests the chance to make a connection, see the preparation and scratch cooking and learn about unique ingredients and cooking methods. Diners place their order at a counter before settling in at a communal table in the 60-seat dining room or on the 28-seat patio.
Atlanta marks the Dallas-born restaurant’s first Southeast location, joining Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and Chicago.
