If the name Belén sounds familiar, it should. Before opening her new restaurant in Decatur in May, owner Belén de la Cruz was already known as Atlanta’s reigning “empanada queen,” with an empire of eponymous shops selling her popular empanadas and pastries.
Now, with her first full-service restaurant—in the old Boho115 space on Decatur Square—Cruz expands beyond empanadas. Her savory turnovers feature prominently on the menu and in the mini “market” near the entrance.
Cruz, who grew up in Buenos Aires, started with 30 of her favorite hometown recipes, refining them with a consulting chef’s help (for a “gourmet twist”). Favorites that didn’t make the final cut now appear as weekend specials.
The three-level bistro strikes a modern, casual tone, with a muted black facade replacing the

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