We've been to Bill's a few times now and it's definitely in our top five in Austin for both lunch or dinner! Here's what we have tried: Burger - 10/10. May be my favorite burger in Austin. It's delicious! Fries - 10/10. Perfectly thin and crispy. Get the caviar ranch! Fried Green Tomatoes - 10/10. We ordered these expecting just a normal appetizer but they were so much better than that! We returned with my parents who agreed they were phenomenal. Tuna Tartar - 9/10. Super flavorful and the wontons provide a good crunch. Mozzarella Sticks - I give them a 8/10 but my husband gives them a 10/10. Lobster roll - this was just fine to us and not worth $40 in our opinion, but we're also not huge lobster people. Cocktails - 7/10. I liked their central market martini a lot on another visit, but this recent time I got a regular dirty martini and it came out with so much ice. After some waiting I got it strained and it was much better. Ambiance is great too! Comfy place, and I love the paper on the tables. read more

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Decided to try Bill's Oyster during happy hour from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Was walking around downtown Austin and saw the lovely patio area and decided to stop in. Went inside to check in and was seated on the patio without a reservation. They had a beer and a shot offer for $8 so I had a mezcal shot and added an oyster to it. Also had $10 martinis and I ordered a cocktail to enjoy as well. We ordered 18 of the $3 oysters and they were were fresh, clean, and well-shucked, exactly what you want when you're there for a classic oyster experience. The happy hour pricing made it even better, so it felt like a great value for the quality. Discovered they had $2 oysters from the gulf so we ordered 6 more of those. These were larger in size than the others and a bit more filling. The oysters were served with horseradish, cocktail and mignonette sauce for a fresh and flavorful bite. Service was friendly and attentive, and everything came out quickly. It's a great spot whether you're meeting friends or just stopping in for a casual bite and a drink. Definitely a great place to try oysters happy hour, would love to return and try items from their regular menu. read more

Bill’s Oyster - Happy Hour Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Super cute place reminds me of NYC vibes.... Service was inviting, drinks were delicious and the food was fantastic. Definitely recommended. We had a Mexican martini ice, cold, Pacifico, and a cosmopolitan on happy hour. We had two types of raw oysters both were fantastic. The server was very informative on where they're from and what to expect. We then had the crawfish macaroni and cheese and they're happy hour. Burger was absolutely delicious. read more

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Amazing dinner. Tuna tar tar, crab cake, burger and Caesar salad. From hardcore foodies, we will be back. Service was outstanding on top of excellent food. read more

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Came for happy hour. Didn't know I should make a reso for 3pm so the small amount of tables they have inside were booked and it was raining so sitting outside was not an option. We took a corner at the bar. The crab and andouille hushpuppies were my favorite snack but they did over cook the outside, I also loved the Brussel sprouts but I never turn down brussel sprouts where ever I go. The burger was good. Worth the $10 read more

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My first time at Bill's, we enjoyed a lovely meal for my birthday. Wonderful selection of fresh seafood. The Colorado tower was very filling for two people. The shrimp cocktail were huge and we enjoyed having a selection of East Coast oysters. We also tried the mozzarella sticks with caviar, the burger (juicy and delicious) and the grouper fingers (extra crunchy and served with a divine garlic tartar aïoli). Each plate was delicious and the restaurant was very sweet to surprise me with a slice of their delicious not too sweet cheesecake for dessert. Wonderful service. It is a bit loud inside, but I would like to try the lovely patio on a future visit. read more

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Saw someone on Instagram who visits local spots and tries to prove they can eat there for $25 or less. Challenge accepted. This is a cute quantity little place. They do have a good selection of food items on happy hour plus mind you $10 martinis! By far my favorite which surprised me was their hamburger. There's a special something about it that we had to order another for the table. While our party of 4 didn't quite skimp out of there under $25.... I definitely could come back and make that happen with just an extra dirty Martini and a burger. read more

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We've had our eyes on Bill's Oyster for a long time, and we're happy to report they are absolutely worth the hype everyone talks about! We originally knew them for their insanely fresh seafood (and yes, it really is that fresh), but what we weren't expecting was how incredible their brunch would be! From the moment we walked in, our host Aubrey set the tone. He was incredibly attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly, exactly the kind of person you want guiding you through a menu full of heavy hitters and what feels like big decisions in the moment! We made reservations ahead of time since the space is on the smaller side and wanted to ensure we get an inside spot since we were celebrating our anniversary. It wasn't packed when we arrived, but I'd still recommend booking a reservation just to be safe. They also have a super cute and quaint patio which looks like it would be incredible when the whether cooperates! Now... the food. We've seen and heard lots about their seafood, happy hour and of course their famous burger, but hardly saw anything about brunch so we knew that was what we wanted to hit! Cause we're different like that! Honestly, brunch is where they surprised us the most. Every single dish was high quality, beautifully executed, and full of flavor! The oysters, seasonal crudo, and michelada clams (coming from a non michelada person) lived up to their reputation, but the brunch menu? Next level! We got the Chicken Fried Waygu Steak topped with a crawfish tasso gravy which was large, in charge and incredibly crispy! It was the hubby's fav! I had my eye on the Johnny Cakes topped with Smoked Salmon and the Banana Foster Stuffed French Toast and YUP, those were the stars for me! The Johnny Cakes aka basically an incredibly delicious fluffy cornbread muffin felt so light and refreshing paired with their salmon and creme fraiche. But honestly if you go, you HAVE to try the Bananas Foster stuffed French Toast. (Whether you want it as your main or dessert, not only is the presentation beautiful, the bruleed bananas on top, the luxurious filling, fluffy brioche, everything about it was like heaven sent an angel to my plate) It was hands down one of the best we've had in Austin! Absolute must-order! Drink wise, we're tequila and beer people and absolutely LOVED the Mexican martini! This was my second ever Mexican Martini and I can officially say I might be converted from a margarita lover! Perfectly balanced in flavors, but you might not be walking perfectly balanced after two of them (in the best way of course) haha! Since we were celebrating our anniversary they even brought us a slice of cheesecake (they made sure to ask if we still had room in the tank) and YUP, also worth it! They even fly it in straight from the bronx! Its like no other cheesecake we've ever had, seriously! If you love cheesecake and you want a taste of the east coast, then you better pull the trigger on this! Eat it there or take it to go, you won't regret it! Whether you're here for brunch, seafood, or both, Bill's delivers on EVERY FRONT! We left full, happy, and already know we need to head back for more! Highly recommend! read more

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Really loved my meal at Bill's! Classic oyster bar with classy and charming atmosphere! Loved the oldies music playing which fit the vibe perfectly! Received friendly and attentive service! Amazing happy hour! I experienced the happy hour Tito's martini ($10) and the Bill's burger ($10)! Both were fantastic and what a deal! I also couldn't resist but to try the lobster roll ($39) which hit the spot. Unique flavor as more herby than other rolls I've had but it was delicious- only could have been stuffed with more meat given the price! read more

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Delicious food and great service! We had the seafood tower which was a generous serving of food for a good price, and everything was truly delicious. Great variety of cocktails - enjoyed the orange soda one as well as the elderflower one. It's cute inside, outside there is a decent amount of homeless around (nothing they can avoid) so that's something to keep in mind. Amazing manger and service. read more

Bill’s Oyster - Seafood tower - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

The waitress was attentive, and the oysters were good. However, I ordered the Snapper Special of the Day, and the experience with my entrée was very disappointing. My meal arrived about 10 minutes after the rest of our party. When it was served, the fish was presented semi-whole, which I personally didn't mind, although it would have been nice if that had been disclosed beforehand. I still would have ordered it either way. The real issue was that the fish was severely undercooked. The meat was so raw and underdone that it couldnt be removed from the bone without a knife. To the waitress's credit, she was very apologetic and immediately had the kitchen prepare another one. Unfortunately, it took at least another 30 minutes for the replacement entrée to arrive. During that time, she checked on us several times and even brought out a piece of cheesecake, which was appreciated. When the replacement meal finally arrived, it was about one-third the size of the original fish. Honestly, it looked more like a baitfish than a $40+ lunch entrée, to the point that our table was joking about it. While it was cooked properly and tasted fine, the long delays, inconsistent portions, and overall experience left me feeling disappointed and that both my time and money were wasted. read more

Really great happy hour - $10 burger paired with either $5 fries, or $6 crab and andouille hush puppies. You cannot get food this good for a price like this anywhere else in Austin. Plus $3 oysters. What a treat read more

Bill’s Oyster - Bar area - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

One of the best happy hours around! we stumbled in and was shocked at happy hour prices. They have a $10 burger that is legit one of the best in Austin. We also loved their oysters (huge variety), grouper fingers, and tuna tartare!! The grouper fingers in particular was very special. So delicate and flavorful while being lightly fried. I'd skip the hush puppies though. Service is 10/10. Friendly, always checking in, etc. read more

Came here for lunch with the husband. It's not often that he compliments how well-seasoned every dish is! We ordered quite the spread, but some of the standouts were the fried green tomatoes (believe it or not, they were so good), tuna tartare, lobster roll (the meat was so succulent), and the fried grouper fingers (like fancy fish sticks!). The oysters were super fresh, the mac & cheese was creamy and delicious, and even the crab BLT was fantastic. We also tried the Boston Club cocktail, refreshing and good. Now that I'm reading all the other reviews, it looks like we'll have to come back for their burger at happy hour! read more

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Great service. I cannot give the staff here a bigger applause. Very helpful and knowledgeable. Bartenders were excellent, and the bolos were a nice touch! The hush puppies were so good, very moist and unique in the inside, crispy on the outside. The right amount of lemon zest on the outside carried it to the next level! I can't say the Bills Burger was my favorite but I can say that I enjoyed it. Very cute place to meet up at and just enjoy the day at! Definitely a place to return to. If not the food then the happy hour with 50% off bottles of wine!! read more

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OK, I came here two years ago when they first opened and it was one of my favorite oyster spots. But now this new happy hour they have is just phenomenal and it is every single day of the week. You definitely need to make a reservation or else you will wait forever for a seat. And I recommend you to make reservations weeks in advance. They're happy hour is so good. They have the martinis and burger and oysters on happy hour. Every time we come, we get the oysters and the burger. You just can't go wrong with it. It is so good there. Definitely my favorite place for oysters. And you can't beat the martinis. Also, it does not have to be just a dirty martini. It can be a flavored martini. I tend to do a cosmopolitan because it is delicious there. They just know how to make them so well. Place is so cute in there now I will say the only downfall is you come out of there smelling like food, but the food makes it worth it. read more

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Lovely venue. Amazing staff. The seafood tower was lovely. It looks like an old diner inside but I don't think it is. The floor is really cool. The interesting cupboard by the bar is entertaining. I thought it was a dum waiter. I guess it's booze storage. Will be back for sure!!! read more

Bill’s Oyster - Menu - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Enjoyed the food (oysters, tartare and burger) however the service from Allison D. was disappointing. read more

Bill’s Oyster - HH burger - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

So awesome!! New Austin favorite. Everything tasted fresh and high quality. Highly recommend the shrimp cocktail and Bill's burger! Cute atmosphere, staff was friendly & collaborative. Truly a perfect spot. read more

This review is for the "jumbo" lump crab cake. I was excited to try this because of the name and I already had a great true Jumbo Lump crab cake from Marylander food cart earlier in the week. I was disappointed because none of this crab cake was jumbo lump meat. The meat was stringy as if it were backfin or leg meat. I did appreciate the lack of filler and the taste was ok but it didn't need to be sitting in that sauce which detracts from the sweetness of the crab. Since I'm from Maryland, I would have appreciated some Old Bay in the seasoning but it was not advertised as a Maryland crab cake so I can look past this preference. Overall, I'd skip this appetizer for the crab cake aficionados and select something else on the menu that better reflects its title. read more

Bill’s Oyster - "Jumbo" Lump Crab Cake - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

I had such a great experience at Bill's Oyster!Right when you walk in your greeted by the lovely smell of cooked seafood/ delicious burgers! The burger was absolutely delicious - juicy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. Super simple but still veryyyy good! I went for the HH so it was only ($10). The oysters were fresh and pretty good, I was disappointed one of them from Louisiana didn't look the best but the rest were good. I loved the lemon drop martini, hands down one of the best I've had & even better it was $10 on the HH as well. Great food, great drinks, I'll definitely be coming back! read more

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Just got into oysters after visiting Napa valley. This place was recommended for a great happy hour and boy was I glad I went. Delicious oysters! Great deal. Wine deals and no juke probably the best burger in Austin. They're a bit busy during happy hour so make reservations prior if you'd like a good table. They fit us in but we were lucky. Thanks so much to the incredible staff! Very nice experience. New favorite oyster bar. read more

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Came here for HH (3-5:30daily) and they have great deals for their burger and oysters! Hush puppies were delish! Sat outside on the sidewalk. Street parking. Great food and drinks! Will def be back to try dinner. read more

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A wonderful meal to end our anniversary weekend. Our server was excellent. We had four oysters to start and grouper fingers and crab cake for entrees. NY style cheesecake for dessert. Great dishes and ambiance. read more

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We are staying in downtown Austin and wanted a place to grab a quick bite and a drink as we were meeting people later for dinner. Bill's was recommended to us and the moment we walked in we were captivated by the vibe of the place! Small but cozy with an upscale feel. We bellied up to the bar and were immediately greeted by THE friendliest staff! Everyone (and I do mean everyone) wo works there was smiling and laughing and so attentive to customers. Again - just looking for a snack and a drink so we took advantage of their Happy Hour menu and had delicious martinis, a dozen of their various specialty oysters and the hushpuppies (with crab and andouille sausage) and everything was fantastic! If we lived here we would definitely be regulars! read more

Bill’s Oyster - Selection of specialty oysters - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Bill's Oysters in Austin, TX (3/5 stars) We decided to try Bill's Oysters for an early dinner because the weather in Austin was finally cool enough to enjoy a patio-style meal downtown. Unfortunately, the outdoor seating took away from the experience. Right outside the restaurant, there's a small homeless camp where a few people are frequently walking back and forth, trying to sell artwork, picking up cigarette butts, or even picking up food that drops. On top of that, the constant smell of human feces and urine was very distracting and honestly made it difficult to enjoy our food. This alone made the patio experience uncomfortable, which was disappointing since we wanted to enjoy the nice weather. (-1 star) Service-wise, we ordered the beef tartare and never received it. Our server had mentioned it would come out quickly, but after a while, we just received the check. It seemed completely forgotten. (-1 star) On the food: the burger ended up being the best thing we had, it was juicy, slightly salty, but very tasty. The oysters, which we specifically came for during happy hour, were a mixed experience. We ordered six different varieties and only really enjoyed two of them. Several of the others had bits of shell in them, which made us think the shucking wasn't done as carefully as it could've been. The tuna tartare was just okay, nothing memorable. Overall, Bill's Oysters has potential, but between the distracting patio environment, the forgotten dish, and the inconsistency in the oysters, it wasn't the experience we were hoping for. We probably wouldn't return unless we had out-of-town guests who really wanted the downtown Austin vibe read more

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Ordered the French toast which was so good. The drink was the Boston club and was very well done. Customer service was great, and I was seated very quickly. I highly recommend Bills Oyster bar read more

Bill’s Oyster - French toast. Drink: Boston club - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great experience at Bill's! We went for lunch on a Sunday and got right in without a reservation! Staff was very friendly and gave us great recommendations. The cocktails were delish and the outdoor patio was tiny but cute and great to sit outside and enjoy some bites. Their mignonette was so unique on the oysters and we love fresh grated horseradish! Everything we got was very good! Will be back to try some dinner items! read more

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One of the best happy hours I've been to in a while ( note that I'm pregnant and can't have raw food/ drinks ). I sat on the patio and ate the famous burger accompanied by fries + hush puppies. The staff was super attentive but the star of the show was definitely the burger. The bun was soft and the meat was a really good quality- plus, it's $10. Totally worth it! If you don't like yellow cheese that much, ask for no cheese or just one slice. The surprise of the meal was the hush puppies, it had real crab meat and andouille sausage inside. read more

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Bill's Oyster is a trendy, small restaurant downtown Austin--not upscale in anyway. Our food order consisted of 6 oysters (the smallest I've ever had--delicious but TINY! Crab lettuce wraps that came with 3 tiny leaves of butter lettuce and a few morsels of crab. We ordered mozzarella sticks (2 per order) dressed with "caviar" and a horseradish dip. Lastly grouper fingers---5 small deep fried pieces of fish. Wine and Aperol Spritz later we escaped with bill equal to a small car payment. Albeit the food was outstanding, we left hungry with a much lighter wallet. Try Bill's during happy hour if you are on a budget. read more

We made a Mother's Day reservation weeks in advance, specifically requesting outdoor seating to enjoy one of the last bearable days in Austin before the 100+ degree heat sets in. When we arrived, every shaded table was full, and we were shown to the only open table--in full, blinding sun. Not only was it miserably hot, but the sun was literally reflecting off a metal pole directly onto the table. It was unbearable. When we asked why we were being seated there despite our reservation, the host dismissively said, "That's just how the rotation works--luck of the draw." Seriously? What's the point of making a reservation with a specific request if it's treated like a raffle? We were told we could sit at the bar (not what we booked) or there was nothing else they could offer us. We attempted to sit in the sun and made it less than 5 minutes. My husband went in and spoke with the host and we were then told we could wait indefinitely for a shaded table. So we waited--because what other choice did we have on Mother's Day? Then, as if the whole situation wasn't frustrating enough, the manager came outside and told my husband he just wanted to let him know that he was "disrespectful" to the host. Are you kidding? We're the guests who were just seated in direct sun with no warning and had to scramble for a solution--and somehow we're the ones in the wrong? After being sat at a table under the shade after waiting, we watched TWO other groups be seated in sun and ask to be moved, just like we did, only the manager seemed to be a lot more pleasant to them than us. The only reason this review isn't one star is because our server was lovely and the food was decent. But the way the front of house handled this was unprofessional, rude, and frankly insulting. Not returning, and wouldn't recommend unless you're okay being treated like an inconvenience. read more

Bill’s Oyster - Spotlight sun table - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Absolutely love this place and every now and then you come across a place that serves a dish that you will remember for the rest of your life and Bills had just that dish! Quaint, unassuming location and decor that makes it just perfect! It is quite small and intimate with a bar area and handful of tables. We began with a dozen oysters which were fresh and perfectly shucked with delicious accompaniments including what I think was an absinthe mignonette?! Then we tried three dishes - scallop ceviche which was delicious as was the poke but the absolute standout that was the perfect bite were the lettuce wraps: perfectly cooked crab, fried shallots, and a delicious spicy butter which we assembled into the wraps and it just worked together so, so well it was out of this world! Service was fantastic all night , drinks werr fantastic and the food was delicious! Will definitely return!! read more

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I liked the retro style of the place, the music, and the HH food was pretty good. We did not do cocktails (taking a break) but they were priced well and a great list. I was not impressed with the glassware they chose for martinis. Great bartender Nick and his nice mom sat next to us. That was fun. We will go back soon! read more

We had a reservation at dinner time, but we end up being late. We called them ahead of time and they were kind enough to move our reservation time by 15 minutes. Our waitress was friendly too. I enjoyed their oysters, and I also tried their special one with uni and caviar. It's a little salty but I enjoyed them. I also got their jumbo crab cake and their special that day which was cod. Both were good and mild in flavor. One thing to note is that the restaurant is small so the tables were better fitted for a couple. read more

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got the burger and oysters! the burger sauce was delicious and tangy. oysters always taste great so i would come back read more

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A friend had recently gone to Bill's and was going on about the burger. I just so happened to have an opportunity to go to Bill's during happy hour on a Tuesday evening. I had considered getting reservations, but it was only two of us on a Tuesday evening. How bad can it be? We walked in the door just before 5 to get the last two chairs at the bar facing the kitchen. The place was packed. Do not casually go here if you have an opportunity to make reservations. The happy hour specials are so good it brings in a bunch of people. They were making stacks of burgers. Normally $21, HH burgers are $10. The burger visibly is nothing special. In your mouth, it's pretty good stuff. Decent size and a wonderful application of American cheese. The fries were pretty perfect. We also ordered some oysters ($4 regular, $3 happy hour) which were tasty. It's just hard after only eating 3 trying to stop. Then I remember that was almost $10 for those three so I move on. We noticed the hush puppy batter as they were scooping it into the fryer, so had to order a batch of hush puppies. They were tasty, but we'd had Turf n Surf's hush puppies recently enough that Bill's were not better. Their space is rather cramped. We probably foiled an additional 2 top from being sat because we took up all 4 spots at the oyster bar. There was a larger group at the table next to us and if we had made room for others, people going to the bathroom would have had to crawl over us. We were also fortunate to have been on foot and not trying to find parking. I think the sad story here is that once happy hour was over, the place started to clear out. The prices are pretty steep. They do a very capable job though. read more

The restaurant is small, but so very pleasant. All servers, as well as the general manager, is warm and friendly. We ordered the Colorado seafood tower - and the seafood was fresh and served in generous portions. We especially enjoyed the variety of sauces as well as fresh horseradish. The meal was completed with NY cheesecake. I am from NY and won't attempt to describe in words just how perfect this cheesecake is. I'm surprised I had to come to Austin to find the best cheesecake in NY (or anywhere), but Bill's Oysters certainly has it. read more

Bill’s Oyster - Seafood tower - Seafood Near Me - Austin, Texas

Lobster roll was just okay (too much sauce) but the burger is absolutely incredible. One of the best I've had. The reason why I'm leaving 3 stars is because the happy hour menu is deceptive. On the happy hour menu "Bill's Burger" is advertised as costing $10. On the regular menu, it's advertised as costing $21. However, upon receiving the bill, I learned that I was charged $15 for said burger ordered during happy hour. Apparently fries are an extra $5 during happy hour, but come included normally. There is no mention of this, and my server didn't even ask me if I wanted to add fries. I'd be happy to pay $15 for the burger (and fries) but at least advertise it as such. Or, keep the burger for $10 on the menu but clarify that fries are not included for the happy hour version. However, pretending you're getting "Bill's Burger" (which includes fries on the main menu) for $10 is super shady. read more

I've been in the restaurant industry for a long, long time, and this place is absolutely perfect. It's a small, hospitable restaurant with great, high-quality seafood! Their other offerings are incredibly complementary, and would urge you to talk to your server about their offerings as you're ordering. I had half a dozen oysters... And got two of them Royale. You will not be disappointed if you follow this menu... The broccolini was amazing, and while I am not normally a "cheese stick "kind of guy... The cheese sticks were lightly breaded, not heavy... And topped with caviar and a crème fraîche on the side... One is enough for me, but they were delightful and I'm really glad that I tried them at my server's recommendation. read more

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It is so stinky inside from something they are frying or grilling, ventilation is really bad. The food was not very good at all. The service was okay but it just couldn't make up for the bad food and the smell. read more