Glad they brought the awful awful back to Reno! I used to drive up from San Jose for the weekend and the awful burger was a must. When I heard they were back at Baldini's I had to get it! The service was great but took awhile to get the burger. I like how they stack the box and give an extra box of fries. I'll definitely be back read more

Baldini's Casino - Awful awful burger Med Rare - Casinos Near Me - Sparks, Nevada

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I am from out of town, but for many years when I am in town, which is quite often I always go to BALDINI's for breakfast and sometimes lunch or dinner. One positive thing I want to say about the cafe restaurant, the workers every one of them are giving 150% working hard.My compliments to them. One thing that I've noticed and it's very negative is that the prices have jumped up, which has happened in a lot of places, but this is a little extreme. For example, they had a senior menu. They cut out approximately 1/2 of their senior menu, which is ridiculous. A lot of the locals come there and many are seniors the options on the menu amount to almost nothing for seniors now.. BRILLIANT SND THOUGHTFUL! Example on the regular breakfast menu they HAD a chicken fried steak it was a big chicken fried steak like all the other breakfast restaurants in the area now when you order that you get a small chicken fried steak, which was originally from the seniors menu a very downsized small chicken fried steak. Once again that chicken fried steak is not available on the senior menu instead they're using that small chicken fried steak for the regular menu. You're paying almost double and getting 1/2 of the value. CHEAP!! Also, throughout the casino, it always reeks of cigarettes smoke at one point I thought it was a very nice casino. Now I think it's rundown. Nobody really cares about anything. They're very few employees working the floor. The escalators going upstairs are always broken my opinion of the nice casino is now that it's turned into a dump! read more

Review for the famous Awful Awful Burger. It's not the same burger that was famous at the downtown Nugget casino in Reno. The sauce was like Thousand Island dressing with horseradish and tons of small fries. Ask for medium well on the burger, it was well done (Dry). Definitely would not give it another try. Waiter was great, friendly, and brought an appain for my wife, stating the Awful Awful is messing. read more

Baldini's Casino - Casinos Near Me - Sparks, Nevada

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I feel like this is the kind of place where it really matters who the cook is and what day you're there. Twice I've gotten the awful awful and it was good one of times here. The second time was as if they got a fist full of salt and poured it into the patty and onto the fries. Salty fries are usually good, but when it's borderline inedible it's a problem which is a shame cus the burger is a cult classic here in this city. Maybe next time. read more

Baldini's Casino - Awful awful and fries. - Casinos Near Me - Sparks, Nevada

My bestie was in town visiting me for the weekend and she wanted an Awful Awful. I had heard they brought it back, but wasn't sure where it was. Did our research... Found it at Baldinis! It was just as we remembered! DELICIOUS! They brought us burgers bigger than our head an a 1lb of fries... That we just couldn't finish. They were very crowded and other tables were being helped quickly, but we were in a back corner. So, I feel like service could have been a little better. read more

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The Awful Awful is back -- juicy, towering, and every bit as crave-worthy as you remember! Now at The Brickyard Grill inside Baldini's (11am-9pm), this legendary burger delivers nostalgia with every bite. It's not the Little Nugget, but it still captures that old smoky casino vibe. Crave-worthy moment: a thick, perfectly seasoned patty cooked just right, piled high with crisp lettuce, ripe tomato, and melty cheese on a soft onion bun, finished with their classic secret sauce and a full pound of golden, well-seasoned fries. Every bite is indulgent, satisfying, and totally worth the trip. The only improvements? Cook the fries a little longer and extend hours past 9pm -- we need that late-night option back! Service was friendly and fairly fast, and even our to-go order stayed fresh and delicious on the drive home. If you've been longing for the Awful Awful, it's back, it's big, and it's just like you remember -- go treat yourself! read more

Baldini's Casino - Awful Awful - Casinos Near Me - Sparks, Nevada

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Today our family went to Baldini's Casino to the Empire Diner for Easter Lunch. A Five Star fantastic Easter Special. Glazed Ham, potatoes, bacon wrapped Asparagus and Tiramisu for dessert. Thank you to the Chef. The service was wonderful, food was delicious and the atmosphere was chill. It was a lovely dining experience. No lines and we got a booth very quickly. The price was $18.95 per person. A very special thank you to our server Martha, Buser Phil and Empire Diner's Manager Livia, for her hospitality and letting us choose a special Easter egg with a cool $3.00 discount. This was a very EXCELLENT Easter Dining Experience. Happy Easter. See you again soon. Julie A read more

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This is for the awful awful burger. I was so excited to find out the awful awful burger was here now. We've been here 5 times and can't seem to get the burger without a pound of salt. We ask every time to go light on the salt and they just don't get it. I've given them enough chances to get it right. The nugget was always perfect.., I won't be back!! The original awful awful burger is gone for good. A very unsatisfied customer!!!! read more

Reno's new Awful Awful burger?! Okay first things first is that it's really cool somewhere picked back up this item and is trying to bring it and the nostalgia of this burger back to Northern Nevada. With that being said they are really trying to nail it here but it's hard to get the exact flavor the downtown spot offered. As for this location it's pretty subpar. The parking is great for Baldini's casino but the area is kinda dingy. The casino inside reeks of cigarettes and where they are serving this hamburger is inside of their quick order Café. Once you order in the café, they do have pretty good seating in their sports bar area and they do bring the food out to you which is nice. Now let's talk about the food! The burger I did request to be cooked well done which when received it did have a lot of pink inside of it so I was kind of bummed about that. Other than that, the flavor was really good, and the bun was an exact replica of the onion bun from the old spot! They served me a whole pound of french fries even though it does not look like it in the photo. There was a huge amount. I have looked at other peoples reviews, and I've noticed that I wasn't the only one that thought that they were heavily salted, which kind of threw it off for me but next time I will just get the salt on the fries and add accordingly. I would come back here. I do wish my first experience was a little bit better but I will make sure next time I make the request I need so I have a better time. Still really cool to be able to order this burger! read more

Baldini's Casino - Awful Awful - Casinos Near Me - Sparks, Nevada

Back home from a small road trip to Nevada we ate most of our meals in Baldini's restaurant just down the road from the Row. Now this Older Casino reflects that of an old school vibe casino but don't be fooled the food they serve in the dinner is so good not fancy or elegant but so good. The staff appreciates everything about their customers so they make sure your are full and happy. Hey play some Kino if you have a group that's always fun. But truly folks this is good ol fashion food prepared as such. Stop by and see what you think. I gave this place a 4 star because of the food and old school type dinner vibe. read more

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What I love here is the quite local people who frequent the casino. And the restaurants/food are very good and reasonably priced. There's a great senior menu in the coffee shop, the bar menu is ridiculously cheap. But I remember it as pretty smoky in the casino, which are mostly old slot, machines, and games read more

Fritzie W. really wanted an Awful Awful Burger a few weeks ago. After she heard they opened up in Baldini's we had to stop by. She explained it was a staple burger spot in Reno known for their juicy, tender and delicious burgers accompanied by a heaping serving of fries. I read a lot of reviews saying that it's not like the days of ol' and to me it's expected to be a challenge to reproduce that magic in terms of taste, portions and service, but I believe this 3-4 man crew did an amazing job this evening. I loved the flavor of that burger, the fries were crispy and plenteous! What more could you want? Maybe a lot some would say. In your usual casino ambiance, the place was busy, full of gamblers and sports fans -- with being close to the bar, I caught a few of the college highlights that came on. I think this spot would serve great for a late night snack or even a late afternoon/after work bite to eat if the wife isn't cooking. Lol It happens. As of November 22, they were still serving these bad boys up so stop through and try one. While the people who remember the old Awful Awful may expect more, I think you'll be pleased and find at least the flavors hit and it'll definitely fill you up if you're hungry! read more

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We were passing through Reno on the way home from a sixteen-state road trip and we thought to ourselves, "Sure wish we could still get an Awful Awful." On a hunch, I googled it thinking maybe someone resurrected it, and lo and behold they did! I said let's try it at Baldini's. People are saying the Awful Awful is legit, so we pulled off the highway and headed over. Mind you, we had been known to jump in the car on a weekend and drive the 2+ hours to Reno's Little Nugget just to get an Awful Awful. We were huge fans. Like the other reviewers have said, nothing compares to having an Awful Awful in the back of the Little Nugget casino downtown. However, that's no longer possible, and we thought this experience was the next best thing. Baldini's is a smoky casino, but most are. It's bigger than The Little Nugget, but we thought it had some similar vibes. They've got the short order kitchen in the back and a seating area. And it would be great if Baldini's cafe stayed open 24/7, but we were there well before closing time, so that was all good. We ordered our Awful Awfuls medium and waited about ten minutes. The food: We thought they nailed the burger. Delicious. Has the onion bun, the secret sauce, the slab of red onion, fresh iceberg lettuce and juicy tomato, melty cheese and that made-to-order hot and fresh off the grill 1/2 pound of ground beef was juicy on the inside and carmelized with a few crispy bits on the outside. It came skewered with a toothpick over a pound of shoestring fries done perfectly and sprinkled with that delish seasoned salt just like we remembered from the Little Nugget. Our fries were not over-salted, as some have said, and we typically do not like lots of salt. We felt they were properly seasoned. I made up a little cup of ketchup and mayo "pink sauce" from their condiment station to dunk my fries into. Yum. We were in Awful Awful heaven. All told, we paid $30 for the two of us including two sodas, which was comparable to what we'd pay at In 'n' Out at home in NorCal (but the Awful Awfuls were waaay more food). So, is it the insane bargain it once was? No. But it's still a helluva bargain, especially when you consider the quality and quantity of what you're getting. Even though this wasn't the o.g. late night Little Nugget experience, we'd say this is the next best thing and the food is as close as you'll ever get to that Little Nugget Awful Awful. We tried the so-called Awful Awfuls at Ascuaga's Nugget years ago, and that was not the same as the Little Nugget's burger. We haven't tried the Crystal Bay or Carson City options f they're still around-- but we don't have to. The Baldini's Awful Awful is faithful to the Little Nugget original. We will definitely be back. read more

Baldini's Casino - Perfection in a basket. - Casinos Near Me - Sparks, Nevada

It was last summer when I came into this .....club, to take the deposition from a client that was on a "sit out" from the Women's Shelter. I announced myself as legally required as a Paralegal, and was snarled on by the mullet-headed ackedy security guard, who told me to "get out" I complied, but his need to be mean superseded his professionalism by handing me his coip-de-gra as he laid his finger on my back, pushed me out the door and said, verbatim, "I will slit your throat" with such vehemence that I FELT it. I called Sparks PD and they came and sided with him. This missive is a formal complaint, and long overdue. Let's hope this club can do better than this guy. Signed.... One who has had and heard enough. read more

Went into Baldini's to try their Awful Awful Burger in hopes it was the same as the original. Sadly, it was not. We got the order to go and the burger was placed in a separate small container, which made the bun soggy from sitting in the sauce. The burger was also stacked high with lettuce and the flavor unfortunately did not match the original Awful Awful. It came with a whole container of fries, which were also soggy/limp. The Awful Awful was $14.95 plus $1 to go fee. I really wanted to like this, but I definitely wouldn't recommend. I also ordered the $4.99 cheeseburger basket and this was worth every penny. Super cheap and the burger had all the fixings except for sauce. The fries could've been fried a little longer, but if you're on a budget and craving a cheeseburger, I would stop in for one of their normal menu items. read more

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I like that there's free parking, affordable food and that it's small and they have so many gambling specials

We came to try the Awful Awful and unfortunately, they were out of onion buns, so they were no longer serving them. We decided to stay for dinner at The Empire Diner instead, but only because of Daniel. He greeted us at the door and explained they were out of the Awful Awful due to the lack of buns, but would have them the following day. He was so nice and made us feel welcome, so we stayed. We ended up trying the Western Cheeseburger, the Black & Blue Burger and the Chicken Fried Steak & Egg breakfast. The food was much better than we expected! We are not much for casino food, but Daniel and his supervisor were so wonderful we plan on coming back to try the Awful Awful! read more

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Went to lunch and had 'steak and shrimp' special for $11. Broccoli unsalted and tasteless. Mashed potatoes okay. The steak was AWFUL. It looked like the end of a prime rib. Way over-salted (and over-peppered) and lots of gristle; VERY unpleasant taste. The end of the cob on the 'corn on the cob' was rotten and black, My partner's comment was they had boiled the corn in sewer water. EXTREMELY UNPLEASANT taste. Grilled shrimp was marginally good; butterfly shrimp breading was very HARD and inedible. Definitely NOT RECOMMENDED. read more

I've been going to Baldini's for a long time I go there about twice a week spend $5000 each time, but I had a bad experience last week. My stepson come along with me. He does not gamble so he was sitting by the machines and they approached him and said he had to leave because he wasn't playing a game. I know there's a lot of people there that do not play the games all the time they just sit around but because he's a young black man, he wanted to stereotype him. There is no other reason when he was the only younger black man there all these years. It was my favorite place now I should just take my business someplace else. read more

Son pick us up at the airport we were hungry and he said that the awful awful burger was back at Baldini's so we gave it try. Obviously it's not the same experience or cost that it was at the little Nugget downtown. However, definitely enjoyed the burger! Good size burger with pound of fries I am sure just like it use to be. I was pleased with all the fresh toppings, it was nice and hot, and we didn't have to wait long. My only minor issue would be lighten up on the salt for the fries, but well worth it. Get out support the local eateries and enjoy. read more

Baldini's Casino - Casinos Near Me - Sparks, Nevada

This used to be a great place for locals, but they've skimped on the free play and food comps. We quit going there. They raised their prices on food by a lot. And the food is just ok. Sometimes when we went to dine at the diner, there were a lot of empty tables but there was a wait. Why, you ask? There weren't enough cooks or wait staff. The prices they charge now for their mediocre food is ridiculous. The Brickyard also skyrocketed their prices. When you walk into the casino, the air is just filled with smoke. It's awful. They need a better ventilation system. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else. read more

I drove by Baldini's today. The billboard was advertising awful awful cheeseburgers. I haven't had one in years so I decided to stop and get one. The set up was not what I expected. There really isn't a restaurant. It appears you order from a a cashier at a snack bar. Then when your burger is done, you go to a self-serve seating area to eat it. I thought I'd give it a try. I stood in front of the cashier who proceeded to serve three people who got there after I did. She never made eye contact with me or acknowledge my presence. I gave up and left. If you do decide to go, just know that there is no smoking partition between the casino and the snack bar and the self-serve table area so the eating area is very smoky. After my negative experience, I'll get an awful awful somewhere else! read more

Baldini's Casino, located on Rock Blvd where the old Shy Clown Casino used to be. Remember that?, if you were around in the late 70's and early 80's. With live bands and a big dance floor, it was a rippi'n place! But now Baldini's could use some help with it's aging facility and for sure better lighting! Parking is plentiful at least and the food prices are pretty good, well, OK, except for that Awful Awful burger overpriced at $15 bucks! It's a way better deal to get the Double cheeseburger and fries for about HALF price at $7.79 at the Brickyard Grill! I'll come back for the food deals, but not for the actual casino, get some more lights in this place! read more

Has been a great local casino and have enjoyed many good meals at the railroad cafe. The slot machines treat me pretty well when I play. I like how parking is easy and sometimes after a hard day of work it's nice to go to Baldini's casino for a few drinks to relax. read more

For $10.99, you get a steak dinner. The steak itself was a bit tough, and the mashed potatoes tasted like they were from a mix, not real potatoes. However, considering the incredibly low price, it's an acceptable meal if you're on a tight budget. You get what you pay for. read more

Baldini's Casino - Casinos Near Me - Sparks, Nevada

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The awful awful is back. And it is just the way I remember it, just in a cleaner place. Everyone was ordering it, so we waited a little while for our food, but oh boy was it worth the wait. It was just as big and juicy and tasty as ever. I will be going back to have it again. BTW, signs say available at the lounge, but they decided to just offer it at the Cafe. read more

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Saw the billboard the Awful Awful Burger. It was lunch time and I was hungry. Had to have one. Service was quick. Seating was available. It was perfect. It did not disappoint. read more

Baldini's Casino - Awful Awful is back babyyyyy! - Casinos Near Me - Sparks, Nevada

Visited 2/4/24 I can't speak on the casino it self, but I can say I come here a lot for the prime rib. I can honestly say that it's wayy better than a lot of the fancy places in Reno for a third of the price. The cut is thick and has amazing flavor. I can't get enough of the Diner's prime rib, mind you it's only $20, everyday price. It's great! read more

Baldini's Casino - Prime Rib - Casinos Near Me - Sparks, Nevada

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Other then our booth ( and I'm assuming more places) need a good dusting. This was pretty gross because I always wonder what the kitchen looks like when it's obviously been awhile since they dusted the waffle was very good is almost like a funnel cake you could really taste the vanilla. The server was on the ball, very attentive making sure we had refills on our drinks and everything in normal restaurant should do LOL. If you want a semi-fast lunch dinner or something like that definitely try it and I messed up because I forgot they had advertised the Awful Awful which that's what I definitely would have gotten but I forgot about it. But my burger was cooked correctly fries were extra crispy like I asked the black and chicken sandwich same way. And for those of you who liked your sandwiches dry to where you could put on whatever you want condiment-wise you'll definitely like this because they come with pickled lettuce tomato and onion. read more

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Baldini's "Awful Awful" Burger: A Classic Diner Experience Amidst a Salt-Covered Fry Mountain, Casino Style Let's address the key point: the burger itself is a classic diner experience, but the fries are another story. The Burger: * The Patty: A substantial half-pound of seasoned beef, grilled to perfection. This is not just a plain patty; it's a flavorful foundation. * The Cheese: Generously blanketed in melted American cheese, adding that classic, gooey goodness. * The Toppings: Crisp iceberg lettuce, thick tomato slices, and red onion provide a refreshing contrast to the rich beef and cheese. * The Bun: A locally baked onion bun, flavorful and fresh, elevating the entire burger experience. * The Sauce: The "secret Awful Awful sauce," crafted over decades, adds a unique and presumably delicious element. The Fries: * Ah, the fries. A literal mountain of them. A pound, you say? I believe it. And every single one seems to have been personally baptized in a salt mine. The sheer quantity is almost cartoonish in size. If you're looking for a sodium overdose, look no further. * Texture: Standard diner fries. Nothing notable. Just incredibly salty. The Overall Experience: * This is a study in contrasts. A classic, well-executed diner burger paired with an aggressively salty mountain of fries. * The salt. Oh, the salt. It's the star of the fry show. It permeates every single fry. * The overall effect is that the burger serves as a flavorful contrast to the fries. * It is a true throw back to a time when quantity was king. * Casino Style Ambiance: The right off the casino floor location makes it fast and dirty, "quick" and a truly unique dining experiance. * Cafeteria Style Service: Order in line, take a number, and patiently wait for a young server to bring you the goods. The Verdict: * If you're looking for a nostalgic, greasy, fry-laden experience, the "awful awful" delivers. * If you're looking for a well-balanced, flavorful burger, you will get it, but be wary of the fries. * If you are a salt enthusiast, and love fries, you have found your mecca. * Essentially, it's a novelty. A well made classic burger, and a salty, starchy, overwhelming novelty of fries. * Awesome Spot, Amazing Food: Despite the salt, it's an amazing spot to get a great burger. In short: It's awful. Awfully large of fries, and awfully memorable because of the amount of salt on them. The burger is classic diner food done right. The casino atmosphere, and quick service make it a must try.. read more

Baldini's Casino - Casinos Near Me - Sparks, Nevada

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The cocktail waitress are very on point. And the keys people are very on point. Always feel comfortable every time I'm her. I give a ‍ to the staff that out of their way to make us locals feel comfortable. Cat, Jewel , the silver fox ,Leann ,iris, Christina it has the Buba approval read more

I ordered a prime rib pot roast for 17.99, but I only got a little bit of mashed potatoes, a few pieces of pot roast with gravy on it. No vegetables and no prime rib! I was expecting a whole plate of food when I ordered it, but I didn't get what I paid for. The waitress was really rude! The waiter was yelling a question to the cook across our table and I thought that was unprofessional. I don't think I'll be coming back because. i didn't like anything about the restaurant as a first timer. read more

We frequent the Empire Diner. Good food, good service, fair Prices. Price increases a few times over the past year. HOWEVER...last night, we went for dinner. Heard several other customers complaining as well. Prices are up. Menu is very limited; only 2 pages which mostly cater to burgers and a steak...a pricey one at that. Prime rib is gone. Portions are smaller. Senior menu only has 2 items. You can no longer get anything else after 4. No breakfast, sandwiches, salads. A whole lot has been Removed from the menu you can even order before 4 as well as smaller servings. What happened to offering a variety? Im told it's the same food and beverage Mgr. So what were you thinking? Baldinis used to cater to locals. The restaurant last night...a Friday had almost no patrons. I think McDonald's offers more variety. And if i want a burger, im heading to Red Robin. A steak...well, obviously a steak house. Sorry Baldinis. I've been a patron since you opened. You've lost me as well as my friends. No more " Hey, let's meet at baldinis ". What in the heck were you people thinking!!! read more

This review is specifically for the return of the Awful Awful to the Reno area. When I first heard about it, I couldn't wait to try it again. I checked it out online so I knew where to go and it wasn't super clear. So.. I'm sharing with you. Go to the Brickyard Grill, order with the cashier, and then you can go into the dining area next door to eat. Ordered a burger and it was supposed to be for dine in but they packed it up to go. The dining area wasn't the cleanest. Could have used a little more attention/cleanup. When the food arrived, the burger was in a separate container from the fries. The burger was cooked as requested... the veggies weren't the freshest but it wasn't horrible. The big container of fries was a lot-- I wish they would have made them a little crisper. They were a little too soggy for my taste. Overall, I really tried to like it but it just wasn't the same. It was good-- but it's missing just that special taste from the OG location. read more

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I was so excited excited to try The Awful Awful!! I love hamburgers. Well there is a reason it is called the awful awful!! The meat was grey on one side and burnt black with crispy chunks on the other. I pulled off the 1/4 head of lettuce and the sloppy soaked and mashed bun to try and find the hamburger. It was so burnt it crunched when chewed. The bun was a soggy smashed mess. No chef/cook would ever serve such a destroyed burnt piece of meat on a soggy sponge. The fries were good but destroyed by all the water and sogginess dripping off of the bun. It was truly terrible and I will not be back. Talk about disappointing!! Minus five stars!!!! read more

Baldini's Casino - The truly Awful Awful - Casinos Near Me - Sparks, Nevada

I'm so sad to have to write this because I watch Slot Queen and they play at Baldini's Casino. I notice the need for cleaning on the side walk near the trash can. I also, asked and the staff said, there is no area for non smoking . I played but had to leave I can't be in smoking area unfortunately. read more

Yelp says the inside is "classy" and "good for kids"? In what world? This place is the trashiest place in town and is hot boxed with cigarette smoke. Bringing your child here, even to dine, would probably result in an asthma attack for them. The cafe that sells the Awful Awful is just as bad. Not the same as when they used to be downtown. They won't even put cheese on my fries like they used to back in the day. read more

The service here is great, from the cashier to the servers at the more restaurant and the barmaids in the casino. The slot machines are friendly. The free steak was not good though. It was tough and grisly. read more

My husband and I were so happy to hear that Baldinis had taken up the torch and were offering the Awful Awful burger and decided to try it out. Big Mistake. The order took an average amount of time to arrive. On first glance, the burger was noticeably smaller than we remember but there was about the same amount of fries. The bun was soggy before it hit the table. Disappointing. We tried to cut it in half and it quickly turned into a disaster. The fries were plentiful but were soggy and chewy - not fresh. The seasoning was not the same as the original. Overall not the same as the original and somewhat of a disappointment. Wouldn't order it again. read more

I love the older parts of the crew in this place...But the answer to the Homeless invasion is not to kick people out whom are half passed out and doing bad things apparently...But to instead raise the denominations for gambling making it much harder to play if you don't have a lot. Better security would be my go to... But thank you. I do like Baldinis. read more