Purple Rain Restaurant & Lounge brings a glitzy touch of Vegas to the maze of chain eateries that surround Gwinnett Place mall. By day, it mostly functions as a restaurant, serving lunch and Sunday brunch. Evenings, it’s a club and late night hangout, with cocktails, tapas and music.
The look: The sprawling 9,000-square-foot space features lots of tricky LED lighting and brushed aluminum panels accenting multiple drinking and dining areas and a VIP lounge. The glass-topped main bar glows like purple ice and the restrooms, with unisex washbowls, are equally stylish.
The scene: Naturally, the scene changes according to the hour and day, but the owners have dubbed Purple Rain "an adult playground." Tuesday nights, look for alternative bands. Sundays, there's piano jazz. Fridays and Saturdays, DJs do lounge, pop and dance music sets.
The menu: The eclectic, mostly small plate menu ranges from crispy fried pig ears with cherry pepper and sweet lime sauce ($6), a butter poached lobster roll ($9) and Wagyu beef sliders with black truffle and foie gras aioli ($10) to paella for two ($28). High rollers can go for the Purple Rainmaker, a $1,000 chocolate truffle and gold nugget souffle dressed with an amethyst necklace.
The drinks: Cocktails include a classic Hendrick's gin cooler with muddled cucumbers ($10) and a tangerine ginger mojito with agave nectar ($8). Wines by the glass are priced from $7 to $14 with $10-$12 flights. The beer list features some surprising craft offerings, such as Bell's Two Hearted Ale ($7) and Dogfish Head Chicory Stout ($7).
The extras: The entire Purple Rain building has 15,000 square feet and there are expansion plans to use most of it. Look for a patio coming this summer, followed by a cigar lounge, a game room with pool tables and a martini lounge.
Dining out
Purple Rain Restaurant & Lounge
11:30 a.m. -- 12:30 a.m. Mondays -- Thursdays; 11:30 a.m. -- 2 a.m. Fridays; 5:30 p.m. -- 2 a.m. Saturdays; 11:30 a.m. -- midnight Sundays.
3550 Mall Blvd., Duluth, 770-418-9086, www.purplerainatl.com $-$$
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