My father and i's first time, traveling from New Orleans. From the moment we walked in we were greeted and welcomed. Our server Chloe was nothing short of DELIGHTFUL. She was quirky, fun, and knew the menu! The food was great, it was exactly the way you want these classics to taste. It was fresh, flavorful, and the prices per portion were just right. The house Greek salad dressing was so good I would drink it if I could. I wish I could buy it or find a recipe, I would eat salad every meal. The restaurant is historic and has all the vibes of a classic eatery that make you feel good. We loved it, best meal I've had in a long while. In a sea full of Sysco restaurants, this place and its staff... stand out. Thank you! read more

Well, we did it. Bright Star had to wait over 100 years for us to get here but we finally did! Got here right when they opened at 4:30. The lobby was already full. Fortunately, this is a big restaurant and I had reservations! The decor in here is very old chic. It reminded me of my dad's favorite Italian restaurant in South Philly. He would love it here. We were seated fairly quick and provided with menus including a summer cocktail menu. I got a peach martini which was fabulous. Hubby ordered a banana breeze cocktail but they were out of banana liquor. He was bummed. Instead he got the strawberry Long Island iced tea. I tasted it and it was really good. We ordered our entrees which came with a salad or gumbo. I got the gumbo. It was sooo good. I enjoyed every bite. For my entree I got the Texas special which has the Greek steak, chicken and the seafood au gratin. All of it was delicious. I loved everything. Highly recommend especially if you want to try a little of everything. Of course, we had to get dessert. I had to try the baklava cheesecake since that seemed to be popular. Hubby got the chocolate almond pie. Hubby's was really really good. Mine was interesting for sure. Hubby tried it and said it tasted like pumpkin and he was right! Normally I love pumpkin but I didn't love this. It was okay. I just wouldn't get it again. Service was great. Lots of people coming around refilling drinks, bringing food, taking away plates, etc. we will be back for sure! read more

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Being a Bessemer native, this was my first visit to the Bright Star. I came for a birthday dinner during a Friday night. We were seated a few minutes after our reservation time. The waitress was friendly and we received our food in a reasonable time. I ordered the stuff snapper with a grand lemon drop for my drink. The lemon drop was okay. It wasn't the best I have had. It was a little too strong for me. The snapper was nice. The stuffing was a crab and shrimp dressing and the fish was topped with crab. Good experience and evening with friends read more

Bright Star Restaurant - Stuffed Snapper - Southern Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

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First time visit here! I'm a foodie and people have told me, You've got to try Bright Star for YEARS! So I was super excited about this visit - literally giddy. lol! The service was wonderful. Our server was new but pretty knowledgeable and what she didn't know she readily asked whoever she needed to. The facility oozes "history" as it should! Definitely worth a visit for the experience - just to be in the building. The food ... I went with a party of 4. One person truly enjoyed their entire meal. I did not. I ordered the baked seafood platter. I was compensated only because the food had clearly not been eaten; the server collected the plate. The salad and onion rings were good; I'd go back for the salad, seriously! In an effort to try again .. I ordered the peanut butter pie. It wasn't a win either. I'm not sure what I should have ordered. read more

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I have heard of this place for a long time and finally made it out here to try it.. I have been missing out- everything was fresh and delicious. Cheyenne- our waitress was very nice and personable. The atmosphere is great loved the stain glass art work throughout is beautiful- it's giving Gunsmoke old time vibes- very peaceful environment on a Saturday for lunch. read more

Bright Star Restaurant - Chocolate almond pie - Southern Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

What can I say, it is the Bright Star in Bessemer, AL. It is always incredible, but this night was the weekend when visiting New Orleans chiefs take over the kitchen and turn out very tasty and memorable dishes. This night required a coveted reservation, but we were seated at the appointed time, almost to the minute. Everything seemed to flow like clockwork and the added decorations and decor enhancements were beautiful, interesting and sometimes amusing. The drinks were a little slow coming but really didn't care because the ambience and vibe of the restaurant this night kept a smile on your face and the conversation lively! First the appetizers. Fried green tomatoes, shrimp, a spicy relish pulled together with some special sauce. One of the best appetizers I've ever eaten. Crisp salads followed before the main course of simply prepared red snapper where the attention to details was perfection. The desert of freshly sliced peaches covered in cream over a biscuit was equally delicious. It really is difficult to fully describe this outstanding meal but I encourage you to run to this spot anytime, but especially when they offer their special New Orleans cuisine weekend. But I hope not running so fast that I can't get my reservation in before the restaurant is fully booked! I love this place, the history, the staff and the exceptional menu. You will love it too! read more

Wow. What a spot! Five years in the making to boot! I surprised my honey with driving here for dinner after dropping off our pup to be groomed in Hoover. The drive was nice. Bessemer! What a cute town! We arrived around 5pm on a Saturday and honestly, I was a little worried about our timing. To my surprise, we got sat immediately. I was somewhat concerned at first because their greeter was on a call and another employee stood at the host stand waiting for their attention, complete with toothpick in his mouth, all the while ignoring us. Eventually he ended up seating us. Once we were in, we met our wonderful server, Lisa or Jolisa. She was honestly THE Bright Star for us. She was beyond attentive, helped us navigate the menu, provided suggestions and pointed out specialties. Once we told her it was our first visit, he informed us of the complimentary seafood gumbo we'd be receiving! I haven't been treated to an amuse bouche in god knows how long. The gumbo, despite having tomatoes, was AMAZING. Some of the best gumbo I've had in ages! We also had a cocktail, she had a cucumber lime drink and I had a pecan old fashioned. We both LOVED our drinks. The pecan OF was quite tasty and got more so down to the last sip. We settled on the Texas Special; beef tenderloin, broiled snapper and lobster/shrimp Au gratin ( I got them Greek style) and a Broiled Seafood Platter. For our sides, we got a Greek Salad and John's Coleslaw. Let me tell you, even though those salads were just that, the Greek Salad was absolutely DELICIOUS. The John's Slaw, French dressing on slaw?! Was one of the most unique dishes I've had in quite some time and we both couldn't get over how good it was. On to the entrees. The Texas Special, I'm so glad I got Greek style! The beef was honestly one of the most tender steaks I can think of in recent memory. The Greek style made it even better. Just delicious. The broiled snapper, again Greek Style, was also just divine. The Au Gratin gets a lot of hate but it was good too. I wouldn't go out of my way for it but I wouldn't throw it out of bed either. The Broiled Seafood was very similar other than it came with shrimp and oysters. They also let you mix the style of cooking the proteins. If you want certain things fried and some broiled, you can do that. So we did! We got the oysters fried. The sides we got were baked potato and french fries. Honestly, we barely touched them. Not because they were bad but we wanted to fully enjoy our entrees. We also got two desserts to go, the pineapple cheese pie and the peanut butter pie. It was so hard to decide. The pineapple cheese pie we ate that night and it was really good and interesting! Again, we like off the wall things just for sake of trying them. It didn't disappoint! I cannot WAIT to come here again. No wonder why they were recognized by James Beard! read more

Classy restaurant that has stood the test of time. My bestie and I visited here with her parents on her birthday a year or so ago. I hadn't been in years since I no longer attend church in the area. Everything was how i remembered it: classy, stellar customer service, delicious food. I plan to visit again soon to try their salmon and Greek beef tenderloin. read more

Bright Star Restaurant - Greek Style Boneless Chicken Breast - Southern Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

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The Bright Star is a really good place to eat. Great food, great service and always a pleasant atmosphere.

I've been going to Bright Star for 60 yrs! It's not the same with current management. server's are not professional, rude, & lack basic knowledge of the menu. read more

Bright Star is solid. A little pricey during the week. But on Sundays the dinner is perfect. Service can be spotty. Some servers are great and give you a welcoming feeling and some aren't. They have taken great care of the place as it has been around for a lonnnnng time. My favorite meal is the stuffed snapper. If you are in the Birmingham area it is something you should experience. read more

We dine here a couple of times a year for a couple of friend's birthdays. This visit did not disappoint. Although most everyone in our group gets the Greek tenderloin and the Greek salad, I always get the snapper and the gumbo. The gumbo is one of my favorites. Its thick and rich and clings to a saltine. Oh, before I forget, I would like to hightlight the crackers and butter at Bright Star. Growing up, my family did dine at the finer restaurants in Birmingham, usually the ones with Greek heritage (most of the restaurant scene during that time). There were always corn sticks (Johns, Nikis), hushpuppies (Catfish King, Seafood and Chicken Box, Catfish Cabin), sweet rolls (Johns, Nikis, Bogues) and always crackers and butter delievered early to your table. Bright Star has those crackers and butter and I have to say everyone at the table ate a few. (All three bins were empty) There's something about classic dining and the crackers with butter. Anyway, back to the snapper. I had the blackened snapper which comes with a lemon butter sauce. It was a great piece of fish, perfectly seasoned and cooked. I would always recommend the fish but the steak lovers also commend the flavor and tenderness of the tenderloin. If you are there for the first time, pay attention to the photos and letters on the walls. The Bright Star is highly acclaimed. I really enjoyed my dinner tonight. Service was top notch too. read more

Bright Star Restaurant - Classic neon - Southern Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

Yelp! Starting the year off at Bright star! It's Saturday and you are steady. People are in and out of this place with a flash. We patiently wait for a large booth so we can spread out. You are so nice about it and let us wait. Thank you. We are seated with Josie, one of your best. She is so accommodating and proficient. Keep it up Lady. But we here for this food for real. We are a party of 4, with one newbie. Bae got the snapper throats with a salad and double okra. Newbie got snapper throats with Greek potatoes, okra and green beans. Dee got hamburger steak with salad, gumbo and Greek potatoes. I decided on the Greek style chicken with rice pilaf, green beans and black eyed beans. Everything was pretty good except the tomato based rice pilaf. I don't like. Reminds me of tomato gravy. However, the cornbread made up for anything I didn't like. It's a ten. And, Bae and I barely ate so we saved room for pie. He got lemon and I got peanut butter both to go. Very good. read more

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The Bright Star is a wonderful restaurant and fixture for Bessemer! You will always get good food and service and most likely see friends or family there with each visit! So much history in this place and lots of pictures, plaques, honors and awards are all over the beautiful and historic walls!! read more

Historic landmark serving Greek-influenced steak & seafood since 1907. My absolute three Favorite menu selections! Bright Star isn't just the name of the restaurant it's a symbol of perfection that outshine AL the rest. Whether it's a satisfying and quick lunch or an amazing [celebratory] dinner it's ALWAYS a rewarding experience. The service one receives is impeccable and sets the bar extremely high. Doesn't matter where one will dine inside it has an inviting and warm atmosphere. read more

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If you grew up going to this restaurant, I can see how it is nostalgic and historic. However, I would not intentionally make a drive to eat here in Bessemer. It's in the middle of nowhere, pricey, and service is not great. We came for a work dinner, so we had a very large party. They refused to seat me until my group arrived, despite already having a section of the restaurant blocked off for us. They only assigned one waitress to us-- one person had to get drink, appetizer, and entree orders for over 20 people. To make it easier, there were already bottles of wine on the table when we arrived. Nonetheless, a lot of drinks and items never came or came late-- we were there for multiple hours. The star of the show was the Greek baked oysters. They were so large and delicious, we ordered multiple rounds. The famous fried snapper throats were not a favorite at our table. Many of the pieces were inconsistent or had large bones. As for the actual meals, it is expensive for what you get. I ordered the broiled seafood platter-- nothing was spectacular. A few of us ordered dessert, and I do recommend sharing a slice of pie! read more

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My first time to eat at this great restaurant and I hope I can again. I had seen a story about this place and its history on TrueSouth, so I've had it on my radar for a while. We were there for lunch and had a wonderful experience. The restaurant is a very nice and classy place. Our server was very attentive. The food was exceptional! I had the Greek Snapper with Greek potatoes, pickled beets, and the Greek salad. It was all fantastic. Also, be brave and have the anchovies on the salad- perfect compliment to it. Next time I hope to be there for dinner and try one of their steaks. read more

Bright Star Restaurant - Greek snapper, potatoes, and pickled beets - Southern Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

The Bright Star Restaurant is an absolute Alabama institution, and it never disappoints. From the moment you walk in, you feel the history, consistency, and pride that only comes from decades of doing things the right way. The standout--every single time--is the tenderloin. Perfectly cooked, unbelievably tender, and full of flavor without needing anything fancy. It's the kind of steak that reminds you why simple, well-executed food always wins. Pair it with their classic sides and you understand why generations keep coming back. Service is warm, professional, and exactly what you hope for in a place like this. If you're looking for trendy, keep scrolling--but if you want timeless quality, comfort, and one of the best tenderloins around, The Bright Star is the gold standard. read more

This restaurant has become a yearly tradition for my family. The Greek Style Beef Tenderloin is delicious and tender every time. It's always a fun time seeing the historical interior, I hope to keep returning to this restaurant every year! read more

Bright Star Restaurant - Greek Style Beef Tenderloin - Southern Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

Ambiance and staff are always wonderful. But the food has gone down hill in the past couple of years. Portions are smaller and not as flavorful. Their crabcakes used to melt in your mouth and the taste was wonderful...now they are tasteless and underwhelming. My go to has always been their stuffed snapper, it was over cooked, small and the plating did not look appealing. I was so disappointed! Pro: their Greek salad has not changed and is still just as tasty has it has always been. read more

Genuinely amazing!!! The venue is the oldest restaurant in Alabama which is awesome, but this wasn't even the best part. All of the food was genuinely delicious! It is a MUST try in Bham! You will absolutely not regret it! read more

Bright Star Restaurant - Texas Special - Southern Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

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Always fantastic! Try the Greek Tenderloin and don't forget to have the Crab Claws read more

The food was good and hot. The service was speedy. The staff was nice and very attentive to our needs. The place was clean and inviting. read more

Bright Star Restaurant - Getting ready to eat - Southern Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

The beauty of the original interior/exterior is amazing. Food was delicious. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Highly recommend read more

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1-5* Total 4.5* Love the history, old time atmosphere as well Snapper amandine 4.8 Black eyes 5+ Fried okra 5* Glen beans 2.5 little over cook, wife like them She had Greek chicken breast 5*, she doesn't give many 5's so it was good!!! Sweet corn 2*, because REALLY sweet Salad 4* was fresh, blue cheese dressing was very authentic Service Amari was a 4* read more

We decided to end the year with a little style! We arrived about 6pm and almost left because the lobby was pretty full and we didn't have reservations but we gave it a shot. So glad we did because we all were seated within ten minutes. We ordered a glass of wine at the bar and carried it to our table. Our server Linda was fantastic. We had a very enjoyable meal to close out the year. My salmon was fantastic. I couldn't eat it all. The Bright Star does not disappoint, frankly it never does. read more

Bright Star Restaurant - Southern Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

The Bright Star, is a favorite of mine. Come at lunch for a true Southern delight. You will have a difficult time trying to decide which meat, then what three,vegetables you will enjoy. At night if your palate craves the gulfs freshest seafood or hand cut aged steaks Bright Star never disappoints and there's always something new and delicious the chef has on the menu. I never save room for their wonderful desserts but they can always send you one to go. read more

Was told this place was amazing. First off, the building is dirty, the inside is dirty. Then for the food. The steak was chewy, and not actually a real cut of steak. It was a cheap piece. And for what you pay you would expect at minium a new york strip. The lobster was a joke, not even a lobster tail. Some casserole thing. The fish was ok at best. The green beans, terrible. Couldnt even eat two bite of them. Even the bread was mediocre. Then i tried to order a beer, they dont even have a draft selection, or any local beers. All this and tip was $60. Save your money go somewhere better, this place is absolutely not worth going to. I am not sure how this place is even still open, litterally the blandest food i have eaten in months. read more

OMG! Friends from Gadsden, AL & I went on a Civil Rights trip to Selma/Montgomery. Incredible, I would add! On the way back, we stopped in Bessemer, AL to eat dinner at Bright Star. The place has been a restaurant for more than 100 years. The interior is beautiful, with its paneled wood walls & original marble walls & tiled floors. The main dining room has beautiful murals, painted ages ago by a European artist. Our meal was superb! Their seafood is wonderful & the absolute freshest! The wait staff's service is impeccable! Be sure & ask for Marlon, a 48 year veteran of Bright Star! He is such a wonderful man with a vast knowledge of Bright Star. He began working for the Greek family at the age of 13! I promise that you will love everything about Bright Star! read more

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Nice restaruant for a special occasion or a nice date night. We went for a family member's milestone birthday celebration. There were 6 of us, so we made reservations ahead of time. Bama had a night game, so I thought we'd be good. As we were seated right on time, we heard an announcement about something being 86 and joked that it must mean they were out of it. Well, joke was on me, because it they were out of it, and it was the prime rib I was set on ordering. I was a little surprised they were out of it so early, but I guess that's the nature of daily specials. We had a nice waitress who answered all our questions and was apologetic when it turned out they were also out of one of the beer specials of the day. Besides the special shortages, the food and service were both very good. read more

Bright Star Restaurant - Southern Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

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Oh my gosh, where do I begin? I absolutely love going to the Bright Star Restaurant; I have gotten most everything on the menu, over the years, and I've never been disappointed with anything that I've ordered. My all-time favorite is their Greek Tenderloin. Melt-in-your-mouth tender; you can 'cut' it with a fork. My 2nd favorite is their Fried Snapper Almondine. The breading isn't heavy and the fish is tender and delicious. The atmosphere is such that it makes you feel very comfortable and at ease. I've never felt hurried or rushed. The service is excellent, as is everything else at Bright Star. read more

It is expensive!! On the first visit, the food was good, IMO the carrot and raise salad had too much vinegar in it. The salmon was very tasty. The service was great and quick. The restaurant is 100 years old, one of Alabama's oldest. There are a lot of decorations on the walls to admire. read more

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The Bright Star is a family favorite and holds a special place in my heart. From the "Old Money" ambiance to the fine dining and Greek cuisine, I have never had a meal there that was less than excellent. The staffing and Service is on point as well. They also have an overflow parking lot when needed. If you are near Bessemer, AL, this is one place that you must try. (This was lunch - by the way - and potions were huge). read more

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Though a lifetime resident of central Alabama, and dine out quite a bit, I had never eaten at The Bright Star until this week where I met three friends for lunch and it was a very nice experience all round. From their lunch menu, I chose the Greek chicken & rice pilaf as the entree with lima beans and squash as my sides. Cornbread and rolls were served alongside. The roast beef, salmon and beef tips that my friends chose for their entrees looked as appetizing as mine. From being seated immediately, an attentive waitperson, excellent food and a pleasant well-maintained dining room, my first time at The Bright Star was first-rate! As soon as we began our meals, my friends and I were already planning another trip and anticipating what our next entree choices would be. It was great to experience such a well-known restaurant landmark exceeding my expectations and those of my cohorts at this weekday luncheon. Please keep up the good work and serving that great food! read more

My family and I went for Thanksgiving dinner. It was way below the normally great food..which is phenomenal. This was just cafeteria food ( brought it out on a cafeteria tray) and worse than my daughters school Thanksgiving lunch. AND hers was MUCH cheaper! I was disappointed with the food, the service ( took 20+ minutes for a glass of wine to come) and the amount charged for underwhelming food and service. This was WAY below the normal food they prepare and serve. Their food is very good but this was horrible. Someone said they had taken 1300 reservations....it appears they took off more than they could chew! Very disappointed! I still love this place but not this time!! (Love the snapper throats) read more

We absolutely love visiting "the oldest restaurant in Alabama"! Everything was fantastic from the martinis at the bar to the peanut butter pie. We had Greek oysters to start. Our main courses were stuffed shrimp & prime rib. The prime rib is only available Friday & Sat - but worth the weekend trip. We finished with peanut butter pie - but it was so good, we did t get a picture. The servers are always friendly & attentive. And there is so much history in that building, one visit is never enough. read more

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Classic, historic, and a Must Try when visiting Birmingham. Oldest restaurant in Alabama and has several dishes on the list, "You Must Try Before You Die"! First the setting: hand painted murals, very old cozy booths and about 10 private rooms that seated 8-15 people. Love the historic feel and the atmosphere is a little dressier than most. Their famous Greek snapper throats and fried shrimp are delish. The pies are excellent. See movie star patrons photos in the lobby. A special Univ of Alabama room. What are you waiting for? read more

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We just made reservations and had a family dinner here, it was FABULOUS! The service was phenomenal, the place was clean with a nice table presentation, but most of all, the food. I had the prime rib with a Greek salad and both were the best I've ever had. They make all of their dressing in house and they are delicious! Bestie went with snapper throats and insists they are his new favorite. If you are looking for a nicer restaurant to enjoy in Bessemer, give this place a try. Btw, the Long Island comes in a pitcher! read more

Bright Star Restaurant - The small long island tea - Southern Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

Let me start off by saying this is the first time I've been to the Bright Star Restaurant since I was a kid. So it has been about 30 years now. As a matter of fact, it was Easter and was one of the most memorable dining experiences of my life, not because of the restaurant, but because my brother decided to throw a hissy fit at the restaurant and sat under the table for the whole meal. Needless to say, I remember the food was good then, regardless of what my silly brother did then. Fast forward 30 something years. I made reservations just a couple of days before for a Friday evening. My wife, being a former chef in New Orleans and having worked at Commander's Palace, had heard me talk about how I wanted to take her to the restaurant. The restaurant has ties back to Commander's in the late summer/early fall when they typically host a chef from Commander's who helps with a series of eating events at the restaurant. So she was interested in trying it out. We took the 35 minute drive from Trussville to Bessemer. As you drive into downtown Bessemer, you see and feel the charm that the town once offered and is trying to revitalize. One establishment that has withstood the test of time is Bright Star Restaurant. You see the yellow neon sign on the corner and know it is something special. Walking in, you are greeted by the hostess who is super sweet and prompt, and pictures of the owners past and present, along with a big bar that is stocked with a great selection of wine, beer, and liquor. They also offer special seasonal cocktails. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. We started with a bottle of Zoe, a red Greek wine that was fruity and flavorful. After spending some time in Italy and Greece, I learned that I prefer Greek wine over Italian wine and this one didn't disappoint. For food, we started with the fried green tomatoes with the shrimp remoulade on top. It was amazing. We also got the seafood gumbo because my wife wanted to see if it was legit. She said it tasted just like the seafood gumbo from Commander's Palace and gave it the New Orleans seal of approval. It's really good. The Greek salad was very good too. By this point both of us were getting full but we still had our entrees to go. My wife went for the Texas Special which was composed of the 4 oz tenderloin (it really is the best steak in Alabama), the lobster and crabmeat au gratin, and she switched out the Greek style snapper for Greek style shrimp. She also got the baked potato but couldn't eat all of the food. It all tasted great though. I got the fried snapper throats with a spinach side thingy. I don't care what you call it, it was tasty. Ambiance. You step back in time when you walk through the doors. The owners have kept their Greek heritage alive in here with murals, pictures, and a feeling of family. The owners have not only made Bright Star Restaurant one of the best dining establishments in Alabama, but I would go as far as saying one of the best in the Country. They hit all of the right marks for food quality, ambience, great service, and feeling of being home where there is always a smile greeting you at the door, someone checking on you throughout the meal, and a person to tell you to have a great night and see you again soon. What's not to love about this restaurant? read more

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I have eaten here several times the past few years, and I must increase my rating from 4 to 5. I or my stablemates have never had a meal that was not excellent. Today was no exception. Four of us went out for a birthday celebration. We all had the fried snapper almondine plus assorted vegetables. No one left any food on the plates! Every thing was superb. If you like them, this is the place to get them. Service was also excellent. We all highly recommend. read more