A Night at El Ponce

El Ponce

My Rating: 2.9/5

Neighborhood: Poncey-Highland

Address: 939 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Website: https://www.elponce.com

This was my second time visiting El Ponce over the past couple of years. Last year I came for a Cinco de Mayo celebration my friend hosted. This time, JD's college friend came here from Alabama for a bachelorette party/dinner.

What I have always liked about this place is mainly the vibe. It's a great spot for a small gathering. The place is very festive and the staff is very accommodating especially if you are in a large group. But in all honestly, the food is not my favorite, which is why this receives my lowest rating thus far. I ordered a platter of tacos which comes with refried beans, rice, lettuce, and tomatoes. I got the one of each taco, carnitas, beef, and chicken, on wheat tortillas. I'm not sure why I chose wheat tortillas. I guess I wanted to do something different. The shells tasted clay-ish. The carnitas were not bad, but the chicken was super wet. It tasted like it was boiled. I think they used boiled pulled chicken instead of grilled chicken.

The appetizers were decent. One of JD's friends got some chips, queso and guacamole for the table. The queso was brought out warm, so I was happy about that. The guac was tasty and seasoned well. If anything, the sides and appetizers made up for the platter not being good. Also, made sure to get a strawberry margarita, which is my absolute favorite margarita flavor. It gave me a good buzz and it was inexpensive.

Overall, the rating I give this spots suits. It's a good vibe if you're on Ponce looking for good service, free parking, inexpensive and filling for a group. It's a great Happy Hour spot. There are quite a few other things to do in the area like clubs like Friends and The Clermont Lounge, Ponce City Market and shopping. I spent less than $25 overall. But if you are looking for great food, nah, it's a pass for me.