So this was my second time there, and both times I was there for their special occasion menu thanks to my girlfriends for keeping an eye out on their schedule for booking tables in advance. Bar gabi on their closed working days sometimes host a special event and last night was 4 course fixed menu of Italian food specifically Sicilian and Sardinian with wine pairing. The chefs did a great job in introducing all the dishes they had prepared with Sicilian being on the left and sardanian on the right with their respective wine pairing that their sommelier did a great job finding the best wines from those specific regions. The waiters and serving staff were quick on their feet making sure all the guests have the proper silverware for the next course and the tables were being emptied as and when dishes were being finished. We could also by the end of the night buy the wine we felt was the best, they had a couple of them in spare. They were doing this for 2 time slots last night and their reservations were full for both time slots well in advance. Fortunately we made reservations almost a month ago. I will myself now keep an eye out on any specials they run since last night was by far my best experience in terms of food and wine tasting from the 2 Italian islands. read more

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Last time I ate Romanian food was in 2008 in Romania. Ordered Langos, the beets, Brussel sprout Caesar, salata de Vara, roast bird, mushrooms, Sarumura de Peste and loaded fries. $171.72 The Langos is interesting, billowy fried dough with feta and garlic sauce with some bite. Can't decide if it's worth it, overall it seems ok. The beets are good. Goat cheese whipped is yummy. Has a good amount of beets for a starter beet, the way it should be. The loaded fries were okay, underwhelming. Generally good about keeping our table clear and clean. Our empty water carafe hasn't been replaced, yet. Don't think they realize it's empty. Took a bit, but got more water before our main meal. The mushroom is yummy. The bass is okay, skin on, nicely cooked, just a tad bland. Not loving the soggy polenta too much. The Brussel sprout Caesar was so-so. Not a lot of flavor to it at all. The salad is okay, plain too. The chicken is skin on, super tender, it's decent. The mushrooms and beets were the best part of the meal. read more

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Went to Bar Gabi for a friend's birthday after hearing it was a sister restaurant to Mabel Gray, so our expectations were definitely high and I'm happy to say they delivered. The food was delicious, and the staff really knew the menu. They answered questions confidently and made some excellent recommendations. I didn't try any of the drinks myself, but everyone at the table who did had nothing but good things to say. The food took a little while to come out, and the check took even longer, but honestly, it didn't bother us. We were celebrating, enjoying each other's company, and the extra time just meant more catching up. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and I'd happily come back. read more

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So glad we finally tried Bar Gabi. Closer to home, cool vibe, no parking drama. lol The chicken pate was so delicious and the pickled onion on the top was the perfect touch. My husband liked but didn't love the lamb skewers. But the burger? He devoured it! I got the short rib pasta (because if I see anything short rib on the menu, I'm getting it), which was simple but really delicious. We were both full but took the Peach Crostata home and OMG....it was phenomenal! Dessert perfection! Chris was a wonderful server and it was a really great night. Can't wait to return for the octopus (and another Peach Crostata!) read more

Wow wow wow! To say we were impressed with Bar Gabi feels like an understatement. It was so. Good. The Langos is an absolute must order if you're a garlic lover, I could have had three of them and been very happy. The lamb was on special and honestly this should be a staple, it was amazing. We were slightly underwhelmed by the seabass. Probably wouldn't get that again. Peach crostata was 10/10. Ambiance was fun and service was great read more

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Bar Gabi was delicious - as expected! I was a little disappointed that the main focus of the Valentines weekend was the pre-set menu, and they didn't have some of the menu items I was eyeing prior to my visit (I went for my 30th birthday dinner on the 13th). We had the sausage, Langos, and Brussels sprouts for appetizers; the sea bass for the main entree; and several deserts (our favorite was the blueberry pastry type one). The service was very great and our waitress was very knowledgeable of the menu. Probably the most surprisingly delicious thing I had was the Hugo spritz, I will literally go back for that one! I loved the atmosphere of the front part of the restaurant; however the back of the restaurant I felt was kinda lacking and I wish the put my group in the front part, especially since I made the reservation over a month ahead of time. My one complaint is that the prices were quite high - I have been to many foodie Detroit restaurants and am aware when I go to these restaurants that I will be spending a pretty penny. I felt for its location and the value of the food, I felt it was a little overpriced. I felt the appetizers were the best price for amount of food, but the entree and desert prices were hard to justify in my eyes. The next time I go back, I'll probably just get a bar seating and order the spritz with rigatoni and call it a day. read more

Bar Gabi - All the deserts - American Near Me - Hazel Park, Michigan

Great service, Authentic food! Everything we ordered was delicious! Me and my friends are visiting their childhood home in Detroit and we made reservations at this spot! Reasonable pricing and very upscale! Definitely will return! read more

Bar Gabi - Menu for dinner - American Near Me - Hazel Park, Michigan

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This officially became one of my favorite restaurants after just one visit Every meal was delicious, the customer service was excellent, everything was beautiful, and the food tasted so fresh and flavorful. Definitely my new spot I loved it! read more

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I really wanted to like Bar Gabi, but unfortunately the experience was very disappointing. The atmosphere itself is cozy and inviting, however we were seated in the back where the heat was positioned directly above our table, which made it quite uncomfortable for some of us. Our waitress was friendly, but the service overall was poor. Food arrived at completely different times -- some people at the table had already finished eating while others were just receiving their dishes. This really took away from the dining experience. Considering the prices, the food was extremely underwhelming. The goulash was overly spicy and very salty. The fish was especially frustrating -- we specifically asked multiple times if it contained bones and were assured it did not, yet it turned out to be very bony. The burrata appetizer was drowned in truffle oil to the point where the polenta tasted unpleasant. The tomahawk was large, but sadly very very dry, and it came with cold potatoes. The pasta was just okay, but it arrived when everyone else was already done eating. For an expensive restaurant, the quality and execution simply didn't match expectations. Sadly, this was not a good experience and I won't be coming back. Very disappointed. read more

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Bar Gabi has officially become one of my new favorite spots -- and honestly, I was obsessed before I even walked in because it's spelled exactly like my name. Then I found out it's Eastern European, which is my roots, so it already felt special. From the moment we sat down, everything was incredible. One of the owners even came by to tell us the story behind the sausages we were eating, and I swear I could've had ten servings of them. Every single dish that hit our table -- from apps to entrées to drinks -- was outstanding. I had the rigatoni, and the meat and sauce literally melted in my mouth. For the table, we shared the mititei (the "little sausages"), the langos, which had the perfect balance of feta and a deliciously pungent garlic sauce, and the Brussels sprouts Caesar. All unreal. Of course I had to try dessert, and I went with their Romanian classic -- perfectly whipped, light, and honestly something I could eat every day. I forgot the name, but I'll never forget the taste. I will absolutely be coming back... and bringing everyone I know. Bar Gabi is a must. read more

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Simple food, intense flavors, done right. There's something to be said for a menu that covers the bases without an overwhelming amount of choices. We started with the focaccia, then moved on to the trout and goulash and finished with the honey cake. The focaccia was warm and soft, so delicious. We thought the zacusca could have used a smidge of sodium and maybe even be served warm (cold spread + warm focaccia was still delicious.) The trout was crispy on the outside, tender on the inside and the gremolata was well seasoned to enhance the flavor of the fish. So fresh, so good. The braised beef in the goulash was tender, juicy, and a nice big serving of meat. The roasted vegetables were perfection. This is love and comfort in a bowl. Gabriela spent some time talking with us and others and described this new venture as being able to invite more people to enjoy dinner with them as they would at their home. We love that so much. When you have a love for cooking and feeding people, it shows. Staff was warm, attentive, and willing to investigate for possible allergens. Seating was comfortable and music was medium/high volume. The real candles on the wall sconces was a lovely touch. read more

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Great new addition to the metro Detroit restaurant scene. Bar Gabi is a modern Romanian bistro by a husband-and-wife chef team. The restaurant is in the former Framebar location. We visited on only their second official day being open to the public and were very impressed. Our service was excellent with Christie as our waitperson who was warm and personable.Actually everyone was very nice including both chef owners who stopped by our table. We wanted the Langos as an appetizer but they ran out. I think we were the last seating for the evening so I understood. They promised it would be free next time we came. You can see the Tomahawk Schnitzel I had for my entree. The photo does not do it justice. The size was epic. I almost think if you finish it in one sitting your meal should be free! It's that big. The sides, potato salad and peppers, were fairly light which I appreciated. My only quip was that my house dirty martini was a bit sweet in addition to being salty. That was a bit of a surprise but since the menu said the olives were stuffed with blue cheese and mascarpone, perhaps I should have known this was going to be nontraditional. For dessert we split the flaky "Cremes" pastry. A great way to end the meal as it was light and not too sweet. Bar Gabi delivered on their aim of putting a modern twist on traditional Romanian food. I highly recommend you give it a try. read more

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Wow so many POSITIVE & NEGATIVES. Decor & ambiance top notch. 3 people shared 2 appetizers & 2 mains. All food tasted great - tho it came out lukewarm . Apps were Brussel sprouts - mititel sausage . Mains were a rabbit special with ricotta filled dumpling & sarmale -a stuffed cabbage $32 1 mediums sized - nothing else on plate. Ordered a $60 bottle of wine -server was new - knew nothing about wine - not once - but twice tried to upsell us a $110 bottle - wasting 10 minutes very tacky . Almost seems like they are trying too hard to be upscale read more

Bar Gabi - The food ! - American Near Me - Hazel Park, Michigan

Bar Gabi was amazing in every way. The food was fantastic and full of warmth, comfort, & flavor. Transylvanian Goulash, Rabbit Gnocchi, Fried bread, pork belly.....Great menu, making it hard to choose. Staff was warm & inviting. Decor was dark & moody. Cocktails were expertly crafted. The playlist was fun & well curated. Can't wait to go back read more

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A friend and I keep an eye out for the best new restaurants in metro Detroit. Bar Gabi was already on our radar before it opened, and had already accumulated great reviews before our visit in December. We had a reservation for a Sunday night. Our table was ready early even though they were reasonably busy for a Sunday. We were seated in the main bar area, there is also seating in a contained patio, and in the back room that previously was used for pop ups. The atmosphere was lovely, open, just the right level of low lighting (while still being able to read the menu), overall it was rustic upscale. Our server, Monica, was wonderful. She was knowledgeable about the menu, checked in at the right times, and was friendly without being irritating. The manager also helped with the service, he was relaxed and friendly, while still professional. Monica helped recommend cocktails and wine, and was helpful with questions about the menu. My friend and I shared an appetizer, pasta, main, and dessert. We started with the beets, roasted perfectly, paired well with horseradish. The rigatoni was standout for all pasta I've had recently at restaurants. The pasta was perfect (SheWolf take note), the meat was fork tender, and we cleared every bit of the sauce. The saramura peste, sea bass on polenta in a tomato based sauce, was rich and warm. I had read about their on special dessert: cheese and blueberry 'fancy donut'. The dough was not greasy at all, but light and fluffy, crisp, and just a light sweetness. My friend is not a dessert person, she will generally just try a bit, this she shared with me. It should be added to the menu as often as possible! It was a beautiful meal, from atmosphere, service, and food. read more

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Bar Gabi is in the old JoeBar/Frame space and it's been a minute since I've been here! We sat in the old Frame space which brought back memories from Frame pop up experiences. I'm not at all familiar with Romanian food BUT am familiar with general Eastern European food and it sounds like there's a lot of cross-over in general! Our dining companions HAD been to Romanian before so we felt like we were dining with pros. We had ourselves a FEAST and a majority of the menu - honestly everything was pretty dang good with the top 3 listed as things I'd get again: *Tomahawk Schnitzel (breaded bone-in pork chop, potato salad, smoked paprika) - YESSSS. Perfectly breaded and fried and this was a HIT. Delish. Also, it was HUGE - pounded thin so it was the size of like 1.5-2 adult faces. Yum. *Chitarra con Pesce Spada (olive oil-poached swordfish, preserved lemon, capers) - they make their pasta in house here! It was lovely and the swordfish was cut in small squares for easy eating. Delish! *Langos (fried dough, feta, sour cream, garlic sauce ) - I've had Langos at Zingerman's Bakehouse which is a Hungarian version. Gar Gabi's is just as good AND they give you this incredible GARLIC SAUCE. Vampires beware. I used that sauce for everything - including the pork belly appetizer that I write about below. *Mititei (skinless sausages, mustard, toast) - super flavorful sausages! I enjoyed these especially with mustard. Almost like brats meeting kefta but way juicier and softer texture. *Hamsii (cornmeal-breaded smelt, roasted garlic, citrus aioli) - delish! also very Michigan to me. I suppose it's because I last had cornmeal breaded smelt at Coriander Kitchen in Detroit. Anyways - crispy, hot, and what I expected! *Piept de Pork Ardelenesc (braised pork belly, chestnut purée, pickled red onion) - really nicely braised pork belly! The chestnut puree was super unique too BUT other apps were better IMHO. Still order it if it sounds good but if you're on the fence, look at the entrees! *Saramura de Peste (salt-baked striped sea bass, roasted peppers, tomatoes, garlic, jalapeños, fresh thyme sauce, baked polenta cake) - Really light and lovely. You can tell that the sea bass is super fresh though! Nice and flaky. *Beets (with whipped feta, caraway, fresh horseradish ) - a smaller app compared the rest but the fresh horseradish was a great touch! Well cooked beets, no complaints just not as interesting as the other apps! *Transylvanian Goulash (braised beef, potato, peppers, onion, garlic, tomato) - braised beef was really lovely and this was such a comforting, hearty dish! SAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT: the special that wasn't listed was Papanași (Romanian cheese doughnuts). It was served with a blueberry compote situation and my friends said it tasted just like Romania (a little sweeter, but still delish!) We also had the Albinita (layered honey cake with creme fraiche and honeycomb) and the Cremes (pronounced creme-esh - the Chef explained it to us like a mille feuille but not layered ha). Friends enjoyed their cocktails and I tried the NA options which I enjoyed. Rezzies can be made via open table! Chef Gabriel stopped by to say hello to patrons and he let us know that they're thinking about brunch! How fun. FYI - they have polinca here if you dare!! read more

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So good! Cool vibe, great food, and good drinks! Service was excellent too and everything was timed out very nicely. read more

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I was excited to check out this place but, unfortunately, for me it didn't deliver. First of, as far as ambiance, we were sat in the backroom. It was very hot and it looked like a medieval dungeon :). Dim lights, brick walls.... Waitress was very friendly and attentive. But food was unremarkable, especially considering the price point. Tamahawk Schnitzel was big but very dry and heavily breaded. Salmon had multiple bones, ragu was too salty. Mushroom pasta really did not have much flavor, didn't taste mushroomy. And ravioli were brought out much later then the rest of the dishes because apparently the first attempt to boil them didn't succeed and they fell apart. To finish on the positive note - dessert was great! Both the donut and the honey cake. read more

Bar Gabi - Tamahawk snitzel - American Near Me - Hazel Park, Michigan

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I really enjoyed the menu, lots of interesting options. The six of us grabbed cocktails and apps, all were good. The entrees were nicely plated and everyone enjoyed them. Prices were in line with the quality, but a little higher than anticipated. I thought the service could have been friendlier, but maybe it was a rough night. Overall, I am happy the old Joebar is filled with a restaurant again, and I thought the food was very good. My favorite dish was the trout, and the Brussels sprouts were great! read more

Bar Gabi - Trout - American Near Me - Hazel Park, Michigan

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Food, drinks, atmosphere, service were great. Want to try all the drinks on the menu!!! read more

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We walked in on a Sunday at five & got a table but they got quite busy, so a reservation might be wise. Our server was terrific, very friendly. Staff all seemed to be right on top of things. We shared the beets, which were fabulous, the whipped feta with horse radish very tasty. Then we shared two mains, the goulash & the rigatoni with short rib. Portions were nice sized for 2 of us sharing. The rigatoni was our favorite, very good but not heavy or overly rich. The goulash was good, definitely comfort food. It came in a mini cast iron skillet with two slender pieces of toasted bread that were good to dip into the goulash gravy. The goulash was good, but more veggies would have been nice in it. There was a large piece of pot roast style beef to cut up. Good, but not 'outstanding'. Everything was nicely seasoned. We'd get the rigatoni again, & the beets, but next time we'll try some other things. We were curious about the desserts, and we had a tiny bit of room left, so we shared the Crème, which was larger than we thought it might be, but very good & light. It's pretty dark (had to use flash for my pictures, which I hate to do in a restaurant), music was rather loud, & they definitely were close to full by the time we were finishing, so it was a little noisy with conversations & all. We really enjoyed it & look forward to going back. read more

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Had reservations at 7:15 on Halloween night, sat immediately. Menu is small but offers a wide variety of options. Wait staff is attentive and Chef Gabriel came over and chatted a bit towards the end of the meal. Food was very good, simple but lots of flavor. read more

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The root veg, homemade focaccia and blueberry donuts dessert were all absolutely delicious. The flavors were very euro and unique to this area. read more

Bar Gabi -- My new happy place‼ From the moment I walked in, I knew this spot was something special. The foodAbsolutely delicious -- every bite felt like a little celebration.The service? Pure joy -- the staff treats you like family And the ambiance? Let's just say if comfort and elegance had a baby, it would look like Bar Gabi. I can't wait to go back! read more

Bar Gabi - American Near Me - Hazel Park, Michigan

This new restaurant is definitely a must try! The food is so amazing the service is wonderful and the vibes are great! The cocktails are also top notch! read more

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Food was delicious and service was good. Ambiance meh. The music was SOOOOO LOUDDDD we couldn't hear each other talk and the air was freezing cold. read more

Everything was fantastic! Three of us shared two apps, three entrees, and three desserts. It was a lot of food but we, quite literally, cleaned our plates. Service was stellar. We leaned on our server for lots of info and he did a great job explaining items and convincing us to order some things we might not have otherwise. (Get the garlic sauce!) The desserts were an especially fun surprise. I don't love sweets much but I wanted to lick the donut plate. And we enjoyed an after dinner vermouth that I will be going back for. read more

We came in to celebrate our ninth anniversary. We've been wanting to try Bar Gabi ever since we saw an article about it over the summer. So glad we could visit. The staff was very friendly. It did take a moment to be greeted when we came in; there appeared to be a snafu with the reservation software, but we were warmly welcomed and shown to our table. I wish I could recall our server's name because she was the best! I ordered the Tomahawk Schnitzel and my husband went with the Rigatoni. Both were amazing. I have to give a special mention to the potato salad: I don't usually like potato salad, but I loved it here! The braised short ribs with the pasta was also terrific. Bar Gabi also treated us to a complimentary dessert to celebrate our anniversary, which was very nice. It was a cream with fruit and it was delicious. The place is very classy with a nice, intimate design. I enjoy being able to see back to the kitchen and watch the chefs do their magic. We will definitely be visiting again in the future! If you have not yet tried Bar Gabi, do so as soon as you can. I would recommend a reservation to make sure you get a spot. read more

Food was just okay service was fine but the price for similar food is much lower it nearby restaurants. No dish really stood out as outstanding. The food was nothing to want want to make me come back again. read more

Just tried this place. Based at the former location of Frame in Hazel Park, the bar/restaurant puts its own spin on Romanian cuisine. Our server was friendly and very helpful. She told us that the chefs at Bar Gabi had presented their cooking at Frame. The menu was interesting and varied. We both started with vegetable soup. Very tasty and filling, with plenty of vegetables. For my main, I got the beef stew. It was hearty and flavorful, and plentiful enough to take a portion home for a later date. It was accompanied by a slice of grilled bread. I made the mistake of ordering a slice of focaccia on the side - not needed, since the bread that came with the entree was enough, and the side of bread cost $4. The co- diner got the ravioli. It was a bit different from the usual. The pasta was separate from the beef filling. It was covered. With a creamy sauce. The beef was like a confit - chunky, and off to the side. Very nice. The only drawback: the price. We did over-order, and could have saved some $$ by cutting back. Still, $38 for the beef stew and $32 for the ravioli did give us a bit of sticker shock. A couple more notes: The table next to us got the tomahawk steak, which looked very nice indeed. Also: there was a large number of specials, which our server enumerated for us. It would have helped, given the quantity of specials, if a page listing them could have been provided. All in all, a very positive experience, if a little on the pricey side. read more

This place deserves more than 5 stars. Rarely am I impressed, but this was beyond impressive. The breads were amazing. The Mititei was the best ground meat anything I've ever had. The Goulash and short rib pasta had such layers of flavor. I braise meats all the time, but their braised meats were on another level. I suspect they are using a confit technique. Service was outstanding as well. Definitely will be back! read more

We attended the central Italy dining experience April 8 and it was absolutely delicious delivered to our table by the staff with care and expertise. This is our second time at Bar Gabi and I cannot stress enough to anyone reading this that the experience is absolutely worth the price. We will be returning for either the southern Italy or Sicily dinner in addition to dining there at other times. We love the vibe and the care that's put into the food and drinks but especially love that both Gabis stop by the table to check on what we think. They're so personable but not pushy. Gabriela's desserts are to absolutely die for. Save room! read more

So excited that something took over the old Joe Bar. Came for my birthday and everything was stellar! The ricotta gnocchetti was to die for and the birthday creme brûlée was phenomenal. Wines had heavy pours and service was great. Can't wait to go back! read more

Great new restaurant and very authentic Romanian food with a European flair! I tried the pork schnitzel and the crumb topping was so crunchy and delicious. It is HUGE. It's a cute, quaint little place and I would highly recommend. read more

Food was nothing to get excited about. We were so disappointed in the rustic bread appetizer that we sent it back and they gave us some nice toasted foccaccio bread instead. My chicken schniztel was rather dry and not very well seasoned. Beet salad was good but as expected, pickled beets with some feta cheese and light italian style seasoning. Prices were higher than expected. Entrees start at $32 and go up from there. Dinner for three with two alcoholic beverages and two small appetizers was $250! read more

What a beautiful place. Claire, our server, was kind, informative and professional. What can I say about the food? Amazing, incredible, delicious and perfect portions for sharing. Both owners, at different times, took the time to come to our table and ask us how everything was. This was their first time doing a brunch and let me just say WELL DONE! We will definitely be going back for dinner and brunch in the near future. read more

Good: food, service, friendly bartender, warm environment bad: seating (sorry, molded seating doesn't match restaurant; not comfortable, please replace) Ugly: some loud, obnoxious patrons! What is 'WITH' people in restaurants? Is everyone's hearing going?) read more

Wow! What an amazing meal. We were a party of 6. We started with the burrata, carpaccio, beets with feta and a fried bread with feta and garlic. Every bite was delicious. I had a stuffed pickled cabbage roll with pork belly and loved it. All the meals at our table were perfect. The service was top notch. Oh the desserts...yummy. We tried 3 for the table. I can't say enough about how delicious this meal was. Our entire party was delighted. The ambiance is cool, though The lighting was very dark, needed to get my phone out to read the menu, small price for such an excellent meal. Highly, highly recommend. read more

Bar Gabi is fine but grossly overpriced in our opinion. We started with the langos which is amazing and definitely recommended. Then we had the schnitzel ($42) and the goulash ($38). Both were OK but you can easily make much better at home. I've been to Romania several times and the food is delicious. Not so much here and the prices are extreme. Service was good. The atmosphere doesn't match the food at all. Once was enough for us. read more

Loved our dinner! The langos and rigatoni were delicious the and the service was excellent. We will definitely be back!