Tierra

I'm split on Tierra, everything I got was mediocre at best. we had mussels for an appetizer, I got the beef tenderloin for the entree and the flan for desert. The mussels were cooked very well, but were in a very mild broth that made the fishy taste very apparent. The beef tenderloin was smothered in seasonings that completely overpowered the taste of the meat. The dish was not bad by any means, just overpowering and not what I expected. The flan was so bad that I could barely choke it down. It tasted like I was eating coffee beans plain. My boyfriend ordered the pionono to start which was absolutely delectable. He got the scallops for his entree which were easily the best scallops I've had in a very long time, intense flavor and cooked to perfection. For desert, he ordered Tres leches cake which was also great. I'd love to give Tierra a higher rating, but considering our experience, I feel like it's too hit-or-miss to be much above average. The restaurant itself was nice and made for a romantic setting, however, we were seated extremely close to other tables and could clearly hear our neighbors' conversation, it made me feel self conscious the whole time, as I felt like I was talking too loudly.

A side note- though I wouldn't say this affected my experience at all, there was a woman, who I now believe may be the owner, that sort of lurked around the restaurant, and since it is a small space, it almost felt a little intrusive. She seemed to keep a very close eye on the tables, though she never actually served anyone.

Overall, it was a nice place, and even though I got a few disappointing menu items, the rest of the food was good enough to pick up the slack.

Pros: Good food, good service, good wine list
Cons: Bad food, sitting uncomfortably close to other

Tierra is my favorite restaurant. They have a small menu, but it changes frequently. The steamed kale and the calabaza (squash) are incredible side dishes. The restaurant is small and can be crowded, but is not unpleasant.

I am the world's foremost authority on cole slaw. As such, I feel that it is my duty to protest the wildly inappropriate use of pineapple in coleslaw. Who do these people think they are? First, pineapple in slaw; then what's next? Anarchy in the streets? Public displays of affection? You people and your coleslaw get a room!
Sincerely,
Inez Velasco

Seriously good food, and convenient to Piedmont Park and the Botanical Garden. Best tres' leches cake in ATL. Be sure to go on Wednesday, when wine by the bottle is half-price.

Pros: good ambience, owner looks after you
Cons: very limited parking, limited seating

We recently had dinner on a Wednesday, when bottles of wine normally less than $50 are half price. Great deal for a very nice wine list. Started off with two appetizers - the mussels were delicious in a tasty broth, and the bread basket was the perfect for dipping in the broth. The crab frittata was a very generous portion, loaded with seafood on a crispy tostada-type round. For dinner, we had the seared tuna, which was cooked perfectly, i.e., medium rare, and the pork tenderloin with a tropical relish. It was moist and delicious, and was served with creamy chipotle mashed potatoes. For dinner, we had to try the Tres Leches, which I understand they are famous for. I can see why! Though not ordinarily a fan of desserts, I would eat this dessert at any given opportunity - breakfast, lunch or dinner! Our server, Jennifer, was excellent. Always there just when we needed her, but never hovering or intruding. And she really knew the menu and gave us good descriptiions and recommendation for our food and wine selections. Both of the owners stopped by our table to check on us and were very friendly. We will DEFINITELY be back!

Pros: Great food; Great service; Plenty of parking; Reasonable prices
Cons: Tables are close together so it can get a little cramped, and it can get a bit loud.