New Eats - Bone Garden Cantina

We went to Bone Garden Cantina on recommendations. The restaurant is less than a month old and was opened by Michael Benoit, co-owner of Vortex, and his wife. I'm sure having a foot in the Atlanta restaurant scene didn't hurt in getting Atlanta foodies to flock to this new establishment.

The restaurant isn't the easiest to find unless you're actively looking for it. One would never happen across it if he or she were driving around hungry. That is, unless that person was THAT attracted by the skeleton sitting on the lawn.

The restaurant itself is pretty cute. It has a Day of the Dead motif and a friendly staff to greet you. Even though the restaurant has only been open less than a month, the fluidity seemed like they've been in operation for years. It isn't the best service in the traditional sense, but the staff is very nice and attentive, which is what is important in a place like this. I also like that there is outdoor seating. It seems like a nice place to kick back with a couple margaritas.

As for the food, we tried half of what most of the reviews said was good and half of other things that weren't mentioned. We just wanted to get a good balance as to what this place was all about.

• The "free stuff": Chips and salsa are always an important indicator when it comes to these places. It is the first taste impression you get. The chips were just okay but the salsa was quite nice and refreshing
• The Chunky Guacamole: I'm a big guacamole person so of course we ordered it. It was disappointing and has a lot of room for improvement. Skip it.
  
• Mahi Mahi Ceviche: Almost everyone had recommended this dish. It was only okay. I won't be ordering it again. The avocado had browned and the top part was very fishy. It got better as we got to the bottom, but it wasn't anything special to me.

At this point we were a little disappointed, but the good thing was that things got better.

• Blackened Tilapia Taco: These were better than good. These might be the best fish tacos in Atlanta. Great flavors and better than I expected!
  
• Tamale: A little dry but the flavors were great
• Empanada: These aren't your traditional empanadas, but they were good. The skin was light a flaky. They're a bit on the greasier side.
• El Pastor Taco: We've had better. It was good but not one of the strong menu items
• Margarita: I can't recall the name of the margarita that we had, but it was on their drink menu. It was a bit on the pricier side, but it was delicious and refreshing. (I do remember it started with a P)
• Black Beans: I loved the black beans here. They were not your traditional black beans. These were blended or whipped so that it was just smooth, but it was a nice side to get.

In summary, I'd come here again and stick with the fish tacos, black beans, and margarita. It's incredibly reasonable for some decent food and friendly service. It's also a great place for large groups and even kids!