First Look: Villains Wicked Heroes, Midtown


Dining Out

Villains Wicked Heroes, Midtown

11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays. 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays.

Salads, $4-$7; sandwiches, $8-$15; snacks and sides, $1-$3.

903 Peachtree St., Atlanta. 404-347-3328, www.villainswickedheroes.com.

A spin-off of Grindhouse Killer Burgers, Villains Wicked Heroes has landed in Midtown. Grindhouse guy Alex Brounstein partnered with Jared Lee Pyles, formerly of HD1, and Jason McClure, formerly of Flip, to create the fast-casual, cartoon-inspired sandwich shop featuring cocktails and craft beer.

The look: Located in the former Little Azio space at the corner of 8th and Peachtree, the hipster-sci-fi build out is anchored by a crescent-shaped, metal-topped bar that conjures the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. A pop art mural of a skull with laser eye sockets occupies the space above the kitchen pass, while a chalkboard wall at the back of the dining room is filled with villainous scribbles.

The scene: At lunch one afternoon, the crowd seemed more weekend than weekday, with shorts and T-shirts mixing with business casual attire out on the patio. At the bar, several young men who looked like they might have played a video game or two scarfed sandwiches from paper-lined plastic trays and swizzled canned beer.

The menu: Among the "Wicked Heroes" look for the likes of Bugsy Siegel, with short rib pastrami, braised cabbage, Swiss cheese and Russian caviar dressing ($11), Odd Job, with Korean fried chicken, "buffalo" sauce and pear slaw ($9), and Mum Ra, with crispy lamb belly, honey mint yogurt, marinated tomato, bell pepper and onion ($9). The Zartan mixes vegetarian "meatballs" with marinara, pickled peppers, ricotta and provolone ($8). "Wicked Greens" ($4/$7) include the Hydra, with tomato, onion, olive, pickled pepper, mint, feta and vinaigrette.

The drinks: Cocktails, called "Evil Potions," include Gamma Crush ($8) with Bristow gin, Thai basil, sichuan peppercorns and simple syrup, and Prohibited at Turner Field ($8), with peanut-infused bourbon, Mexican Coke and roasted peanut "floaters." Current beer offerings range from Avery While Rascal on draft ($5), to Sixpoint Sweet Action in the 16-oz can ($6), and Rodenbach Belgian sour red ale in the bottle ($7).

The extras: Coming Soon, the Villains menu promises, catering and "delivery via hipster bike messengers."