Ole Ole
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Ole Ole, a new nuevo Latino spot run by former Winner’s Sports Bar owner Gina Pavone, is a welcome addition to Andersonville. But if you’re seriously into music or wine you may have a few hurdles to get over before you can relax. On a recent visit my friend and I heard “Bamboleo” by the Gipsy Kings three times, and though there were only two wines offered by the glass, our server wasn’t sure what they were. Beyond that, however, we had a lovely experience. The pan-Latin menu draws from Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, and Spain, among other places; wisely, chef Edil Reyes makes no attempt at strict authenticity, and the creative, aggressively spiced fusions consistently impressed us. Red snapper seviche was superfresh, chockablock with tender fish chunks, tomato, avocado, and onion. The picadillo empanada was accompanied by two chimichurri sauces with a zesty bite. The chile de arbol glaze on a grilled pork tenderloin also packed a punch; delicate sauteed tilapia was rather decadently covered with hunks of lobster and crabmeat. Flan was nicely accented by a blood orange sauce, and the extravagant mango bomba–a thin layer of pistachio cake topped with fresh strawberries, covered with a silky mango mousse, and surrounded by a guava puree–ended the meal on a dazzling high note. Most of the entrees are under $20, a great value for what you get. –Peter Margasak
