Insider Pages Reviews for Ecco

4 Stars: Yummy goat cheese (by Gwen S.)

Gwen S. — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:14:00 GMT

It has been a while since I dined at Ecco. But, one thing I still remember and crave is their honey covered goat cheese. It was absolutely delicious!

3 Stars: Ecco finally let me down... (by ATLchic)

ATLchic — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

My last meal at Ecco was a suprising disappointment. We ordered appetizer/pizza and nothing the kitchen put out came together as a dish. The squid was a wannabe salad with lettuce and tomato thrown in and the pork belly- well, cut it up like Spam and put on rye toast can make for a fatty, dry dish. The winter squash on the pizza was terrific but the pie itself just lacked something.
The meat and cheese tray we ordered is always delicious so we did not leave hungry (the bread is so amazing). I am hoping on my next visit I will have good food- I don't need to be wowed by how many ingredients you can add to something.

5 Stars: Wonderful Experience (by jaynex2)

jaynex2 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

We recently held a Rehearsal Dinner at Ecco in their lovely "back" room. The food was wonderful and the staff was absolutely perfect. They attended to our every need. The atmsophere of the restaurant is very elegantly relaxed.

In addition, the Sales Manager who helped me plan the event was extremely helpful and made the planning process a breeze.

I would recommend Ecco without hesitation for a romantic dinner or for a group event.

Thanks!

4 Stars: amazing grub (by Stete)

Stete — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I lived this place. Great food, good price, and most of all fantastic crowd!

1 Stars: What has happened to Southern Hospitality (by BurghDiner)

BurghDiner — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:00:00 GMT

This was my first trip back to Atlanta in many years. I have a huge amount of fond memories of dining in Atlanta. Great food and friendly people enticed me to move there on more than one occasion. This was the second of two very sad nights out with friends in Midtown. The guy who brought us the water knew more about the menu than any one of the 4 persons who could have been our waiter/waitress. We are still taking bets on that one as we never seemed to consistently see the same person twice in a row.

To say the service was poor would be an understatement and the quality of food was poor at best considering a Sunday night and light crowd, well considering anytime for the price paid. To top off the night the parking attendant was nowhere to be found so we retrieved our own keys to escape this train wreck of service. I still love Atlanta, but two bad outings in one week is unheard of for your fair city...now, where is that water boy.

5 Stars: Always outstanding (by poggimer)

poggimer — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I have been to Ecco many many times and every time it is great. Drinks are good, service is friendly and food is always outstanding. I have tried almost everything on the menu and can't find one item I would not recommend. our party was late arriving and even at 1030pm the kitchen was spot on. I even asked for a special vegetarian request not on the menu and it was no problem. I would seek out Ecco for a casual evening or a special event.

4 Stars: Unique Experience (by JamieSlos)

JamieSlos — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Excellent atmosphere and food. Was invited by a friend and had the pizza which was fresh and wonderful! Reminded me of a local restaurant in Tuscany. Great assortment of apps - calamari to die for! Urban atmosphere.

5 Stars: Ecco is so 5-star! (by ListenandLearn)

ListenandLearn — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Yeah, I love this place, never been disappointed. I dine out 3-4 nights a week and always come back here to "regroup". I laugh when I see remarks that this place is expensive - when is the last time these suburbanites ate out - 1985? Try a steak joint - now that is expensive! Anyway, I love the App menu and the carafes of boutique wines. I love the Manager - sommelier Vajra, he always recommends something great and priced right (he's pretty funny too). The best way to experience Ecco is to walk in with a big smile, grab a nice drink at the bar, chat up the super nice bar staff (guys and girls!) and share about 4 things on the menu with a friend (starting with a thin crusty pizza)......doesn't get much better than that folks.

5 Stars: Terrific (by NigelA)

NigelA — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I loved this place. Friendly barstaff. Piquillo (sp?) peppers stuffed with some sort of mushroom medley were UNREAL. Our waiter was good -- knew his stuff on wine. Crispy pork entree excellent. My date loved it too - we shared everything and enjoyed it all. I will be back soon.

5 Stars: Truly Excellent (by DiamondOne)

DiamondOne — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I went to Ecco for the first time the other night on a strong reccomendation from a friend. She said she dines there often and has yet to be dissapointed. I did a little research and found out that they are owned by Fifth Group Restaurants, who own another restaurant in The Virginia Highlands, La Tavola, that I have been to before.

Let me just say that I was very impressed. From the moment I pulled my car up to the valet (complimentary) to when I left, everyone I spoke to was extremely polite and genuine. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with a lively buzz coming from the busy dining room. Our hostess sat us along the wall where my wife got a great view of the open kitchen. Within moments we were greeted by our server who happily gave us first timers a quick rundown of the menu and wine list making suggestions along the way. We decided on a bottle of wine that the server informed us was only available at Ecco. I was a bit wary about this at first, but my fears were quickly put to rest when the bottle appeared, and the glasses were poured. It was magnificent. I can't remember the name, but I do remember that it was a traditionally Spanish varietal, but grown in California.

Now onto the food. We followed most of our server's suggestions, and handed him the menus. Within moments our Meat and Cheese platter arrived, along with an order of Fried Goat Cheese drizzled with Honey and black pepper (A must have!). For our main entrees I chose the grilled tenderloin and my wife had the seared duck breast, and we shared a side of braised kale and some roasted potatoes. These too were outstanding and the wine accompanied the food beautifully. My beef tenderoin was cooked to a perfect temperature as was my wife's duck. Unfortunately we were too full for desert, but they did have a few interesting selections that I hope to try in the near future. I will definately be back soon. A truly A+ experience.

5 Stars: A unique dining experience that is both tasty and memorable (by willgrahamad12)

willgrahamad12 — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Went to Ecco for the first time last night. Took my wife to celebrate her birthday. It was a surprise for her and a very pleasant one. The menu as fantastic, the service was great, and the fried goat cheese was to die for. Very memorable experience.

The server knew what he was talking about and gave the perfect recommendations. What made it especially unique was that the menu was less about "dishes" and more about food. I like that the menu started with "meats and cheeses" and encouraged sharing.

We did the "Speck" prosciutto and mild salami with gouda. Brought with that was the fried goat cheese with honey and black pepper. Glorious! After that the arugula salad was the best ever and contained almonds, dates and diced pecarino cheese. Next up was the pizza. The misses had selected the tomato, mozzarella and basil, and I had the eggplant and peppers. both were flat-bread, about the same size as the menu and perfect. We each had about three pieces left over to take home. Next was dessert, which we split. The chocolate-caramel tart was very unique and refreshing in its taste, like it had been thought out and prepared very carefully.

The ambiance is typical of Atlanta's finer, trendier "urban" restaurants.

3 Stars: Never Again (by SirM)

SirM — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Pros: Nice atmosphere, free valet parking, interesting menu, knowledgeable and friendly waiter, and plenty of eye candy both in the clientele and the staff.

Cons: $11 for a simple gin and tonic and don't come with a large group unless you're all in one car or everyone is timely. We booked our reservation over a week in advance for a birthday celebration including six people. They made us wait for our table for over an hour until all six arrived. - Never again.

5 Stars: i loved ecco! (by lalababy)

lalababy — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Ecco was a great experience. From the moment I sat down I was warmly greeted by my server. I had a great time. The food and drinks were marvelous. I had cod and my buddy had the steak. Both were absolutely FABULOUS. They have pomme frittes (french fries) that are fresh cut and sweet and salty (just as good as McDonalds, not as fattening!) I recommend this place to anyone who enjoys Italian and American. It's a combination of both. The place is well lit for a "dark" area, and the atmosphere is great.

5 Stars: Service, food, atmosphere- everything! (by CbgetwnGrl)

CbgetwnGrl — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

The service here is outstanding along with the food choices. I highly recommend the fried goat cheese as an appetizer. It is truly excellent. We ordered several small plates and loved all of them. Also, the location in the heart of midtown is great and we had no problem with the parking situation and it was a friday night, as well. Oh! And the wine selection is phenomenal. We had a couple of different white wines with our dinner and loved all of them. Also, the bar is neat to sit at if you would like to simply enjoy a drink. I will definitely be back. We loved this place.

3 Stars: Its OK..but just that (by fashiondiva16)

fashiondiva16 — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I've been to Ecco twice. The first time, we had the cheese and meat platter. We all loved it, but it was so expensive. I feel like I could go to a grocery store and select some nice cheese and meat and make that platter myself for a lot cheaper. So if you want to splurge, then go for it. The service was not good. Our server kept spitting on us when he was talking, which totally spoiled my appetite. The food we chose was not good at all. I left Ecco hungry and not satisfied.

The second time, was a lot better than the first. We had a bottle of wine, which was very good. Our server was kind and friendly, and the food we selected was a lot better than the first time we went. It was still pricey, but I didn't have a terrible experience like the last time.

I would have to go back and experience it one last time before I can say that I like Ecco.

3 Stars: Yummy Cheese! (by fbi2005)

fbi2005 — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:00:00 GMT

My husband and I went out with another couple for dinner. We had attentive staff look after us. If you go, stick to the cheese and meat option (pick 5) and the mussels. Skip the entrees.

5 Stars: Best Restaurant in Midtown (by jddatl)

jddatl — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Great atmosphere and knowledgeable staff. I was hesitant after reading a few bad reviews but found them to be inaccurate. We were greated warmly at the door and everyone we came in contact with was helpful and friendly. The fried goat cheese is a MUST. If you don't like it save your receipt and I will personally reimburse you. We will definately be back!

5 Stars: Great service from Melissa, Great design and feel, everyone friendly. (by godsaveatlanta)

godsaveatlanta — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:00:00 GMT

We had a wonderful time. Melissa was a down to earth, lovely lady. I confess I was expecting another snotty kid who had an expensive haircut and 10 minutes of wine knowledge under his belt. Instead our server Melissa was delightful! Food very good. Everybody was so friendlly there, even the customers.

Fun cocktails and a lovely wine list. We tried several wines.

I love the tapas, goat cheese, mussels, olives so much I think the entrees pale a bit in comparison.

Great part of town with a lot of energy. There was a comment from another reviewer about panhandlers. Well dear, that's the whole down town experience. If you want lots of parking lots and something predictable - Olive Garden in the suburbs is open!

1 Stars: Downward and downward the quality has gone. (by starvingfoodie)

starvingfoodie — Mon, 26 May 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I have to say I have eaten here many times and have enjoyed the food and ambience to a large degree. BUT on a series of recent visits over the past few months not so great. Lately this place has become dirty and the waiters have become rude and robotic. There's no passion in this place anymore. I had to ask for a new glass twice before I received one without dried food stuck to the side of it. I ordered a $150 bottle of champagne at the bar before dinner, and the bartender began pouring it around for his friends sitting next to me and then afterward asked me if it was ok. I suppose they feel comfortable, because I was a frequent customer, but this is my bottle Tobiass is pouring without regard. I probably would have overlooked it, but I can't do it anymore. I just left there feeling a bit shocked. The food is ok, but with this type of service you get, it doesn't matter. I think this place has seen its peak and is on a downward slope. It's not the same magical atmosphere that it used to be...beware.

1 Stars: trash house (by hiemer)

hiemer — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

terrible place stay away. over priced not friendly waiters who have rude additudes exspensive prices of food that are small portions of tapas that consist of chesse mostly. i did not like this place and couldnt go back its also in a bad neiborhood with hustlers and homeless people outside asking for money and panhounderling as you go in. to me theres so many better places in atlanta to eat where your get your dimes worth and not have aditude from some waiter

1 Stars: horrible place (by ptreeloftlady)

ptreeloftlady — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

stay away from this place unless you wana be ripped off . i had dinner there a few months back with a friend and to start the portions are so small your finish it in two bites. the service is all aditude and not nice or helpfull mostly everything consist of bread and cheese.. its very very nosiy so nosiy that you cant have a conversation with the person next to you without screaming almost . they rush you threw bring out entrees while eating appitzers which we dont like. but the worst thing that happend is when we got our bill i payed and the waiter took my card and charged it someones elses bill. one that was much higher like 100 more than it should have been they even agreed they made a mistake. after weeks of argueing with management and company nothing was done to solve the issue i was stock with someone elses bill and i guess another party paied my bill. i know accidents happen mostly when people are in a rush but im most upset with the way the company handled the issue and did nothing to solve their mistake in fact the fith restaurnt company was very rude over it to me. i know ill never eat there again nor can i recomend it anyone .

5 Stars: Great food, atmosphere, and service (by justgant)

justgant — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I had read several reviews about this restaurant 8+ months ago and had suggested it to my brother and sister-in-law for their wedding anniversary dinner. They came back raving about the place, so I decided to finally give it a shot. With my best friend in town (who's a foodie), we tried it for dinner on a Saturday and fell in love with the place. The menu was nicely varied in terms of both selection and price, the setting and decor were modern yet subdued in an industrial way, and the service was attentive, not too chatty, and not overbearing. The food was awesome, and we both left feeling full without being overstuffed yet our plates were cleaned and the bill was reasonable. I highly recommend the restaurant for a nice dinner venue for a couple or a group of four.

4 Stars: Nice atmosphere, interesting menu (by ATLfoodee)

ATLfoodee — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Went to Ecco on a Friday night with friends and had a really enjoyable time. We had relatively early reservations and were seated promptly. The decor is nice, but not over done, the menu had a lot of interesting and delicious choices, and the recomendations by the server were all fantastic. Of course the wine selections were impressive as well, and the wine menu does a good job of explaining the different choices available. My only concern was that there is a very limited selection of 'main' course meals, for all the variety in small plates, appetizers, and other selections, I would have liked to have had a few more choices of main courses - but then I was the only one at the table to actually get a main course since others had filled up on the small plates and apps, and that might be the way to go in the future. We all shared a delicious dessert as well. The service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. We'll definitely add this to our list of places to go.

1 Stars: better eat before you come small portions huge prices rude help (by globetrotter79)

globetrotter79 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:00:00 GMT

my boyfriend and i went to dinner at ecco the other night . we had to wait nearly 25 mins after we were seated for our waiter to come who was very rude. we had to ask for everything including water refills . we also had to ask them to remove dirty plates as well. the service was terreble when we finally got our food the portions were so small that you could eat the whole thing in two bites . after eating our dinner the waitress just bought our bill to our table and didnt offer us to see a desert menue . also my boyfriend orderd a martni that they never gave him but was on the bill. we asked to see the manager over the marntini that was never served but charged after waiting another 20 mins the manager finally came and was not helpfull he said that we should have told them that we didnt get that drink and that they had already printed the bill up and we had to pay for it i also mentioned about how the rude horrible waitress . and the manager did nothing . so im here writing this review. our dinner for what we had was over 125 which was three marntis including one we never got and two small entreas after dinner we had to stop at a another restaurnt just to get full. this place is a over priced trendy joke with very rude help save your money and go somewhere better

5 Stars: Great Place (by shell767)

shell767 — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I love this place. They have a great wine menu! The service is wonderful and the atmospher is great.

5 Stars: Fabulous Food..Great Service (by madison1489)

madison1489 — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Ecco was an experience. I adored the interesting, unique dishes and the servers knew what they were talking about. I recommend the rabbit.

4 Stars: Great place for small plates! (by acuriousidea)

acuriousidea — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 09:00:00 GMT

A friend and I had heard many great reviews of Ecco and decided to try it out for ourselves one night for dinner. We elected not to get an entree but instead we got 6 small plates and some drinks to split between the two of us. Everything was very good, but we both agreed that the fried goat cheese was the best! The texture, flavor, and presentation were all amazing. We went on a week night when it wasn't as busy and the waiter was very friendly and let us take our time choosing one plate to sample at a time. I will definitely be going back!

1 Stars: A Complete Waste (by starzlady)

starzlady — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

This place ranks in my top 3 of HORRIBLE dining experiences. I have been to hundreds of dining places so that is really bad... First of all, We had a reservation at the place and still had to wait forever for our table. Next, we had a rude waiter. She came over to the table after ages and said, "Do you know what you want?" Never once did she greet us or explain anything on the menu. The food was horrible. I ordered an entree with seafood and chickpeas. I asked if any pork were in the meal and of course she said no. I get the meal and it is bits of bacon all over the chickpeas. The fish was placed on top of the chickpeas and bacon. So I would expect a whole new dish. Well silly me for having such expectations. These people actually gave me the same piece of fish that had clearly soaked up some of the pork juices it was laying on. The seafood was not done at all. If I wanted raw fish I could have gone out for sushi. The portions were extremely small. It was not worth the money at all. This has to be on the list of worst places ever.

4 Stars: Unique spot (by atlgirlie)

atlgirlie — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I've dined here several times. First, the good. The atmosphere is upscale and elegent, and reminds me of a clean, classic European take on a men's cigar lounge (no velvet chairs and no smoky atmosphere, though). The food is fresh and tastes good, with the exception of the rock hard cold bread served. I enjoy the seafood dishes mainly (mussels, monkfish in saffron sauce, etc.), though one shrimp dish was very overcooked. Many of the menu items are unique to Atlanta, which is both a pro and a con. Most people don't know what chitarra with guanicale is. Why can't they name it fresh made linguine with ham, instead of being pretentious? The service is unpolished and the prices are too high, especially the drink prices. They rate 4 stars instead of 3 for the ambience and the imaginative menu.

4 Stars: Great value for the experience (by trailmonkey)

trailmonkey — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

We had four for dinner and had reservations at 9pm. We got there early but we weren't seated until 9:30. Good thing the bar is a great people watching spot. We ordered the house wine by the liter which was great! We then ordered everything we wanted, probably 9-10 small plates all together and more wine. We still only spent $160 for all 4 people and walked out feeling that we had a luxurious experience. The server we had was great, friendly and down to earth.

3 Stars: MMM (by usuz82)

usuz82 — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Ecco has a very nice romantic atmosphere.The bartenders are very cool, and the drinks are great. Good wine selection for those who like wine. The food is average. I definately have had much better.
Some of the servers are really rude, and totally act like you are invading their space by being there. Valley guys are friendly and very well organized. I would recommend checking it out.

2 Stars: Trendy no more. (by fogtownrog)

fogtownrog — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Although this trendy establishment has LA or Milano style bistro ambiance, the paltry servings and careless service are not so trendy spoilers. I would rather have a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs than pick at over salted cold cuts and bits of cheese. I look forward to the day when small plates are placed in the trash heap of early 21st century history. Next time I am going for a real meal at something like Maggiannos. You should never have to leave a trattoria hungry!

5 Stars: Simply wonderful. (by sunshine_1)

sunshine_1 — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I just can not believe that one person wrote bad review three days in a row below me. I don't know what's wrong with this person but as an Ecco regular, I don't believe any of it! The servers at Ecco are great, everybody got their own style and personalities and I always enjoy them. They have great appetizers including Cheese plate. You can pick good three cheese for 12 dollars!! This place has nice seatings even though it could get noisy at times but what can we do? This is a popular restaurant! Menu is great, try their wines... if you don't know which one to get, ask server and they know what they are talking about. This is a nice fun friendly restaurant with amazing food selections and with kind of hip atmosphere. Music is nice too. I would recommend to everyone to try at least once.

1 Stars: OVER CHARGED (by bean_townguy)

bean_townguy — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

a friend and i went to ecco for dinner it was a complete mistake the food was not good very small portions . the problem was when we received the bill the waiter rushed us and when he brought it i gave him my credit card to pay. when the waiter returned i noticed that i had been over charged for things we didnt order like acholic drinks and a appitzer the waiter said he was sorry and that i would be credited the next day so i left him a good tip. well after a week no one credeted my card so i called the manager he also promised he would credit my card and after some time he never did . last i called the company and they were nasty to me and said well i shouldnt have sighed it. to this day i have gotten no credit or coupons or even apology from them

1 Stars: will never go back (by dinningoutguy)

dinningoutguy — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

tonight was my girlfriends birthday so i wanted to treat her to a nice dinner somewhere i had heard about this place and wanted to try it to start its in a very seedy area in town homeless people and pan handlers outside asking for money . when we were seated we had to sit and wait a while for the waitress to come to our table when she did she was in a hurry to take our order and didnt explain anything we orderd after waiting over 20mins they bought our appitzers and main courses at the same time being another person because our waitress disapperd . the food was not good very tiny portions not good quality meats but lots of sauce on it no bread also. he had orderd a cocketell before dinner which never came . finally when the waitress came back she just put the bill down we addressed to her that we wernt happy and that we never had received our cocketells she just laughed it off and did nothing. the service is bad full of 20s kids and the food not good we will never return andnext time will go to a better place in a nicer part of town

1 Stars: Just A joke! (by h_himmler)

h_himmler — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

DONT GO! A waste of time and money! Sorry service, sorry food! Felt rushed the entire time, server did not come back to check on food, under cooked, raw fish, and Overcooked meat..... No re-fills on water. Ordered a bottle of wine before the food was ordered, had to ask about the wine when the appatizers were delivered, finally had to ask again after entrees were delivered. Then told they were out of that selection! Need a lot of work!

5 Stars: Love this place! (by kristi_atl)

kristi_atl — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I've been to ECCO several times and I just love this place. Atmosphere is great, classy, upbeat, and GREAT MUSIC. I went there last week for my friend's birthday and we had a great time. We got there early so we just went straight to the bar. Nice wine list! When I did not see the wine I like, the bartender suggested a similar wine and it was great! It's always busy and reminds of me of the old NY restaurants with European twist. We had the best server, Rondell he paid attention to everything and we did not even have to ask for anything. How he was explaining the dessert menu made us want to eat them all! I will definitely come back for a dinner with friends or even for business. Lastly, no need to say, food is always awesome!!!

3 Stars: not what we expected (by morningsidemom)

morningsidemom — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

After hearing the staff at Sala rave about Ecco a few weeks ago, my husband and I made it a point to plan a romantic outing to Ecco. We hired a babysitter, got dressed to the nines, and headed to Ecco. While we were very impressed with the restaurant's decor (it was old California meets contemporary Italy), both the service and food left something to be desired. As suggested, we sat at the bar and ordered a glass of wine before checking in for our reservation. We were very impressed with the extensive and unique wine list, as well as the knowledgable barstaff. However, the staff did not seem to be as upbeat or personable as we were anticipating, or as it seems at other "sister" restaurants. When we were seated at our table, we couldn't help but feel like we were in a swanky cafeteria. The open kitchen combined with the vast dining room and closely situated tabled made for a very uncomfortable and less than romantic evening. Although our meal was okay, we didn't feel that Ecco stood up to its reputation.

3 Stars: More Status, Less Quo (by johndunstan)

johndunstan — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The decor will make you think you're in LA, the skirt steak and pommes frites will make you think you're in Paris but the restaurant does not deliver constistency--something you'd expect for a $100 tab for two. You can get pizzas, panini and pastas for less, which would be nice for a light supper, yet it was weird to be coming to a nice restaurant and having the people at the next table eat ing pizza and sandwiches. To start, we had the squid and bruschetta. Grilling the squid resulted in a smoked flavour that didn't work, especially when coupled with olives. The bruschetta was sublime. Even with the other things on the menu, there were only five or six entrees from which to choose. I usually order fish when eating out, but the cod served at a neighbouring table looked uninspired and the amount of food meager, so I went with the skirt steak. It was cooked to perfection and served with a nice bechamel sauce. Since it was my birthday, I was greatly anticipating the dessert menu after seeing two tempting creations served to another table. Unfortunately my host noted on his online reservation that the occasion was my birthday; while it was a nice gesture for the restaurant to bring a complimentary wedge of chocolate hazelnut tart with praline ice cream, complete with lit candle, I neither appreciated the commotion nor the fact I didn't get to try one of the desserts I really wanted. To top it off, our server, Rondel, simply brought the dessert with two forks for us to share and then walked away without offering coffee, which the fancy version of fudge pie demanded. By the time he resurfaced, it was too late. Conclusion: There are some very good dishes here but the menu and execution are inconsistent, as is the service.

5 Stars: Great Restaurant! (by rachelullian)

rachelullian — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I have been several times since this restaurant first opened and continue to be impressed. The food is excellent, as is the service. Very cool place!

5 Stars: All around great place (by meggam)

meggam — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I went to Ecco this past Friday for my second time and I love it!!!The first time I was cramped in a two top where we sat REALLY close to the next couple, but this time we had a table for four and it was fabulous. Charles was our waiter and everyone should request him. He picked out an inexpensive and great wine to go along with all the delicious small plates we ordered. I don't think I tasted anything I didn't like! Go try it out....

2 Stars: Hey guys, not that great! (by papooga)

papooga — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I?ve been to Ecco 4 xs, this Saturday night being the 5th ? bringing in friends from out of town ? big mistake. Usually the food is B or B+ rating but not Saturday ? more like D- or dare I say and F.

Bolognese sauce tasted like dog food, when I pointed this out to the waiter he was a complete a**hole and looked at me like I was a crazy person ? he was very rude and a bit uppity ? needless to say, I?ll never go back. Overrated, overpriced and the service stinks.

3 Stars: It's O.K , Not Great.... (by gourmeto)

gourmeto — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

The cheese plate was o.k. just slice of fancy cheeses and bad presentation. ( over priced )
The most of food were over seasoned and very salty, no flavor at all.
Our waiter was unfriendly and rude, bad service.
Not recomended to go there if you are looking for a tasty meal, maybe a just atmosphere.

3 Stars: Eh.... (by travelingaround)

travelingaround — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Not great, not terrible but a little pricey for what you get. If you are dying to check out new places in Atlanta there are definitely better places but Ecco provides a nice environment for the young 30-something crowd in midtown.

5 Stars: definitely make reservations but still a great neighborhood place... (by yougonnaeatthat)

yougonnaeatthat — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 09:00:00 GMT

what was once a dilapidated building is now a cozy neighborhood restaurant that gives service like no other place in atlanta. walk in and eat tapas with your friends or bring your mom for her birthday and go all out. great wine list... one of the best in atlanta, even with exclusive wines to ecco. nice selection of specialty cocktails, too.

service is not only good, but they're very hip and gorgeous, too. you would believe you had just walked into church the way you're greeted... and when you're leaving it's the same.

the food is incredible! not much to say other than everything we got... from meats and cheeses to the short rib stuffed peppers, asparagus, clams, our pasta and even the lamb, which was sooo light and tender... was awesome, awesome, awesome.

if you haven't been, definitely make reservations -- we had to wait an hour on a monday night for a table -- and go. we normally would have not waited but with all the hype and national awards, we had to try it. it was worth the wait and more!

5 Stars: Believe The Hype! Believe Esquire Mag! (by jaymaygm)

jaymaygm — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I guess we were the last two die-hard foodies in Atlanta, who had not been to Ecco. Well this weekend, we did, and it was like running into an old friend that you had not seen in awhile. We loved the redo of the old Atlanta Fencing Club building, and the cleaning up of that notorious street. Low lights, candles and a very upbeat vibe surrounds you. We didn't have reservations, so we just found a seat at the bar. And much to our surprise, our old friend Seth, was tending. Great wine list, and good conversation. We decided to just eat at the bar, often do in Atlanta, ordering very nice small plates of olives, cheeses, and meats. Love this place, it's new, but seemed like an old friend. Esquire Magazine was right with their award, as one of the best new of 2006.

3 Stars: Up Scale (by liannestewart)

liannestewart — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

This restaurant has unique good food, interesting environment, helpful staff but something is missing. I am not sure if it is because they are trying very hard to be up scale or some other reason but it wasn't all that I thought it would be. It was good and I would recommend it but there are lots of restaurants out there that are better.

4 Stars: MUST TRY THE FRIED GOAT CHEESE!!! (by divine01)

divine01 — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Restaurant was kinda noisy but the food was decent. The fried goat cheese with honey was tasty, defiantely try that. The braseaola was nice as well, not commonly found in ATL.

3 Stars: Mediocre Dining (by shal077)

shal077 — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I'd been wanting to dine at Ecco for awhile, but hadn't gotten around to it til just this past weekend... and to tell you the truth, after reading other citysearch users' reviews on the restaurant, I was not too excited about dining there, but I wanted to try it for myself. My date and I shared two appetizers, an entree each, and a drink each. None of what we ordered was absolutely amazing. The service was good, but I thought that the food was brought out way too fast... we were in and out in under an hour. The restaurant itself is very nice and it seems to attract the more young professional crowd. Overall, I recommend Ecco as a "one time try" instead of a "must try."

4 Stars: Simple Excellence (by pvisf)

pvisf — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Ecco has 3 things going for it.

1. Excellent Food. Assortment of Italian Cheese, Italian cured meats (bresaola - which nobody in ATL serves), and a great assortment of small plates all made fresh in the open kitchen.

2. Short but stunning wine list. No 20 page wine book here. Just about 60 or so mostly Italian varietals. Many of these wines I've not seen elsewhere.

3. Warm and inviting atmosphere. Simple. No themes or attempts to look funky. Just clean simple with an attractive bar at the entrance of the restaurant.

The place can get a little loud. However, this is a great place to meet with friends or coworkers.

Very impressed!!

2 Stars: Worst Service, Gabi all but ignored our table (by theothero)

theothero — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 09:00:00 GMT

It's a beautiful space considering what used to happen at that corner years ago. The portions are on the small side for the price but my goodness I don't expect to be ignored when I'm paying over $20 for an entree! I won't return to this restaurant because of the poor service.

2 Stars: OK food... HORRIBLE SERVICE!!! (by atlguy26)

atlguy26 — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I will say it has a very nice atmosphere, however, that is ruined by horrible service and sub-par food. We saw our unfriendly/unpleasant waitress about every 15 minutes during our visit. This is fine while you are eating, but taking 30 minutes to get us a check and pay is insane. There are many other restaurants in the area that shine in comparison to Ecco, so they should probably get their act together, or they won't last too long.

1 Stars: worst food I've had in atlanta in 12 years (by 5chastain5)

5chastain5 — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Ordered the asparagus (huge, bitter, overcooked and drenched in vinegar), shrimp (completely inedible, overcooked and over seasoned), sauteed eggplant (cold and slimy). Tried to find something else to order when the wait person finally suggested a piece of fish with spinach. Fish was overcooked and rubbery and the spinach was so garlicy you lost all sense of other flavors. To top it all off the wine list though vast has nothing in a reasonable price range that one would want to drink. Service was unhelpful and rude.

4 Stars: A real nice place...enjoyable! (by jimmyh99)

jimmyh99 — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Wife's birthday and wanted something special and nice. Well we got it! This is a great restaurant with nice ambiance. Not too fancy (white table cloths on part of the tables) but with a classy, urban feel. We felt important with good service and good food. The appetizers were wonderful, the highlight of the night. The entries were definitely above average and enjoyable but not to the caliber of the appetizers. Good wine list. The $ were reasonable, certainly when compared to the enjoyment and quality of the night. This restaurant goes on my list of one I want to visit often. Good crowd with some excitement in the air. A nice dinning experience.

5 Stars: Lives up to the hype! (by riscy)

riscy — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

This place is amazing! This is the first place we've dined in Atlanta that actually lived up to the hype. Every single thing we ate was incredibly delicious. The variety is astounding. The small plates can be very fun or very intimate, however you choose to view it.

The meats and cheeses on the antipasto plates were amazing. The prosciutto was meltingly tender. We had a delicious bruschetta of cured ham with figs, followed by Short rib stuffed piquillo peppers and Fried duck egg, truffle and potato (how can a simple pan-fried potato can be so delicious??).

We then shared the Chili braised pork with garlic and homemade pappardelle as a pasta course and had a Flank steak with a demi-glace reduction and pommes frites. Hard to believe, but I enjoyed that bit of flank steak more than any $50 cut I've had at Chops, NY Prime or Morton's. I mean, this is fajita meat -- how could they get it so tender and delicious?!?

Desert was sublime. The semifreddo was very good, and the Coffee panna cotta was sublime. A must-try!

Entree portions are small (but not rediculous) as they clearly intend for you to order 2 or 3 appetizers, but that is the whole idea of this wonderful restaurant.

For all of that food, including two mixed drinks and two bottles of Evian, we were out the door for $120 (tip extra).

Negatives? I would have preferred a little more space betwen the tables. Also, our waiter obviously had too many tables to work. Don't get me wrong -- we never felt like we weren't being attended to (nothing was forgotten, my glass was never empty) but our server was certainly "on the run". He never complained, but we could tell he was harried. I would gladly have paid 20% more for the food if they would add an extra server or two.

But in the end, this was one of the best meals we've ever had, in a beautiflu space, at a reasonable price. What's not to like?!

5 Stars: The Perfect Dining Experience (by alliroyce)

alliroyce — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

The space is gorgeous! Very open and sensual. I recommend getting there when it is still light out to see how the restaurant transforms. The windows bring in beautiful natural light that is easy on the eye. When the lights go down, the room has a warm, alluring glow that brings comfort to your ambience. Start off at the bar and have a drink with SETH. A charming bartender that knows how to make a cocktail...he is pretty cute too! We dined in one of the semi-circle booths that allows you to see the entire restaurant. Our server, Nathan ( I believe ), was very knowledgable with everything Ecco has to offer. He made recommendations for us and was efficient with his service. I suggest starting off with the cheese/charcuiterie plates. It is cool to pick and choose from an array of spanish, french, and italian meats and cheeses. Start off with some Italian Prosecco and get the meal off to a great beginning. The tuna crudo with chili oil and chive was fresh and clean with a hint of heat. It is soooo good! We also enjoyed the Lobster with bucatini. This was incredible--plump portions of fresh lobster with perfectly cooked organic pasta was heaven. The skirt steak with salsa verde and wilted greens was cooked to perfection. We finished the meal off with roasted strawberries with crushed almond semifreddo and the mixed berry crostata with vanilla ice milk. Y U M M Y ! A perfect meal, with the perfect server in the most perfect restaurant. One of Atlanta's best dining experiences for sure!

2 Stars: For that price you expect a "WOW that was great" and there was no WOW or great. (by donovaj)

donovaj — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I work hard and am blessed to be able to enjoy a meal for two for a total of $189.00 but I expect for this cost a "WOW that was awesome" at the end of the meal. The only WOW at ECCO is the bill. There were no table cloths as in the picture reviews. The waiter was clearly struggling to provide three star service but had to buss his own tables. The veal breast was just a veal potroast type of thing where they went stingy on the potatoes. The garlic soup was nice but just wasn't that special. The almond ice cream sort of dessert was nice but no WOW. The coffee was nice but no WOW. In spite of my new bi-focals the lighting at the table was so bad I could barely read the menu or make out the receipt. ALL in all it was like having the Picadilly cafeteria Sunday special dinner in a nicer dining room. They could also upgrade the glassware to something less common but the silverware was funky nice, especially the not needed steak knife on the fork tender veal potroast. The rest of the menu was in competition with the new Pie Bar restaurant on Monroe. Maybe if we stuck to the house carafe of wine with the 5 apetizers for $18.00 we would have been happy with the "dinner".

5 Stars: GREAT SPACE FRESH FOOD FRIENDLY BARTENDERS! FANTASTIC ADDITION TO MIDTOWN (by jaimeatl)

jaimeatl — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I had a great time at ECCO last Friday. My boyfriend and I hung out at the bar and had tapas, pizza and lots of great wine. I really enjoyed looking around the restaurant. The kitchen is open and you can see for you self the fresh preparation of your food.

Also of important note... I also loved the European style private restrooms....believe it or not....these 4 or 5 WCs are very nice....complete with stunning KOHLER sinks and all. This is just an example of how closely the management seems to paying to details to make their patrons experience 100% satifactory.

I am looking forwad to my next visit for a serious meal!

4 Stars: great atmosphere and noisy enough to have a private conversation (by yabaduck)

yabaduck — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I'm not sure where I heard about Ecco, but I'm glad I gave it a go. They have an extensive wine list and judging from the tables around us, an extensive bar selection. The dish I had was the chili braised pork something made with pappardelle noodles. Yum! It was so delish that I wanted to get a portion to go. My friend had the mushroom pizza with cremini and oyster mushrooms. Fabu! Try Ecco! You'll love it!

5 Stars: This place is fantastic!!! (by neatomosquito)

neatomosquito — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I'm finding it difficult to find new words to describe this delightful dining experience. I guess I should just say that everything you read is correct. The food is fantastic, the wait staff and management are attentive and very knowlegeable and the ambience is comfortable but still gives you a feeling of a special evening out. We're new to Atlanta and if this is any indication of the type of cooking they're doing in this city than we've got a lot to look forward to. Ecco has set the bar very very high. Well done!!!

5 Stars: Nearly Perfect (by vatech)

vatech — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Had the absolute pleasure of dinning at Ecco and left feel that the whole experience was as close to perfection as I have had at any restaurant in a very long time. The atmosphere was great, music fit the experience, food was very good, wines were unique (the little wine card on wood was a very nice touch) and service was friendly, but still professional. The ONLY thing i would suggest is a few more entree choices. Well done 5th group.

5 Stars: WOW (by gators60)

gators60 — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

What a fabulous find and a wonderfull addition to the Atlanta intown dining scene. We visited Ecco recently with another couple and had a marvelous experience. The food was simple in nature but perfectly prepared. We sampled a variety of small plates and appetizes including the meat and cheese board, asparagus, risotto, flank steak pannini, and some outrageous chocolate dessert. The service was knowledgable and enthusiastic and the vibe at the place (both inside the dining room and outside on the patio) was perfect for the area. Finally the martini's were excellent and not at all watered down.

This is one well run restaurant which is all the more amazing considering it has only been opened for a month. We enjoyed the dining and overall scene every bit as much at we have places like Rathbuns.

5 Stars: Ambiance, food the best in Midtown! (by prgator2002)

prgator2002 — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

In Midtown and looking for an ultra-chic restaurant to dine at? Try Ecco -you won't regret it! Upon entering, diners are immediately taken in by the restaurant's stunning atmosphere and design: rich materials such as dark walnut, leather and Italian Carrera marble are utilized to bring out old-world style with a new world twist. Continue through the restaurant and diners are instantly drawn to the oversized, open bar area and the open kitchen, which features a tile wrapped wood burning oven.

Thirsty? Not a problem at Ecco. The restaurant serves innovative cocktails such as the Mandarin Ice T Knee with Hangar One Mandarin Blossom vodka, Maison Prunier Orange Liqueur and Lillet alongside boutique old and new-world wines, palate-pleasing cognacs, fortified wines and other delectable specialty drinks only found at Ecco.

Hungry? Now we're talking. Ecco offers seasonal, European-inspired food such as wood-fired seafood and steaks, fresh, simple pastas and salads, and items to share like roasted shellfish bowls, wood-fired pizza, taste and share plates and build-your-own charcuterie and cheese boards. Of course, save room for delectable homemade desserts such as burnt honey and gorgonzola ice milk and coffee panna cotta with hazelnut praline and chilled zabaglione.

5 Stars: trendy but cozy, great cutomer service, FOOD!! (by qthoney)

qthoney — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

This is a very cozy and sexy neighborhood restaurant. I bet the chef has theme in cured meat. They serve many varieties of sliced meat, and I was especially impressed by the Carbonara they offered. Home made pasta with great tasting bacon and finished with egg. This is the best Carbonara Ive ever tasted in South. I can hardly wait for next tasting-visit to learn other eye opener dishes. Great wine, cocktail and cognac selections. They could add some summer time hard liqueurs in the menu in the future. Welcome to our neighborhood!!

5 Stars: I found heaven at ECCO (by sundralee)

sundralee — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I was impressed the minute I walked in - this place is DYNAMITE! Its very sexy, but comfortable (how did they do that?) it just feels good. The wine list is awesome - who ever wrote the descriptions should take a bow! We ordered 2 "Ecco exclusives" wines by the carafe, they were great. Started out with meats and cheese board (i was licking my fingers...) and a neat wood fired pizza to share. We also shared this incredible egg and fingerling potatoe app (sounds odd but its DELICIOUS) and short rib stuffed pequieno peppers (my spelling may be off...) Then the main courses - Can I just say I found my own little slice of heaven in midtown - ECCO

5 Stars: done right (by caribbean711)

caribbean711 — Tue, 23 May 2006 09:00:00 GMT

cool new place. free valet parking was a blessing, overall the place felt casual (we wore jeans) yet about half the crowd was dressed better, big bar area with friendly bartender that helped us with the 27 wines by the glass (bit overwhelming), European decor (upscale italian meets french bistro meets industrial warehouse), the food was great pretty much across the board and the our party had a great time. highly reccommended. nice to see a new restaurant do it right.