Imagine sipping a tropical cocktail while watching a flaming red sunset. Add to the ambience a few Caribbean-inspired small plates of flavorful bites. Now imagine that you only have to go as far as Johnson Ferry Road in east Cobb to have the experience. That's the idea behind Red Sky Tapas and Bar that opened last week in the Market Plaza shopping center.

Partner Terry Kirby and chef Brian Kennington created a place with the feel of the beach. The two transformed the former Merge (and Basil's) space with deep reds, banquettes, leather sofas and a granite-topped bar for their first venture since working together in Hilton Head.

Renee Brock (ENLARGE)
Tapas offerings include many seafood choices, such as ahi tuna with pineapple soy sauce.
Renee Brock (ENLARGE)
Red Sky's signature dish: lightly seasoned crab cakes baked and served atop a mango vinaigrette.
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"We wanted a place with more of a Midtown vibe," said Kirby, who lives in Cobb County. "At the same time, we wanted a tapas menu and a signature martini list with a tropical feel."

Smaller is big

Following the hot trend of having diners graze through an extensive menu, Red Sky offers a lengthy list of small plates, priced from $3 for blue cheese-stuffed olives to $15 for bacon-wrapped sea scallops. The signature dish is lightly seasoned crab cakes baked and served atop a mango vinaigrette. Other seafood choices include coconut shrimp, fried calamari, blackened tilapia tacos, shrimp and chorizo risotto, ahi tuna and a platter of scallop, shrimp and tilapia seviche. Tenderloin carpaccio, citrus barbecue ribs and jerk chicken wings are the land options.

In between, diners can nibble on bowls of chips and salsa, fried plantains, potato wedges and several salads. Small pizzas are topped with vegetables, barbecued chicken or bacon and mushrooms. For dessert, there's "good and evil" chocolate cake — white and dark chocolate with a ganache layer on an Oreo crust; a cream cheese-based flan; crème brûlée; and a traditional tres leches cake.

From the bar

The martini list approaches 30, with variations such as the chocolate-covered strawberry leading the list. About two dozen are priced at $6. A mojito list is in the works. There are 30 bottles of wine, all of which are available by the glass. Beer options include four domestic brews, four from the Caribbean and South America and four other imports. Each Sunday there's a Bloody Mary bar and $2 Dos Equis beers.

Just for fun

Just about all of the 139 seats inside have a good view of the small stage and the piano. Music is part of the scene on Tuesdays, when martinis are $3. Wednesday, the act is a Spanish guitar player, with $12 bottles of wine. Friday and Saturday feature dueling piano players from 9 p.m. until midnight.

RED SKY TAPAS AND BAR

• Where: 1255 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta; 770-973-0100

• Signature dish: Crab cakes with a mango vinaigrette

• Entree prices: $3-$15

• Hours: 4-10 p.m. Mondays; 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Tuesdays; 4-11 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 3:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 1-10 p.m. Sundays

• Reservations: Yes

• Credit cards: Yes

• Web site: www.redskytapas.com