Atlanta blues venues: Going uptown downtown with Two Urban Licks

Atlanta blues venues: Going uptown downtown with Two Urban Licks
January 7, 2010
Rhetta Akamatsu
Examiner.com

Most of the time, when one thinks of blues venues, one thinks of small, neighborhood clubs, dives, or soul food or barbeque joints. But today's feature venue is something entirely different, and proves that urban sophistication and blues music can go hand in hand.

Two Urban Licks, a restaurant, is an upscale establishment all the way,despite its location in a revamped warehouse. It features a courtyard with a retractible roof and a patio with fantastic views of the Atlanta skyline. It serves wood-fired food (prepared on custom-made rotisseries, one of which is 14 ft. high). The website describes the specialties as "American fiery food," but we're not talking about ribs here: the menu includes smoked salmon, chipotle cream cheese, and Lamb Lollipops,and desserts created by a French-trained pasty chef, not exactly the food that was familiar to old Blind Willie McTell or even the young B.B. "Blues Boy" King back in the day. Drinks include wine served from 42 barrels in a unique barrel system and infused cocktails.

Despite all this fanciness, Two Urban Licks features live blues every night Tuesday through Thursday, adding a lot of heat to the Urban cool. Musicians in January include Atlanta Boogie, Sana Blues, The Blues Crew, and Chicago Joe Jones.

So when you have the urge to dress up and share a special evening out with food, wine AND the blues, Two Urban Licks, located at 820 Ralph McGill Boulevard, just may be the place you're looking for.