About Lunacy Black Market
Luna & Cynthia out front
Part neighborhood living room, part wine house, part restaurant, this is chef Paul Luna‘s latest downtown creation, which he established together with his partner, Cynthia Thomet. It’s a small, intimate setting that offers small plates to guests and friends in Atlanta and beyond.
In short, Lunacy Black Market is a downtown sit-down restaurant establishment that serves unfussy “uninspired cuisine” and lovely wines at a competitive price point.
The food has often been described as tapas, but chef Luna draws his inspiration from his lifetime of extensive travel. Our best description for the food is “Mediterranean Southern”–where we apply classic French, Italian, Spanish and even Asian techniques to foods easily and commonly found in the South (our new home).
Some of our regulars keep coming back for our Mediterranean twist to the traditional “slaw“, where we add a lemon-extra-virgin-olive-oil blend to green and purple cabbage. Others return to have another taste of our Chicken Leg Mediterranean-style, which has also been compared to a Curry Chicken found in the Caribbean or the Indian subcontinent.
Green & Purple Cabbage Salad
Vegetarians, vegans and even gluten-free customers have found they have several options to choose from when they dine here. Servers have been reproached by vegans who were convinced that there was beef stock in the Curry Garbanzo Beans that delicately reveal chef’s Sardinian experiences with its hints of basil and cinnamon. Here’s the deal: We don’t use butter, meat stocks/bouillon cubes, or any flavor additives in our food.
Our food is what it is: “Uninspired cuisine” prepared with a love for our little place in downtown Atlanta and the guests who understand and appreciate what we do.
Hi! I was hoping you would be open tomorrow for lunch– my mother and I were wanting to come by and check the place out. We are long-time fans and are so excited you are back in town. Do you ever open for lunch on Saturdays?
Hi Patricia,
We are open for lunch Wednesday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. We are also open on Sundays from 2 – 9 pm. If weekdays are hard to swing for you, maybe a Sunday would work better.
Looking forward to seeing you one of these days.
Luna
Hello–
We have just moved back to Atlanta and are interested in trying your restaurant. I’m just curious if there would be much for Pescatarians to eat during the Sunday Pasta/Risotto special?
Cheers!
Hi there — Hard to say, as the “chef’s choice” is just that: chef’s choice. Even the servers don’t know what he’s preparing in the kitchen until he sends it out. All that to say, if the customer has dietary restrictions (particularly with gluten, meat, pork, etc.) this might not be the day for him/her. Chef sends the varying pasta/risotto flavors at his pace and pleasure until the customers cry “Uncle” or the kitchen closes (whichever first).
Also, please note our policy to charge $27.60 pp for parties of six or more also applies on Pasta/Risotto Sundays!
Thanks for your interest.
Are there vegan options?
I’d love to check it out, and I’m intrigued by your plan to run for mayor and save our city. Thank you!
I too would like to know if there are vegan options available.
Can’t find a MENU on your Website – perhaps because you’re a tapas restaurant, an ever-changing array? Here’s why I need some idea what you serve:
I’m diabetic, so need to avoid “white” food (pasta, rice, potatoes, bread, sugar).
Will I find meat, fish, vegetables, beans, greens, and the like as options?
Hi Linda.
You shouldn’t have too much trouble finding something that will work for you. We don’t add much else to the plate, except those items we list on the menu. For example, our “Green and Purple Cabbage Salad” is probably one of the more complex dishes, served with gorgonzola cheese, toasted walnuts and drizzled with a lemon/extra-virgin-olive-oil blend. Other dishes, like our Tomato-Mozzarella, our Sauteed Shrimp (the only dish served with a side of white baguette bread slices), Roasted Mushrooms with Tomato Sauce, are quite simple and do not contain the “white” starches during the cooking process. All that to say, a person can craft the meal s/he needs to. (In your case, I would avoid Sundays — home to our all-you-can-eat Pasta/Risotto a-Gogo!)
Best wishes, and hopefully we’ll see you soon!
Is that a no on the vegan options? I don’t want to be a pest; I’m just wondering.
It’s a yes on vegan options–especially at lunch time.
i was told by a friend to look up your restaurant, but may i suggest a more traditional website for your place rather than a “blog-style” website. it simply takes too much effort on behalf of anyone that is interested in finding out more info on your establishment. i still have little to no idea what food you have, what your place looks like, etc. at this point i’ve lost interest in lunacy black market. sorry.
Do you offer any selections for people who cannot eat gluten?
Hello Allison in Wonderland,
I have visited the LBM more than once. I am a vegetarian and have always found enough dishes to put together a satisfactory meal. As a vegan, all you need to do is avoid the mozarella and stay with the vegetable dishes. As the owner points out on the web site ” We don’t use butter, meat stocks/bouillon cubes, or any flavor additives in our food”. I hope you’ll check it out – I love it not just for the food but also for the ambiance.
Silvia
Hello – I just wanted to let you know I am featuring your establishment on my site. I appreciate your assistance with the wheelchair curbcut being repaired and I will let everyone know that I possibly can about this as well as your wonderful food!