K5 Hospitality—the restaurant group behind 5Church Midtown, Virtue Rooftop, and 5Church Buckhead—is set to open AltaToro, its newest venture on June 15, 2023. AltaToro is located at 915 West Peachtree Street in Midtown.
AltaToro’s executive chef, Gaudalupe “Lupe” Nanbo, has crafted a menu of diverse culinary options. Nanbo is from the state of Guerrero, Mexico, and worked under multiple renowned chefs in New York City and Miami before coming to Atlanta. He and his team have created dishes that have Baja flair with touches of Cuba, Brazil, and Spain. Over half of the menu will be shareable, tapas-style small plates, and the balance will be seasonal empanadas, tacos, main dishes, and desserts.
Some highlights from the menu are:
- Pollo al horno (Mexico): yogurt and orange juice achiote marinated chicken, cilantro rice, escabeche de verduras, and green cauliflower puree
- Mackerel tiradito (Peru): cucumber-ginger-apple emulsion, aji amarillo foam, oranges, fennel, fresno peppers, black olive powder, and dill
- Flautas de tuna (Mexico): ahi tuna, avocado mousse, sesame, black beans, lime, salsa verde and roja, cremafresca, and cilantro
- Lechón asado for four persons (Puerto Rico): roasted pork, cilantro rice, frijoles fritos, plantains, homemade tortillas, salsa verde, chimichurri, and habanero onions escabeche
- Seafood paella for two (Spain): Dacsa rice, red snapper, shrimp, scallops, cálamar, mussels, saffron, salsa verde, and garlic aioli
Operating principal and Midtown resident Ayman Kamel is passionate about his new place. “I love my community,” he muses in a statement. “After so many years here and getting to know all of our guests and neighbors, this is what the people want next. A high-energy, colorful, exciting palette of flavors and vibrancy from Latin America. There is so much to showcase from varied countries, and we’re going to highlight the art, music, history, and authentic dishes. It’s going to be an exciting addition to Midtown Atlanta.”
Kamel will draw guests in with sights and smells to stimulate all the senses, whether it is sizzling paella cooked on the patio, live music performances every night or lively salsa music and dancing, AltaToro will be an immersive experience. The bar features an extensive selection of tequila and mezcal along with craft cocktails using fresh juices and ingredients.
The unique design of AltaToro is the work of plexus r+d, the architecture and interior design studio behind 5Church Buckhead. The interior is a luxe colorful space with elegant modern touches and lots of rich, fiery colors. Local and Latin American art has been sourced with warm accent lighting that will capture the ever-changing gallery. Guests also can enjoy Atlanta’s beautiful weather on the patio—a signature detail from K5 restaurants.
Chef Rodney Smith, culinary director for K5 Hospitality, is supporting Nanbo and the culinary team at AltaToro. Kamel praises his team by saying, “I am blessed with having an amazing team of creative people, and we’re always one step ahead, always evolving to make the next cool destination in Midtown. This is our neighborhood, and we love the diversity. My goal is to make this like a mini getaway, right around the corner.”
AltaToro will be open for dinner Tuesday-Thursday 5-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5-11 p.m. and closed Sunday through Monday. AltaToro plans to expand operating hours to include Sundays and Mondays in the future along with adding lunch and brunch service.
