Influence Restaurant & Lounge, Metro Atlanta’s first restaurant serving exclusively Afro-Latino cuisine, opened in Norcross on Jimmy Carter Blvd., on Saturday, May 13.
Influence is inspired by the historical impact of African flavors on classic Latin American
cuisine. Owner Alexis Anin, who also owns the Afro-Caribbean-inspired Continent Restaurant & Cigar Lounge on Buford Hwy., is proud to be bringing this fusion of flavors to the city alongside Executive Chef Oscar Mendivil.
Chef Mendivil, a longtime Atlanta chef also who also owns the Marietta-based food truck El Campeon, invites Atlantans to experience the mix of cultures present in Afro-Latino cuisine. “Latin America is often thought to be just one group of people when in fact, we are a combination of many different cultures and ethnicities. Our food is like a melting pot of spices and ingredients, many of which were brought to the Americas by Africans and Europeans during colonization and the slave trade.” said Chef Mendivil in a statement, who hails from Sonora, Mexico, has created Influence’s menu with this culinary diversity in mind.
Guests of Influence can look forward to unique selections not often found in most Atlanta restaurants, such as Moqueca, an Afro-Brazilian dish of sautéed red snapper prepared with coconut milk and vegetables, and Rabo Encendido, an Afro-Cuban plate of braised oxtail over yucca, mashed sweet plantains and asparagus. “If you’re from Africa or anywhere in Latin America, you will recognize the spices and flavors of our menu,” says Chef Mendivil. “If you’ve never had true Afro-Latino cuisine, your palette is in for a treat.”
Influence will also feature a craft cocktail bar that mirrors its kitchen’s Afro-Latino inspiration. “Our cocktail menu is full of Latino classics with a few fun twists,” says bar manager Julia Ferrera. “We’ve sourced our liquors from their countries of origin, so guests can expect to see authentically-prepared Latin cocktails.” Influence’s selection will serve Latin drinks like the Havana Mojito flavored with prickly pear or grapefruit infusion, and Influence Sangria, which takes inspiration from the Mexican version of sangria and features a higher alcohol content, making it a pleasing pair with spicy foods.
Anin, who is originally from Burkina Faso, looks forward to sharing his passion for African food pathways that inspired him to create Influence. “When I taste Latin cuisine, I’m transported back home. I recognize the flavors I grew up enjoying in Africa,” says Anin. “My hope for our guests is to come in with a curiosity and to leave with a new favorite food and an appreciation for where these flavors come from. Food is just one example of how we as people are all tied together in some way, regardless of origin.”
Influence Restaurant & Lounge will be open every Tuesday – Sunday from 5pm until midnight for dinner and until 3am for light bites and cocktails. Guest can enjoy the indoor dining room or covered outdoor patio.
