Came here for steak fest in February and it did not disappoint. Ordered a variety of steaks from rib eye to porterhouse and each were delicious. We also had their onions rings which were some of the best I've ever had! Super crispy yet soft on the inside. The one dish that we had high expectations for but was disappointed were the duck fat potatoes, they were super hard and tasted very stale. Also had the chocolate guiness cake for dessert, it had a cream cheese type frosting and was a nice way to end the meal. It was very very very busy and even with a reservation on Saturday night we still had to wait. Service was great the entire service! read more

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I have a limited menu due to bariatric surgery. But the veggie burger was ok. Nothing great. Sautéed onions and mushrooms ‍ added some pizzazz Service was good. Ambiance? If you like the 'spring shedding of the willow tree adjacent to the patio with all the stuff falling into your plate then go for it. They need to cover the patio. My server said it gets worse as the summer goes on. For what I was served...WAY over priced. read more

Allen's - The patio out back at Allen's on May 15,2025 - Irish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Allen's is an Irish pub with a great outdoor patio. The place serves great comfort food and drinks in a relaxing, friendly and pleasant atmosphere. Prices are very reasonable for the amount and quality of the food served. I ordered the Caesar salad which was very fresh and crisp. For an entree, I had their Dublin Lamb Shank braised in Guinness that was excellent. The meat was very tender and quite flavorful and came with mashed potatoes. For dessert, we had the key lime cake, which was actually very good as a cake, and the rhubarb crisp that was also delicious. Service was good. The wait staff was accommodating. The outdoor patio was delightful. Overall, Allen's is a lovely casual neighborhood pub restaurant that you would enjoy hanging out at as often as you can. read more

They got great scotch. Very homely vibes Ahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahhcjf read more

Always enjoy Allen's. Been a number of times as it's in my hood. Good brunch options, great patio out back in the nice weather. Can recommend the lamb shank, the steak, and the fish and chips. One thing I enjoy the most is the smoked salmon with potato cakes appetizer. It does well for lunch if you want something light. Lots of beers on taps, and a reasonable selection of wines. Great pub atmosphere. Street parking or Green P lot nearby. read more

Allen's - Smoked salmon with potato cakes - Irish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Allen's is a beautifully decorated, cozy pub-style restaurant. The bar area is a bit noisy, but further back in the restaurant, it is quite quiet. Apparently something of a local institution on the Danforth, Allen's always draws a crowd, and at brunch or dinner, reservations are advised. My recent visit marked the first time that I have ever been to Allen's in the summer, and my dining companion and I were able to take advantage of their beautiful patio. I am not generally keen on urban outdoor dining (stinging insect allergy), but the patio was so enticing that even I could not resist. The focal points of the patio are two majestic trees, which probably pre-date Allen's and all the customers. The patio design incorporates these trees in imaginative ways to give this patio an airy and lavish vibe. With its charms, this patio is a magnet for summer guests. The lunch menu is imaginative and varied. As I watched a server delivering someone's open-faced Irish smoked salmon go past, I knew that Allen's was going to be a great choice for lunch. The burgers, too, looked terrific; thick and juicy, and my dining companion could not resist. I was intrigued by the Irish smoked salmon choices, when the Ahi tuna salad caught my eye, and was my choice for lunch. The service was polished and friendly without hovering over you, and our server took our orders promptly, and they arrived in due course. My friend's burger looked great. No wimpy little smashed burger, this is a big juicy burger which is almost a challenge to get your mouth around. It was cooked to the perfect medium that my friend had ordered. My Ahi Tuna salad was simply the best tuna salad that I've ever had. This is decidedly not your mom's pot luck favorite tuna salad, but a cheffy, savory, yet bright tasting salad featuring entire pieces of tuna and veggies, complemented perfectly by a herby and citrussy dressing. Both of our meals were superb. Indeed, there wasn't a grumpy face in the room, but cheerful customers visibly enjoying their lunches. Allen's is well-deserving of its local acclaim. As a pub, I highly recommend Allen's, where you can choose from a plethora of craft beers and also a extensive whiskey bar menu, with vintage whiskeys that I have not even heard of. Allen's is decidedly the place to be if you want to enjoy an evening of whiskey tasting with some friends. I look forward to coming back, and hopefully trying the dinner menu and one of those whiskeys. Allen's is very popular, and I recommend calling to reserve a table. if you are lucky, there will be a parking spot on Danforth, directly in front of the restaurant. If not, try the many nearby side streets. For those on transit, Allen's is conveniently located right near the Broadview metro station. With daily specials, Allen's is sure to have something for everyone to enjoy. read more

I've been to Allen's quite a few times, but this was the best yet. Being on a strict diet, I was worried there wouldn't be much for me at this place known for fish and chips and burgers. In fact there is a great BBQ menu that focuses on farm-to-table locally sourced (including from Butchers of Distinction) food. I had Blackened Pickerel with Three Salads (couscous, watermelon, and greens) which was EXCELLENT. Lovely young lady served us. Good cider. Stuck with my diet! The temperature was just right - not too hot and humid and not over air-conditioned. read more

I went to Allen's to try their highly acclaimed burger and got their Lamb Shank cause I eat with my eyes. I viewed a Lamb Shank photo on Yelp just before i decided to order. I think I should have ordered the burger. So, the Lamb Shank looked amazing, manly man portions. Simply plated on top of a Guinness reduced gravy and accompanied by an Irish version of mashed potatoes. I forget what it was called and forgot to take a photo of the menu. Now, this is where I'm gonna get hate from the regulars. While the Lamb Shank looked delicious, it fell short for me. The meat was tender, but I've had just as good or better at Greek restros on the Danforth. The reduced Guinness gravy wasn't to my liking. It had a slightly bitter after taste. Maybe that's the Guinness. (I'm non-alcoholic and never tried a Guinness). Their version of mashed potatoes has some chop greens mixed into it. I think it might have been green onions or julienne green beens. I forgot the menu description. Either way, I couldn't identify the greens and wasn't a pro or con for me. I found the potatoes a bit firm and dry. Overall, the dish could use a lot more seasoning. The portion you get was large, but it comes at a premium price. I'm comparing this to Lamb Shanks dinners you can get close by in Greektown. So the meal was "ok", I wouldn't order this again, but I will be back for that burger I should order in the first place. I don't visit a lot of pubs as I don't drink, so just see the photos I posted to see the interior. I would describe the vibe as a classy, causal, gastro-pub. My server was polite and helpful, but I still felt a bit out of place. I guess because I don't visit bars. I would return just to try the buger, but not sure if this popular local pub is for me. PS. I ordered a diet coke. It came with silly thin paper straw that disintegrated before I was halfway through my water down drink. I hope their burger redeems my faith in Allen's... my 2 cents. read more

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I love the patio in this place. That's why I come here. Met some friends for a bday dinner. I had told them on the reservation that it was for a bday so was hoping for something with a candle stuck in it at the end of the night. Nope, nothing. Was a little disappointed but didn't want to embarrass the bday girls by saying "hey, where's their free dessert?!" Anyway, we had a few drinks to start along with some calamari. Calamari was great. Light and crispy. Loved the dipping sauce. Not sure what it was but I think it had feta in it? Service was great. Our server was always around when you needed him and ready with answers for any of our questions. (Still disappointed he didn't know about the birthdays at the table. I'm beginning to think Open Table doesn't communicate or is it Allen's doesn't care?) I ordered a veggie burger. Now, when you order a 17 dollar burger, (20 for a regular burger) you would think they would throw a few fries on the plate with it. No, we had to order the fries separately. That kind of shit bugs me. That said, the veggie burger is pretty good. Tasty patty with all of the fixins of a regular burger. We ordered a plate of the matchstick fries. I thought they were a little too crunchy but the others seemed to like them. I'll be back, it's in my neighborhood but I think I'll stick to an appy and a drink on the patio. read more

Amazing backyard patio (think it's one of the best in the city) and great vibe, done in by the food. Big caveat of course is I don't drink, so this rating is only for the food. And even grading on a curve (it is, after all, a pub), I still didn't really like it. Came here for brunch so got access to both the brunch and lunch menus (which was good). We got: - Chicken and Waffles: Oof, this was rough. The fried chicken was overly charred, with the skin not crispy but hard-crunchy. The meat itself was ok (not as dry as the skin would suggest). The waffles were cardboard-hard. Good quality maple syrup. - Burger: Saw quite a number of people raving about this, so we decided to try it. Patty was thick, but besides that, notjing else. It tasted fine, not worth the hype, not worth the price. It was fine, not memorable in a good or bad way. - Rosemary Polenta Chips: This might be my favourite part of the meal, as the fries were nice and creamy. Not worth the price for the amount and taste, but still pretty good. Again, caveat is I didn't get any alcohol with the meal, so maybe food tastes better with it? Who knows. It's rather unfortunate because wow that is one great patio. read more

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Absolutely impeccable vibes on the patio during the summer. Really wide selection of beers and other drinks. Mains were decently priced given the portion sizes, I think! I found the liver I ordered to be rather too intensely seasoned, but that's strictly personal preference - the texture was excellent. Service was probably on the slower side, though given the impeccable summer ambiance we did not mind at all! read more

Allen's - Liver and Chimay beer for me, capon and sour beer for my friend. - Irish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I've been coming here for years and the menu is deliciously varied in flavours! My go-to meal is the chowder & soda bread and the fish & chips. They're like classy fish & chips and the tartare sauce is yummy and I don't like tatare sauce so that is saying a lot! The burgers are amazing. The steaks are phenomenal! The desserts are divine! The staff are great. Location is wheelchair accessible if someone holds the two doors open for you. No washroom on the main level. I use a walker to get around now. My birthday is on January 15th and all the restaurants were closing for eat-in as of the 5th. So my friend took me out on the 4th to celebrate my birthday early. I'm not having two birthdays in a row during lockdowns! I had the beef burger and my friend had the salmon burger. We shared an order of fries. He had the Guinness chocolate cake and I had the chocolate mousse. The meal was great except for these two things. The beef burger was undercooked but I was starving and I was almost done by the time the server came around to check on us. I don't like my meat bleeding and dripping all over me. I was here before Christmas and I couldn't eat the fish & chips cuz the oil was off. It turns out they changed the oil that day. Well a month later and the fries still taste weird. Go back to your old type of oil, this one has changed the tastes completely. That's why it's 4 stars. read more

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A friend & I stopped in for dinner and drinks pre-concert next door at the Danforth Music Hall. The service was great, servers were friendly & helpful. We were early enough to get a seat in the patio which was very nice. read more

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About 15+ years ago I lived near Allen's and it became a regular spot for dinners, brunches, a casual beer, or a late night cap (usualy from the extensive whiskey list) I returned recently and was pleased that not much had changed, great patio (covering clearly improved for the pandemic), great service and good food. The fish and chips were great, the Guinness cake is dense and chocolaty the sourcream icing is perfect read more

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We live above Allen's, it's very delicious. I recommend the Shrimp Cocktail! The presentation is perfect, brightly colored, and the taste is fresh and delicious read more

Amazing food consistently! Great great food. Great service too. This has been a family favourite for years. Congratulations Allen's!!! read more

Possibly the best patio in the city. Great staff top to bottom, everyone is professional and charming and enjoyable to speak with. The food is high quality and their bar menu is second to none. I may only be 25% Irish but when I'm here I drink like I was born in Dublin. They have this really great whiskey called... what did you say? Fuck you man, I don't know you. What was I saying? Anyway, try the salmon cakes. read more

Allen's - Nectar of the gods - Irish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I challenge anyone to name a more quintessential Toronto gastropub. Allen's has been around for over 30 years, it's got a massive whiskey and beer selection, great food and atmosphere, and a fabulous back patio where you can drink and dine in the shadows of enormous willow trees. Anyone who's anyone in Toronto has dined here...I can guarantee you that. I'm surprised to see so many mixed reviews about the food, but perhaps the quality has ebbed and flowed over the years. I'm no regular--I only come a few times a year, but I've always enjoyed the food. The chef's curries are a good bet, and in summer they have daily specials cooked on the barbecue out back. A few nights ago there was a choice of fish, steak or ribs. We started with a "white gazpacho" that was so fresh, creamy and cucumbery, amazing. We also had mussels, which have always been great here (though I'm not loving the soda bread on the side). Calf's liver, if you're into it, is also excellent. I know they're famous for their burgers but I can't vouch...it's not something I usually get. On the whole, a very nice and totally classic Toronto pub experience. read more

3.5 stars I can't count how many years it has been since I was at Allen's. It was next door to the concert my teenager was at, so even though the beautiful patio was full we opted for a table inside. It's quite dim inside. Extensive selection of beer and scotch and excellent small selection of wine. I had the Chenin Blanc and it was delicious. For dinner we ordered the barbecue chicken pizza and the Thai salmon. The pizza was sized for a very hungry person. The salmon was petite but very delicious - maybe if they had added some rice it would have made this for a hungry person. Restaurant was clean. Service was pretty quick. We weren't in a hurry. read more

Mediocre Everything! Service was mediocre and inconsistent. Food, hugely unimpressed for the cost. Mediocre food. My son's pizza was burned that we sent back promptly. Wife's salad had the worst, flavourless tomatoes in the summer. It's August! Prime tomato season yet over priced, flavourless, cheap tomatoes and questionable green beans. My fish and chips, the piece of fish was very small. Should have gotten two pieces at $23! The batter was undercooked and raw on half the fish. Made me question the fish... Mediocre! AFTER my wife and I are done with our meal, they then bring my son's pizza and yet still have to pay full price. This place seems to rely on some misplaced quality of food and service that they honestly lost awhile ago. I will be hard pressed to return after that pricey MEDIOCRE MEAL. read more

My daughter and I were out on a Saturday afternoon and popped in for a later lunch. We were enticed by the funky atmosphere and the place was busy. We were immediately seated. I stuck with Diet Coke as I was driving. The menu was a bit difficult to navigate for a 17 year old, a little bit more sophisticated then her palate. She settled on the burger which was excellent. I was also struggling, I think it might be a better spot for a leisurely dinner. My husband would enjoy the vibe. I ordered the salmon burger and we shared a side of fries which were very good, hot and crispy. My salmon burger was good, a little too thick and I did not love the dressing but I may have slathered too much on. One complaint was the service. Slow, inattentive and unfriendly. I will hesitate to go back as the server seemed unhappy to be there and made us uncomfortable. However, food was so good and atmosphere was fantastic. Time will tell. read more

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Enjoy the pub food, court yard ambiance and chill service vibe at this long time hood staple in Danforth.

It comes but once a year STEAKFEST!!!! I have been to many steak places in toronto but this place is my all time favourite. The picture does not do this steak justice. It's hard to photograph delicious:) I shamelessly ordered dessert to remind me of my time in Ireland- Chocolate Guinness cake ! Yummy!!! Have read more

Allen's - Allen's Steakfest!!! Ribeye perfection:) - Irish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I had a $100 gift certificate to Allen's, a rest I've been to many times since the week they opened oh so long ago. So, I figured I'd treat my son and his wife to a dinner out. Knowing the rules, I informed my server that I had the coupon. Long story short, turns out is was a GR code and only good for takeout. This is something I have never heard of. Fortunately, I could afford the dinner anyway, so we proceeded. The maitre di, who was very busy, was going to explain how I could use it, but kept disappearing after saying, Lust a sec. Oh, and both orders of fish and chips had overdone coating. read more

On Victoria Day I made a return visit to Allen's for my 1st time in several years. I was one of a Group of 11 people and for only my 2nd time at the venue, I/we were seated on their renowned back patio. I believe we were afforded this courtesy due to our group size, the fact that we were there for both drinks and food and because the patio was pretty barren due to our arrival time, which was around 5 pm. We did have to wait inside for our table(s) to be prepared but our wait was less than 5 minutes. The service was fairly friendly and prompt considering our group size; I ordered the buttermilk-fried chicken thigh fingers which came with balsamic greens. Everything was quite flavourful. At one of my 1st visits to Allen's several years ago we couldn't sit on the back patio as we were there for drinks only (it was an after dinner social Event therefore all of us had already eaten); we were informed that we could go next door to Dora Keogh for drinks and while there we were puzzled by the servers going back and forth between Dora and Allen's with orders. We inquired and learned that the reason was that the 2 venues are under the same management/ownership. At another visit years ago for another social Event, I/we were seated on the back patio for brunch. I think everyone who attended - and we were a large group - agreed that the quality of the food was really great. I've also had pizza there on 2 occasions; both times I quite enjoyed my meal. So even though I don't visit there often, I can honestly state that Allen's meets with my approval. Being in a convenient location (close to the subway) is another plus. read more

Went for dinner with some girlfriends. Service was very slow. Beer selection was excellent. My friend enjoys whiskey and heard this place had quite the selection. After looking at the extensive spirit menu, she asked our server for a recommendation, but he didn't know anything about whiskey. Food was good. Cozy place, classic style. Pretty loud in there, hard to talk. Don't think I'll be back. read more

Pretty disappointing since I came cuz recommendation. The environment just so bad that there's smells of vomiting as I walk into the restaurant.. I even didn't ordered food since the smell is too bad read more

2.5 star?? Allen's maybe one of the place that I can walked in and walked out without anyone asking or even anyone even knowing?? Maybe it was a little dark since it was 10:15 pm..... but I thought that 's when people going out?? but I guess not on a weekday? Patio is lovely!! The trees are huge... on a cool summer night, sitting at Allen's back patio is like at some friend's backyard. But if I am sitting in a friend's backyard, I would have helped myself to a drink from the fridge! No one even asked if I want a drink? or if I need a drink? or I just don't want a drink! Or I just got really confused after checking out the huge beer menu on the chalkboard and I just don't know what to order? I even tried jumping up and down, waving my arms over my head... but no one... no one even noticed me... Maybe these wait staffs were trained in one of the Chinese restaurants?! Allen's Special Light Draft 1/2 pint ($4.30) was a nice and refreshing to make me less frustrated with my beer ordering experience...... read more

Allen's - Irish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We have had many positive experiences at Allen's, but our recent visit was a huge disappointment. I ordered a drink and my husband a beer... service was slow but we were not in a hurry. The wait staff seemed very agitated and not working at their best. Our waittress keep saying how busy she was and was hurrying us to place our order ahead of another larger table.. we had contemplated ordering from the special steak menu, yet opted not to do so as the vibe we were getting wasn't good.. I mean really, the steaks were pricey and if having that for our meAl we felt we were not going to get the best experience. So we kept our order simple... a burger and fish & chips ... my drink came after a long wait and it was not at all right. It tasted like the bar mix with lots of lemon, it was supposed to be a Moscow Mule.. sent it back, and I could swear the bartender just pout the whole drink into another glass and topped it with more seltzer, I sent that back too and got a beer which took a long time to get too.. anyway the food was not good, dry fish, poor taste, & burger was ok. Very "meh". We finished and asked for the bill. (About $140 without tip) not wanting to have another drink or dessert which we'd usually do. My husband mentioned to the manager on the way out that it wasn't up to the usual good experience and he was very apathetic and simply didn't seem to care. We drove a long way for the meal, and I doubt we'll ever return now. Sad to see this establishment just going down in service and quality. I'm glad we didn't order the steaks :( read more

This my go to on the Danny Great selection of wine and beer. The menu is all superlative I had the burger today, one of the few places in town that you can order a medium rare burger and trust the grill master and the meat to be perfect. One of the cities best patios too btw read more

Allen's - A perfect medium rare burger. - Irish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Haven't been to Allen's since before Covid, went there for brunch, and was disappointed. ordered the waffles, which came without any garnish or fruit, just two over cooked patties of sausage. The latte was lukewarm in a small cup. Will be looking for a different place to eat on the Danforth next time. read more

Tired of getting raw food. A couple of weeks ago it was the bleeding pork chop Today it was the "medium" burger, the forgotten but paid for gravy, and the dregs for fries! This place should be doing better than this but it's consistently bad! read more

Allen's - fries are dregs and gravy we paid for wasn't in the delivery bag - Irish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We had a beer there yesterday afternoon. The back part was jammed ... it seems to be a popular spot for a late lunch. We looked at the menu and was surprised that were weren't more "pubby" foods. We sat at the bar and yakked with Steve, the bartender. They had a great beer selection and a massive scotch selection ... the most expensive scotch is locked away in a safe and is $1,000 a shot! We liked it there and will be back! read more

Allen's - Irish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I came here on a recommendation from a friend about the burgers. I came with my boyfriend, brother and sister-in-law. We sat on the patio in the back, which was huge, decorate nicely with greenery, and even had a BBQ going, which looked and smelt delicious. Even though there were plenty of things on the menu I'd like to try, I opted for the burger based on my friend's recommendation. The burger was quite tasty. Not the best I'd ever had, but good. It was dressed well, but everything kept falling off! lol I ordered a side salad, but what came was a handful of "spring mix" that you buy at any grocery store. I was really disappointed since I paid extra for the side "salad". I had a few of my boyfriend's fries, which was way under-cooked. While the patio was nice and the service was decent, it's unlikely that I would come back here because the food is widely overpriced for what you get. read more

Allen's - Undercooked fries - Irish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Dangerously close to the best burger I've ever had. Perfect medium rare, as ordered. Simple, yet high quality toppings. Blackened potato salad was incredible. Creative and just the right amount of spice. Great and attentive service even during the busy time we were there on the patio. Definitely will be back. They deserve a higher rating on here. read more

Allen's has become the joke of the Danforth. The snotty overweight irish waiter thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread. the older female waitress has had a frontal lobotomy,or is on glue. the food is awful and grossly overpriced. there are lots of places on the Danforth that serve good decent food and have friendly prompt service......... don't waste your time going to this rat infested nightmare read more

I'm honestly surprised by all of the negative reviews! We had a great time here. We started with the arugula salad and capon wings. The arugula salad was massive and is definitely to be shared! The wings were some of the best I've ever had and I could have drank the sauce. My partner had the burger which was absolutely massive and came with two wet wipes which were definitely needed! I had the chicken pot pie served with cheddar mashed potatoes. The pot pie was nicely seasoned with tons of tender chicken. We ended with the bread pudding which was very chocolatey and delicious. They also have a great beer selection. Service was very attentive the entire time despite the restaurant being extremely busy. Would definitely return! read more

I've been to Allen's before but had never dined in their gorgeous back patio. Tree-lined, soft lit, extensive beer menu. Some of the staff are almost a little too laid-back (re: slow), but our waitress was conversational and kind. Every time I've come here, liver and onions is a must order. I know offals put some folks off, but Allen's brings forth a convincing argument otherwise. The smoked chicken penne last night was solid as well. Finishing off, the Guiness cake is weirdly good. It's pretty much the driest, densest chocolate cake I've ever had, but somehow works with the sour cream icing. Bonus points: - Zwack Unicum is on the digestif list, whaat - they've a raccoon pup in the area that peeped its head out a few times over the patio fence. Rumour has it he eats out of the jam bowls meant to lure wasps away from the diners. - we polished off full entrees + dessert on what was meant to be a just drinks pop in, oops read more

Allen's - Irish Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Over the meal I had was decent. I shared two plates with my family one burger and one veggie curry. The burger was small but great the pinkness and juicyness inside was amazing. The veggie curry was okay but the naan was great. I would say don't put as much spice in the curry it just does not go right with veggies. Good job Allen's!!! Remember every good restaurant has toothpicks read more

The food quality here is three stars and I would give the staff three to three-and-a-half stars. What brings this down to two stars are the prices. The price you pay for the quality and portion size are not equal. The quality is slightly aboves omething like a Jack Astors but you're going to pay $5-10 more for a smaller portion. I just wasn't impressed. Maybe I need a second visit seeing all of the four star reviews. read more