I was wanted about the food scene in Harrisburg so decided to play it safe and stay at the hotel. Was pleased with Ad Lib. Had the cheese sticks, they were really good. A lot more creative than most cheese, the chutney really worked well. The wedge salad was a good and balanced salad. A good and safe option. read more

Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar - Cheese sticks - American Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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Stayed at the hotel this restaurant is a part of and came down around 1230pm on a Sunday for their brunch menu. I was seated right away as they weren't too busy and they gave me a very comfortable booth table with a nice view of the restaurant and the open view kitchen. They have digital menus in a tablet with all their food items listed. I wish the hostess would have mentioned you can click on the item and it will bring up more details about everything included on the dish. I had to ask the waitress what was on the burger, and she was the one who told me I could click on the items for more details. The brunch burger was amazing. Great flavor and the pretzel bun was so good! The tots were crispy and hot as well. Definitely so for extra napkins if you get the brunch burger because the egg does have the potential to get a little messy. The great food was complimented by my amazing server, Amanda. She was very friendly, quick, and I could really tell the cares about her customers having a great experience. Finally, they had a live guitarist playing great music throughout brunch. It was the perfect volume to enjoy but not be overwhelming. I would highly recommend checking this place out for brunch if you're in the area. read more

Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar - Brunch Smash Burger - American Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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I appreciate this restaurant is on site. I didn't feel much like leaving the hotel. I was very happy with the service and the meal! The waiters were excellent and the food was very good. The feel of the restaurant is classy casual. People were dressed well but not dressed up and that works for me. read more

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We were heading to the symphony and wanted to eat somewhere downtown. We made a reservation and we were seated immediately upon arrival. There were plenty of people seated at the bar and throughout the restaurant. We were taken to a booth near the back of the restaurant. I was a little taken back when we went to sit down as it looked like There was water all over our seats. It turned out to be that the leather was coming off the seats and it appeared as if they were wet. The menu comes to you on a small tablet. I found it a little confusing to help my 85-year-old father navigate through it. You would have a page titled handheld and heartier. It would list the menu item, but if you wanted to see the price and a description and/or a picture, you had to click on it. It seemed like it took longer to go through the menu using the tablet. I did enjoy that there were pictures that you wouldn't normally see on a menu. Now for the food! My dad ordered the mac & cheese. It came in a small skillet, which had some great smells coming from it. We also ordered the brussels sprouts. They were so different and so good. They came with fried croutons if you will and pomegranate seeds along with the brussels sprouts. They were really good. A spoon to serve them would have been nice as we had to use our forks and we were sharing them. I ordered the Cuban grilled cheese. I really enjoyed it. I liked the chunks of pickles and of course the spicy mustard. The sandwich was toasted perfectly and I enjoy that it came with their homemade chips as a side. Since we were celebrating my Dad's birthday, we each got a dessert. He got vanilla gelato and asked if they could put some chocolate syrup on top. They were able to do it which made him very happy. I got the mini truffles. It included three different truffles on a nicely decorated place. We were able to get in and out in enough time to get to the symphony. Our server was very attentive and Checked in with us quite a few times. If you're in the downtown area or looking for something different give Ad Lib a try. read more

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Nice lunch time restaurant in the Hilton. Lunch menu had something for everyone, really enjoyed the pickled deviled eggs and salmon salad and had a nice presentation. Sat at the bar so service was a bit slow but definitely a place to stop through if you're in town looking for a bite read more

Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar - Salmon and Red Oak - American Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Don't be alarmed at the fact that this restaurant is inside the Hilton hotel (Harrisburg) you are more than welcome to make a reservation and visit or even just walk in for that matter. It being in the hotel allows for a very clean and pristine ambiance: I've visited this establishment many times and the service, is wonderful. I enjoy sitting at the bar, but even table service they are always extremely knowledgeable with menu items and attentive. The food is delectable, from the burgers to the pizza you really can't make a bad choice. Same goes for their cocktails, if you're in the area don't skip this gem. read more

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Basic breakfast made fancy Coming into this location, the place is docrorated very well. You get a sense that the place is trying hard to make itself look high class. The server was professional and sent my special requests to the back. None of them were honored, so I was left with a basic breakfast menu. So I go for their Buttermilk pancakes and get a cuppachino. The coffee is okay, not overly bitter but perfectly functional. Pancakes took about 10 minutes to come out. I took pics and dug in, and the pancakes were perfectly servicable. Fluffy, tender, and balanced. The syrup was oddly flavored with butter extract and the unsalted butter was flavored with vanilla bourbon. The breakfast menu is very much standard fare, as is the breakfast buffet. If anything, the buffet has more and better choices than their ala cart menu. Their ala cart menu is lacking, but for breakfast they're fine. read more

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Dined here 3 times now and always a good experience. Two times for breakfast and once for dinner. They have the best breakfast buffet I have eaten at this year! Service has been consistently good. The open dining area connected with the bar and into the hotel. Would definitely recommend for breakfast alone and with the buffet you can get custom made omelets and Belgian waffles. read more

Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar - American Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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This reaturant surprised me because it's actually in a hotel! Very cute ambiance and plenty of seating at the bar, high top, or booths. I went at an odd time in the afternoon for early dinner and they only had a limited menu. It was a bit of a let down but they had enough options to order from. The Caesar salad was delicious and was served with a giant Parmesan crisp which was enjoyable! The fish tacos were packed with flavor and toppings. There was a big drink selection and everything was made perfectly. Had to give it 4 stars because the ambiance and prices were grand but it didn't match the food taste and quality! read more

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Not your average hotel restaurant. Enjoyed post concert drinks and dessert. The mini truffles were divine. such friendly and attentive service that returned for a delicious brunch the next morning (and had the pleasure of the same waiter) A very classy spot to enjoy when downtown Harrisburg. read more

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We were two of five people in the restaurant. The service was slow and the eggs in purgatory was less than stellar. There are better places to go for brunch. read more

Had an opportunity to spend a couple of days in Harrisburg and Ad Lib is located in the downtown Hilton. Very convenient for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The food was tasty although as you can expect somewhat pricey. Service was great with a very friendly staff. read more

Ad Lib is the more casual cousin to the Harrisburg Hilton's 1700 Degrees restaurant. Like it's more formal counterpart, the food is excellent and service is attentive without being intrusive. On a recent vist; my companion and I both enjythe Ad Lib burger. Both were cooked to perfection and featured crispy house fries on the side Ad Lib has a variety of seating options including the bar. There are several flat screens in the space (low volume) for those who'd like to keep an eye on sports or the news. Prices are a little higher than you may find elsewhere in Harrisburg ($15 for the burger and fries). However, they are on par with most hotel restaurants and Ad Lib's quality is worth the price read more

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Excellent service from Dillon made the dining experience even better! He was perfectly attentive and knew the menu well. We were a group of five and everyone devoured their dinner (deep dish pizza, moqueca stew, burger, etc.) What a treat during our conference at the hotel! read more

The restoration is located inside the Hilton hotel. We discovered it while visiting 1700 next door and decided to stop in for lunch and another Sunday for brunch. The open floor concept features minimalist decor, creating a pleasant ambiance. The brunch was excellent, and the service was lovely. However, the cocktails could use some improvement, as it took a while to receive them. Overall, it was a positive experience. read more

DO NOT VISIT IF YOU HAVE A PEANUT ALLERGY. Only giving one star, regardless of the fact that we loved our dining experience here, because at the end of our meal we experienced something so traumatic. If you or a loved one have a peanut allergy, please DO NOT go here for their safety! Our server was informed we had a peanut allergy prior to our food being served, and don't get me wrong the service and atmosphere was great! However at the end of our meal, we ordered a brownie for dessert. For context, they have a tablet menu, in which you have to click into to get any information. They write "V" and "gf" on the titles, respectively for vegan and gluten free, but have no "P" or nut symbol on the titles, and you have to click into each item to find out. We ordered the brownie to be safe, thinking it would just be chocolate. Wrong. It was served with gelato. That's all fine. We start eating. I say "oh wow this caramel gelato is really good" and three bites in my partner says they are having a reaction. It's actually peanut butter gelato. My partner has never had a reaction in all the years I've known him, because he is so careful and we always inform staff. We get up to the bar and alert them, they said go to the hotel front desk, the front desk said go upstairs to a vending machine that ended up not being there (taken out years prior, apparently) and then said to go to a Rite Aid "right across the street" which I ran almost three blocks to but it was closed on a Sunday.... By this point I am freaking out and calling 911 while my partner is throwing up in the street. If you didn't know, if you have an anaphylactic allergy, you have around 15 minutes until your throat closes. The restaurant and hotel staff lost us time. Emergency services wasn't going to be quick enough. We sprinted to the car to drive 8 minutes to the nearest CVS and have him chug liquid Benadryl in the store. He's throwing up and wheezing in the parking lot. After about 45 minutes, his breathing is getting better so we decide he would stay in the car while I went in to pay, since we had to run out of the restaurant. The server was the only one who apologized, and the security and management decided to follow me out to the car and "check on" my partner, before trying to get him to sign an NDA that he wouldn't sue them... To be clear: The food is great. The server had no idea it was peanut butter gelato. They did not allow us to pay for the meal. My partner could have died. The menu needs to have a nut symbol or just put the descriptions CLEARLY under the titles without having to click on them. The hotel staff and bar need to have on hand liquid Benadryl (NOT TABLETS, liquid acts the same way as an Epipen) behind the counter if they wish to serve peanuts without marking them on the title. THEY ARE GOING TO KILL SOMEONE OTHERWISE. read more

Top chefs bring on flavor and presentation in reasonably priced fare set in urban chic open setting. Flavors were scrumptious in the halibut dish. The spaghetti squash was delicious and the fish was fresh,moist and perfectly seared. Others in the group enjoyed a braised lamb Shepard's pie and a jumbalya. Nice long list of choices for dessert. Our passion fruit cheesecake was mouth water and a piece of art to behold! read more

Had a great burger here for lunch. Most menu items give a twist to typical food and may not be for everyone. I suggest checking out the menu before you go. Service was on point and all 6 of us were happy with our visit. read more

Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar - Burger and fries - American Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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It's been said in other reviews, not your typical hotel restaurant- This place is good. Innovative and they have delicious vegetables in every dish, which is becoming hard to find. The Brussel sprouts were delicious and the cauliflower curry flat bread was a mix of great flavors on super crispy flat bread, kinda perfect. I don't eat dairy and I was super happy with these dishes made Dairy Free. I'll be very happy with my left overs for dinner. I didn't leave any room for desert, but I hope to try to Mole Beignets next time. read more

Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar - Brussel Sprouts (no aioli) and Cauliflower Curry flat bread (no cheese) - American Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Came in for Valentine's Day. Appetizer was the Sticky Pork Belly - delicious and good to share! I got the Boar Sausage Flatbread (more like a pizza), and my partner ordered the Lamb Shepherds Pie, which she loved. We got a Pavlova for dessert- absolutely perfect. Nice selection of craft beer, too. Service was excellent and the place looked fresh and tidy. Definitely worth your time if you're in the area! read more

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Was here for happy hour and a yelp event! Absolutely blown away by the customer service of the stuff it was tremendous. I would like to turn for dinner. Great space & item we tried were great! If you like brussels sprouts I definitely recommend ordering them. read more

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I love this establishment in the Harrisburg Hilton and Towers! Ad Lib is classy and comfy at the same time. The interior decorator did a great job making this place interesting and welcoming, with a modern, airy vibe. Seating is varied--booths, chairs, stools, benches. Waitstaff provide outstanding service, with regulat (not pesky) followup. Yelpers enjoyed an evening here in April thanks to the exceptional coordination of area Yelp manager Kristina G. and Ad Lib staff. Yelpers get to try an establishment 's variety and then return later to focus eating efforts on a personal favorite! The menu changes to keep diners coming back! Brussel sprouts are a nice accompaniment to a meal, as Ad Lib differentiates theirs from the SOS (same old stuff) with dried cranberries and a maple twist. Plantain chips are unique here. Fried chicken wings are terrific. Wagyu beef, sliders, tartare, and ribs anyone? They melt in your mouth. Homemade guacamole delights. Add homemade tavern chips, pork rinds, or garlic herb fries. Save room for a plethora of fresh, gourmet desserts to please all tastes, including chocoholics, fruit lovers, and cheesecake fanatics. Try the minis so you can enjoy several sweet treats. There are several good happy hour drink specials. The bar is very nice, and makes for good conversations. Have a great visit to Ad Lib, where trying new things is their thing! read more

Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar - The bar - American Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Came for brunch. LOVED the live music, the guitarist was really good and was asking the crowd for requests. Bloody Mary bar was just ok. Selections for toppings but not much more than the regular fare of olives, pickles, celery, grape tomatos. Brunch was a good selection although not much for vegetarians. I got the huevos rancheros tacos and it was absolutely delicious. Would get again. Our server was attentive and friendly, he was knowledgeable of the menu and helped us pick out a vegetarian option for our group, eggs Benedict without the ham. It was a smaller meal, but friend said it was good. Wish I took pictures but we were busy enjoying the live music. read more

I've been to Ad Lib a number of times even though I'm Hbg local. It is attached to my former office building so it was a quick run down for lunch without actually going outside. I love their Express Lunch- it's a clever idea wonderfully executed. You choose three of four items from soup, salad, entree and dessert for $15. It arrives on a ceramic cafeteria lunch tray with all of the spaces filled with a portion of yummy something: composed salads, vegetables, whatever. I've attended a Yelp event here with delicious and creative appetizers. So why 3 stars? I brought an out-of-town friend here for brunch this past weekend. Maybe the fault is ours for passing on the buffet and instead ordering from the menu? I had Eggs Benedict, a breakfast classic, but not a very complicated dish. The poached eggs on my benedicts vere basically raw. I touched one and it turned to liquid egg white, thoroughly grossing me out and rendering that part of my breakfast inedible for me. So I turned to the potatoes. In just looking at them, they were sort of basic and boring. Then I took a bite. Crunch. Yes, crunch. Not like they were fried or roasted to perfection. No. They were completely underdone. My husband's potatoes were the same. He had a breakfast sandwich on an everything bagel that looked yummy. Our friend had waffles, I think, that looked beautiful. I'll give them another shot. read more

Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar - Eggs Bene and undercooked potaties - American Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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Great service & atmosphere! Came for lunch, it was a little bit of a wait but our food was worth the wait. Flatbreads are shareable. Everything tastes great; and the presentation of food was pleasant too. We are looking forward to coming back for a weekend brunch in the future :) read more

Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar - Short rib flatbread, Margarita flatbread, Turkey Panini and Ricotta cheese appetizer - American Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

In the lobby of the Hilton, this bar is connected to 1700 steakhouse. They do have separate menus and dining areas, but a gift card/reservation is as good as one to the other. I came here twice during my stay in Harrisburg. Both times I got a cocktail. The bartenders were nice and fairly well informed about booze. They were honest as to whether they would recommend different drinks. The smoke'm if you got'm was delicious and the "plating" was wonderful. For happy hour 5-7, they have some great discounts on food. They will have a featured brewery and a featured spirit, but its pretty limited, stick with the food. read more

Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar - American Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

I had a business dinner at the bar. Attentive staff, classic heavy wood, old-school bar feel with TVs centered on sports. Bartender makes a very nice Old Fashioned, menu is unique and well-executed from my meal. read more

So I came here on a whim with my cousin as we were tired of all the brunch options in the area and realized we never tried this place! Note their brunch does not start until 11:30 am. We came to early so their options for food menu are a bit more limited. It's located in the Hilton hotel and they have their menu option or buffet option for breakfast. Seems their menu changes but we got the rye bagel with pork cheek bagel, zucchini tacos, and the lemon ricotta waffles. I was honestly most impressed with the zucchini tacos by the favor profile and how cute they were. The pork cheek was extremely tender and fatty which surprisingly completed the bagel. Was a bit dry so we just put hot sauce. We will definitely be back for brunch and the build your own drinks and bigger menu! Will be here for their happy hours as well! read more

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Food was good. Service was great. Cool atmosphere. Good happy hour. Cool menu. I need to check this place out again. read more

Came in for a late breakfast on a snowy day and found outstanding service and excellent food. From the moment I arrived I was met by warm and friendly people, from the hostess onward. In fact, thanks to the slow hour, it felt almost like I had two wonderful waitresses dedicated to my little table. I had the stuffed French toast and recommend it highly. read more

We were looking forward to trying the eclectic menu of Ad Lib. But what we received ranged from reasonably good to downright inedible. The burger was well made, but the rest consisted of dismal failures. The garlic fries were simply fries with garlic salt poured on them. The Ceaser salad was soggy, warm, and intolerable. It didn't even have the correct ingredients--it had cherry tomatoes, but no croutons or Parmesan cheese. The Turkey Panini's duck bacon seemed to genetically combine jerky with wood. We did think the server was professional, helpful and attentive, but it didn't help improve the ambiance, which included loud drunken patrons cackling behind us, and the now normal high decibel level that makes it difficult to enjoy conversations with the meal. Not Recommended. read more

This restaurant was part of the Hilton Harrisburg, where we were staying at. We came here for breakfast buffet two times and a late dinner. I just want to say the staff was AMAZING in all the times I was here. They truly were very friendly and always got their job done efficiently. As well, the restaurant was very spacious, very clean and overall, very presentable. However, the reason I marked down the rating was that the food was mediocre. For the price I paid, I expected my food to be more tasty, but unfortunately, none of the meals I had left me wanting more. The late dinner: I ordered a fried burrata and a cocktail. The cocktail was recommended by the bartender and I have to say, as someone who is very picky with her alcohol, it was not bad and very refreshing. However, the fried burrata was very small in portion, not really filling and was a bit too bland for my taste. The breakfast buffet: There was definitely a lot more variety in terms of breakfast food. I really liked the eggs in the pan (but I couldn't find the second time because they like to switch it up) as well as the sausages and bacon. However, if you come later in the morning, there is a huge line up for the cook to make waffles, omelettes, etc. Though, with the variety of the buffet, I certainly enjoyed the buffet more than the typical "order from the menu" type. It was the cheaper option too. read more

Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar - Fried Burrata - American Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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I'm torn as I write this review because although the customer service as well as drinks were excellent, the food is quite mediocre. Let's start with the service: I've been here all three nights during my stay at the Hilton in downtown Harrisburg (it's located inside), and nearly every staff member and bartender has been overly kind and easy to converse with. On the other hand, the grub wasn't too thrilling. Other than their raw oysters with a few flavorful toppings (which were pretty darn good) and seasoned fries, the rest of the food was disappointing. The 'adult' grilled cheese had an odd taste to it, the chips had absolutely no salt at all, and the Ceasar salad could be best described as soggy and flavorless. Finally, on to the drinks. I ordered several rum and diets, a lemon drop, chocolate cake, and beer. All were well above par. read more

Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar - Massachusetts Raw Oysters with Lemon & Other Sauces. - American Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Overcooked, unseasoned, small portions, and overpriced served on a bed of newspaper clippings. Ordered three items total: 1) SteamPot and paid extra for "colossal shrimp" but only 2 tiny shrimp included. Market fish was salmon which was not seasoned and over cooked. Most of the pot was 2 measly corn cobs. 2) Pork and "Sauerkraut" with bok choi - Very lack luster, no seasoning on the pork and was served dry, tough, and disappointing on a newspaper to remind you of inflation... 3) Fish tacos, ordered as a replacement for the Sticky Pork Belly because they were out. The tacos were okay and unfortunately were the only half decent thing served. When going back to the Ad Lib page to leave this review, Yelp further attested to my experience by indicating "You might also consider" and the following places were Burger King and a diner. Which you would be better off just grabbing food there. read more

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On a whim during a road trip we booked a last minute overnight stay at the Harrisburg Hilton and were delighted to find this modern, spacious bar/restaurant next to the lobby. We were seated quickly with proper social distancing, far from any other patrons. The service began promptly, but there must have been confusion as to whose section we were in, because we were approached by three different servers, and then waited for a very long time to receive the (delicious!) drinks we had ordered with the first and reiterated to the third. Our server was cheerful but definitely disorganized; had we been in worse moods this might have put us off but we rolled with it. It was a bit late on a Sunday night and we felt lucky. The food was a bit slow to come out too, and then it all came out at once! It was worth the wait though-- everything was creatively and deliciously prepared. We loved the shishito peppers with the tangy sauce as well as the mussels with a delicious twist: the addition of chunks of a tasty chicken sausage. The salad was fresh and the "flatbread" was huge-- not at all skimpy portions of anything, as suggested by other reviews. We were too stuffed to even think of dessert! All that plus drinks and wine for a very reasonable tab left us satisfied! I'm sure the service glitches were an anomaly, and the servers' friendliness and smiles went a long way in glossing over any imperfections. Give them a chance. read more

The food and cocktail options are absolutely fantastic. This alone garners a 5*. Service can be improved-maybe due to insufficient staff? It's so apparent they use high quality, wonderfully tasteful, and fresh ingredients. The flavors shine in each dish and are not overwhelmed by seasoning. I stayed at the Hilton (which is where it's located) for several days and would stay there again just for the accessibility to Ad Lib despite the average hotel accommodations. Ordered: Monkfish, sweet pea salad, beef tartare, chili, margarita flatbread, basil ricotta cheesecake, untraditional Manhattan, creme brûlée, coconut cheesecake, and old fashion read more

Staff: 5, Kelsey is amazing and our drinks were PERFECT! I ordered a spontaneous cocktail and she hit the nail on the head! Atmosphere 4: Really enjoyed the ambiance, but it's a hotel so I can't give it a 5 in comparison to other places in the area Food: 2... Let me start by saying I think we just had an off night. We ordered 3 items from the happy hour menu, the pork nachos, the beet eggs, and an oyster. The oyster was tiny, the beet eggs were extremely dry, and the nacho chips were extremely stale. My husband on multiple occasion said Taco Bell nachos were far superior. I wanted to love them so badly, but they were actually gross - I'm sorry! We've had dinner at 1700 before and it was spectacular. Not sure if they share kitchens or not, but stale items should not be making it to the plate. Overall we'd go back, we enjoyed it, but I wouldn't order those menu items again! read more

Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar - Pork belly nachos, beet eggs, an oyster - American Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

I don't even know where to start! Gosh it was a horrible experience! I went with my boyfriend and we got sitter in a booth. We were close to the kitchen and the workers. We didn't mind that but our server made our experience not that great. The server came over and I told them that I was going to start with the waygu ribs. And the server just walked and didn't even ask for the rest of the order. We ordered mojitos and they were great! The ribs were good. And we finally got our entrees in. We waited an 1hr to get a small 8 oz filet mignon and a dozen oysters. The oysters where delicious. My boyfriend thought the meal was small. The server checked on us once and just didn't have a good attitude. Anyway, my boyfriend left hungry so we went to another restaurant to eat. Overall I wouldn't recommend it. read more

Was mediocre at best The online menu for Sunday brunch was extensive yet on arrival was 4 breakfast items- wired French bread French toast, scrambled eggs, oatmeal and eggs Benedict. Service was nice Price was reasonable. Menu limited read more

Love, love, love! The service, food, and environment all get high marks from us! We definitely plan on returning.