Located in Alpharetta off of Windward Parkway is the newly opened Secreto Kitchen. They are the same partners behind Tara Humata next door. Though Tara Humata is Mexican, Secreto is completely different featuring elevated comfort food. The restaurant is much more upscale than the Mexican counterpart next door with beautiful hardwood flooring and a sleek and colorful bar. It’s a good selection for a business diners who find themselves dining solo but looking for something upscale.
Both the wine and cocktail list is small but with great selections. You could choose a traditional cocktail like a Manhattan or Old Fashioned but I went with the Repossessed, made with Whiskey, Ginger Beer and bitters. All cocktails are just $10 and based on the one I sampled, I’d bet they are all pretty stellar.
Secreto Kitchen Lamb Ribs
For starters, the Fried Green tomato was delightful with the crust not falling apart when you cut into the tomato (a pet peeve of mine). Bang Bang shrimp are a good choice for sharing as they are large and one per person works well. However, the lamb belly ribs (pictured above) were my favorite. If I were to go back, I’d probably order two of these as my entree. There’s a ton of meat on these ribs and the are served atop perfectly creamy and decadent lemon goat cheese grits.
Fried Chicken Plate at Secreto Kitchen in Alpharetta
Quite full from appetizers, I barely made a dent in entrees. The hanger steak was prepared a perfect medium, but it was the fried chicken I was more taken with. Though based on the menu description it seems pricey, there’s good reason – it comes with 3 huge pieces. Instead of a breast or bone in, these are thinly sliced cutlets. The pepper batter and smoked bacon jalapeño gravy is delectable close to a chicken fried steak. It’s the ultimate comfort food.
Don’t miss out on the chef’s Carrot Cake – it’s a recipe that’s been handed down from his grandmother. It isn’t that cloyingly sweet icing that gives me a sugar headache. I asked him for the recipe but he refused.
Secreto Kitchen Carrot Cake
Disclosure: My meal at Secreto was complimentary, but the opinions are my own.
Website: www.secretokitchen.com
